Chapter 67: Is this Why?

"No! Phoenix! If you do that in the game, it will give them too much time, and we will lose the first seconds we have!" Wood snapped. "Do it again!" He blew the whistle and not even two seconds he blew it again. "What are you doing? That was lousy Phoenix!"

"I did what you asked me to!" Phoenix snapped. She was wet and muddy from the rain, and exhausted.

"Lighten up Wood. We are working hard, and Phoenix is doing everything you ask." Angelina remarked.

"Fine, take five." Wood said, sighing.

Everyone slowly landed and walked to the benches, panting.

"Thanks Ang."

"No problem, Phoenix. Wood needs to be knocked down a peg or two when he gets too intense."

"I still do not know why he keeps harping on me. He isn't doing that to everyone else. I mean, he gets on to them but nothing like he does with me."

"Aw, could it be because you are a first year?" Phoenix's favorite twins piped in.

"But so is Harry. Shouldn't he be on him?"

"Well yeas and no…." Fred started.

"Harry is the seeker….." George continued.

"And you are a chaser." Fred finished.

"Understand?" They both said.

"Not really?"

"Harry gets to sit up high in the sky and chill until he sees the snitch. "

"However, your job is to score as many points as possible without getting killed or injured."

Trying to comprehend what the twins were saying, Phoenix was about to say something until..

"Okay guys let's go!" Wood interrupted. Practice was back in session.

'Was that really five minutes?' Phoenix thought. She knew it probably wasn't.

Everyone mounted their brooms and took off towards their respective positions. Wood threw the Quaffle up in the air, starting practice again.

The Weasley twins tried their best to cheer up Phoenix. Every once in a while, she looked over, seeing one pretending to fall, or smack each other with their bats. When they spot her fighting a smile or laugh, they cheered and patted themselves on the back.

"Will you stop messing around!" Wood yelled. "That's what'll lose us the match! Snape is refereeing this time, and he'll be looking for any excuses to knock points off Gryffindor!"

Everyone stopped the moment Snape was referring left Wood's mouth. They all landed quickly. Practice came to another halt.

"Snape is referring?" George spluttered.

Phoenix didn't hear George. She was staring off into space while everyone was complaining. 'Snape is referring? I can't believe this!'

"Is this why you have been working us and pushing Phoenix so hard?" Angelina asked.

Everyone looked between Wood and Phoenix, waiting for the answer. It was no secret. Phoenix was Snape's favorite student.

Wood hung his head down. "Yes, I figured with his favorite student on the team, he would be a little more lenient. So, I was trying not to let her slack off." He looked up to apologize, but saw a gap where she should have been. He looked everywhere, not seeing her. "Did anyone see where she went?"

The rest of the team looked as perplexed as Wood. No one saw her leave, but where could she have gone so quickly? She was standing with everyone.