Chapter Two-Melancholy to Progress
~Colin's First Year~
The first several weeks went swimmingly for Colin. Among other things, he learned how to properly maneuver his wand, set up a cauldron, and turn a matchstick into a needle. They proved a little challenging at first, but once he got the basic directions down...it proved easier. After class let out for this week, Colin, with his camera on hand, set out to take more photos. Up and down the corridors, left and right...snapping was heard, light was flashed. Everywhere he went, there was an interesting view or object and he wanted to capture the memory.
About a half-hour later, Colin ventured near the dungeons. He was gazing at a portrait of the Bloody Baron when he was alive, wondering what happened to give him said title until a small group of people marched up to him. It was Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle and Pansy Parkinson.
"Well, if it isn't the little mudblood, playing with that camera again. How's the autograph from Potter coming along?" Draco chuckled mockingly before he and his crew sauntered off, snickering.
Colin frowned, remembering his fruitless attempt at garnering a picture with the boy wonder. The muggleborn still pondered what the hell 'mudblood' meant. He's heard it used liberally around Slytherins when he was close enough to hear. The connotation sounded like an insult but its exact meaning, he had no clue. He reminded himself to find out later.
Rolling his eyes, he returned to snap a photograph of the Bloody Baron, who actually posed, smoothing out his moustache. He had a bit of an ego, even the castle ghosts admit it. Turning around, he saw a redhaired Slytherin standing there, watching him while munching on a gummy wand.
He had an impassive look on his slightly freckled face. They stared at each other for an entire minute before Colin spoke "Ok, well..I'm gonna go this way. Bye!" He grinned as he spun around on his heels, heading down the hall.
"See ya..." the redheaded grumbled, finishing the last of his sweet. "...Colin."
Saturday morning, the students were partaking in their hearty breakfast, either wide awake or barely. Towards the end of Gryffindor table, Harry and four of his friends were sitting, chatting about the recent happenings of the beginning term when a cheerful voice sounded "Hi Harry! Hi Hermione, Ron...everyone!"
The youngest Weasley male grumbled "Oh no, not him. It's too early for pictures."
Harry groaned "Why doesn't he go away? I've got plenty of people fawning over me already."
"Mate, Creevey's harmless." Dean pointed out, sipping his pumpkin juice.
Seamus muttered "I don't care, he's annoyin'."
Colin took a seat across from the trio, a grin never leaving his face. "Did I miss anything good?"
Hermione put on a smile. "No. Just the usual banter. We were thinking about doing our homework outside today."
"Can I join you? I've been having some trouble with my Arithmancy and-"
"Uh no...no..you see, we've already invited a few people already and if there's too many, we won't focus."
Colin's smile faltered "Oh..ok."
Granger shrugged meekly. "Sorry, Colin."
His smile brightened once more, he forced it to. "It's fine. I'll uh..ask someone else. Thanks." he finished, piling food onto his plate.
"Thank God.." he heard Seamus whisper.
As breakfast carried on, Colin gazed about the table. The trio resumed their conversation, Dean and Seamus were blabbering on about football. The twins were flirting with a couple girls, Neville was reading over his Herbology text, probably getting ahead on the next lesson and Cormac was talking with Percy Weasley about something, everyone else was stuffing their faces or conversing with their friends.
'Friends. It's been three weeks and I thought I might have had one by now. I'm being friendly, isn't that what people want?' he mused as he looked about the rest of the Great Hall.
The 'Puffs were being 'Puffs, huddling and giggling with another, the Slytherins were chatting...pointing and gossiping...or remaining silent-nothing different there. At the Ravenclaw table, Colin made an acquaintance...Luna. He thought they would have hit it off but he could never find her around. It was like she always disappeared. No one could hear or see her coming. Colin couldn't blame the girl, she reminded him of one of his neighbors that lived up the street. The eccentric man kept to himself, doing his own thing. It made sense to Colin that she was just like him and he learned a long time ago not to question it. People can be peculiar. Period.
Deep down, Colin felt sad. He acted as if he didn't hear Finnigan's little quip or any others' during the past couple of weeks. As much as he loathed to admit, this was his neighborhood all over again. The muttering behind him, the somewhat irritated-and-apprehensive glances...the memories reared their way back.
