Incendio

The first day of classes had been unnecessarily brutal. Binns in History of Magic had been incredibly dull and gave a large amount of homework. Snape expected them to make a potion well beyond Samantha's skill level. Her draft of peace had actually melted through the vial she was supposed to turn into Snape. Ancient Runes expected a three page essay by the next week. Then there was Defense Against The Dark Arts. It had been particularly interesting, but not interesting in a way one would expect.

The newest Professor, Professor Umbridge had made quite the impression on all faculty and students. The impression, it seemed, started during the Great Feast when she made a cryptic speech no one could really understand while wearing the most hideous shade of pink. Everyone quickly figured out that she was a Ministry lady and that she was probably there to spy on Dumbledore. She started off her first class by having everyone put their wands away and instead, spend their lesson reading a book Samantha was sure had been intended for first years. It had been interrupted at first by Hermione asking several questions about Professor Umbridge's methods. It then continued with many of Samantha's classmates asking similar questions. Samantha decided it was best to stay quiet for the moment, but instead wrote down everything that happened. The whole ordeal ended with Potter actually getting into a full on shouting match with the Professor.

After Harry was asked to leave the class, Samantha hid her notebook back into her bag. After class was over it was all anyone could talk about. Samantha knew what she believed, but she was fascinated by the different opinions around her. She wrote all of the rumors she heard.

After dinner, she decided to forget it all and go straight to her Hogwarts Gazette meeting.

Everyone in the Gazette had congregated in front of McGonagall's office.

"Is it true Sam?" Colin asked as she approached. He'd gotten slightly taller over the Summer, but not by much. "Did Potter really shout at Umbridge during class?"

Daphne and Marietta exchanged looks and Samantha knew immediately what they thought about it all. Ernie instead looked earnestly at Samantha as if hoping for more details.

Samantha shushed Colin quickly but held up her notebook. "I'll tell you later. Why has no one gone into the classroom?"

"Professor McGonagall said we were to wait here for our surprise." Daphne responded, her hair had grown slightly in the last year and she looked a right bit prettier and taller.

"Oh alright." Samantha said as Neville and Ginny joined them.

"I like your hair Samantha, did you change it over the summer?" Daphne asked.

Samantha nodded a little, she'd finally let her mother give it a small trim and some layers. She'd also decided to stop wearing her favorite two tails, she wanted to seem more mature this year. "Yeah." Samantha smiled, happy that anyone noticed at all.

McGonagall soon joined them outside of her classroom. "Please, follow me." She said leading them away from the Transfiguration Classroom and down a different hallway. At the end of the hallway was a door that everyone knew was one of Filch's Closets, where he kept confiscated items.

McGonagall stopped them in front of the door. "Now Mr. Filch has generously cleaned out one of his closets to be of better use to students." Her eyebrows raised on the word 'generous' and everyone knew Filch hadn't consensually given up squat.

As they entered the room everyone gasped. There was a big round table, with enough chairs for everyone and a real magical printing press. On the walls were pasted their old Gazette issues and there was plenty of unused parchment and Quills.

Samantha's heart was beating faster than ever. An actual space for them to really get the Gazette to where it needed to be. McGonagall had shown Samantha how to transfigure newspaper copies and this meant she really did trust her to do the paper's basic distribution herself.

"Now, this is a privilege. Not many clubs are allowed their own rooms." McGonagall announced. "I do hope you use it wisely. I am allowing you to postpone your first edition for two weeks, so as to accustom yourselves to the new environment. With this postponement I expect excellent and spectacular results."

"Thank you Professor." Samantha said quickly as she walked out.

"You are very welcome Miss Fyre. Thank Professor Dumbledore as well, it was his idea." McGonagall said before leaving.

Samantha and the group quickly came together excitedly and began their first meeting. They voted on new positions and Samantha couldn't help but giggle when everyone unanimously voted Colin as the new Creative Director. He was practically glowing with joy. He'd worked very hard the last year and had been one of the most dedicated members.

Everyone's assignments were distributed and on top of their normal articles, everyone was tasked with finding an intriguing story to be the new front page news. They all agreed that they needed to work a little harder this year. Last year the Tournament had expanded their readership, this year they wouldn't be so fortunate. They would have to find stories on their own.

Samantha's current assignment both scared and intrigued her. She was supposed to interview the new Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher as she had every year.

It was Friday by the time she actually had an appointment to interview Umbridge. Samantha was very nervous about it. Seeing how Umbridge had treated Potter and the rest of her peers, had given her pause. Even Jack seemed to be scared of her, he had apparently not tried to argue with her in class, which had shocked nearly everyone. She also knew he hated the Ministry, hours of hearing his displeasure of their practices over the dinner table had proven that. So, maybe he was attempting not to get himself on any of their most wanted lists.

