Bloody dance
Sunday 9th July 1899
/GG/
“You really cannot be serious! Gellert, it looks the same!”
Bathilda grazed on her being present as I was getting dressed in the sunny afternoon with a dazed smile. I turned around, grabbing the red cloak from her hands and putting it on.
“Hold on, give it a moment…” I said and as soon as I fully dressed up to the cloak, it absolutely changed the whole look. I fixed my blonde hair, letting it fall down between my fingers. “Would you mind cutting it a little bit?” I asked, noticing my hair will eventually fall on my shoulders otherwise. My aunt gasped, but grabbed her wand and made my hair one inch shorter. Perfect.
“Well, I have to admit it looks very good on you… But are you sure it’s a perfect choice for a ball?”
“I always go to balls like this, auntie… What is wrong with it? Could you clean my cloak from behind please?” I asked once again, and she shook her head.
“I have already done that two times since you put it on. I swear there is no single dust on it, Gellie…” She looked quite worried and I had to smile, but then frowned.
“You don’t like the look?” I asked coldly and she shook her head.
“That’s not the point. You look very good, I mean it, it suits you so well. I am just not sure if-“
“I don’t want to look like everyone else, Batty. I am glad I will be different. Easy to recognise, spotted, just unique, you know?”
“You were always unique, Gellie…” She stood on her tiptoes, pulling me a bit down to kiss my forehead before she smiled and with a wish for a good evening, she left the room. I spent a few more minutes in front of the mirror, watching myself all over again. Does the hair look good? Isn’t the collar too tight? Are my sleeves fixed and clean? I checked my slim knee boots, also made for special occasions; they were black lacquered and all shiny up to my knees. Dark brown slim pants were perfectly tucked inside and I frowned, looking even skinnier and taller than I actually was. Once again, I fixed my red cloak, then put my wand in a sleeve pocket and smiled brightly. I was just about to leave when I stopped at my door.
“How could I forget…!” I cursed, rushing back to the room and pouring a few drops of cologne into my hands, then very gently rubbing it against my neck. I smirked mischievously when almost tripping over the bathroom cabinet; there was still a suitcase of my toilets, that I did not manage to unpack yet. I kneeled down, opening the case on the tiled ground and smiling as I saw myself in a silver pocket mirror with silver dragons around the frame. I put it back, checking all my perfumes, toilets and essentials I had in there; bath salt, a solid and liquid soap, shampoo, tissues and other bathroom stuff. Thanks to Bathilda’s huge bathroom and all needs in there, I did not need anything yet. But maybe now was a perfect time.
I opened up one pink bottle covered in a black satin handkerchief and for a while, I just stared at it. Was it a good idea? Won’t it be too obvious? What if he finds out?
But I had to try. At least for tonight, and, besides, I was about to use only one drop over my neck skin. Let’s see, then. I put that one drop of love potion perfume on my hands, before rubbing it over the cologne. It had no smell for me, as I placed it over myself. But I wondered how Albus will sense it.
I had the opportunity to check myself in the mirror, again, so I did, then finally left my room.
Bathilda gasped as watched me running down the stairs and I had to grin. “Didn’t you say it was inappropriate a few moments ago?” I teased her, but all she could do was shake her head and sigh, watching me with a pure mother's love in her eyes.
“It looked too dark up there. On the light, you are a charming prince,” she smiled and patted my arm.
“Am I?” I asked curiously, still grinning and now putting on white formal gloves. Bathilda handed me a black raincoat.
“Yes, yes, you are. Blonde, blue-eyed, standardly perfect young man. Just do not forget to walk straightened up, with your head up and do not stutter. That would ruin your appearance,” she scolded me and I frowned, raising my eyebrows.
“I do not stutter, tante…” I took the black raincoat, then shook my head and returned it to her. “It is nice weather outside. I do not want to bake myself in the sun. Are you coming with me to Dumbledore’s now?”
