The Interplanar University, # 14— "The Phoenix in the Forge"

[Short stories. Images generated by hotpot.ai]

Fred and George were endeared to Ron’s brainchild for a fraternity, Pi Eta Nu Chi (the Nu Chis), but did their level best to pick on him without deriding his novel ambition. The Patron Spirit of the Fraternity was resolved to be a Phoenix, a brotherhood inspired by the Order of the Phoenix in their former lives.

“Our grown baby brother, hoping to join the big leagues,” said Fred.

“Or so they think of themselves,” said George.

“Do you think he’ll catch a disease?” said Fred.

“He’ll be too busy arranging his popped collar.”

Ron said nothing, suppressing both a smirk and protestation, knowing this banter to be inevitable with his twin brothers.

When they paused from their usual hijinks, Ron said, “Jokes aside, there is no reason we can’t be something new altogether.”

“Count us in, Ronnie. But we’re not doing any naked laps around the frat-house to get in,” said George.

“Unless the girls are also doing it,” said Fred.

Ron laughed anxiously and said, “Of course not. This is the wizarding answer to Templars. We don’t have to imitate stupid ones.”

Luna Lovegood was not enthused by the idea of joining the latent sister-sorority of PHNX (the English equivalent of Pi Eta Nu Chi), but true to herself, she wasn’t actively against the idea. She asked Ron why they were gendered in the first place.

“I was hoping the girls would sort themselves out,” said Ron, referring to Hermione, Ginny, and also Styfe, an elf from a different world.

“But it was your idea,” said Luna.

Ron mustered himself, “There’s no handbook that tells me how to do this.”

“Why don’t you just answer the question?” she asked, and notably, she was accompanied by two new faces: Grace, a Magos (wizardkind) from a place called The Far Kingdom, and a wizard from their own world of Terra, named Jakkob.

In a moment of inspiration, Ron said: “Luna. I love girls… Women. Lumping you all into a Fraternity is like saying women have nothing to be proud of on their own.”

“Why not simply call it a Society?”

“Well why not let anyone in who wants to join? Dark wizards, vampires, madmen from the Ethos. The Bloc. Merlin knows what else.”

Luna was silenced, for the moment.

“Am I in?” said Jakkob.

Ron nearly laughed with incredulity, “I don’t know who you are!”

Jakkob winced, then said, “Well, am I in consideration?”

“We’re working on a charter and vetting our members. Keep at it, and we’ll know if you belong.”

“Right,” said Jakkob sheepishly, “Silly me.”

Grace said, “What about a dress code?”

Ron replied, “It wasn’t my idea. It was the Seer.”

“Why would you leave everything to him?” said Luna.

“Why would everything hinge on a dress code!?”

“You said it does.”

Ron gathered himself, then said, “I have to believe something, or I wouldn’t believe I could do it in the first place!”

Ron had said this passionately, and for the nonce was quite unanswerable. From there, all manner of respectful considerations were made, although that wouldn’t be the last time Ron would need to explain himself.

Hermione, with her usual artful use of her time, had matched Ron’s progress on the Sorority’s charter, the sisterhood taking the letters Phi Nu Iota Chis, (Iota Chis, the English Equivalent of FNIX). The Nu Chi’s badge was a sword with red phoenix wings. The Iota Chi’s badge would be a shield with red phoenix wings. Their shared ideal was Courage, obligatory with their history as Gryffindors.

Ron had already resolved Perseverance would be the second of five male values, represented by stars on their Seal. The third value, he determined on Harry’s approval, was Justice, in keeping with their Sword motif. Their Seal, notably, was the Sword of Godric Gryffindor surrounded by an entire phoenix, with Five Stars arcing overhead.

Hermione and Ginny, in answer to this, settled their next two values to be Understanding and Protection, this third value derived from the image of the shield, which complimented the males’ ideal of Justice represented by their ‘sword’.

Thus far, they had each settled on three of five standards to fit the bar of their orders. They had rejected the idea that wizarding be a prerequisite, as Harry had counseled Ron to be a force for commonality, instead of seeking advancement of only the Magos. The standards shared by both orders were to be Amiability and Respect. The third in Ron’s order was to be Ability, while the sorority had chosen Mercy.

Neville Longbottom had no reservations for a dress code, and was happy just to be welcomed into the Order.

“Do you think I have Ability?” said Neville.

“You graduated Hogwarts,” said Ron.

“Always keen on Herbology,” said Harry.

Neville was always happy to receive a lift. “Will we be aurors? Outside the Sphere of Havenforth?”

“Our reputation depends on it,” said Harry.

“We don’t have to do anything ‘til we’re ready,” said Ron, “the University is a much gentler reality.”

“I do like it here,” said Neville, “A lot of my anxieties are disappearing. And, my parents—”

He couldn’t say it without tears.

“Are they here, Neville?” asked Harry.

He choked on emotion. “Yes,” he said, “Thank God, yes!”

The other two males were also becoming misty-eyed. Ron said, “Their minds are well?”

Neville said, “They’re alright. And their bodies are in proper health.”

“Well, I think we should be thankful we could come here,” said Harry.

“Thank God, if he’s the one to thank,” said Ron.