July 22nd, 1898. Godric's Hollow.
He sat on the window sill, watching as Ariana played with the goats in the field behind the Dumbledore cottage, a fond smirk on his face. Gellert had thoroughly enjoyed the previous day, laying on the beach scandalously close to his best friend's sister. He couldn't imagine the reaction if either of the Dumbledore brothers saw the sight. Her wet dress clung to her figure as she jumped around in the shallow waves, to nervous to swim out into the depths without clinging onto him. They had chased each other up and down the beach, hiding in caves and finding mysterious shells that lined the bottom of the cliff face. He was particularly endeared by her amusement of their water fight, which anyone not so naive would deem highly inappropriate for a woman of her age. Everything was falling into place just perfectly.
The only problem was Albus' hate for his sister and obsession with Gellert. The obsession had been perfect when Gellert needed Albus to agree to things he was unsure of. He had found undying loyalty in Albus' strange feelings, and had greatly appreciated the contribution it made to his plans. But it made him jealous, to the point where Albus refused to let Gellert near anyone who wasn't him, in fear of losing his dear friend. This was making it difficult for Gellert to get close to Ariana, who needed to be drawn into his plans whether Albus would like it or not. It made him wish Albus did not have such an unnatural liking to him.
The other brother, the dim-witted Aberforth, would not be needed. He was stupid, impulsive and entirely useless. Ariana was harder. He admired the girl, and his feelings towards her were true, but he would not miss an opportunity to take advantage of something so convenient to his plans. She was a symbol of power and he would make use of her abilities as much as he could. But time was running out, so the Aberforth boy would need to be removed from the picture if everything were to go as planned.
For now, he was focusing on his most important plans; finding the Hallows. The wand was by far the most important, and he and Albus were getting closer and closer - not that his friend noticed. He had to be careful that Albus did not waver in his loyalty, because at the end of the day, he would rule. Albus would be his most trusted advisor and hold a great deal of power on his own, but only one person could hold the elder wand.
He stared with a smirk as his friend's beautiful sister returned to her cottage, oblivious to the eyes that followed her. He wouldn't let her slip through his fingers - no matter what. She was too valuable; more so than Albus. He returned to the plush leather seat in the corner of his room, the desk beside him littered with parchment, with scribbled notes of all his plans. He had heard a rumour that the wandmaker who had produced his own wand, Gregorovitch, had come into possession of an 'extremely powerful wand'. How foolish, Gellert thought, to give away its location so easily.
He returned his research notes and books into the sealed drawers, before leaving the cottage to visit his friend's sister. Neither Dumbledore brother was home, and he was not about to let another opportunity slip through his fingers.
She hummed a common muggle tune under her breath, playing with the corner of the page as she tapped her foot on the ground in boredom when a loud knocking was heard from the front of the house. She jumped up, putting her book on the table and rushed to the front door. She nervously flattened out the creases in her dress, before opening the door to her handsome friend. He stood there, he growing blond locks blowing softly in the breeze, his gleaming eyes and beautiful high cheekbones making her cheeks blush a soft pink at the sight of the tall figure.
"Gellert!" she exclaimed, smiling brightly as she ushered him inside quickly. "I've been meaning to thank you for yesterday, I had such a wonderful time!"
He smirked at her reaction, following her into the kitchen. It was then he noticed a discarded book on the table with a very familiar title.
"No worries, Ariana, I enjoyed it too. We should sneak off again another time, perhaps somewhere more... magical," he grinned, taking a seat across from her.
"Oh, yes! I've always wanted to see the places my brothers always talk about. Diagon Alley and the Ministry of Magic and such," she replied.
"Yes, I suppose you would. Although I know some better places... quieter," he replied, an odd glint in his eyes. "What book is that?"
"Oh, The Tales of Beedle the Bard, just some stupid fairytale book, not at all particularly interesting for someone as smart as you," she replied, trying not to seem so childish.
"Oh, but I find there is always some truth to children stories. If I am correct, the tale of the Deathly Hallows is from that book," he replied, taking the book from the table and skimming through it.
"The Deathly Hallows? You must have the wrong book," frowned Ariana, confused.
"Oh! You must know it as The Tale of the Three Brothers. It is called something different where I am from," he replied.
"Oh? Well yes, that is the right book then. I must admit it is my favourite of the stories," she said, "but why do they call it the Deathly Hallows?"
