Incendio

Samantha left her second Gazette meeting of the week. She and the team had their stories finished and it had been sent to McGonagall for approval. If everything went correctly it would be available to students, staff and parents in the morning. Everyone had been in a tizzy, excited for the Tournament to be held at the school. Cedric had been in exceptionally high spirits considering he would turn seventeen within the month and could put forth his name. Genevieve had also thrown out her attitude saying it was better she wasn't Editor-In-Chief because then she could focus on the tournament if she were chosen for it.

Samantha was grateful not to be old enough to even attempt applying for the tournament. She herself was already exhausted and it was only the first day. She'd had classes all day, thankfully no homework, but plenty to begin worrying about. The day had started with Herbology with the Hufflepuffs, a class Samantha enjoyed but had never found a talent for. Most plants died in her care, withering away before even growing to be useful. She had stood with her Hufflepuff friend, Ernie and the two had been rather disgusted when squeezing the Bubotubers. Samantha's had barely squeezed any puss out and Professor Sprout worried it would become stuffed up and die. She eventually gave it one big push and puss erupted everywhere. She was excused from class to clean herself up, at least it was known as an acne cure, so Samantha figured it was just a good preventative measure.

Samantha, unlike a lot of her fellow Gryffindors had chosen not to take Care of Magical creatures. She knew if she was horrible at caring for plants, she'd be no better with animals. She handled her owl, Whisp just fine and it was as far as she'd need to go in that subject. Instead she took Ancient Runes, something McGonagall said would be necessary for her work as a journalist. There could be old codes in need of translation someday. Samantha found the subject absolutely fascinating.

Instead of taking a lunch Samantha chose to bypass it and instead head to the library to start researching her interview for tomorrow. Samantha liked to interview the newest teachers early into the semester. The year before her first ever interview had been with Professor Lupin. He had been incredibly fun and friendly in his interview. This year she was very interested in the frightening new Defense Against The Dark Arts Teacher, Alastor Moody, a dark wizard catcher.

Her last class of the day was Muggle Studies, something she found terribly dull. Her father was a muggle and she had spent plenty of time in the muggle world. However she expected it would be a necessary O.W.L. next year for her career so she considered it an easy pass.

After the late afternoon meeting with the Gazette members had run slightly over after an argument with Genevieve about assignments for the next Gazette, Samantha was starving. She was sure she looked a right mess. Ink was staining her fingers, there was still a bit of Bubotuber puss in her pig tails, and her mind was still spinning from translations. She just wanted to have some dinner and head back to the common room to clean up and get some rest.

"Looks like you've had quite the day Sammy." Her brother taunted as he approached her on the way to the great hall.

She didn't truly want a conversation with her brother. He was a popular Slytherin with many friends, decent grades and he was a talented on a broomstick. However, his downfall was his mouth. He was known to be opinionated, often getting detention for arguing theory with the teachers. His favorite person to argue with was his sister, something that annoyed Samantha to no end. She felt that she could simply say, 'up' and his immediate reaction would be 'down' followed by an impressive theorem as to why he said down.

She decided she was too tired for arguments as she greeted her brother.

"Hey Jack." She mumbled looking him over. He seemed much more put together than she. Robes on perfectly, mousy brown hair spiked up, not an ink stain in sight. "You must have had a better one I presume."

"Of course." He insisted standing over her. "Although, I'm not fond of the new Professor Moody."

Samantha decided not to ask why, she was sure he had argued with him fully, as he had with every new teacher.

"So what has you looking exasperated sis?" He asked with a chuckle.

"We need more hands on deck at the Gazette. I have two articles to write this week already, I also had to approve the paper's layout and prepare interview questions for next week. I can only imagine how hard it's going to get once homework starts to pile on." Samantha explained.

"You could always ask Loony Lovegood to join." Jack suggested. "Her father is on the Quibbler. It's a ridiculous paper, but she might be interested in joining your ridiculous paper."

"Don't call her that." Samantha insisted as he laughed. Luna Lovegood, a Ravenclaw in Ginny's year, was a strange girl, that was for sure. She wore radish earrings and spoke a lot of nonsense. However, Samantha didn't think her brother, who also spoke a lot of nonsense, had anywhere to judge.

"Come on Sammy, it's all a joke. She doesn't know we call her that." Jack insisted.

"That makes it worse." Samantha insisted back. "I'll ask her though."

"What are your articles about this time? Stuff everyone already knows about?" Her brother taunted. "We were all at the bloody feast, no one will need a recap Sammy."

Samantha wondered how he knew tomorrow morning's paper would be about the Tournament and the feast. "The parents might."

"The parents probably already know too!" He argued causing a swell in Samantha's throat.

"For your information, McGonagall arranged an interview for me with your new favorite professor. He seems a right bit interesting and I'm sure everyone will be interested in his story." Samantha insisted with a strong nod as the two entered the great hall.

