#we don't know if albus had ulterior motives with some things

[loonyloopylupin96]

How will people go through life if they regard a basic fact as character bashing?

It isn't slander if it's true.

Sometimes you're going to do something wrong in life and it'll be pointed out. That's okay. The world isn't out to get you.

I dare say if you learn to cope with hearing about your fave in a bad light... you'll be better placed to deal with hearing that you were wrong, whenever you inevitably make a mistake in life (whether big or small).

Please take a moment to think before getting irate. Hell, visit your fave's anti tag and read a bit without replying. It's good practice.

thank you for coming to my TED talk

[regretismyconstantcompanion]

"We didn't know about the child. Well, I should clarify that I didn't." Albus had only been left with even more regrets with this recent discovery. If he had been a better brother to Aberforth, maybe he would have confided in him. They'd spent to long estranged from one another. If they'd known, about the baby switch, Albus knew they both would have gone to the ends of the earth for a member of their family, especially so soon after losing Ari. "Aberforth knew but he believed the child had perished when the ship had sunk. He didn't know Leta had swapped them, otherwise he would have gone looking for him. I didn't know any of this until recently." Albus had never been to Nurmengard and he wasn't so sure that he wanted to go now, given the circumstances. He knew Gellert wouldn't hurt him, that he couldn't even if he wanted to. But he also knew that Gellert wasn't the only one who lived there and he had no doubt his Acolytes wouldn't appreciate his presence there, whether he was a guest of Gellerts or not. But he also knew that he wasn't in a position to make too many demands and if it got him what he wanted - a meeting with Credence - then he would accept the risks involved. He didn't know quite what to make of Gellert recruiting Credence to his cause. He wasn't foolish enough to think he was doing it sheerly out of the goodness of his heart, whether he wanted to help the boy or not. No, he had an ulterior motive. Taking Credence not only gave him leverage against him, but it also was yet another not to subtle warning. Gellert couldn't hurt him but Credence could. He still remembered the night Gellert had that vision of an Obscurial killing him. He had turned up at the cottage in the middle of the night, pulling him into an embrace so tight, he had barely been able to breathe. Albus had just held him back tightly before Gellert had finally spoken and told him what he had seen. His voice hadn't so much as wavered but his hands had been shaking. Albus had quickly reassured him that he was alive and well and planned to remain that way for a long time to come. Gellerts visions were only snatches of a possible future after all. But he didn't think he had ever seen Gellert so shaken and Albus hadn't been left completely unaffected either. It was one of the few nights they'd spent together, neither wanting to be far from the other. Albus had never forgotten it and he knew Gellert wouldn't have either. Perhaps Credence was the Obscurial that would make the vision a reality. No doubt that was Gellerts message to him but that wasn't enough to stop Albus from doing what he felt was necessary and for now, he needed to speak with Credence. "If I can be of any assistance where Credence is concerned, then I'm all yours." Albus immediately realised what he had said and his cheeks reddened once more. "Wha...What I meant was that I'd be happy to help in getting Credence more stable. I'm sure you have all the same texts that I already possess, although I do have some rather uncommon ones about Obscurials. I've been collecting them over many years on my travels. Most are historical, but that doesn't mean they don't have value. I also have several notebooks where I've written on the subject. They certainly aren't worthy of being published, however there might be some things of interest in Credences' plight." Albus knew that he might just be providing Gellert with information that might lead to his own downfall but again, he was willing to take the risk.

Militiae species amor est

regretismyconstantcompanion​:

