Author's Note:I am not warning for any of the stuff from now on. ALL of the things I warned for in the description will start to happen here on out. There is a piece of art that goes with this chapter here: /L9jxM if you wanted to know what the dress looked like.

There are MANY chapters to go. The chapters are named after a Nanowrimo thread about book titles. I had so many I liked, that I just made appropriate titles for each chapter. Enjoy!

Love and the Promise

-Albus-

Gellert was at my door, bright and early, and I was currently leaning tiredly against him, a cup of tea in one hand. He was ranting on about something, but I was not really listening to what he was saying, content to listen to his voice. He knew it, turning to me as I sipped my honeyed Earl Grey, peering at him over the rim, "I have been talking in Deutsch for the last 15 minuten, mein liebe. Are you awake yet?" I snorted and sipped my tea, really it was too early for this.

"I think we should go to London!" He enunciated every syllable, his amber eyes intense upon me. We had been to Berlin the previous weekend.

"You have some plan don't you?" He frowned, then slowly his lips curled into another grin, "Ja... Ist..."

"mmm. What are you planning...?" Gellert had the grace to blush, and I knew I was in for something. "What is it...?"

Gellert jumped up, digging into the cabinet, pulling something out that was shrouded in coloured paper, slightly dusty. "I found dis..." He lay it on his bed in front of me,and I watched as he removed the paper carefully, so not to rip it, revealing a dress. I choked on my tea, barely managing to put the cup down with a clatter. Surely he didn't think...he was holding the dress up to my chest, estimating. I flushed and looked away, aware of the slide of the fine silk against my bare cheek.

"Whose birthday is this anyway?" I said sullenly, trying to ignore a small part of me that desired more than anything to wear it.

-Gellert-

This would distract him until later, he did not know what I planned to do tonight, and I hoped I would be able to do it with even a sliver of the grace he had. I'd found the dress a few days ago, such a fine thing, just hidden in a closet. I had a suspicion that Albus would like it, based on what I had seen him wear on a daily basis.

What he was wearing now would certainly be classified as a dress to anyone but a wizard really. And even then, the beautifully adorned blue garment he had on was quite flamboyant. It was tailored to his slender body, sea green, with blue designs sewn into the fabric and abstract patterns down the front. At his waist, it was held together with a loose belt of fabric, where it flared out not unlike a dress. It had an open front, the panels of fabric in front fell only to his knees and the rest flared out to his ankles. He wore a pair of matching trousers under it, subtly flared at the ends over his deceptively plain black stilettos. Over one shoulder, he wore a cloak, and if I did not know him as well as I did, I would think him hot under that clothing, and would be surprised that it was cold at the touch.

I could spend the entire afternoon looking at him, but presently I held the dress, and I was determined to get him to wear it, for the idea appealed to me to see it upon him, and I suspected he would like it once I managed to get him in it. I lay it on the bed, and rummaged for the corset I had seen there. He would not need it to fit into the dress, but I shivered and hardened to think of strapping him into it anyway.

He was looking at me, and predictably, he wasn't running away. Good. As much as I would love to strap him down and tie him to the bed...I shook my head and tried to push the thought from my mind, or I would spend all day ravishing him senseless. I had plans for today, that would come later. "kommst," I had to struggle for the proper English word for a moment, "Undress. I will not touch you."

Albus rose slowly, blushing that delicate shade of red that sent shivers down my spine. He had no idea at all of how very cute he was. He was looking at me over his delicate golden glasses and I exhaled slowly. "Bitte..." I was not above using my accent and throwing in small words in Deutsch in to excite him, I was aware how much it aroused him.

He sighed, and I grinned at him as he unbuckled his cloak, draping it over the chair he had just vacated. Albus slipped off each bit of clothing, the robe, which he folded before he draped it along with the cloak. He squirmed uncomfortably as I watched him intently, very hard for him, my amber eyes undoubtedly darkened. "Everything" I said, hands on his waistband. He allowed me to slide the trousers off, revealing his lovely cock, already straining against the silken panties he wore. I chuckled and placed a kiss to the purple fabric, and he mewled softly.

I went to the corset, and slipped it over his head, tenderly brushing his lovely hair out of his eyes, "Hold your hands over your head," Albus wriggled against me, so sweetly aware of my presence, his cock already tenting the delicate purple silk. I swallowed, and bent to the task of the corset, familiar with the puzzle of intricate silk and whalebone and ribbon, having laced my sister's corset for her countless times. I pulled the ribbons tight, and he gasped as I worked swiftly, tightly binding his lithe body into it, his chest heaving with the effort of breathing in such a tight binding. I was delicate with him, my sister demanded bindings twice as tight as these, which is why I often laced them, our mother not possessing the strength to perform the task. I smiled, though Albus could not see, for I knew he'd probably think it was creepy, but that sort of familial intimacy was not so strange for us.

