Disclaimer: I make no claim to the rights of any characters that are owned by J.K. Rowling or Warner Bros., and make no money from this venture. This work is purely for entertainment purposes.
—CHAPTER THREE—
Old Wounds
"Some old wounds never truly heal, and bleed again at the slightest word."
– George R.R. Martin ("A Game of Thrones")
Dennis Creevey
September 6th, 2003
It had not been entirely pleasant when Simone Creevey had returned home from work the previous day. Dennis and his father explained the situation to Simone, and she seemed to come around to it somewhat. It helped that she thought Teddy was cute. Simone was not nearly as amused as Dennis had been when he got Teddy to change the colour of his hair from mousy brown to black.
That first night, Dennis decided that Teddy should sleep in his old bed, and he would take the couch. He couldn't bring himself to open the door to Colin's old room and couldn't bear the thought of someone other than Colin sleeping in that bed, even if it was himself.
He had lain awake for hours, thinking about just what was happening in his life when he heard soft footsteps coming down the hall. Within seconds he had his wand in his hand, though he was out of practice and probably wouldn't be able to defend himself all too well. When he sat up he saw that it was Teddy, his hair the same black as he had changed it to earlier.
"What's wrong buddy?" Dennis asked, sitting up on the couch. Teddy looked at him curiously for a moment.
"I miss Dolly," he said simply. Dennis slid up the couch and patted the seat next to his. Teddy understood and walked over and sat down.
"I know you miss Dolly," Dennis said as the Teddy's trusting eyes met his. "But she had to go away. You'll be safe here, I promise."
"Can Dolly visit?" Teddy asked. Dennis felt slightly heartbroken for the boy.
"I don't think so," Dennis said kindly. "She loves you, and she will miss you just as much as you'll miss her."
Teddy seemed to think that over for a moment.
"See that room over there?" Dennis asked, pointing. Teddy looked at the door, looked back and then nodded. "That was my brother's room. He had to go away too, like Dolly. I miss him very much."
Dennis had not spoken much about Colin since he died. Whenever he did, it created a sadness like nothing else he knew.
"Do I have to stay here?" Teddy asked.
"Yeah," Dennis said. "But my mum and dad are the greatest mum and dad in the world. You will love it here."
"Will you stay here too?" he asked. Dennis shook his head.
"I have to go to school," Dennis told Teddy. "I'll come and visit though."
For a little while the two of them sat in silence.
"I think you might want to get back to bed," Dennis said with a smile. "You want me to take you in?"
"Yes please," Teddy said tiredly. Dennis took his hand and led him down the hall and to his old room. He tucked the boy into the bed and went to leave the room. "Will you stay with me?"
"I'll stay for a little while," he said. "You have to scooch over a bit."
Dennis sat down on the top of the sheets before leaning back and putting his head on his old pillow. Within minutes, Teddy was asleep. Dennis thought about getting up, but put it off. In the morning he was woken up by his mother. He had not moved since he shut his eyes, but Teddy was now on top of the sheets with an arm across Dennis' chest. As Dennis moved out from under Teddy without waking him, he noticed his mother was smiling in a way she hadn't done in years.
All through Saturday, Simone seemed to gradually get used to the idea of having another child around the house. Dennis suspected that it might do both his parents some good. Teddy would never be a replacement for Colin, but they might like to feel like parents again.
Teddy was fascinated by the television set and spent a large portion of the day watching it, wide-eyed. Dennis watched some with him, but found that children's programmes were not as interesting anymore, so he took out the one textbook he had in his backpack when he left and started reading. After a while, he found that he couldn't concentrate, and the words kept jumbling together and his eyes kept wandering around the house. In particular, he kept looking at the door to Colin's room.
Ever since Colin died, Dennis had not entered his room. He was fairly certain that his mother and father hadn't entered it either. It would just open old wounds that never really healed. For some reason, Dennis couldn't stop himself from looking at the door. It was as if he was being drawn to it somehow.
He finally decided that it was time to put the past away, so he stood up and walked towards the door. His father was working on the car and his mother was busy cooking dinner, so Dennis didn't think that either of them knew what he was doing. For some reason, Dennis didn't feel inclined to let either of them know what he was doing. Partly out of guilt and partly because he didn't want them to stop him for any reason.
