Once again this isn't what I set out to write. It was going to be the Seamus-and-Neville-fluffy-time chapter, but this happened instead. Colin might be about to something very, very, I repeat, very stupid. Read on. And drop me a line.
Harry and Ron were in high spirits as they walked back to the Great Hall. It was as if the two of them had had never been apart. Someone threw the `buddy switch' to the on position. They joked and laughed and carried on. Hermione was strutting like mother hen, so excited that she might just explode and rain warm fuzzies all over the place. Colin seemed to be immune to the good feelings around him. He was walking a few steps behind the two boys and he saw how much they missed each other.
Colin was berating himself as he walked. Did he really think that Harry would spend time with him now? Of course not. He was nothing but a replacement. How could he have missed it before? "Oh, Harry!" he nearly cried out. His first real friend had just walked out. Colin wasn't sure why Harry didn't just tell him to shove off now, but he guessed it was because Harry was too nice to be mean to him.
The group entered the castle and made their way to the Hall. People along the way stopped what they were doing and watched as they passed. The Boy Who Lived and His Best Friend coming through, please. Make way. With them was Harry's Other Best Friend and behind them was The Boy Who Had Nothing. Please don't stare. You could almost feel the happiness in the Gryffindors as they walked into the Hall. All that was missing was a big standing ovation at the sight of them together.
They took their seats at the table like the Gryffindor Royal Family. Ron took Colin's normal spot on Harry's right, with Hermione on his left. He sat beside her and withstood the onslaught of tears for the time. Roast beef appeared on their plates a minute later and Harry and Ron dug in. Hermione ate like a lady, albeit a hungry lady. Colin just picked at his and watched the others. "Just like it used to be," he thought to himself. "Here I am, on the outside watching others have a good time."
Colin put his fork down and sighed. Harry was completely ignoring him, another sign that they were over with. He gave one more look that way and got up from the table, struggling with his emotions. He bumped Hermione and she spilled a bit of her juice.
"I'm sorry, Hermione. I didn't mean it."
"Oh, it's okay, Colin. Where are you going? You've barely touched your lunch."
"I don't feel so well. I think I'll go see Madame Pomphrey."
"Okay, I hope you feel better." she turned back to the others.
Colin couldn't seem to get out of the Hall fast enough. He knew that everyone was staring at him and pointing and probably laughing. He was walking with his head down directly for the door. He shot through it a short time later and was tearing down a hallway still not bothering to look up. He passed Transfigurations at about mach 3. He was walking aimlessly. In no time he had reached the Gryffindor common room.
He went in and was relieved to see that the room was empty. Everyone was playing in the sunshine or at lunch it seemed. He pulled a chair up near the window and just gazed out over the grounds. He was great for one second and the next it was like the dam had burst. He was sobbing loudly. It was so unfair. Life was taunting him, it seemed. He had everything he wanted and then the rug was pulled form under him. "It must be my lot in life to suffer," he said to the room once he had regained a bit of control.
"Are you quoting Star Wars again, Colin?" a voice called from the steps, a voice that sounded very familiar.
Colin looked up and saw Aidan coming down the steps carrying two broomsticks. "Oh, hello, Aidan. What are you doing in here?"
"I was about to ask you the same thing. It's too pretty to be inside. I came in to get mine and Dennis' broomsticks. We're going to fly for a bit. Now why are you in here?"
"I just want to be alone for awhile. I don't think I feel too good."
"Then you should go to the infirmary."
"They can't fix what's wrong with me down there."
Perplexed, Aidan asked, "What do you mean they can't fix it? Madame Pomphrey is a great witch. She can fix anything."
"I'm not sick, I just hurt inside," Colin replied.
"Anything you want to talk about?" Aidan asked.
Colin wasn't about to talk about how he was just dumped by Harry to his brother's best friend, so he just said, "No, not really. Thanks anyway."
"You really should come out with us, you'll feel better," Aidan told him, trying to get Colin to stop moping.
"Maybe a little later. Not right now."
"Alright, we'll be out there for awhile if you change your mind." Aidan headed out the door and Colin was once again alone. Colin got up out of the chair and paced the room. Aidan was right about one thing. It was too pretty to be in here. If he was going to mope, he'd do it outside. Colin headed out the door and walked in typical brooding fashion, head down, intently studying the floor and his own thoughts.
