Catching a ghost shouldn't be too hard, and yet here she stand in a dark corridor where she had seen the figure the first time. on her left the symbol of the deathly hallows still remained as it had for many years now.
Even this symbol is something she didn't understand, why would her grandfather even take his time to etch something like that into the school. His whole campaign in the magical world had been to protect wizard and witches, so what did the deathly hallows have to do with this?
The corridor was dark and cold, even the walls had some ice growing on the. A true statement to the condition the school really found itself in.
The corridor was deathly quiet. Too quiet. Even the usual distant echoes of students or the creak of old wood had faded. Fila's wand was already in her hand, though she hadn't consciously drawn it.
"Come on," she whispered to the shadows. "If you're going to haunt me, at least have the decency to show up properly this time."
Nothing.
She took a slow step forward, boots crunching softly on the thin layer of frost that had formed on the floor. Her free hand brushed the wall, green sparks of ancient magic flickering at her fingertips as she tried to feel for anything out of place, a lingering enchantment, a hidden ward, even the cold echo of a ghost.
Still nothing.
Fila exhaled through her nose, half frustrated, half relieved. Maybe it really had been some weird trick of the light. Or a bored poltergeist having a laugh at the new girl. Or—
A soft scrape echoed from behind her.
She spun around, wand raised, heart suddenly hammering. The corridor stretched empty in both directions. The torches flickered as if disturbed by a breeze that wasn't there.
But there was nothing.
Fila walked back to the symbol.
Her gaze looked at it and then around, "Why place it here?" she said to herself as if it would give her an answer.
The hallway really was unremarkable. No grand doors to important rooms, no suits of armor standing guard, no fancy tapestries or glowing runes. Just stone, ice, and the faint smell of damp and old magic. It felt almost deliberate in its ordinariness, like the symbol had been hidden in plain sight.
She reached out again, fingertips brushing the carved lines. A faint spark of her own green magic flickered across the stone, probing. Nothing happened. No hidden wards flared to life, no secret passages opened, no ghostly laughter echoed back at her. Just cold, stubborn stone.
Fila let her hand drop, frowning. "You're not making this easy, are you, Grandfather?"
The silence stretched. Then, from somewhere deeper in the corridor, perhaps around the corner she had just come from came the softest sound. Not a scrape this time. More like… fabric brushing stone. A quiet rustle, like robes moving in the dark.
Fila's wand snapped up instantly, green light blooming at the tip. "I know you're there."
No answer.
She took a cautious step forward, heart thumping steadily now. The torches flickered again, weaker this time, as if something was draining the warmth from the air. The frost on the walls thickened visibly, creeping outward in delicate patterns that almost looked like fingers.
Another rustle. Closer.
Fila's breath caught. She could feel it — that same heavy presence from before. Not cold like a ghost. Not empty. Something watchful. Intentional. Like eyes on the back of her neck that refused to blink.
She whispered a quick Lumos Maxima, flooding the corridor with bright green light. The shadows recoiled sharply, but there was nothing there. Just empty stone and ice.
Yet the feeling didn't fade.
Fila stood perfectly still for a long moment, wand raised, listening. The only sound was her own heartbeat and the faint creak of the castle settling under the weight of winter.
Then, very softly, almost like a sigh carried on the freezing air, came a single word. Or perhaps it was only in her head.
"Soon."
It hade her whole body shake as if a cold breeze had just cooled her down to the bone.
She lowered her wand slowly, the green light dimming until only the normal torch flames remained. Her hands were steady, but her pulse was not.
"Great," she muttered, trying for sarcasm and mostly succeeding. "Cryptic ghosts are my favorite kind." she said jokingly trying to calm herself more than anything.
She didn't stick around, only giving the symbol one last look before briskly walking back to the heart of the castle.
The day after she sat in the classroom of potions. February had come, it didn't bring better weather but it did bring the feels so to say. Letter were given and chocolate could be seen almost in every girls hands.
Tradition here is for the boys to give chocolate to the girl they like. And there were a lot of it.
At Ilvermorny it would be really rare to see someone with a love letter, but here almost everyone had them. "We have a different dating culture." Sofia said while holding her box of chocolate she had received from her boyfriend Gunther just now.