On Friday, a little after 6pm Samantha's stomach was turning as she attempted to eat her dinner. She was quietly going through her homework. She wanted homework completely off of her mind before she went to interview Umbridge.

She was just finishing up her Shepherd's pie when she was joined at the end of the table. She was eating her supper a bit later than her peers so she was surprised to be greeted by anyone.

"Hello Fyre." Lee Jordan said as he sat down across from her.

"Hi." She looked up again, shocked to see him alone again.

"So you are without your Weasley again?" He asked jokingly.

Samantha assumed he meant Ginny. Lately Ginny had been seeing her new boyfriend a lot, Michael Corner a Ravenclaw in Samantha's year. The two had been writing each other over the Summer and apparently they were now officially an item. It was official enough for Samantha to know, but Samantha wasn't sure who else knew about it, so she decided not to tell Lee. "She's studying I think."

"Yeah, my Weasley's are off studying too. If you believe giving first year test subjects nosebleed nuggets is studying." He volunteered and she looked down to her textbook. She didn't approve of the Weasley's testing their prank treats on kids, they often caused the worst side effects.

"Do you have a time for those auditions yet?" Lee asked.

She shook her head. "Not officially, but I think we're going to do two Saturdays from now."

"Where are you off to after dinner?" He asked.

"I'm off to interview the new teacher."

"The Ministry Lady?"

Samantha nodded. "Yeah, have you had her class yet?"

He nodded his head. "Have you?"

Samantha nodded.

"What do you think?" He asked.

"It's definitely different than last year." Samantha conceded, not wanting to say she thought the woman was horrible. "Then again we had a Death Eater for a teacher."

He chuckled. "Can I be honest?"

Samantha nodded, wondering why he was talking to her so much.

"I preferred the Death Eater." He chuckled and she laughed a little under her breath.

"Well, I've actually got to be on my way now. I was told to meet her at 7pm." Samantha said standing up and honestly just trying to find an excuse to leave. This was the second time now he'd found a way to talk to her, and she wasn't entirely sure why. The thought briefly crossed her mind that maybe he fancied her? That had to be a ridiculous thought, she obviously had little chance with an older student. Maybe he just really wanted to join the Gazette?

"Well good luck." Lee wished as she stood up, "Hope you two," He paused his words, cupped his hands together against his cheeks and heightened his voice as he continued, "become very good friends."

He was referencing Umbridge's speech that she gave when she said she wanted to be good friends with everyone in school.

Samantha laughed again, "Fat chance of that honestly, but I'll be nice during the interview. See you later Lee."

She stood up and began walking towards the exit.

"Sammy!" She heard her name called across the room as her brother ran across the Great Hall. He had a large smile on his face, something she hadn't genuinely seen in a while. "I've gotta tell you. I made the Quidditch team."

"Congratulations!" Samantha smiled before standing up to hug her brother. He uncomfortably hugged her back. "Mum and dad will be so proud."

She couldn't help but feel jealous. She loved quidditch and had always wanted to play. Her skills admittedly weren't as good on the quidditch pitch as they were on the page. She practiced, but she knew she wouldn't make the team on her schedule alone.

"Thanks sis." He said before letting go. "I'm the Keeper."

"That's great!" Samantha exclaimed. "You would be good at that."

He smiled before bounding back to his table.

Samantha continued on her way out of the Great Hall and down to Umbridge's office. As she was getting ready to enter, a fellow student exited. He was looking down and grasping his hand tightly for some reason.

"Hi Harry." Samantha said with a smile.

He looked up and mumbled slightly, he looked pale "Oh Hi Samantha."

Samantha looked down to his hand, it was wrapped in a cloth but there was blood seeping through.
"Are you alright Harry?" Samantha asked as he hurriedly scuffled for the door.

"Just fine thank you." Harry said before leaving quickly.

Samantha went up and knocked on Umbridge's door.

"Come in." A lemony sweet voice called out and Samantha entered. The office had changed quite a bit, it was now covered in technicolor plates with pictures of kittens on them. They each meowed and purred to Samantha's disgust. Her family wasn't cat people, they were known to go after the Augury birds.

"Very good to meet you outside of the classroom Miss Fyre." Umbridge reached out her hand and Samantha upon closer inspection found that she smelled artificially floral. Her smile looked as if it was held open by invisible wires. Her hand was clammy and Samantha felt weird goosebumps go up her back.

"Good to meet you Professor." Samantha said before sitting down across from her. "I appreciate you meeting with me today."

