Chapter One: They Meet

The summer is searing here in Godric's Hollow. Some might say it's unbearable, what's worse is that here in this town there is nothing for young teenagers to do. The year is 1,899. The turn of the century is coming up and it still seems as if nothing has changed. Seems being the operative word.

Life in one of these houses residing in Godric's Hollow has changed tremendously over the past couple of years. In the house of Dumbledore it is anything but stable. Poor Ariana who was attacked by a couple of Muggles has been permanently traumatized. Kendra Dumbledore moved the family to this humble hollow to save Ariana from St. Mungo's Hospital and to hide her family from the shame of her husband's imprisonment at Azkaban. The neighbors simply thought she was a squib and left it at that. Sadly, it did not end there. The day before the eldest child, Albus, was to leave for a tour around the world Kendra died at the hands of one of Ariana's magical outbursts. These series of unfortunate events left Albus to cancel his summer plans and began to resentfully provide for his family.

Although it may appear that today is no different from the many others, today will change the lives of the Dumbledore family, once again, for the worse. The woman known as Bathilda Bagshot walks out of her humble abode and goes to wait in front her house. She taps her foot impatiently and repeatedly checks her watch every other second. Finally the tapping and checking stops and her attention is drawn to a particular location on her lawn.

"About time",

She mumbles aloud but mostly to herself. A young boy, no older than sixteen, apparates at the location in which Bathilda was looking. He walks up to her and flashes her a false smile,

"Hello Aunt Bathilda"

She nods, not bothering to smile back.

"How was your trip?"

"Uneventful"

They stand there for a moment longer in awkward silence. Eventually Bathilda turns on her heel and walks back into her house, waving to the boy to follow.

He does so and with a wave of his wand his luggage magically follows. The boy grimaces when he sees his great aunt, yes great aunt, sit down at a small circular table with a piping hot cup of tea in front of her.

"I see you'll waste no time beating around the bush"

"Of course, Gellert. This is not a subject to fool around about with"

Gellert joins his great aunt at the small table. He knows this conversation will be about why his parents sent him here,

"Expelled, hmm? Can you imagine the embarrassment you've placed upon this family? I mean really, almost killing your fellow classmates. You're lucky the ministry decided to not lock you up!"

"Honestly I really don't care how you or the rest of our family feels about my being expelled. It's my life and I'll do whatever the hell I please"

Once Gellert finishes his statement Bathilda's face drains of it's color and becomes a ghostly white.

"You're lucky I promised your parents that I would take you in for the summer"

Gellert snorts and she shoots him a look that he ignores. She sighs and says,

"This is tiring Gellert"

While she says this her eyes brighten, she seems to have thought up an idea,

"I think I know just what you need"

Bathilda stands from her small circular table and out the door once more. Gellert shrugs and stands to follow. They walk down the street and turn to the last house on the left. Bathilda knocks on the door and a boy, younger than Gellert, answers,
"Ms. Bagshot, how may I help you?"

"Aberforth, I was wondering if I might talk to your brother. Is he home?"

Aberforth nods and allows them to enter. He walks off deeper into the house and another boy returns in his place. His hair is a fair blonde and his eyes hold remnants of a twinkle.

"How may I help you?"

"Oh Albus! Deary, this is my great nephew Gellert. He needs a good straightening out and I was hoping you would teach him some responsibility"

Gellert grimaces as he looks at Albus. He doesn't want to be here much less spending his time with some stranger teaching him 'responsibility'. Albus takes a second to think but eventually nods to Bathilda,

"Wonderful! He'll be over here early in the morning tomorrow. Still needs to unpack you know",

She explains with an enormous smile on her face. Albus nods and they walk out of the Dumbledore house, neither of the two families knowing what they've just gotten themselves into.

A/N: Sorry it took so long for me to update. School has started and I've been busy with my classes but I will still update and write whenever I can. Hope you enjoyed.

Love,

Pastry