Incendio

The first day of term Samantha waited with the other sixth years in the Great Hall to have their class schedules approved. She was the second to be spoken to and she hoped it would go quickly because Ancient Runes would be first period.

"I notice you did not apply to continue with Herbology." McGonagall said looking over her paper.

"I only had an Acceptable in it." Samantha explained. "And it isn't necessary for my career."

Professor McGonagall exclaimed with a chuckle. "Professor Sprout has informed me that she would prefer you to continue. She thinks you purposely shirked your work last year and if you hadn't, you'd be very good at it. You certainly have enough free periods to handle one more class."

"I was hoping to use the free periods to focus on the Gazette and maybe getting published again before next year." Samantha explained.

"I'm sure one less free period will be fine." Professor McGonagall insisted before handing her the schedule."We will get you extra books and equipment if you need them Miss Fyre. Also, I've had interested parties asking about the Gazette, I was considering having you hold auditions two Sundays from now."

"I think I can do that." Samantha nodded before taking the paper.

"Lastly, as you may have heard last night, we are in need of a new Quidditch Commentator. I wasn't sure if you would be interested. It would look good if you still wish to apply for any jobs at the WNN." McGonagall offered and Samantha shook her head quickly. "Mr. Jordan had suggested you for the position last year."

"Oh, I'd really rather not. I really do better on the page." Samantha nodded. "And I think I need my space from anything Lee Jordan related for a bit."

McGonagall smiled a little. "Understood."

She had Ancient Runes first, which left her with a pile of homework to do before Wednesday. Samantha and Hermione walked together to the next class discussing study plans.

Defense Against the Dark Arts was next, something she now wished she wasn't taking. It was Professor Snape teaching now, and he had really hated her in potions. She knew she had to take it, it was important, especially now with a war looming. They were to start off by practicing wordless magic.

She knew the shield charm, she'd even used it against her brother before. She'd never done it wordlessly before and she felt intimidated standing next to Hermione who got it within a few moments. Ernie was her partner, and Samantha knew he could shield just as well, but he wasn't good at keeping his spells quiet. She thought in her mind hard, Flipendo and nothing happened. She tried a few more times and by the fourth time it worked. Ernie fell backwards and Samantha laughed before going to help him up. "You alright Ern?"

"That was so good Sam." He said as she held him up, "Hurt of course, but I'll get you back."

Snape stood by them as she prepared to deflect Ernie's jinx. He messed up and practically yelled, "Locomotor Wibbly."

Samantha thought quickly, Protego and somehow it worked.

She smiled with glee. She'd never gotten anything on the first try before.

"Ten points from Hufflepuff Mr. MacMillan for not keeping your voice at a level the Dark Lord can't hear." Snape snapped at Ernie. He turned to Samantha. "I am not disappointed to see you have a higher aptitude for jinxes than you have for potions. Maybe you are simply less distracted this year."

He didn't give her any points, but she took it as the nicest thing he'd ever said to anyone in her house.

She didn't continue on with her classmates to potions after lunch, instead she continued up to the Gazette meeting room to begin prep for print that afternoon. Everyone was to drop off their articles between classes that morning and she was to begin putting them together. It would be a good starting issue. Ernie had produced not only a good recap of the sorting, but he'd also temporarily taken over Marietta's position with advertisements. Ginny had written up pieces about each Quidditch team's upcoming tryouts and captains. Neville had actually written a decent "Meet The Editor" article about Samantha. His article surprised her because his writing used to be pretty rudimentary. Samantha didn't even had to write a front page article, Ginny and Neville had also left a beautifully written article about the battle at the Ministry. It was the perfect piece to get everyone reading the Gazette. She fixed the layout before putting it all together on the printing press. She just needed Colin's photos now.

She heard an owl tap the window behind her. It was Whisp carrying two letters.

The first was a letter from Lee asking about her first week back. He also detailed an interview he had with the Network to be hired on. Below his signature was a short note;

P.s.

Listen into the Network for the WYW&W broadcast on Thursday night at Nine PM.

Continuing on to the next letter she nearly dropped it seeing the return address.

It was from the Prophet.

Dear Miss Fyre,

We appreciate your submission of your illustrious article. As we have already reported on this particular incident, we do not find it necessary to publish something that may insight anymore panic.

All The Best,

Gertrude Bellaboss

-Secretary to Barnabas Cuffe

Samantha slumped a little more. She'd send her article to Luna's dad that night. He'd asked her several times over the Summer to send him anything she had.

"Knock, knock, I have pictures." Colin called in. He hadn't gotten any taller and still looked a great deal younger than he was, he was unchangeable, at least in Samantha's mind.

"Thanks Colin." Samantha said standing to retrieve them from him.

He knitted his eyebrows slightly, "What's the matter?"

"This is without a doubt the worst year." Samantha moaned.

"It can't be all that bad Sam." Colin insisted. "It's only the first day back."

"I've got more homework than ever." Samantha motioned to her books beside her.

Colin shrugged, "I understand that."

"I was also rejected by the Daily Prophet." Samantha handed him the rejection letter.

Colin asked. "I'm sure it takes a while to be noticed. The Gazette is back though."

