The corresponding song to this chapter is Muse's 'Supremacy'.
Even as they faced each other on the destroyed street, Albus couldn't help but hope for a peaceful resolution. He knew that desperate whispers painted him as a hero, and it sickened him. Albus Dumbledore, all but cowered at the thought of facing his past. Of facing himself.
So here he was instead – facing Gellert Grindelwald. It had been almost fifty years since their last meeting. Fifty long years since his estrangement from his brother… since the death of Ariana. Yet still, as he took in Gellert's aged countenance, affection mingled with the deep ache he always felt when he thought of his former companion.
Wands raised, neither moved until Albus made a short jab with his wand, effectively cutting them off from all bystanders.
"Hello, Gellert." The words came out more choked than he'd meant them to, and he was glad that they had a modicum of privacy.
"Albus." Gellert nodded at him courteously. "Have you come to kill me, old friend? End this war that the ignorant have foisted upon me, rather than see our plans come to fruition?"
Albus couldn't help but shudder at that. Their plans.
"It doesn't have to end like this, Gellert."
Gellert looked at him, and a realization seemed to come over him. He laughed, a deep, rich sound that sent shivers down Albus' spine.
"You still believe it, don't you? That you're always right. I have to say, Albus, it never occurred to me that you wouldn't grow out of that." He was suddenly very grave. "I'm sorry, Albus. I'm sorry that you cannot seem to fight for the things you really want."
And with that, spells were thrown back and forth with unbelievable speed.
Those who witnessed it would speak later of how it was the most incredible display of talent and brutality they had ever seen. All Albus could recall was the glee and sadness that played on Gellert's face in turn – reunited once more after all those years, only to attempt to destroy one another.
In the end, Albus couldn't bring himself to deliver the final blow.
Albus stared fuzzily at the trembling wand-hand of Draco Malfoy, wishing that somewhere along the line, he had found a way to make choices that harmed none.
After Gellert had been imprisoned in his own fortress, he had often entertained thoughts of going to see him in Nurmengard. He had never done so, and for that he was both proud and angry with himself. Surely it was a good thing that he had resisted something so tempting… but did he stay away because of the fear of Gellet's influence, or the fear of learning the truth of who had struck the final blow on that fateful day?
If he was honest with himself, Albus knew that he didn't need Gellert's influence to commit acts that would horrify others. It was true that he had refused the post of Minister of Magic several times, fearing the power over others that it would give him. Instead, he found himself at Hogwarts - shaping young minds.
Albus knew that he had inspired students to fight and die for his ideals, and indeed, at times he had even asked them to do so. He feared the darkness in the world more than he feared the darkness in himself.
As Albus looked into Severus Snape's dark eyes, he found that he could in fact, hate himself just a little more. Albus had fought monsters, and he had never taken quite enough care to ensure that he did not become one himself. It was time for his rule of the young, of the Wizarding World, to end. And it would end in yet another manipulation of his own making.
"Severus, please."