The weekend came around quicker than ever. When Albus last checked, he was silently worrying over his tests, prefect duties and his trainings for the Triwizard Tournament, all in the same morning. He had even woken up early in a Saturday to do what he hadn't been able to do the rest of the week.
Although it did not mean he was free from doing what he didn't want to do. Around ten in the morning, he was tackled in a hug that left him breathless. He groaned, recognizing the cologne immediately, and wiggled himself out of the hug.
"Aberforth let me go" he groaned, standing up and pushing his little brother away. Aberforth laughed and stood in front of Albus, grinning from ear to ear. Albus relaxed once he was out of his brother's arms, but smiled at his affection. "Can I help you with anything Abe?"
"You can actually, by ditching all of these duties and coming with me and Elphias to Hogsmeade today" he said, waving his wand and magically making everything over the desk Albus organized and in a neat pile. "You've been working non stop for two weeks already. Time to have fun!"
"I- Aberforth, I told you not to use your magic on my stuff" Albus groaned and waved his own wand, every paper moving in the pile to its rightful place. "I don't want to go to Hogsmeade, I have so many things to do! I'm too busy Abe, you know that."
"Too busy to have fun with your brother on a Saturday?" Aberforth frowned, tilting his head. "You're always out with that companion of yours, but when your brother asks something, you can't do it?"
"Aberforth, he studies with me, of course we are always together" Albus rolled his eyes and then turned to face his little brother. "Who exactly is coming to Hogsmeade with us?"
"Just you, me and Elphias. You can invite your companion friend if you'd like. It's something to take your head out of the books for a change" Aberforth said, smiling and poking Albus' arm. "Please? We just want to talk to you, have a butterbeer with you…"
"Only if you promise me not to drink" Albus said immediately, frowning. "You get insufferable when you drink Abe."
"Fine" Aberforth groaned and then turned towards the entrance of the Gryffindor common room. "Elphias and I will wait you in the entrance of the castle. Go find your new friend or just come alone. See you in a bit Alb."
Aberforth left the dorm, and Albus sighed, smiling at his brother before waving his wand and sending all the papers to the prefect's room. He rushed upstairs to change, putting on his favourite shirt and shoes before putting on the Hogwarts robe and running down again, adding a few galleons to his pockets in case Aberforth wanted something.
Then, he headed to the champion's room, where he knew Gellert was staying.
He made his way to the common room with his own key. Looking around, he found the place to be extremely cosy. Although they had had it for a little over five days, he still hadn't entered the place.
He wasn't sure which of the three doors his own key opened, so he checked one by one, finding out that his key opened the middle door. Albus smiled, opening the door to look inside and gasping at how wide the room really was. A comfortable bed, the walls were yellow with details in red, his sheets had the Gryffindor symbols in them, there was a desk, a closet, the floor was fluffy, the lights were dim and cosy, and there was even a little fireplace.
It was incredible, if he really thought about it. He needed to bring Aberforth there are some point.
After checking the room out, he closed the door and locked it behind him, looking around at the common area. A fireplace, a few couches, fluffy pillows, wooden floor, a nice neutral brown on the walls, a large desk for studying and eating… It was very fancy, he couldn't lie.
Shaking his head, Albus turned towards the first door, wondering if that was Gellert's room. He walked over slowly, and knocked, pressing his lips together as he waited. Then, the door opened, and Jeanne put her head out while someone laughed behind her.
"Yes?"
"Oh Jeanne" Albus mumbled, pinks turning slightly pink. He could see her shoulders through the crack, and he was sure she was not wearing anything behind the door. "S-sorry, I thought this was Gellert's room."
"No, it's over there" she said, smiling politely. "Are you going somewhere?"
"Y-yes! To Hogsmeade! Do you… Do you want to come?" he asked, shakily, feeling both nervous about asking and wondering if there would be any problem with Elphias and Aberforth. She smiled and nodded.
