Incendio

"You and Lee aren't together still right?" Hermione asked randomly the next Monday after Ancient Runes, interrupting Samantha's thoughts.

Samantha shook her head. "Goodness no, we aren't together."

"I heard you and Adrian Pucey had a moment after the Gryffindor party. Odd choice by the way if true. Elsie Overbast said it, so I'm not sure how reliable that is."

Samantha threw her head back slightly, "How did Elsie Overbast find out about that?"

"So it did happen?"

"It did happen. But not how I assume Elsie is spreading the story." Samantha wrinkled her nose, "It was nothing more than us running into each other in the hallway. He tried to ask me out as a distraction because my brother and Warrington were both sneaking out of the castle. They were caught though."

Samantha tried to see her brother to ask him what had happened Saturday night, but it seemed he was avoiding her completely. She wondered why he would try to leave the castle. He was seventeen, was he thinking about pulling a Fred and George and leaving Hogwarts early? He hadn't mentioned anything to her or her parents.

"That's good that they were caught." Hermione insisted. "It's dangerous out there right now."

"Yeah. I have no idea what would have compelled them to sneak out, but I never know why my brother does anything." Samantha rolled her eyes. "I also slapped Pucey."

"We've all been there." Hermione shrugged.

"You've slapped Pucey too?"

"No, but I've slapped a Slytherin. What I'm trying to ask you, is if you two are an item?"

"Merlin's beard no." Samantha squished her books closer to her chest wondering who Hermione had slapped. "Why are you so suddenly concerned with my love life?"

"Do you have a date for the slug party yet? I know you were invited." She continued.

"I was invited, but I don't have a date." Samantha had forgotten about Slughorn's Christmas party. They were supposed to bring dates.

"Were you going to ask anyone?"

Samantha didn't actually have a plan. "No, I planned on going alone."

"Oh good." Hermione observed.

Samantha responded turning back, "Why?"

"Well, Harry needs a date. The situation could be seen as precarious if he doesn't go with someone trustworthy." Hermione continued. "You know about the love potion rumor right?

"I've heard the rumor, but I'd rather not be the target of jealousy. Elsie has sent enough of that to me this year." Samantha nodded, "Plus Gin would kill me."

Hermione looked confused. "She's with Dean."

"And you and I both know who she likes far more." Samantha insisted. "I will not allow a boy to come between my best friend and I."

"So? She'd realize he was perfectly safe from love potions if he went with you." Hermione argued.

"It'd be a betrayal. How would you feel if I asked Ron out sometime?"

Hermione turned red. "Obviously, I would not be bothered."

Samantha laughed. "How you have reacted to Lavender the last two nights, is proof enough for me."

Lavender and Parvati had been loudly discussing Lavender's newest tryst with Ron in their shared dormitory. It was quite obnoxiously detailed. Not to mention, Hermione had been almost reduced to tears over it.

"I just don't like the incessant giggling."

"Need I also remind you of when you cried in the bathroom at the Yule Ball because of Ron, when you were literally Viktor Krum's date?"

"He was being an arse, that's why."

"Why aren't you just going with Harry? He's your best friend." Samantha switched gears.

"He wouldn't be particularly useful in making anyone jealous, everyone knows he's my best friend and nothing more. Ro-, I mean," Hermione stopped and Samantha raised her eyebrows.

"Who?" Samantha held her hand to her ear.

"Oh merlin's pants, Ron wouldn't be jealous if I just asked Harry." Hermione was a fun shade of red herself.

"Hermione Granger." Samantha shook her head, "I never took you to be so ruthless. Slapping Slytherin classmates, making Ron jealous, what will you do next?"

Hermione smirked a devilish smile but ignored Samantha's taunting. "It's a no on taking Harry then?"

"It is a no." Samantha said as they approached DADA. "I can only imagine what jealous rumors could be sparked by going with," Samantha put her hand to her head mockingly, "The Chosen One."

Hermione laughed and the two continued into class.

Samantha did begin to think pretty hard about it during class. It would be rather droll to show up to the party as the only one without a date. She could bring a friend, someone who she trusted. She'd really have to consider her options.

During class she was paired with Neville. Neville was decent at DADA. He wasn't as great as he was in Herbology, but he was good. He successfully disarmed her a few times, but she returned the favor.

"Refreshing to see you two did not carry over your incompetence as partners into this class." Snape commented and Neville looked shocked.

