SCENE 6: Int. Dumbledore House - Living Room/Entryway
ALBUS passes ABERFORTH and ARIANA, who are playing Gobstones, on the way to the door.
ALBUS: I'll be back in a bit.
ABERFORTH flicks a Gobstone.
ABERFORTH: Right. But don't say I didn't warn you if he turns out to be as crazy as the rest of Durmstrang.
ARIANA giggles, knocking a few Gobstones out of place. ALBUS smiles slightly.
ALBUS: (Suddenly distracted) You always do.
He pulls his coat of a rack at the door and sets off down the blustery drive.
SCENE 7: Ext. Bathilda's house
ALBUS walks up to the front door, and knocks. He is answered by excitable old woman.
BATHILDA: Oh Albus! So good of you to come!
ALBUS smiles.
ALBUS: Of course.
BATHILDA ushers him inside.
BATHILDA: Come in, come in!
SCENE 8: Int. Bathilda's house
ALBUS closes the door and hangs his coat on the rack. He follows Bathilda to the tea room, where cups are already set. BATHILDA shuffles over to the staircase, calling up the steps.
BATHILDA: GELLERT? OUR GUEST IS HERE!
She turns to ALBUS, speaking in a normal tone.
BATHILDA: Ever since he arrived, my nephew has spent all his time in his room, looking at maps and records of this place! I don't know why he's so interested…
ALBUS frowns, and speaks under his breath as Bathilda bustles into the kitchen.
ALBUS: I might…
ANGLE ON A tall, fair-haired, handsome boy in dark clothing walking down the staircase. He halts halfway down, as ALBUS looks up. They meet eyes. ALBUS smiles tentatively. The boy returns the smile, and continues down the stairs.
ALBUS: Um, hullo! My name's Albus, er, Dumbledore. Albus Dumbledore.
ALBUS speaks quickly and enthusiastically.
GELLERT: I've heard.
ALBUS holds out his hand. The boy takes it, and they shake.
GELLERT: Gellert Grindelwald.
The boy smiles a bit confusedly. A beat.
BATHILDA: Oh! Albus, I see you've met Gellert. Now, come sit down, and we'll have a bit of tea.
They sit down and BATHILDA waves her wand, causing a teapot to rise off the table and pour the tea. She points her wand at the kitchen door, and a platter of assorted cakes flies in. An awkward silence as BATHILDA, oblivious, munches biscuits and sips her tea. ALBUS stares determinedly at his plate, embarrassed at his awkward introduction.
BATHILDA: Well, Albus, I've told Gellert, here, all about your brilliance at Hogwarts.
ALBUS, deeply embarrassed, averts his eyes, sinking lower in his chair. A beat. ANGLE ON GELLERT, who stifles a laugh, hastily concealing it with a cough. ALBUS grimaces, looking up at GELLERT.
BATHILDA: (kindly) And you know, GELLERT was quite successful at Durmstrang as well.
GELLERT's face hardens at her use of the past tense.
ALBUS makes a sudden noise of surprise. GELLERT looks at him reproachfully, and ALBUS who has sat up straight, peering across the table, notices.
ALBUS: No, no. It's just… that symbol you're wearing…
ANGLE ON GELLERT, who is wearing the symbol of the Deathly Hallows, a circle and line enclosed in a triangle. GELLERT clasps the pendant in his hand, hiding it. He looks at ALBUS meaningfully, jerking his head subtly at BATHILDA. Understanding floods ALBUS's eyes, and he sits back.
BATHILDA: Well boys, I'll leave you to get to know each other…
She gets up, points her wand at her cup and plate, and follows them into the kitchen. GELLERT leans back in his chair, relieved, and laughs.
GELLERT: Merlin's beard, that was close.
ALBUS gives him a questioning look.
GELLERT: Well, you obviously know what it is, but I haven't told her the reason I'm here.
ALBUS: You're here… to look for the Hallows?
GELLERT: Right.
ALBUS: In Godric's Hollow. Where the Ignotus Peverell is buried.
GELLERT: So it's true? Precisely the reason I thought I might find something here.
A beat.
ALBUS: Well, I wager I could help you.
GELLERT: And why is that?
ALBUS: I'm… er…
GELLERT: Looking for them too? (He smiles.) From the comfort of home, I see.
ALBUS blushes and ducks his head.
ALBUS: That's a long story. To put it simply… I am unable to leave here. For the the time being.
A beat.
ALBUS: But i've made good use of my resources. I might have a few notes you might need. And… vise versa.
GELLERT: I'll take anything and everything I can find. Tomorrow. You can show me the third brother's grave.
ALBUS smiles and nods.
ALBUS: Tomorrow.