What had really came out from having a talk with two ministries?
Well first thing first, the day after the British ministry increased the numbers of active duty aurorers across England, and initiated the hunting of dark wizards. After facing the backlash from being called incompetent by pretty much every county on earth. They had no choice.
Telling her grandmother about the donation went smoother than expected, she thought it was a good way to show face. Even grandpa agreed, Evan was the only one who seemed to not agree. Afterall twenty thousand galleons is a ridiculous sum of money. But to a school like that its nothing, it would last maybe one term.
But right now, fila wasn't even in France anymore. She had just used a portkey to get into the British ministry. And to her who thought that the French one had been busy, she was in for a surprise. She could barley move with how many people were moving around.
"Finding Theo here is going to be a nightmare." She said to no one but everyone who walked passed heard her.
She moved through the crowd towards the exit, marked by sign floating in the air. Floo flames popped up everywhere, letters flew passed and goblins who she had never seen in person before walked by.
Fila pulled her traveling cloak tighter around herself, trying to create a physical barrier between her and the frantic energy of the crowd. Every time she took a step toward the floating exit sign, a fresh wave of people seemed to surge in from the side, pushing her off course.
A group of hit wizards in dark blue robes pushed past her, moving with aggressive urgency. One of them accidentally clipped her trunk, sending a sharp jolt through her injured shoulder. Fila hissed in pain, her eyes flashing with a sudden, dark irritation.
She stopped in her tracks, ignoring the press of the crowd for a moment. She needed a clear path, and she wasn't going to get it by playing nice in this sea of frantic strangers.
Taking a deep breath, Fila straightened her spine. She let go of the handle of her trunk, letting it stand beside her, and channeled the cold, unyielding authority she had practiced at the chateau. She tilted her chin up and let a wave of sheer, aristocratic disdain wash over her face.
If they were going to act like a stampede of animals, she would treat them as such.
Fila reached for her wand, not to cast a spell, but to hold it visibly at her side. She stepped forward again, this time without hesitating or trying to squeeze through gaps. She walked as if she owned the very floor of the atrium, her gaze locked forward, refusing to make eye contact with the passing mob.
To her immense satisfaction, it worked. The frantic Ministry employees and hurried bureaucrats noticed the sharp, emerald black robes, the unmistakable pure blood posture, and the dangerous flash in her blue eyes. The sea of people began to part, giving her just enough room to maneuver her trunk toward the exit.
She was only a few yards away from the designated meeting area near the Floo network when a voice managed to cut through the deafening roar of the atrium.
"Fila!"
She turned her head sharply toward the sound.
Fila spun around, her heart giving a sudden, violent thrum of pure relief.
Standing just on the edge of the rushing crowd, leaning against a dark tiled pillar, was Theodore Carter or Theo. He looked a bit taller than when she had last seen him, his brown hair a little windswept from the chaotic energy of the atrium. He was dressed in high quality, dark traveling robes that made him blend in with the surrounding Ministry crowd, but his eyes were locked on her with an intensity that she felt right down to her bones.
The cold, hard mask she had just been wearing melted away instantly.
"Theo!" Fila breathed out.
She let go of her trunk entirely and moved toward him, and he stepped away from the pillar to meet her halfway. Before she could even say another word, she was enveloped in his arms. He pulled her into a tight, crushing hug, his face burying into the crook of her neck. Fila buried her face in his chest, inhaling the familiar, grounding scent of lemon and broom polish that always seemed to follow him.
For a few seconds, the deafening roar of the British Ministry atrium, the flying letters, and the rushing crowds simply ceased to exist.
"You are actually here," Theo whispered against her hair, his voice holding a raw, slightly breathless quality that he rarely let show. "I was beginning to think your grandmother was going to lock you in that chateau forever."
Fila pulled back slightly, her hands resting on his shoulders. She looked up at him, a genuine smile tugging at her lips. "I would like to see her try. It takes more than a fortress to keep me away."
