What You Never Knew

Colin Creevey: The Boy Who Stood Out

1. He hated April 5.

To anyone else in the world, April fifth was a perfectly normal day. For Colin, it marked sadness, tragedy, tears, an end, a beginning… it was the turning point for Colin. Before April 5, 1990, Colin was a truly happy, go-lucky child; after that awful, horrible day, Colin still appeared happy and go-lucky. But if you really looked hard enough, then you would notice the absence of twinkle in his eye, the way his smile didn't quite reach his eyes, the hollowness in his laugh.

On April 5, 1990, nine-year-old Colin Creevey lost his mother.

2. He idolized his father.

Even after Colin's mother died, Mr. Creevey refused to sink in the deep hole of depression that captured so many other people whose beloved spouses had died. He continued his job as a milkman, and he was the best darned milkman in all of the English countryside. He wasn't just the neighborhood milkman- he was the most well-liked man in the neighborhood as well. Peoples' faces lit up when they saw him; wherever Colin's father went, voices would call out, "Hiya, Mr. Creevey!" or "Good morning, Mr. Milkman!" or "Hope to see you at the barbeque later, Nate!" Colin wanted nothing more in life than to be like his father- respected, loved, and happy.

3. He got his first camera when he was ten.

In honor of his turning double-digits, Nate Creevey presented his son with a brand spankin' new camera. In Colin's opinion, nothing was more beautiful. The way the black device shined in the light; the bright flash it created at the simple touch of a button; the way it captured life's most precious- or not- moments.

For Colin, it was love at first sight.

4. The Sorting Hat was very patient with him.

For whatever reason, most people grew rather annoyed with Colin, though he had no idea why. The Sorting Hat- whether by nature or by years of experience- was very kind to him, and understood him very well.

So you're a Muggleborn, I see?

I sure am! Can I take a picture of you? I promised Pops that I'd take a picture of everything for him.

I'd rather you not, actually.

Why not? I'm sure you take perfectly fine pictures! And even if you don't, it's nothing to be ashamed of; it shouldn't stop you from getting photographed.

All the same… can we get on with this, do you think? There are many other children still waiting to be Sorted.

Oh! Right! Well, go ahead, I guess. What is it exactly that you do?

I look at your personality, and decide which House you'd do best in here at Hogwarts: Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, or Slytherin.

That was a very well-rehearsed answer, wasn't it?

Quite honestly, I'm surprised you could tell. Perhaps Ravenclaw would be good for you- that's where the brainy ones go, you see, with the exception of Miss Hermione Granger. Such a clever girl I've never seen in all my years, but her bravery couldn't be overlooked…

Oh! I've heard of her! Isn't she friends with Harry Potter? I read about him in my textbooks!

Well, she certainly wasn't when I Sorted her, but that doesn't mean she couldn't be now, I suppose…

Oh, she is now, I'm sure of it! She and Ron Weasley! They're sitting together at a red and gold table now! Which House is that?

Ah, that is Gryffindor, Mr. Creevey. The House for those who are daring and chivalrous.

Ooooooooo! Can I go there? Please? I'd do anything to be in the same House as Harry Potter! He's Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived, defeated of Voldemort!

You use You-Know-Who's name?

I don't see why not, really. It's just a name. Why be afraid of it?

…You and Miss Granger really aren't that different. Eager Muggleborns who would be fantastic Ravenclaws, but who will spend the rest of their Hogwarts Years in the House of the brave.

Does that mean you're putting me in Gryffindor? Oh, thank you, Mr. Sorting Hat! Thank you so much! D'you think you could put my brother, Dennis, in Gryffindor, too? He's coming in two years.

That all depends on Dennis.

Oh, okay, then.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

…You're sure I can't take a picture of you?

Quite.

5. Ginny Weasley was his first crush.

She was kind, pretty, brave, and smart; not to mention she would talk with Colin about Harry Potter whenever he wanted to. They were Herbology partners, so they knew each other very well. However, Colin's feelings for the youngest Weasley faded over time- though her clear affections for Harry certainly helped speed up matters.

6. He loved Dennis, his younger brother, more than anything in the world.

However cheesy it sounded, Dennis had stuck with him through anything- and, rather unusually, Colin never got tired of having his little brother follow him around adoringly wherever he went. For that, Colin cared about Dennis more than he cared about anyone else. Whenever anything happened to Dennis- like falling into the Black Lake- or Dennis did anything reckless- like joining the D.A., though Colin knew to blame himself for that- Colin went nearly insane with worry, even though he never showed it.

7. The one time he hated himself was when he talked to Rita Skeeter about Harry in Third Year.

He hadn't meant to say so much- it had just… spilled out. Colin had been so excited to have someone who wanted listen to him for a change that he had told Rita everything he knew- or could guess from observing- about Harry. Later on, seeing how embarrassed and upset Harry was made because of it, Colin regretted it with every bone in his body. And yet, he still wasn't brave enough to go up to him and apologize. It was times like those when Colin wondered if the Sorting Hat was bonkers.