He wanted to blame Ron for all this so badly, but he just couldn't quite do it. The two of them had been friends long before Colin joined the picture. He kept replaying the scenes of the morning over in his head. Did Harry want him to go so he wouldn't have to explain anything to Colin? That did make sense, didn't it? He would let Colin see for himself and not have to hurt Colin anymore than necessary.
He was deep in thought when his forward progress was abruptly checked. He fell to the ground in a heap and uttered a small `Oomph.' He looked up and saw another person staggering backwards, holding his stomach as if the wind had been knocked from him. A mess of silver hair was what he saw first, that and Slytherin robes. "Great, just great, Draco Malfoy," he thought. He had never had any real problems with Draco, he had mostly left Colin alone, instead concentrating on Ron and Hermione and of course Harry.
"Oh, a Gryffindor. Wonderful." Draco pushed his hair back into place. "Why don't you---" he broke off. "Wait a minute, you're Potter's little beau aren't you? Creepey isn't it?"
"No I'm not, and it's *Creevey*, not `Creepey', Malfoy."
Draco was a bit surprised at the revelation. Not Harry's beau anymore? "Well, isn't that interesting. Last I heard, you two were getting married and having children. What happened? Did you realize he was garbage and left him?"
"Harry is not Garbage!!!" Colin screamed from the floor. "Don't you talk about him that way, Draco Malfoy, not ever!" Draco was completely taken aback by the outburst. It was like he had just poked a pissed off and cornered wolverine with a stick and barely avoided losing a hand. He liked this kid's fire. Maybe he could use that to his advantage.... A plan quickly formed in his mind.
Faking sincerity perfectly, he apologized to Colin. "I'm sorry. I'm not sure what came over me there." then, he crossed his mental fingers and continued. "You seem more than a little upset, Colin, what happened?"
Colin wasn't sure why Malfoy was being civil to him, but before he could stop himself from talking to a *Slytherin*, his tumultuous emotions boiled over and he started talking. "He and Ron got back together today. I'm back out of the picture." Colin looked back down at his feet.
"That horrible Weasel. He always ruins things." he looked at Colin with the perfectly sympathetic face. "You know, Harry and I might have been friends if it weren't for him."
Colin wasn't quite sure if he should believe Draco or not. He said nothing, so he continued. "Yes, it is all Weasley's fault. He unfairly prejudiced Harry against me when we first got here." Draco of course left out the part about him insulting Ron before sorting, but hey, Colin wasn't there to know about that.
"Is that why you're so horrible to them all the time now?" Colin asked.
"Mostly. If it weren't for Weasley, who knows what would have happened. But for him, I'm in Slytherin, have no meaningful friends, and have to deal with Weasley and Granger."
Was *Malfoy* opening up to him here in the hallway? Colin wasn't sure what to say to that. He had a well of harsh feelings for Ron that was quickly filling, like a spring downpour.
Malfoy saw exactly what he was looking for when he looked down into Colin's face. Confusion and anger toward Ron. Good. He went in to seal the deal. "I can hardly believe I'm saying this, but it seems that I have something in common with a Gryffindor. Actually, someone. Ron has turned both of our worlds on their ear, hasn't he, Colin?"
Colin took the bait. "You're right. He has messed things up a lot."
"Well young Gryffindor," he said as he offered a hand to help Colin up, touching a tad bit more than might normally be needed. "You'd best be off, you wouldn't want to be seen talking to me." Draco looked around the hallway, daring any of the passing first years to say anything. Colin got to his feet and Draco smiled as he ruffled Colin's hair and started to move off.
"Mal--Draco, we have another thing in common, you know," Colin burst out before he knew it.
Draco turned around and looked back, hopeful. "What's that?"
"Neither of us has any friends now."
"Well, maybe we can do something about that, eh?" Draco gave a half salute and strolled down the hallway.
Colin wasn't sure exactly how he felt now. He had just fraternized with the `enemy' and found him to be not completely detestable. He also liked Draco's soft hands on him. He wandered out to the grounds thinking about many things.
Draco Malfoy on the other hand, felt absolutely grand. He had to work fast, though. If his scheme worked out, he'd get them all at once. Potter, Weasel, Granger, oh hell, all of them. Oh, the joy of it all. Even if he had to resort to, well, batting lefty for a bit, it would be worth it in the end. He changed directions and instead of going to the dungeons and the Slytherin common room, he headed off somewhere different. He had bigger fish to fry.
