After a short talk to Lukas about how his little sister had just called asking him to take her to the hospital (despite of having to use Cam to be able to get a 'yes' from the manager), Albus was finally able to get an escape from the situation he was settled in. He grabbed his bag, changed into his normal clothes and left the market, but not before a hand held his wrist and an unwanted mouth came close to his ear to whisper: "Think about my offer". Uncomfortable, he promised that he would, although his answer was already certain, and left the establishment as quickly as he could, not looking back as he went straight to his house's path.

Sure, he didn't know how Ari and Abe would react of him coming home earlier than he had programmed, neither he had a good excuse to give to his siblings, but being as far away from that market as possible was his momentary quest.

Although, as he walked towards the small woods between the village and the Dumbledore residence, he felt as if he was being watched.

Making his steps slower and his ears more attentive, he kept on walking while looking around, sure that he was being followed. The streets were mostly empty as they always were, with a car driving by every now and then, or a person making their way up or down the street walking past him. Nothing suspicious, no one he recognized immediately, nothing he wouldn't normally see in a normal afternoon.

But as he approached the woods entrance, he stopped, and looked around again, all the area surrounding him, trying to find something.

When he didn't, he decided to play fair.

"Is there anyone there?"

If it were a stalker or a murderer or a thief, they would never just go around and say 'yes'. It was a stupid plan. But Albus had no idea what else to do.

He walked for a few seconds, and then something poked him on the back, making him jump and turn around, scared out of his mind.

So scared in fact that his panicked face made Gellert burst out laughing.

"Oh sweet, you really didn't know I was around" Gellert said between laughs, a huge grin on his face as Albus held onto his own shirt and tried to steady his breathing and heart. "That was priceless, you should have seen your face."

"God… damn it Gellert" he mumbled shakily and closed his eyes. "Today was not a good day to play with me like this…"

"Something happened?" he asked, immediately serious again, and Albus shook his head, taking a deep breath and waving it off.

"Don't worry about it" he mumbled and tilted his head. "What the hell were you doing, following me around?"

"Well, I was following you around" Gellert shrugged, and Albus rolled his eyes.

"Yes but why?"

"I was hoping to catch you after work to take you somewhere" he explained, smiling. "Auntie told me where you worked so I came around lunch break to see if you would stay for another turn or leave."

"Well, you caught me in a good day" Albus admitted, smiling lightly, calmer now that Gellert was around and he knew it wasn't Lukas or anyone else. "I actually want to go home just after eight, but I'm not staying at work. So I have the whole afternoon free."

"Oh then it's perfect" Gellert exclaimed, grinning and reaching out for Albus, taking him by the hand. "Follow me."

Without giving Albus much choice, he pulled him towards the woods, holding his hand tight and making the redhead blush ever so lightly around his freckles. He fixed his glasses, held tight onto his bag and followed the directions he was being pulled towards, into the woods and towards the other side of the town.

"Here we are."

Albus looked around as Gellert let go from his hand, staring straight towards Albus and waiting a reaction. They were in a little clearing in the middle of the Godric Hollow's woods, a little deeper than what Albus usually went, where a small pond rested frozen in the middle of the winter.

"How did you find this place?" Albus asked, voice soft as he walked closer to the pond. Gellert walked with him, standing by his side.

"Well, I didn't have anything to do these last days and my auntie said there were some interesting things in the woods, in case I wanted to get adventurous" he said, smirking to himself. "So I wondered around and found this. Cool right?"

"Yes… it is called the Sword Pond" Albus said, sitting down slowly, and Gellert sat next to him, frowning ever so lightly.

"Sword Pond?"

"It is said… that many years ago, someone dropped a very expensive sword inside the pond" Albus said, reaching down and making a little sword drawing on the ice with his finger. "Made of pure silver, with many precious stones in it… Some say that depending on the position of the moon, you can still see the reflection of the sword in the dark waters."

"Is it real then?" Gellert asked, curiously, and Albus looked at him with a chuckle. "What? What if it is?"

"I'm pretty sure it is just a rock formation that has some type of crystal above it that resembles a sword" he said, amused by Gellert's reaction. "You don't believe in stories like these, do you?"

"All stories have their truth" he said, eyes shifting towards the lake again. "Imagine if there really is a silver sword inside this little pond, filled with precious stones… we would be rich."

"And frozen" Albus chuckled, and looked up at Gellert as he suddenly stood up. "What are you doing?"

"Would you come after me if I froze?" he asked, eyes focused on the lake as he began taking out his coat. Albus' heart immediately accelerated its beats, and he stood up, shaking his head.

