Colin Creevey

Colin Creevey was born to Mr Creevey and Mrs Creevey, who were both Muggles. He had a younger brother named Dennis Creevey, who also joined Hogwarts a few years later. Colin joined Hogwarts in 1992, which was a year after Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger. Colin was sorted into Gryffindor’s house and ever since the first day, he had been very admiring and appreciative of Harry. He asked for Harry’s autograph on several occasions and also carried around his camera to click photos of different things around Hogwarts.

Early Life

Colin Creevey was born in the Creevey family in the year 1981. His father was a milkman somewhere in Great Britain, and Colin had a younger brother named Dennis Creevey. Colin was surprised to hear about being a wizard and being able to do magic and was awestruck when he first visited Hogwarts. His brother Dennis too, would join Hogwarts when Colin was in his third year, making it an interesting occurrence as the possibility of there being two Muggle-born wizards or witches in the same family was pretty rare. Colin was aware of his blood status in the wizarding world, which is probably why he and his brother snuck out of Hogwarts when Severus Snape became headmaster, and Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was in control of Lord Voldemort and the Death Eaters.

Personality

Colin Creevey was known to have a very cheerful and happy personality. He was very talkative and was very in awe of Harry Potter and his presence in Hogwarts. Before coming to Hogwarts, Colin had learned about Hogwarts and magic and must have heard about the fame that Harry Potter had garnered for defeating Lord Voldemort. Therefore, Colin was constantly a fanboy of Harry up to the point that Harry almost started resenting Colin because of how invasive he was and constantly clicked pictures. When Harry was injured and his elbow hurt after a Quidditch match due to a rogue bludger, Colin continued to click pictures of Harry despite Harry being in seething pain. 

Appearances in the Harry Potter Universe

Colin Creevey first appears in the Harry Potter universe in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets when he meets the famous Harry Potter, his idol, at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall after he is sorted into Gryffindor house in his first year. He tries to get a photograph with Harry after he tells Harry that he knows everything about him. Once, when he is trying to get a picture with Harry, the newly appointed Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts, Gilderoy Lockhart, sees them and assumes that Harry is the one giving out pictures with his fans. He even gives Harry a lecture about fame. Colin later tried to get his photograph with Gilderoy Lockhart and Harry signed by Harry, but since Harry was getting late for Quidditch practice, he managed to escape. 

However, Colin followed him to the Quidditch ground and continued clicking pictures. Colin was also clicking pictures when Draco, Crabbe, Goyle, and the Slytherin Quidditch team were showing off their Nimbus 2001 broomsticks.  Later, when Ron tried to protect Hermione after Draco Malfoy called her a Mudblood and started vomiting slugs after one of his spells backfired, Colin inappropriately clicked pictures of Ron in agony. This showed that the character Colin Creevey, despite being a decent person, had no concept of personal space and privacy. Colin would later click pictures of Harry when he was severely injured after a rogue bludger attacked Harry during his Quidditch match.

Colin Creevey also tried to sneak into the Hospital Wing to give Harry a bunch of grapes, but sadly, the Basilisk that had been let free by the Heir of Slytherin petrified him. Harry was in the Hospital Wing recovering from his injuries when Colin was brought in by Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall. Luckily for him, he saw the eyes of the Basilisk through his camera, which prevented him from getting killed. He was cured eventually with the draught prepared from Mandrake roots.

Colin Creevey introduced his brother Dennis Creevey to Harry when he joined Hogwarts. The Creevey brothers would later join Dumbledore’s Army and attend the meetings that were held in the Room of Requirement in defiance of Dolores Umbridge and her draconian rules.

In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Colin Creevey took part in the Battle of Hogwarts despite being one of the underage wizards. Colin had not attended Hogwarts that year because all Muggle-born students were dismissed after the Death Eaters took over Hogwarts. Colin would have been in his sixth year if he had attended Hogwarts. Sadly, Colin Creevey died during the Battle of Hogwarts. Harry almost walked into Neville, who was one-half of a pair carrying Colin’s body. His body was brought back to the camp by Oliver Wood and Neville Longbottom. Harry looked at Colin’s body and felt a dull blow in his stomach.

Fiction in Reality

The character of Colin Creevey in the Harry Potter movies was played by Hugh Mitchell, the British child actor. Colin Creevey’s character was very interested in photography and carried a camera with him at all times. Although portrayed as a hobby for Colin, and despite the death of the character in the story, it is interesting that Hugh Mitchell, the actor who played Colin is now a professional photographer. He got into photography after he won a Pentax film camera. He is now a full-time photographer who specializes in portraits and shooting for weddings. He claims that landscape photography is his first love and that his influences are Thomas Heaton and Simon Baxter. The real-life Colin Creevey actually developed his passion for becoming a photographer.

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