Chapter sixteen

Chapter sixteen

Colin's Story

Sitting in the Gryffindor common room that Friday after classes, Harry realized just how much he hated waiting. He also concluded that he was tired of people keeping secrets from him. He glanced around at his friends, hoping they didn't have any secrets. Hermione was resting her head on Ron's shoulder as Ron, who had his arm around her, played with a curl dangling down her back. That had been a secret once, but at least they had decided to tell him about it. He looked to Ginny who sat on the floor with her legs tucked in front of her, her chin resting on her knees. Did she have any secrets? She once had that diary, but what about now? Then he checked the stairs to the girls' dormitory where Daphne had gone. What was her secret?

Harry was sure everyone was wondering the same thing as he was because none of them were talking. Suddenly, Ginny gave a huff and stood up. "Sorry lot we are."

"What are you getting at?" Ron said.

"Well, there's really no point to it, is there? We could sit here all night and we still won't know anything about Colin…or Daphne." Her hands were on her hips.

"Maybe Daphne will come down and talk to us." Suggested Hermione.

"You don't really think that, do you?" Harry said. There was a pause that told him he had been right. None of them expected to be told what was going on.

"Look, I say we concentrate on what we do know," said Ginny.

"Which isn't very much," muttered Ron.

"Colin." Ginny looked at her brother with exasperation. "He's been having a rough time, and he's certain to be more upset with himself now."

"So?" Harry said.

"So…why don't we do something to cheer him up? You know…get him a present or something," Ginny suggested.

Harry wasn't surprised at her suggestion. Ginny was always trying to make people feel better. She seemed to have a soft spot for those few that seemed to be left behind. Maybe, Harry thought, it was because Ginny felt that way about herself.

Ron, however, didn't look amused. "He just got done attacking Harry with the Cruciatus curse and you want to give him a present?"

"No!" Said Ginny. "I want to cheer him up. It wasn't his fault that he behaved like that."

"Are you sure?" Ron wasn't convinced.

"Come on." Ginny took on a very motherly tone. "Do you really think that Colin Creevy, acting of his own free will, would use one of the Unforgivable Curses on his idle?" She pointed at Harry and then shook her head. "He's going to need to know that we're still his friends."

"You might have been, but I always thought that he was weird," Ron said, and Ginny threw her arms up in frustration.

"What did you have in mind, Ginny?" Harry asked.

"Just something simple. He likes Chocolate Frogs. Do you have any, Ron?"

"No, but I have some extra cards he can have."

"We could go to Honeydukes and get him some," Hermione added. "It is a Hogsmeade weekend."

Before they could make any plans, all four of them jumped at the sound of the portrait hole opening. Professor McGonagall entered and walked up to them. "Professor Dumbledore has sent me to find Miss Affigo. Do you know where she might be?"

"She's upstairs," Hermione stood up. "I'll go get her."

"Thank you, Miss Granger." Professor McGonagall looked at the three curious faces of the students. "Don't worry about Colin or Daphne. They'll be just fine."

Daphne came into the room followed by Hermione. Daphne looked a bit pale and slightly fearful, but showed no lack of determination. She followed McGonagall out of the room without even a glance towards Harry and the others.

"Wish I knew what was going on." Harry said, still looking at the now closed portrait hole.

"You and me both," Ron said.

* * * * * * ** * ** * * * * *

When Harry and Ron came down for breakfast the next day, they were surprised to find Hermione sitting across from Colin. His eyes were red and puffy and his skin was very sallow and he looked as though he hadn't gotten much sleep. Odd, Harry thought, that Colin would be here and Daphne wouldn't, for Harry didn't see her anywhere.

"Mind if we join you?" Harry asked Colin as he started to sit down next to him.

"Oh! Harry!" Colin's wide eyes looked at Harry. "Are you sure you want to sit there?"

Harry leaned back. "You're not wearing that Amulet, are you?"

"No, Dumbledore took it." Colin lowered his eyes.

"Then I don't see that there is a problem." Harry and Ron filled up their plates with bacon and eggs. Harry wasn't sure how to ask what was on his mind, so he started tentatively. "So…did you…ever remember what happened?"

Colin began picking at his toast. "It's a long story. But I suppose you all deserve to know."

