Incendio

Chapter 44: The Editor-In-Chief Of The Hogwarts Gazette

Sunlight arrived at the same moment the fatal blow was sent at Voldemort. Everyone cried out in joy as the battle was truly won. Samantha had never cried more in her life. 

 Samantha's mother's arms were a welcome comfort after the dust settled. She had missed her mother so much and after everything she couldn't help but be grateful to see her. 

Samantha said uncomfortably letting go of her mother. "Jack was here. We fought."

"He will be found." Her mother insisted touching her daughter's face, "I'm sure of that. For now, let me look at my brave little lion. I'm so proud of you." 

Her mother sat silently with Samantha as she wrote the rest of her account of the battle.

Hermione also sat with Samantha as she finished writing. Many words had passed between Hermione and Samantha, in the room full of loud chatter.  Hermione had brought her cloak back before volunteering all the information Samantha needed. Most of it was regarding Horcruxes and the particulars of how Harry was able to carry out Voldemort's demise. It had been an amazing moment of triumph, one Samantha hadn't expected to see within her lifetime.

Samantha looked at her notebook, it was full now. She wasn't entirely sure what to do with it, but it was there. It was very personal, very open and full of every feeling she had ever felt in the last twenty-four hours.

At one point her mother was called for by Professor McGonagall and Samantha didn't mind she left her side. 

"I see your job is never over Miss Fyre." Kingsley said from behind them.

She turned and shrugged. "I'm not anything if I'm not a writer."

Hermione rolled her eyes but addressed Kingsley, "Need a seat Minister?"

Kingsley had been temporarily named Minister of Magic as the whole world instantly began the ascent into normality again.

"Thank you Miss Granger." Kingsley said as Hermione stood and left the table.

Kingsley nodded before sitting beside Samantha, "Is that an account of the battle?"

"I still need to edit it, but it's all in there." Samantha insisted handing him the journal.

He flipped through the pages and scanned the pages quickly. He looked back to Samantha, "I hate to ask more of you today."

Samantha shrugged, "What needs to be done?"

"Someone should take a written count of the bodies, now that they've been identified." Kingsley's voice whispered loud enough for only her to hear.

She stood up from her seat. She gathered her strength. The world began spinning around her.

"I'll do it." She said with what mental strength she had left.

"Are you sure Miss Fyre?" Kingsley asked looking her over.

She nodded. "Of course." She reached into her bag and pulled out another journal. "I can do this."

Kingsley first lead her to the room where they kept the dead Death Eaters and Voldemort. Shivers went up her spine. It would feel disrespectful to put their names in the same journal as the martyrs. She took a deep breath. They could remain nameless, only a number could be counted.

It suddenly passed through her mind, Jack could be among them.  Her mother would want to know, so would any mother. She decided to count their names, but keep them separate from the heroes.

Kingsley began pulling back the white cloth covering their faces so she could write their names. She knew she'd have to look at them, she'd been avoiding it, but she'd have to.