There was a slight creak when he pushed open the door. The room was illuminated only by a window opposite the door, the light showing the dust in the air. The first thing Dennis noticed was that Colin's bed was made. This was something that Colin always did out of habit, so it did not surprise him in the least to see that. There was a thick layer of dust on the bed, making the maroon colour lessen. Dennis then saw that there were some shirts and trousers on the floor. They were new shirts that Colin had bought just before they went into hiding in London and forgot to pack. Dennis did not understand why they were on the floor, however.
On the bedside table, there were some books on magic that Colin took to reading whenever he was upset or lonely. He used to read them a lot, Dennis remembered. But it wasn't the book on the table that caught Dennis' eye. It was the scrapbook on the floor, face down and open to a page. Dennis didn't want to disturb the room, but he didn't think that Colin would have left the scrapbook like that. It was full of the photos that Colin took at Hogwarts, and those were too precious to Colin for him to leave them on the floor like that. Dennis picked up the book and looked at the pages it was open to.
On one side it was a picture that Colin had taken during a Dumbledore's Army session of Harry Potter demonstrating the disarming charm to a very young Dennis. The picture was moving, so every now and then Harry would look up at the camera and smile a brilliant smile as the Dennis in the photo performed a perfect charm. Dennis remembered the day fondly.
The other page was missing a picture. Dennis had to rotate the book a bit so he could read what was written on it. On the top of the page, Colin had written in blue ink 'Dumbledore's Army'. Around where the picture had once been, Colin had written the names of every member of the group. The picture had been taken from the page, Dennis could tell.
Dennis could feel tears forming in his eyes. It was the first time in years that he had held anything of Colin's in his hands or even seen Colin's handwriting. He wanted to look through the scrap book, but he knew that he wouldn't find what he wanted. The photo that was missing was the only photo that Colin had that actually had Colin in it. Dennis had not seen a picture of Colin over the age of eleven in so long that he had begun to forget what his big brother had looked like as a teenager. But Colin never got in front of the camera, and Dennis knew that the group photo was all there was with Colin in it.
Dennis wiped away the tears and put the scrapbook on Colin's bed. It was then that he realised that the top drawer of Colin's dresser was open. Dennis walked over to it and the first thing to catch his eye was the thick book that Dennis knew was Colin's journal.
Dennis stared at the book for a while. The last time he had seen it, Colin had it in London while they were in hiding. It was only then that Dennis put everything together. Colin must have made a stop at home before heading off to fight at Hogwarts. Dennis looked at the scrap book. He came home to get that picture, he realised. Dennis looked back to the journal, a tug-of-war happening in his mind.
In the end, Dennis reached out and picked up the book. He opened up to a random page close to the beginning.
November 7, 1992
I feel terrible.
Harry had a Quidditch match today, Gryffindor against Slytherin. I was in the stands cheering on Gryffindor and enjoying my first real Quidditch match and taking heaps of photos. I think I would have enjoyed it more, except there was a weird bludger following Harry around all the time. It wouldn't let up.
Gryffindor was being slaughtered, but then Harry caught the Snitch, and they won. But that bludger hit him in the arm and broke it. I ran down the stairs with my camera. When I got there, Harry was lying in the mud. I don't know what I did, but somehow my stupid camera went off! Harry yelled at me.
I think it was then that I realised. Harry doesn't like me.
I only want a friend. I don't know anyone here. When I saw that Harry was nearly as old as me, I thought it would be easy to make friends with him. He's some kind of celebrity, and every celebrity I've heard of before seemed to love that kind of thing. I just thought I could make friends by treating him that way. But he hates it. I know that now. I'm not even really sure why he's famous. No one will tell me. No one talks to me.
I think I'm going to go and apologise to him. Madame Pomfrey won't let me into the Hospital Wing to see him though, so I think I'm going to have to go after dark and sneak in. I want to apologise to him. I want him to like me.
I want a friend.
Dennis started to cry in earnest. He knew what happened after that. Colin had never told him, but he knew anyway. Colin was petrified heading to the Hospital Wing to visit Harry. Whenever Dennis had heard the whispers about Colin around the school, it was always about "that creepy Creevey kid who tried to give Harry Potter grapes".
