A couple of days passed in the magical school.
Fila and her friends were slowly settling into the school life. And she herself were making new friends with her fellow Thunderbirds, as well as in other houses. Mostly by talking to them in classes or when they met in the hallways.
But during the same week as the school year started, there were already rumors going around.
Fila sat in the common room on one of the couches. She was reading a charms book they had just got assigned to read until next lesson.
She could hear the whispers around her, and in the hallway and during dinner. But nothing directly to her. She also knew what they were talking about, he last name. Sure Grindelwald didn't hold that much praise after what her grandfather did. But 'I'm not my grandfather.' She thought as she grew increasingly annoyed by the constant glares and whispers behind her back.
But funny enough she wasn't bothered too badly, and her friends helped her. This helped immensely, as they would often shoot back at the whispers and glares.
But Fila knew she had to do something herself. Otherwise these rumors wouldn't stop, or well it wasn't really a rumor since it was known that her last name was Grindelwald, but she could maybe do something to stop everyone from thinking that she would do the same thing her grandfather had done years ago.
On that Friday during the same week they started. She was sitting with Theo in history, they weren't paying much attention to class, but they slid notes to each other about how to solve this.
Theo had the great idea to beat someone, not going to happen. But he did suggest on thing that might work best for her. Since this rumor didn't really hurt her from making friends or disturb her during lessons or study, she was just going to let it be. Let it run its course and see what would happen.
Maybe it would disappear when everyone noticed she didn't actually do anything wrong.
"Anything to share with the class" a stern voice came from the front, Fila turned and saw the professor glaring straight at them.
"No sorry" Fila answered awkwardly with a blush.
Theo just giggled beside her.
After class ended it was finally weekend, the first day of since the arrived at the school. Fila didn't have any special things planned, she wanted to complete homework and relax.
Theo had suggested that they go exploring on Saturday, they couldn't sign up for any of the different clubs that existed yet as this was a second year thing.
By the time evening settled fully over the castle, the weekend had begun to feel real. The corridors were quieter, footsteps less hurried, conversations allowed to wander without the pressure of the next class bell. Fila returned to the Thunderbird common room with her books tucked under one arm, the familiar warmth greeting her as she stepped forward and stated her intention without hesitation. The room answered the way it always did, steady and welcoming, and she felt some of the tightness she carried loosen as she crossed inside.
She chose a spot near the window this time, setting her bag at her feet and opening her homework with careful order. The parchment lay flat beneath her hands, ink bottle uncapped, quill resting just where she liked it. Outside, the grounds stretched into shadow, the trees dark and still, the sky above them wide and calm. It felt like the castle itself had exhaled. Around her, her friends drifted in and out, voices rising and falling.
The hours passed on, she sat with her homework. But it didn't take long to complete it.
"how much do you have left?" Fila asked Calla and June.
They both looked up towards Fila and looked confused and irritated.
"Are you already done?" Calla exclaimed. "I'm not even halfway yet" she said with a sigh. June didn't even say anything, she just kept doing her work.
After giving the two roommates some hints, but not doing the work for them she stepped out and into the coomonroom.
"I will just do it on Sunday or something, its only charms Afterall." Theo's voice could be heard from the couch closest to the fireplace.
He turned his head towards the girl who just had walked down the stairs. "Fila, you are welcome to join us" he said as he saw her with a smile.
Theo seemed to be sitting with some of the seniors he had gotten close to before, some third years by the looks of it. she joined them soon after and sat down in the empty armchair. "what are you guys talking about?" she asked as she sat.
One of the older students looked over and said. "Theo has been pestering us about places to explore around and in the school" this older student's name was Tristan. He was kind of famous for being nice to everyone.
Fila looked at Theo with a serious expression and then back to the seniors. "He's annoying, I know." She said plainly. "But, tell me instead, I also want to know."
The students chuckled throughout the commonroom, even then one sitting further away who had been listening on the conversation.
"Alright, first I would recommend the north part." A girl from year four said, her name was Emma. "that's where the Pukwudgie' coomonroom is, and that part of the castle is a bit older and lots of interesting things to see."
Theo looked stunned, "Ive been trying to get some info for an hour, and here you come and gets it within the first 3 minutes." He said in defeat.
Theo leaned back against the couch cushions with a dramatic sigh. "Clearly, I need to change my strategy. Being charming is not working."
Emma laughed and nudged him lightly with her foot. "You are plenty charming. You are just impatient." But then she looked towards Fila. "But she is cuter so it works better." She giggled after saying it.
Fila blushed but laughed aswell.
Theo didn't speak more, he just crossed his arms and kept listening to what the students said.
They had a lot of experience with this school. And gave some pointers to secret doors, and passageways. These are very hidden and almost no other house knows them better then the thunderbirds. But there was a problem.
"There was a map made a couple of years ago, and last year it was taken by the groundkeeper." Tristan said, "and he most likely keeps it in his room."
"or the headmaster has it." Emma cut in.
If they could manage to get this map, they would not only get to know every piece of the school, but also get respect from the other students.
Theo already had the face of someone going to do something. And Fila didn't blame him, it was also plastered on her face. 'We need that map' they both thought.
