We're now in Colin's second year, and Miles is in fourth year. Enjoy! (Also, some details regarding the 'incident' in the second book/film were changed to go with the story.)

Chapter Five-Defense

-Colin's Second Year-

Colin never expected his first year to start out in a crappy way, but it wasn't long until he began making friends, all with Bletchley's help of course. Colin took his advice to heart and toned down his overly-enthusiastic behavior. After Miles became his first friend, Cormac and Neville followed suit, so did Percy. Then, a few 'Puffs named Justin, Zacharias, Susan, Hannah and Ernie also joined his circle. Luna gravitated towards them more once she explored the grounds, though she still appeared and disappeared without notice sometimes. It didn't unnerve Colin or the others, they understood it's how she was and left it at that.

Tonight; Colin's brother, Dennis, would be starting his first year. At this moment, Colin was sitting beside Neville and Cormac, listening to Dumbledore introduce their famous and flamboyant new Defense instructor, Gilderoy Lockhart. He was replacing Professor Quirrell, whom Harry vanquished last year. After the speech, the Sorting commenced. Dennis was scanning the Great Hall, getting a feel of the place when he heard his name.

''Dennis Creevey!" The shorter light blonde journeyed to the platform and took his seat.

Five minutes later, the hat shouted "GRYFFINDOR!"

Dennis smiled as he passed his fellow Lions to go sit with Colin. "Welcome to the Lion's Den, bro."

"I'm glad I know a familiar face." Dennis replied, nudging his brother gently.

Over at Slytherin table, Malfoy snipped to Bletchley. "Heh, the sorry mudblood has a brother, who'd have thought?"

"Yeah..." Miles grunted, reminding himself to keep his cool. He was about to feast and he didn't particularly favor splattered Malfoy all over the table.

The sorting finished in the next hour and all the new firsties were within their rightful houses. One of the newest additions to Gryffindor was Ron's sister, Ginny Weasley. It was true, not one of them was sorted into any other house besides Gryffindor, although Colin strongly suspected Percy was supposed to be. During the feast, Colin introduced Dennis to his mates at their table, pointed out who Harry Potter was and his rival, Draco Malfoy; reminding him of a few do's and don'ts when it comes to receiving insults from the ice prince...which Dennis merely rolled his eyes and scoffed at.

Dennis was a little more hardheaded when it came to certain things and not taking shit from a bully was one of them. That was one difference between him and Colin, he was more combative...and that worried Colin all the more. This wasn't muggle school, he was up against potentially more threatening individuals.

"I'm serious, Dennis. Please don't get into trouble with them."

"I'll try but if one of them hits me first, I'm swingin'!"

Cormac snickered "Someone's a scrapper."

Dennis replied, raising a challenging eyebrow. "Colin hasn't told you much about me, has he?" While Dennis relayed his interesting fight anecdotes, Colin averted his eyes to the farthest table. Miles held a faint pained expression as he listened to Malfoy boast to Marcus Flint about something. He wasn't too keen on what it was but from what he could see, Terence Higgs, their Seeker, appeared kinda bummed. Something happened and it had a lot to do with him. Hopefully, he'll get to ask Miles about that later.

Miles took the chance to glance at Colin, who was mutually observing. He sent the Lion another slight smile. Montague caught this out from the corner of his dark eye.

'Miles is smiling at someone, but whom?' He turned around to see but couldn't figure out the other party. 'I know you've been sneaking out to see someone, the question is who and why.'

All went smoothly the next day, Colin went to his classes while making sure Dennis didn't miss his by getting lost. He was acting as the responsible older brother his parents expected him to be, no shame in that. Everything was fine and good until after their last class. Adjacent to the courtyard, a ruckus was ensuing in the once silent corridor. Colin was heading to Gryffindor Tower when Susan came running up to him.

"Col, you better get down here quick, it's your brother!"

"What?! What happened?"

"Malfoy called him a 'disgusting mudblood' and nudged him out of the way, Dennis said 'Fuck you', Malfoy got in his face, Crabbe and Goyle ganged up on him...it's a mess."

"Oh, god." Colin ran over to see Dennis elbowing Crabbe in the gut, trying to force the lummox off of him, but was unfortunately failing. The bloke was twice his size. Fuming, Colin dropped his bag, barreled over and shoved the Snake off Dennis. "Leave 'im alone! Pick on someone in your own year!"

"Oh? Like you?" Malfoy drawled as Goyle crackled his knuckles into Colin's right cheek, sending him sprawling to the floor.

"Finish them off. These mudbloods ought to know their place when you're through with them." Draco smugly retorted as Goyle kicked Colin in the ribs, making him cry out in pain. Just as Crabbe punched Dennis in the stomach, the younger Creevey headbutted him in the nose before ambling over to Colin, who wasn't getting a hit in edgewise...he couldn't even get up off the floor as Goyle was laying into him. Suddenly, a few beams of light shot out at the two gargantuan Snakes.

"That is enough! No fighting in the halls!" shouted an angry Professor McGonagall, with Susan in tow. She glared at the five before her. "Detention for all of you, you and your brother included, Mr. Creevey."

