stylishbutdefinitelyillegal asked: How do you think the confrontation between Albus, Aberforth (because you know he would be there when it happened) and Grindelwald went down when he first confronts Albus with the knowledge that Theseus and Newt are their children? I'm imagining it was very unpleasant for the Dumbledore brothers overall.
Extremely.
Looking at the situation logically - Grindelwald can’t approach them in public, he’s an internationally-wanted criminal - so he can’t simply waltz up to Aberforth at the Hog’s Heade and casually ask him to pass on a message to Albus. He can’t approach Albus at Hogwarts, because like fuck will Albus let him near children. It would most likely be best for him to simply send his ex a letter via owl, specifying a time and a meeting - I will not ask you to come alone. The letter reads, Grindelwald’s bold, almost flamboyant quill-strokes devouring the paper. Keep in mind, however, that any attempt to ambush or otherwise impede me will result in harsh consequences for others - I trust I need not clarify whom?
And if Gellert wants to twist the knife, wants to really drive the point home - he’d simply request that Albus meet him at the old Dumbledore place. Their old cottage, in Godric’s Hollow. Albus, as the oldest, technically owns the property, but he hasn’t been back there in years - the memories are too painful. (She died. Arianna died, he never wanted that, he was young and in so very much in love, but she died.) And I think that Grindelwald is not above squeezing every last advantage he can get from Albus’s pain and guilt.
Aberforth, of course, is practically beyond furious. But what can they do? They go. And Grindelwald is waiting for them, expensive robes impeccable as he greets them. Mister Dumbledore. He calls Aberforth, nodding briefly. And then he turns to Albus, and the smile crossing his face is vicious victory and possessive greed. Liebling.
Grindelwald is not there to negotiate. He is there to tell them how things will go. He outlines it plainly: he has Newton and Theseus Scamander are in his possession. (That’s how he puts it: in his possession, as if they are things he can own.) Aside from a few bumps and bruises, they have not been harmed. Regrettably, it appears that they have been - somewhat ill-educated, if not outright misinformed in certain matters, but Albus needn’t fear - Grindelwald is personally educating them in respect to proper wizarding attitudes and interactions with non-magicals. (Albus goes white. Aberforth goes red. This, as you mentioned in a prior post, is their worst nightmare - Gellert trying to turn the twins into him.)
And to prove it - well. Here, have a memory, liebling - and Grindelwald puts his wand to his head and removes a silver-thread strand of thought, letting it billow into being in front of him - it’s the twins. It’s the twins, as they were on the first day, when he threw a petrified Theseus next to an immobile Newt and used the ancestry-revealing potion on them. Then another flesh of memory, more recent - Newt curled into a ball on the other side of a table, shoulders heaving as he sobs silently; Theseus screaming, hair disheveled, face scarlet with rage as he lunges for Grindelwald’s throat…
Albus can’t help but drink in the sight, even as his heart twists and cracks. His babies, these are his babies, and - and they’re still alive, they know the truth, but they’re still fighting…
It’s a casual observation, and Gellert delivers it off-handedly - they have your eyes, liebling, and my cheekbones. But somehow, it’s the most terrifying thing that that Dumbledore brothers have ever heard. This is Gellert Grindelwald laying claim.
Grindelwald lays out the situation in plain and simple terms. The twins are his. Albus is his. And if he ever wants to see them again, if he wants to act as a modifying force on the twins’ ‘education’ (and there is a threat there, a threat of darker things then brainwashing attempts and psychological torment) he will come with Gellert. Grindelwald isn’t expecting an answer now, he knows it’s a bit of a shock, so he’s going to give Albus six months. Six months to finish the school year and make arrangements, six months to find a way out, six months to realize that it is impossible, six months when he knows the twins are suffering… Six months, with the knowledge that Gellert has won ringing in his bones.
Gellert bows, an almost courtly gesture, reaching out and kissing Albus’ limp hand. I shall expect you in six months, liebling - and then he’s gone, Apparition leaving only shadows in his wake.
This is perfect. I bet, I bet he just occasionally, casually touches Albus during the conversation. Light, gentle touches, but touches that speak of so much possession and greed (remember, he still feels that Albus belongs to him, Albus is the father of his children, he’s his, his forever and for always, nothing can change that now, nothing). Albus, he wants so badly to flinch, to pull away, but he can’t, he can’t do anything that might set Gellert off, can’t risk his temper.
Aberforth wants to strangle him, but he can’t really do anything right now. Not when Grindelwald holds two of the most precious beings in the world to them right in his hands.
Albus probably just completely and utterly breaks down in the aftermath, the mother of all breakdowns and all Aberforth can do is hold him.
(What do you want to bet that this, this is where it happens, just to twist the knife all the more. Where Grindelwald demands Albus turn himself over to him in six months. This is where he lost Albus after all. This is where he will take him back).
Gellert Grindelwald is apparently a very tactile individual, and he sees no reason not to indulge himself when it comes to the people who are his. To the Dark Lord’s mind, affection and possession are one and the same. This is not a healthy or accurate state of affairs at all, but Gellert Grindelwald is, after all, the Darkest wizard of his age.
