Hero Worship part 2/?
Colin shuffled along with the loud crowd of students into the Great Hall for dinner and the sorting. He picked a seat near a few 5th years he knew by sight though not name, idly listening to the chatter that went back and forth between them (Seems one had had their ears turned purple by their younger brother). He could just see Harry if he leaned over the table slightly he was sitting silently listening to Ron and Hermione. They sat what seemed like forever waiting on the little first years to arrive with Hagrid across the lake. Maybe he was just more impatient this year? Colin remembered how excited he was about the sorting, all but hopping up and down waiting his turn; most people had to take drugs to be that energetic.
The Great Hall's doors swung open after several long minutes Professor McGonagal looking as cross as ever her robes of green velvet fanning behind her as she led the nervous clump of new students forward towards the Sorting Hat's stool. A small frown touched Colin's lips, 'Such a small class of first years this time…probably having to do with the war many wizarding families being lost in surprise attacks over the past few years.' Colin had also noted a couple holes in the older classes where students should have been. A handful of Slytherins had disappeared along with a sprinkling of students from other houses. How different would this year be now that the threat of Voldemort was truly gone and the side of light had triumphed? The mood was already lighter and cheerier than it had been in years, people smiling again. It was almost as if the sun had finally returned after weeks of stormy rainy weather.
The tattered Sorting Hat spun out his song for the first years that were still shaking with nervousness looking worriedly at their new friends hoping to be sorted together. Colin glanced back down the table at Harry he seemed lost in thought while Hermione glared at him probably told her to shut her trap, Ron seemed to be watching the Sorting.
Harry's mind drifted off as the old hat launched into it's song, he recalled his sorting years ago with his first friend Ron by his side, the cheering as he was put in Gryffindor, and the start of his new life. Amazing how bright everything had looked then, amazing how normal he had felt. Harry shook his head bringing his thoughts out of the clouds just as Hermione was getting that annoyed look on her face that said she had been calling his name for a while now.
"What?" Harry had not meant for it to come out as defensive as it had.
"Never mind now Dumbledore is standing up." She all but hissed at him in return.
The Gryffindor boy shrugged carelessly turning to the peculiar old man at the front of the banquet hall, robes with purple stars and yellow suns standing out brightly as Dumbledore gave his opening speech.
"The forest is still off limits to students, please remember not to forget. Mr. Filch would also like me to inform you that anyone caught with a parcel from Weazley's Wizarding Wheezes shall be severely punished." A bright twinkle in his eye and amused upturn of his lips as if enjoying a private joke. "Now let us eat." The gold plates before the students filling with hot delicious looking food as Dumbledore finished speaking sitting back down in his chair beside Professor McGonagall. A roar of voices filled the air almost immediately people laughing and enjoying the first meal at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
A little first year had taken up the empty seat beside Colin a boy with curly black hair and large green eyes he was listening raptly as the 5th years told him all the fun he would have with Gryffindor. Colin only tuning in occasionally as he ate, ears pricking up as he heard Harry mentioned.
"Harry Potter is even in our house." One of the 5th years gushed, "He's the hero of the world you know that right? See that boy down there with the black hair, no no the one with it gelled sort of messily. That's him." The 5th year rudely pointed at Harry getting a confused blink out of said subject until he spotted the first year then pointedly looked down at his plate.
The first year's eyes were wide as he stared down at the 7th year boy a breathy 'wow' escaping him. Colin just shook his head with disgust and not a little bit of shame, he had been even worse in his time. The 5th years turned on him then.
"Don't you know Harry?"
"They said you follow him around with a camera all the time. Saw you on the train with him, are you friends?" They assaulted Colin from all sides; he was just trying to eat for God's sake.
Colin frowned at the two's questions, "I used to follow him around. I stopped back in *fourth year.* I don't' anymore. He let me sit with them on the train no other seats." The clipped tone should have been a signal to shut up but the two did not get it, pushing on.
"Why don't you anymore? I would if Harry would let me." That was the last Colin heard before blowing up.
"He's human you little shit. I stopped because he hated it. He doesn't like the publicity and he doesn't like being put on a pedestal like you're doing." Colin cut himself off by getting up and leaving the Great Hall he had finished with eating for tonight.