Theo's eyes softened, a small, genuine smile breaking through his usual guarded expression. But as his gaze drifted down to her bandaged shoulder peeking slightly out from the collar of her emerald dress, his expression darkened instantly. The warmth in his eyes was replaced by a sharp, protective anger.
"They really hurt you," he said, his voice dropping to a low, dangerous register.
"I am fine, Theo," Fila said gently, squeezing his arm. "They missed the heart. And besides, you should see the other guy." She said jokingly thinking back of the man down under the Rosier manor.
Theo let out a dark, quiet chuckle, shaking his head. "Remind me never to get on your family's bad side. Come on, let us get out of this madhouse. I have a carriage waiting outside to take us to Carter Manor." They didn't have a manor, but the manor they stayed him had gotten that name by him just to be funny.
He reached out and took the handle of her heavy trunk with one hand, his other hand naturally finding hers and lacing their fingers together. The touch sent a warm, grounding sensation through her system, pushing away the last lingering traces of the chaotic Ministry energy.
Together, they began to navigate the final stretch of the crowded atrium, heading toward the grand exit.
And only than did she realized how deeply connected they actually were. Holding hands like this even if it only were to guide her through the crowds. And after that hug when they just looked at each other.
Fila felt her face getting warmer.
She felt the warmth rising in her cheeks, a flush that had nothing to do with anger or exertion. When she looked up at the side of his face, she caught the faint tension in his jaw as he kept a protective eye on the crowd around them. He was so focused on keeping her safe that he didn't even notice her staring.
They pushed through the heavy, enchanted glass doors of the Ministry exit and stepped out into the cool, damp air of London. The sky was a pale, flat gray, but to Fila, it looked beautiful.
Waiting at the curb was a sleek, black carriage pulled by two magnificent, winged Abraxan horses. The creatures stamped their hooves against the cobblestones, their giant wings folded neatly against their sides.
Theo led her to the door, letting go of her hand only to lift her heavy trunk and slide it into the storage compartment at the back. He turned back to her, offering his hand once again to help her up the steps and into the plush, velvet lined interior of the carriage.
"Watch your step," he murmured, his voice softening again now that they were out of the crushing crowd.
Fila climbed inside, the heavy door clicking shut behind them as Theo took the seat directly across from her. The carriage gave a gentle sway as the horses began to move, lifting off the ground and soaring up into the misty gray sky, leaving the chaotic world of the Ministry far below.
Theo leaned back against the cushions, letting out a long, exhausted sigh that seemed to drain the tension from his shoulders. He looked at her, his dark eyes tracing the lines of her face in the soft light of the carriage.
"Welcome to England, Ophelia," he said quietly, a small, genuine smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Ready to see 'Carter Manor'?"
"I'm ready indeed sir Carter Theodore" she said back in a mockingly British accent.
Theo let out a soft laugh, the sound rich and genuinely amused as it filled the small space of the carriage. He shook his head, running a hand through his windswept dark hair.
"Sir Carter Theodore," he repeated, testing the ridiculous name on his tongue. "I like it. It has a certain... noble ring to it, don't you think? Far more prestigious than just another ancient family name that people use to measure your bloodline."
He leaned his head back against the plush velvet cushion, his eyes never leaving hers. The playful amusement in his gaze slowly began to melt into something softer, warmer, and entirely more intense.
"I am glad you are here, Fila," Theo said, his voice dropping to a low, quiet register that seemed to vibrate in the small space between them. "I know I said that in the atrium, but I really mean it. It has been incredibly quiet without you around to keep me on my toes."
The carriage banked gently to the left, banking through a bank of thick, gray clouds that momentarily blanketed the windows in a soft, white mist. Inside the cabin, it felt as though they were in their own private world, suspended high above the chaos of the earth below.
Fila could still feel the phantom sensation of his hand laced with hers. The warmth she had felt back at the Ministry had not faded; if anything, sitting here in the quiet intimacy of the carriage with him looking at her like that, it was only growing stronger.
