The Adventures of the Junior Phoenixes, Part 4: The Pendant of Light

Chapter 3: Familiar Faces

Chapter 3

     Thanks to some finagling and maneuvering of the charming Rider DeVine, the group was able to take up a private booth. They were able to drink apart from the din of the pub (and from the grasp of still-angry Quidditch fans, courtesy of Rouge’s earlier antics).

     After a few rounds of drinks and mostly silent stares, the door to the private booth opened. All eyes turned to the door. A strange fluttering metal-skinned creature with funny-looking glass-like wings flew into the room and whizzed and whirred about, over the heads of everyone in the group. It landed on one of the tables in the private booth.

     “Ew!” Jinx screamed out. “What is it? Smash it!”

     Rouge grabbed his mug and smashed the little creature with it, crushing it under the bottom of the mug.

     “Merlin’s Beard!” a familiar British voice called out. “Why’d you go and do a thing like that?”

     An energetic man, wearing tattered brown robes, glasses, unkempt brown hair, and a weird belt with all sorts of tools, wands, and gadgets dangling from it, entered the private booth. He was older than most of the people in the room, but still kept his vigor. He was a tinkerer, historian, and often naïve wizard who thrived on solving problems.

     “Sherman!” Echo yelled out. She enjoyed Sherman Locke’s presence; he was someone that she could bounce ideas off of and get an educated (though sometimes lengthy) response out of. “Thank goodness you’re here!”

     “Oh!” Sherman Locke replied, “Well, it is fanciful to be wanted and appreciated, to be sure!” Sherman stepped in and clapped Echo on the shoulder. Jinx gave him a hug, much to everyone’s surprise.

     “Look!” she shouted out, “It’s my favorite nerd!”

     The group laughed.

     “Look!” Sherman responded loudly, “It’s my favorite stick figure!”

     “That’s not nice!” Jinx said to him with hurt in her eyes.

     “Oh dear,” Sherman replied, “I didn’t mean to-“

     Jinx walked over to him and punched him in the arm. “Haha! I’m just playin’ with you, Nerdy-Pants! I’m glad you’re here, Sherly.”

     “Me, too,” Sherman replied, rubbing his arm where Jinx struck him. “Hey, I didn’t come alone, you know!”

     Two more men arrived behind Sherman. One of them walked straight up to Echo and kissed her. Dev and Echo embraced before Dev took up an empty seat next to her. The other man stepped in and the group became noticeably silent.

     It was Teller. Teller was the oldest in their troupe. He was tall with jet-black hair, blue eyes, and eyebrows that always seemed to be furrowed in a scowl. He was deep-voiced and spoke with seriousness in his tone. He was a no-nonsense, take-no-prisoners, straight-to-the-point kind of man. He was a skilled Auror, a dedicated worker, and yet quiet and often reserved. He was very respected among his peers. He wore a dark, older bluish-black robe and had his hands inside of his black and silver cloak; one hand, at least. During the assault on the Ministry nearly a month ago, Teller came face to face with the assassin called Violet Cobra. Violet Cobra was a Shadow Dancer, learned in the skills of magical swordplay. She had swiped at Teller only once and managed to cut off his right hand. Since then, Teller has been away at St. Mungo’s Hospital for Magical Maladies. Sherman had been keeping Teller company at the Wizard Hospital of St. Mungo’s.

     “Hey, Teller,” Echo said. She felt nervous around him.

     “Teller!” Jinx said. She walked over to him and punched him in the arm.