"You, from my understanding, weren't a mudblood asall you seemed to want to do from the moment you arrived here was fit in andlearn about our culture. That and takes pictures." She smiled as the ghostblushed. "You had a future in our world that didn't include stomping onour traditions and trying to rewrite our culture. I've heard many stories aboutyou and your camera and how you never went anywhere without it. The least Ithink we can do is find that camera and return it to your family. Who knows.Maybe when we find your things, we will find some very good shots of thestudent body and we can make a memorial wall for you that they can come see asa way to say good-bye."
Both the ghost boy and the real brother now had tearsstreaming down their cheeks as Denis cried, "I've looked and looked but Ican't find it. I don't know what happened to it and I just don't know whereelse to look for it. I even asked the teachers and none of them will tell meeither."
Narcissa pulled the living boy to her and held him closeas he cried, understanding he needed a hug more than anything else at thismoment in time. She was a mother and couldn't resist trying to help a hurtingchild when she saw one. Denis was the epitome of a hurting child. Colin meltedinto his brothers body to share the hug as well as he felt he needed one too.
Shakily, Denis sniffed and said, "Brr. Colin, you'refreezing me." making everyone chuckle. As the ghost boy pulled back out ofhis brother, he did so with a radiant smile.
That evening in the Great Hall when all the students hadgathered for the evening meal but before the food had appeared on the tables,Lady Narcissa stood from her place at the Head table and got the immediateattention of everyone. "Today in the halls I came upon a situation ofgrievous insult and slander. As you know such behavior is no longer to betolerated here at Hogwarts. One of our number was cruelly mocking and insultinganother for their background while trying to assert their own superiority to theirpeers based upon the overheard words of a private conversation between thatstudent and a ghost of this institution."
She looked towards the Slytherin table. "Mr. Malfoy,please step forward." Draco closed his eyes briefly before he rose to hisfeet and walked slowly towards the head table. He'd been hoping his Motherwould forget about it all. That she hadn't really meant what she'd said. He wasa Malfoy and Malfoy's apologized to no one. He'd already forgotten his Father'sapology to their Care of Magical Creatures teacher during the change over."Face the student body, Mr. Malfoy," Narcissa instructed him. Dracoturned to face his peers.
"Mr. Creevey, please stand." Denis, lookingconfused but dignified, stood from his place at the Gryffindor table. Only thestudents who had been present at the confrontation understood what washappening. Everyone else looked confused. A few seconds of silence went by asno one said a word. Draco stood there staring at Denis Creevey as if heexpected Denis to apologize to himself. The silence in the hall grew. But itwasn't Denis who was to apologize as the Headmistress soon made clear.
Finally Lady Augusta drawled in a slow voice full ofuncomfortable promise, "We're waiting, Mr. Malfoy."
"Yes, Headmistress," Draco murmured standingstiffly as if to hold in a desire to fidget. He lifted his chin. If he had todo this he'd do it with his head held high. "Mr. Creevey, I apologize formy thoughtless words towards yourself and your family this afternoon. I didn'tunderstand what I overheard and incorrectly leapt to conclusions not warrantedby your words to your brother. Nor did I understand my personal manner ofcelebrating Yuletide is not yet Hogwarts policy. I was also rude andinconsiderate by inserting myself into a private family moment though publichallways aren't usually places for private family conversations." Hestopped speaking and turned his head to look for permission to resume his seatonly to see his Mother giving him an icy look. He frowned in confusion notunderstanding what else he was supposed to say or do.
Quietly she said, "I told you to give an apologyworthy of your station, Mr. Malfoy. That was not it. Since when is it yourplace to determine where another can or can not speak to their own familymembers and expect a measure of privacy? Where is the apology for presuming youhad the right to tell another what holidays they and their family can choose tocelebrate? Where is the token for the threat of death you issued to him?"
Draco's eyes went wide. "I apologize, Mother. I haveno token. I confess I didn't believe you meant that as he isn't of our stationand wouldn't be expecting such a thing." He completely ignored her otherstated questions as he truly didn't think they deserved comment. She let itslide, as the missing token was far more important to her.