Incendio

Samantha was laying in her bed. She hadn't stopped smiling since she came back. Since getting her article published, she couldn't remember an evening she'd felt more accomplished. She'd stood up against Umbridge and had her first real kisses, all in one night.

She held her hand close to her chest. It didn't hurt anymore, but it had left a mark. Umbridge had made her write, "I will not rebel" over and over. In an odd way, it had lit a fire for her. She wished she could let Luna publish her article, that would show that toad. All she really needed was some evidence, something to prove what Umbridge was actually doing. They couldn't expel her if she had evidence.

Samantha shot up in her bed. She had proof, she was proof. She ran as quickly as she could and woke Colin from his bed.

"Colin, take a picture of my hand." Samantha insisted as he stirred slightly to her shaking.

"What time is it?" He asked drowsily.

"Never you mind, it'll just take a moment. We just need to catch this before it fades. We can get Umbridge."

Colin eventually stirred and met her beside the fire in the common room. He took several pictures of her hand. He didn't require much more explanation and instead strode back to bed, saying he'd develop them the next day.

Samantha went back to bed, and for the first time in months, she fell into a deep sleep.

The next day Samantha planned to tell Luna her dad could publish the article, but it had to be anonymous and the picture of her hand had to be included. She knew she could catch Luna at the D.A. meeting that night, and that way no one else would overhear.

Samantha was on her way to Charms when she was practically ambushed by the Weasley twins.

"So it is true?" Fred Weasley asked sneaking up on her right side. "That you and our good friend,"

"And business partner," George Weasley continued walking on the other side of her.

"Are an official item?" Fred continued his brother.

"Is that what he said?" Samantha asked, they hadn't exactly discussed it, but she wasn't against the idea.

"'Is that what he said?' She asks." Fred chuckled, "Lee has become bloody annoying about you."

George interrupted Fred. "All he could talk about when we tried to discuss business, was about your gesture."

Fred lowered his voice slightly apparently trying to mimic Lee. "Oh, isn't my girlfriend just the greatest? She's so talented, witty and beautiful."

George continued on, holding his hand's together in mockery. "Oh the way she protested for me, she knew what would happen, and she still stood up for me."

"An excellent show of morality none the less." Fred interjected in his normal voice again, "However, if we have to hear the story of something we were clearly present for, one more time, we will slip him a puking pastie into his morning porridge."

Samantha could feel the redness in her cheeks again and continued walking. She felt slightly proud that he was calling her his girlfriend. She hadn't had a moment to really respond as they both continued.

"Not that we really mind you two of course." George insisted. "Considering you are in fact, Ginny's good friend."

"Almost poetic really." Fred chimed. "Our good friend, paired with our sister's good friend. What excellent fun!"

George asked, "Maybe we can all be in the wedding?"

"Wouldn't that be an occasion? I'll start the plans" Fred continued before leaning down to Samantha, "We can have a choir of gnomes!"

"What colors do you prefer Samantha?" George asked, "Gold and Red or Red and Gold, either way I think Gryffindor colors are your only option."

"But which of us shall be the best man?" Fred asked scowling at George.

George put up his fists, "Surely we will have to fight. I say first to the death loses."

Ginny laughed, running up to her and pulling her away from her brother's. "Leave her alone you two."

Samantha laughed along with Ginny.

"Brothers." She exclaimed. "They are menaces. You are quite red Sam. They weren't torturing you about Lee were they?"

Samantha nodded.

"Well, they tried to ask me more information and it was easy to stay tight lipped seeing as you haven't even given me any of the real the juicy details." Ginny divulged.

Samantha shrugged. "I don't know, I'm better with details about other people's lives."

They were both abruptly stopped in their tracks by Samantha's brother. He had a very flustered face.

"Sammy I need to talk to you." Jack said strongly. "Privately."

Samantha whispered to Ginny. "Brothers. I'll see you later Gin."

Ginny waved and continued on.

"I have to get to class." Samantha insisted to Jack.

"You didn't seem to mind a minute ago." He interjected.

Samantha's shoulders slumped and she dreaded whatever he wanted to say.

"So Lee's actually your boyfriend?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.

She responded, "Why do I only hear from you at Christmas and when you want to meddle in my love life?"

"You got detention for kissing him." He reminded her.

"And you got detention for arguing with Professor Binns just last week." Samantha rolled her eyes.

He did not seem to care. "We aren't talking about me. You kissed him to stand up for some kind of rebellion. Do you want to be known as a troublemaker like him? Do you want to be on the wrong side of all this? A war is coming."

Samantha rolled her eyes, "Who I date is not your problem. I don't make a fuss about the woman you've been seeing. She's obviously not a student."

His face shifted, his eyes became wide and his face white. "How do you know about that?"

"None of your business. Just like it isn't yours who I'm dating." She raised her eyebrows realizing the tables had shifted.