Dennis knew that Colin had been lonely at Hogwarts, but he had not realised the extent of it. When Dennis arrived at the school, he and Colin became close again, but Dennis also made other friends. Colin never did. He never could. Everyone his age and older never forgot those first few months.
Dennis put the journal back where he had picked it up from, tears rolling down his cheeks. He looked back at the scrap book. He didn't die fighting against Voldemort, Dennis thought to himself. He died fighting for the only group that ever accepted him. He fought for Dumbledore and Harry. He fought for Dumbledore's Army.
For the first time in nearly five years, Dennis Creevey truly felt the pain of losing his brother. The room was dusty and dirty, but it was Colin's presence that made it painful. Dennis turned to leave the room and found himself looking at Colin's bookshelf near the door. On the middle shelf sat the camera that Colin had been so proud of. Dennis knew now why Colin used it sparingly after his first year. He tore his eyes away and moved quietly out of the room, shutting the door quietly behind him.
Before he could be spotted by anyone he moved to the bathroom where he splashed water on his eyes. He looked into the mirror. He could never see the similarities between Colin and himself, and still couldn't. Except for the hair. They had always had similar hair. When Dennis turned sixteen, he knew that he was taller than Colin had been at that age by quite a margin. Colin also seemed to retain a youthful look in his face, while Dennis' face became much more masculine as he got older. He wondered what Colin would have been like now.
Dennis made the decision to stay Saturday night as well. This was partly because he wanted Teddy to feel more comfortable in the house, but mostly because he was trying to avoid talking to Patrick. Even after everything that had happened to Magical Britain he found himself still wanting to hide it all. Once Patrick knows, he's in danger, Dennis thought to himself more than once.
He slept on the couch again that night, but this time he was not disturbed by Teddy. Instead, he dreamed.
In the dream he was back at Hogwarts. Everything seemed peaceful, but it was so quiet. He found that he was standing in front of the portrait of the Fat Lady, but when he turned the portrait was empty. He went to it and pulled at the frame, but it didn't budge. There was nothing for it. He walked away, hoping to run into someone.
The corridors were empty. All of them. It felt like he walked for hours and still no one appeared. The portraits that he saw were empty, there were no ghosts and the only sound was the sound of his footsteps. He never spoke a word as he wandered the halls, searching for anyone.
Eventually it came to him what he needed to do. Then it was like he had been transported where he wanted to be. He was outside the giant doors to the Great Hall. Still there was silence. He reached out and pushed the doors open. They seemed to be as light as a feather as they both swung open to reveal the Hall engulfed in flame. It was like looking into a giant furnace. Dennis looked around quickly, but saw no one. He grabbed the doors to the Great Hall once again and pulled them shut. As he did, he heard footsteps running behind him. He couldn't tell how many. Two? Three? He didn't know. He whirled around hoping to see who it was, but he came face to face with an eleven year old Colin, dressed in Death Eater robes, with a smirk on his youthful face and red eyes.
Dennis woke with a jolt and, for a moment, felt like he was falling. He lay staring at the ceiling for a moment, and then noticed that the sun was just rising. No one else was up, but he sat up and made himself a cup of coffee. Normally he would go for tea, but sometimes he just needed coffee, and this was one of those times.
"Morning," Dennis said when his mother entered the kitchen. He had his coffee and two slices of toast.
"You're up early for once," his mother replied with a laugh. She obviously had not been awake long.
"I didn't sleep well," Dennis replied, taking a bite out of his toast.
"Of course you didn't," his mother responded, pouring herself a cup of coffee. "Sleeping on couches isn't fun."
"Mm," Dennis murmured. "Look Mum, I'm sorry to drop this on you. I couldn't just not do anything."
"I understand," his mother said with a smile, sitting next to him with her coffee. "You did the right thing. I just have to get used to having a kid around the house again."
"If you need any help with some magic thing, just let me know," Dennis said. "I can't do everything, but I might be able to help."
"Of course." Dennis had always been impressed at his mother still being okay with magic given everything that had happened over the years. "When are you heading back?"
