Incendio

Chapter 22: Sweet Sixteen

Part 3: Samantha Fyre and All The Unpublished Words

Samantha ran through the streets of Diagon Alley, trying not to spill the hot coffee in her hands. They had arrived, her OWL scores. She'd been at the Leaky Cauldron grabbing a coffee for herself and her mother when the School Owl had arrived with scores for her.

Over the Summer to make some extra money, Samantha returned to working for her mum's shop. It was harder this year. Many shops had to close their doors and her mum couldn't find much help so there wasn't a lot of time off.

"Good morning Mr. Olivander." Samantha called as she passed him opening his shop. His shop was directly beside Belle's Designs, her mother's shop. 

He stopped like he did every morning. "And a fine morning to you Miss Fyre. How is your ten inch, hazel with unicorn heartstring holding up?"

"Just fine Mr. Olivander." She insisted back in a hurry.

"Keep an eye on it, Unicorn hairs can be known to give out you know?" He chuckled.

She laughed, he reminded her every day, "I know Mr. Olivander. I've just gotten my OWL scores, I need to tell my mum."

"Oh ho ho!" He called excitedly. "I bet you will be seeing plenty of good grades young lady."

She hoped so as she barely stepped inside her mother's shop and opened her envelope.

"4 Outstanding, 2 exceeds expectations and two acceptables." Samantha revealed to her mum, taking a sigh of relief. "O's in Transfiguration, History of Magic, Charms and Muggle Studies. E's in Ancient Runes and History of Magic. I have the grades I need for Magical Journalism."

"What are the acceptable ones?" Her mum asked leaning closer to her and looking at the paper.

"Herbology and potions. I don't need them anyway." Samantha breathed a sigh of relief. "At least I passed everything I was taking."

"I'm so proud of you." Her mum kissed her forehead. "Almost as proud as I was when I found out you joined a rebellion at school."

Her mother had not let all of the trouble go unforgotten that Samantha had engaged in. Unlike most mothers, her mother spoke in great pride regarding her small bout of trouble.

"Back to work young lady. After we close shop I'll treat you to some of Florean's ice cream to celebrate." Her mother winked.

"Sticky Toffee Pudding?" Samantha asked with a large grin. "You know I can't resist Sticky Toffee Pudding?"

"Earl Gray Lavender for me of course, but whatever you like best." Her mother giggled as Samantha groaned excitedly at the prospect.

"Excellent, it will give me an excuse to show off my newest creation." Her mother exclaimed before twirling in her black sundress covered in silver moons. It was corseted at her waist so the skirt twirled as she moved.

Samantha went behind the counter and began the very tedious job of reading through her mother's inventory reports to ensure accuracy. Her mother moved to the center of the store, working to sew a new piece on the mannequin for one of her high end clientele. The store was quite incredible. Beautiful moving paintings on one side of the room. Landscapes of the American countryside and beautiful starry nights. The other side of the room was full of mannequins displaying her designs, like a beautiful forest of gowns and robes.

It was almost an expositional show to watch her mother work, that was why she chose to just do her work publicly in her store. It drew attention in an excellent way.

It was a little after noon when Samantha looked up from her work at the counter to see an incredibly familiar face walking up the alley to the store front. It was one of the last faces she truly wanted to see. She'd survived two weeks without it, even though she knew he worked at one end of the alley and had an internship at the other end. He was walking towards the store in a nervous manner. His dreadlocked hair was pulled back and his height towered over the few other patrons in the alley.