Incendio

"He just started screaming." Samantha told Ginny and Luna quickly. "I think something is wrong."

She'd left her exam and found them both leaving their charms class. They began searching for him, they started at the hospital wing before Ginny started laughing. "I can hear Potter's frustrated tones now."

"What a talent you posses." Luna quipped and Samantha proudly noticed a trace of sarcasm behind it.

They followed Ginny's lead to an empty classroom where they found Harry, Ron and Hermione.

Apparently, Harry had seen someone close to him was being tortured in the Department of Ministries. They wanted to use Umbridge's fireplace to contact this person to make sure he wasn't being used by Voldemort. She thought she heard him say Sirius as the person's name.

"Sirius Black?" Samantha asked in confusion. "The murderer?"

Everyone stared at Samantha except for Luna who had a similar confusion.

"I believe they are talking about Stubby Boardman." Luna whispered to Samantha.

"Who? Ok, whoever it is, if Harry says they need help, I'm in." Samantha shook her head.

"You just want an excuse to make that woman's life hell some more." Hermione rolled her eyes.

"And to make up for the nifflers." Samantha insisted, she'd felt horrible about the situation with Hagrid.

"Perfect, do you think you and Lee can create some kind of distraction in the Transfiguration department?" Ron asked. "I'll tell Umbridge, I saw you both up to no good again."

Samantha laughed. "I'll catch him on the way out of his NEWTs, we don't have a lot because we weren't exactly planning on causing havoc this week, but we can improvise."

Samantha ran as fast as she could. All she had to whisper to Lee was, "I need your help, now."

They ran to the hallways outside of McGongall's classroom and began setting off every prank they had left. Smelly gasses, loud whistling bombs, little flying and biting pixies, and as they were about to charm all the paintings on the wall to start singing happy birthday Samantha heard her brother's voice.

It was Jack and Warrington.

"Stupefy." Jack yelled, Samantha thankfully put up her shield charm instead.

Lee and Warrington began a duel and Samantha was left to deal with her brother. Samantha knew a lot of his moves, and she also knew she wasn't as advanced.

"Expelliarmus!" Samantha yelled back, attempting to disarm her brother.

"Protego." He blocked her back, causing her to be disarmed instead.

Jack called out before running in and grabbing his sister by the arm, "What in the blazes are you doing?"

"None of your business." Samantha said looking into his eyes.

She realized he'd been pulling his punches, he knew Samantha pretty well. He had barely sent a spell her way.

Lee wasn't quite so lucky with Warrington. Lee lay on the ground, stunned.

"Sammy, why are you here?" He asked in a softer tone. "I'm your brother, you can trust me."

"Oh good Mr. Fyre." Her feigned feminine voice called across the hallway.

Samantha and Jack both looked back at her, she had Ron Weasley by the arm.

"I see you are correct, they were causing trouble." Umbridge squealed at Ron. "Unfortunately, I don't believe your story. There is no way you aren't in cahoots with these two troublemakers."

Jack grabbed Lee's wand and began to help him stand up. Warrington took him by the arm.

"Please take these delinquents and follow us back to my office please." She addressed Jack directly as Lee began to stir.

Jack helped Lee to his feet. Lee was still stunned and looking confused but he fought against Warrington's grip.

They walked slowly, a small pace behind Umbridge.

"Please Sammy." Jack whispered and she felt him slip her wand back into her hand.

"Someone's in trouble, we were causing a distraction." Samantha whispered back. "My friends were just trying to contact him through Umbridge's office."

Jack nodded before whispering again, "I'll stun Warrington and then you stun me. She will believe it if you stun me, then I can see if I can help your friends. You have to promise me though, that you and the delinquent will go back to your dormitory immediately."

"Ok, you promise you will help them?" Samantha whispered. "You will get Ron and the others out?"

Jack nodded. "I promise."

Samantha smiled, "I've always wanted to stun you."

He laughed. "Of course you have. She's about to round the corner, I'll get Warrington then."

Once Umbridge rounded the corner, Jack nonverbally stunned Warrington and Samantha whispered a quick, "Stupify" at her brother.

She grabbed Lee's wand and the two of them quickly ran out of the hallway.

"You think he might finally think I'm alright?" Lee asked as they ran to their dormitory as quickly as they could.

"Maybe." Samantha chuckled. "He still called you a delinquent."

As they arrived back, Samantha noticed no one was back yet. She decided to wait till they came back. She waited an hour, then another.

Everyone who had returned to Gryffindor tower after dinner and exams seemed confused. Umbridge hadn't been seen in hours, neither had Neville, Ginny, Harry, Ron or Hermione. Luna was also missing along with several Slytherin students who were on Umbridge's Inquisitorial Squad, like Jack. It was making Samantha increasingly nervous for her friends and for her brother. He had promised to help them. She prayed he hadn't been hurt or worse. She also hoped she hadn't stunned him too hard.

Rumors were flying all over when some questions were answered. Several of the Inquisitorial Squad were found in Umbridge's office, each had been hit by some kind of jinx or spell. Including her brother. He'd been sent to the Hospital Wing.

She wanted to leave and check on him.

"I wouldn't." Dean Thomas advised. "Since no one can find Umbridge or the others, they aren't letting students roam the hallways."

Samantha started shaking and pacing around the common room. She feared her friends had gone to the Department of Mysteries. What if they were in danger?

An owl started pecking at the window. She turned and looked, it was Whisp with a copy of the Quibbler and a letter in her beak.

Samantha opened the window and opened the letter first. Inside was a note and Three Galleons.

Samantha,

I am aware Luna said she explained we do not usually pay our journalists, however with the hard work and risk in writing this article, I believed a slight reward was necessary. She also insisted that this be published without your name attached, this seemed an injustice for her to suggest, so I have attached your name. I have also added an Editor's note at the bottom.

-Xenophilius Lovegood

Samantha opened her Quibbler and was shocked. The cover was a cartoon of Umbridge standing over Hogwarts with the title,

High Inquisitor or Dictator?

-An Exclusive Inside Look at What's Really Happening to Hogwarts Students.

Samantha opened it to the first page with everyone in Gryffindor Tower standing around her.

"What is it?" Lee asked.

"It's my article. Published." Samantha's eyes began to swell with tears. Her name was in big letters and the thought crossed her mind that she might be expelled, but she also didn't care. This was the most important moment of Samantha's life so far.

"Read it Sam." Someone called out. "Anything to get our minds off of all this madness."

She opened the page and there in black and white was a picture of her scarred hand.