"That's the nicest thing he's ever said to me." Neville mentioned as they left class. "Ever."

Samantha laughed along, "It's happened twice now. Random backhanded compliments from Snape, never thought it would happen twice."

"Are you off to the Gazette next?" Neville asked before handing her a paper. "I have a story for you. Luna and I worked on it together. Madam Pince has been having an issue with students writing in Library books."

"Well, it's something. Especially since I don't have a front page story." Samantha took the paper and stuffed it into her bag.

"I heard about that." Neville mentioned, "I'm sure the Aurors had a good reason."

"They did." Samantha nodded. A brief but welcome thought popped into her mind as he started to leave, "Hey Neville. Did you get invited to Slug's party?"

He shook his head, "I wasn't quite what he was looking for. So, no."

"Would you wanna go with me?" Samantha blurted.

If he looked shocked at Snape's compliment, he looked really shocked now. This shock was only comparable to first year when he had won ten points at the end of year feast, winning Gryffindor the House Cup.

"Me?" His face remained in a similar state of shock, but a small smile began forming.

"Yeah, you. As-like-friends, you know?" Samantha qualified, "To thank you, for the Herbology lessons."

He nodded. "I'll go with you."

"Cool." Samantha nodded and smiled, "I'll see you around."

"Cool." He said looking shocked as she walked away.

The next couple of weeks remained busy. Snow had begun swirling but homework, writing, exchanging letters with Lee, and dodging any corridor that had mistletoe hanging, kept her occupied. She hadn't had to think about the Slug Party too much more. She had a date she could trust, who had barely mentioned it. He brought it up once to ask what color she was wearing. Her mother had sent her dress robes of a simple maroon color as soon as she heard there was a party.

The day of Slughorn's party arrived and she was quite ready for the Christmas Holiday. She sat with Hermione in the Great Hall for dinner. They were exchanging homework notes before they'd head up to their dormitory to fix each other's hair for the party. There was a lot of talk about the party and who was bringing who. Harry had ended up asking Luna, who had pulled Samantha over earlier that day to excitedly tell her. Ron and Harry were down the table a little discussing it as well. Ron kept glaring over to Hermione. The gap between them was closed as Lavender and Parvati sat at the table.

Lavender and Ron began their normal vulgar display before Parvati reached over to Hermione and Samantha. She was practically beaming with a smile. Samantha suspected it was because Ron, Lavender and Parvati had laughed at Hermione during Transfiguration and made her cry.

"Oh Hi Hermione, Hi Samantha." Parvati greeted.

"Hey." Samantha waved and Hermione did the same, but she seemed much giddier than normal.

Hermione and Parvati continued into a conversation about the party.

"I'm not going, no invite. Who are you two going with?" Parvati asked with a big smile.

Samantha shrugged after taking a drink of Pumpkin Juice, "Neville, as a friend, figured I owed him since he's been tutoring me."

"That's very nice of you Samantha." Parvati said with a feigned interest. Samantha knew any other time and she would have made fun of her choice.

Hermione loudly told Parvati who she was going with. The announcement made Ron come up for air from his deep snog with Lavender. Cormac McLaggen was Hermione's date.

Samantha tried to hold in her laughter, but struggled when Hermione mentioned that she only dated, "Really good Quidditch players."

Samantha choked on her pumpkin juice.

"Are you alright Sam?" Hermione asked.

Samantha nodded and feigned a cough and wiped her face, "Just choked a little."

"Come on Sam, let's go get dressed for tonight. You can come as well Parvati, we could use a good opinion." Hermione insisted.

"I'm alright, but I will want to see your dress robes. I bet they are lovely." Parvati mentioned before the two left the Great Hall.

"Ruthless." Samantha whispered to Hermione as they made their way up to the Common Room.

Samantha's dress robes for the party were a simple maroon color that she paired with a silver belt. Samantha also put a few silver snowflake charms in her hair. Hermione was also looking lovely in soft periwinkle colored robes.

She met Neville in the common room. He looked pretty cleaned up, for Neville. He looked better than he had at the Yule Ball. For the first time ever, Samantha noticed his baby fat seemed to have gone away, and he had grown more into his ears.

She smiled when she saw he had a maroon bow tie. "I like the bow tie."

"Gran said I should match you. She also insisted on new dress robes since I've grown since fourth year." He remarked back, his shoulders up by his ears.