Fila poked at the small pile that had mysteriously appeared on her desk during the break between classes. Three boxes. One wrapped in simple red paper with a neat silver rune stamped on top, another in plain brown with a little note attached (she hadn't opened that one yet), and the third looking suspiciously like it had been dropped in a hurry, complete with a slightly squashed corner.
She picked up the plain one and turned the note over in her fingers. No name. Just a small, careful handwriting that read: For the girl who makes the impossible look easy.
Sofia leaned over, grinning like a cat who'd found the cream. "Ooh, anonymous. That's bold. Or shy. Probably both. You going to open it?"
"Not here," Fila muttered, slipping the note into her robe pocket. "Last thing I need is Gunther teasing me for the rest of the year if it turns out to be a prank."
Gunther, sitting a few seats back, gave an innocent shrug when Fila glanced his way. "Hey, I only sent one. And it was to Sofia. I'm not stupid enough to compete with whatever mysterious admirer you've got."
Lena, stirring her cauldron with lazy flicks of her wand, smirked. "Smart man. Flowergirl already has half the fourth-years whispering about her. Even the fifth and sixth years are talking about her."
Fila rolled her eyes, but couldn't quite hide the small smile tugging at her lips. The chocolate smelled incredible dark, rich, with hints of spices she couldn't quite place. It was tempting. But she wasn't about to start eating mystery gifts in the middle of Potions class, especially not after Professor Aldric had already threatened to turn anyone caught passing notes into newts for the rest of the lesson.
Still, the warmth in her chest was hard to ignore. Back at Ilvermorny, Valentine's Day had been quiet, almost shy. Here it felt… direct. Honest. A little chaotic, which she could appreciate.
Sofia popped another piece of chocolate into her mouth and spoke around it. "So? Any guesses who sent them? That tall fifth-year with the braid? Or maybe the quiet one from the rune group who keeps staring at you during lectures?"
Fila shrugged, cheeks warming slightly under the blindfold. "No idea. And I'm not rushing to find out. I've got enough on my plate with classes, training and some other thing…" she said quietly.
Trying to find out anything about the school wasn't easy either, as records of events were barley ever written down. Instead they would shrug and continue on with their lives. Not even her grandfather could be found in any of the records, most likely to black out that he was even her for a time.
The professor's voice cut through the whispers like a whip. "Miss Grindelwald. If your cauldron is more interesting than my lecture, perhaps you'd like to demonstrate the Draught of Peace for the class?"
Fila straightened quickly. "On it, Professor."
After being trashed for fifteen minutes on how she couldn't brew a potion to save her life she finally made it out of the classroom with a new brewed potion in her hand. The professor had let her keep it as many other did, she had become better at potions during her stay here. mostly because she was scared of the professors screaming at the top of their lungs at her, she found out that she work better under pressure.
But today she was about to take a massive step to find out more about her mysterious ghost.
But sometimes plans don't go to plan as she on her way from the class ran straight into the chest of Aleksei.
Fila stumbled back a step, the small vial of potion nearly slipping from her fingers. Aleksei caught her elbow with one steady hand, steadying her before she could lose her balance completely.
"Easy there," he said, voice low and amused. "You look like you're in a hurry to fight another boar."
Fila blinked up at him, cheeks warming slightly under the blindfold. "Sorry. Wasn't watching where I was going." She held up the vial like a peace offering. "Just got done being yelled at for bad stirring technique. Again."
Aleksei's mouth twitched into that familiar half-smile. He was in his usual dark red uniform, the fur-lined cloak draped over one shoulder, looking annoyingly unbothered by the cold that still nipped at Fila's ears. "Professor Aldric's favorite hobby. You'll get used to it. Or you'll start brewing perfect potions just to shut him up. Either works."
They fell into step together as they walked down the corridor, the distant sound of other students echoing off the stone walls. Fila glanced sideways at him, "Why are you back here? I thought you went to the common room."
But she then saw what he was carrying. A white box with black and gold ribbons, undeniably a chocolate box.
Aleksei glanced down at the box as if he'd just remembered it was there. A faint flush crept up his neck, barely noticeable against his usual serious expression. "I… was. Then I realized I forgot something." He cleared his throat, shifting the box slightly. "For someone. In our year."
Fila raised an eyebrow, a small, teasing smile tugging at her lips despite herself. "Mysterious. Should I be worried about competition for the 'flowergirl' title?"