/AD/
I sighed, shaking my head and made a loud groan of displeasure as I was choosing a robe for today’s evening. It was three pm and I still had two hours; actually, just two hours, because I was still very unsure of what I should wear.
“Abe!” I yelled from my room at my brother and he ran to my room, his eyes in shock when saw my twelve evening formal suits, all over the room.
“Merlin’s beard, are you getting married?” I nervously shook my head, standing up from my cupboard. At least I was able to pick up my socks.
“No. But the suit I had last year and the year before and before that, is no longer suitable. I grew up.” Aberforther laughed and I glared at him pissed. “Abe, if you don’t want to help me, I will gladly call Ari over here,” I added and he shook his head.
Since we both had a little meltdown yesterday, it rather fixed our relationship. He seemed to be much more comfortable around me now, and I was glad for it. He pointed at my grey plank suit and I shook my head.
“That’s no, absolutely no. You can have it if you want, but I-“
“So you find it disgusting but would kindly pass it on to me? Come on Albus!”
I smirked and changed my socks, sat on the bed, and looked around. I shrugged. “Abe, I really don’t know what should I-“
“You,” he interrupted me, “you are going with a friend. A friend! I am the one who should be nervous, Albus, I have an actual girl to the ball!” Aberforth looked over all my suits, then stopped at the white one and brought it to me. “This. This is the one for tonight, I promise.”
I gave him an unbelievable look and shook my head, pointing at the door. “Just… go. I am not a bride; I won’t wear the white suit for a ball…”
“Then what do you have it for?” he teased and I shrugged.
“I don’t know. Our mother bought it for me and it was too big for me. Therefore, I kept it. I really do not know. Just please go, I will try to figure this out by myself…”
“I am sure, as a genius, you can do it!” he laughed at me and closed the door. Mhm, how funny, Abe. However, this had nothing to do with my intelligence. I looked over my suits once again. All right, let us see.
A plain black one; boring. A striped black one; for wealthy widowers. What about… A black with decent white details? Nah looks too snobby.
All three grey ones are disgusting; I would look too old.
What do we have here next, hanging on my window…? My father’s two expensive suits with long coats and sheep wool around its neck; you have to be kidding me, that is an absolute no!
Another black one; is too small, the same as the other striped one.
A red one? With my hair? Never.
I looked desperately around; I had literally nothing to wear for tonight.
“Ariana?” I called for my sister, sitting on the bed again. She came, smiling yet horrified by the room.
“Can I help you?” she asked and I nodded eagerly.
“Yes, yes that is actually the only thing I need right now. Which one, please? I'm not joking like Abe, it is really important…” Ariana walked around, paying attention to all the suits and seemed to be a bit shocked.
“I have never seen you this nervous, Al… You said you wouldn’t dance, unless… Is there going to be some pretty girl?!” She squeaked and I chuckled, almost choking myself.
“What? No! I just… It is… You know what, I will do it on my own, just-“
“This one,” she said, bringing me the same white suit as my brother with an honest smile. I shook my head, stepping back as if the thing could bring me bad luck.
“No! Absolutely not, that thing is disgusting; there is no way I am taking this on! Can’t you just burn it down or something?”
Two hours later, a few minutes before five pm, I was standing in our hall, stuffed in the damn white suit. Ariana was just fixing my hair with some of her muggle tools, making my hair nicely wavy and soft. She insisted she will make loose waves out of my hair, even if I tried to protest, because naturally I had gentle waves and hated that, and she wanted to make it visible. But I was glad she did not force me a curly hair. I would run and hide forever. I gulped, almost suffocating in the tight tie I had. I chose a red one, at least one little reminder for a Gryffindor I had right now. I missed Hogwarts so badly that I felt homesick in my own house
“Well done,” Ariana clapped and turned me around, “you look just awesome!”