Walking around him appreciatively, I placed a kiss to his trembling sternum, guiding his hands down into mine. The dress itself was not so old, perhaps a year or two out of season, and I suspected that such dresses were probably everywhere in Frau Bagshot's house, forgotten in her obsession with writing. This one was fine, even to Grindelwald standards: forest green Indian silk, drawn in snugly around the torso, and flowing out like an emerald river from the waist, the barest hint of a bustle on the back of it. The silk petticoats were sewn into the dress, and there was no strange under wiring like I had seen on the fashions of some women that passed by in Godric's Hollow, like bells with legs.

I lifted it over his head, he obediently slipping his arms through and head, the dress sitting just beautifully with the aid of the corset, clinging to his stomach and sliding over his slender legs. Albus' shoes were still on, and I found them to be too severe for this, rummaging for the matching shoes and socks I had seen packaged with this dress, pulling them out of the closet as well. I held them up, and he toed off his stilettos, then the bright purple socks he was wearing, and I slid the light mint coloured socks over his thin feet, tying the ribbons and arranging the ruffle just so. I transfigured the shoes longer, so that they would fit his long feet, sliding them on as well, delicate silken flats, with bows on the fronts. Finally, I produced a sliver of emerald ribbon, and tied his wand to it, binding it against the socks.

I stood, watching him move stiffly, craning around to see himself, the silk clinging to his legs just so. He was beautiful, standing there and I savoured the moment, before focusing on the most difficult task. "Come here mein liebe" Albus obeyed, letting me hold him for a moment before bringing my wand up to his face. "We are going out like this, which means..."

He stiffened, whimpering softly in my arms, "Gellert..."

"We cannot have this..." I pulled his small goatee teasingly, "You will not get away with being a girl with this.."

"But it took me..."

"You can grow it back liebe, with magic" He tried to remove himself from my grasp, but I pushed him down into the chair, sitting on his lap and pinning him there, wand already at the ready. A sharp sound, and it was done, the surprisingly soft hair of his goatee gone and in my left hand. He made a pitiful sound and I chuckled softly, getting up.

"Some birthday this is so far!" Albus grumbled, his slender fingers massaging his bare chin. His eyes twinkled through his messed hair, and I knew I was forgiven.

I handed him a brush and watched him slide it through his rumpled copper hair until it was shiny and fell like water over his shoulders. I sucked in a breath, seeing him look at me with wide blue eyes, did he not know how breathtaking he was? "Perfect..." I breathed, pressing my lips to his lightly.

"You want me to go outside like this don't you?"

"Ja, dat was the idee."

"How will we..."

"Apparition of course. I want to see London!"

He pouted, then offered his arm, "Very well, but...in Muggle London only, I am afraid of being recognized like this..." I wanted to add that nobody would be surprised, but did not say so. I took his arm, and we disappeared with a resounding crack.

-Albus-

We emerged outside in a narrow alley, and I had to stop and gasp for breath, the corset felt a thousand times worse than the squeeze of apparation at the moment. Gellert produced a top hat from a pocket, and I glared at him, jerking my head to the milling Muggle crowd. He smiled at me and put it on his head, and I realized belatedly that he had been dressed for this from the beginning and I had not noticed. I led him down the crowded street, tensing slightly when he wrapped a possessive arm around my waist, then relaxed again. The ruffles upon the breast of this dress concealed the fact I had none, and a look in the mirror earlier assured me that I made a quite passable girl.

We spent most of the day wandering about Muggle London, darting in and out of shops and around the press of a summer's crowd. Presently I was sucking on a sweet, and we were sitting near a fountain, my head on Gellert's shoulder, and his arm around me as I leaned against him. I admitted it was nice to be able to sit here, with the people milling about past us, paying us no mind. What I wouldn't give to be able to sit here, as a man, albeit a rather feminine one, with Gellert, and have nobody care about it. Part of my lust for the Hallows came from that, from the want to be able to walk in the sun with the one I loved and not have to hide it.

I sighed and Gellert hugged me to him, whispering, "We should go back now, it is late" And it was, the golds and reds of sunset casting a rusty blanket on our surroundings. I stood slowly, looking around at the beautiful people passing by, and at Gellert, who was looking at me intensely again. I offered him my arm, though I needn't have, as we both knew the way home. But he took it, and we walked a short way like that, to the darkness of an alleyway, looking around before disappearing.