He let out a short, awkward laugh and rubbed the back of his neck. "It's not— I mean, it's just tradition. You know how it is around here in February. Everyone's handing out chocolate like it's going out of style."
They kept walking side by side, the corridor gradually warming as they moved closer to the populated parts of the castle. Fila could feel the curious glances from a few passing students, but she ignored them. Aleksei, however, seemed more aware of the attention, his usual calm posture a little stiffer than normal.
After a few moments of comfortable silence, he spoke again, quieter this time. "Actually… one of these is for you."
Fila nearly tripped over her own feet. She caught herself quickly, staring at him. "Me?"
Aleksei nodded, holding out the white box with the black and gold ribbons. Up close, she could see a small, neat rune burned into the ribbon, a lightning bolt intertwined with a tiny flower. Simple, but thoughtful.
"I know you've already got a few," he said, sounding uncharacteristically hesitant. "But I figured… after the tournament and everything, you deserved one that wasn't anonymous. Or from someone trying to impress you with fancy wrapping. It's just good chocolate. From the village down the mountain. No tricks, I promise."
Fila threw the boxes she was carrying into a nearby bin and looked at him, "Don't know what your talking about." She took the box and smiled, "Thank you Aleksei," she looked up to him and smiled.
He seemed to grow very interested in everywhere apart from her face, he was blushing. Fila smirked, "SO its just chocolate… and nothing more?" she hinted at him.
Aleksei cleared his throat, the flush on his cheeks deepening as he rubbed the back of his neck again. "Just chocolate," he said, a little too quickly. "Good chocolate. From the best shop in the village. No hidden notes, no spells, no… expectations." He paused, then added with a small, awkward smile, "Unless you want there to be. Expectations, I mean. Not spells. That would be weird."
He stood quietly for a moment, and seemed to be thinking about something. Then a took a breath, "Hey, maybe… we could go somewhere… I mean, I want to show to a place."
Fila nodded, "I would love to."
Aleksei's half-smile widened into something almost boyish, the nervousness easing just a little. "Great. After dinner? There's this spot on the eastern ramparts, not many people go there because it's cold, but the view of the northern lights when they show up is… worth it."
Fila laughed softly, the sound lighter than she'd felt all day. "I think I can manage cold and lights. As long as no boars are involved."
"Promise," he said, falling back into step beside her as they continued down the corridor.
They walked the rest of the way in easy silence, the warmth of the common rooms growing closer with every step. Fila kept the white box tucked safely under her arm, the small lightning-and-flower rune on the ribbon catching the torchlight every so often. It felt… nice. Simple. A small bright spot in the middle of everything else swirling in her head.
Later that evening, after dinner and a round of half-hearted studying in the common room, Fila met Aleksei by the eastern stairs. He had traded his uniform cloak for a thicker one and was carrying a small lantern that cast a warm, steady glow.
"Ready?" he asked, offering her his arm like a proper Durmstrang gentleman.
Fila took it with a grin. "Lead the way, Kozlov."
The ramparts were every bit as cold as he'd warned, the wind whipping across the stone battlements and carrying the faint scent of pine from the distant forests. But the view… the view was something else. The sky stretched endlessly above them, a deep velvet black scattered with stars so sharp they looked like diamonds. And there, faint but growing stronger, the northern lights began to dance ribbons of green and silver shimmering across the horizon like living magic.
Fila let out a soft breath, leaning against the stone parapet. "Okay. This was worth the cold."
Aleksei stood beside her, hands in his pockets, watching the lights with a quiet smile. "Told you. Not many people come up here. Too cold, they say. But it's peaceful. Good for thinking."
They stood in comfortable silence for a while, the lights shifting and swirling above them. Fila glanced sideways at him, the question from earlier still lingering.
Fila reached into her pocket and pulled out two strawberries she had grown just moments earlier. She extended her hand to Aleksei for him to pick one.
He raised and eyebrow, "Where did you even get these?" he asked but picked one and ate it. his eyes widened, "Is this chocolate?"
Fila laughed, "Yeah, I finally managed to get them to taste like dark chocolate. It took forever but worth it."
He laughed as well stills tunned at the taste coming from a red normal looking strawberry. "You really are the Flower of Ilvermorny, living up to the name in every sense."