"Did you tell mum?" He asked. "Of course you have, you tell mum everything."

"I haven't, because it isn't my business." She felt her shoulders pull back. "I also haven't told her how you treat others, how you have bullied my friends and how you pretend to be all high and mighty with your friends when you have absolutely no right to be. And I certainly have never told her about how you speak about her and dad."

His teeth looked to be grinding together and his face was a deep scarlet shade. He looked ready to blow his top but he remained silent.

"Leave me alone Jack." She pushed past him and strode away to class. She wondered why her brother had been so defensive. Was this woman the reason he'd been so secluded? Was she the one he'd been sending letters to? Who was she? These thoughts raced through her mind as she spent her double free period in the library studying. She couldn't focus on her Herbology terminology to save her life.

She was interrupted by a welcome whisper from behind a bookshelf. "Psst, beautiful."

"I'm studying." Samantha explained as Lee sat beside her quickly and kissed her cheek. "Something you should probably be doing."

"I'll do my studying tonight." He admitted. "I have full confidence I will pass my N.E.W.T.s. I also know you will pass your O.W.L.s. You are brilliant enough." He pulled one of her hair's out of her face. "How long have you been studying?"

Samantha rolled her eyes before looking to her pocket watch. "Only an hour. I have another hour before class."

He pulled her chair closer to him. "You are practically turning into Granger."

"And Granger will probably get Os on everything." Samantha insisted as he slid her closer and she prayed no one heard the chair squeak.

"Now if I remember correctly from when I took my OWLs, you only needed an E in Transfiguration for Magical Journalism?" He asked looking over her book.

Samantha nodded.

"Which you will get. You are bloody brilliant at it." He insisted. "Wouldn't be shocked if you got an O."

"I also need an E in Charms." Samantha interjected.

"Another thing you are brilliant at." He joked.

"Another set of E's in Muggle Studies, History of Magic, Ancient Runes and I don't need it, but I'd love to get a high grade in DATD." She admitted. "Muggle studies I could pass with my eyes closed."

"See." He laughed. "And yet here you are studying Herbology."

She shrugged and closed the book. "Something I don't need."

He lifted his hands slightly and said nothing.

"I hate admitting you are right." She said before kissing him quickly.

"Knock it off you two. No need to protest in my library." The Librarian, Madam Pince warned almost appearing out of nowhere from behind a bookshelf.

"Sorry Madam Pince." Samantha apologized and scooted her chair away from him and Madam Pince walked away.

"Take a break." Lee whispered and raised his eyebrows. "We can go get into some real trouble before your next class."

"Aren't I in enough trouble?" Samantha rolled her eyes.

"Not nearly." He joked. "I was thinking we could start working on that project together."

Her brother's words came flashing through her mind again.

"You alright? Your hand doesn't still hurt does it? I have more of the Murtlap stuff." Lee offered.

Samantha shook her head and started putting her books away. "No, I'm alright. My brother and I got into it today. He apparently doesn't like you."

Lee shrugged, "Not my problem. I only care if one specific Fyre likes me."

Samantha smiled again, "He left me alone after I threatened to tell mum about who he was seeing in Hogsmead."

"Those black cloak people?" Lee asked as they both began leaving the library.

"Yeah, I wonder who they are." Samantha whispered.

Lee's eyebrows knitted together, "I could find out if you want."

"Really?" Samantha asked, "How?"

"Well Luna told me that if I had any plans for Valentines day with you at Hogsmead, I should be well aware that you are expected to meet your friends at The Three Broomsticks for lunch." Lee laughed. "So while you are busy with your friends, I'll see what I can find out."

"Really?" Samantha asked with a smile.

"Of course." He smirked. "I'll even bring Fred and George. Give them an excuse to use their Extendable Ears."

Samantha nodded, "Alright, just be careful. It's honestly just curiosity."

"Until then, let us focus at the task at hand." Lee wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

Samantha and Lee began their work on their aptly named, Rebellion Papers. They wrote down every article of business from the meetings and Samantha quickly created copies to pass out at the meetings.

The papers were a bit of a hit. At least a better hit than the Gazette had ever been.

Neville exclaimed as Samantha gave her his one night, "These are so helpful, I won't forget anything now. I was always worried to take notes incase Umbridge ever saw them."

"That is the point." Samantha giggled.

Neville smiled before leaving. "It's fantastic. It's also good to see you writing again Sam."

Her free time, when she wasn't studying, was suddenly filled. When they weren't working on the RPs, they were finding the few corridors they could, where they would sneak in a quick snog.

February came quickly and before she knew it, it was Valentine's day and Lee was dropping her off at the Three Broomsticks.

"I'll meet you afterwards." He insisted. "The boys and I are meeting at Zonkos. We will see what we can find out."

Samantha reached up on her toes and gave Lee a quick kiss on the nose before running in to meet Luna, Harry, Hermione and the somewhat respected journalist, Rita Skeeter.