8. He had his first kiss with Luna Lovegood in Fourth Year.

They were both in the D.A., learning how to fight for their lives if necessary, so they knew each others' names. Before randomly bumping into each other in the hall one day, though, they had never really spoken before.

"Sorry!" Colin exclaimed as he felt himself bump into someone, unable to see through his camera- his lens cap was still on. He let the camera hand around his neck so he could see, and saw Luna Lovegood kneeling on the ground, picking up her books, still smiling dreamily.

"It's quite alright," she assured him. She looked up at him and her eyes widened. "You have Wrackspurts in your head!"

Colin frowned. "What are Wrackspurts?"

"They're little invisible creatures. You can't feel them, but they fly around in your head," Luna explained patiently. "You know you're infested with them when your brain goes fuzzy. Can you see everything clearly right now, Colin?"

"I can see perfectly fine, thanks," Colin assured her, still rather confused. "Would you like me to help you pick up your books? You sure do have a lot of them."

Luna beamed at him. "No, thank you. It was very nice of you to offer, though." Her smiled fell a little. "Most people don't. They think I'm weird. They don't like hanging out with me."

Colin replied sympathetically, "I know what you mean. People don't like hanging out with me, either; they think I'm annoying." He grimaced sadly.

Luna stood up, her books gathered up in her arms. "Oh, I'm sorry. If it makes you feel any better, I don't find you annoying at all."

"You don't?"

"No. You just love photography, so you take photos. I actually think it's very admirable of you to keep doing what you love, no matter what people may think of it."

Before Colin could fully register what he was doing, he leaned down and quickly planted his lips against her. She was frozen with shock, but didn't back away. When Colin stood up straight again, both of them were blushing furiously. "S-Sorry," Colin stammered.

Luna grinned at him. "It's fine. You didn't know that mistletoe is full of Nargles." She pointed up, and there was a sprig of mistletoe hanging above their heads. "I'll see you in Charms, Colin." The Ravenclaw nodded to him before skipping away, her blond hair bouncing behind her.

Colin stared at her as she left. Even though part of him was relieved that the mistletoe happened to be there- it sure made the situation less embarrassing for him- he couldn't help but wish that Luna knew that he hadn't realized there was mistletoe in the first place.

And he couldn't help but wonder what Nargles were.

9. He had a gut feeling that the day of May 2, 1998, would be his last.

And so, before he had run out to join the battle- despite being specifically told that he wasn't allowed to- Colin took Dennis by the arm and led him in a corner away from the other students.

"What's going on, Colin?" Dennis asked his older brother confusedly. With one look at his face, he knew the answer. "You're going to fight."

"Yes," Colin replied gravely. "Listen, Dennis… just in case I don't come back… tell Pops I love him, okay?"

"But you will come back!" Dennis exclaimed. "…Right?"

"I'll do my best, Dennis," Colin assured him. "But… just in case, y'know?"

"Okay," Dennis nodded at him after a moment. "I'll tell Pops you love him."

Colin smiled. "Thanks, Dennis. And, by the way… if I don't come back, everything I own is yours to take."

"Really? Thanks!" Dennis grinned.

"And promise me something."

"Alright."

"Promise me that if I don't come back, you'll stay with Pops. Make sure neither or you do anything too drastic. Don't let my death stop you guys from living."

"But you're not going to die, Colin!"

"…Just promise me."

"Okay, I promise."

"Good." Colin hugged his younger brother. "I love you, Dennis. Now get back with the group, before they notice you're gone."

"I love you too, Colin. I'll see you after the battle!" Dennis squeezed his older brother around the waist and then, with one last smile, ran to catch up with his peers.

Colin watched him go, praying that he'd keep his promise.

10. The proudest moment of his life happened when he was dead.

You see, when you die, you don't just disappear. You either go to Heaven, or you go to Hell. Colin was lucky enough to go to Heaven, where, for the rest of his existence, he watched over Dennis and their father.

It was this way he saw Dennis name his first son Colin.

Throughout Colin's whole life, one thing was constant: his desire to fit in. The way he saw it, if you fit in, you had friends, and if you had friends, you had happiness; and Colin wanted that more than anything else in the world. He did, eventually, gain friends- but he didn't gain them from fitting in. He gained them from being himself and standing out. And so, on the day of the final battle, Colin stayed behind to fight, even though he had been specifically told that he wasn't allowed to. He had learned that sometimes, to do what is right, you have to be willing to stand out.

Love it? Hate it? Please tell me in a review (still need 3 before I update)! Speaking of reviews...

THANK YOU SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH for all the reviews for the last chapter! You all make me feel so special!

Thanks for reading!

-Joelle8

P.S. I changed this chapter because originally, I forgot the numbers. OOPS! Thanks to L.A.H.H. for point it out!