I groaned, looking all grumpy; but that was mostly because I was nervous. Will he come in time? Won't he be late? Is he going to wear a black suit? Also a white suit? A blue one? Something colourful? And is he really going to come? Suddenly, I almost got an attack; what if it was all just a joke and he will pick me up with some girl? Or worse, with two girls - one for himself and the other for me? Oh Merlin I was so stupid... Why did I ever believe him going out to the ball with me? I was feeling so embarrassed right now. Sure, it was all just a joke. I saw in the mirror as if I had turned pale when Ariana was again checking my hair. She noticed, of course.
"Something wrong, Al?" she asked kindly, carefully taking my hand. I squeezed it and gulped, trying to suppress the lump in my throat.
"N-," I coughed and cleared my throat once again, hoping the lump would disappear, "no. Everything is just fine, I am just... You know, I'm a little bit nervous..." I was literally picking on my nail skin, rubbing my fingers against each other so hard I could feel little sparks of fire. Ariana placed a hand on my shoulder calmingly and grinned.
"You are going to be alright. Everything is going to be alright. He is going to be alright." The last sentence gave me a bit of confidence and too late I have realised I just confirmed that Gellert was the reason I was nervous. I went to the dining room, sat down and had a huge sip of lemon water before I heard a bell at our door and my stomach crumbled.
"I will get that," Ariana said, seeing how nervous and crawled up to a ball on the chair I was. I could hear her gasp, which made me even more nervous and tried to close my eyes, but by shutting down my sight, I could hear them talking more properly. Oh gosh.
"Is he... Is Albus already ready?" His voice was still as always, with a sense of coldness yet charming. I felt how my lips started to tremble.
"Whoa, well... Uh..." Even Ari was taken away by him? Oh no! I can not do that! I can't, I can't, I can't... I can't!
"I think he is very ready, si-"
"No!" I heard my brother rushing to the hall and interrupting my sister, "No way you are going to call him like THAT!"
"Like what? I said nothing bad..." I heard my sister defending herself, not understanding the problem. But my stomach did and I felt like throwing up.
"Like THAT! Like the way you were about to call him!"
"You mean s-"
"No! NO NO NO! Don't you even try!" Aberforth was insane and Ariana was clearly clueless. By the Merlin, do they really have to ruin even my first date ever?! I got up from the chair, fixed my hair, then caught my breath and ran to the hall, making it look as if I was very busy and could not open the door for him.
But I almost tripped and gulped and I knew there was nothing in this or another world, how I could cover my facial expression.
He was stunning. He stood there, in the red and brown formal suit, his blonde waves were perfectly fixed, smooth even for the look and were shining as a fluid gold. His blue eyes, most of the time very bright, looked a bit darker and cooler now while contrasting with the uniform. And his smile. His damn beautiful smile, whiter than the purest snow, wide and charming that I would kill for it. I would. I really would.
"Good evening, Albus," his smile widened even more and he tilted his head, now removing Abe from his way as if he weighed nothing. I swear I could feel his eyes pinching into my face, and as he made three long steps towards me, he bit his lip, raising one eyebrow. "Shall we go?"
All I could do was clumsily nod and gulp; I looked at my brother with a firm look and tried for a smile. However, I was too shocked to do that. "We will see each other there. I will pay for table number twelve, just go there if you-"
"Albus, just go already..." Abe smirked, pushed me closer to the door and almost threw me out of the stairs. I had to catch Gellert's shoulder to get my stability and turned over my shoulder, setting my brother on fire with my eyes. He just slammed the door, laughed over me and probably disappeared upstairs.
I looked around, trying to avoid Gellert, but I could not help myself after all. I looked up into his eyes and my cheeks immediately got excessively hot. He smirked, his rosy lips looking even paler thanks to the bright red coat.