A large section of Gryffindors turned to look at Colin as he got up so abruptly after that outburst. Quite a few of the students looked shocked, Colin had never been anything but easy going and nice, maybe the summer brought more changes than they thought.
Colin's outburst had been a small surprise for Harry; it took him a moment to realize whom he had been defending when he noticed he was sitting with the pointing party from before. An ironic half smile touched his lips as he realized his greatest stalker had just defended him like that. Harry was broken out of his amused thoughts by Ron's incessant questions of 'What happened' having been to busy arguing himself to see anything. Harry just shrugged not wishing to share his amusement. After a short while, the entire table had returned to its normal noise level, Colin's outburst forgotten except for the two sheepish looking 5th years that did not mention or glance at one Harry Potter the rest of the meal.
Colin wandered slowly up to Gryffindor tower, no reason to be in a hurry everyone else was still merrily enjoying their meal in the Great Hall. 'Hope Harry didn't hear that mess.' Colin frowned to himself, 'He'll think I'm at it again and wouldn't that just be bloody lovely. And with Malfoy trying to convince him of what a fag I really am this should shape up to be just a jolly year.' Sarcastic and biting thoughts circling through his head as he walked down the hall past the paintings and towards the fat lady. "Brumble bush." He mumbled at her, the portrait swinging open obediently. "It isn't like Malfoy is wrong…this time." Speaking to himself thinking he was quite alone in the common room.
"Wrong about what Colin?" The soft alto of Ginny Weasley's voice carrying easily in the empty common room surprising the other sixth year.
Colin stopped mid-step turning toward Ginny jaw slack in surprise, the red headed girl was curled up on one of the plush couches before the fire place several books stacked haphazardly beside her on the cushion, her brown eyes enquiring and kind trained on Colin as he recovered himself. Ginny and Colin were close, once both thinking it was a smart idea to date and both subsequently being wrong. Therefore, he found it quite easy to just flop down beside the red head with a smile.
"Why aren't you at supper?" Colin's attempt at changing the subject.
"Why aren't you?" Having six brothers had taught her this maneuver.
"Lost my appetite." Colin pulled his knees up on the couch kicking his shoes off and getting comfortable, "Got reminded of my Harry Worshiping days. Wasn't pretty." Grinning to brush the admission aside as silly. "Now you."
A light shrug of her feminine shoulders, "Not hungry." She leaned over hugging Colin briefly. "Heard you sat with him on the train." She was not wheedling him for information…never. "Enjoy yourself?"
He gave her a withering look, Ginny was one of the few that even openly guessed at his sexuality though he never did say yes or no to her suspicions. His glare just got a soft laugh out of her, who could ever find some short, adorable person like Colin threatening?
"Hell, don't start. My dinner was already ruined over the issue." Colin leaned his head against the back of the couch poking Ginny in the side with one sock covered toe. "Just bloody hero worship; I was 11 and three feet tall. I had nothing better to do." Quite defensive he was.
"Alright, Colin, I believe you. Really." Pink lips tried to tug up at the corners as she suppressed a smile. The redheaded sixth year patted her friend's knee. "How was your summer?"
"Pretty good. My 14 year old brother is now 3 inches taller than me, but it was good." Colin relaxed into a good-natured smile as the subject went to more neutral territory.
Colin listened to Ginny prattle on about her summer after he finished, talking about Ron, the twins and so forth mind drifting after the first few minutes picking apart their relationship, which to be honest was slightly odd. She had been his first 'girlfriend' back in the beginning of their fifth year; it was purely innocent he did not have the nerve for anything past holding hands and be seen together. She had been quite wrapped up in him for a while though his fancy was less permanent and never half as strong. He finally broke it off after two months, she just was not anything more than a friend and he felt weird acting as if she was. He had had to hide from Ron for a while; she had gone running into the common room crying after their breakup, the then sixth year boy had gone hunting for him intent on smashing his face. Harry had been the one to come to his rescue stopping his angry friend. He and Ginny were once more friends and it would never be more, he really could not say he felt anything for any of the girls at Hogwart's though he was not likely to admit that fact aloud anytime soon.
"The fire is nice." Colin was so cozy and comfortable he could just drift off right there on the couch. A skinny bony finger stabbed him in the ribs unkindly jerking him back to awareness.
