Incendio

Part 4: Samantha Fyre and Potterwatch

A month after leaving Hogwarts, Samantha looked at herself in the mirror. She didn't feel the prettiest at the moment, but it didn't matter. It wasn't her wedding, thankfully. The scars up her back were mostly covered by her long hair but the blush dress her mother made for her, showed her scars pretty prominently. Very few dresses would have covered her scars fully, as they extended up to the back of her neck. When she begged her mother to make a more covered dress, her mother scoffed.

"Those are battle scars, something to be proud of." Her mother insisted forcefully, "You bravely chose to run into a battle to protect your friends and school."

Samantha should have agreed but every time she saw her scars in the mirror, she saw her failure.

Samantha's room was nearly empty. Most of her things had already been moved out. In one month she'd be moving out permanently. Her parents were moving as well, they hadn't told Samantha where. She originally suspected America, but she'd overheard them saying they wouldn't leave the country until they knew where her brother was.

"Sammy." Samantha's mother called quietly through the house. "Your friend is here. You have to do the questioning."

Samantha came down the stairs to see her ex-boyfriend Lee, standing in the doorway wearing gray dress robes. The doorway had been enchanted to not let anyone who could be an imposter in. They had to answer a question only they and the resident of the home would know. Her parents knew Lee, but they knew a lot of what everyone else knew.

"Hello Samantha." He said with a slight wave. "You look lovely."

"Hey Lee." She waved back and rolled her eyes ignoring his compliment. "Alright, where did we hide from the Old Toad in Hogwarts?"

"One Eyed Witch Passageway." He answered before the enchantment allowed him in.

Her mother granted a smile to Lee, "It's always nice to see you. Would you like a spot of tea or brandy before you two are off?"

He nodded, "If you insist Mrs. Fyre."

"Of course I do." She nodded before leaving. "I'll tell Edward that you are here."

After her mother left, they went into the living room and had a seat. Her living room was nearly cleared out of all the things that had once made it a home.

"So did you tell them?" He announced. "Your mum seemed much too nice to me."

She nodded. "Yeah, they only asked that I at least stay with them till I'm of age, which you and I both already discussed."

"That's it?" He looked surprised. They'd been secretly moving some of her things out already, but they agreed it would be foul to not tell her parents that she was leaving.

Samantha herself hadn't been sure how the conversation would go. She had assumed it would go over uncomfortably. She was just moving out after all, simple right? She wished it had been that simple. She was moving out with her much older ex-boyfriend to start a secret radio station during a war. Not to mention she'd almost died a month ago, and she would be bypassing her final year of school. When her parents reacted calmly and rationally, she was shocked. They only asked for her to wait till she was of age and to consistently send word that she was alive.

"I'm not running away with a possible Death Eater to never speak to them again for the rest of my life." Samantha shrugged. Her brother's dramatic exit had been traumatic, so Samantha's was mild in comparison.

"Still no news about Jack?" Lee asked.

Samantha shook her head. "No, not a word. I don't know what'd be worse though. I worry what we will find out."

"Well, don't you two make a fine couple?" Her dad complimented as he came into the room.

Samantha grimaced at the word 'couple'. She and Lee weren't a couple at the moment. Samantha preferred to refer to him only as her business partner and friend. She knew Lee wanted more, but he respected her wishes so that they could focus on the radio project.

"Give the bride and groom our love." Her mother requested before handing them both a glass of brandy.

"You could still come you know?" Samantha reminded.

"You did design the Wedding dress." Lee interjected.

"I'm not in the wedding mood I'm afraid." Her mother admitted. "I'm grateful you will be going to see it for me."

Samantha conceded. She herself wasn't sure if she was in much of a wedding mood, but she felt obligated to go. Bill Weasley, the groom, had saved her life after all.

A little while later, the two exited and walked to the edge of the property where she could properly side Apparate with Lee. She couldn't wait, in less than a month she could Apparate unassisted.

Samantha felt very uncomfortable as she walked with Lee to the Burrow. She'd never been there, but she'd be thrilled to see Ginny. She'd have to wait till after the ceremony, seeing as Ginny was a bridesmaid.