"Ready?" he asked, patting my shoulder and making a few steps forward along the garden path out of our property. I nodded, blinked and checked my nails, rather than looking to the ground. "Alright then," Gellert smirked teasingly at me, pinched my shoulder and grabbed my hand to let us apparate together. I was ignoring the whole way, all I perceived was his hand; it was soft, yet I could feel little smooth calluses over the edge of his palm. His hand was not even cold or warm, I could not choose so simply due to my own sweaty, nervous and trembling hand. I wanted to leave his hand as soon as we landed, I felt so embarrassed for my warm and wet hand, because it had to be just disgusting, but he did not let it go. Not right after.
We apparated in front of a huge town hall down in the city. It was invisible to muggles; well, not completely. They could see only the front side of the house, settled between other buildings. However, when you came in, through a wall, you could find yourself in a magnificent huge ballroom.
"It is over there," I explained to Gellert, describing to him how to get in. He nodded and made a few steps forward, before leaving my hand and leaning against the wall for a while, waiting for three muggle girls to pass by. All of them giggled and waved at him. Or at us? I did not know. My eyes were excessively busy.
/GG/
His reaction when seeing me in my formal school uniform was priceless. I had a lot to do to not burst into laughter or any other inappropriate reaction. I just grinned, because honestly, that was all I could do. Such a shame he did not go to Durmstrang with me, it could have been so much funnier if I was constantly watching one drooling and moaning young lad. Maybe Albus did not know, maybe he thought it is just nervousness because it was something absolutely new for him, but no. Albus was eighteen years old lonely person, without a single previous relationship or a proper kiss. Yes, a proper kiss, because he still did not taste how it feels; a tongueless kiss was not a proper kiss for me. He was probably never even gone out for a date, never flirted with anyone or complimented anyone in any romantic or sexual way. I strongly believed Albus has never seen himself naked in the mirror nor touched himself, even if out of curiosity. Moreover, when he saw me, I swear, since then his heartbeat and pulse increased, and his breath was dull and suppressed. His pupils dilated and were now covering almost all the blue in his eyes. Therefore, based on these all facts, he was simply just horny.
"Ah, mister Dumbledore!" An old wizard, who was gathering tickets and invitations, greeted my companion and Albus forced out a smile. "You have brought a friend with you, I see... please, gentlemen, come in!"
I took Albus' elbow, dragged him in and smiled at him once again. The hall was huge and beautiful.
Crystal chandeliers hung from the vaulted ceilings to the centre of the room and were tipped with paper gold garlands. The same garlands also hung around the railings of the balconies on the second and third floor of the hall; at the very top were several closed doors, probably resting rooms for some members.
I dragged confused Albus to another checking table with reservations and pinched him, but he did not react. I sighed. "Good evening, madame... We would like one table, number twelve, it is free?"
The young pretty lady sitting by the table gasped, smiling brightly at me and searching for table number twelve tickets. She nodded, taking a quill. "And your name, sir?"
"Grindelwald. Gellert Grindelwald. A pleasure to meet you, madame... See you...?" I took the ticket, giving the poor soul a bow and had to grab Albus' elbow again to make him move. He seemed to be very confused, maybe even uncomfortable. I sighed, sat him down by table number twelve and looked curiously into his eyes.
"Everything alright?" I asked, gently patting his shoulder. He mumbled something and twitched under my touch and I removed my hand with an amused smile. I am confusing you, Albus Dumbledore. That is just perfect.
"Yes, everything is fine. I just... Do not fancy this kind of... Evenings," he explained and I nodded, stroking his arm purposely slowly and gently, causing him a gulp.
"Well, since you do not drink, you do not want to dance if needed, you do not seem to be interested in anyone here and you seemed very shocked every time someone calls you, I do think you will be pretty bored for the rest of the evening, Liebling..."
Albus gulped again, trying to hide his trembling lips when he took a breath in. "You called me… How? And that is not true... I mean... Not all of what you have said is true, you know..."
I winked at him, leaning a little bit closer over the table to him. "Oh really? Then which one of those was not true? Surprise me, Albus Dumbledore. I am waiting."
