Chapter 76: Friends

While everyone was going down to the field, Phoenix headed towards the locker-rooms. She wanted to think and be alone. Knowing if she went in with everyone else, Angelina and Katie would ask way too many questions for her delight.

'Good job Gryffindor, wish I could play that game.' She thought, smiling as another thought came to her, 'Though I wouldn't have been able to get the luxury of beating up Malfoy.' Laughing at herself, she winced a little with the bruise on her eye. After dealing with Malfoy, it did not bother her being benched. The anger flew out when Malfoy volunteered to be her punching bag.

She took one last look at the field before leaving the stadium and saw Professor Snape on the ground, still mounted on his broom. It brought back the odd encounter they had before the game. 'Am I reading him out of context or was he trying to say something to me? Did he actually see me use my powers or just see me extremely angry and thought I kicked dirt? Mom and Prue may be right. I should be more careful. As long as he says nothing, I should be fine, right?' Phoenix looked around her, making sure she was still alone. The team may be out there for some time. 'But it felt as if Professor Snape wasn't the only one watching. What if that was what he meant? I felt we were being watched. The more I use my powers, can demons find me? I don't know, and I really do not want to find out. I don't want to put my friends through that. Maybe they are waiting for me to be alone and then attack me.' She sighed and closed her locker-door the moment Katie and Angelina walked in.

"Man, I thought I would never get out." Katie mumbled.

"Us, think of poor Potter. He is still out there, poor fella. Wood is staying with him along with Fred and George for crowd control."

"Well, what Potter did was extraordinary! No one has ever caught the Snitch that fast in a game, and thanks to him, we are in the lead! I wasn't certain how long that game would have lasted the way Professor Snape kept blowing that whistle."

"Yes, what he did was remarkable and grand, but you know how Wood is. He would expect that again or work us even harder to make up for it. It is what the Hufflepuffs wanted, the advantage. That's why they wanted Phoenix out of this game."

The anger boiled up again in Phoenix. She just cooled down and listening to this wasn't helping.

"I hope Wood won't permanently bench Phoenix. It felt very odd not having her on the field," Katie said, looking around the room. "Speaking of Phoenix, have you seen her? Last time I saw her it was before the game."

Angelina nodded her head, agreeing with Katie. "It felt odd playing without her. But you must realize players come and go. Wood should have told her before she suited up. I don't see why she would stay benched. The only reason Hufflepuff did what they did was because of Professor Snape. Everyone knows she is his favorite student, and no one knew how, given that she is not Slytherin and Professor Snape rarely has a favorite. He even hates his own house. But no, I haven't seen Phoenix since she stormed off. I may have seen her leave the stands, but I'm not sure."

Phoenix continued to listen. She and Katie have become close friends. Angelina is a friend but tolerable a friend and that was it.

"I thought she would have been in here changing, unless we missed her. But we should have seen her leave if that was the case."

Angelina shrugged. "Maybe she went straight to the common room?"

"Maybe," Katie sighed, closing her locker door. "I wanted to see if she was okay. She was furious about the whole thing. See if she wanted to talk it out or something."

"She'll be fine. She may have gone to talk it over with Granger or Potter whenever he gets up there." The two took one last look around the room, both feeling as if they were not alone, then left.

The moment they left, Phoenix let out a breath and went visible. She didn't know why, but she didn't want to talk to them. 'It may be because I have other issues on my mind.' Hermione would be the only one beside family that could understand her concerns. 'It would be nice to have Katie to talk about these things too.' She thought. Not that Hermione was a horrible friend to talk to, but having another's perspective is better.