Hey there! I'm gonna thank all who decided to check this out in advance. I have several chapters already typed out, so...I'm just posting this one to get it over with. :) It's a little shorter than the beginning, but I'm trying to keep things somewhat balanced.


Chapter Two-The Morning After

Thursday morning, Colin woke and groggily meandered his way to the shower. Upon stepping out, he saw a toothbrush, comb and spare clothing waiting for him on the vanity. Apparently, Marcus must have stopped by late last night. Thankful, Colin finished readying himself and went downstairs. In the kitchen, coffee was steadily brewing, the toasted arabica bean aroma filled his nose.

Pouring a fresh cup, he added a few sugars, a dash of cream and milk. He sat down at the dining room table, sipping slowly. He stared around the vacant, ornately furnished room...remembering all the times he and Harry would do this-wake up earlier than everyone else, have a cup of tea or coffee and just talk.

Colin swallowed hard, shaking his head. He knew that he would never do this anymore, not with Harry. Today would have been the start of their two-month long honeymoon. First in the Mediterranean, then in Germany...two places where he always wanted to go. Now that was all over.

'Please, tell me this is only a nightmare I'm having trouble waking from. Give me a sign that yesterday never happened.'

A snowy owl flew in, dropping the newest edition of the Daily Prophet. Pansy's owl, Ivory, pulled at the string with her beak as she was trained, unrolling the paper. Giving the excitable owl a treat, Colin glanced down at the headline.

"Oh, god..."

In bold black lettering was the headline:

'~POTTER-CREEVEY WEDDING CALLED OFF AT LAST MINUTE! by Rita Skeeter. -That's right, ladies and gentlemen...you have not read this wrong. Harry James Potter, savior of our world, called off his marriage to Colin Creevey at the last possible second. My sources revealed that Mr. Potter had irreconcilable differences and there was nothing that could have been done to rectify them. Also, the person in question whom he left his ex-fiancé for was none other than Ginny Weasley, another long-time associate and only daughter of the large Weasley family. Now you're probably wondering...what were the exact irreconcilable differences that led to Harry to seek comfort in Ginny's arms? Well...-~'

As she rambled on, Colin saw a photo of Harry apparating from the scene. Of course, a photographer had to station himself at Primavera Gardens and one of the guests had to run their mouth.

It was not a nightmare, Harry really called off their wedding, and it was truly over...they were no more. Colin watched the miniature Harry walk out and disappear numerous times as he put his head in his hands, weeping again. He truly hated to cry, but right now...it was all he could do.

"Oh dear, let me get this away right now!" Pansy jerked the paper away and put her arms around Colin. "You don't need to be reading this, babe."

"I..I thought this was just a dream...that this wasn't really happening...but it is! Why?"

"I don't know, honey. Harry's just a fucking arsehole who didn't care about anyone other than himself. If he did, he wouldn't have led you on like this."

"We were together for five years."

"That may be, but.."

"How could he tell me he loved me and put a ring on my fucking finger when it was that bitch he was thinking of?! I...I...just can't fathom why."

"Then don't right now, Colin. You need to try to take your mind off of it. Off of him." Luna serenely commented, sitting on his left.

"Luna, I can't just stop thinking about Harry like that.." he snapped his fingers. "I'm still shocked that he did this...and..." he sighed, staring at his ring again. "Pans, I...I'm just gonna go back to bed. I can't function like this." Colin whispered before heading back upstairs.

Pansy said "I really hate to sound cold, Luna, but it's over. Harry's never taking him back. He needs to take off the ring."

"I know, but let him do it in his own time, Colin's still trying to come to terms with what's happened. He was absolutely devastated and now, he's going through the last stages of denial. I can say he's about to traverse into anger. Be prepared for him to act like a blast-ended skrewt."


Over at Flint Manor, the same morning...

"Fucking bitch..." Percy shook his head at this morning's headline.

"Whoa, Percy. Babe, didn't expect naughty words out of you this early in the morning...it's not like you. And besides, we're not in bed." Marcus grinned, settling next to his husband. His crooked, toothy grin faded seeing what the paper read. "Why am I not surprised? I knew Skeeter would somehow pull a story about this out of her arse but what I'm wondering is who the fuck opened their trap?"

"I'm not sure, Marcus. There were almost two hundred guests and I can assure you none of our friends said a word to that vulture."

"Well, you know I had no involvement. I was at St. Mungo's yesterday afternoon." Adrian Pucey, former Slytherin Chaser and now Healer, retorted to his best mates.

"No shit, Pucey. Anyway, I'm still wanting to rip Potter a new one."

"And looking at you, that wouldn't be an impossible feat."

"Hey, at least Dennis got to punch him right before he ran off like a little bitch." Cassius replied with a scowl.

