Colin with a C not a P (Colin, PG)
Title: Colin with a C not a P
Author:
chaeldub
Rating: PG
Prompt Set: (50.3)
Prompt: #45, Name
Word Count: 845
Summary: Colin finds one of the many perils of being married to Harry James Potter
Warnings: boys kissing
Notes: none
"For the last time, my name is not Potter, it’s Creevey." Colin growled.
The elf looked up at him, lips pressed tightly together, and folded its arms in a huff.
"Don’t get stroppy with me, just get it right and you can be on your way," he said.
Colin sneaked around a stack of boxes, dodged a leaning tower of files the offices previous owner had left behind and slid behind his desk. He placed his hand on the leather blotter of the old wooden desk; you could almost taste the history of the place. A pale afternoon sun shone through the window behind him, which was quite amazing, as they were quite some way underground. This had been a touch all of his own, the window frame was just a window frame but behind it was one of his photographs. The light itself was magical, but the effect was quite calming.
He peered around a large pile of folders that had his name, emblazoned in red, splashed across them. The elf had now managed to spell what was either Harin Crotter or Corry Poteevey, the writing itself was apparently as confused as the person writing it and wouldn’t stick to one shape.
"C. R. E. E. V. E. Y." Colin spelt out in no uncertain terms so that the elf understood both how to spell his name and the mood that he was now in.
"There’s no need to be shouting. I understands how to spell." The elf said, exasperatedly.
"Well, what’s the problem then?" Colin asked.
The elf glared at Colin in what could only be described as a most dubious manner. It stepped over a large roll of maps and jumped up onto his desk.
"I’ve been here a very long time. I’ve seen wizards come and I’ve seen wizards go. Every time they do, I change the names."
"Of course you do, that’s why you’re here." Colin said, leaning back in his chair.
There was a moment where Colin wasn’t sure if the elf realised that he was taking the mickey, but it passed rather quickly as it tried to explain what the problem was.
"If wizards marry, the female takes the males last name, it’s tradition."
Colin realised at once where this was heading.
"The magic works, it’s simple," the elf continued, "I say the spell and the wizard’s name, it knows whether you’re single or married and does the rest."
He didn’t know if rolling his eyes would help, but Colin did it anyway.
"This wasn’t a problem in my other office." Colin stated.
"You weren’t married to Harry Potter then."
The elf mumbled under his breath something about weird rituals, wizard’s not getting married because it made everything more complicated and Colin was sure he heard the words - coffee break, somewhere in there too. Hermione had a lot to answer for when it came to unionising the House-elves. They both turned back to look at the door when they heard a gentle tapping on the glass.
"Come in." Colin sighed.
The door creaked on its hinges and a young man with unkempt hair and emerald eyes poked his head into the room.
"I’m not interrupting anything, am I?"
Colin jumped up from his seat and clambered over the mess.
"Harry!" Colin exclaimed, "Am I glad to see you."
Harry smiled.
"One of those days?" Harry asked.
"Yes. Stupid magical doors, won’t get my name right."
Colin pointed at the glass, which now read - Calrry Creetor-Pottey.
"I know two things that fix that." Harry said, grinning.
The elf was now standing at their feet looking up at the glass also.
"Well, you’ll be the first," the elf said, a doubtful look on his face.
Harry tapped his wand on the glass and the letters disappeared. Then he clicked his fingers and a small round tube appeared in his hand. He gave Colin another grin and wrote Colin Potter-Creevey, in thick black lines, on the door.
Colin couldn’t help but smile, it was things like this that made him happy they worked at the Ministry together. No one but Harry would have thought to use a magic marker.
"There you go. Perfect," said Harry, stepping back and admiring his handy work
"You said there were two things," said the elf.
Colin looked at Harry, expectantly; the sign on the door was fine, what more could there be? Harry grabbed Colin around the waist and pulled him in close. He smelt of sulphur and cordite, which was the norm after he had been out capturing rogue Death Eaters. Harry’s eyes sparkled, the same way they did whenever they met, whenever they were close. Then he kissed Colin, his lips first brushing gently, then more forcefully. It was the kiss of newlyweds; the kiss of two people deeply in love.
"Humans," the elf said, "I’ll never understand them, as long as I live."
It continued mumbling about elves living a very, very, long time, as Harry and Colin continued their passionate embrace, then it Disapparated in a puff of confusion.