Chapter 28: Misunderstood

After tryouts ended, Phoenix anxiously stood in front of the Fat Lady portrait. She had wonderful news to share with her friends. As soon as the portrait was wide enough, Phoenix rushed inside hoping to see Hermione or Harry.

The common room was dark except for a few lit candles and little light coming from the fireplace. Phoenix looked around sensing someone was in the room. She didn't have to look much longer. Harry and Ron poked their heads around the big red couch, facing the fireplace. She rushed over, jumped on the couch, and gave Harry a bear hug. Harry flinched a little, not used to all the emotional expression.

"I take it you are on the team?" Harry squeaked, Phoenix still squeezing him.

"Yep!" She pulled Harry back and gave him an enormous smile.

"Wow! You both are the youngest players in a century!" Ron yelled, getting shushed from Harry.

"Don't be so loud Ron! Wood doesn't want anyone to know about me. He probably wants Phoenix to be a secret."

"Sorry, guys. I didn't know."

"Hey Harry, is Hermione around or has she gone to bed?"

Ron let out a small groan, getting an angry glare from Phoenix. Ron shrugged and leaned back on the couch.

"She was around." Harry replied, glancing at Ron.

"I'm right here." They heard Hermione say. Hermione came down the stairs in her night robe. "With Ronald yelling so loud, it's a wonder that everyone hasn't woken up yet."

Ron rolled his eyes and looked at Harry, who was equally enthused.

"Come on, Harry. I think it is time for us to leave."

"Bye Phoenix and congratulations."

"Thanks Harry." Phoenix watched Harry and Ron leave as Hermione walked over to one of the cushy chairs across from the couch.

"So, how did it go?"

Phoenix's smile came rushing back to her face. Lifting her chin proudly, she said, "I made the team."

"Congratulations." Hermione said.

"You don't sound very convincing."

"I'm sorry. It is that… you were so nervous about making the team. Knowing your secret and what you can do, I just hope you did nothing you would regret later."

Phoenix's smile faded and was replaced with a glare. The same glare she gave to Ron. "What do you mean about that?"

"Nothing! Nothing at all! I just hope you did nothing you would regret."

"Are you accusing me of something?"

"No! I'm not! It's just…."

"Maybe I should've just let them memory wipe you!"

"Phoenix..."

"You know Hermione, let me tell you something. Sports and art are a few of the things I can do without magic. I am great at them. But I guess since Quidditch is different, I can see were you, "might" be coming from."

"Phoenix, I meant nothing about it. It is one thing Harry got on. It is a little suspicious that two first years are on the team!"

Phoenix continued to glare as she clenched her jaw.

"I'm going to bed." She took one look at Hermione and orbed away.

Hogwarts was feeling more like home. Phoenix's daily routine was not much different. Every morning she would take her paint supplies and head down to the common room. She painted for an hour or two on her project. She didn't want to work on it around everyone. When it was time for her to get ready for class, she rushed back upstairs, put her supplies in her trunk, and her canvas under her bed.

In the evenings after classes, Phoenix had Quidditch practice three times a week. She headed down to the pitch with Harry, Fred, and George and practiced until Wood called an end, which would be until the chasers' arms fell off. On the two days she didn't have practice, Phoenix meets Hermione in the library. Weekends she hung around Harry, or sometimes she stays with Hermione in the common room.

She was so wrapped up with practices; Phoenix could not believe it was already Halloween. She did not realize she had been at Hogwarts for that long. The smell of baking pumpkin reached her nose, making her mouth water. She couldn't help it. She wanted it. Quickly getting dressed, Phoenix rushed down the stairs meeting her friends to go to charm class.

In Charms, Professor Flitwick put the class into pairs. He announced that he thought they were ready to make objects fly. Phoenix was partnered with Harry, while Ron was with Hermione. Phoenix saw the looks on both of her friends' faces. They were both angry, but which one was angrier was the real question.

"Now, don't forget that nice wrist movement we've been practicing!" squeaked Professor Flitwick, who was on top of his usual book pile. "Swish and flick, remember, swish and flick. And saying the magic words properly is very important too."

Phoenix blocked out the Professor and watched as everyone flicked their wands. She watched Harry try, but unfortunately it was very difficult for him.

"Don't forget Harry, swish and flick very nice swishing and flicking." Phoenix mocked the Professor, making Harry laugh too much to concentrate.

"I believe it is your turn Miss Matthews." Harry said also mocking the Professor.

"Okay fine." She playfully said. "Wingar….."

"You're saying it wrong," Both Harry and Phoenix heard Hermione snap. Apparently, Ron wasn't having much luck. "It's Wing-gar-dium Levi-o-sa, make the 'gar' nice and long."

"You do it, then, if you're so clever," Ron snarled.

Phoenix and Harry both watched with interest as Hermione rolled up the sleeves of her gown, flicked her wand, and said, "Wingardium Leviosa!"

Ron and Hermione's feather rose off the desk and hovered about four feet above their heads.

"Do you think you can do that?" Harry whispered.

"I dunno let's see." Phoenix raised her wand again and said, "Wingardium Leviosa!" And like Ron and Hermione's, Harry and Phoenix's feather flew above their heads.

"Oh, well done!" cried Professor Flitwick, clapping. "Everyone see here, Miss Granger and Miss Matthews done it!"

Phoenix gave Harry a high five, while Ron was in a terrible mood by the end of class.

"I was hoping Professor Flitwick would have kept us together for partners." Hermione said as Phoenix and she pushed their way through the corridor.

"Maybe he wanted us to have different partners to change routines? He did that with everyone Hermione not just us."

Before Hermione could say anything they heard Ron say "I don't know how Phoenix can stand her! She's a nightmare! Honestly!"

Phoenix saw Hermione's body language change. She knew it hurt Hermione. She was about to say something, but Hermione looked back at her, tears in her eyes, and rushed away, knocking into Harry.

"I think she heard you." Harry said.

"So?" Ron answered. "She must've noticed she's got only one friend, and I still do not understand how!"

"BECAUSE SHE IS A BETTER FRIEND THAN YOU RONALD WEASLEY!"

Ron and Harry stiffened as Phoenix came up behind them. They both turned around, seeing a furious Phoenix.

"Phoenix." Ron squeaked, "You heard me?"

"Well Ronald, if Hermione heard you, wouldn't you think I would hear you as well? Oh, that is right, you don't think! Maybe that is why you want to be my friend, so you could copy my homework!"

Ron looked down, taking an interest in the floor. "Sorry, I didn't mean to offend you."

"Yeah well, it is not me you are going to have to apologize to Ronald!" she yelled as she took one last look at the two and left in the same direction as Hermione.