Incendio

Pt:1 Samantha Fyre and The Hogwarts Gazette

September 1st, 1994

"Muuum," Samantha moaned out as her mum attempted to fix her never tidy pig tail as they waited for their turn to climb onto the Hogwarts Express. "It's fine."

"Oh Samantha." Her mother rolled her eyes and continued. "Do you want to look ridiculous your first day back? And this year of all years?"

Samantha grumbled but decided not to argue further. She did need to look extra put together this year, she was after all, The Hogwarts Gazette's Editor-In-Chief.

"There we are." Samantha's mother exclaimed before kissing the small teen's face. "Now I'm sure you will work your hardest this year, and try not to argue with your brother please."

Samantha exclaimed under her breath as she glanced over to her older brother, Jack as he had already found his chums, "We are in two separate houses and years. Hard to argue if we are apart." He was one year ahead of her and the two clashed like oil and water. It was not easy to have an exceptionally opinionated Slytherin and a wickedly stubborn Gryffindor under one roof.

"And don't forget to write please." Her mother insisted. "We didn't get you both owls for no bloody reason."

"I do write you mum." Samantha insisted. She had written her mother quite a bit in the last few years. She wrote a letter every day, no matter what. This was on top of homework and writing for the Gazette.

"Well, I really want to know about this year." She said, giggling slightly, as if she knew something.

"Alright mum." Samantha agreed with a nod and hoped she'd have the time.
The train sounded a high pitched whistle informing the students it was time to board.

"Alright baby." Her mum said sweetly giving her another hug and kiss. Followed by a similar hug and kiss from her father. He was a muggle and although it was his fifth time taking his children to the platform, he always seemed a little uncomfortable after going through the brick wall. He'd never seemed at ease in the Wizarding World, but he loved his wife and children, so he pushed through his discomfort.

Samantha accepted the hugs and kisses heartily, she loved her parents and the school year was long. They were also insisting she stay over Christmas and she was devastated, she'd never been away for Christmas before. They never gave her a true answer as to why, just that she'd probably prefer it.

Her brother was called over and he begrudgingly offered hugs to his parents as well, before the two boarded the train for Hogwarts.

Samantha grabbed her things and looked for the compartment where her fellow Gazette members were supposed to meet. Her owl, Whisp fluttered in his cage every time she accidentally bumped anything.

The Gazette members were supposed to discuss the first issue of the Gazette so that it could quickly be printed and distributed to their fellow students by the end of the week. She quickly ran into her dear friend Ginny Weasley who hugged her ecstatically. Ginny was an enthusiastic girl with fire red hair. She was one year below Samantha and they were close friends. They had seen each other scarcely over the summer; once in Diagon Alley and once at the Quidditch World Cup. They'd met during Ginny's first year after Samantha had always noticed her writing in a journal. Seeing as writing and observing was Samantha's greatest past time, she was of course curious if Ginny enjoyed it as well. They quickly became fast friends. Ginny introduced Samantha to Penelope Clearwater who would help the girls petition the school to start a school paper. The petition had been slightly forgone after Penelope was found petrified mid year.

It was later revealed that Ginny had been writing in a cursed diary, possessed by none other than He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named. He'd been the one enacting the attacks on muggle borns.

After the whole debacle, there was proof the student body needed a unified way of spreading news. The petition was approved with the Hogwarts Gazette being formed the next year.

It had been a tough time for Ginny. So tough that although Samantha and Ginny remained friends, Ginny had asked at first not to write for the Gazette, instead supporting as a reader.

This year however, Ginny had decided to join the Gazette. She was after the sports editing position, but it was already taken by an older student.

"Samantha!" She laughed and helped her drag her trunk. "Everyone is down here."

She showed her to the proper compartment with the Gazette in attendance.

"Our fearless leader has arrived." Ginny called in with the other members laughing slightly. Samantha had been asked by Penelope to take over as Editor-In-Chief, although it had been originally met with skepticism. Samantha was only a fourth year and it had been suggested that maybe someone a little older and more experienced be suggested for the job.

There was Cedric of course, an older sixth year Hufflepuff who was a popular Prefect and Quidditch captain.

Then there was Genevieve Horner, a Ravenclaw who had assumed the position would pass to her in her seventh year. She was driven, organized and had been Penelope's very good friend.

Everyone agreed that Samantha's writing was excellent, grammatically correct and very descriptive. However, Penelope knew that Samantha was the only one on the Gazette who saw this as more than a school hobby. The decision was made and approved to Genevieve's horror and apparently Cedric's relief. Cedric expressed that he wouldn't have taken the job if offered, claiming he had enough on his hands.

Before the train could leave everyone stood and recited the code of the Hogwarts Gazette.

"We at the Hogwarts Gazette stand for unbiased truth with no sensationalism and vow loyalty only to the beautiful establishment we rely upon for our education."

The group took their seats and began their discussions. It would be a quick meeting, Cedric was to meet up with the other prefects in their compartment and a few others were hoping to spend the rest of the trip with friends.

Samantha took account of the meeting, serving as mediator and final decision maker. She had already pulled out her notebook and pen. She preferred a muggle pen for quick writing, Quills were too difficult.

"Maybe we should have an article about the World Cup." Marietta Edgecombe, a fifth year Ravenclaw suggested as she sat back into her seat on the train. She'd joined after being encouraged by Penelope who was also in Ravenclaw.

