The Greatest Temptation

I don't own anything you recognise.

Chapter 2

"Aberforth, can you please go and buy some more food while I make dinner?" Albus asked his brother with his teeth clenched together in frustration.

He had the strangest suspicion that he had messed up the chicken he was trying to make and it was driving him crazy. And perfect Aberforth was happily reading to their sister keeping her calmer and happier that Albus had ever managed to do. An alarm sounded as the burn detection charm that he had placed on the chicken went off. He swore violently as his brother came into the room and shoved him out of the way. The younger boy quickly pulled the chicken out of the slightly smoking oven and set it on the counter.

"Why don't you buy food and I'll sort this?" he suggested without even looking at Albus.

Silently seething, Albus stormed out of the house.

"Trouble with the Mrs?" a voice asked.

Albus started and looked around. Slouching against Bathilda Bagshot's garden fence was the wild looking boy. He was watching Albus with a small smirk.

"Brother actually." He explained. The other boy rolled his eyes slightly and Albus suddenly realised it had been sarcasm. "Who are you anyway?" he demanded, crossly.

The boy fell into step beside him.

"Gellert Grindelwald is the name. I'm visiting my aunt Bathilda for a few months. Who are you?"

His voice held just the right tone and had a very cute lilt to it. His English was good but there was just the slightest hint of an accent. Albus shook his head quickly – he had to stop these thoughts.

"I'm Albus Dumbledore, your aunt's neighbour." He answered.

The pair walked in silence for a few minutes. Albus was steadily trying to ignore the other boy as he didn't trust his own thoughts.

"So Albus, what can we do for fun around here?" Gellert asked suddenly.

"Well, I need to go and do the shopping for my family. You could go to the park or something I suppose."

"I could go on my own but I'd much rather you came in me."

Albus started. Did he just say what he thought he said?

"What?" he exclaimed.

"Oh I'm sorry; my English isn't perfect quite yet. I believe I meant to say I would rather you came with me." The other boy said. Albus nodded in understanding but he didn't see the other boy smirk at the effects the implications of his 'mistake' had had on Albus. "Please don't leave me alone Albus!"

"I suppose it would only be polite to show you around for a little while." Albus finally agreed.

"Good." The young Grindelwald boy stated.

He started pulling Albus along by his hand. As nice as it was having the attractive boy holding his hand he felt he had to point out one simple thing.

"The park is the other direction you know."

"I do know that. I want to show you the graveyard."

"The graveyard?" questioned Albus, feeling very confused.

Gellert quickly told him the story of the Deathly Hallows. A bright smile took over the other boys face as he described the legend.

"I've been trying to find the Hallows for the past two years." Suddenly a frown took over his pretty face. "They thought my ideas were a bit out there at Durmstrung which is why they expelled me." His roguish grin returned. "I left my mark for them though."

Dumbledore snuck into his home a few hours after midnight. He and Gellert had spent hours discussing intricate theories of transfiguration, alchemy and finally, muggle relations. Gellert believed that wizards should no longer have to hide from the non magical world; instead they should dominate. He felt that if he had all three Hallows he would be able to achieve his goal.

"So you would kill muggles... for the greater good?"

"For the greater good, yes."

Albus started at a loud thump as he made his way up the stairs.

"And where have you been?"

His younger brother Aberforth demanded as he walked out from the shadows. The younger brother's face was dark with anger and his fists were clenched.

"I'm sorry I didn't come home sooner. I was showing our new neighbour around the village." He sighed, deciding to back away from the fight before it ended in a brawl.

"I'd stay away from him if I were you Albus. I heard he got expelled from Durmstrung."

"Luckily you aren't me and you shouldn't listen to rumours without knowing all the facts. I would have thought with our life you would understand that!"

"You're being an idiot!" Aberforth screamed at him. "Our family is depending on you, Albus, and you would rather run about with a person you just met!"

"You are too young to understand – I need someone that I can discuss important current affairs with and such like."

"Oh please," Aberforth scoffed. "The only reason I can think of that you would run off without even considering Ariana is for some stupid crush."

The hallway fell silent as Albus stared at his younger brother in anger. Finally he turned sharply and marched up the stairs to his bedroom.

"Goodnight Aberforth." He said icily and slammed his bedroom door behind him.

Inside his room Albus paced back and forth angrily, from his wardrobe to his window. How could Aberforth accuse him of 'running off'? He made it sound like Albus was abandoning his family for a 'stupid crush'. Really, he was just pleased to have some sort of intelligent discussion for once, Albus lied to himself. It was nothing to do with Gellert's attractiveness at all. Albus didn't think that way anyway... much. Albus looked out the window across at Bathilda Bagshot's house. Movement caught his eyes in one of the lower bedroom windows and he saw Gellert wandering about in that dimly lit room. Albus reached up to wave and attract the other boy's attention but he quickly pulled his hand down again as he saw Gellert pull the thin robes he wore over his shoulders and threw them somewhere in his room carelessly. This thoughtless action left Albus able to admire the other boy easily, his eyes wandering over Gellert's straight shoulders and down his lean torso. He thought he saw the other boys eyes flash towards him and quickly closed the curtains. With a heavy blush staining his cheeks Albus smoothed down the front of his robes and lay on his bed trying to think of nothing at all. He didn't succeed in that endeavour.

Gellert Grindelwald smiled to himself as he saw his new friend's curtains fly shut. He liked it when he was right about people and he was certainly right about Albus. The older boy was intelligent and had wonderful visions of the future. He wasn't afraid to be different. He just needed a little... encouragement to bring out the more adventurous side in him. Gellert was confident that Albus was his perfect partner in every way. All he had to do now was show Albus that.

Hey, if you've been reading it I hope it hasn't been too disappointing. And if you can give me ANY advice on how to proceed with this please do help. I think I'm probably going to make it earn it's rating if I could just work out how to word it. If you have an idea of a scene you would like to appear in this message me with it written out and I'll most likely try and slot it in.

Review!