Theo reached out, his long fingers bridging the gap between their seats. He didn't take her hand this time, but he let his fingertips rest lightly against the edge of her knee, a subtle, grounding touch that sent a pleasant shiver straight up her spine.
"So," Theo murmured, his lips curving into a small, curious smile. "Now that you are officially on British soil and under the protection of the legendary Carter family... what is our first move? Or do you want to actually take a break and just be a tourist for a day?"
Fila pondered for a short spell, "I would love to just relax. Its been a couple of heavy days already."
Theo's eyes flared with a soft, visible relief. "Good. Because if you had said you wanted to analyze bloodlines and political ties right now, I might have had to jump out of this carriage."
The carriage touched down with a gentle, rolling bounce on a long, gravel driveway. Fila looked out the window. "Carter Manor" was actually a stunning, centuries old estate made of pale gray stone, overgrown with thick ivy that was just beginning to show the green buds of spring. It was smaller and much warmer than the imposing, fortress like chateau in France, surrounded by wild, sprawling gardens.
Theo hopped out first and offered her his hand. Fila took it, stepping down onto the gravel. This time, as her feet hit the ground, he didn't immediately let go. He kept his hand wrapped warmly around hers as they walked up the stone steps to the heavy oak front doors.
'Did he spend his summer doing some gentlemen course or what is this' she thought.
The doors swung open before they could even reach for the knocker.
Standing in the grand, sunlit entryway was a woman with sharp, intelligent dark eyes and hair pulled back in a neat, elegant twist. Beside her stood a younger girl, maybe fourteen, who looked like a direct mirror image of Theo, complete with a dusting of freckles across her nose.
"They made it!" the younger girl exclaimed, her face lighting up with a bright, unrestrained grin. She immediately bounced forward, bypassing Theo entirely to look at Fila. "You must be Ophelia. I am Cassia, Theo's cousin. He has not stopped talking about you for weeks. I was beginning to think you were a myth."
"Cassia," the older woman warned gently, though there was a fond, amused smile tugging at the corners of her lips. She stepped forward, offering Fila a polite, welcoming nod. "Ignore my daughter's lack of boundaries, Ophelia. I am Eleanor, Theodore's aunt. We are so very glad to have you staying with us. Welcome to our home."
Fila felt a genuine wave of warmth wash over her. After the cold, calculated politeness of the Ministry and the heavy expectations of the Rosier estate, this easy, familial warmth was a breath of fresh air.
"Thank you for having me," Fila said, dropping into a small, practiced curtsy that felt entirely natural after her upbringing. "And please, call me Fila."
"Fila it is," Eleanor said warmly. "Come inside, both of you. You look absolutely exhausted. I have a pot of tea and some fresh scones waiting in the morning room."
Theo looked at Fila, offering her a soft, apologetic shrug as Cassia immediately hooked her arm through Fila's good one to drag her toward the tea.
"I told you they were a lot," Theo murmured, though his voice was full of affection.
Fila laughed softly, letting herself be led into the cozy, sun drenched manor. "I think they are exactly what I need, Sir Carter."
The morning room was flooded with pale, golden sunlight that poured in through large, arched windows. Unlike the stiff, intimidating drawing rooms of the Rosier estate, this room felt lived in. There were stacks of books on the side tables, a half finished knit blanket draped over the back of a sofa, and the air smelled wonderfully of butter and baked sugar.
Fila sat on a plush, cream colored sofa with Cassia practically bouncing on the cushion next to her. Eleanor poured the tea into delicate, floral painted cups, while Theo claimed an armchair across from them, looking on with a mix of amusement and mock exhaustion.
"So," Cassia began without wasting a single second, leaning in close with her eyes wide with curiosity. "Theo says you are brilliant at herbology and that you have a massive willow tree that listens to you. Is it true? Do you actually talk to the plants?"
