Incendio

"I shouldn't have agreed to this." Samantha shook her head looking at herself in the mirror. She couldn't decide on anything. Her sweater had changed colors and style so many times she worried it was broken.

"Why not?" Ginny asked, sitting on Samantha's bed.

"I've gotta catch up on homework before the break." Samantha tried making an excuse.

"I thought you were caught up on homework." Hermione commented from her bed as she knitted hats for house elves. "Also, your paper about the many uses of the silencing charm is actually very good. I assumed it would be, writing is truly your forte."

Samantha regretted letting Hermione check her homework. "You used to be on my side Hermione."

"I was just telling the truth." Hermione shrugged, but smirked a little.

"Breathe." Ginny said standing up and putting her hands on Samantha's shoulders. "If I can be brave enough to try out for the Quidditch team today, you can go on a not date with Lee."

Instead of going to Hogsmead, Ginny was trying out to take Harry's place as seeker on the Gryffindor team. After the previous match, Harry and George Weasley had attacked Draco Malfoy for making fun of their families. Umbridge then had banned them, and Fred for some reason, from playing Quidditch.

"You're right." Samantha nodded and her sweater finally changed to a soft maroon with gold trim. "I can do this."

She and Hermione joined the rest of the group going to the Hogsmead visit. She was going with Ron and Harry of course.

Fred and George looked slightly confused when Lee informed them that he had plans for the trip today. They looked less confused when they noticed he was walking with Samantha.

On their way to Three Broomsticks, she spent the whole time relaying what had actually happened with the Gazette.

He laughed a little when she finished and they entered the pub.

"I thought Fred, George and I would have done the most damage. Except, you wrote an entire smear piece against her." He chuckled. "Admit it, you hate her."

Samantha laughed, "I certainly don't like her. I also wouldn't want to get detention with her."

They sat across from each other at a table near the front. She noticed several of her classmates on dates around her, there were even a few hidden away at tables near the back, fully snogging, and she decided she was not that kind of person. Samantha looked away uncomfortably at all of the Christmas decorations. She didn't think she'd ever be that kind of person. She really wasn't sure what kind of a person she was.

"For the record, this still isn't a date." She announced, deciding it made her less nervous.

It was his turn to laugh as the waitress placed the butter beers before them.

"Of course not. I told you, it's a strategy meeting." Lee chuckled.

"I feel like I'm in enough trouble with her."

He winked. "Never."

She took a sip of her butter beer and tried ignoring the butterflies she felt in her stomach. The butterflies were harshly quenched when she looked out the window. Her brother and several other Slytherin students from her year were walking with people Samantha didn't know. They were older and certainly not students. Her brother had his arm around a woman who's face was slightly marred by a cloak. Samantha could see long red hair, but nothing else. She worried they would come into the three broomsticks. She for one didn't care what business her brother was up to, but she also didn't want him in her's. She still hadn't forgotten the debacle where he had told everyone not to ask her to the Yule Ball. She breathed a sigh of relief when they continued walking.

"Wasn't that your brother Jack?" Lee asked.

Samantha nodded. "Unfortunately."

"Didn't he threaten every boy in school not to ask you to the ball last year?" He asked uncomfortably bringing up one of Samantha's worst memories.
She nodded. "Yeah."

"If I hadn't of already had a date for the dance, I would have asked you." Lee joked, "You obviously would have said no."

Samantha laughed, almost choking on her butter beer.

"Who were those people he was with?" Lee asked. "They weren't all students."

Samantha shrugged. "I have no idea, but it's better if I stay out of his business."

"I wish I had a sibling. It's just me." He admitted. "And dad of course."

"My brother a tosspot, but he has his moments when I don't hate him." Samantha admitted.

"So down to real business of course." He changed faces as she took a drink of Butterbeer. "Ginny told me you know how to transfigure newspapers."

Samantha nodded. "Yeah, McGonagall was going to have me take over the Gazette's distribution."

"Well, I have a few ways that could be considered quite useful."

"Do tell."

"I was thinking, first of all, at the next meeting, we should propose the idea of a secret newsletter in case students have to miss." Lee said peeking Samantha's interest. "Of course you would be the one in charge, but I can help you write them."

"I'm interested. I can also make them look like spare bits of parchment if Umbridge or any teachers look at them."

"Impressive."

They continued discussing ideas while he shopped with her at Honeydukes and Zonkos for Christmas gifts to bring home.

The conversations eventually trailed off into other subjects, like favorite classes and their families. She realized she was enjoying herself, she had nothing to worry about. She was having a nice time with a guy she really liked and who made her laugh.

They were both alerted by their coins that a D.A. meeting would be taking place that night. They both agreed they'd talk to Harry and Hermione about it that night before everyone went on Christmas break.

And he didn't try anything, which was a great relief.

Hermione was of course thrilled by the idea when Samantha and Lee told her about it that night.

"I see the strategy meeting went well." Hermione commented after Lee had walked away.

"Yeah actually." Samantha giggled.

"So how about you two start working on it next meeting?" Hermione suggested and Samantha agreed.

Ginny was beyond ecstatic to tell Samantha she'd made the team and was eager to hear everything about Samantha's time. That night they both ended up in Ginny's dorm sitting on her bed, eating chocolate frogs and every flavor beans while talking and giggling about everything that had happened.

Samantha didn't mean to fall asleep there, but it happened.

When she awoke later into the night she decided to tip toe back to her own dorm. She moved quietly so she couldn't wake Ginny, but as she left Ginny's room she noticed Professor McGonagall hurriedly taking Ron and Harry out of the common room. Harry didn't look quite well and Samantha quickly rushed down.