Harry, Ron, and Hermione settled in as Colin began his detailed account on how and when he had gotten that amulet. His voice was shaking and very squeaky. "It all started last summer when we went to get our school things. I got lost… and I ended up…in Knockturn Alley…alone."

"I remember that." Harry said.

"Yes, well, I had seen you…all of you…talking to that man."

Harry's eyes darted to Ron and Hermione. Had Colin blown Sirius' cover? "Did you recognize him?" Harry held his breath.

"No, should I have?"

"No…no. I'm sorry, Colin. Go on." Harry felt a pang of relief.

"Well, I saw him give you your amulet. And I thought I heard him tell you that it would protect you. I couldn't help but imagine myself…with an amulet like that. So…I went into a nearby shop." Colin looked embarrassed by this. "There were all kinds of… gadgets and strange devises. I asked the shopkeeper if he had an amulet like the one I'd seen you with. I described it as best I could, but he said nothing like that existed." He paused before going on rather quietly. "Then I made what Professor Dumbledore said was my biggest mistake. I said that I had seen Harry Potter with one." His eyes met Harry's briefly.

"He went into the back room and came out a good while later with my amulet. He let me try it on and everything. The moment I put it on I felt better…stronger. But I didn't have any money for it. He told me that he would hold it for me…that I was meant to have it."

"I didn't really think much on it again until we went to Hogsmeade. Ginny went off to look at the dresses and I wandered into Honeydukes. The shopkeeper asked me if I was the boy who wanted the amulet. I guess the other shopkeeper had sent it to him to give to me. So…I bought it."

"Why would a candy shop sell things like amulets?" Hermione asked, getting a stare from Colin.

"That I don't really know. But here's the really important part. He told me…that my amulet could only help me to a certain degree. He said that if I really wanted to feel…better…that I'd find a way to swap my amulet with yours. That if I had your amulet, everything…would be…wonderful…" His words trailed off and he hung his head in shame.

Hermione spoke softly. "Colin, am I right in assuming that the amulet controlled you?" He nodded. "Then that shopkeeper didn't tell you to switch amulets so that you would have Harry's."

"I know. He wanted Harry to have mine." He appeared more upset about this than anything else. "Dumbledore figured that out right away."

"What is he doing about it?" Asked Ron.

"He notified the Ministry of Magic and asked them to send Mad-eye Moody to collect the shopkeeper…and then he destroyed the amulet."

There was a thick silence as everyone thought about the story Colin had just shared with them. Colin, whose face was streaked with tears, turned to Harry and said, "I'm so sorry, Harry. I didn't want to hurt you. It's just that every time I'd think really hard about you, or someone would mention your name…I'd just blow up!"

"Like what happened with Ginny." Harry added.

"Yes! I'd never wanted to hurt her either. Oh dear, where is she?" He looked around. "I do owe her an apology, too."

"I don't think she's come down yet," said Hermione.

"When you see her, can you tell her that I need to talk to her…to tell her how sorry I am?"

"Of course," Hermione smiled at him.

"Hey Colin, there's still something I don't understand." Ron's face twisted as if he were thinking hard. "How did you…forget all of this…and then suddenly remember it all?"

"Dumbledore thinks wearing the amulet repressed my memory of getting it," Colin replied.

"So, when you took it off you started remembering everything?" Asked Harry.

"No…no. Daphne helped me with that."

"Daphne?" said Harry.

"Helped you?" Ron added.

"How do you mean?" asked Hermione.

"I can't explain it…she just…did," Colin shrugged.

"What did she do?" Hermione asked.

"I don't know. Look, I'm very tired." He stood up from the table. "I'm going back to bed for a while. If you want to talk to Daphne, she's still with Madam Pomfrey," Colin said, and sulked off with his hands in his pockets.

"Anybody up for a visit to the hospital wing?" Harry asked, turning his head to look at Ron and Hermione. They both looked at each other and nodded affirmatively.

****Thanks for all the reviews. I might be posting more slowly as I've FINIALLY gotten a beta reader and I'm sending all my stuff to her first! So, a very special thanks goes out to Lin-z. Your help is very much appreciated! Next chapter…Daphne!! Your questions will be answered…but the danger will increase! It's not over yet!

****Daphne Affigo is an Alphie creation. Harry Potter and all other characters are property of J.K. Rowling and Warner Brothers.

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