They walked through an orchard to a large marquee where they automatically recognized a few faces waiting to be seated inside a big white tent. Luna and her father were in line already.

"Luna!" Samantha called lightly.

"Samantha!" Luna turned and waved to her, "and our friend, Lee!"

Her father Xenophilius waved as well.

Lee waved back while whispering to Samantha, "She's still Luna I see."

Luna was in a bright yellow dress with a sunflower adorning her hair. It was very bright but it looked lovely on her complexion.

"Yeah, I hope that never changes." Samantha admitted as they continued through the line.

They made it to the front of the line where Ron, George, Fred and another red head Samantha assumed was another Weasley, were guiding people to their seats.

"As if we don't see enough of this git, he shows up to our own brother's wedding." Fred said rolling his eyes feigning annoyance at Lee.

"At least he brings the always radiant Samantha." Said George, who dramatically grabbed Samantha by the arm. They always flirted with her incessantly. It was mostly to get Lee to turn red, which he always did. "Might I have the honor to escort a beauty, like yourself, to your seat?"

Samantha was quickly caught off guard, there was a hole where George's ear had once been "Your ear."

"What about it?" He asked with a lift of his eyes. "I think I look more handsome this way, don't you agree?"

Samantha giggled, "Of course."

"Hey, you still think I'm the better looking one right?" Fred grabbed her arm.

"I don't know. George has a real distinction about him now." Samantha joked as the twins both showed her and Lee where to sit.

The ceremony was beyond beautiful. Samantha couldn't help but feel guilty as she saw Bill, the groom walk up the aisle with the best man. It was her fault he'd been attacked by Fenir Greyback. If she had just been better, stronger she wouldn't have almost been attacked herself.

Ginny had made a jesting face at Samantha as she walked up the aisle with Fleur's younger sister. Ginny looked incredible, the gown she wore made Samantha shrink in inferiority. It was backless and her shoulders completely showed. Samantha had rarely been insecure before, she knew she wasn't a great beauty like Fleur or anything, but she had always regarded herself as decently pretty. Lately, since her scars, she couldn't see it.

Everyone stood as Fleur and her father walked up the aisle. Samantha's mother's design for Fleur's gown was simple, but Fleur was so beautiful you didn't need to adorn her. The silk fabric had been enchanted to shimmer in different shades of silver and white depending on how Fleur moved.

The groom barely looked as if he'd been scarred, instead he looked radiantly and incessantly happy. Samantha wondered what that felt like, to just be so rapturously happy and in love. Samantha didn't want to admit it, especially sitting next to Lee, but she didn't think she'd ever been in love. She had feelings for people, but nothing as strong as being in love.

After the ceremony she ran quickly and hugged Ginny tightly around the neck. Lee had gone to find their table and Samantha was quite relieved to have a small millimeter of space from him.

"I missed you." Samantha said enthusiastically, putting aside her envy towards Ginny's stunning appearance.

"You have no idea." Ginny insisted holding her tightly. When they let go, Samantha noticed a slight sadness in Ginny's eyes. A sadness Samantha could only pin as a broken heart.

"Is Harry here?" Samantha asked.

"Not exactly, besides, he's decided to be all self righteous and split with me." Ginny rolled her eyes.

"Ginny." Samantha put her hand on Ginny's shoulder. Harry was after all being chased by you-know-who, he obviously didn't want anyone to hurt Ginny.

"I'm quite fine, let's not speak of it anymore. Today is a happy day." Ginny began dragging Samantha behind her. "You must come say hello to the bride and groom."

Fleur practically squealed when she saw Samantha. "Oh it is the little journalist!" She quickly embraced Samantha tightly. "Is dear Madam Belle here as well?"

"Oh no, but she sends all of her love." Samantha reached into her bag and pulled out a small present.

"Oh no, you and your dear mama have done enough for us. This gown truly enhances my already intense beauty. No other designer even came close to your mama's work. With her refusal to charge we cannot take anymore kindness." Fleur rambled on.