Saturday came with warm late summer shine. Fila was sitting in the dinner hall with Miles. They were the only early bird in the group so they often walked together in the morning to eat and waited for the rest.
"did you finish the homework?" Fila Asked as she took a sip of juice.
Miles nodded as he had his mouth full of sandwich. But after swallowing, "Yeah, but it was hard. I didn't think it would be this hard first week." He complained, and he was not the only one.
Most of the first years had already started complaining, and Fila could understand to some part. But she was well prepared for these lectures so she didn't have a problem with it. "if you need help, come ask me" she said casually.
Miles smiled and nodded.
Soon after the hall became more crowded, the others in the group had woken up by now and ate breakfast.
"So what are you guys doing today?" Elliot said.
Most of them too tired to even answer but Fila did. "We are going exploring around the castle." She had already eaten since long ago and sat just waiting for the rest to finish. This made it so she had time to look around the hall, and not to her surprise she had a lot of glances towards her that quickly looked away when she looked at them.
Stella who was a fifth year sat at the table behind them and leaned back, "You guys should watch the duels today, its really fun." She said.
This sparked interest in the group, they knew there would be duels but the hadn't thought about it. "YES" both Calla and Fila said in unison.
Fila hadn't really watched any duels except the small skirmishes she had with Rowan while he was teaching her spells, they would often use the spell on each other. Both to see how it felt being hit by it, and how it felt using them. this could be useful so you are more aware in real duels.
"it looks like you are interested, they start at 2 so don't be late." Stella said then returning to talk with her table.
Everyone looked at each other and nodded, they all knew what they needed to do.
The plan was, watch the duels then after explore the northern wing of the castle.
After breakfast they walked towards their tower, Theo hadn't come to the breakfast which was weird. But they dismissed it as he probably still slept. But he didn't.
They returned to the tower and looked into his room to find his bed empty and tidy. "The bed is cold too, he left a while ago." Miles said.
Fila got a bad feeling immediately, "did anyone see that Mason guy he had an argument with during breakfast?"
They all stood still for a bit until they all wore the same face. The realization had hit them all at the same time.
The group ran out of the tower and spread up looking for Theo.
The group did not stop to talk it through. The moment the thought settled, it turned into motion.
They moved quickly through the corridors, splitting up without needing to say much. Calla and June headed toward the lower floors, checking classrooms and stairwells. Elliot and Miles took the outer walkways and courtyards, scanning every corner where students tended to gather. Fila pushed toward the main hallways, her pace fast but controlled, her thoughts racing ahead of her feet.
She told herself not to panic. Theo was reckless, yes, but not stupid. Still, the image of Mason's glare from earlier in the week flashed uncomfortably in her mind. It did not help that the castle felt larger now, its halls stretching longer, its doors more numerous.
She stopped in a intersection deep in the school. The corridors stretch almost endlessly. She closed her eyes to focus on the sounds. Something came from the right, chatter but argument, loud. She turned and ran in the direction.
She didn't know this part of the school.
She passed classrooms she never been in, painting she had never seen.
And finally at the end of the corridor stood a double door, it was slightly open.
The sounds came from here, she stood at the door and listened.
"You should have stayed in your tower," Mason said coolly. "Thunderbirds like to wander where they are not wanted."
Theo lifted his chin. "Funny. You seem to be the one following people around."
She took a deep breath, her heart was beating hard. But she knew she needed to be with her friend for this.
Fila opened the door and walked in confidently.
Theo stood near the center of the space, wand in hand, his posture stiff. Mason faced him a few steps away, flanked by two other older students who were clearly not there by accident. The air between them felt wrong, thick with intent.
Fila's fingers tightened at her side. He was trying to provoke him. She could see it now, the way Mason's stance shifted, how his wand hand twitched just slightly.
She stepped forward.
"That is enough," she said, her voice carrying clearly across the space.
All heads turned. Mason's eyes narrowed when he saw her, recognition flashing quickly into something harder.
"You again," he said. "Do you have a habit of inserting yourself into other people's business."
"Yes," Fila replied calmly. "When someone is trying to start something they cannot finish."
Theo glanced at her, surprise flickering across his face, followed quickly by relief. "Fila, you did not have to come alone."
"I didn't," she said, even as footsteps echoed behind her.
Calla and June appeared first, followed closely by Miles and Elliot.
"Theo, he's just trying to provoke you. If you start this you will get in trouble." Fila said, her voice was very steady, the others reacted to this. she sounded so confident, so much so that it was weird.
Theo still had his hand raised toward Mason.
Anger flared up inside Fila and she just wanted to do something.
"THEO!" a shout grabbed everyone attention and make some even jump a little.
He looked at her, he had this almost scared look on his face. But almost instantly after looking at her face he lowered the wand and walked towards the group. Mason seemed to want to say something but Fila gave him a death glare and he shut his mouth again.
The group started leaving but Fila turned and gave them a last glare, hoping this time the would get the signal.
As they walked Theo walked beside Fila, he seemed sad. "I'm sorry fila." He began. "They came up to me while I was on my way to breakfast." But his gaze lingered on Fila, she didn't seem right.
And nothing was right, Fila was having a full breakdown in her mind. The only thing she could hear was her screaming out Theo's name. her heart was beating outside her chest, her body was hot and she started to cold sweat. And then, it went blank.