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

Chapter 6: Libation

Chapter 6

     The Salem Academy of Magic was the premier school of witchcraft and sorcery in the United States. Though the Grimoire School in Louisiana boasted of having more students, the Salem Academy had the superior education rubric and staff. Where Hogwarts operated under a single Headmaster who oversaw the staff and the Four Houses, Salem Academy was overseen by the Four Ward Masters and the specific staff under each Ward Master. Master Bonnie Blessed was a Voodoo witch who taught Potions and oversaw Parker Ward (and coached the Parker Bears Quidditch Team). Master Winifred Wind was the Transfiguration instructor and was Head of Hubbard Ward (their mascot was the Hawks). Master Borodin Bullavin was the Dark Arts and Defense professor and Head of Putnam Ward, home of the Eels. Since Master Bullavin was serving at Hogwarts for a year, the duties of Head of Putnam were given to the Arithmancy professor, Allen Abbicus. Master Whispering Wolf was the Head of Bishop Ward, the home of the Wolves.

     Of the four Ward Masters at Salem, the most renown of them was arguably Master Wolf (though Master Bullavin would disagree, for he was also very famous in more dark circles). Master Wolf was an innovator in the teaching of Magical Theory. His specialty was in teaching new spells and venturing into how spells actually work and how to create your own. He was in a class all his own; there were few in the world who taught like he did. He had traveled and guest-lectured at different schools in the world, including at Durmstrang, Beauxbatons, Hogwarts, Grimoire, and Bruxas in Brazil. He was a kind Seneca Medicine Man who delighted in teaching young people.

     Months ago, before the beginning of the school year, he ventured out to Louisiana and took Echo and Dev under his wing. He helped them get a handle on the Pendants they wore. He hoped that his instructions would help them along their journey of discovery.

     Echo landing in his study in the Bishop Ward Tower at Salem was a surprise, a welcome one at least.

     “Obviously the charms we placed on the school to keep intruders out don’t seem to apply to Pendant Bearers,” Master Wolf said. He was seated behind his desk, writing on one piece of parchment while a charmed quill wrote on another piece of parchment without anyone touching it. “I’ll have to remember that.”

     “Sorry, Master Wolf,” Echo said, dusting off her jeans again, “I didn’t mean to literally drop in on you.”

     “No worries, Ms. Turan,” Master Wolf replied with a smile, “You’re always welcome here. I know you were not in my Ward, but I’d like to believe that we have become somewhat of friends since last we saw one another.”

     Echo smiled. “I know. A lot has happened since then.”

     “My sentiments exactly,” Master Wolf said. “Now, what is it you wanted to ask of me?”

     Echo’s eyes widened. “How did you know-?”

     “How did I know you were here to ask something of me?” the Old Pup finished her question. “For starters, you arrived here in a flash of purple. That means that the Pendant of Darkness brought you here, since you can’t Apparate onto the grounds by ordinary means. Second, the Pendant would only bring you here if there was something pertinent you wanted to ask of me. So here you are and here I am. What is it you need to ask of me?”

     Echo’s face went blank for a second. She looked around the Old Pup’s office and took a few moments to regain her bearings.

     “Well, Master,” she began, “I was wondering if you knew anything about Horcruxes.”

     “Horcruxes,” Master Wolf repeated, “Horcruxes, eh? I know only a few things. I know that you have to be devoid of compassion for your fellow man in order to fathom creating such a dark object. I know that it requires murder in order to create one.”