"We insist please." Samantha handed the gift to Bill who took it and placed it behind him on a table stacked with gifts. "I wouldn't even be aliv-"

"Thank you Samantha." Interrupted Bill, "But I will have none of that on my wedding day. We are so happy just to have you here. How are you holding up? Healing just fine?"

"I'm very much healed, thank you." Samantha insisted awkwardly taking her hair and making sure her back was still covered.

Ginny grabbed Samantha's hand again. "Come on Sam. Can't hold these two love birds up."

Samantha waved at the bride and groom before following Ginny.

"So you came with Lee." Ginny observed, "Are you two back together?"

Samantha shook her head, "No, goodness, no. Friends and business partners only. Mum would only let me come if I went with him, because he's of age."

"And Neville, heard from him much over holiday?" Ginny asked making Samantha's heart beat a bit more.

"We write, but nothing that's incredibly serious." Samantha insisted, they had written, but Samantha decided it was best to keep it at a distance. "I sent him a birthday card two days ago."

"So seeing as you are still single, I've decided it's time to buckle down. I need you to be my sister." Ginny whispered, "I've decided not to grumble much more about Phlegm. Even if I would have preferred Tonks." Phlegm was Ginny's less than kind nickname for Fleur. Tonks, the ever changing appearance Auror, had recently married Professor Lupin. "And once Ron stops being a gormless git, Hermione is destined to be my sister."

Samantha couldn't help but roar with laughter. "No offense Ginny, but despite Fred and George's flirting, I doubt they are actually interested and Percy is a twit."

"Percy is a twit." Ginny laughed. "But I have one more brother. He's a bit older, but you two would get along."

Ginny walked her across the dance floor.

"You remember my brother Charlie." Ginny motioned to the red haired best man

Samantha had to admit Charlie was the best looking of Ginny's brothers and she quickly remembered him and his dragon crew from the first task. He was speaking with another man. This man had rounded shoulders, squared off glasses and beautiful blue eyes. His dress clothing seemed less formal than other's around him and he wore a fedora.

Charlie smirked and greeted her. "Samantha right? The little writer girl. Well, you are a far cry from the skittish fourth year I remember."

Samantha nodded. "You work with dragons right."

"See you remember each other." Ginny insisted quickly.

Everyone began clapping as the bride and groom took the floor for their first dance. Other couples soon joined them.

"You two catch up while I steal someone for a dance." She said before walking away into the crowd leaving Samantha nervously stranded.

"Oh, I'm sure you remember Jones here, better than me. "He's only one of my best men. He's brilliant with infant dragons." Charlie laughed wrapping his arm around the man who's shoulders went towards his ears and a small smile formed on his face. She wasn't sure she remembered this man at all, he looked vaguely familiar, but she couldn't place him.

The man's cheeks were red as he looked to her, "It's alright if you don't remember." He shrugged out of Charlie's grasp and shook her hand. "I'm Kai Jones, we met at the Tournament. You may remember Duke better than you remember me." He lifted his hat to reveal a small dragon asleep on his head. He put the hat back on after the dragon yawned and repositioned itself.

She realized she did remember him. He had let her hold the dragon and had calmed her anxieties as she interviewed him for the Gazette. "I remember Duke."

"Ah, and I thought it'd be Kai's beautiful eyes you'd remembered best." Charlie interjected.

Samantha's mind raced, she definitely didn't remember saying anything about his eyes. "What?"

"He was blushing for a good week after meeting you." Charlie laughed. "I've seen that man be unaffected by Veela, but when he met a tiny fourth year in pigtails, who thought his eyes were pretty, he turned red for a month out of embarrassment."

"You might have me confused." She certainly would remember telling a fully grown man his eyes were beautiful.

"I'm sorry, you would remember if you had, I'm a Legiliment" Kai said softly as Charlie laughed heartily. Samantha knew the term, Legiliments could read people's minds. She suddenly felt embarrassed.

"I've never heard that one, but I have heard worse." Kai admitted with a kind smile, "Don't be embarrassed."

Samantha took his kind smile as a cue that she had not ruined her impression upon him.

"Well let's not let Ginny have all the fun." Charlie announced changing the subject, "Join me for a dance?" He reached his arm for Samantha.