"Mind if I fix your tie though?" Samantha asked, "It's a bit askew."

"Of course, please."

Samantha reached and fixed the bow tie. "Much better."

Hermione followed behind them, McLaggen hadn't emerged from the boy's dormitory yet.

Ron was sitting with Lavender in the corner. They weren't locked in an eternal snog, but Lavender did have her arms wrapped around him. Ron looked absolutely red.

"You two go ahead, I'll wait for Cormac here." Hermione insisted.

"Are you sure?" Neville asked, "We can wait."

"Oh no," Hermione said loudly, "We might want to walk alone."

Samantha tried to keep from laughing again, "Yeah, I'm sure you and McLaggen would love the alone time."

Samantha and Neville made their way out of the common room. Samantha was still laughing and Neville didn't understand, but smiled as she laughed.

"You look beautiful by the way." He randomly mentioned as they walked through the halls behind a few of their classmates.

Samantha laughed, those were words she didn't expect from him. "Thanks and thanks again for going with me."

"Of course." Neville said as they went up the spiral staircase to Slughorn's office. It was bigger than usual, with drapery covering the ceilings and walls. There were house elves carrying trays of food and drink. There were already dozens of people there, not just normal people, famous and rich people.

The two stood there, shocked for a moment.

"Is that the Weird Sisters?" Neville asked her motioning to the far corner.

Samantha nodded, "Wagtail and Duke at least. And over there, that's Eldred Worple, he wrote that book about Vampires."

Neville nodded as they stepped further into the room as they continued gaping at the famous people in the room.

"Miss Fyre." She heard their host call. Slughorn approached them and bowed slightly. "So glad you could attend tonight. Wearing Belle's creations I presume?"

Samantha nodded. "Of course, what else?"

"I would brag that I am wearing a new set from her as well, but I do not do them justice like you do." Slughorn insisted. Samantha recognized the design, it was her mother's.

"I think you look very nice Professor." Samantha remarked. "Thank you for the invite."

"Of course Miss Fyre. And I see you have brought Longbottom." Slughorn said, slightly looking down his nose at Neville.

"Yes, Neville has been tutoring me in Herbology. He's brilliant at it." Samantha defended. "And he's been a Gazette member for almost three years."

"Is that so?" Slughorn's face shifted slightly and bowed to Neville slightly. "Now I hope you two enjoy the evening, many people to meet."

Samantha nodded as he walked away.

"Do you know the possibility of amazing interviews I could have for the Gazette?" Samantha asked quietly.

Neville nodded, "You brought a journal right?"

Samantha nodded before pulling a well hidden pen out of her updo and a journal out of her bag.

Everyone she approached was almost too willing to answer questions. Samantha wondered if it was the champagne that was being passed around (That Samantha and Neville had slightly partaken in) or if it was just the effect Slughorn had on people. It was amazing. From authors to artists and even a vampire, Samantha had at least five possible articles she could publish.

Neville followed her and didn't seem bothered by her interviews. He seemed content just to be at a party. They visited with a few friends. Hermione seemed to be spending her evening dodging McLaggen. Luna and Harry were visiting with Professor Trelawny. Ginny and Dean spent much of the party in a corner having what seemed to be a row.

At some point there was a disruption, Draco Malfoy had been caught trying to crash the party. It didn't seem like a big deal, but it was unusual.

"Are you sure you are alright with all this?" Samantha asked Neville. "I didn't mean to turn this into a Gazette thing."

He was eating a second tart as he answered. "Definitely alright. No one will believe we met all these people if we don't have proof."

"Excuse me," A woman tapped on Samantha's shoulder. She had bright blue hair stacked on her head. She wore a tight silver dress and matching silver boots. "Are you Samantha Fyre?"

Samantha nodded. "Yes. I'm sorry, I don't believe we've met."

"We haven't, but I would know you anywhere. I'm Electra Marshall." She reached an outstretched hand.

Samantha shook her hand and wasn't sure whether to be flattered or frightened. "You work with Lee."

She also wondered if she should start looking around the room. Was he there? She began to feel panic. If he was jealous last year when she barely spoke to Neville, how would he be if he saw her on a date with him? It was a plutonic date, but a date all the same. Neville's eyes also began scanning the room, as if he'd had a similar thought.

Electra waved her hand at Neville while assuring, "Don't you worry, no competition for your beautiful date here. Lee's taken over the show for the evening so he couldn't have attended if he wanted to."

