Incendio

Samantha laid in bed, trying desperately to sleep. Tomorrow was final exams and Samantha felt confident in just about everything except Potions and Herbology. She was confident she'd pass, but it'd be by the skin of her teeth. She closed her eyes but found that she kept reciting in her mind the differences between Flutterby Bushes and Flitterblooms. Surely, she'd remember, it was a good thing she didn't need Herbology for journalism.

She opened her eyes and looked above her. She had pasted a copy of her small article above her bed so she could look at it. It may have been pushed to the back of the paper, not to mention it had been overshadowed by other news, but it was there. She, Samantha Fyre at fourteen, had written and published an article for the Daily Prophet. She'd even been paid for it. Two Sickles for her work, along with a letter from Barnabas Cuffe himself telling her she could have an illustrious career someday.

The last months of the school year had been rather exciting and fast for Samantha. The lessons she'd been taking with McGonagall had been paying off and she was sure by the next school year she'd be fully in charge of distribution within the school at least.

The final task of the Tournament was also tomorrow, and she wondered if she would be able to have her work recognized again. The Gazette was gaining readership again and the drama involving the Yule Ball had fully faded.

Samantha's job would be simple tomorrow. After the task she would interview the winner and their family. She was excited to be the one who would break the news to most of the parents. She took a deep breath. No matter what, she would have a busy day tomorrow and she needed to sleep.

She eventually found herself completely in a deep sleep. She dreamt that she was interviewing a mermaid for their perspective on interspecies marriage. The article of course was controversial. Her greatest critic was Professor Snape who started stalking her while quoting potions facts.

When she awoke and after forcing a morning porridge, Samantha found that exams weren't the travesty she perceived them to be. She believed she may have done better on the Potions test than she expected and Ancient Runes was the easy breeze she expected. By the time lunch rolled around she was praying she would survive Herbology. Her stomach was turning and she felt fairly faint as she left her History of Magic exam.

"You alright Sam?" Neville asked following her out of class. "You look gray. Was it Snape's exam? Every year I swear he's going to find an excuse to expel me."

"You won't be expelled Neville, but if he tries to expel you, I'm sure I'm next. I think I survived that one though." Samantha admitted with a sigh.

"Then why are you so gray? Are you feeling sick? Honestly, there is no way you will fail Transfiguration. You are almost as good as Hermione." Neville insisted as they wound their way through the halls.

Samantha smiled a little and admitted to herself that he was just being nice, but she wasn't going to fail Herbology.

"Herbology terrifies me." She revealed. "You know I'm rotten at it. I keep going over my notes and I feel like I'm going to miss something."

"Do you need help?" He asked.

Samantha thought for a moment, Neville was pretty decent at Herbology. Professor Sprout often called on him for demonstrations. She was so used to him being behind in every class that she hadn't thought to ask him.

"Would you at least go over my notes?" She asked as they turned into the Great Hall.

"Of course." He smiled a little.

Samantha handed him her notes and waited for a response.

"Well you've mixed up Flutterby Bushes and Flitterblooms." He said making Samantha's heart sink. "And the Wiggentree is good for protection not for prevention."

Samantha took her notes back and grabbed her pen to write down the changes.

"Otherwise, I think you will be alright." He said with his normal dopey smile.

Samantha breathed a sigh of relief. "Remind me to ask you for tutoring next year."

He chuckled. "That'll be the day when you ask me for tutoring."

"Samantha!" Ginny's voice sounded across the Great Hall, interrupting her before she could respond to Neville.

Ginny bounded up to her before yanking her to follow. Samantha waved and shouted a quick thank you to Neville.

"You need to meet my mum and my brother Bill!" Ginny insisted.

Samantha wasn't too surprised that Ginny had yet another brother. He was pretty interesting, he had an earring and he wasn't a bad looking fellow. Red hair like the rest of the Weasleys though. Mrs. Weasley had the same red hair and embraced Samantha like she was one of her own. She kept asking if Samantha liked the scarf she'd made for her at Christmastime. They were apparently there to be Harry's pseudo family as it were.

She finished her exams and felt incredibly proud when she finished her Transfiguration test. She knew she couldn't have failed that one. She remembered the pointers Neville mentioned to her and prayed it was enough to get her through Herbology.

She changed out of her robes before dinner, she and the other Gryffindors all decided to wear their very best Gryffindor colors to show their support for Harry. Samantha painted Harry's initials onto Ginny's face. Samantha opted for more subtlety and painted red and gold stars on her face.

Dean Thomas had even made little flags for the whole house to carry. She'd transfigured her flag to change colors between the Gryffindor maroon with gold to the Hufflepuff black and yellow. She wanted to still show she supported Cedric, he was a good friend and former member of the Gazette after all. She wouldn't be upset if he won of course, but she was internally routing for Harry. He was in her year and house after all. She was also sure Ginny would deck her if she didn't route mainly for Harry.