Albus offered a wider smile in return, suddenly feeling like it was 1899 all over again as Gellert regarded him with warm approval. He knew that he shouldn’t jump to any conclusions. The flowers had been a lovely surprise and Gellert was being friendly. But that didn’t mean that this a date or that he meant anything beyond simply being cordial to learn what Albus knew and what he wanted from this meeting. The comment about the gifted books made him chuckle. People certainly meant well with their presents and he always accepted them with a smile and word of thanks. But usually their selections left a great deal to be desired. Sometimes he had already read the work, other times it wasn’t something he was particularly interested in (although he read them anyway, never wanting to appear ungrateful for their thought of him), or his experience in the topic was much more advanced than the text they’d gifted him. But they all made their way to his shelves, which were - as always - overflowing. “I’m sure you are still perfectly aware of how I feel about the Ministry so rest assured that I'am not working with or for them.” It hadn’t been that long ago that he’d had admonitors slapped upon his wrists for refusing to fight Gellert on their behalf. He had refused to give them any information he had on Gellerts whereabouts or movement, despite having information he knew they’d want. He’d told Newt only the bare essentials to ensure he could do the tasks he had set down for him. But we he had soon learned, Newt really wasn’t a great follower of orders. “As for the letter, I thought it was the best way to ensure the letters private delivery. I had heard that Credence had a phoenix and I knew that Fawkes would have little trouble locating him. I do hope he wasn’t too much of a bother. He can be quite demanding when he doesn’t have his favourite crackers.” Albus smiled softly as he spoke of his beloved Phoenix. He’d naturally left him behind at Hogwarts but Fawkes had given him a knowing look as he was leaving and a soft squawk that seemed to be in disapproval. Or perhaps it was a gentle reminder not to get his heartbroken yet again. The question threw him for a moment. He hadn’t expected Gellert to be quite so willing to listen to him. In truth, he hadn’t been certain Gellert would even turn up. Of course, his inquiry didn’t mean that he was willing to do what Albus was hoping for and while he had been anticipating that they might spend a short time catching up, he needed to remind himself that this wasn’t a date. He was here to discuss Credence, as his letter had clearly stated and there was no point in beating around the Flutterby. “As my letter stated, I’ve recently discovered who Credence really is. I didn’t know before, otherwise I would have approached him in New York or Paris myself. Merlin, if I had known, none of this would have happened.” Albus had had no idea there had been a child. He had been so lost in his own pain and grief, barely leaving his bed let alone the cottage for months after Ariana died and Gellert had left. Aberforth had known about the child but not about Leta switching the babies. He’d believed his son had perished and had carried that grief with him all these years. What he would have given to have had Credence be part of their family. “I wanted to speak with you first, in the hope that I might be able to speak with Credence.”

Gellert was not nearly so naive as to discard his natural cautiousness and allow himself to be blinded by the illusion of familiarity Albus attempted to conjure upon his senses and by Albus’ deceptively simple manner of phrasing his first request.

He hadn’t forgotten about the day Albus had pointed his wand at him, officially commencing the duel his simple-minded brother had instigated on the latter’s side with no semblance of hesitation or doubt. Although Gellert had once been foolish enough to hope for the contrary, Albus’ betrayal had ensured that no delusions pertaining to true shape and nature of Albus’ loyalties would ever take root in Gellert’s mind a second time.

Aside from that, Gellert was all but certain that Albus was the one now holding onto the blood pact pendant they had once created and that had been stolen after Gellert had worn it publicly in France both as a reminder and a stern inquiry directed at the only wizard capable of recognizing his message as such. Despite the overall success of his Paris rally, the pendant’s disappearance had rendered him unable to rely on the singular insight it provided solely by not shattering in his hand.

Indeed, there was nothing small or simple about Albus’ request of a personal meeting with the other important piece Gellert had acquired for the sake of gaining additional emotional leverage over him and preventing his cause from morphing into a battle on too many fronts, a war of attrition yielding nothing but suffering and destruction.

Even so, Albus’ request was entirely devoid of the accusations he had been so swift to hurl at Gellert on the day of their duel, forcing him to acknowledge the possibility that he was not being lied to yet.

Having prevented his facial expression from shifting in accordance with his thoughts, Gellert instead inclined his head in acknowledgment, his gaze knowing, yet devoid of bitterness.

“I’m pleased to hear that you have played no part in the injustice Aurelius has endured since he was but an infant,” Gellert replied with a soft hum. “That you haven’t averted your eyes from his plight. I’d be delighted to arrange a first meeting in the safety of his new home. That is, once I’ve determined that he wishes for the same. We may have stabilized him physically at this point, but his heart and mind…”

He paused, knitting his brows in a subtle frown.

“They are still so delicate, so alarmingly vulnerable in the face of the turmoil his Obscurus has been feeding on for so many years. Surely, you, too, understand that the center of his traumata and anguish must be approached with the utmost care. That it would be reckless to do so without the necessary precautions. Naturally, you are most welcome to assist me as I see to this.”