Incendio

Chapter 3: So You Want to Join The Gazette?

Samantha began her weekend with high hopes. Their most recent Gazette had actually gained readership. She'd seen far more students reading it and several new parents had subscribed. Genevieve had been quick to state she thought it was because her article was about the two schools coming for the Tournament. 

Samantha had a feeling it wasn't because of Genevieve's article, considering it was all stuff you could read in a library book. Not to mention, one older student in her house, Lee Jordan had even made it a point to compliment her personally on the profile about Professor Moody. So she was pretty sure her article had made an impact.

She was stopped by Professor Moody after leaving the Great Hall for the Transfiguration classroom to begin the interviews for new Gazette Members.

"I read your article." He confessed and her knees started shaking. 

She'd been brutally honest in her article about him. She'd really honed in on some details about his alternative teaching methods and had included the incident with Malfoy. 

His class  after the interview had been intense. He had demonstrated the Unforgivable curses, something that had bothered a few classmates. 

She was worried he would take the article the wrong way, she had meant to match his personality and display him as he was: Terrifying, but incredible and brutally talented as a teacher.

His gruesome smile returned as he mumbled, "It'll definitely get some attention."

Samantha wasn't sure whether she should breath a sigh of relief or be prepared to live a short life as a ferret.

"Five Points to Gryffindor." He said before limping away.

"Thank you Professor Moody." She said smiling a bit to herself. 

It could be the start to a very good day. She found a spring in her step as she made her way to the Transfiguration classroom. Today, it would only be herself, Genevieve and Ernie. They would then discuss together on their top choices then decide officially with the other members at a meeting later.

Samantha only felt slightly disheartened to discover only six people had signed up. Two of the applicants were first years, a scary prospect indeed. 

The first applicant was Colin's little brother, Dennis. Dennis was a first year with the same tiny frame as his brother.

Dennis sat nervously as they asked him questions and read over his essay. He looked and acted so much like Colin had two years prior, enthusiastic to simply be a wizard. 

Samantha didn't want to admit that Dennis Creevey was not quite qualified for the Gazette. His essay was full of grammatical errors and fantastical language. They needed more technical skills and down to earth realism. Samantha hated to disappoint Colin but it seemed the best option to ask Dennis to wait a year or so.

Samantha of course knew the next applicant, Neville Longbottom, he was in her year and house. They were partners in potions, something they were both horrible at. She wondered if Professor Snape had done that on purpose because they were both so impossibly dreadful. They never made conversation outside of class, and he looked absolutely terrified of everyone and everything. 

Samantha passed Neville's paper to Genevieve and Ernie who gave her a similar look.

 It wasn't an incredible essay, but it was competent. He wrote a very decent paper about the vegetation of a rare meat eating plant. It didn't have much passion, but compared to the other applicants, it wasn't half bad. Samantha suspected the paper was a copy of an essay he had written for Herbology.

"Why do you want to be on the Gazette?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Well to be honest, my Gran sort of insisted I join something." He admitted, his eyes never leaving the floor. "And this is one of my last options. She also said it may help me in Transfiguration, I'm rotten at it."