"Oh you shouldn't say so much, prince of the white eagle was it?" Fila said with a smirk.
He smiled back, "Yeah where did you hear that?"
Prince of the white eagle, a saying for the eagle in the coat of arms of Poland. She had heard it from Evan when he had explained why this boy was such a big deal. A real prince standing with her? Someone who could barley ask her to go and have some alone time just now?
Fila gave a small shrug, trying to keep her tone light even as her heart did a strange little flip. "My uncle mentioned it once. Said your family has a long history. Sounded important."
Aleksei let out a soft, almost embarrassed laugh and rubbed the back of his neck again, the northern lights casting shifting green and silver across his face. "It's not as grand as it sounds. Just old blood and older expectations. My father likes to remind me every letter I get. 'Remember who you are, Aleksei. Don't waste the name.'" He glanced at her, the half-smile returning. "Kind of like someone else I know."
Fila bumped his shoulder lightly with her own. "At least your name doesn't come with 'Butcher of the Jungle' headlines. I'll trade you."
"Deal," he said dryly.
Aleksei wasn't like any other important figure she had met, he was calm, collected and always tried his best to understand everyone he met. Its no wonder why everyone goes to him when they are in a bad mood over something, because he actually tries to understand everyone.
"Fila you said you were in a coma once, is It true?" he asked while they had finally sat done on a big pelt from a moose.
She nodded while eating another strawberry, "Yes, for a couple months. in my second grade."
He nodded, "Like the sleeping beauty?"
Fila looked at him and smirked, "Already thinking of me as a princess?" she dramatically put her hand over her forehead, "Oh prince. Save this damsel in destress." She leaned slightly on him while doing her charade of a princess in need.
Aleksei let out a surprised laugh, the sound warm and genuine in the cold night air. He didn't pull away, instead steadying her with one arm as the northern lights continued their slow dance overhead.
"If you're the princess, I'm clearly the very unprepared knight who keeps showing up with chocolate instead of a sword," he said, still grinning.
Fila sat up straight again, but stayed close enough that their shoulders still brushed.
Fila bumped his shoulder lightly. "Flattery will get you everywhere, Kozlov. But seriously, what about you? You're always the one people go to when something's wrong. Does that ever get tiring?"
He shrugged, pulling his cloak a little tighter against the wind. "Sometimes. But it's better than the alternative. Back home, everything's about duty and expectations. Here, at least I can just… listen. Help where I can. It feels more real." He glanced at her, the half-smile returning. "Kind of like how you make flowers taste like chocolate. You just do things because you can. Not because you have to."
Fila smiled faintly, the warmth in her chest growing. "It's not always that simple. Half the time I'm making things up as I go. The other half I'm trying not to become the person everyone expects me to be."
They sat in comfortable silence for a while, the northern lights shifting and swirling above them like living spells. The cold was sharp, but sharing the big moose pelt and the quiet company made it bearable. Almost nice.
"You know," Aleksei said after a few minutes, voice thoughtful, "when I first heard you were coming here, I thought it would be… different. Someone with the Grindelwald name, after everything that happened in the tournament. But you're just… you. Flowers, bad potions, and all."
Fila laughed softly. "Bad potions? I'll have you know I'm getting better. Professor Aldric only yelled at me for fifteen minutes today. That's progress."
He grinned. "High praise. Next thing you know you'll be brewing perfect Draughts of Peace and making the rest of us look bad."
"Wouldn't dream of it," she said, bumping his shoulder again. "Someone has to keep the professors entertained."
The conversation drifted easily after that, stories about ridiculous training drills, the time Sofia accidentally set her own cloak on fire during a duel, how the northern lights sometimes looked like dragons chasing each other across the sky. Nothing heavy. Nothing about ghosts or symbols or legacies. Just two people talking under a sky full of magic.
When the cold finally started to win, Aleksei stood and offered her his arm again. "Come on. Before we freeze solid and they find us here in the spring like a pair of very dramatic statues."
Fila took it with a grin, the white chocolate box still tucked safely under her other arm. "Wouldn't that make for a great headline? 'Grindelwald Heir and Polish Prince Found Frozen on Ramparts, Romantic or Reckless?'"
Aleksei laughed, the sound warm in the night air. "I'd take reckless. Fits us better."