Telling the Slytherin prefect was a breeze. He didn't even seem to care, he just signed down some paper to give to the house teacher and dismissed the student that was supposed to be Gellert's companion. He filled up another report, asking Gellert to give it to his new companion so they could give it to their house teacher, and left Gellert to do whatever he wanted.

On that particular day, he decided to stick around his Durmstrang friends for lunch, but as soon as he was done eating, he walked to the Gryffindor table with a grin on his face and sat down next to Albus, who was now (luckily) alone, reading a book.

At first he didn't even notice Gellert next to him. He had to poke the Gryffindor on the shoulder to catch his attention, and thus he looked up, smiling ever so kindly.

"Oh. Hey Gellert. Got it all solved with the Slytherin prefect?"

"Yes" Gellert handed him the form. "Just give this to the Gryffindor professor and we are good to go. I am so excited to go to your classes with you"

"Like I said, you will get bored in the first two days" Albus chuckled and closed his book, holding the form. "Come with me. Lets give this to my professor and be done with it"

And just like that, the two left the hall and walked towards the Gryffindor's teacher's office. Silently, they made their way through the corridors until they reached the correct office. Albus asked Gellert to wait outside, and walked inside, returning just a few moments later with a nod.

"So we are companions now?" Gellert asked as they walked away from the office and towards Albus' next class. The older boy nodded slowly, looking down at Gellert and smiling.

"I guess we are"

"So what should we do?"

"Well" Albus hummed, tilting his head. "Now I have advanced transfiguration and after that, runes and magical symbols. It will be late evening when we are done, almost night. After the classes we could either eat dinner or I could show you a little around Hogwarts, whichever you prefer"

"Don't you have prefect duties to fulfil?" Gellert asked curiously, and Albus chuckled, nodding.

"Yes I do, but I can afford to work on them late at night. I don't have classes tomorrow in the morning, so I can afford waking up a little later. Unless you wish to do something."

"No, it is fine by me, to wake up later" Gellert assured, before looking forward and humming. "So could you show me around after runes? I am… fascinated by this castle and its magic."

"Of course. There is plenty of things to see" Albus agreed, looking around as well. "I think I will show you the astronomy tower tonight. It is the best place to go as the sun sets."

"I honestly can't believe I am here right now" Gellert suddenly whispered, calling Albus' attention. "I mean it had always been a dream to visit Hogwarts but… I believed I would only do so as an adult"

"Well, you are here now. Better not waste the chance to know everything you can" Albus said, smiling, and Gellert nodded, looking at him.

"That is why I chose the best student in the school to be my guide"

Albus seemed to become embarrassed in a brief moment before he rolled his eyes and shook his head.

"I have no idea where people come up with these stories that I am the best student in Hogwarts. But doesn't matter. Lets hurry up, before we miss the beginning of the lesson"

"With pleasure, Albus"

The two classes went by fast. However, Albus barely concentrated at all with Gellert always next to him. Not that he was annoying the slightest, neither he talked during lessons, he was actually a very polite student, raising his hand when he had questions or answers (which was a lot for only two periods) and writing all notes down in a little notebook he took everywhere.

No, Gellert was not the problem. Albus himself was. Because whenever the boy wasn't looking, his eyes were attracted to him, as if he was more important than the lesson being given. Albus spent minutes tracing down his pale hair, his jaw line, the fluff in his coat, his attentive eyes as they studied the professor and the board. It was addicting really, to stare at Gellert, for a reason that Albus didn't fully comprehend.

But eventually, at some point, when Gellert was way too excited to ask something, he raised his hand so fast that his feather fell to the ground. It attracted both of their attentions, and Albus leaned down to get it just as Gellert did, their hands brushing together for the shortest of seconds.

Still, it was like a shot of electricity travelled up Albus' arm and down to his chest, warming it up and making his cheeks combust in heat. He pulled his hand away quickly without taking the pen and sat up straight on his chair, eyes focused on the book in front of him as the professor talked and Gellert slowly returned to his place.

He felt his hands sweaty and his heart pounding and he was sure he had never felt like this in his entire life.

After a few moments of silence and stiffness, a hand touched his shoulder and he almost jumped out of the chair, before slowly turning his head to face Gellert, who seemed very worried.

"Albus? Is everything alright?"

Taking a silent and barely noticeable deep breath, he nodded, smiling a little, but still feeling his stomach tightening.

"I am fine. I think something just gave me a shock" he said, not having the courage to push the hand on his shoulder away, but deeply wishing he had. It was burning his shoulder, almost as if it was made of pure fire. Gellert, however, did not seem very convinced, and furrowed his eyebrows in a confused expression before nodding and letting go of him.

Albus almost let out a relieved sigh, but held back, knowing that would worry Gellert even more.

The feeling was awfully strange, specially coming from the situation itself, but somehow it only bothered Albus for a very short period of time. After that, all that lingered was a warmth in his chest and an even deeper attraction to the boy next to him.

The classes went by fast, and sooner rather than later, Albus and Gellert were free to wonder on their own through the castle.

Albus told Gellert all safety procedures and everywhere they could not go without supervision or after certain hours, to which Gellert agreed to everything. They talked some more about the forbidden parts of the school (like big part of the dungeons, the forbidden forest, some rooms and some towers), until they reached the astronomy tower, to where they climbed a twisted staircase to get to the highest point, where they could look out and see the horizon in front of them.

The sun was beginning to set the moment they arrived, and it made the lake underneath look golden in appearance. Gellert seemed fascinated, walking slowly to the edge and holding onto the rails as he stared, Albus right behind. His eyes were wide, mouth slightly open, and Albus saw himself way back to when he was 12 and discovered this place by himself, in the beginning of dawn. He had watched in amazement the sun go up just like Gellert now saw the sun go down, and it was in fact one of the most magnificent things anyone could experience in Hogwarts.

"Did you like it?" he asked, leaning against the rails as well and keeping his eyes in the horizon. Gellert nodded slowly.

"It is beautiful. The most beautiful thing I've ever seen" he whispered, and then turned, facing Albus and being reciprocated. "I knew choosing you wouldn't be a waste of time."

"Don't be so sure. There is still a lot of time for you to see if I was worth it or not" Albus chuckled, looking back at the horizon, just before he felt a hand above his own on the rails, making him freeze and turn his head slowly towards the younger boy.

He was smiling, the kindest and sweetest smile Albus had seen in his face since the last day.

"I'm sure it wasn't"

His words were so convincing, so sure of themselves, that it made Albus almost believe the choice had been honest and not at all filled with second intentions. That boy was too smart for his own good, and Albus felt almost as if he was being fooled by himself.

But the hand on his own, soft and ever so light, was beginning to convince him that maybe, just maybe, there was a chance that this boy, this fifth year Durmstrang boy, had been destiny's solution to his request in the first day of school.

Maybe he was the key to all Albus' problems and plans.

With a small, shy smile and a nod, he let his eyes wonder back to the sun, and Gellert did the same, their hands drifting apart but still warm from the contact.

Something inside him seemed to change. Something hidden seemed to be found, and Albus felt relaxed at Gellert's presence. At peace. As if he could trust him with everything and never be judged.

Of course, they had only met a day ago.

But honestly? The best types of relationships began with quick understandings.

He was willing to give this a chance.