Chapter 2: Our Finest Gifts We Bring To Lay Before The King
Here's a confession for you. I generally have class and am not one to shag and tell, because, come on blokes, that's rude and classless! You'll never know the girls I've shagged unless they tell you because I won't. But the morning after my first night with Gellert bloody Grindelwald, I went down stairs and bragged profusely about it to Millie and Wolfgang over breakfast. I couldn't help it. I was bursting with pride and excitement and happiness and all sorts of other things I can't even put words to because I honestly don't have many emotions so...I don't understand them either.
That morning, I left Gellert sleeping because he looked so peaceful and I knew he needed the rest. He'd slept on a hard stone slab in Nurmengard for fifty years, and that past night was his first in a real bed in that long. He had lots of sleep to catch up on so I let him do that. It was a very unselfish act quite unlike me, because I really wanted to kiss him senseless instead. Love does that to one, though, makes them unselfish and soft and...ridiculous. It's freakish and scary. I didn't know it was love at the time, but it was, because at least for some of us, love at first sight does exist.
I may not have had a word for it, but it made me feel on top of the world and it was quite unlike anything I'd ever felt before so I had to share it. I am quite certain that Millie and Wolfgang wish I hadn't. They weren't interested. They aren't homophobic or anything, they just don't want to hear oversharing.
That's a boundary for which I have little respect, but I cant help it. Sorry, Wolfgang and Millie... Almost. I honestly do think it frightens them a bit...nearly as much as it frightens me. Both have remarked more than once how different I am around Gellert.
That I talk and even laugh which they find disturbing. I'm not exactly certain how to take that, I confess. I am rather quiet most of the time, being more of an observer rather than one to directly participate in most social interactions. I can hardly help it if Gellert is the only person I really have much to say to.
Millie and Wolfgang not enjoying my oversharing was the least of my problems that morning. When I was happily gushing about what, or rather who I'd done the previous night, I was blissfully unaware that my family was standing behind me. They'd just arrived to check in on the progress Gellert and I had made and Wolfgang's Kobold had shown them in without our noticing.
I was looking at Millie and Wolfgang and they were looking at me. I was talking so the Kobold didn't interrupt which resulted in...The parents and our family elf, Bramble, hearing everything. Kobolds are little blue beings that the Germans have to help in their homes, by the way. Basically, they're the German equivalent to house elves, with a few differences. Look it up if you care, though, because I am not here to confess about Kobolds.
When we at last noticed my family, they were tactful, and didn't comment on what they'd heard, leading me to believe that they'd just come in and hadn't overheard a thing. Wolfgang invited them to join us for breakfast and I filled them in on the scrying mirror Gellert and I had made for Snape to use at Hogwarts.
I'll confess something for poor Snape while I'm at it. He hated being Headmaster as much as most students hated him being Headmaster. My parents were expressing how impressed they were with our work when Gellert entered the dining room and took his place at the table at my side. As he'd arrived in tattered prison robes yesterday, I had Bramble bring him some of my clothes to borrow. We're both thin even if I am slightly taller so my black slacks and green warm winter sweater fit him well enough. He greeted everyone politely, but his gaze rested on me in a way that made my heart sing like a silly little girl...or perhaps a drunk moth? It was all fluttery at any rate, which I found vastly annoying and pleasurable at the same time.
I barely had time to explain to Gellert that I'd left him sleeping because I thought he could use the extra rest when my mother, in her trademark ice cold voice, much like my own when I am speaking to most people, demanded that Gellert go out into the hall with her for a private word.
I was perplexed, but assumed it was something concerning protections against Voldemort as my parents can be more paranoid than most. I was a bit miffed to be left out, I must admit, but I knew Gellert would tell me whatever she'd said later, so I let it go for the time being.
They were out in the hall for far longer than I expected, and I was beginning to grow rather impatient when they returned. My mother had an odd expression on her face that I had never seen before. Contritely apologetic was the best way to describe it. I shot Gellert a curious look, full of questions, but he merely shrugged and gave me a mildly bemused smile.
As for my mother, she sat down and began to eat her breakfast as if nothing had happened. When she spoke, it was to announce in a very business like manner that we were going clothes shopping for Gellert directly after the meal was over. She promised Wolfgang to have us back for lunch so that we might continue our crafting of defensive and protective enchanted items for the cause, as it were.
When Wolfgang was agreeable, my mother asked if he would permit Gellert to join us for the holidays. At that point I was simply dying to know what they'd talked about and shot Gellert another questioning look. Once again he shrugged, giving me that slight bemused smile.
Wolfgang agreed, stating pointedly that he trusted my family to keep Gellert safe. I couldn't help sliding Gellert an uncomfortable look at that, because of course he could keep himself safe. He was Gellert Grindelwald, after all. Still he'd been captured before, and we could all use a bit of help sometimes.
That and at least in part Wolfgang probably meant, keep him from escaping in case he takes a mind to do so, which of course he would not. He'd made as much quite clear last night during our talks between bouts of extremely delicious shagging. He told me he couldn't handle returning to Nurmengard, and would do anything to avoid it so Wolfgang had nothing to worry about on that front.
Another confession: If he'd decided to run away, and not to help Wolfgang either, I'd have gone with him. I would've tried to talk him out of it, but I'd have gone with him rather than turn him in even to my friends and family. I told him as much, not because I was stupid or naive as it may seem, but rather because I needed him to know that he could trust me. I needed him to know that I had his back no matter what, because I knew he needed to know it.
My parents agreed to pick us up for the holiday break on the following day, allowing us to get in another day of work at Wolfgang's without distractions before the family festivities began. We always go to Italy for part of the holidays where my father's family lives, and the rest is spent with my mother's side in London.