"The story refers to the three objects, or 'Hallows', which, if united, will make the possessor the Master of Death. Rumour has it the Elder Wand, Invisibility Cloak and Resurrection stone are very much real," he smirked, his thumbs fiddling intently with the edge of the storybook.
"I doubt it, it's just an old myth," she replied, rolling her eyes.
"Ah, but all myths are based on some truth, Ariana."
"I guess, but I doubt it," she replied.
Gellert rose from the table, heading in the direction of the back door. He motioned for her to follow, and she did so intently, looking in admiration at his figure as he walked outside in front of her, rolling his long sleeves up in the heat to reveal his toned forearms. He leads her out into the fields, past the goats and the pond, till the grass rose taller than her own height, Gellert's head only skimming the top of it.
"Gellert, where are we going?" she asked curiously, grabbing at his arm in confusion.
"Nowhere in particular, sweet Ari, just somewhere we can sit and enjoy the nature," he said, waving his wand to form a path between the long grass. After five minutes or so, he came to a stop, conjuring a small picnic blanket to appear on the ground of the grassy surroundings. He sat down, motioning for her to sit beside him.
It was a peaceful silence, filled by nothing but the soft breeze blowing the long grass around them. She stared at him, watching as he eyed her closely, looking up and down her figure, leaning back on his elbows, his muscular figure on show through his thin shirt.
"Albus would kill me if he found us here," she muttered, leaning back on her hands as she found herself oddly close to her foreign friend.
"Albus? Not Aberforth?" he questioned, raising his eyebrows.
"Oh, Aberforth too. But Albus has always been the jealous type," replied Ariana, barely noticing Gellert slowly lacing his fingers in between hers.
"Has he? But why would that be? I'm just his friend," Gellert frowned, feigning innocence.
"Well, I'm just your friend too, Gellert. But some people can be jealous of other people being friends with their friends."
"But perhaps it's something more than that?" smirked Gellert.
"What do you mean? Boys can't love boys, Gellert. Albus wouldn't be jealous in that way," laughed Ariana naively.
"Who said boys can't love boys? Wrong it may be, but your brother isn't the first boy of his kind that I've met," he replied, making Ariana frown. He slowly turned his body sideways, leaning on his elbow with his legs stretched out.
"But - even if - which isn't true - Albus, um, liked you - why would he be jealous? I don't understand," she replied, lying back on the blanket so she could see his face, like at the beach the previous day.
"I don't know," he replied, leaning his face closer and closer to hers, "why on earth would he be jealous?"
He ran his hand gently down the side of her face, smirking as her eyes widened in surprise. He then leaned his face so close to hers, she could feel his breath on her lips.
"You know, Ari, perhaps he is jealous because you are the most beautiful woman in the world and he wouldn't stand a chance?"
He closed the gap, locking his lips onto hers, as she lay under him unsure what to do as he adjusted himself above her on his elbows. Butterflies were exploding in her stomach, just like the novels described, and she smiled and closed her eyes and he began to kiss her again. One hand softly gripped her waist as he began to plant kissed down her neck, arousing a pleasurable sensation inside Gellert as he watched her enjoy herself at his touch.
She lay in bed, staring at the blank ceiling with a gleaming smile on her face, replaying the afternoon's event over and over in her head, a blush forming on her cheeks as she remembered the look on Gellert's face. She had to pretend like nothing had happened when her brother's arrived home, Gellert having dinner with Albus while she was ushered up to hide in her room. The handsome, smart and kind Gellert Grindelwald had wanted to kiss her! He had told her to keep it a secret, as her brothers would be angry at her for it, and he only wanted to keep her safe. He had promised to never lock her in the cellar, as Albus had revealed to Gellert that he did. Finally, someone who truly cared about what was best for her.
She now had something her brother - apparently - wanted. Finally, she came before Albus in the eyes of someone who wasn't Aberforth. He had kissed her, not Albus. He told her of how they would have a future together, but that they must wait before anything could be revealed. He promised to try and teach her magic, despite her protests that she was incapable of controlling it. He was everything she wanted. She dreamed of how proud she would be showing him off, her arm around his for all - mainly Albus - to look on in envy.
Later that night, Gellert lay in bed staring at the ceiling the same way Ariana had, although her bright smile was a smug smirk on his face. Ariana was perfect; so beautiful, powerful and easily manipulated. He dreamed of what else he could do with her, in time, and knew she was exactly the sort of person he needed by his side.