"It's Cheryl!" Hermione slammed the table and shot up from her seat, and everyone rose with her, pushing open the bar door.
A large wooden barrel that had originally stood by the entrance lay overturned to one side. A skinny little man swayed on his feet, cursing as he pointed his wand at Cheryl, who was already sitting in the rain-soaked street.
The wizard before them was of average height and scrawny build, with messy brown curls piled on top of his head. Beneath a somewhat narrow forehead, his gaze was gloomy. From excessive drinking, both his eyes and nose were red, and his expression was muddled. His complexion might once have been quite handsome, but now his face was covered in a scraggly beard that made him look filthy. Though he had a large mouth, his teeth were still fairly neat.
Hermione glared at Sean, drawing her wand to teach the man a lesson, but Allen stopped her with an outstretched arm. The drunk seemed only then to notice that he was surrounded by Allen and his guards, with Aurors drawn over by the commotion as well, but the alcohol still left him dazed.
"Hermione, you should go in and discuss Umbrella with Leonard. I'll handle this." Allen spoke softly, lifting his chin toward Cheryl. She had just climbed to her feet with a miserable look. When she noticed Hermione and the others, she lowered her head in embarrassment and waved to show she was fine, then hurriedly drew her wand and cleaned herself with magic.
Hermione gave Allen a somewhat hesitant, suspicious look, but in the end she took the guards and Leonard back into the bar. Allen also waved for the Aurors to stand aside and stay out of it.
Once the crowd dispersed, Sean's remaining shred