Incendio

Chapter 29: Bee Mine

Samantha had imagined what it would be like on the inevitable day she'd go to Hogwarts without her brother. However, she thought it would be because he'd graduated. She thought it would feel like an odd form of independence. Instead, Samantha had never felt more empty in her life. Returning to Hogwarts without her brother hurt more than she thought it would. She felt like a shell, completely empty. She should have told her parents earlier, while he was still underage. They could have helped him.

January passed slowly. She focused on her studies and was thankful she had all of those interviews to use for the Gazette because she didn't feel like writing. She didn't feel like doing anything other than what was necessary. Even her goals of working towards the Daily Prophet seemed ridiculous. If even her brother could be off becoming a Death Eater, then what hope did the world have? Even the letters from Lee had begun to pile up, she couldn't bring herself to answer them. 

Everyone knew about her brother, but no one asked questions. Everyone she was close with seemed to be taking shifts, making sure she was never fully alone. Hermione would study with her, but they didn't speak much. Ginny would have Arnold and Artie play together while Samantha studied in the common room. Neville started walking with her to every class they shared and sat with her at dinner with her every night. Luna and Colin seemed to be swapping nights at the Gazette while Samantha oversaw printing.

February rolled in and she was beginning to run out of articles to publish, she'd have to force herself out of her funk. She chose to take Apparation Lessons but struggled through the first one, she couldn't get her mind on straight. She became grateful that she wouldn't get to take her test until August.

Her parents had heard nothing from Jack, neither had Samantha, and neither had any of his friends. She stooped to the level of asking Warrington, who wasn't much help. It was Valentine's Day before Samantha felt herself really smile again and could briefly forget about her family woes. She'd entered the Gazette's headquarters when she found a tiny card upon the printing press.

It was honestly beautiful and simple. Just a card with little black and white flowers surrounding a tiny bumble bee. The bumble bee buzzed around on the page in the shape of a heart.

On the inside was a simple message,

Bee Mine

-A secret admirer

Samantha was shocked. She wasn't sure who would send her a valentine that was so simple and lovely. She wondered if maybe it was from Neville, but he was with her so much between classes and at supper, why wouldn't he have given it to her then? She worried it was from Ernie, Colin or Dennis who were the only other boys on the Gazette.

She almost didn't care, it was such a subtle and beautiful card she would be thankful no matter who gave it to her.

Lee had never been subtle, so she quickly counted him out. She especially counted Lee out when she received a valentine from him. It was flashy and when opened it sent tiny fireworks into the air. She regretted opening it in the middle of the Great Hall in front of Neville, the last person she wanted anyone to see anything Lee sent her. She hadn't had the wherewithal to talk to Neville about how she'd felt. She desperately didn't want her despondency to translate to disinterest in him.

"Well that was obnoxiously flashy." Samantha commented as the fireworks finished. She closed up the card and stuffed it into her bag.

Neville smiled a little and they both continued eating their dinner in sweet silence.

Apparition lessons were about as bad as potions had been. She was not making much progress. The March trip to Hogsmead was canceled and instead Samantha spent the morning with Neville in the Greenhouses and the afternoon in the Gazette's headquarters. Ginny had originally joined her in the Gazette headquarters, but was called away when it was discovered her brother Ron had been poisoned. Samantha followed behind her and waited outside the Hospital wing with her as only his parents had been given entry. Harry and Hermione were both waiting outside as well.