Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters. The characters are J.K. Rowling's; the title is Shakespeare's.

Ah, but I am a fool. One should never consider himself to be impervious to the greater temptations in life, as I believed myself to know full well. I thought I was above all of this tedious folderol, but alas, even now, a wizened old man, I managed to succumb to your seduction yet again.

I remember.

We were in our normal place. You were complacent, calm, and contented. You leaned with your back against Ignotus Peverell, watching me, those eyes of your upon me with their usual gleeful sparkle. I rapidly thumbed through my old childhood text, eager to get to the page that I so desperately sought. The Three Brothers. The Peverells, you told me. The Hallows.

"Spectacular," I muttered. "Simply unbelievable." Unbelievable that your gifted tongue and soft blonde hair had persuaded me to chase after a mere child's tale. Unbelievable that I shared my days with you in a graveyard, losing myself in fantasy.

"Calm, Albus, calm," You told me with a small grin. You took the book from my hand and placed it beside you.

"But the Elder Wand," I said. "You know where it is. Why have you waited until now to reveal to me that you know where it is?" Part of me felt betrayed. I had shared all of myself with you, and you had held out on me. Mostly, though, I was further intrigued. Your knowledge, the power, the opportunity…I wanted it.

You shrugged at me and simply stated, "I was unsure if I could trust you. Now I know I can." Yes…yes, you could. I lay my head on your lap and closed my eyes, contented. "Together, Albus." You ran your fingers through my auburn hair. "Together we will rule the world. Together, we will conquer death. They will talk of us for years to come."

"As the men who brought about a world of peace," I agreed. "Muggles and wizards. Humanity united. Nonviolent. Diplomatic."

You sighed. "As much as possible," you said, as if reciting a memorized line. "We will, understandably, have to do whatever we have to do to ensure that the superior race remains in total power. You must know that."

"Gellert-"

"But for the greater good, of course, Albus." Your fingers continued to stroke my hair gently, and your face closed in upon mine.

I repeated you with a childlike naiveté. "For the greater good."

I wistfully touch a deadened finger to my lips. How promising you were to me, Gellert. How regrettably fatuous of me to have listened to you. No, then I was not foolish. I was young, naïve, and blinded by ethereal visions of beauty. But now, ninety-seven years later, I am, indeed, inane. Why must you still haunt me? You and your Hallows, that asinine treasure hunt which drove you to evil…I have the stone now. Perhaps I should have killed Grindelwald fifty-one years ago. Then I could use the stone to bring you, Gellert, back to me.

I reach for the cracked ring on my desk, but at the sight of my shriveled and blackened fingers, I retract my arm.

Calm, Albus, Calm.

Resist.

I kneel before a large stone basin set out on the floor. I did not put it away after the hours I spent using it last night, before I- Severus nearly tripped over it when he rushed to my side with his potions and plants meant to heal me.

With my healthy hand I pull my wand from my sleeve. I dare not look at it. The very sight of my wand disgusts me. I touch its tip to the side of my head and deposit you and your golden hair into the swirling silver liquid.

Sometimes, our minds can grow overly cluttered, don't you agree?

Ah, but I am a fool.