Incendio

Chapter 10: An Unacknowledged Fear

Part 2: Samantha Fyre and The Rebellion Papers

-September 1st, 1995

The Augury birds could be heard as Samantha, her brother and her mother climbed into her father's car as they prepared to leave their cottage in the woods. The Augury was a type of magical bird, the feathers on the Augury were known to expel ink and they sang to signal rainfall. In medieval times, Her mother's family had mutated a special flock of the birds to change color depending on their surroundings. Her mother had found her family's practices regarding the creatures to be especially cruel. They would keep them in cages and pluck feathers even when not in molting season. When she left to elope with Samantha's father, she'd taken several birds with her so that they could live a more natural life. In return the Augury would molt their feathers every Summer so that her mother could harvest the feathers and create the most amazing robes.

Samantha had spent the Summer helping her mother at her clothing and art shop. It was a popular shop as her mother's designs were well sought after. She'd worked with her mother during the day, written letters to Ginny and her friends on her lunch breaks, listened to muggle music with her dad every night, and of course spent what little free time she had writing. When she didn't have anything of true substance to write, she wrote fictional stories. She never thought her fiction to be particularly good, but she enjoyed the practice.

However, the simple spirit of this summer was often haunted by a dark cloud. She had noticed, along with everyone, that since the last task of the tournament, everything was different. The idea that You-Know-Who could have returned plagued everyone's minds.

She had noticed her parent's fear. She first noticed when they canceled their subscription to the Daily Prophet. The Prophet had been claiming that Harry Potter was lying about the Dark Lord's return. Samantha didn't believe Potter would lie about something like that, especially when it came to the events surrounding Cedric's death.

Samantha also observed her parents had been more stringent about saving the muggle money her father earned from his shop. They'd also been stocking up their food supply and she'd noticed her father buying more ammunition for his gun. He'd also been more communicative with his family in America. She knew what her parents feared and what they were preparing for. Her mother was a blood traitor for marrying her father after all.

If You-Know-Who was really back, her parent's marriage would make them a target. The whole family could be in danger. They could all be forced to flee to America, or go into hiding.

Her suspicions had been confirmed the night before. Her parents had sat both children down.

"With everything going on, your father and I would like to discuss a few things before you go back to Hogwarts." Her mother had started. "You are both allowed to form your own opinions, but your father and I both have chosen to believe the Potter boy's claims that He-Who-Shall-Not-Be Named has returned."

Samantha and her brother's eyes darted to each other then back to their parents.

"I believe him." Her brother announced.

Samantha felt a slight shock go through her. Her brother believed Potter, it didn't seem on brand for him, but then again he'd been acting differently all Summer. He'd become more reclusive from the family, and had chosen to spend his Summer doing activities away from them. Instead of working with Samantha and their mother, Jack had instead chosen to tend to the Augury flock at home alone.

"Really?" Samantha blurted out, still trying to find a reason why her brother would believe Potter.

He nodded. "Well of course, Potter's trouble, but he's not a liar. I'd rather be prepared, if the Dark Lord really is back than be caught off guard."