Harry Potter One Shots

Not Blind Faith

All rights belong to the author, acceptable

Fear. It was pure undiluted fear that was running through his veins now. His heart was thumping unnaturally fast and his breath came in shallow gasps. His wand was clenched in a sweaty fist and his legs were shaking uncontrollably.

'I can't do this,' the thought came automatically, the instinct to run overpowering. 'I can't be a hero. I can't do it.'

He raised his hands, wand still tightly gripped, and covered his ears against the confused jumble of noise that sounded from around the corner. The battle was a mere heartbeat away from encompassing him, the shrieks and shouted curses slowly, inexorably creeping ever closer. Yet still he stood there, pressed against the wall, a bold Gryffindor scarf wrapped tightly around his neck.

The shaking had traversed his whole body now and he lowered his hands slowly, the wand violently shuddering. He stretched his wand arm in front of him in an approximation of a battle stance Harry had shown him, and took a deep gulp of air, forcing himself to slow his breathing.

"I can do this." The words were unheard by those in the melee, but he knew he had spoken them and they strengthened his resolve, "Harry needs us to fight for him, and I won't let him down.

"I won't let him down."

There was a split second while Colin Creevey tensed his muscles then he took a quick step away from the wall. And then another...

"Stupefy!" "Expelliarmus!" "Impedimenta!" "Avada Kedavra!"

The spells rushed passed as the young wizard dropped to the floor. But he was on his feet again in seconds, wand tightly held and determination in his eyes.

"Stupefy!" he cried, pointing his wand in the direction of a snarling Death Eater. He missed. "Stupefy!" he yelled again, and again, "Stupefy! Stupefy!"

The Death Eater snorted in derision, blocking all the spells effortlessly and advancing on the terrified boy. "Avada Kedavra!"

Colin threw himself to the side, eyes unconsciously squeezing shut, and landed on the rough ground ripping skin from his bare hands. He was still alive. Looking up almost tentatively, he saw his would be killer now embroiled in a fierce battle with the former Professor Lupin, their wands scything the air and spells colliding with loud bangs.

A scream sounded from behind and he spun round quickly, almost losing his footing in his haste. Seamus Finnigan was writhing on the ground, the cruciatus curse being administered by a lean, scarred Death Eater.

Almost unthinkingly he raised his wand and shot a desperate stunner at the man. Yet again he missed, and he could feel dry bile rise in his throat. Seamus was still screaming in agony and the Death Eater was smirking in unholy satisfaction. The black-cloaked figure raised his wand finally, letting up on the cruciatus curse, but almost immediately levelled it at the seventh year again.

Colin was frozen as the words began issuing from the twisted lips, "Avada–"

'No!' the silent scream filled the young wizard's mind, and suddenly he found he could move. "Impedimenta!" The spell was a frantic shriek, a twisted high-pitched mockery of Colin's voice, but the red beam still lanced out from the wand tip. And this time he did not miss.

The Death Eater was tossed away from Seamus' prone body, colliding with a second cloaked figure rushing past. Both Death Eaters were thrown to the ground and rose back up with murder in their eyes.

Colin gulped and felt the tremors return to his legs. Suddenly, unexpectedly a red beam of light burst from the ground and hit the first Death Eater squarely in the chest. The brief moment of surprise was all Colin needed, and he sent a matching jet of light at the second Death Eater. The man keeled over silently, collapsing on top of his colleague and Colin exhaled in unmistakeable relief.