"I'm Gellert Grindelwald."
Three simple words, but that was all it took for Albus to recognize that he had discovered, finally, someone who was his equal. He was handsome and charming, a skilled puppeteer that knew how to move others' strings and direct them into action. His voice was self-assured and alluring, words sharp and pointed by his wit. In short, he was exactly what Albus had been looking for.
Their penchant for each other was easily masked, at first, by mild curiosity; they both had a reason to be guarded as to their true motives. He was from Durmstrang; Albus was from Hogwarts. One excelled in Dark Arts, the other in Transfiguration.
"We should duel," Albus brought up casually, during one of their conversations. "After all, you can't really know a wizard until you've matched him spell for spell."
"You doubt my abilities." Gellert laughed, a sound that was like wind chimes in the evening breeze: beautiful and fleeting. "However, I can't say it is completely one-sided. I accept your challenge."
So they had dueled in a magical, powerful conversation that spoke in greater volumes than mere words ever could. Spell-for-spell, wit-for-wit. In nearly every aspect, they were the perfect match. They were destined to be life-long partners, if one believed in such things.
"We can do it together, Albus," Gellert said on the day he decided to share his dreams. Albus believed every bit of it, and they became his dreams, too.
"Yes. We should do it for the good of everyone, using whatever force is necessary and not a bit more than that. That, I believe, will the key to our success."
"Nothing will ever happen as long as we're stuck here in Godric's Hollow."
Albus understood the words, even though part of him wished he didn't. Sacrifices were needed in order to see the dream they shared brought to fruition. Sacrifices weren't easy, but they were necessary.
"No, you're right. As long as my...obligations...compel me to stay, we will never be able to accomplish anything. I have no choice."
Albus understood what was required of him. It was easy enough to put all the pawns in place and instigate the circumstances that would deliver the expected results. Too easy, perhaps.
Aberforth, the oaf that he was, with their father's hot temper, was easy to play. A well-placed insult or two and his wand was at the ready. Gellert played his part with such adroitness, maintaining a levelheadedness even as he feigned reckless anger and abandon.
A well-timed Crucio curse and there Albus was, the older brother to come to his younger brother's aid. A hero in disguise. Then she entered the fray, right on cue.
There were plenty of spells being thrown around, colors exploding like fireworks in the night. Regardless, there was no room for error.
"Bombarda." Albus cast the explosion at Gellert's feet, followed by a silent Lumos solem. He dialed back the power of it. Just enough to cover the flash of green that erupted from his opponent's wand, but not enough that it wouldn't be thought of as any other spell.
It had to be Gellert. Not because Albus wasn't dedicated to the cause and not because he couldn't, but only a master of Dark Arts would be able to cast a non-verbal killing curse. There was no way around it. What would people say of him, the misguided wizard who walked away from his under-aged siblings in their time of need, the orphans who were further orphaned by their older brother? It would destroy his credibility in such a way that it would never recover. No, this was the only course of action.
Ariana's corpse crumpled to the ground. He watched it fall, white and delicate as a flower petal. The brothers rushed to her side, holding the limp body until well after the warmth had started to fade from her pale skin. They cried. The tears were genuine. Despite her shortcomings, Albus had loved his sister, but he did what he had to—for the greater good.
In the end, his plan had cost him both siblings and a broken nose. It was a small price to pay in exchange for his freedom.
Author's Note: This is written for Emanium, who wanted to read a dark!Albus drabble collection. I don't normally write dark!Albus, so I hope I've done him justice! Reviews are loved and appreciated. Also, this is part of the "Random Acts of Kindness Competition" over at Harry Potter Fanfiction Challenges, which I highly recommend you check out!
Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns Harry Potter and everything related to it.