(A/N A short one. I realize I need to describe Albus's job in greater detail, but this just wasn't the right place to do it.)
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The days after the indecent in the graveyard passed very normally, and Albus did a good job of convincing himself that was a good thing. His job called him away a few days out of the week, and otherwise he was resigned to household chores. Aberforth remained prickly, Ariana remained distant and remote. He wrote a response to Elphias that was a total lie by omission. He immersed himself in his normal life; everything that had nothing to do with Grindelwald.
His mental prohibition was interrupted, however, when he entered his room to find an origami bird fluttering outside his window.
"Considering you shamelessly break the code of secrecy and pay wanton disregard to muggle witnesses," he said aloud as he opened the window, "I don't need to wonder who sent you."
The paper bird flew into his hand and unfolded of it's own accord. On it was written:
I'm going to do you the honor of respecting your feelings, and not try and win you over. You may hate me for my recklessness, but please do not fear for yourself. I don't plan on staying in your village forever, just until the end of the summer. Perhaps, you think, that is still too long. I hope it will ease your mind to know that I don't intend to do anything of the same magnitude through the duration of my stay.
-G. G.
The letter didn't turn to blood in his hands this time. Thankfully; he'd had his fill of blood lately.
In a fit of inexplicable anger, he ripped the paper into pieces. Damn him, damn Gellert Grindelwald for his arrogance, recklessness and harsh words. And damn him most of all for making Albus hope. For shedding some light on the darkness in his heart, only to snatch it all away again.
You're brave.
Freedom might seem like madness, when you live your life in a cage.
How could someone make him feel such happiness and pain at the same time? Leave him wishing they had never met, and yet dying to see him once more?
That's when Albus realized he was in love.
No. No, no, no!
He denied the thought almost as soon as he had it. Tried to nullify it, send it back to the dark recesses of his subconscious from whence it came.
It wasn't love, he told himself. It was shallow infatuation. He was attracted, that was all. He barely knew Grindelwald. He wasn't even on a first-name-basis with him. He could count on one had the number of times they had met. He wasn't even sure he liked him.
As if the logic of the mind held any sway, where the heart was concerned. Even if this wasn't love, this was by far as close to it as he had ever been. There had been one or two boys back in school that he had fancied. They hadn't seemed likely to return his feelings, and ultimately he was content to be their friend and nothing more.
With Grindelwald, he wanted more. Albus had wanted him from the moment he laid eyes on the other boy. And everything Grindelwald had done since, even the things that made Albus angry…they only intensified his desire. Grindlewald was in his system like sweet poison.
He could have laughed at (or hit) himself. Was he really the type to be taken with the 'dangerous' type? To fall for a boy who was mysterious and risky and just a little bit mean?
Oh who am I kidding, of course he's the kind I'd fall for.
He shook his head, as though he could knock the unwelcome realization right out of it. Even if he was in love or only in lust or whatever, it didn't change the fact that Grindelwald was dangerous. He was a risk to have around: the illegal portkey, the blood magic, the brush with death and the malevolent forces that dwelt therein…he was unpredictable. After the incident in the graveyard, Albus would almost go so far as to say he was insane.
And here Albus was, pining after him. Mercy help him, they were both insane.
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(A/N I was discussing the concept of this fanfic with my friend, when in the sky there appeared not one, not two, but THREE rainbows. I took it as a sign that God/Goddess/the Universe/Buddha/What-Have-You not only approves, but probably ships Grindeldore as their OTP)