Haven't heard much from Draco, have we now? He's just too good an antagonist to leave out. What's gonna happen??? I guess you'll have to check back soon....
Harry and Ron were in high spirits as they walked back to the Great Hall. It was as if the two of them had had never been apart. Someone threw the `buddy switch' to the on position. They joked and laughed and carried on. Hermione was strutting like mother hen, so excited that she might just explode and rain warm fuzzies all over the place. Colin seemed to be immune to the good feelings around him. He was walking a few steps behind the two boys and he saw how much they missed each other.
Colin was berating himself as he walked. Did he really think that Harry would spend time with him now? Of course not. He was nothing but a replacement. How could he have missed it before? "Oh, Harry!" he nearly cried out. His first real friend had just walked out. Colin wasn't sure why Harry didn't just tell him to shove off now, but he guessed it was because Harry was too nice to be mean to him.
The group entered the castle and made their way to the Hall. People along the way stopped what they were doing and watched as they passed. The Boy Who Lived and His Best Friend coming through, please. Make way. With them was Harry's Other Best Friend and behind them was The Boy Who Had Nothing. Please don't stare. You could almost feel the happiness in the Gryffindors as they walked into the Hall. All that was missing was a big standing ovation at the sight of them together.
They took their seats at the table like the Gryffindor Royal Family. Ron took Colin's normal spot on Harry's right, with Hermione on his left. He sat beside her and withstood the onslaught of tears for the time. Roast beef appeared on their plates a minute later and Harry and Ron dug in. Hermione ate like a lady, albeit a hungry lady. Colin just picked at his and watched the others. "Just like it used to be," he thought to himself. "Here I am, on the outside watching others have a good time."
Colin put his fork down and sighed. Harry was completely ignoring him, another sign that they were over with. He gave one more look that way and got up from the table, struggling with his emotions. He bumped Hermione and she spilled a bit of her juice.
"I'm sorry, Hermione. I didn't mean it."
"Oh, it's okay, Colin. Where are you going? You've barely touched your lunch."
"I don't feel so well. I think I'll go see Madame Pomphrey."
"Okay, I hope you feel better." she turned back to the others.
Colin couldn't seem to get out of the Hall fast enough. He knew that everyone was staring at him and pointing and probably laughing. He was walking with his head down directly for the door. He shot through it a short time later and was tearing down a hallway still not bothering to look up. He passed Transfigurations at about mach 3. He was walking aimlessly. In no time he had reached the Gryffindor common room.
He went in and was relieved to see that the room was empty. Everyone was playing in the sunshine or at lunch it seemed. He pulled a chair up near the window and just gazed out over the grounds. He was great for one second and the next it was like the dam had burst. He was sobbing loudly. It was so unfair. Life was taunting him, it seemed. He had everything he wanted and then the rug was pulled form under him. "It must be my lot in life to suffer," he said to the room once he had regained a bit of control.
"Are you quoting Star Wars again, Colin?" a voice called from the steps, a voice that sounded very familiar.
Colin looked up and saw Aidan coming down the steps carrying two broomsticks. "Oh, hello, Aidan. What are you doing in here?"
"I was about to ask you the same thing. It's too pretty to be inside. I came in to get mine and Dennis' broomsticks. We're going to fly for a bit. Now why are you in here?"
"I just want to be alone for awhile. I don't think I feel too good."
"Then you should go to the infirmary."
"They can't fix what's wrong with me down there."
Perplexed, Aidan asked, "What do you mean they can't fix it? Madame Pomphrey is a great witch. She can fix anything."
"I'm not sick, I just hurt inside," Colin replied.
"Anything you want to talk about?" Aidan asked.
Colin wasn't about to talk about how he was just dumped by Harry to his brother's best friend, so he just said, "No, not really. Thanks anyway."
"You really should come out with us, you'll feel better," Aidan told him, trying to get Colin to stop moping.
"Maybe a little later. Not right now."
"Alright, we'll be out there for awhile if you change your mind." Aidan headed out the door and Colin was once again alone. Colin got up out of the chair and paced the room. Aidan was right about one thing. It was too pretty to be in here. If he was going to mope, he'd do it outside. Colin headed out the door and walked in typical brooding fashion, head down, intently studying the floor and his own thoughts.
He wanted to blame Ron for all this so badly, but he just couldn't quite do it. The two of them had been friends long before Colin joined the picture. He kept replaying the scenes of the morning over in his head. Did Harry want him to go so he wouldn't have to explain anything to Colin? That did make sense, didn't it? He would let Colin see for himself and not have to hurt Colin anymore than necessary.
