Chapter 73: Benched

"Nervous, Harry?" Phoenix asked him quietly.

Answering her like a bobble head, Harry continued to stare out towards the crowd. "Not only is Snape refereeing, but Dumbledore is watching?" He turned around to face her, "They said he hardly ever goes to a game," then turned back around.

"Maybe he heard how great you have been doing and wanted to see for himself." She shrugged.

"But wasn't he there for my first game?" He turned back around. He didn't want to look anymore, for it wasn't helping him at all.

Phoenix shrugged again. Not sure of herself. "Maybe, but you swallowed the thing. You didn't actually catch it. I was there, remember. And I don't feel like reliving that again."

"Or, maybe he is making sure Snape does nothing illegal like he did on my first game." His eyes got full of hope and excitement.

She rolled her eyes, 'This whole thing with him and Professor Snape really needs to stop!' "Harry..." She stated disappointedly before getting interrupted by Wood.

"Phoenix?"

She looked at Harry for a moment before turning around. "Yeah?"

"I have been told to bench you. I tried to argue against it, but I couldn't. Sorry, but I'm going to have to sit you out."

All the small quiet talked ceased, Harry went white, and Phoenix looked shocked."What? Why?"

Angelina and Katie rushed towards her, each placing a hand on a shoulder to calm her down. Everyone was wondering the same thing, and each had their eyes set on Wood and Phoenix, waiting.

"Well…. um…. the Hufflepuff team didn't think it would be fair if Professor Snape refereed if you were playing. They feel he would show favoritism towards us." This was what Wood was counting on. He wanted her to play for the favoritism. But the Hufflepuff's captain thought the same.

"I don't see you benching Harry. Everyone knows Professor Snape hates him."

"We don't have an alternate for Harry. We have one for chasers. Sorry, Phoenix, if I knew this would happen I wouldn't have had you suit up."

Phoenix was angry, and everyone could tell. Her two quidditch friends patted her to keep her calm and all she could do was count to ten and hold her breath. 'I'm afraid to do anything might blow something up. I've been benched before, but not for a stupid reason like this! Only for letting someone else play for a while! This is crap! I need to leave before I do something stupid!' She shrugged Angelina and Katie's hand off. Turning to Harry, she walked closer to him. "You better catch the snitch before the game really takes off," then turned to leave, wishing everyone good luck.