Albus chuckled, took a shaky breath and shrugged, looked kind of pissed off with me. "I asked, how did you call me? What does it mean? And… Well... I... I do drink, really. You know, firewhiskey is not that bad."
"Not that bad?" I raised my eyebrow, frowning, still not explaining a thing to him. You willy little liar!
"No, not really..." he tried to convince me and I decided to buy it. I nodded and acknowledged, getting up from the table.
"Then I will get us some firewhiskey since it is... not that bad, Liebling," I repeated his words and could see his shocked yet flushed expression. He had no idea. You lied; you are going to pay for it, darling.
I came back with two fancy glasses, standing in front of Albus and winking at him. "One is poisoned, pick one..."
He glared at me with shock and was about to say something when I grabbed one glass and gulped it all down my throat. Albus looked horrified.
"Cheers," I smirked and laughed. "I was kidding. Come on, one glass and one dance and we can go home. I promise," I lied and he could do nothing, just complete the task I gave him. Watching him forcing the alcohol to himself was somehow entertaining and rousing at once. His cheeks got red, his eyes are puffy and watery. He was definitely not used to it; maybe he ended up drunk once and it came out very wrong, that could be why he tries to avoid alcohol.
I have received a very strange, very old feeling I have almost forgotten I had. It started in my stomach and felt like a little fur ball teasing my organs until made its own way to my lungs and whole belly. I had to gasp a bit, moan under my breath even. It was a strange feeling, but not unpleasant. In the beginning a little different, and unusual, but as it developed throughout the body, it started to be pleasant. I almost felt butterflies in my stomach; I felt goosebumps all over my body, which made me jump with excitement. Watching this innocent and for that matter, uneducated boy destroying himself at my request was something that brought me immense bliss and physical pleasure. I just watched him for a while as he choked and apparently his throat was burning from the alcohol; I could not help myself, I had to look at him. It was hard for me to destroy that moment, that moment of his suffering, when he was not dying or seriously harming himself and still suffering for the sake of pleasure.
"Fool, first breath in, then drink,” I smirked when I finally broke free from that heavenly prison in my head. I did not want to, but if anyone saw Albus nearly drop to his knees and me just standing there with a preoccupied look at the auburn boy, it might attract attention I did not crave. However, the temptation I was in when he sprang up and demanded water, the temptation when I imagined him falling at my feet completely exhausted, was simply hard to resist. I had to overpower myself, force myself to react, move and give Albus help in the form of water.
“Here you go,” I handed him the glass and helped him drink. "Are you okay?" I tried to put on a worried expression, trying to hide a pleased smile that would not and would not disappear.
"Yes, I guess so... I just got a lump in my throat, no big deal, I can handle it..."
Oh, Albus... Couldn't it be more innocent and submissive? The style, voice and tone in which he said it only added a few drops to the cup of my arousal. I had to lean my hand on the table and take a deep breath. It was getting hot here.
"Hmm, well. Come on, let’s go dance until you're sober and not drunk. I don't know what I'd do with you then..." I smiled, but the idea was not bad at all. Already naive and trusting Albus, plus drunk? "Sounds like an interesting evening, don't you think?" I asked out of context of my thoughts and led him down the stairs. He seemed to be still confused and probably trying to catch his breath.
“Uh, an interesting evening? Why so?” He asked, but realised soon. Just not in the same way I’ve meant it. “Oh! I have never danced with anyone that-“ He got stuck and gulped, slowing down on the stairs. I made one last step, now standing one stair lower than him, making me one inch smaller than him. I looked up, lazily smiling.
“That?” I asked with a smirk, fixing Albus’ tie, which was matching with my robe. How cute. His rosy soft kissable lips started to tremble and he caused me another shiver. If I could, if no one was here now, if I was alone in my room with Albus’ rosy lips, I would kiss him this time.
“That kissed me before…” Albus said shyly and quietly, making sure no one heard us. His cheeks went red, his lips curved to a cute and gentle naïve smile and I was helpless.
