My Brother

Chapter One-shot: Dead, Gone, Buried

Dennis Creevey waited far too long, hidden in the Hogs Head. He couldn't Apparate, so he had no means of getting back home. He waited in the Hogs Head with the rest of the underage students.

It wasn't until waiting for half an hour, but what felt like one hour to him, when the truth came as a possibility to him. Much to the yells from the rest of his friends, he climbed back in and through the portrait. He walked through it until he arrived in Hogwarts. Only one followed him, in an attempt to get him back; his best friend, Jimmy Peakes.

Dennis ran out of the Room of Requirement in time to see Colin being shot down, right outside. Bellatrix laughed her ass off. "NO!" Dennis yelled.

Bellatrix turned to him, and raised her wand. Jimmy held him back in time. Bellatrix lowered her wand. "Let him go, filthy Mudblood!" Bellatrix backed away, still facing the screaming fourteen year-old boy. Jimmy tried as hard as he could to stop the raging Dennis Creevey from running after Bellatrix.

"Calm down Dennis!" Jimmy yelled. "Calm down! She's gone."

"What about my brother!" Dennis cried. "What about him. That was it, the curse! I'll kill her! Give me two seconds, I swear I'll"- He stopped. He stopped flailing. Jimmy let go of him warily. Dennis bent down.

That was what happened during the battle, just when Colin had lost his life. Dennis didn't know what to do or how to react. All he knew was that he lost his brother.

After the battle, Neville arrived. He pat Dennis on the back as he carried Colin's body away. Dennis stayed where he was, sobbing desperately. He hoped to God, against hope that Neville would come up with a reassuring look; to say there was a mistake and Colin was alright.

After half an hour, he walked back down with Jimmy Peakes. The hall was filled. He couldn't see Colin's body anywhere. Before he knew it, Hagrid arrived with Harry's body. Voldemort was also in. The entire school went into an uproar at their arrival. When Harry reappeared and killed Voldemort, Dennis was relieved. He felt even better that Bellatrix was killed by Mrs. Weasley. He rushed forward to overtake the redhead woman; to kill Lestrange himself, but Jimmy held him back again.

Three hours later, the bodies were left in the Hall to rest before burial. Dennis approached Colin's body. He felt it. It was cold, pale, and lifeless. His eyes were tightly closed. What a short life he had. He sobbed some more. His head felt heavy and he bent it over his brother's body, shaking. That was it. He always imagined him growing up with his brother, and working in the Daily Prophet with him.

Now Dennis would have to pursue that career alone. Jimmy pat Dennis again. Dennis sobbed, "He lost his life. Why didn't he listen? Why?"

"When did you ever listen?" Jimmy tested. "When did any of us ever listen? He was part of Dumbledore's Army, and went down fighting for Dumbledore and especially Harry. That's the way he wanted to go."

"No," Dennis whispered, still keeping his head over the dead body. He was still shaking and crying. How could he break it to his parents that their oldest child had died? They didn't even know there was a war. They'd probably not let him back in school anymore.

"I have too many years ahead of me. How can I possibly live through them all? How?"

"Need help?" Jimmy offered. "Dennis, you're my best friend, and the Wizarding world is a small place. We'll always know each other. I know I can't replace your brother, but I can be your friend."

"How would I break it to my parents?" Dennis wondered aloud, wiping his eyes and sniffing hardly.

"They'd know by now, wouldn't they? They'd understand that Colin gave his life to protect the Muggle world and the Magical World." Jimmy said, laying back hands behind his head. "I'm sorry Dennis. But he loved you. He'll always love you. Even after death."

For Dennis to be at peace, and go through the summer alone before his fifth year, he needed help. He had his friend, but what he really needed was someone older than him.

Few days before the students were to return home, Dennis was walking through the grounds alone, looking down. He kicked at some small pebbles as he walked. He walked right into a huge figure. Looking up, he saw Rubeus Hagrid.

Dennis recognized Hagrid as the large man who wrapped him in his large moleskin coat when Dennis fell in the lake in his first year. He didn't talk to Hagrid much, but now he thought Hagrid might help.

"How're yeh, Dennis?" Hagrid asked growlingly.

Dennis shrugged, "I've been better."

"Dennis, I know yer still hung up 'bout yer brother," Hagrid said understandingly. "He went down fighting, Dennis."

Dennis nodded. Was this supposed to make him feel better? It wasn't working if it was.

"Listen, I knew Colin ter be overly excited about Harry Potter, and willin' to help," Hagrid growled. "He went down fightin' for Harry, who he thought a hero, and became a hero himself."

Dennis looked up. Hagrid was right. Colin was a hero. A real one. He broke into tears. Hagrid pulled him into a bone crushing hug. Dennis was crying hard. Very hard. "I miss him."

"Would he want you to mope for him?" Hagrid tested gently.

Dennis shrugged, "No, he wouldn't."

Of course he wouldn't. Dennis would be ok. As long as he had a friend, and with an older figure like Hagrid, he'd be fine. Then, eventually, he'd see Colin again. What made Dennis happier was that he had lunch with Hagrid, (his rock cakes lived up to their name) and Harry and Ron stopped by too. To make him feel better, Harry even agreed to come to Colin's funeral.

Dennis would never, ever, forget his brother.

A/N: I am convinced this will be exactly what Dennis goes through in his point of view. I am sure he was attached to his brother, but always remember, Jimmy Peakes is in his same year, and he does know Hagrid. Who else would help him?

A/N: Dennis has his friend. He just needs help. He needs to be comforted and have someone else to look up to. Hagrid helps him there as I am convinced that this is what would've happened had the series went on.