"How many of us attended?" Ginny asked looking over to Cedric, "I know we both did."

"I'd be honored to have your help writing it Ginny." Cedric admitted with a smile. "Especially since next year you will take over sports." Cedric had expressed he didn't plan to continue with the paper in his seventh year, he wanted to focus on Quidditch and his N.E.W.T.s.

"I also attended." Samantha smiled, it had been quite the event and her whole family had attended. "I can give you two my notes. Maybe don't include the Death Eater attack."

"Oh but that would be quite scandalous." Marietta insisted. "The Daily Prophet said that bodies were seen being taken away from the scene."

Ginny laughed. "There weren't any bodies taken from the scene. Anyone who was there would know that."

"But Rita Skeeter wrote the article." Marietta insisted, "And she's a great journalist."

Ginny's face seemed rather upset, causing Samantha to decide to change course. Samantha, like everyone, enjoyed Rita Skeeter's writing in the Daily Prophet, but even she had to admit that it had been sensationalized. It had been horrifying, especially when the attack had been towards Muggles and her own Muggle father had been in attendance. It was terrifying and scary, but no one had died.

"Well if it's true, Rita Skeeter seemed to have that whole debacle's gossip firmly covered. I'm not sure Professor McGonagall would approve of us adding anything we don't have exponential proof of." Samantha insisted, "So let's just stick to covering the game."

Professor McGonagall had been the teacher in charge of overseeing the Gazette. She had to approve of all articles before they could be published. She also taught Samantha's favorite class, Transfiguration. Samantha had always been skilled in Transfiguration. She loved the idea of transforming something from one thing to another.

"Also, even with Ginny joining us we are still down two Gazette members." Samantha observed trying to change course. "With Penelope graduating and Granger dropping out of the Gazette to handle her class load,"

"And of course to go about galavanting with Harry and Ron, saving the castle." Marietta rolled her eyes, interrupting Samantha.

Hermione Granger, one of Samantha's bunkmates had been a member of the Gazette, but she had also attempted to take every class offered at Hogwarts. No one was sure how she did it, but by the end of the year Hermione had been stretched to her limits. Not to mention, Hermione was best friends with the famous Harry Potter, so that had kept her on her toes. Harry Potter was of course the famous boy who had defeated He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named, the darkest wizard in history, when he was just a baby. Harry, Hermione and Ron Weasley, one of Ginny's older brothers, were in Samantha's year and house and trouble just happened to follow them. Rumors always swirled about their activities and Samantha tried to discover the facts. Jack had secretly labeled them the 'Trio of Trouble' and like his fellow Slytherin housemates he had expressed that he found them to be meddlesome.

Samantha had occasionally considered asking Ginny what she knew, being Ron's sister and all, but after Ginny's possession, Samantha decided it would be insensitive. Not to mention Ginny's obvious crush on Harry could make things skewed. Samantha was positive Ginny was not the person to ask about anything of that sort.

Samantha had never felt comfortable enough to ask Hermione any questions about her adventures with Potter and Weasley. Samantha had always been friendly with Hermione, but they weren't what anyone would describe as close. Hermione was a borderline genius and incredibly focused on her studies. Samantha was smart enough, but equally focused. Although the two respected each other, they'd both been too busy to pursue a better friendship.

"Whatever the reason for Hermione's leaving the Gazette, we will need to make it known we are looking for new talent." Samantha insisted, steering the conversation away from gossip about the 'Trio of Trouble.'

"Will we still be doing an audition? My brother Dennis was hoping to join." Colin Creevey, a small wiry boy asked timidly. Colin was the official photographer. He took pictures of just about everything and he'd slowly become more skilled in making pictures move. Samantha thought of him like a little brother and often felt like she had to protect him. He had been quite the target of degradation his first year. He was a muggle born and he used to follow Harry Potter around like a little lost puppy.

"Of course he can audition." Samantha insisted. "Maybe the audition won't be as scrupulous as the one Penelope set, but an audition should still be necessary."

Penelope had set a very difficult audition. An essay about a recent event and an in person interview. It was the interview that Penelope had high standards for, her own boyfriend, Percy Weasley who was the Head Boy didn't pass her interview.

"What do you think Genevieve?" Samantha asked looking over to the dark skinned girl who had remained oddly silent.

"That's fine." Genevieve shrugged and looked annoyed. "Marietta you should make an advertisement saying we are holding interviews."

Marietta nodded.

"Alright," Samantha began to conclude, "Marietta will advertise for new members. Cedric and Ginny, you two do an article about The World Cup. Colin will of course handle all necessary photography."

Ernie Macmillan a Hufflepuff in Samantha's year, piped up, "I'll do a list of the newly sorted first years."

Samantha exclaimed, "Excellent."

Genevieve sat up slightly, "I'll do a profile on our new Editor-in-Chief."

Samantha was shocked but flattered, "If that's what you'd like Genevieve."

She sneered slightly, "Well you obviously can't do your own profile."

Samantha nodded and let all the flattery escape her. "I will write an article about the feast. It seems we all have our tasks."

Everyone nodded and anyone seeking to leave the compartment made their way out leaving Samantha and Ginny who preferred to stay together. The two girls began divulging stories of their summer. They also began discussing their hopes for the year, wondering what kind of excitement and classes could be awaiting them.