Neville was pacing in the middle of the common room, he was sweating profusely through his dressing gown and looked like he'd seen a ghost.

"Neville, what's happened?" Samantha asked.

"Harry, he's sick. He was throwing a fit in his sleep, then he threw up everywhere." Neville revealed. "He kept saying something happened to Ron's dad."

"Are you ok Neville?" She asked, noticing he was breathing heavy.

He nodded. "I'm going to wait till they get back."

"Want me to wait with you?" She asked.

He stopped pacing and looked at her before nodding.

Samantha sat herself onto the sofa and watched Neville pace back and forth. McGonagall came back, this time without Ron or Harry. She also looked quite white and was sweating. Samantha had never seen her so flustered.

"Miss Fyre, could you please fetch Miss Weasley for me? Mr. Longbottom, please fetch the other two Mr. Weasleys." McGonagall requested and they both did as requested.

Ginny was confused when Samantha woke her up and it seemed the twins were the same way. They quickly left with McGonagall and Neville and Samantha were both left in the common room alone again.

The next morning, all of the Weasleys and Harry were still gone. Rumors were spreading like wildfire that something had actually happened to Ginny's dad. Hermione seemed very confused and had gone to see the headmaster. The next day, term officially ended and Hermione was also gone.

Samantha was very much ready to go home for Christmas. She had missed her mum and dad very much.

Luna greeted her as they were looking for a compartment to sit in.

"Samantha!" Luna looked very alone already. "Would you like to sit with me?"

Samantha nodded and took a seat across from her. Luna looked in at Whisp and pet her feathers slightly.

"She's a very beautiful owl." Luna commented. "What's her name?"

"Whisp." Samantha responded.

"She's named after Kennilworth Whisp I assume."

Samantha was flabbergasted, no one else had ever realized why she'd named her owl Whisp. Kennilworth Whisp was one of her favorite authors.

"My father has met him a few times." Luna volunteered. "He's written an article or two for the Quibbler. He's who gave us tickets for the Quidditch World Cup. He didn't want the tickets the association had sent him."

Samantha was suddenly very jealous. "That's amazing Luna."

"It was quite interesting." Luna shrugged as if it was completely normal.

Samantha nodded before there was a light knock at the door.

"So I believe we are both short our Weasleys. Mind if I join you?" Lee was standing in the lane with a big smile. Samantha nodded, but hoped he wouldn't pick on Luna.

Luna's smile only got bigger and she laughed, "Oh because you both are best friends with Weasleys? That's clever."

"Only if you don't mind as well Lovegood?" Lee smiled at Luna who nodded. "Any friend of Samantha's is a friend of mine, so it wouldn't ruin your time together right?"

"I'm your friend?" Luna turned and looked at Samantha with wide and surprised eyes.

"Of course you are Luna."

"Well then of course you may join us Lee." Luna addressed Lee with a nod.

He sat down beside Samantha.

"Elsie Overbast said you two went on a date to Hogsmead together." Luna volunteered.

Samantha hadn't heard of anyone named Elsie Overbast before. She wondered why Elsie knew about it or why she cared. She also wondered why Lee was suddenly looking very uncomfortable and was shifting in his seat.

"It was more like a strategy meeting Luna." Lee said back before smirking at Samantha. He continued in a low whisper, "For the D.A."

"Oh well someone should tell Elsie that." Luna remarked back smartly before reaching into her bag beside her and pulling out her newest copy of the Quibbler. "What's the strategy for?"

"We shouldn't talk about it here Luna." Samantha whispered, "there could be some of Fudge's Legillimens on the train."

"The trolley lady." Luna popped her head up before looking back to the Quibbler and becoming very deep in reading it. "I knew it."

Lee mouthed the question, "what?"

"I'll explain another time," Samantha explained with a wink, "When they aren't listening of course."

"Of course." He chuckled and Samantha was just grateful he was being kind.

"Are we still allowed to buy items off of the trolley? That is all I really want to know? Because if we can't, I have chocolate frogs. I promise they are not from Fred and George's stash." He asked.

Samantha enjoyed the ride back to London. She, Luna and Lee got off the train together. Lee helped her get Whisp's cage off the train before wishing her a Merry Christmas. Before Samantha could see her parents, Luna was dragging her by the arm to meet Luna's father.

He was a blonde man who was dressed in long tan robes. He had a holly wreath in his hair and like his daughter, sported a necklace made of butter beer caps.

"Dad this is my friend, Samantha. She's a journalist." Luna exclaimed loudly making a few people turn to look.

"Ah yes, the talented writer. I'm Xenophilius Lovegood." He took her hand and shook it. "I very much used to enjoy the Gazette, Luna wrote me that it was banned. We at the quibbler do not very much support the silencing of opinions."

Samantha could hear her mother calling for her. "Thank you sir. I have to go meet my family." She said goodbye before running directly into her mother's arms.

"Who's the boy you got off the train with Sam?" Her dad asked looking suspicious.

"Sammy's new boyfriend. He's nothing but trouble though." Jack chuckled. "I don't like him."

"He's not my boyfriend." Samantha argued quickly. "He's a friend."

"And who was the little blonde girl and man?" Her mother asked as she started fixing Samantha's hair. "They seemed friendly."

"Oh, that was Looney Lovegood. She's barking mad." Jack contributed again.

Samantha found herself tempted to mention what Jack had said about her mother, but decided it would have been a low blow. "She's my very sweet and funny friend. Her father runs the Quibbler."

"I'm sure they are both very nice if Jack doesn't like them." Her mother laughed wrapping her arm around Samantha's shoulder.