Albus Dumbledore has never thought of himself as of a good man. Sure, objectively speaking, he'd done many of the great deeds and saved many lives, but in the abyss of the man's soul, he has always been this crooked, crumbled up piece of dirt.

Not many of his beloved have proved him wrong on this statement.

Difficult child. Smarty pants. Another, like a father like a son, murderer. Back then, kids used to have many nicknames for young Albus. Exceptional student, talented in every viable way, extraordinary polite. Praised by teachers, disgraced by anyone else. Until He came.

There was something about male body that has fascinated Albus since his boyhood. Obviously, he didn't share this type of thoughts with anyone. His mother, though, knew. Silent agreement between them about not having this kind of talk was hurtful but necessary. Albus had heard enough of homeless, disowned young wizard to keep his mouth shut. Kendra never said anything about loving him less, but Albus questioned many times if she ever loved him at all. But back to Him.

As Albus explored lusts and paths, he also discovered he wasn't alone. Boys were giving him looks in dark alleys. Boys were seducing him with their eyes during class. His classmates, most of the time. One-night stands, irregular breaths, sweat dripping down their chests. Some of them sweet enough to keep him interested longer than week. Regular meetings, longing stares, the sweet feeling of forbidden fruit. Some of them ended it, whatever it was, after first night. Usually, purebloods with to important family tree to have fun. It was all fun and games for Albus. Until He came.

His mother has always said that one doesn't notice the storm, until he gets killed by the lightning. Later on, Albus would sourly add that sometimes rain was enough to make one look up. But back then he did not.

Most people were fascinated by Gellert's different coloured eyes. Albus, in fact, were not. It was not the first thing that made him look up. It was a detail, probably not noticed by anyone but lad's mother. Little scar beneath Gellert's right nostril.

'You will make me flush one day with all this...staring,' said Gellert every time he caught Albus looking. He always gave him one of his rare smiles, which made the scar more visible. Albus liked to get himself caught on purpose.

'You will make me flush with all this staring,' those were the very first words Gellert Grindelwald has ever said to Albus Dumbledore. Albus chuckled and his mother gave him very unimpressed looked.

'Sincere apologies, mister Grindelwald, for my son, he is having holidays now and-'

'Maybe he would like to make a better impression of himself by helping me with unpacking my wardrobe, would not he?' Gellert enjoyed every single letter like an afternoon tea. He was one of those people, who talked because of joy. English was never the same for Albus after he heard the way Grindelwald talked. Nothing was the same for Albus after Gellert.

'I would,' said Albus, surprised by the truth in the sentence. He would like nothing better than spending time with this mysterious stranger. Kendra frowned but said nothing.

'Maybe my brother would want to come too. Another pair of hands could be help- '

'Oh, I don't find that necessary,' said Grindelwald with light-hearted smile.

'After all, two friends can do remarkable things as well three, who are nothing but strangers.'

At the moment, it seemed like a meaningless saying for Albus. At the moment, he felt the joy that comes when someone calls you a friend. He cursed his name many times after that warm, sunny August day of 1899. But at the time, Albus Dumbledore was blinded by the idea of his new, exciting friendship.

°°°°

Talking to Gellert Grindelwald was as easy as remembering the words to all of Albus's favourite poems. Their conversation never seemed to end. Albus lived for those moments when they just let the words take control and did not care about anything else.

'Don't be surprised, I didn't seem to believe you at first, at my old school nobody even knew the teachers first name,' Gellert stretched his arm and almost brushed Albus's shoulder. The younger boy flushed and looked away.

'Still, either you prove me wrong, or I don't believe a word you say and why do you keep all of those...stuff? You only wear this coat anyway,' Albus pointed out and Gellert smirked. Albus tried his best not to look at other boy's lips.

'Not my idea but Auntie probably thought I will charm some young ladies from the village. Not successful, if you ask me,' then he gave him the look for the first time. The look he used to get from his classmates.

'I also don't seem to fit high expectation of damsels at home,' said Gellert but his tone suggested something...else.

'So, no one at school caught your eye?' Albus kept his sight down, his cheeks were probably redder than then tomatoes Kendra always made him eat. Merlin's sake, he hated the juice all over his mouth.

'I did not say that' winked Gellert and Albus's cheeks briefly switched colour. Now he definitely looked like the largest tomato in the world.

'My apology, I did not try to propose something else, I-' Gellert smirked and Albus was definitely caught staring at the full lips of his.

'You were not wrong, I must admit, someone caught my eye, although not at school.' His lips were dangerously close and Albus fought to keep his eyes opened. This could not be happening. Gellert could not possibly want to-

'But outside of the school, that is totally different story'

The time seemed to stop, all the clockworks died and came back to life in the split of seconds.

Gellert Grindelwald leaned closer and touched his cheek. His eyes focused on the line of Albus's neck. Breath, breath, breath. This is just in the dull imagination of his. It must be.

Then, the bright, beautiful, bold blonde boy proved him wrong for the first time of many.