Samantha walked proudly into the Great Hall once again for dinner. On her way to the table she was waved down by Cedric at the Hufflepuff table.

"Mom and Dad, this is Samantha, she's the Editor-In-Chief of the Gazette!" Cedric said shyly as she approached. He was sitting there with who Samantha assumed was his parents. Cho had also left her normal position at the Ravenclaw table to join her boyfriend. "They wanted to meet you." Cedric said motioning to his parents.

Samantha extended her hand to shake and greeted them nervously. She wondered if they'd be the ones she'd interview after the task.

"I've been wanting to meet you very much young lady. I never miss an edition of your Gazette. Even after Cedric stopped writing for it, mighty shame he did stop he was bloody good at it, I've continued reading it." Mr. Diggory, excitedly took Samantha's hand and shook it aggressively. "Now you my dear are a real little journalist. It's scary when you think that the professionals can't write nearly as well as a little fourth year from Hogwarts."

Samantha wasn't sure what could garnish such a compliment, other than the fact Cedric had been all but excluded from Rita's articles. "Oh thank you sir."

"Now I hope you are ready to write his victory piece when he is crowned the winner!" Mr. Diggory said scanning Samantha's Gryffindor pride, he smiled though when his eyes landed on her flag that she'd stuck in her denim trousers' back pocket.

Cedric rolled his eyes and Samantha could see he was holding tightly to Cho's hand. He looked even more nervous as his dad spoke, his normal sparkle had slightly diminished.

"I'll be ready sir. I must be off though, can't write on an empty stomach." Samantha winked at Mr. Diggory and Cedric chuckled a little. "Good luck Cedric." Samantha called as she waved and walked to her table with Ginny and her friends.

Colin had his camera ready and he was excitedly fidgeting with the film to make sure he had enough.

"What if I miss it when Harry wins?" Colin asked as he continued his fidget.

Samantha rolled her eyes. "You won't miss it, I'm sure you won't."

"It could be one of the most important photographs I ever take, I have to be prepared." Colin continued and looked over to Samantha. "You are ready right? It could be the most important article you write this year."

Samantha laughed, "No pressure, thanks Colin."

Everyone cheered when Dumbledore announced it was time for the champions to go first for the task. We were all supposed to follow five minutes later. Colin pulled his camera strap over his head and Samantha held tightly onto her journal. She was more than ready as she and Colin found spots to sit in the Quidditch arena. They'd chosen to sit together near the front so they'd be ready when the winner emerged. Other members of the Gazette also chose to sit with them. Daphne meekly asked if it was alright to join them and she sat herself at Samantha's side. Ernie and his friends Hannah and Justin joined them in their full Hufflepuff regalia. Even Genevieve, along with her boyfriend James sat nearby. Neville was the last to stumble to them, he'd apparently been trying to find a seat for a bit.

Only two members of the Gazette were missing from the impromptu gathering. Marietta was sitting with Cho near Cedric's family and Ginny was back with her mother.

The cheering continued as the Champions were announced and the task began. It was an electricity no one expected. Cheering and joyful cries filled the air excitedly.

Samantha thought to herself you could have cut a knife with the tension she felt from Colin next to her, his hand was ready and shaking at every movement, thinking it was time to take the picture. The longer the wait was, the more the crowd became nervous.

It was a welcome break to the tension when Harry and Cedric fell into view. At first Samantha thought the cup, which must have been a Portkey, must have just knocked the wind out of them. It wasn't until she noticed Potter was clinging to Cedric. He was crying and hyperventilating. Cedric wasn't moving, he was just laying there and his eyes were glazed over, like they weren't looking at anything at all.

She pushed Colin's camera down so he couldn't snap the picture.

That was when the cheers stopped and the screaming began.

Samantha wasn't sure who shouted it first, but it rang through the pitch, "Cedric Diggory is dead."

There he was, dead. Someone she'd spoken to that very day. She'd wished him luck barely an hour before.

Samantha felt the air in her lungs leave. Her throat swelled up and she could barely stand. She felt herself go numb. Everyone was quickly ushered from the stadium. She had dozens of questions, as did everyone else.

"Sammy!"She heard her brother call out before she entered the doors of Hogwarts.

Samantha stopped walking and let her brother run to her, he didn't say anything else, just picked her up and enveloped her in a hug. As her feet touched the ground again, he sobbed into her shoulder.

It was an odd moment, she wasn't used to him ever breaking down and for a brief moment she remembered that behind his mask of feigned maturity, he was a fifteen year old boy, who had just like her, seen something horrific. He was shaking, and Sam decided it was best to hold her brother.