"You're not serious… It's a joke Gellert, a story! There is no sword inside this pond" he said, desperately, already freaking out. With reason, since Gellert had put his coat down and was beginning to unbutton his shirt. "Gellert quit it! You're not getting inside, I won't allow you to!"

"Jumping in frozen lakes is a sport Albus, you don't actually die from it" he rolled his eyes, and looked at him with a smirk. "Just be ready to warm me up when I come back up."

"You're not going!" Albus insisted, standing in front of him and frowning. Gellert raised his eyebrow, tilting his head. "It is dangerous, you're not doing it."

"But what about the sword?"

"It is not real!"

"You don't know that. You're not sure."

"Do you actually believe in fairy tales?!"

"Yes, most of the time" Gellert said, shrugging his shirt off and reaching out for his shoes. Albus looked at his hands and frowned, holding his wrists and stepping forward, making Gellert step back.

"You're not getting inside, I'm not going to let you" he said, firmly, eyes narrowed, and Gellert smirked.

"Fine. I won't get inside. With one condition."

Albus sighed, and rolled his eyes.

"What condition?"

"Kiss me."

Albus froze immediately, and Gellert smirked widely, staring deep into the extremely conflicted blue eyes in front of him.

"I-I beg your pardon?" Albus asked, his voice failing him as it came out mumbled and slightly broken, and Gellert simply chuckled at him, shrugging lightly.

"Kiss me and I won't get inside. Don't kiss me, and you will have to catch my frozen body from the pond."

"… was this your idea since you told me to come with you?" Albus asked, narrowing his eyes again, and Gellert shook his head.

"No, I make my plans up as I go" he whispered, smirking, and stepped forward, making Albus step back. "So, what is it going to be?"

"G-Gellert, one thing has nothing to do with the other" Albus mumbled shakily, taking another step back as Gellert took one forward.

"It's just a kiss… I'm not asking anything else."

"It has nothing to do with anything!"

"Albus… please…" Gellert groaned, giving another step forward. "Your obliviousness is driving me insane!"

"I'm not oblivious!" Albus retorted, annoyed, and stepped back again. "I know what you want, I'm not going to give it to you!"

"Why not?!"

"Because I-"

As Gellert gave another step forward, Albus gave another one backwards. However this time, the floor was over, and the pond was beginning. As soon as he stepped, putting all his weight on the foot, all they heard was a cracking sound.

Then, Albus fell back into the water, his leg going first and being followed by his whole body, hands slipping from Gellert's wrist and going right into the water.

The pond was deep, and despite of them being close to the edge, Albus lost all balance and went back first against the ice, breaking the thin layer and getting his whole body into the water.

The immediate sensation was of thousands of clothes pins digging into his skin. Luckily, he had no time to feel anything else, because as soon as he fell he was being pulled back, and although he was coughing and shivering and completely freezing, he still felt his fingers.

"Holy shit!" Gellert screamed next to him, pulling him completely out of the water and pushing the hair that was on Albus' face off. "I'm so sorry, I'm so fucking sorry holy shit, are you okay?! Albus are you feeling your body?!"

"Y-y-ye-ye-yes" he was able to answer, his teeth shattering as he tried to get himself up. His legs were trembling, his arms were shaking horribly, and he could only grab onto Gellert's body and try to pull himself up. "F-f-f-f-f-fuck."

"Wait, I'll warm you up" Gellert said, pulling off Albus' coat and desperately pulling onto his shirt. A little dazzed, Albus tried to help, confused and getting even colder at the hit of the cold wind on his body. However, soon he felt warm, with something dry being wrapped around him. "Fuck, your brother and sister are going to kill me…"

"D-d-d-don-don't ta-ta-take me ho-home" Albus said, immediately, feeling his brain take control of his mouth slowly. Gellert looked at him worriedly and Albus simply shook his head. "N-n-n-no-no…"

"O-okay, I'll take you to my house then" Gellert said, slowly standing up and pulling Albus with him. "My car is like… a few kilometres from here, lets get there and warm you up, okay?"

"Y-ye-ye-ye-yes-s-s…" Albus mumbled, tiredly, and leaning heavily on Gellert. He grabbed everything else that was theirs and began to pull Albus towards the car, as he slowly felt his bones and muscles warming up at the light exercise.

Soon, he was leaning less against Gellert, but he was still freezing cold.

"I'm so fucking stupid, I swear to heavens…" Gellert mumbled as they walked, making Albus smile and then chuckle weakly.

"Do-don't worry, I'll live" he said, softly, already feeling way better, and turned his head to look at Gellert, who looked back, frowning in worry. "It was your fault though, so like, you own me one."

"Yes, maybe I do" Gellert mumbled, looking away. "Maybe I do."

Albus saw a little tint of pink in Gellert's cheek, and his heart warmed up.