TFLN

[plungeintofire]

You know what you must do.

Comments

[greatestgood]

I did almost complete my schooling, Professor.

[chambermusicandtenpins]

Almost.

[greatestgood]

I was more than ready to graduate!

[chambermusicandtenpins]

Except for the part where you were expelled a year early.

[greatestgood]

I didn't need another year. I was so far beyond the rest...

[chambermusicandtenpins]

I won't deny you are and were very smart.

[greatestgood]

Then what did I miss out on within the hallowed halls of Durmstrang?

[chambermusicandtenpins]

[Teasing:] Humility, most likely.

[greatestgood]

You won't find that there! Goodness, the opposite is true unless you are an abysmal student.

[chambermusicandtenpins]

Ah, then perhaps it was restraint, then.

[greatestgood]

You might have a point there, but I can learn restraint from you, can I not?

[chambermusicandtenpins]

Mm, perhaps, but you have a tendency to erase even my own restraint at times.

[greatestgood]

Then clearly you don't need it in those moments. [He certainly doesn't mind Albus losing his restraint.]

[chambermusicandtenpins]

I think you may be biased, especially given the reasons I tend to lose my restraint.

[greatestgood]

You are marvelous then - and you know that your secrets are safe with me. [Even when they fight in the war, no one is told of that summer.]

[chambermusicandtenpins]

I know they are. And I am very grateful for it, Gellert. More than I have words for.

[greatestgood]

There are things we hold close and other things we don't mind the public seeing. For me, you have always been the former.

[chambermusicandtenpins]

[He smiles sadly at that.]

That means a great deal to me. And you should know that I hold you close always, in turn.

[greatestgood]

You have proven that by giving me another chance. [A chance he won't take for granted - even if he is doomed to stumble now and then.]

[chambermusicandtenpins]

I suppose so. Still, even if -- even if something happened between us, I would always hold you close. No matter what it was.

[greatestgood]

It won't. [He is stern on that point.] You know who I am...what I am. I'm not trying to trick you.

[chambermusicandtenpins]

I don't think you are. But even if you had not wanted anything to change, if you'd never met with me here, it would still be true.

[greatestgood]

With you being such a good person, I fear that your heart will remain broken. If you were more like me, you would be able to ignore the pain. [Mostly.]

[chambermusicandtenpins]

Perhaps so. If that is something I must live with, then I will.

[greatestgood]

I can't spare you anything.