True to her word, Mother shepherded us all out to Knockturn Alley to clothes shop for Gellert. Us consisted of me, Gellert, my father and our elf Bramble. She made Gellert keep a long cloak draped around him with the hood up to shadow his face, though I told her that no one would ever presume the youth who now looked my age to be Gellert Grindelwald.
Did I say yet that my parents are paranoid? My mother basically ignored me and insisted that Gellert keep the cloak on. To my admitted surprise, the proud, strong, former leader of an army was obedient and nearly meek when it came to my mother. She practically dominated him in each of the three clothing shops we visited, even choosing robes for him after asking his favorite colors, which were black, black, gray, and black, much like my own, though sometimes I toss in a bit of green because Slytherin pride.
When it came time for shoes, she even put each pair on his feet that she wanted him to try so he didn't have to bend over and risk the cloak's hood slipping from around his face. If seeing the great Gellert Grindelwald meekly acquiescing to my mother was strange, seeing her doting on him was equally as strange.
My parents always gave me love and support, but not particularly in a solicitous or doting sort of way. My father, Bramble and I watched the show, bemused as much as we were oddly entertained. When we were finished, Gellert had ten dress robes, twelve shirts and twelve pairs of slacks as well as two warm velvet cloaks, two pairs of shoes and a pair of gleaming knee high leather boots. When I commented that I liked the cloaks, she got me the same ones to match. Here's another confession. I love wearing matching clothes with Gellert. My Mum thinks we look silly matching all the time but I find it incredibly sexy. It also makes me feel even more connected to him somehow, sappy as that probably sounds.
Gellert was rather flustered at my Mum's extravagance, thanking her a bit uncomfortably for the generous Christmas gifts as we apparated back to Wolfgang's in time for lunch as she'd promised. She shook her head, saying that these weren't Christmas gifts. "I owed you a bigger apology than words could give," she stated briskly. "Now accept it, please, so I can stop feeling like a heel."
My brows shot up. My mother never called herself anything unflattering...EVER.
"Yes, of course," Gellert assured, blue gaze sliding away from hers and toward his feet in obvious discomfort.
My parents stayed for lunch, then took their leave so that Gellert and I could get some work done. Once we were upstairs in the guest room that we now shared with the door closed, however, work was the last thing on my mind. I had to know what my mum and Gellert had spoken about in the hall that had her behaving so strangely all bloody day. Though my need from the morning to kiss him senseless hadn't gone away in the slightest, I demanded to know what had happened between he and my mum before allowing myself to satisfy that urge.
"I swear, I don't truly know," he admitted, letting out a bemused laugh as he sank down onto the edge of the bed.
Why did he have to sit on the bloody bed?! It made me want very much to join him there and... But I remained standing, leaning against the wall beside the closed bedroom door.
"Explain," I invited eagerly.
He told me that my mother had demanded to know what his game was as soon as they were alone in the hall together. She proclaimed that he would not be using me for any personal gains, if he'd thought to do so by seducing me. At that I felt the blood rushing to my face as my heart pounded in indignant anger. I was of bloody legal age and no child. What right had she?
Gellert nodded in somber agreement as I stridently aired these thoughts before continuing with the story. He said he assured my mum he had no such need. He told her that if she wished to continue this conversation, perhaps I should be present, because I may not be pleased. Obviously not! He continued, informing my mother, that HE had seduced no one and that in fact I had made the first move, which was of course quite true. At this my mother gaped like a fish out of water, which I had a difficult time imagining. I believed it, though, considering her odd behavior all day. She actually apologized to Gellert for raising a 'little predator!' I wasn't certain if she was flattering or insulting me, so merely wordlessly made a face, waiting for him to go on.
Gellert assured her that I hadn't taken advantage of a man just out of prison in the least, though she seemed to believe I had. He assured her that the attraction was completely mutual and that he cared for her son very much and had never connected with anyone like this in his life. Though he and I had said as much to one another the previous night, the words still brought a pleased smile to my face as my heart swelled with what could only be the magic of Christmas joy.
Gellert and I both found it odd that my Mum just believed him, but she did. In fact she asked if he was free for the holidays and if he'd like to spend them with the family. Of course he was flabbergasted but agreed gladly. He confessed to waiting for the other shoe to drop when it came to her, much as he'd hate to see it happen. I assured him that she wasn't like that. Though she was behaving strangely, my Mum didn't flip-flop. She was steadfast unless given reason not to be in all matters, be it her unwavering paranoia or her love and devotion to those she deemed worthy of it.
With my curiosity satisfied, I was able to turn my mind to getting some work done. We did owe Wolfgang, after all, for without him, Gellert wouldn't be young, beautiful, and here at my side. Sure I'd helped a great deal, but the idea itself had originated with Wolfgang.
I apologized profusely for my mum's behavior, and Gellert was kind and understanding, which I truly appreciated. Before we got to work, though, I did deserve that kiss my mind had been on all day. Seating myself on the bed beside Gellert I at long last kissed him senseless. After that we should've gotten directly to work, but one kiss led to at least an hour of very necessary shagging. I was hungry for him in a way that was difficult to explain even to myself. I'm just still happier than I can say that he felt the same.
Eventually we did get to work as we'd promised, producing several of those magic dispersing amulets of the sort I'd made to get around the Nurmengard wards. Wearing them would make it far harder to kill any of us, and that was all anyone wanted for the most part while Voldemort reigned. Let us not think too much of Voldemort, though, as he has no part in Christmas. Until my next confession, and trust me it'll be a good one, eat, drink, and be merry! We surely intend to do so.