Chapter 35: Speck in the sky

Half the stadium roared. Harry's teammates surrounded him, then minutes later, waves of scarlet and gold covered the field. Confusion and excitement were on many faces, but no one except the Slytherins cared. Lee Jordan continued shouting, 'Gryffindor won one hundred and seventy to sixty'.

Phoenix was still face planted on the ground. Harry went over, shoving pass everyone. He leaned over, shaking her gently, "Phoenix? Phoenix, are you okay?" Harry barely missed the moaning. "Phoenix!" Harry said a little louder. He looked around him. No one seemed to notice.

Phoenix moaned again, slowly rolling over. Her face scratched and nose swollen. There would be bruises tomorrow. Blinking, Phoenix saw Harry leaning over her. She couldn't hear what he was saying, her ears ringing and the shouts from the crowd, but he looked worried. Phoenix watched Harry's lips. Maybe she could figure out what he wanted. Finally, she heard Harry holler her name.

"Phoenix!"

"Harry, please, my ears are ringing enough as it is."

"I was seeing if you were okay."

"I'm fine, Harry."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm fine." Clenching her teeth. "Oh, and Harry?"

"Yes?"

"Next time you decide to take a dive off of my broom, make sure you give me warning first, okay?"

Harry gave a small chuckle "Okay. Do you need help?"

"No, I can get up myself." Phoenix slowly lifted herself up, barely getting off the ground as pain shot through every inch of her body. She eased herself back down, letting the pain ease, then tried again. Pain still shot up around her body. "On second thought." Phoenix looked at Harry in defeat.

He held out his hand. She looked at it for a while, kind of wanting to lay there and wonder what she got herself into. Taking a deep sigh, she grabbed hold of his hand, pulling herself up with Harry's help. Once on her feet, Phoenix brushed herself off, ignoring the pain.

"Thanks, Harry." She said.

"You're welcome."

Noticing a tiny speck in the sky, Phoenix looked at it uncertainly, until she realized it was Harry's broom. 'Hm, no one seems to have noticed yet. Everyone is busy cheering.'

Harry didn't understand the fascination was about the sky. Phoenix looked as if she had never seen it before. 'She must have taken it in the head harder than I thought and she would admit.'

Harry looked up to see what was so interesting. It was a tiny speck. 'My broom! But how? Wouldn't it have fallen down?'

Ron and Hermione made their way over to the two, followed by Hagrid.

"Finally! There you are!" Hermione said. "It took forever to find the two of you in this crowd." Hermione noticed the two of them looking at the sky before they turned their attention to Hermione and Ron. She, herself, looked up, seeing a speck in the sky.

'That is Harry's broom stick!'

"That was awesome! How you caught the Snitch, Harry. Marcus Flint is still arguing to Madam Hooch about that. That was brilliant flying Phoenix! That was a really exciting game." Ron let out.

"Ron! They could have gotten killed! That was to close. Look at Phoenix, she looks like a truck hit her!"

"Oh Hermione, lighten up. It is Quidditch everyone gets hurt somehow."

Harry turned a little embarrassed, not used to such praising. Phoenix gave Ron and Hermione an annoyed look. She was about to say something, but Hagrid was faster.

"Oy, I think this cause for a celebration for Harry an' Phoenix! Let's go ter me hut an' have a cup o' tea" Hagrid suggested.

"I like that idea." Harry agreed.

"Alrigh' than let's go."

Ron and Harry ran up to Hagrid, following him to his hut. Phoenix and Hermione took their time putting some distance between them and the others. When Hermione felt they were far enough away, she spoke her mind.

"Phoenix, did I see what I think I saw during the game?"

Phoenix stopped and looked at Hermione. She was thinking on the question. "Well, that depends on what you saw. You know things look different on the field than in the stadium."

"That is not what I meant!" Hermione said.

"Oh, well then, what did you mean?"

Hermione placed her hands on her hips. "Phoenix, you know pretty well what I am talking about!"

Phoenix shrugged, enjoying flustering Hermione.

'Hermione kinda reminds me of Mel.'

"Um...no, I don't. I thought I did well for my first match, but if you think there is any room for improvement, let me know."

Taking her hands off of her hips, Hermione glared. "Well, yes, there is one thing."

"And what is that?"

"How about Not using your powers!"

Phoenix blinked several times. "I do not know what you are talking about." She continued walking, not having made it off the field.

"Oh, so did I imagine you wave your hand at a Bludger, hitting the Slytherin Captain?"

"No, I was directing traffic. I was trying to tell him to move for me, and he just got hit."

"Uh, huh, what about the blue and white orbs? Did I imagine those as well?"

"What blue and white orbs? Was it something you ate? Maybe you saw Flint's stars. I mean, he got hit pretty hard, and I'm sure everyone in the stands can see those stars."

"Then the Quaffle just end up in your possession, how?"

"That one is easy. I caught it when Flint dropped it."

Hermione knew Phoenix was lying and messing with her.

'Was she like this at Magic School? Not caring about using her powers all the time? I know she didn't have to hide her identity there, but here she needs to be careful. No one is used to wandless witches here.'

"Okay, explain that one." Hermione pointed to the speck in the sky. To their relief, no one had noticed Harry's frozen broomstick.

"Helping a friend from falling? His broom was going berserk! It was an emergency!"

Hermione stopped again. "Unfreeze it before anyone else sees it."

Phoenix dropped her shoulders, giving Hermione a pouty look. "Yes, mommy." She mumbled.

Phoenix raised and flicked her hands. The broom started falling down.

"Phoenix, can you slow it down? I don't want anyone to get hit."

"I can orb it to me." She smirked, knowing Hermione would not like the idea.

Hermione looked back at the falling broom. It was getting closer. "Do it."

"Harry and my broom." Phoenix said. The Nimbus Two Thousand and the Cleansweep Seven appeared in blue and white orbs, but before they became solid, Phoenix shoved the two forms away from her. "Locker-rooms." And the orb forms disappeared. "Okay, now can we please go to Hagrid's hut?"

The orbs shocked Hermione. She was getting used to Phoenix's powers, but seeing is different. "Yeah, let's go."

Hermione walked out of the pitch, but Phoenix was not following. "I thought you wanted to go to Hagrid's?"

"I do."

"Then way are you still standing there?"

"Well, the boys are probably already there. And it is a long walk." Phoenix started giving off a devious smile. Hermione hated those smiles.

'She always has something up her sleeves when she smiles like that!'

"What are you saying?"

"How do you feel about orbing?"

"Or… or.. orbing?"

"Yeah, how about I orb us to Hagrid's hut?"

"Wouldn't people see you?" Hermione asked nervously.

"No one is close enough. They are too busy on the field. Flint is still arguing to Madam Hooch. It is a good a time as any." Phoenix answered.

"As much as I don't like it, fine, I will do it."

"Wow, Hermione are you not going to drill me on how not to orb on school grounds. I am shocked!" Phoenix placed her hands on her chest.

"Oh, stop! You are right. The boys are already there, and they are probably wondering where we are, and what is taking us long."

"Cool."

"What do I have to do?"

"Hold my hand." Phoenix held her hand out.

Hermione took Phoenix's hand cautiously. "Then what?"

"Then we orb." Phoenix said, and the two disappeared in blue and white orbs.

When the orbs were gone, a figure came slowly out of the shadows, wearing black clothing, blended into the surroundings. Then the figure slowly disappeared.