Fila laughed softly, taking a warm cup of tea from Eleanor. "I do not know if I would say we have full conversations, Cassia. But plants are very good listeners. If you pay attention to the soil and the leaves, they usually tell you exactly what they need."
But fila didn't want to disappoint the little girl who was becoming a witch in the future, might as well give her some inspiration.
Fila held out her hand towards the girl, and in her palm grew a small, perfectly formed snowdrop.
The stem was a vibrant, lively green, and the delicate white petals unfurled right before Cassia's wide eyes. It did not just grow; it seemed to dance into existence, swaying gently in the warm air of the morning room as if pushed by a phantom breeze.
Cassia let out a soft, breathless gasp, her hands flying up to cover her mouth. Even Eleanor paused mid sip, looking at Fila's palm with a look of genuine, quiet wonder.
"Wow," Cassia whispered, her voice filled with pure, unfiltered awe. She didn't dare touch it, as if afraid the delicate creation would crumble. "You did that without a wand. Theo, did you see that?"
Theo, who had been leaning back in his armchair, had sat up straight the moment Fila extended her hand. The amused, relaxed look on his face had shifted into something else entirely. He was looking at the flower, and then at Fila, his dark eyes filled with a deep, shining pride and a trace of that intense, magnetic connection they had shared in the carriage.
"I saw it, Cassia," Theo said softly, his gaze locked onto Fila. "I told you she was brilliant."
Fila smiled warmly at the young girl and gently tilted her hand. The snowdrop detached itself from her skin without leaving a mark, floating gently into Cassia's open palms.
"A little piece of home to inspire you," Fila said gently. "Magic is not just about waving a wand and reciting incantations from a textbook, Cassia. It is about feeling the world around you and connecting with it."
Cassia cradled the small white flower as if it were the most precious diamond in the world, nodding furiously at Fila's words.
Eleanor smiled, a soft and deeply approving look in her eyes as she watched the interaction. "That was truly beautiful, Fila. Thank you for showing her that. It is a wonderful reminder of what magic should really be about."
Theo sat unsurprised, afterall he had seen her turn the whole thunderbird tower into a forest, and the training yard into some sort of cathedral made of vines and roots.
The soft, peaceful bubble of the morning room was gently nudged open as the rest of the family arrived.
The door opened again, and a tall man with sharp, chiseled features and dark hair touched with silver at the temples stepped inside. Behind him stood a woman of striking, elegant beauty in rich navy blue robes, and a young man who looked like a slightly older, broader shouldered version of Theo.
Fila felt a brief spark of tension, bracing herself for the stiff, interrogative atmosphere she was so used to back at the Rosier estate. But to her surprise, the shift in the room was entirely different.
"Ah, you must be Ophelia!" the woman said, her face breaking into a warm, genuinely kind smile. She stepped forward, bypassing any stiff protocols, and reached out to gently take both of Fila's hands in hers. "I am Lysandra, Theodore's mother. Welcome, sweetheart. We are so absolutely thrilled to finally have you here."
The imposing man beside her, Theo's father, Tiberius, let out a soft chuckle. The intimidating edge to his sharp features melted away instantly as he looked at his wife and then at Fila.
"Don't overwhelm the poor girl, Lys," Tiberius said warmly, offering Fila a polite but incredibly welcoming bow of his head. "I am Tiberius. Theodore has written endless letters about you, and after seeing Cassia's face just now, I can see you are already winning over the rest of the family."
The older brother, Cassius, gave a lazy wave and a bright, easy grin that was incredibly similar to Theo's. "I'm Cassius. The favorite son, obviously. Glad you made it safely to our little manor, Fila."
Fila stood up, feeling a wave of genuine relief and surprise wash over her. There was no cold, calculating political energy here. There was no intense questioning about bloodlines or her grandfather. They were looking at her not as a pawn on a chessboard, but as a person their son and brother cared about deeply.
"Thank you so much for welcoming me," Fila said, her smile genuine and bright. "You have a beautiful home."