“Then I am immensely glad I can be your first one, Albus.” I made a step back up, now being a little bit taller than he is and almost pressed him against the railing. I could feel his racing heartbeat, how his hand quickly and so automatically grabbed my elbow and I heard him gasp as he looked up, noticing I am excessively close.
However, it stayed only for a millisecond. Then I made a half step away, smiling at him friendly and taking his elbow. “Come on. We wanted a dance, or not?”
/AD/
“You wanted to dance, I did not,” I protested as he dragged me down by my elbow quite roughly. My head was spinning a bit, as I had a gulp of alcohol and got up too quickly. In addition, I felt… tense.
“Well, and I do not have a dancer here, so it has to be you. Meaning, we want to dance, right?” he laughed and broke through the crowd to the ballroom centre.
“Teaser… But wait, hold on…” I caused myself a bruise under the sleeve as I stopped and he was still dragging me through. Gellert turned to me with a curious and eager look.
“What, Albus?” he asked and I prayed for him not to be mad at me.
“It is just… I can’t dance that much. We should not go to the centre, I will bump to everyone around…” I lied a bit. I was a good dancer, to be honest, maybe even excellent, since I had to attend balls with my mum or Batty. I just felt too nervous and shy to dance with him. I looked around and the blonde companion came to me, pointing to somewhere left.
“Look. There are also two boys, dancing together as friends. None of them has a lady here, and do they look like they care?”
I turned, looking at the sixteen-year-old MacMillan boy dancing with his older best friend Avery. I knew them both from school. They looked chilled out, all giggly and winking at laughing girls around, who rejected the dance. Maybe I was really just making a big deal out of it. As Gellert said, it was a friendly dance. Nothing strange. Perhaps it was more normal than dancing with my mother.
“Hmm, but I really can’t dance that much…” I had to, at least, stick to that when handing him my hand, as his one was waiting. And when I did so, the whole world changed.
Suddenly, there was just him and I.
I could not perceive anyone, absolutely no one else in the world. From the moment he took my hand and the music changed to a significantly calm and drawn-out one, I could see his blue eyes staring into mine and looking me over.
We did a simple turn where both of them switch sides. First, a young lady pushed me by mistake, but I didn't notice. I let Gellert control me, I let him lead me. Every next move he made, every next step only tempted me to let go of all my fears. The piano in the music increased in emphasis, escalated, beautifully complemented by the violin. His every next dance move was in perfect harmony and harmony with the music, and I gave in and mirrored his movements as if we had danced this dance directly to the piece a million times in other lives. As if we both knew where to dodge the crowd, and what the next move and turn would be. Where to hold him, when to hold his hand, at what moment to lean back slightly. It was so simple and so natural and beautiful and I was looking into his eyes the whole time as he was looking into me. We stared at each other speechlessly, but it was not awkward or weird. I felt, I perceived a billion unspoken words and feelings flowing between us, there were so many things we wanted to say to each other. I could feel it, every time he blinked or moved his hand on my ribs. He looked haughty and regal in his school robes and cape, and I felt as light as if I didn't exist in a white suit with a matching red tie. I did not have to watch my steps because I trusted him, I was absolutely certain that he was controlling my every step and movement just as much as he was controlling his own.
But I wouldn't be me if I...
"Sorry! I'm sorry!" Someone accidentally tripped my foot and I staggered, and if it hadn't been for Gellert grabbing my arm as I turned, I would have been on the ground. I quickly managed to grab only his shoulder; I didn't even realize that several minutes had already passed, maybe a quarter of an hour, and we hadn't danced the way we started for a long time. Out of breath and with my head spinning, I looked at him just as the music ended and there was a dance break. The choir began to play quiet intermission pieces that were not danced to.
"I'm sorry," I smiled at him and he smiled warmly back. He didn't look as out of breath as I did, despite leading me the whole time. Apparently, he was used to it.