Samantha accepted and took Charlie's arm. He twirled her on the dance floor, with them both discussing the Dragon sanctuary in Romania. She noticed out of the corner of her eye that Ginny was dancing with Lee. She suspected it was a ploy to keep Lee from noticing Samantha dancing with Charlie.

The ploy didn't work long because the moment the song ended and Samantha had separated from Charlie, Lee was asking her to dance. She barely left the dance floor. After dancing two songs with Lee, George mostly in jest insisted on cutting in. Then she went and joined Luna for a bit in an odd sort of dance where they looked like they were swatting magpie. During a brief break she ran into Hermione and Ron who were both grabbing some punch. Samantha supposed Ginny was right, with how Ron wasn't leaving Hermione's side it wouldn't be long before they were a real couple. Ginny grabbed her arm and the two spent a bit of time dancing together mockingly.

She spoke with Xenophilius briefly over a glass of champagne about the state of the Quibbler. He insisted she could have a real position there if she wanted it.

After speaking to Xenophilius, Samantha noticed someone walking towards her. He had certainly gotten older and she felt her shoulders reach her ears. She should have suspected since Fleur was from Beauxbatons that Nicolas, her date from the Yule Ball would be there. She shuddered at the memory of rejecting his kiss. If there was anyone in the whole world she didn't want to speak to, it was Nicolas.

"Excuse me, would you want to dance?" Kai Jones asked, almost appearing out of nowhere.

Samantha accepted quickly.

"Oh my goodness, thank you." Samantha confessed as Kai led her onto the dance floor. He put his hand on her back and took her hand. She tried to watch her thoughts, because she hated to admit she thought Kai a very good looking man.

"You seemed very uncomfortable." Kai observed as Nicolas sulked away. He chuckled and Samantha realized it was because of his Legilimency. "Your boyfriend seemed to have escaped you, so I thought you wouldn't mind."

Samantha rolled her eyes. "Lee isn't my boyfriend."

"He sure seems to think he is." Kai looked confused.

Samantha shook her head. "We're just friends and business partners. We haven't dated in a while."

"Well, that's true in your head." Kai's head tilted slightly to the side. "He still thinks of you as his girlfriend."

Samantha rolled her eyes, "That's Lee alright."

"Your heart doesn't really belong to anyone." He chuckled before spinning her around.

He wasn't wrong, she thought maybe she could have opened her heart up, but it wasn't the right time in her life.

"Who's Neville? You seem to think highly of him though." Kai asked.

Samantha suddenly felt uncomfortable with someone in her mind. She certainly didn't want an attractive older man seeing any inch of her romantic life. Especially, when it was as uninteresting as her's was.

He insisted. "I'm sorry. I'll stop, it's hard to control sometimes, especially when people have really loud minds."

"Loud minds?" Samantha questioned.

"Are you good at nonverbal magic?"

Samantha nodded.

"It's because you have a strong mind, which makes your thoughts very loud." Kai admitted.

Samantha nodded her head. "If you don't mind staying out of there though."

"I don't mind." Kai smiled.

"How'd you learn how to do that?" Samantha asked.

"I didn't, it's a family gift that's been passed down. My grandma is one too." Kai revealed.

"That's very interesting."

Samantha noticed the song ending and the two released each other.

"Mind if I cut in?" Lee asked after tapping on Kai's shoulder.

"Of course not." Kai admitted and Samantha noticed a slight glare at Lee.

Lee twirled her around. "Having a good time?"

She nodded, "Of course. He has a dragon." She decided not to tell him that Kai could read minds.

Not more than a few moments passed upon the dance floor than a long silvery lynx Patronus came into the tent. Everyone paused, the Patronus opened it's mouth and a deep voice echoed out of it.

"The Ministry has fallen. Scrimgeor is dead. They are coming."

There was a brief moment of silence before the chaos began. Masked and cloaked figures began appearing in the crowd. Death Eaters.

"Grab onto me." Lee yelled as they both dodged the curses flying around them.

She took Lee's hand and before he could Disapperate, she noticed a face among the Death Eaters that she knew all too well. Brown eyes, long curly hair, covered in a dark cloak.

It was Jack.