"In a couple of hours," Dennis said, sipping his coffee. "I want to get back before Patrick wakes up. So any time before two should be good."
"Oh, that's right. You're telling him about everything," his mother said, intrigued.
"Not willingly," Dennis said with a wry smile. "Given what's happened, knowing about the magical world could well be a detriment."
"Honey, he's living with you," his mother reminded him. "From what I can tell, that could be dangerous enough. If these people wanted to, they could track you down. He's in danger just because of that. You may as well tell him so he can be prepared if it happens."
Dennis had not ever heard his mother talking like this before.
"Doesn't that make you and Dad in danger as well?" he asked. His mother nodded.
"Yes it does," she said curtly. "But we're your parents first and foremost. Besides, it's been five years and no one has come looking."
"But don't you get worried?" Dennis asked. His mother smiled.
"All the time," she said, reaching over and fixing his hair. "Life goes on. No matter what happens to you, there is someone out there that needs you to be strong. So I just keep on going."
A few hours later, Dennis had his backpack in his car, ready to go. He said goodbye to his parents, and then knelt down to say goodbye to Teddy, who immediately wrapped him in a hug.
"You have to be good, okay?" Dennis said to him. Teddy nodded. "Great. I'll see you soon."
"Promise?" Teddy asked. Dennis nodded, looking into the boy's blue eyes.
"I promise."
A few hours later he arrived back at his apartment and found his best friend Patrick sitting on the couch. Dennis looked at his watch which told him that it was barely midday.
"Not like you to be up so early, Pat," Dennis said, setting down his backpack. "You missed the sunrise."
"Like you saw the sunrise," Patrick responded. "You're nearly as bad as I am."
"Sam around?"
"No, she stayed at Josh's last night," Patrick said with a grimace. Neither he nor Dennis liked Josh, but they kept that to themselves. Sam was horrifying when she was angry. "We've got something to talk about then, eh?"
"Ugh," Dennis said aloud. "I guess so. I think I'm going to tell Sam as well whenever I see her next."
"Might be a while," Patrick said. "You know how she is when she finds the one." Dennis chuckled and sat in their armchair.
"What do you want to know then?" he asked bluntly.
"How about we start with your brother then?" Patrick said, sitting forward on the couch in anticipation.
"Well in my defence, I never lied," Dennis said quickly. "He did die fighting. And, yes, he was only sixteen as you pointed out the other day."
"A sixteen year old dying in combat?" Patrick asked. "I feel like I would have heard of that on some sort of news or other."
"Well, normally I suppose you would, but this wasn't normal," Dennis said, struggling to find the right words. "I feel like I need to start further back than that. When Colin was eleven, he got this letter …"
Dennis spent the better part of the next few hours explaining things and answering Patrick's questions. He promised to give Patrick some of the books that he had kept over the years to read. To begin with, Patrick seemed to be jealous of Dennis and his experience in the magical world, but eventually he realised what it had really meant.
"And that boy?" he had asked when Dennis had answered most questions about the magical world. "The woman?"
"The woman was an old Professor from Hogwarts," Dennis explained. "Dolores Umbridge. She was hated by everyone when she worked there. She's been on the run for a while now, and seems to have changed her mindset quite a bit. She got Teddy when his grandmother died. She was living with them at the time, apparently. His parents were killed in the Final Battle."
"What happened to, Umbridge was it?" Patrick asked. Dennis shook his head.
"I have no idea at all," Dennis replied sadly. He was slightly shocked to find himself concerned for Umbridge's safety, of all people.
"Rough," Patrick said with a sigh, sinking back into the couch. "Thanks for telling me."
"You kind of forced me," Dennis said with a reluctant laugh. "It's for the best anyway."
"Why's that?"
"So long as you live with me, you could be in danger," Dennis explained. "That's if you want to stay of course."
"I wouldn't even consider leaving," Patrick replied, his smile broad. "Besides, a little danger in life is great."
"Listen, Pat. If you ever see anyone wearing some kind of cloak, you tell me right away. It's not likely it will be a coincidence," Dennis said, suddenly stern. "It could be the difference between life and death."
Patrick nodded, but it didn't help the feeling in Dennis' stomach.
