Truth and Dreams
It had happened somewhere in the middle of his summer with Gellert. It was a dream that warned him. Young Albus Dumbledore didn't see it as a warning until much later though. At the time, the dream had confirmed something else as well, something he'd been a little afraid of. It had told him that he was, indeed, gay.
On that particular summer night, Albus had had a sweet dream. It was him and Gellert. Just the two of them. They were walking in a forest talking about their dreams. The way they'd instruct the world, become magical rulers. How they'd find and use the Hallows. Only ever for good, of course. Gellert's eyes had sparkled and Albus had drowned in them. He was everything he'd ever wanted in a friend. Smart, funny, a little bit of an edge to him as well. Deep inside him something had stirred. Gellert wasn't just a friend. Not just any friend. He was fantastic. He was completely irreplaceable. Albus couldn't imagine he'd ever leave. None of his other friends felt this special. They were loyal; they were helpful, but nothing like this. Nothing in comparison.
"So quiet, Albus?"The dream Gellert teased him. "Not like you at all."
Albus smiled a little shyly. "I wish you didn't have to leave," he blurted out. "I wish we could stay together forever."
Gellert's eyes had darkened. "You sound like a silly lovesick girl," he snorted. "Please don't leave me honey…" He impersonated a sappy singer.
Albus blushed, very ashamed. "Not like that," he sputtered. "You're my best friend, that's all," he shrugged.
"We'll be more than friends. We'll be teachers, preachers, kings together!" Gellert had shouted in youthful exuberance and Albus had joined his cheering.
The dream had been one lovefest of joy except for… a strange bit in the middle of the dream. A boy had appeared. A boy with a wand. A boy who could talk to snakes. The boy talked to a huge snake; a snake with a name even. They seemed to like each other. Very strange indeed.
It was just a silly dream. Like dreams often are.
When he woke up Albus no longer thought about the boy and the snake. Instead he freaked out about being gay. He felt something for Gellert that was stronger and deeper than pure friendship. Knowing Gellert that might not be wise to mention. A secret was born.
Dumbledore listened to Harry in his office. He'd just escaped Voldemort—who had been reborn— and a number of Death Eaters. "There was a huge snake as well. And he spoke to it." Harry recalled how Voldemort commanded the snake. Nangini, it was called.
Dumbledore sighed. He had had his worries about Voldemort the moment he'd told him he could speak to snakes. During Voldemort's schoolyears he'd kept a close eye on him. And now it seemed that his dream, all those years ago, did have a prophetic quality to it.
And not just about him being gay.