"And it is much livelier with you in it," Lysandra said, gently squeezing her hands before leading her back to the sofa. "Now, sit, sit! You must tell us all about your journey."
Theo sat back down in his armchair, his posture completely relaxed. He caught Fila's eye across the room and gave her a small, reassuring wink, as if to say, See? I told you they were nice.
Fila gave Lysandra another bright smile as she finished her cup of tea. The sheer volume of warmth in the room was wonderful, but the combination of the long journey, the bustling Ministry, and the sudden influx of friendly Carters was starting to make her head spin just a little.
Theo seemed to sense the exact moment she needed a breather. He set his own teacup down on the saucer with a soft click and stood up.
"Mother, Father, I am going to steal Fila away for a bit before dinner," Theo said, smoothly stepping in. "I promised I would show her the grounds and the conservatory before the sun goes down completely."
"Oh, of course!" Lysandra said, shooing them toward the door with a fond wave of her hand. "Go, go. Get some fresh air. We will call you when dinner is served."
Cassius threw a playful smirk in Theo's direction, but thankfully kept his teasing comments to himself as Theo led Fila out of the morning room and down a quiet, sunlit corridor.
They stepped through a set of heavy glass French doors and out onto a wide stone terrace. The air was cool and crisp, carrying the rich, damp scent of English earth and wild grass. Below them, the gardens rolled out in a beautiful, slightly untamed maze of hedges, stone paths, and flower beds that were just beginning to wake up for the spring.
The sun was low on the horizon, bathing the entire estate in a soft, breathtaking wash of pink and gold.
Theo led her down the stone steps and into the maze of greenery, not stopping until they were shielded from the view of the manor windows by a thick row of tall, flourishing rose bushes.
He stopped and turned to face her, letting out a long, quiet breath. "Well," he said, his lips curving into that familiar, lopsided smile. "You survived the Carter family gauntlet. How are you holding up?"
Fila leaned back against a smooth stone pedestal, looking up at him with a soft, genuinely happy expression. The quiet of the garden was the perfect antidote to the busy day.
"I am holding up wonderfully," Fila said softly, her blue eyes reflecting the warm colors of the sunset. "Your family is amazing, Theo. I was bracing myself for a cross examination, but they are just... so kind."
Theo's smile softened, and he took a step closer, closing the distance between them in the private, leafy alcove. "They really like you. I knew they would, but it is a relief to see it happen."
He reached out, his hand gently finding hers again just like it had at the Ministry and in the carriage. This time, there was no crowd to navigate and no bumpy roads to balance against. His thumb stroked lightly over the back of her hand, sending a pleasant, grounding warmth straight to her chest.
"I am really glad you are here, Fila," he murmured, his voice dropping to that low, intimate register that always made her heart flutter. "Truly."
Holy shit Theo, calm down your making my heart do circles. She knew they were close but were the two of them always THIS close. But she couldn't really say that she didn't enjoy it.
Fila smiled and stepped a little closer, closing the final bit of distance between them in the private, leafy alcove. The cool evening breeze rustled the leaves around them, but standing this close to him, she didn't feel cold at all.
"I am really glad to be here too, Theo," she said softly.
She looked down at their joined hands, noting how much larger and warmer his hand was compared to hers. Emboldened by the quiet magic of the sunset, Fila didn't pull away. Instead, she shifted her hand slightly, lacing her fingers securely through his just as he had done at the Ministry.
Theo's breath hitched slightly at the deliberate movement. He looked down at their intertwined fingers and then back up at her, his dark eyes reflecting the soft, golden light of the fading sun. A slow, incredibly gentle smile spread across his face.
He didn't pull her into a dramatic embrace, and he didn't lean in for a sweeping kiss. Instead, he simply lifted their joined hands and pressed a soft, lingering kiss to the back of her knuckles. His lips were warm against her skin, and the gesture was so sweet and protective that it made Fila's heart do a soft, happy flip in her chest.
"The legendary Carter family is very lucky to have you visiting," Theo murmured against her skin, his eyes twinkling with that playful warmth she loved so much.