Adrian raised an eyebrow "Dennis laid into him? Heh, funny...that's not the story I heard when I treated Potter last night for a fractured jaw. He said he tripped and banged his face on a knob."

Lucian, Terence, and Graham snorted from the other end of the table.

"Of course he'd be too embarrassed to say Colin's little brother punched him." Montague smoothly pointed out.

Adrian replied "From what I saw, he's got one hell of a hit."

"Percy, any word from your...sister?" Lucian queried.

"Well, not from her per se. Ron and the Twins tried grilling her over everything and she wouldn't budge. Stubbornness is another Weasley trait, I'm afraid. Good thing Bill used legilimency on her in her sleep. Turns out, she and Harry had a rendezvous the night before the wedding."

"Are you fucking serious? Son of a bitch..." Marcus snarled.

"Lecherous bastard. And everyone thought the Golden Boy was incapable of betrayal." Graham added. He always was the rather articulate one. "What does your mum think? She had to have heard. You know Ron can't exactly stay silent over anything when he's irked...especially over something this huge."

"I honestly have no idea. She's loved Harry as her own ever since he first came to the Burrow. She might be disappointed in Harry over what he done, but if I want to be totally candid..."

"Please do. Please be candid." Marcus urged, wanting to know Percy's true opinion.

"I think Mum won't be too broken up over how Harry ended the near-marriage. She's always wanted him to officially become a part of our family and now, she's going to get her wish."

Leave it to Percy to be somewhat harsh, but it's true. Molly always wanted him as a part of the Weasley clan.

"Ok, so we get their relationship is totally over. What is Colin gonna do know? Frankly...what's Bletchley gonna do when he hears about-"

"When I hear about what?" They turned to see former Keeper and to Percy, fellow redhead...Miles Bletchley. He was staying over here while his home was being refurnished.


Taking his place at the table, he filled his plate. "Anyone gonna fill me in on what the hell's going on?"

"Uh..."

Cassius took the paper from a hesitant Percy and shown it to Miles. He dropped his bacon in mid-bite.

"Oh, Merlin..." he sighed, closing his eyes.

"That's not everything...you better eat. I'm gonna fill you in."

Miles listened intently in between bites as Cassius and the few others who attended the wedding relayed the tale...Harry calling off the wedding, the bullshit excuse, Colin's breakdown...everything. Miles leaned back in his chair, staring at his now empty plate. He let everything sink in, the image of Colin crying his eyes out unnerved him greatly.

Not very many knew that Colin was secretly the object of his affections for years. A long time ago, Miles stepped aside to let Colin be happy...no matter how much it broke his own heart. He remembered like it was yesterday...

~*A year and a half ago, Miles was at a dinner party Pansy and Luna were hosting. Everyone was chatting and mingling as they always did at these things. About an hour into the festivities, Miles watched as Harry got on one knee out on the balcony, extending a black velvet box to Colin.

"Colin, will you...will you marry me?"

Colin nearly shrieked "Yes!" and pulled Harry in for a kiss as the onlookers clapped.

The former Slytherin felt his heart tear apart as he put on a false smile and applauded with the rest. Cassius looked at him morosely, knowing his best friend will definitely never have the chance to tell Colin how he felt.*~

Miles never even mentioned his feelings for Colin back in Hogwarts. He knew his bubbly lion buddy had a crush on Potter and he learned a long time ago 'If you truly loved someone, you had to let them go.' ...so he did. And now, look what happened-Harry humiliated him, left him at the altar...for Percy's sister.

'What the fuck is so special about her, anyway? I don't get it...and how dare he rip out Colin's heart and stomp on it?! When I see that scarheaded twat, I'm gonna...'

"Bletchley? You've gone silent on us. You thinking is quite a dangerous thing..." Terence poked the redhead on his bicep.

"I know. Frankly, I'm pissed. I'm wondering why the fuck I never opened my goddamn mouth sooner, maybe there might have been a chance he would have been spared all this bullshit."

"You don't know that, Miles. He could have turned you down then."

"Don't remind me. Regardless of that, I'm worried about him."

Marcus replied "Colin's over at Pansy's. From what I assume, he's in no condition to see anyone else. Today would have been the start of his honeymoon."

"Fuck, that's right..." Miles groaned. He recalled Colin talking excitedly over the two places he wanted to visit and now, he's not going to. His plans were ruined. "I know this is easier said than done, but you gotta focus on the game you have coming up against the Holyhead Harpies."

"Goddamn it...almost forgot we have practice today for that too. I'll get my bag...see you guys later." Miles grumbled before trudging to his room.

"So, Percy, plan on warning your sister to steer clear of any quaffles he may block towards her face?" Cassius chirped.

"Oh yeah. I'm just glad he's not a Beater. He's more than well-equipped for that."


I wanted to be kind and give you a little look at Miles's thoughts over the matter. :P Anyway, your thoughts? :)