Incendio

Part 2: Samantha Fyre and The Rebellion Papers

-September 1st, 1995

The Augury birds could be heard as Samantha, her brother and her mother climbed into her father's car as they prepared to leave their cottage in the woods. The Augury was a type of magical bird, the feathers on the Augury were known to expel ink and they sang to signal rainfall. In medieval times, Her mother's family had mutated a special flock of the birds to change color depending on their surroundings. Her mother had found her family's practices regarding the creatures to be especially cruel. They would keep them in cages and pluck feathers even when not in molting season. When she left to elope with Samantha's father, she'd taken several birds with her so that they could live a more natural life. In return the Augury would molt their feathers every Summer so that her mother could harvest the feathers and create the most amazing robes.

Samantha had spent the Summer helping her mother at her clothing and art shop. It was a popular shop as her mother's designs were well sought after. She'd worked with her mother during the day, written letters to Ginny and her friends on her lunch breaks, listened to muggle music with her dad every night, and of course spent what little free time she had writing. When she didn't have anything of true substance to write, she wrote fictional stories. She never thought her fiction to be particularly good, but she enjoyed the practice.

However, the simple spirit of this summer was often haunted by a dark cloud. She had noticed, along with everyone, that since the last task of the tournament, everything was different. The idea that You-Know-Who could have returned plagued everyone's minds.

She had noticed her parent's fear. She first noticed when they canceled their subscription to the Daily Prophet. The Prophet had been claiming that Harry Potter was lying about the Dark Lord's return. Samantha didn't believe Potter would lie about something like that, especially when it came to the events surrounding Cedric's death.

Samantha also observed her parents had been more stringent about saving the muggle money her father earned from his shop. They'd also been stocking up their food supply and she'd noticed her father buying more ammunition for his gun. He'd also been more communicative with his family in America. She knew what her parents feared and what they were preparing for. Her mother was a blood traitor for marrying her father after all.

If You-Know-Who was really back, her parent's marriage would make them a target. The whole family could be in danger. They could all be forced to flee to America, or go into hiding.

Her suspicions had been confirmed the night before. Her parents had sat both children down.

"With everything going on, your father and I would like to discuss a few things before you go back to Hogwarts." Her mother had started. "You are both allowed to form your own opinions, but your father and I both have chosen to believe the Potter boy's claims that He-Who-Shall-Not-Be Named has returned."

Samantha and her brother's eyes darted to each other then back to their parents.

"I believe him." Her brother announced.

Samantha felt a slight shock go through her. Her brother believed Potter, it didn't seem on brand for him, but then again he'd been acting differently all Summer. He'd become more reclusive from the family, and had chosen to spend his Summer doing activities away from them. Instead of working with Samantha and their mother, Jack had instead chosen to tend to the Augury flock at home alone.

"Really?" Samantha blurted out, still trying to find a reason why her brother would believe Potter.

He nodded. "Well of course, Potter's trouble, but he's not a liar. I'd rather be prepared, if the Dark Lord really is back than be caught off guard."

"Exactly, if what we believe is true, the world could very well change." Her father said nervously. "For all of us."

"We both made the decision to allow you both to go back to Hogwarts if you are both still comfortable." Her mother continued.

Both Fyre children nodded.

"But if you feel unsafe at any point, you can come home, we will not be upset." Her mother said, her deep brown eyes darting between the children.

With the previous evening's conversation raging in her mind, Samantha rolled her trunk behind her, Whisp her owl looked angrily at each bump she hit.

The drive to Kings Cross was quieter than usual but the crowds at the station were the same. Her parents held them closer than they had in previous years before and her brother actually accepted the affection.

As Samantha climbed onto the train she began scanning for Ginny. They had both agreed to sit together since the annual Gazette meeting on the train had been postponed. McGonagall had written to all of them asking to postpone, due to a surprise she planned to reveal at the castle.

Whisp whistled slightly as she continued her search. She turned around to quiet her and when she turned back, she was greeted by a tall boy with dreadlocks leaning out of a compartment.