"It's okay, nothing happened. Just sit down for a while..."
"Ow-!" I yelled as I tried to walk away after him and tripped again, this time through my own fault. I fumbled around and Gellert managed to support me at the last moment. “I think someone more than just tripped over me,” I smiled in pain, trying to wiggle my ankle as I saw a blonde girl in a pink and blue frilly dress walking majestically towards us. No no no that can't be true... Please don't be Amelia Crockford!
Amelia was a girl of pure blood, living somewhere around Winchester in the south of England. We knew each other from school, she was two years younger, which made her fifteen at the moment, because she was born, as she told me eight times in her life, in December. Ever since I won another literary competition in my fifth year and managed to successfully write a three-hundred-page essay, Amelia kept her eyes on me. At first, I took it as admiration and hoped that we could be friends and I could teach her and share my essays and literary thoughts with her, but when she tried to forcefully kiss me for the third time, I realized that he must be a different type.
"Albus! Oh dear, what happened to you?! I sent you eight letters this summer, and you did not reply! Is everything fine?! And oh! What happened now? I saw you falling and-“
“Amelia, hi, I just tripped, that is all okay, don’t worry…” I tried to avoid her touches as much as possible, so I desperately climbed up, now probably ripping Gellert’s shoulder as I tried to stay away from her. He noticed.
“Amelia? What a nice name! Hi, I’m Albus’ friend, Gellert. He is really okay, I will take care of his ankle, there is really no need to worry!” He was so amazing…
“But I- I just wanted to help, he seemed to be struggling a bit…” And she was so annoying…
“He was. He is okay now. I will cast some healing spells over his leg and ta-da, he will be as reborn. Now, if you excuse me…” Gellert took me under my arms, carrying me to the nearest chair and sitting me down there. But Amelia seemed to be too interested in me, so she followed us and I did not even manage to put down my shoe when she shoved Gellert away from me and kneeled down.
“Albus, let me just take a look-“
From the moment I laid eyes on her, I knew something was going to go terribly wrong, and it was not just going to be my ankle. I could just smell it in the air, a strange aftertaste of doom. In addition, when Amelie shoved my blond and tall friend so that he had to do something to keep himself on his feet, it was clear as hell that this was not going to go well.
"Gellert!" I squealed as the poor fellow had to grab the table behind him; Amelia really slammed into him with all her strength and weight, and I heard the glass clink and then shatter on the floor.
"It is okay, what's up with your ankle? Come on, let's go up..." Just then, several other people and familiar magicians rushed towards us, turning around at the shattering sound. Through the shards and spilt champagne, I glimpsed a red spreading stain before Gellert grabbed me by the shoulders with his other hand and managed to get me upstairs, back to our table in the private lodge. No one was there, but there were two more glasses on the table; Abe and his lady probably figured alcohol would be more fun. However, I did not think so.
"By the Merlin, Gellert, your hand..." I saw a large stream of blood running down his entire left hand, from the fingers to the wrist, soaking into his uniform. He smirked and carefully removed my shoe, kneeling in front of the chair he sat me on. I wailed.
"It's fine. It is just blood. I will take care of you and come down to get it treated. I promise," he added as I was about to take a breath and protest.
"Ow, it doesn't look good…Albus, do you trust me? I'll do it for you, but it might hurt a little…"
I shook my head. "Trust me it won't hurt any more than it hurts now… Just go for it. I'll look away…" I turned my head away as I noticed that my ankle was indeed at a slightly unnatural angle. I dug my nails into the back of the chair, but Gellert saw and offered me his hand.
"It'll be better this way. You will not hurt yourself. Three, two, one…Episkey."
My ankle twitched so violently that I let go of Gellert's hand and grabbed it again, only many times harder and more violently.
"Shh, it'll be fine... Just sit here for a while, I'll go down now and you'll be ready for another dance when I come back," he joked and I chuckled in relief and pain.