"Of course. Out of your Gryffindor classmates, you seem to be the one with her feet placed on the ground" Umbridge said before motioning to a tea pot beside her. Samantha wondered if she'd said that because Samantha hadn't verbally spoken out in class. "Tea?"

"Yes please mam." Samantha nodded as she poured. The tea smelled funny.

"If I've learned anything from my wonderful time at the Ministry, one must attend to the press. The Minister has often told me that his relationship with Barnabus Cuffe is one of the most important he has." Umbridge said in a sweet sing song way.

Samantha's discomfort began to rise. She'd been so disappointed in the Prophet lately, she didn't say that though, just kept quiet.

"I saw that you had written an article for the Prophet before." Umbridge continued tipping her head to the side and looking down at Samantha's journal which hadn't been written in yet.

"Yes, for the tournament." Samantha nodded.

"Well maybe if your article about me is nice enough, we can get that one published as well."

Samantha's throat tightened, she was being bribed. She knew she'd have to face it someday, but she didn't expect today. Her mind drifted back to Harry's hand bleeding. Why had it been bleeding? Why was he hiding it? Did it have something to do with Umbridge?

"I'll keep that in mind." Samantha felt her shoulders reach her ears. "I only have a few questions Professor."

Samantha began the interview and by the end of it she was beyond confused. She would ask simple questions like, "What house were you in while you were in Hogwarts?" Then Umbridge's answers would take an absolute roundabout.

"Well I was in Slytherin. Not that I would prefer any particular house, although I do believe Slytherin to be the least amount of trouble, they just have better values and morals of course. I've found my Slytherin classes listen the best in my limited experience being here this last week, they have each made me feel so welcome."

Every answer followed a similar pattern and each one made Samantha want to leave.The answers were both biased and politically correct at the same time. It often canceled itself out. Samantha found the most interesting answer came when she asked her final question,"Why Defense Against The Dark Arts?"

"Well Defense Against The Dark Arts has been taught so irresponsibly, it felt like someone from the Ministry should really step in to make the environment a bit better for children. We need an environment where lies and falsehoods are not spread. No child should feel that they are in danger and they shouldn't be armed in any such way. Why would a child need to use spells for protection? Children need to pass their exams and that's it. The Ministry has made it their mission to reform education and I believe it starts with me. I believe it is my job as a Professor to stamp out the liars who would strike fear into children."

Samantha sat there quietly and decided not to ask her follow up question. "Well I think that's about it."

The two shook hands again and Samantha practically bolted from the room. She went back to the common room where there was a light celebration for the new Quidditch players. Ron had apparently made Keeper. Harry was celebrating but he looked distant in his expression.

Samantha sat down on a sofa beside Colin and he asked, "Why do you look so pale? You haven't signed up to be one of Fred and George's test subjects right?"

Samantha shook her head, "No I'm not crazy. It's about this."

Samantha passed her notes to Colin. His eyes grew wider as he continued reading.

"I can't publish this." Samantha said showing it to Colin. "It's just Ministry propaganda. We're not the bloody Prophet."

"It's bloody rubbish that's what it is." Colin insisted back.

"She kept trying to insist she had influence at the Prophet. I mean people have told me that, but I swear she just doesn't want me writing anything unsavory." Samantha expressed before attempting to replicate Umbridge's voice. "Like hey, I know the editor of the Daily Prophet don't write anything bad about me. Maybe, I'll get this article published if you write nice things about me."

"Wait," Colin stopped her, "She offered that. You could always just write a fluffy piece about her and do it."

"And be a sellout?" Samantha was taken aback. "I'd rather kiss Neville's Stinksap plant thing."

Colin chuckled.

"At least the first edition is postponed until I have a little more on her." Samantha suggested.

"Good idea." Colin agreed with a nod. "Let's see what we can do. McGonagall said she wanted something spectacular for the first edition this time, we can't fall back on publishing basic and biased articles anymore. We have to find some real dirt, consensual and tasteful dirt, but dirt all the same."

Samantha squinted her eyes and looked at Colin, "Make you the Creative Director and you get ruthless."

He grinned proudly. "I'm taking my new position seriously."

Samantha and Colin discussed the interview a bit longer before Samantha decided to turn into her dormitory.

The next morning was Saturday and Samantha considered spending it studying and figuring out how to fix this interview with Umbridge.

When she sat up from her bed, she heard Hermione whisper at her.

"Samantha, I heard you tell Colin you wanted more on Umbridge last night?" Hermione asked. "Are you still interested."

Samantha nodded. "Of course."

"I may have some information for you." Hermione whispered.