Samantha honestly wasn't used to seeing him without the presence of the Weasley twins. The twins were often scheming up some kind of trouble and Lee Jordan seemed to be intrinsically involved.

"Hey, will you be holding auditions or whatever for the Gazette again Fyre?" Lee asked.

Samantha nodded. "Yeah, do you know someone who'd like to join?" She worried he meant himself, he was notoriously a troublemaker and she wasn't sure they could handle that kind of energy.

He nodded, "Yeah, well I might anyway. I was hoping to get a job at the WWN after all this if things don't work out with something else. It would look good if I had more experience with Journalism."

"Great." Samantha scratched her neck realizing he meant him. She wasn't incredibly surprised, he had been the commentator for every Quidditch match. He'd been decent at it, albeit biased towards Gryffindor. Samantha figured he'd be good working for the Wizarding Wireless Network.

"Where are you off to?" He asked and Samantha worried she wouldn't find Ginny. "Hogwarts Gazette Meeting?"

"Oh we are skipping the train meeting this year."

"Well, do you need somewhere to sit?" He asked.

"If I find Ginny I'm sure I will have somewhere." She smiled, wondering why he'd ask.

"Ah, I understand. I'm waiting on her brothers. Those Weasleys keep us all on our toes." He looked down the train aisle. "Do you need help with your stuff?"

She shook her head. "No, I should be alright." Samantha laughed before pulling her trunk past him and his compartment, "I'll let you know about the auditions."

"Please do." He said flashing a very impish sort of smile. "I'll catch you sometime."

Samantha wasn't sure why, but her heart leapt after he'd smiled at her. She wasn't entirely comfortable with that. Her small dealing with romance the previous year had left her slightly uncomfortable. She didn't want to catch a crush on anyone, and especially not a troublemaker like Lee.

She bumped into Marietta and her friend Cho on her search for Ginny. Marietta was giggling furiously. "Are you looking for Ginny?" Marietta asked.

Samantha nodded.

"She's two compartments up. Be careful though, it's a mess in there." Marietta continued giggling.

Upon reaching Ginny's compartment, Samantha's eyes fell upon a true scene. Ginny was in a compartment with Neville Longbottom and Harry Potter along with Luna Lovegood, a Ravenclaw in Ginny's year. They were covered in an odd sort of green sap and everything smelled like rancid manure.

"What in the world?" Samantha asked as she wheeled in.

It turned out Neville's newest plant, a Stinksap had erupted on everyone. Harry's face was completely covered in the sap, Ginny's head was covered, Luna was smiling but her copy of the Quibbler seemed quite drenched. Neville apparently had the worst of it, and his eyes shot to the floor as soon as Samantha entered the room.

Ginny quickly cleaned up the sap with a quick spell and Samantha joined her friend. Ginny was her best friend and she'd become decent friends with Neville over the last year, but she wasn't exactly what you'd call close with Harry. She especially wasn't close with Luna. Luna was considered quite odd. She looked just as odd today with radish earrings and reading the Quibbler upside-down.

"You're Samantha Fyre right?" Luna asked. She had these big eyes that bulged out her face.

Samantha nodded as she sat beside Ginny. "Yeah, you are Luna right?"

"You are the Editor-In-Chief of The Gazette." Luna observed out loud. "Dad and I love the Gazette."

"Aw, thank you." Samantha nodded, she wasn't sure if she should be flattered or not. Luna's father was the Editor of the Quibbler. The Quibbler was a bit of a joke in the journalism world, reporting on the oddest of things and wildest of conspiracies. Samantha still had a subscription, but it was only to look at different perspectives.

"We're holding auditions if you want to join." Ginny admitted changing the subject. "We still have to have our first meeting tomorrow, but we will be holding auditions sometime next week."

"I will consider it." Luna said with a smile before returning to her reading.

Samantha and Ginny gave each other a look with a raise of their eyebrows.

Samantha spent the of the ride in the compartment, where they were eventually joined by Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger who had been at the Prefect meeting. Samantha had to admit to herself it was nice to be with other students again. Her fears about the school year soon began to wash away. It could be a perfectly wonderful and normal year.