Fila laughed softly, her cheeks turning a shade of pink that perfectly matched the sky above them. "And I feel very lucky to be under the protection of such a prestigious house."
They stood there for a long moment, simply swaying slightly in place, enjoying the quiet intimacy of the gardens and the feeling of finally being together without any chaos surrounding them. It was light, it was sweet, and it was exactly the breath of fresh air Fila needed.
A distant, melodic chime echoed from the manor, signaling that dinner was about to be served.
Theo let out a soft, amused sigh and looked back toward the house. "Well, that is our cue. My mother will send Cassia out here with a search party if we don't show up soon."
He didn't let go of her hand as they turned to walk back toward the glowing windows of the manor.
Inside, the dining room was illuminated by dozens of floating candles that cast a soft, golden glow over a long mahogany table. The room smelled incredible, a rich aroma of roasted vegetables, rosemary, and baked bread filling the air.
"Ah, the wanderers return!" Cassius called out from his seat, flashing them a bright grin.
Lysandra was at the head of the table, making final adjustments to the seating arrangements. She looked up and smiled warmly at the two of them. "Just in time. Come, sit. Fila, you are right here next to me and Theo."
Fila took her seat, and as the platters of food began to serve themselves magically, the room filled with the comfortable clatter of silverware and lively conversation.
"So, Fila," Tiberius began, leaning forward with a warm but curious look in his eyes. "Theodore tells us you have a real talent for the defensive arts as well as your herbology. Is it true you managed to duel two practice dummies at once during your exams at Ilvermorny?"
Fila felt a playful kick from Theo under the table. She smiled, taking a small bite of her roasted potatoes. "I might have stretched the rules a bit, sir. I find it is much easier to manage multiple opponents if you don't let them stand still."
"Brilliant!" Cassia piped up from across the table, her eyes shining. "Theo, why don't you ever do cool things like that? All you do is read massive books about ancient runes."
"Hey," Theo defended himself with a mock look of offense, though his eyes were dancing with amusement. "Runes are fascinating. Besides, someone has to be the brains of this operation when Fila is busy throwing spells around."
"I think you make a wonderful team," Lysandra noted gently, her sharp eyes moving between her son and Fila with a soft, knowing look that made Fila's face warm up again.
"Tell me Fila, is he as annoying at school as home?" his brother asked.
Which made Fila give a short and quiet laugh. "He's ten times worse, and he snores like a bear."
Theo's mouth dropped open in a look of absolute, mock betrayal. He put a hand over his chest as if she had just hit him with a physical spell, causing Cassius to let out a loud, booming laugh that echoed off the dining room walls.
"I knew it!" Cassia cheered triumphantly, pointing a fork in Theo's direction. "I knew he snored! He always denied it when we were younger."
"I do not snore," Theo defended himself, looking at Fila with narrowed eyes that were swimming with playful amusement. "And I am incredibly helpful and charming at school, thank you very much. Don't go ruining my carefully crafted reputation on my very first day as a host, Fila."
"I am just reporting the facts, Sir Carter," Fila countered, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she took another bite of her dinner. "As a guest, it is my duty to be honest with your lovely family."
Tiberius was chuckling softly at the head of the table, and Lysandra had a hand over her mouth to hide her smile.
"She is perfect," Cassius declared, raising his glass of pumpkin juice toward Fila. "Please stay forever. Someone needs to keep my little brother humble, and clearly, we are not doing a good enough job of it."
The rest of the dinner went by in that same lighthearted, joyful atmosphere. The teasing continued, but it was filled with so much easy affection that Fila found herself laughing more than she had in the past several months combined. Sitting here among the Carters, the heavy shadows of the wizarding war felt leagues away.
Eventually, the plates cleared themselves and the conversation began to wind down into comfortable, quiet murmurs as the family finished their drinks.
Fila found herself sitting together with Lysandra in the living room later that evening. They sat in one of the corners in two armchairs overlooking the room while the others were playing chess and trying harmless spells.
