He was one of the only people she would speak to when she was young. Surely the only one outside of her immediate family. That didn't mean she spoke often, of course. But she wasn't afraid to speak when he was in the room, and for Ariana, that was significant. Not that he let it go to his head. But he felt special for it, if nothing else. Ariana would talk to him. She felt safe around him. And that was more than he could say for most people.

They would sit together under the tree in her backyard, when Albus and Aberforth were busy inside and Kendra needed a break. Gellert didn't mind.

Ariana would pick flowers for him. They would sit and watch the leaves fall in autumn. It was simple, but it was nice. They would laugh together, smile, even chat occasionally.

But then Gellert moved away. He had to live his life, to do something beyond his great-aunt's little village. He brought Albus along with him, for a while. He didn't think much about the simple life he left behind, or the people he'd moved on from.

Albus ran off home one day. Gellert wasn't sure if he wanted to work with him anymore or not, but either way, Albus knew all of his secrets. He was supposed to be Gellert's partner in all of this – in his quest for the greater good. So Gellert followed him back to Godric's Hollow. He wanted to ask one last time, if Albus was in or out.

He wasn't expecting such an unwelcome arrival.

Aberforth answered the door at his knock. He'd never been close with Gellert, never trusted him. Looking back, Gellert supposed it was wise of him. That didn't mean he liked it.

"What do you want?"

"Aberforth, always a pleasure." He rolled his eyes, looking past Aberforth into the small house. "Is Albus here? I need to speak to him."

Aberforth didn't welcome him in, but crossed his arms. "You know she was a wreck when you left. She didn't say a word for two months. I bet you haven't given her a moment's thought since you left, though, have you? You only ever thought about yourself." His voice was gruff, irritated. Gellert sighed impatiently.

"Will you let me in?"

"Honestly? I'd rather not. This family doesn't have time to put up with the messes you create anymore. I really wish you weren't here right now, so if you could go before Ariana sees you-"

Gellert shook his head, pushing past Aberforth into the house and making his way toward the stairs to Albus's bedroom. Aberforth followed him, catching him before he reached the first step. "Stop." His fists were clenched, a fire in his eyes. "You can either leave now, or you can try to fix the problems you caused all those years ago."

"Fine." He sighed again, trying to rein in his anger. "Can I see Ariana?"

"I swear, if you hurt her again—"

"Aberforth." It was almost a warning.

He looked defeated, betrayed by the options he'd suggested. "She's in her room." He led Gellert upstairs, knocking softly on Ariana's door before going in.

"Hey, Ari." She looked up at him, smiling. Her long, blonde hair was down over her olive green dress. "Someone's here to see you." He tries to keep the bitterness out of his voice, for her sake. It doesn't work, exactly, but she doesn't seem to mind.

Gellert steps out of the doorway, walking forward to take a seat on the edge of her bed. "Hey. Sorry it's been so long. I hear you've missed me?" Aberforth snorts from behind them, and Gellert turns to him. "Do you mind?"

Aberforth rolls his eyes, but leaves them alone. Ariana fidgets with her blankets, not making eye contact with Gellert. He's not surprised, exactly. He never planned to have this conversation with her; he wasn't sure what to say.

"I—I'm sorry if I hurt you." The words come out without conscious thought. He supposes they're true. He's not sure how much of this is just him going through the motions, though. "I didn't realize how my leaving would affect you. I only wanted to make things better. For myself, I suppose. And I should've considered your opinion. I hope you've been alright."

She's quiet. Gellert expected her to say something. Apparently, he'd done more damage than he expected. Ariana won't even talk to him anymore. It makes him wonder if she talks to anyone anymore, if she's just as afraid of him as she is of everyone else. Maybe he's no different anymore.

"I always cared for you, Ariana. The rest of the world may not care. They may overlook you, like I did. But I'm back now. I'll be here for you."

He gives her a last smile. He tries to make it appear genuine, substantial. She's not looking at him, anyway. So he leaves, finds Albus.

And Albus ignores him, turns him down, threatens to curse him if he doesn't get out of his house and stay out. So Gellert gives up on him. He's tempted to perform a memory charm, to save his secrets. But the way Albus has his wand pointing between Gellert's eyes, the skill Albus has in a duel – it's not worth the risk. Not right now. So Gellert leaves, focuses on his own goals again, free of distractions.

A week and a half later, he receives a letter from Aberforth in the post. The parchment is a scrap, with two words scrawled on it. Their ink is warped from tears. Fuck you.

Gellert crumples the note in his hand without thinking about it. And he hates himself because he knows immediately what it means. He can't bring himself to avoid this, not this time.

So he returns to Godric's Hollow. He avoids the Dumbledore house, going directly to the small churchyard instead. He walks the rows until he finds the newest looking headstone. Gellert feels his heart drop into his feet, because Ariana is dead and lying in the earth below his feet.

He wants to kick out, to blast apart everything in his sight with curses. He doesn't. He doesn't notice that he's crying until a tear falls from his chin. "Ariana," he whispers.

"Don't." The voice behind him is impossibly cold. "Don't you dare cry for her now. Don't act like this isn't your fault. Don't act like you ever cared about her, and don't you dare only start caring about her now."

Gellert spun around, face to face with Aberforth. Or, rather, face to wand. He'd never seen Aberforth this angry.

"You think you can just show up here, cry over her dead fucking body. You're so self-absorbed. You're only here because you're guilty, aren't you?" Gellert doesn't answer. He doesn't feel confident enough to lie. "She doesn't need you. You need to stop making everything about you. I don't want you here, and neither would she. We don't have time to stroke your ego. I don't want to deal with your broken heart. She's better off now that she doesn't have to worry about you ruining life for her. Now get out, and never come back here," Aberforth snarls.

Gellert sweeps out of the small cemetery, black robes billowing out around him. He aims a kick at the gate on his way out and Apparates away with tear-stained cheeks and a hollowness within him.

A/N: Writing Club – Disney Challenge S1: Write about someone being afraid to speak; Book Club – The Commander: (trait) lonely, (dialogue) "I only wanted to make things better", (color) black; Showtime 1: (situation) an unexpected visitor; Count Your Buttons D1: "I really wish you weren't here right now"; Lyric Alley 3: Cause we don't want your broken parts; Ami's Audio Admirations 4: Write about something rare (rarepair); Sophie's Shelf Other Era Het 8: GellertAriana; Angel's Arcade – Kabal: (color) olive green, (action) clenching fists, (title) Unchained; Lo's Lowdown – Q6: "The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone" – Harriet Beecher Stowe; Bex's Bazaar – F3: Write about someone communicating without speaking; Sophie's Tearoom – Rosemary and Olive Drop Scones: (dialogue) "Stop making everything about you."; Seasonal – Shay's Musical Challenge 49: Write about an unexpected visitor; Gryffindor Themed Prompts: (location) Godric's Hollow; 365 Prompts: 116 (era) Dumbledore; Dragons, Writing Month – wc 1247