"Don't just go to sleep on me. It's rude Colin Creevey." Ginny sounded very much the indignant lady she was.
Colin started to close his eyes again getting another poke for his trouble one eye opening slowly to peer at the red head, "So what. You're just one of the boys anyway." A lazy smile touching his lips as he watched her puff up at the insult.
Ginny socked him on in the arm pushing him over and standing up. "And you my dear one are just one of the girls, quite feminine I assure you." Sticking her pert little nose in the air with a playful smile before grabbing her books and retreating out of the room.
Colin didn't even bother sitting back up just sprawled out on the couch where he was, feet up, arms wrapped around a pillow comfortably, and the fire warming him nicely, who could want more? Colin closed his eyes he would just nap here, it was so warm…*thud, crash* Colin sat up once more fully awake and jerking towards the portrait hole.
"Get the bloody fuck off me prick!" Ron was yelling; he had been the thud when he hit the portrait door the crash had been Seamus, at whom he was yelling. The Irish 7th year had mastered the transfiguration of pumpkin juice into rum last year, seemed he was still quite keen on it. Seamus just rolled off the upset Weasley laughing as he clutched his stomach. Harry seemed immune to the scene and his best friend's plight as he just stepped over them both and came to sit down in a chair near Colin's couch.
Ron angrily pushed his dorm mate off his legs and got up off the floor brushing his wrinkled robes out his red hair in complete disarray now where Seamus had been running his hands through it. "Stupid prat." He pushed the attempting to stand Seamus over again in revenge before stomping off towards the couch and Harry's chair.
Dean had to finally come and picked up the sloshed Seamus and hauled him away to their dorm. Ron sat down on the end of the couch where Colin's head had formerly been and turned his glare on Harry, "Why didn't you warn me he was about to do that?"
Colin was confused, "Do what?"
His question was pushed aside as Harry answered, "Why would I have?" looking like he enjoyed the spectacle.
"Because you're my fucking *friend* Harry!" Ron looked nonplus as his friend's not so loyal behavior.
"So?" Harry was comfortably reclined in his chair by now face half shadowed by the harsh light of the fire; he was facing towards the couch somewhat so he could see Colin and Ron clearly.
Exasperated Ron got up leaving the two alone in the common room, telling Harry he would see him upstairs. Colin watched the 7th year boy go still very confused as to exactly what had happened.
"Wha…" Colin did not even get his sentence out before Harry supplied him with an answer.
"Seamus jumped him from behind as we were entering the portrait. Ron smacked the Fat Lady head first before they tumbled inside like you saw. I could be mistaken but I think Seamus did some groping." A half smile inched its way onto Harry's lips as he rubbed a hand through his messy gelled hair.
"Oh…well then." Colin was blushing; he had not seen Seamus as the type…An almost awkward silence fell between the two as they both turned to stare at the flames. 'Least he hasn't said anything about dinner…' a light sigh escaping him as he settled into the couch.
Harry's soft baritone floated to Colin's ears after several minutes of silence, "Do you think this year will be better?"
"Better how?" Colin's voice keeping soft as if the conversation and atmosphere required it.
"…happier…yeah." Harry turned his gaze to Colin the light making the green emerald color dark almost as coal.
'Happier? Maybe…no one is afraid of dying around the next corner.' Colin took a long moment before voicing his thoughts. "Yes I think so," voice still soft as his chin dipped against his chest, long hair falling down his forehead, "we aren't worried about death."
Harry just nodded mutely to Colin's answer leaning his chin on his hand with a short sigh. He did not stir for several minutes seemingly oblivious to Colin's worried gaze on him. "Harry, I'm going up to bed. I'll see you at breakfast. Good night." Colin stood up off the couch gathering his shoes up and heading towards the boy's stairwell. 'Didn't say a thing about dinner, thank God.'
"Good night Colin. And thanks for sticking up for me at dinner, I never knew you cared." Harry had half turned his head to watch Colin's reaction knowing the boy would not like the subject brought up.
"You're welcome..." it was nothing but a squeak as Colin hurried up the stairs to his dorm already able to feel his body blushing.
Harry settled down once more in his chair, he would not sleep for several more hours and then rising not long after the sun.