Dennis snapped "That's not fair! Malfoy started it. Crabbe hit me first and-"

"I will hear everything later, now I suggest you head to Madame Pomfrey this instant. I will handle Colin. I won't repeat myself."

Dennis grumbled and trudged away, while she faced the Slytherins.

"I will also be talking to your head of house and I assure you three will not go unpunished. You should be ashamed of yourselves. Take another route to get Mr. Crabbe medical attention, and get out of my sight."

Scowling, Malfoy and Goyle obeyed, dragging Crabbe who was busy holding his bleeding nose.

"You may head to your common room now. Thank you, Miss Bones."

Susan nodded before responding "B-But..may I come along to make sure he's ok? Colin's my friend."

She sighed. "I don't see why not." Minerva knelt down beside a beaten, yet miraculously-conscious Colin. "You poor dear." Summoning a stretcher, she and Susan assisted Colin to the Hospital wing, unbeknownst to a person standing farther away in the corridor.

McGonagall and Susan passed Neville and Cormac on the way to the hospital wing.

A furious Cormac exclaimed "What the hell happened?! Who did this?!"

"Three certain Snakes we hate." Susan flatly answered as they headed inside.

"Oh no." Neville whispered as he looked upon Colin in concern. His face was bruised and bloody, yet very recognizable.

Behind the two Lions, came that certain trio. Cormac glowered as they treaded closer, looking ready to fight himself.

"Cormac, no. I think they've gotten detention already and Crabbe's injured, too. Just stand down for now. Let's go tell the others and we'll visit him later, ok?"

"Fine."

When they stomped off, a person in another corner to their left mused 'Yes, stand down. I'll take care of it later.'

Inside the Hospital Wing, Madame Pomfrey was scurrying about, running diagnostic and x-ray spells while cleaning Colin's skin of blood. "The nerve of that boy, pummeling a smaller student like he's a bloody gorilla. I would have expected better manners from that family but you remember his father."

"Unfortunately."

Poppy sighed "Contusion on his right cheekbone, a few bruised ribs, thankfully none are fractured. Everything else in his face remains intact but he will be sore for a few days even with a pain-relieving draught. I'll have him stay overnight to make sure everything is ship-shape."

"I'll leave you to it, then." Bidding her farewell, McGonagall escorted a concerned Susan out of the wing. Finishing with him, she turned to see the Snake trio waltz inside. Dennis glared at them from beside Colin. "You may go now, I have another patient to tend to." Dennis huffed and headed outside.

Later on that night, the lone boy stalked three familiar Slytherins after dinner into the corridor, taking the opposite hall at the last minute. "If it happens again, we need to take it somewhere less public." Malfoy snipped as he picked a piece of fuzz off his pricy robes.

"Can't believe he still broke my nose." Crabbe mumbled as he gingerly touched the bridge of his fixed appendage.

Goyle bumped into the student heading towards them. "Watch it."

"Excuse me, Goyle?" Miles snarled, locking eyes with the bloke who wailed on his friend. The redhead jabbed a thick finger into the bulky second-year. "Who the fuck do you think you're talking to?"

"Nobody." Goyle snapped, trying to step past him.

"I don't like that tone you're taking with me."

"Who cares?" Goyle pushed past him again.

"No, I don't think so." Miles wasted no time in punching Goyle square in the jaw, sending him down a small flight of stairs.

Goyle laid there groaning as Malfoy snipped "What's your problem, Bletchley?"

Bletchley responded by roughly assaulting both him and Crabbe, then tossed them into an empty closet. He levitated Goyle inside, purposefully dropping his heavy weight onto Draco. He hissed "Obliviate!" touching his wandtip to each of their temples. Locking the door, Miles shoved his wand back into his holster before heading into the Slytherin common room. 'That ought to take care of them. More importantly, I hope Colin is ok.'

Colin awoke the next morning to feel his sides aching. He hissed as he leaned up, gripping his ribcage. "Ow..."

Madame Pomfrey greeted him with a change of clothes, toothbrush and his bag. "Get dressed, Mr. Creevey. You can't afford to miss your classes. Take this pain potion before you go, it will lessen the ache substantially but I recommend you don't participate in anything strenuous for a few days. And, do try to avoid fighting." Colin nodded and did as instructed before leaving the wing. Entering the Great Hall, he took his usual spot at Gryffindor table.

Neville greeted him. "Welcome, back, mate. How are you feeling?"

"Sore. Goyle really did a number on me."

Cormac interjected "Well, someone did a number on him, Malfoy and Crabbe last night. They were found in a closet with no recollection whatsoever."

Colin appeared surprised "What? Really?"

"It's true, heard a few older Slytherins talk about it last night. They watched Filch unlock the door and pull them out."

Colin snorted "Good. They deserved it. I'd like to personally thank whomever put them in there."

"You'll have to do that later, we both have detention tonight." Dennis quipped, stabbing his pile of sausages.

"Come on, seriously? They started it."

"McGonagall finished it. She said to meet her after lunch to see who's heading our detention."

"Great...what a nice way to start off the new year."

Who else thought it was poetic justice when Miles gave the Snake trio some well-deserved payback? :P