He was deep in thought when his forward progress was abruptly checked. He fell to the ground in a heap and uttered a small `Oomph.' He looked up and saw another person staggering backwards, holding his stomach as if the wind had been knocked from him. A mess of silver hair was what he saw first, that and Slytherin robes. "Great, just great, Draco Malfoy," he thought. He had never had any real problems with Draco, he had mostly left Colin alone, instead concentrating on Ron and Hermione and of course Harry.
"Oh, a Gryffindor. Wonderful." Draco pushed his hair back into place. "Why don't you---" he broke off. "Wait a minute, you're Potter's little beau aren't you? Creepey isn't it?"
"No I'm not, and it's *Creevey*, not `Creepey', Malfoy."
Draco was a bit surprised at the revelation. Not Harry's beau anymore? "Well, isn't that interesting. Last I heard, you two were getting married and having children. What happened? Did you realize he was garbage and left him?"
"Harry is not Garbage!!!" Colin screamed from the floor. "Don't you talk about him that way, Draco Malfoy, not ever!" Draco was completely taken aback by the outburst. It was like he had just poked a pissed off and cornered wolverine with a stick and barely avoided losing a hand. He liked this kid's fire. Maybe he could use that to his advantage.... A plan quickly formed in his mind.
Faking sincerity perfectly, he apologized to Colin. "I'm sorry. I'm not sure what came over me there." then, he crossed his mental fingers and continued. "You seem more than a little upset, Colin, what happened?"
Colin wasn't sure why Malfoy was being civil to him, but before he could stop himself from talking to a *Slytherin*, his tumultuous emotions boiled over and he started talking. "He and Ron got back together today. I'm back out of the picture." Colin looked back down at his feet.
"That horrible Weasel. He always ruins things." he looked at Colin with the perfectly sympathetic face. "You know, Harry and I might have been friends if it weren't for him."
Colin wasn't quite sure if he should believe Draco or not. He said nothing, so he continued. "Yes, it is all Weasley's fault. He unfairly prejudiced Harry against me when we first got here." Draco of course left out the part about him insulting Ron before sorting, but hey, Colin wasn't there to know about that.
"Is that why you're so horrible to them all the time now?" Colin asked.
"Mostly. If it weren't for Weasley, who knows what would have happened. But for him, I'm in Slytherin, have no meaningful friends, and have to deal with Weasley and Granger."
Was *Malfoy* opening up to him here in the hallway? Colin wasn't sure what to say to that. He had a well of harsh feelings for Ron that was quickly filling, like a spring downpour.
Malfoy saw exactly what he was looking for when he looked down into Colin's face. Confusion and anger toward Ron. Good. He went in to seal the deal. "I can hardly believe I'm saying this, but it seems that I have something in common with a Gryffindor. Actually, someone. Ron has turned both of our worlds on their ear, hasn't he, Colin?"
Colin took the bait. "You're right. He has messed things up a lot."
"Well young Gryffindor," he said as he offered a hand to help Colin up, touching a tad bit more than might normally be needed. "You'd best be off, you wouldn't want to be seen talking to me." Draco looked around the hallway, daring any of the passing first years to say anything. Colin got to his feet and Draco smiled as he ruffled Colin's hair and started to move off.
"Mal--Draco, we have another thing in common, you know," Colin burst out before he knew it.
Draco turned around and looked back, hopeful. "What's that?"
"Neither of us has any friends now."
"Well, maybe we can do something about that, eh?" Draco gave a half salute and strolled down the hallway.
Colin wasn't sure exactly how he felt now. He had just fraternized with the `enemy' and found him to be not completely detestable. He also liked Draco's soft hands on him. He wandered out to the grounds thinking about many things.
Draco Malfoy on the other hand, felt absolutely grand. He had to work fast, though. If his scheme worked out, he'd get them all at once. Potter, Weasel, Granger, oh hell, all of them. Oh, the joy of it all. Even if he had to resort to, well, batting lefty for a bit, it would be worth it in the end. He changed directions and instead of going to the dungeons and the Slytherin common room, he headed off somewhere different. He had bigger fish to fry.
Haven't heard much from Draco, have we now? He's just too good an antagonist to leave out. What's gonna happen??? I guess you'll have to check back soon....