"Tell me Fila. Theo has told us a lot about you, but I want to ask. Is he nice towards you and your friends?" Lysandra asked.
While thinking how to answer that she looked towards Theo. The first person she talked to when school started. How they talked during begin sorted into thunderbird. How he always talked with her when she had the tough times. He helped her when she came out of her coma, and even coming everyday to see her while she was still in coma.
He never admitted to these things himself, and maybe that's what makes him so special. He doesn't need to say the things he did for you, he just did them because he wanted too.
"He is more than just nice, Lysandra," Fila said softly, her voice filled with a quiet, absolute certainty. "He was the very first person I met at school, and he has been my anchor ever since. When things got really bad after the attack... when I was in a coma... he came to see me every single day. He never told me that himself. I had to find out from the healers."
Fila took a sip of her cooling tea, her gaze drifting back to Theo.
"That is just who he is. He doesn't do kind things so people will praise him or because it makes him look good. He does them because he genuinely cares. He makes me and all of our friends feel safe, even when the rest of the world is falling apart."
Lysandra watched Fila as she spoke, the maternal protectiveness in her eyes slowly melting into something deeply touched and approving. She reached over and gently covered Fila's hand with her own.
"I am so glad to hear that, Fila," Lysandra whispered, her voice filled with a quiet pride in her son. "Theodore has always been a quiet boy. He carries a lot of thoughts in that head of his, and sometimes it is hard to know what he is feeling. But seeing the way you look at him, and hearing how much he has supported you... it makes a mother's heart very happy."
"but I must admit, he the biggest clown ever." Fila said as she looked at Theo who seemed to be trying to look like an elephant at that very moment.
Lysandra squeezed Fila's hand one last time, a silent, warm understanding passing between them.
Theo stood up from the chessboard, stretching his arms. He checked the grandfather clock in the corner and then looked over at Fila, noticing the slight tiredness in her eyes that even the warm firelight couldn't hide.
"Well," Theo said, breaking away from Cassia's protests about leaving the game unfinished. "It has been a long day of portkeys, ministry crowds, and answering Cassia's endless questions. I think it is time I showed our guest to her room."
"Oh, alright," Cassia pouted playfully, though she stood up to give Fila a quick, tight hug. "Goodnight, Fila. You have to tell me more about those dueling dummies tomorrow!"
"I promise," Fila laughed softly, returning the hug.
She stood up and said her goodnights to Tiberius, Eleanor, and Cassius, receiving warm smiles and nods from all of them. Lysandra pulled her into a gentle, motherly embrace. "Sleep well, sweetheart. We are so glad you are here."
Theo picked up a small candle lantern and led Fila out of the lively living room and up the grand, winding staircase. The upper corridors of the Carter manor were quiet and peaceful, illuminated by the soft, flickering glow of wall sconces.
They stopped in front of a heavy oak door at the end of the hall.
"Here we are," Theo said softly, turning to face her. "This is the best guest room in the house. It gets the morning sun, and it has a perfect view of the wild gardens."
He set the lantern down on a small side table and looked at her. In the dim, quiet hallway, all the playful energy from dinner seemed to settle into something much more intimate and soft.
"I heard a bit of what you were saying to my mother," Theo admitted, rubbing the back of his neck with a slightly shy, sheepish smile. "About the hospital wing. You weren't supposed to find that out, you know. I didn't do it for the credit."
Fila smiled, stepping closer to him. She reached up and gently smoothed down the collar of his dark robes. "I know you didn't. And that is exactly why I told her. You are a terrible braggart, Theo, so someone has to do it for you."
Theo let out a soft, breathy laugh. He reached out and caught her hand, holding it gently against his chest. "Thank you for being here, Fila. Today was... perfect."
"It really was," she whispered.
He leaned down and pressed a soft, lingering kiss to her forehead. It was a sweet, grounding gesture that made Fila close her eyes and take a deep, contented breath.
