Grindelwald stood in front of the French window in the second-floor living room, with his hands behind his back, looking down at his (former?) lover who had aged so much that he could hardly recognize him, and smiled self-deprecatingly.
"Forty-three years, Albus, you are truly cruel."
Since being defeated by Dumbledore in 1945, Grindelwald has imprisoned himself in this political center he built during his most glorious period.
It was also after that year that Grindelwald never saw Dumbledore again.
The only news was from the British Wizarding Daily, where occasionally a few villains spread rumors that Dumbledore was in control of the British wizarding world or that Dumbledore was about to become the British Minister of Magic.
Grindelwald always found it ridiculous when he saw this.
If Albus really wanted to be Minister of Magic, who could stop him?
Even Grindelwald would send it to him.
But Dumbledore didn't want to.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have stayed in that castle all this time, not even daring to see his (ex?) lover.
Grindelwald thought about the gifts and letters he sent every birthday, but never received a reply. He only saw the things he sent appear in the study intact the next day.
'Albus, there is no one more cruel than you.'
As if they had telepathy, Dumbledore suddenly raised his head as if he sensed something and met Grindelwald's eyes on the second floor.
'He is old.'
This is what Dumbledore was thinking at the moment.
Grindelwald looked at Dumbledore's complicated eyes and suddenly burst into laughter.
'You see, we are not young anymore. But in the end, you will still come to see me, even if you made me wait for so long.'
Agarth, who had just finished exercising and took a shower, looked at Grindelwald in confusion as he was laughing and suddenly shed a tear.
'What happened to this old man?'
But when Agarth followed Grindelwald's gaze and looked at the old man downstairs, he finally understood.
'Over the years, although Grindelwald didn't show it, he would be in a bad mood on the day after June 30th every year.'
Coupled with the fact that there was a drawer in the study full of unopened parchment letters, Agarth could more or less guess a little.
Vinda walked up to Dumbledore and held out his hand toward the door, guiding him inside.
'Gellert, this man, finally comes to see you.'
"Agarth." Grindelwald turned around and waved to Agarth.
"Bring me a bottle of radiance potion."
Agarth rolled his eyes. 'How could he still be so proud at his age?'
Although there was a hint of ridicule in his heart, he still took out a bottle from the ring and gave it to Grindelwald. Time is unkind. Compared with eleven years ago, he is indeed older.
Grindelwald, who looked more elegant after drinking the potion, straightened his clothes, sat upright on the sofa, and waited quietly for the lover he had been thinking about for many years.
Dumbledore walked up the stairs step by step and entered the living room.
"Dumbledore, long time no see." Grindelwald was the first to break the silence, smiling and pointing to a seat nearby, motioning Dumbledore to sit down.
"Indeed, long time no see."
Agarth looked at the old man who was wearing a silver robe, had a long white beard, and wore glasses that partially obscured his azure eyes, but had a crooked nose.
Vinda waved her wand and handed Dumbledore a cup of coffee.
Dumbledore finally came to his senses and picked up the spoon to stir the coffee a few times.
Grindelwald on the side lowered his eyes and took a look, then stood up and took out a bag of unopened sugar cubes from the drawer of the sideboard, opened it and placed it in front of Dumbledore.
"Maybe you need this."
"Thank you." Dumbledore thanked him politely and added sugar cubes to his coffee one by one.
"Agarth, just like you, he like to add lots of sugar."
Grindelwald looked at the person who came here without saying a word about his purpose, and took the initiative to speak.
"Agarth?" Dumbledore remembered the main purpose of his coming to Nurmengard, to guide a child named Agarth Albus Grindelwald to school.
The last name was Grindelwald, the middle name was his own, and the letter was received here, so Dumbledore couldn't help but be alert.
Over the years, even though Grindelwald kept his promise and never left Nurmengard, his subordinates still operated in various countries.
'It was as if they were waiting for their leader to walk out of this unguarded prison on his own.'
"Aren't you here for Agarth?" Grindelwald said lightly. If it weren't for Agarth, he might not be able to see him until his death.
Dumbledore continued to sip his coffee without saying a word.
Agarth looked at the strange atmosphere in front of him.
'Shouldn't his eyes be filled with tears at this time? Shouldn't he start by explaining something to each of us and then we can resolve the misunderstanding?'
'Wasn't this how all the fan fiction in my previous life was written? What went wrong?'
'Moreover, according to the novels I have read about chasing wives to the crematorium, shouldn't there be forced love at this time?'
'Why is the atmosphere so cold?'
Agarth is a lively and active person, and he really can't stand the atmosphere of two old guys looking at each other but not saying a word.
He quickly raised his hand, and a head popped out from behind the sofa, shouting, "Agarth is here! What are you looking for Agarth for?"
Agarth thought about this and felt that he had to help his father reunited with his (former?) wife. He sat down next to Dumbledore, took Dumbledore's hand and added, "Are you my mother?"
Agarth: "Dad, why didn't you tell me that Mom was a beautiful old lady with a mustache?"
Grindelwald felt a strange "#" symbol rising on his forehead and gritted his teeth. "The word is handsome, Agarth."
"Okay, Dad, why don't you tell me that Mom is a pretty little handsome guy?"
Upon learning that there was a child in Nurmengard listed in the admission book, the handsome little Dumbledore Owl hurried over to deliver the admission notice. He looked at the little girl?, um, little boy?, um, child with blue eyes and short red hair in front of him with a stiff face and fell silent.
"..." Grindelwald glanced at Dumbledore's expression, closed his eyes and stopped talking.
'The atmosphere I had worked so hard to create was completely destroyed by this damn kid.'
Agarth pursed his lips, looked at the two silent people, and then looked at the white beard in front of him, "Mom, your beard is quite nice, can you give it to me?"
In the blink of an eye, Agarth was already showing off his beautiful beard to Grindelwald, "Look, Dad, this way you and Mom's beards can be intertwined forever."
Then he took out the beard of Grindelwald that he had shaved off a few years ago, and with his small hands he deftly braided a bracelet in the shape of the pigtails that he had learned from the little girl he was imprisoned with in his previous life.
As he knitted, he hummed to himself, "You and I are entangled and flying, flying across this world, forever together. Have you heard this song?"
Dumbledore: "…"
Grindelwald : "…"