Colin Creevey Disappears Without A Trace After Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets

In the films, small, blond Colin Creevey was played by Hugh Mitchell. Mitchell's IMDb page confirms that the actor was only involved in one installment of the film franchise, although he did reprise his role in the "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" video game — proving that the actor was willing to return as Colin. Fans have speculated that Mitchell underwent a growth spurt that made him too tall to portray the eager young Gryffindor (via Harry Potter Confessions).

But while Colin disappeared without a trace, a very similar character became part of movie canon. Nigel Wolpert (William Melling) makes his first appearance in "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" — the same story that introduces Colin's likewise excitable younger brother, Dennis, in the novels. Like Colin, Nigel practically worships Harry (Daniel Radcliffe); Ron (Rupert Grint) notes in Nigel's first scene that he'd asked for Harry's autograph. Like Colin, Nigel joins Dumbledore's Army and fights in the Battle of Hogwarts.

According to Melling, Nigel was even supposed to share Colin's fate — except that, as fans speculate about Mitchell, Melling had grown too large to make the scene in which Harry sees his dead body evoke the same emotions it does in the book. "I was a lot bigger by the last one ... and it just didn't work out," the actor explained to MuggleNet at LeakyCon 2012. "I don't think I was innocent enough. I was quite tall."