We reappeared in Gellert's room, and I lay back on the bed, lethargic and finally getting used to the tight binding of the corset. Gellert pressed himself against me, climbing on me and rumpling the fine fabric of the dress. I laughed softly, and he kissed my bare chin, murmuring a spell and regrowing the hair, curling his index finger around it thoughtfully.

"I love you" he breathed, his eyes sparkling in a peculiar way, the way they did when he talked about the Hallows and the future.

I almost scoffed at him, but that look silenced me. Could he possibly love me also?

"You don't mean that..." I ventured, watching him frown at me, "I do..."

"I think you are in lust with me."

He kissed me, and said, "Nein, it is more than that now. I will prove it to you!" I had to laugh at that, but he was off my chest, and near the window and I sat up, looking confused. "How?" He leaned in to kiss me slowly, then he was gone, a hollow snap all that followed him.

I lay back again, doubly confused by today. It has been the best birthday I had ever had, just spending the day with him, in love without a care in the world. That was bliss. I pressed the cool back of my hand to my eyes, and drifted to sleep.

-Gellert-

Albus was wondering, but I could not have him guess what I was about to do. I had found proof, definite proof of where the Elder Wand lay. I'd concealed the knowledge for days now, for this purpose. I was currently behind the shop of Gregorovich, and it was already dark, past midnight now, and the building was silent. Several days ago I had stashed a broom here, and had planned my way in.

Foolishly, Gregorovich did not secure his windows, perhaps in concession to the summer heat, but they were open and unwarded. Though these were on the second floor, they led directly into his workshop. Under glass, I could see what I sought, what could only be the Elder wand, encased under a glass and gold dome, upon a red velvet pillow. I let my eyes adjust to the gloom, not wanting to bring attention to myself with a light spell, lest I be discovered before I had my hands around it.

I had done other research, and found that the Gregorovich that currently held this wand was the son of the man in the diary, and did not know what he possessed. He merely thought the wand as something that was valuable to his father, and had kept it in memory of him, who had died some years ago, of natural causes. It was unprotected, and the glass and gold was dusty when I touched it carefully, wary of some lingering ward, but the dome came silently up and I set it aside. I took the wand from its pillow, and heard a loud crack. Scheiße! I had stepped on a piece of lathe, and I could hear footsteps now.

I danced back to the window, smiling gleefully at the confused, portly man as I sat on the windowsill, the light from his wand bathing me in light. Before he could retaliate, I twirled the Elder Wand and stunned him, crowing with laugher as I flipped backwards onto the waiting broom, my black robes like wings as I cheered jubilantly. I flew into the cloudy sky, the damp gloom concealing my path, and picked a place some miles from the shop, in the dark of a thick forest to apparate back to Godric's Hollow.

Still bubbling with jubilation at how smoothly this had went, I lit my own wand with a simple spell to examine the wand anyway, to be doubly sure. Up close, there was no doubt to the seeker, though the gold ring around the base was tarnished, it bore the dark etching of the triangle, circle and line through it all, the Hallows symbol. I held it to me and pondered what I was about to do. I had realized, in the two months that we had known each other, that Albus was everything to me. If I was to do this, to change the world, if we were to change the world, I needed him in so many ways.

I climbed back into the window, silent as I had been scarcer than an hour earlier. Albus, the sweet thing, was sleeping, glasses still upon his face, his hand upon them. I climbed in beside him, and he stirred, looking sleepily up at me as I grinned down at him. I set my wand on the table, still lit, and looked down at him, a lump in my throat as I gathered up the courage to say what I needed to.

"I gathered a proof of my love for you..." he said nothing, but his eyes were curious yet wary.

I dropped the elder wand onto his chest and he startled, picking it up with slow, sleepy confusion. When his eyes found the symbol he uttered a little cry, "This...this is..."

"This is the wand, our wand...and..." I fought to say it, to put to words how I felt. He still held the wand, and I held the hand that held it. "Will you marry me Albus?"

-Albus-

Marry him? I wanted nothing better, in that moment there was no hesitation. I blinked back tears, "Yes...yes I will"

Gellert uttered a curious sound, holding me closely and tightly to him as he kissed me fervently. I felt a tingle and a shower of sparks, and when we parted I stared at it. Had he...I raised the wand, looking at it speculatively, "Gellert..."

"It is yours now. I love you."

"I love you too Gellert, more than I can say..."

Note: This ran on one of my theories about how canon!Albus (of which is this is NOT) managed to defeat Gellert in the 1945 duel. One of the theories is that Gellert was never the TRUE master of the wand, Albus was. This is an alternate reality of how that might have come to be.