"Goodnight, Ophelia," he murmured.
"Goodnight, Theo," she replied, stepping back into the comfort of her room.
After Theo walked of, she finally let go of the charade she had been playing her head exploded. 'A kiss on the forehead theo?! Are you insane!"
She dove down into the bed and laid with her head buried into the pillow.
Fila let out a muffled, frantic scream directly into the feather stuffed pillow.
She kicked her feet against the plush mattress, sending a perfectly good quilt flying onto the floor.
A kiss on the forehead! It was sweet. It was grounding. It was incredibly gentlemanly. And it was driving her absolutely insane!
Fila flipped over onto her back, staring wide eyed up at the dark, vaulted ceiling of her bedroom. Her heart was still hammering a furious rhythm against her ribs, and the spot on her forehead where his lips had lingered felt like it was physically burning.
She was a Rosier. She was supposed to be the master of keeping her cool, maintaining that untouchable, icy pureblood exterior. Yet here she was, reduced to a blushing, giggling mess over a forehead kiss because it came from Theodore.
He didn't do it for credit. He didn't do it because it made him look good. He did it because he genuinely cared about her.
The silence finally found her and she thought about all the times she and Theo had been with each other. His talks after her rage towards Fontaine. She hadn't really thought about it but they had always been 'close' in a sense. Maybe just with age it had finally caught up.
That didn't help her mind as she started blushing even harder.
Fila pulled the covers up over her burning face, though there was nobody in the room to see her. In the quiet darkness of the guest room, her memories played back like a spinning pensieve.
Fila groaned again, burying her face back into the cool side of her pillow. Growing up was supposed to make things make more sense, not turn her brain into a bubbling cauldron of chaotic emotions.
She squeezed her eyes shut, determined to get some sleep before she had to face the entire Carter family, and especially a certain brown haired boy, at the breakfast table.
The next morning, the sun poured through the large arched windows of the morning room just as promised, bathing the space in a cheerful, golden light.
Fila took a deep breath before pushing open the heavy oak doors. She had spent an extra twenty minutes in front of the vanity mirror, making sure every strand of her hair was perfectly in place and that her expression was the picture of cool, aristocratic calm.
She walked into the room, her chin held high.
"Good morning!" Lysandra greeted her immediately, looking up from the daily newspaper with a warm, bright smile. "Come, sit. There are fresh eggs and bacon."
"Good morning," Fila said, her voice smooth and steady.
She took a seat at the table, deliberately reaching for a piece of toast to keep her hands busy. And that was when she made the mistake of looking across the table.
Theo was sitting there, a cup of coffee in his hand. He looked up as she sat down, his dark hair still a bit messy from sleep, and gave her a small, sleepy smile.
"Morning, Fila," he murmured, his voice a little rougher than usual. "Sleep well?"
The image of him leaning down in the dim hallway, pressing his lips to her forehead, flashed through her mind with the force of a blasting curse. All of her carefully practiced Rosier composure evaporated instantly.
"Yes!" Fila said, a little too quickly and a little too loudly. "Wonderfully! Extremely well. Never better." Around two hours of sleep kind of lie.
Theo blinked, looking slightly bewildered by her intense enthusiasm for sleeping.
From across the table, Cassius let out a soft, amused snort into his orange juice. He looked between Fila's bright red cheeks and Theo's confused expression, a slow, dangerous smirk spreading across his face.
"Glad to hear the guest room is to your liking," Cassius said, his voice dripping with amusement. "You look incredibly... awake, Fila. Doesn't she look awake, Theo?"
Theo narrowed his eyes at his older brother, sensing a trap but not quite understanding the nature of it yet. "She looks fine, Cass. Leave her alone."
"Oh, I am sure she is much more than fine," Cassius countered, resting his chin in his hand and winking at Fila.
Fila desperately took a huge bite of her toast to avoid having to speak, her face burning a shade of red that rivaled a fresh Gryffindor banner.