"Albus, please. Don't you remember all of our plans? Don't you remember what we decided to fight for long ago? Please don't make me do this," Grindelwald pleaded, reaching out and taking Albus's hand, "Don't you remember, Albus?"
"Of course I remember, Gel," Albus said quietly. He closed his eyes for a second. Grindelwald seemed to take this as Dumbledore coming to his senses. He seemed hopeful when he spoke again.
"We don't have to do this. Albus, we can still go through with our plan. Think about Ariana."
"I am thinking about Ariana, Gel. I haven't stopped thinking about her since the smoke cleared and I realized I was alone with my sister's body and a brother who would never forgive me," Albus said, opening his eyes and staring into his friend's lined face. Both had aged a great deal since last they met.
"Albus…" Grindelwald whispered. He looked pained, "What happened to Ariana was tragic. I'm so sorry… I never intended… You know I loved her too. We can avenge her, though! Together we can ensure that no witch or wizard ever has to experience what you and your family has! We won't have to live in fear anymore, Albus! Imagine it! We will be able to prevent this from ever happening again!"
"Gel, I have imagined it. Many times. But you're deluded. Think about the muggles-
"I AM thinking about the muggles, Albus! But I'm also thinking about your sister! I- Albus, I loved her!" Grindelwald cried. He was getting worked up. Just like he used to. He ran his hands through his fraying grey hair.
Albus pulled his hand away from Grindelwald at his proclamation of love for Ariana. He felt a small stab of pain in his chest. With a deep breath he looked at Grindelwald again. His merry face looked tired. His eyes didn't sparkle with the mischief and frivolity they used to. Grindelwald just looked tired and manic. Albus took a shaking breath and said what he knew needed to be said, hoping beyond hope that he could talk some sense into his old friend.
"Gel, no. If you truly love Ariana, then think about what she would want. Think about how all of this… this darkness would make her feel. What would Ariana want you to do, Gel?"
"I DON'T KNOW WHAT SHE WOULD WANT BECAUSE SHE IS DEAD, ALBUS!" Grindelwald roared. Albus saw his hand twitch toward his wand then clench into a fist instead.
"And whose fault is that, Gel? Do you think that I've forgotten!?" Albus said, a bit more loudly than he had intended, "Who was it who cast that first spell!?"
"Albus! You don't truly think that I killed her!" Gel cried. He looked hurt, but still crazed. He hadn't slept for days. Albus could tell by the circles under his eyes.
"I think we all killed her, Gel. We share the blame. It is as much your fault as it is mine and my brother's"
"Don't you mention your brother! The filth! He was the one who was always SO concerned about Ariana, but he never raised a finger to help her. He left her care to you, Albus."
"Yet he was the only one who saw the idiocy in our plan. He was the only one who truly had Ariana's best interest at heart that night." Albus said as calmly as he could.
"Albus! The idiocy in our plan? The IDIOCY? You didn't see the idiocy in it when we stayed up night after night planning. It was you who suggested Nurmengard! You agreed with me that we could rule the muggles and prevent more tragedy from striking wizarding families!" Grindelwald started pacing back and forth in front of Dumbledore. His hand was clutching what Dumbledore knew was the elder wand in his pocket.
"Gel, I was deluded! I was angry! I was trapped at home caring for my sister and performing mundane domestic duties I felt were below me. I knew I was talented and wanted a chance to shine. Of course I believed in your plan. I went along with it! I wanted nothing more than to help the world. I believed, as you still do, that what we were planning would be for the good of the world. But I was wrong. I was a foolish, lovesick boy who wanted to save the world but did not know how! After Ariana's death I realized that we were just as bad as the muggles who drove her to insanity. Gel, we were the ones who killed her. Not them. You can't fight hatred and ignorance with violence. You can only fight it with love and understanding and…" Dumbledore took a deep breath, "and forgiveness."
"You propose I forgive the muggle scum who drove her to craziness? The boys who took her magic away!? How dare you ask me to forgive them! I loved her, Albus!"
"And I loved you, Gel!" Albus roared, finally losing his temper. Gel looked slightly shocked. "But we were boys. Just like the children who tortured Ariana. They knew no better. They were ignorant and scared. Ariana had forgiven them. She was content. So why can't you be?!"
"She was trapped in a house too frail to do magic or go anywhere!" Grindelwald cried, "You say you love me, then why can't you join me? Together we can achieve greatness. We can follow through with the plan we made! Perhaps I can grow to love you too, Albus. We would treat them well, wouldn't we? We would be kind to the muggles. They would be happy." Grindelwald was pleading now. He reached out for Albus's hand again, but Dumbledore pulled away.
"This plan you have is flawed. No one who takes the rights away from any sentient beast is benevolent, Gellert. You know that. Deep down you know that this plan is foolish. You know that no sentient creature will be happy if they are not free. Muggles are not below us. They are simply different. They deserve freedom. Some of them are bad just as some wizards are bad. They are human, Gel. Just like you and I." Dumbledore tried to explain. He knew this would go nowhere, but he had to try. After all that had been through, Dumbledore had to try.
"I never thought they would get to you too, Albus. I never thought they would brainwash you, too. After all you've been through… I thought you would get it I thought you, of all people, would be on my side. I thought you and I would always be on the same side… On Ariana's side..." Grindelwald looked absolutely distraught: Deranged, exhausted, and utterly distraught.
"I have always been on Ariana's side…" Albus said quietly, but the finality behind his words were clear.
"You won't change your mind." Grindelwald said. It wasn't a question.
"Neither will you." Dumbledore responded.
The two friends looked at each other for a long moment. When Dumbledore next spoke he sounded very old and very sad.
"I'm sorry it has come to this, my friend."
"As am I, Albus. As am I."