Samantha and her brother entered the Great Hall to a true scene. The newest professor it seemed, was magically tossing a ferret through the air.

"Good luck with that interview Sammy." Her brother whispered before finding his way to the Slytherin table where everyone was in silent awe of the ferret who was later discovered to be Draco Malfoy. Draco was a Slytherin boy who in Samantha's opinion was a spoiled tosspot. He hated Gryffindors, muggle borns and above all else, Harry Potter. He'd taunt anyone who wasn't in his greater favor. It was no surprise to Samantha that he and her brother were on mutual terms.

On this particular occasion, Moody had caught Draco attempting to curse Harry Potter during a fight while his back was turned so he transfigured him into a ferret. She couldn't deny Malfoy probably deserved some kind of punishment for his actions, but transfiguring him into an animal and tossing him around seemed extreme. Samantha began taking notes about it after finding her seat at the Gryffindor table. It wouldn't make it into an article, but she could add it into a letter to her mother.

Thankfully Professor McGonagall arrived and stopped Moody from continuing his extreme punishment.

From that moment on, Samantha dreaded her interview with him. She survived her nerves through History of Magic alright, but her nerves got the best of her in Potions class. She had almost completely melted her cauldron, but thankfully hadn't, unlike another classmate who was given detention for it.

The paper had been printed between classes. Printing was a process even the Gazette members were baffled by, as the papers would just appear on a display shelf for students to take. Samantha was fairly certain it was a type of transfiguration she had yet to learn. She hoped she would soon.

Students and staff would receive the paper free of charge. Additionally, any parents wishing to receive the gazette had to subscribe and pay a small fee for paper and owl transportation. The Gazette wasn't exactly what anyone would label as popular with students, but at least sixty percent of readership was from the parents and staff anyway.

Samantha was practically shaking as she made her way to the Defense Against The Dark Arts classroom that late afternoon. Samantha fixed the collar on her uniform nervously as she stood outside the door. She didn't want to deny this teacher scared her. She worried he would transform her into something, like he had to the Malfoy boy. She knew she didn't want to be on the wrong side of this teacher. She also wanted to make a good impression before her first class with him tomorrow.

She swallowed her courage and walked through the doors.

"Fyre is it?" Professor Moody asked from behind his desk. He seemed to be reading something.

Samantha tried not to let her feet go numb beneath her. "Yes Sir."

"McGonagall said you'd be stopping by." He didn't stand as she entered and came closer. "Hope you don't mind I don't stand on formalities, leg's been giving me nasty trouble."

"Not at all sir." She said trying to look him in the eye, while also getting creepy goosebumps as his 'mad eye' bored into her eyes.

"Have a seat. Now, I hear you have questions for me to be printed in a certain Hogwarts Gazette?" He asked as his eye darted to her notebook then back to the paper on his desk.

"I presume by your interview questions that you are not an opinionated git like your elder brother?" He leaned forward and raised his eyebrows. His eye must've been able to see through her journal.

Samantha quickly shook her head as she sat at one of the desks, "No sir."

He smiled, a grotesque smile, at her. "I've read your work." He held up the paper.

Samantha sat up a little.

"You seem to be a fine writer." He observed.

"Thank you." Samantha nodded at the compliment. Maybe this wouldn't be as hard as she thought.

"Don't thank me yet." He chuckled before gritting his teeth. "Your writing is fine, but the content is boring." He put the paper back down onto the table with a slight slam.

Samantha nodded, feeling her heart beat faster and her shoulders ascend back towards her ears.

"There was nothing else yet to write yet." She quietly insisted.

"You have no good excuse. If you are really hoping to catch attention, you need to be raw." He extended his hand and grasped the air, "Steal the breathe of your reader, give them something to really chew on. If you have nothing interesting to write about, find it. Be observant, constantly. Then be brutally honest with them, don't sugar coat it."

Samantha felt smaller and smaller, but she appreciated the comment. She appreciated advice, she wouldn't get any better if she was complimented all the time. She opened her notebook and wrote down his advice. Her throat began to close. She felt ready to cry her eyes out.

"Constant Vigilance." He insisted. "My motto and advice to you Miss Fyre."

Samantha nodded and scribbled it down. She choked out her response. "Thank you sir."

"Get used to it." He continued, "Thick skin, that's what you need in any career. Everyone is going to give you two cents. It's your choice who you listen to."

Samantha nodded and breathed out slowly. She couldn't break down, he was trying to help her, obviously. It was her job as the editor-in-chief to make the paper better.

"Now that that is out of the way, I understand you may have questions for me." He inquired before pulling out a silver flask from inside his jacket and taking a swig.

Samantha gathered her courage, opened her book to the page with her outlined questions, and shakily began.