Albus sat alone in his room, or alone in his world as felt to him. Last night's events raced through his head:

Flashes of color, shouted words, Stupify! Crucio! PROTEGO! Sparks, shattering glass, and his baby sister laying on the floor, her blonde hair matted and bloody, her eyes glassy and lifeless...

Although grief was tearing him apart, no tears fell from Albus' eyes. There was no point in tears, they were simply a waste of water.

"Albus." A strong voice, weakened by will called from the other side of the door.

"I think you should leave, Gellert." Albus' voice, dry and scratchy from a time without use was inhumanly formal.

The door swung open, to reveal a youthful boy. His hair was light and his eyes different shades. He was young, but he had the cold, hard expression of someone much, much older.

"I don't want you here." Albus murmured, his voice cool and his eyes refusing to meet Gellert's.

"I-I bought you these." Gellert coughed a little to mask the vulnerability in his voice. He threw a bag of muggle sweets onto Albus' bed. "I was going to give them as a parting gift... But now I send them as an apology."

Albus lower lip began to quiver. A million thoughts, a million words, a million things to say, they all raced through his mind, but he remained silent.

"It was all for the greater good, Albus. For the greater good." Gellert stated, he turned away and closed the door behind him.

Albus picked up the bag of sweets, lemon drops. "For the greater good." The words spilled from Albus' lips, barely even a whisper as a single tear fell down his cheek.