"With an all time low for members." Samantha growled. "If we don't get new members. We're all doing double the work."

"At least we have a Gazette this year." Colin reminded and Samantha smiled.

"I'll give you that one." Samantha conceded with a small smirk.

"See not all bad." Colin laughed.

"I am being forced to take Herbology." Samantha scratched her head. She also realized she may have, as always, taken on too much. "Sprout thinks I purposely didn't do very well."

"Was she wrong?"

"I've always scraped by of course, but I'm awful at the damned class. I can't keep a non magical plant alive, let alone anything else." Samantha groaned again. "I once killed an Aloe plant."

Colin rubbed her back. "It's going to be alright Sam. Do you need Herbology to become a journalist?"

"No." She could feel her breath stiffen.

"And you haven't even taken it yet." Colin reminded. "You could find you are better than you remember."

Samantha took Colin's wishful thinking with her when she entered Herbology later that week.

Samantha stood next to Neville who sent her a small smile.

They were supposed to work with Venomous Tentacula and Samantha could feel the color drain from her face. They were poisonous and could kill you if they bit any exposed skin. Everyone began putting on gloves and Samantha took a step back. They were going to practice harvesting their leaves.

"Now Miss Fyre you don't have gloves do you?" Professor Sprout asked.

"She can have my spares." Neville chimed up and handed Samantha a pair of very large gloves.

"Thanks." Samantha laughed trying to put them on. They practically swallowed her hand whole.

Samantha couldn't harvest even a single leaf. Every time it'd get close, it would attempt to strangle her wrist. She was allowed to swear and she knew the words that were spewing from her mouth, were words she would never publish.

Samantha went to hand Neville his gloves back at the end of class.

"Keep them, till yours come in." Neville said as they walked out.

Samantha laughed, "Thanks."

"I can help you if you want." He offered.

"You don't have to help me." Samantha shook her head. "I'll just try harder."

"No offense Sam, but I don't think Professor Sprout was correct about you tanking your grade on purpose." He said in a less sympathetic tone.

"I can't ask you Neville, you've already got plenty of classes and I know how much homework we've all got." Samantha argued.

"It's no trouble." He insisted.

Samantha thought about it, she didn't want to fail "Sure."

They agreed to meet up at the greenhouses on an upcoming Saturday morning to do a bit of slight tutoring.

That night she enchanted her press to finish printing while she did her homework and listened to WWN. She had enjoyed the newest Weird Sisters song and wondered why Lee wanted her to listen in tonight.

"And now it's the Wild Young Witches and Wizards hour, for you wild young witches and wizards out there who are probably just avoiding their Herbology homework. I'm Electra Marshall, your host and I hope you are ready for a smashing night of Weird Sisters, Spellbound, The Gollum Grazers and so much more."

Samantha chuckled a little as she finished writing her notes. Good music at least.

"Tonight, we are actually joined by one of our newest staff members here at WWN. He's a recent Hogwarts graduate and our newest intern. Please help me welcome Mr. Lee Jordan."

"So, that's why." She verbalized to an empty room.

"Hello everyone." Lee's voice came through.

"Tell us about yourself Lee." Electra asked.

"Well, I don't know if you have a long enough show to discuss all of my excellent particulars."

Samantha and Electra giggled.

"Well, we don't have that kind of time so let's start with the simple stuff. How old are you Lee?"

Lee replied confidently. "I'm eighteen."

"What Hogwarts House were you in?"

"I am a proud Gryffindor of course."

"Of course, I should have known. Did you play Quidditch? You seem like a Quidditch guy."

"I never made the team, but I was the commentator for all the games from my third year on."

"Is that why you want to work here at WWN?"

"Well, I've always enjoyed communicating with people. For me this is the best way to do it."

"What a mature answer Lee. Now you listeners out there, who don't know my friend here, he is quite the prankster. Last week he snuck Miracle Mustache Stubble Grow into our bosses' tea cup. It produced the longest beard that baldy has ever been able to sport. Our boss actually laughed it off and asked if you had anymore. I know you also work for our good friends down at Weasley Wizard Wheezes so you obviously had plenty on hand." Electra began laughing heartily. Samantha wondered if the twins were paying for the advertisement.

"It's all in good fun of course, but I like making people laugh. This world we live in is scary and I just like having something we can all smile about."

Samantha smiled, it was something she liked about him.

"Now of course we have the biggest question that I'm sure our female listeners are most interested in. Is there a certain special someone in your life?"

And there it was, the stab that came to her heart. She wondered if he was seeing anyone else yet, but she really hadn't wanted to face it quite yet. She also hoped he would move on from her, that they could just be friends and business partners.

Lee laughed, and Samantha could tell by the cough that followed that he hadn't expected that question.

"There is someone, and she was pretty special to me. She and I agreed to focus on our careers and educations though, so technically I'm single."

Samantha rolled her eyes. That was worse than if he was seeing someone.

"It sounds like someone left their heart behind at Hogwarts." Electra segued, "Why don't we celebrate all those who left their hearts behind, like our good friend Lee here, with a soulful ballad from Spellbound? The iconically named, My Patronus Is Your Heart."

Samantha turned off the radio.