No, not everyone in his dorm did that. Neville and Cormac normally dealt with their own business. Still, it didn't make him feel less lonely.
He inwardly sighed 'I know Hermione doesn't want me around either. None of them do. At least she made an effort to make the lie believable. I'm not daft like they think. Why can't anyone give me a chance? I've done nothing wrong...'
Finishing his meal, Colin left the Great Hall, taking his camera with him. He had more ground to cover. Stepping outside the castle walls, Colin headed across the green, marveling at every structure. One image consisted of the southern wing-the sun striking the stone, casting shadows in all the right places.
The lion turned towards the eastern side, staring at what was referred to as the Quidditch pitch. Curious, he decided to go over there. Standing at the entrance, Colin could see four sets of gigantic bleachers, each with a banner of either yellow, red, green or blue. He couldn't decide which to walk on first, so he chose the green one. It was his favorite color.
Climbing the steps, he was now on the first row. Placing his hand over his blue eyes, he scanned the pitch from end to end. "Wow..."
"You know, it's a much better view from a higher post."
The squirrely Gryffindor jumped, hearing a voice behind him. It was that redhaired Slytherin again. 'How did I not see him?' Colin queried himself before responding "Um...really?" 'That sounded stupid.'
"Come on up. See for yourself."
Colin nodded, carefully moving up the bleachers, settling next to the redhead. He was right, it was much better. Colin pulled up his camera out of reflex and snapped the shutter button.
"Thank you. You can see everything up here. When do the games start?"
"October."
"Do the games really last as long as they say?"
"It depends. They can last for days or a few hours. No matter the length of the game, when the Seeker catches the snitch, it's all over."
"Wow..."
The redhead lightly smirked at the glint of wonder in Colin's eyes.
Every small detail seemed to mesmerize him. 'He's a muggleborn in the wizarding realm, of course he's going to be excited. It'll be a while until the novelty wears off.'
"So, um..you're Slytherin, right?"
The snake nodded, tapping his emblem. ''I sure am. And you're Gryffindor. Tell me, how are you faring thus far?"
Colin hesitated for a moment. He remembered Ron explain to Harry about how Slytherin houses a right nasty bunch and how they were evil and hated Gryffindors. The lion wasn't that gullible. Ron's view was quite biased and sometimes, first impressions weren't always correct. If it were true, why would this Slytherin be talking to him right now?
"Uh, I guess it's going ok. My classes are kinda easy and I haven't gotten lost yet, so that's a plus."
"How about friends?"
"Huh?"
"Friends, you know...people who hang around you and blab about shit."
Colin scratched his head sheepishly, averting his eyes to the left. "I, uh...don't have any. I mean, I've got an acquaintance..but she's uh...''
"Everywhere?''
"Yeah, that."
Miles gazed at Colin, pondering. 'Thought he would have had some by now. On Potter's first day, he gained a whole posse. I haven't watched Colin the entire time every day, so it felt safe to assume he had a few unbeknownst to his house. Guess I was wrong. I know he's kinda chirpy and hyperactive, but it doesn't mean he's that bad. Unfortunately, I can't deny hearing the whispers and jokes made at his expense. I'm just glad he wasn't within earshot for most of them. He kinda reminds me of a certain fellow redhead a few years ago...he had no friends for a long time. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to reach out to Creevey? I'm not completely horrible.'
"You ok?"
"Hm?" Miles was jarred from his thoughts.
"You went quiet there."
"Oh. Yeah, I was just thinking. That's all.''
"Ok."
The snake took a breath and responded. "Hey...if it's not a bother, would you consider keeping me company for a while? It's dreadfully boring out here."
Colin's sky blue eyes widened comically, his smile brightened "S-Sure. I'd like that."
"So, what would you like to talk about?"
"Um...anything I guess. I do have questions I'd like answers to."
"All right, shoot."
"First, what's your name?"
"Miles Bletchley, I'm in third year."
"Colin Creevey...eh, you already know."
Your thoughts? :) Oh and just a heads-up to those who thought of Colin's treatment by Harry and several fellow Gryffindors as unsatisfactory...you have to understand something- Sometimes, a person can be quickly ostracized because they're a little too cheerful or have over-eager and squirrely behavior...or for just being too quiet on the other hand. I've seen this happen numerous times...I know what I'm talking about. Therefore, this instance is not exactly unrealistic.