AN: This is just a short piece written for Paradox (Paradox . bookjunkie, only without the spaces before and after the period) because she's a fabulous person and totally amazing about reviews. Seriously. She's also a great writer, so you should go check out her stories! Anywho, I've never attempted this pairing before, but here it is!

Albus had not anticipated Gellert.

He had been certain of what that summer would be like, shut up in the house with his grumpy brother and half-mad sister. It would be just like the other summers, when Ariana screamed as they tried to get her to eat and his brother made the house smell like goats, while Albus stayed in his room, hiding from it all, trying to lose himself in his books.

It wasn't that he didn't love them. He did. He loved his smelly, irritating brother. He loved his disturbed, damaged little sister. But he wanted something more. Stimulation. Excitement.

And then Gellert came.

He was nothing if not exciting. When he spoke, Albus became lost in his words, just as he had tried so many times to lose himself in his books. In the days of cooking meals and cleaning the house, tending to his siblings and weeding the garden, Gellert represented something else: a way out, an escape, a glimpse into a more interesting world.

Gellert was not like anyone Albus had ever met before.

Different.

Unexpected.

And Gellert— Gellert had not expected Albus, either. He was used to being alone, spending his time researching things that no one else understood. He had never met anyone else with his thirst for knowledge or his understanding of the world. He was surprised by how easy it was to talk to Albus, to share his ideas, make jokes and laugh, surprised by his interest in someone else's opinion, surprised to discover that he enjoyed someone's company.

The days began to pass, slipping away like grains of sand falling through an hourglass, and every day they grew closer to one another, talking and planning, sharing thoughts and dreams.

And then came a night, just like many other nights, and yet utterly different.

It was late, but they were still awake, lying on the floor, reading. Albus knew that he should go home and tuck his sister into bed, but instead, he stayed with Gellert. An hour passed, or two, and Albus drifted off to sleep.

When he opened his eyes, several hours later, Gellert was asleep, his head resting on the large, heavy book he had been reading.

In his sleepy daze, it took Albus a moment to realize what was going on, to notice the most unexpected thing of all.

Gellert was holding his hand.