"The little town down the Hogwarts' path? Yes, I've always wanted to go" she said, content. "Bella and I will be getting out in a second. Wait for us?"
"S-sure" he nodded and smiled. "I will go call Gellert. Excuse me."
He turned away and she closed the door. Sighing, he walked to the third door and knocked, waiting patiently outside.
"Coming!" came the muffled voice from inside. After a few seconds, the door opened, and steam came out of the room, followed by Gellert with a towel around his waist and a very wet hair. "Albus! Hey!"
Albus looked at him surprised and felt his cheeks burning once more, but remained his eyes stuck to Gellert's.
"Caught you in a bad time?" he asked, trying to lighten up the situation for himself, because Gellert seemed extremely comfortable. He chuckled and looked down at himself, and Albus followed for a second before looking up again, face burning hot.
"No way! I was about to change!" he said, looking up again and waving his hand. "Come in! Do you need anything?"
"I… actually I came to invite you to go with my brother and I to Hogsmeade, the little town near Hogwarts" he explained. "My best friend is coming too. And Jeanne. We are going to drink something, have a chat, maybe buy some sweets… If you want to come."
"It sounds fun" Gellert said, seeming to think for a moment before shrugging and nodding. "Sure. Just allow me to change. Get inside, you don't want to wait out there alone" he chuckled and took Albus' robe, pulling him inside the room and closing the door. Albus went with barely no hesitation, but once inside he almost froze. Luckily, the room was very decorated, so he busied himself by looking around while Gellert did whatever he was doing to change.
The room was neat. The walls were a dark red that didn't bother the eyes, almost brown. The bed was fancy, also with red sheets, and the Durmstrang symbol the same way his own had the Gryffindor symbol. Gellert's room had more closets and drawers and shelves, and they were already filled up with stuff from what Albus could see. There were also some paintings on the walls from different European sights and next to his bed, there was a little nightstand with what seemed to be a music box.
Albus sat down on the bed, next to the stand, and lifted his hand to touch it. It was made of silver, with beautiful precious stones engraved on the top, and some writings in gold that had to be in other language. When he was about to touch it, someone coughed, and he looked back, seeing Gellert all dressed up and ready to go.
He was not wearing the Durmstrang uniform. No, he was wearing all black clothes, with black shoes and a fancy silver collar around his neck.
"Lets go?" he asked, and Albus nodded, standing up and following him out of the room, but keeping in his mind to ask Gellert about the music box later.
"Boys? Are you ready?" someone asked as they walked out, and Albus looked over, seeing Jeanne and another girl standing by the common room's fireplace. He stared at the girl for a while, before he recognized her as the one that had winked to Aberforth in the presentation of the first day.
He smirked in delight, wondering what his little brother would think of this whole situation.
"Hello Bella. Jeanne" Gellert said, and they nodded to him. Albus smiled and walked closer.
"you must be Jeanne's girlfriend. I'm Albus Dumbledore" he said, offering his hand for a shake, and Bella giggled, taking it and shaking lightly.
"Bella Delacour, at your service sir" she said, leaning closer to Jeanne. The older girl chuckled at her girlfriend's polite ways and nodded.
"Lets go?"
"Yes, my brother is waiting" Albus waved, walking in front of the group. "Come along."
The four students walked out of the champions' common room and followed through the corridors of the castle all the way to the entrance, where Aberforth and Elphias were supposed to be waiting. And there they were, underneath the arch in front of the doors, talking to each other. Albus smiled, approaching them and tapping their shoulders.
"We are here" he said, nodding behind him to Gellert, Jeanne and Bella, who followed a few steps back.
Aberforth and Elphias looked at them, the second smiling politely and greeting everyone. Aberforth, however, had his eyes stuck in Jeanne and Bella's intertwined hands.
"Brother, are you okay?" Albus asked, softly, as Elphias greeted the little group. Abe sighed, and shook his head.
"Life is so unfair" he mumbled, and Albus could only laugh at his little brother's misery.