Samantha's shoulders retreated and Neville seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

"Now why don't you introduce me to your handsome date here?" Electra requested.

"This is Neville Longbottom, he's a good friend of mine." Samantha motioned to Neville.

Neville shook her hand and seemed in awe of her. Samantha didn't blame him. Aside from Fleur Delacour, Electra was one of the most striking women she'd ever seen.

"Lee said you would probably be the one interviewing everyone in the room." Electra smiled a dazzling white smile as she turned back to Samantha."I just had to meet you. I've heard a lot about you."

"Hopefully only the good stuff." Samantha pleaded.

"Lee isn't a kiss and tell sort of man. Don't worry too much." Electra raised her blue eyebrows. "Now would you two like to meet some really interesting people? I happen to know the Weird Sisters personally."

Neville and Samantha looked between each other. They had both agreed the Weird Sisters were the only people they couldn't just go up and talk to, they were too cool.

"Bloody hell yes!" They both enthusiastically answered.

"Hello boys." Electra called to the two attending Weird Sisters band members as they approached. "I have two very cool people who want to meet you. They write for the school paper."

Neville's ears turned pink and Samantha felt her hands shaking. They introduced themselves as Duke, who played Lead Guitar, and Wagtail, who was the frontman.

"So what houses are you both in?" Wagtail asked pointing between them.

"We're both in Gryffindor." Samantha barely stammered out.

"Cool." Duke responded with a cock of his shoulders. "I was a Gryffindor."

"I was in Hufflepuff." Wagtail flipped his long blonde hair. "Same year?"

"Yeah," Neville nodded agressively, "sixth year."

"You both write for the school paper here?" Wagtail asked. "They didn't have that back in my time at good ole Hogwarts."

They both nodded.

"We'd be happy to give you both an interview, but it comes at a steep price." Wagtail offered before waving them both closer. He checked around the room before he pulled a bottle from his robes, "You've gotta have some fire whiskey with us first."

"We've also got giggle water." Duke interjected.

It wasn't the morally correct decision, but it was one neither Samantha or Neville seemed to hesitate on. The rest of the evening became a slight blur after the first drink. Samantha tried to interview them, but decided after the second drink that she couldn't write anymore. Instead the four began talking about old Hogwarts stories. Neville and Samantha agreed to leave after an hour, they didn't want to be in any serious trouble.

Wagtail passed Samantha card before they began to leave, "Here, in case you ever need a band, for like anything. Like if you and your boyfriend there get married."

"I don't have a boyfriend. I broke up with my boyfriend to focus on learning." Samantha overshared.

"What about him?" Wagtail pointed to Neville.

"Neville, oh him? He isn't my boyfriend." Samantha whispered back.

"Oh, that's a bloody shame." Wagtail offered, "Why not? He seems a fun fellow, holds his fire whiskey pretty well. I also heard him tell Duke that he actually was there that night at the Ministry with You-Know-Who and all those Death Eaters. Takes a brave fellow to do that."

Samantha nodded putting Wagtail's card in her pocket, "Thanks for the card."

Samantha and Neville eventually stumbled back to the common room, both loudly singing a Weird Sisters song. They danced around the empty common room with Neville trying to twirl Samantha around.

"Oh please, be quiet." Seamus Finnegan came down in his pajamas and yelled at them. His face shifted from anger to confusion when he saw them, "Neville? Samantha? It's you two making that racket?"

"We had fire whiskey." Samantha offered, "With the Weird Sisters."

"Wicked." Seamus' face changed. "Could you both just sing a bit softer? Can't sleep up there?"

They both nodded as Seamus made his way back upstairs.

"Gran would kill me if she knew we tried fire whiskey." Neville whispered, "Don't tell her."

"I won't." Samantha insisted back. "I wouldn't want to ruin it. Tonight has been too cool."

Neville's ears turned pink again and smiled at her. "This has been some of the most fun I've had, maybe ever."

"Well, you make a cool date Neville." Samantha insisted looking up at him.

"So do you." He answered back smiling at her.

She wasn't sure if it was the fire whiskey, but she thought for a brief moment that maybe she liked him. It was a terrifying thought. That was why she'd brought him, to have zero romance. She didn't want that right now, she wanted to focus on her future. She could feel her heart race. This couldn't be happening.

"Well, I ought to be off to bed. Goodnight." Samantha said quickly before practically running up the stairs.