Disclaimer: Harry Potter is owned by J.K. Rowling. I just own the fanfic and OC. No copyright intended!

Summary: Nine year old Harry Potter is a lonely boy. He is friendless, nobody seems to care about him. His aunt, uncle and cousin bully him, abuse him and neglect him. The Dursleys have never accepted Harry as a member of the family, despite his efforts, all because of his 'abnormality.' Now, a manipulative old wizard decides that Harry is too unworthy to attend Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft And Wizardry, even though his deputy headmistress protests it. One day at St. Grogery's Primary School, he crosses paths with a beautiful girl who is also abused and neglected, also because she has some 'abnormality.' She's the only student who neither Dudley, Piers, Dennis, Malcolm, nor Gordon can scare away, and she and Harry get to know each other. Finally, after one day at school, they snap, finally having had enough of their terrible lives, so they decide to leave London and begin a quest for a new life, and maybe a loving family, staying away from cities as much as possible and instead be out in the country. This incident, naturally, causes quite a scandal with the wizarding world. What will two unloved kids do to accomplish their goal?

Author's note: This story will start on the first day of Harry and Dudley's fifth year at St. Grogery's Primary School. Harry will also be paired with an OFC (Original Female Character), and upon running away, their journey will be something like a cross-country adventure. This is completely AU, as it will be a runaway Harry fanfic. Harry will find out about magic earlier than anticipated. Harry and his friend also won't just trust anyone easily. Rated 'M' just in case, for implied child abuse and implied alcoholism. No real bashing of anyone, except for the Dursleys, Dudley's gang, and Greater Good Dumbledore. Hermione will also be friends with the Weasleys before Hogwarts.

The Quest For A New Life

fanfic by Brockster550

Ch. 1

The First Day Of School

The Dursley family of #4 Privet Drive of Little Whinging in Surrey, England were what alot of the neighbors believed to be a normal family. Vernon Dursley was a large beefy man with hardly any neck. He was the director of a firm called Grunnings, a company that manufactures drills of all sorts. Vernon was proud of his position and also liked to brag about it, as he gets paid good money.

Petunia Dursley (nee Evans) was a tall woman with short, curly brown hair, who also had twice the usual amount of neck. This came in handy because Petunia liked to spy on neighbors and watch one of her neighbor's garden. Petunia was also a housewife and she also took pride in being a 'normal' family.

Vernon and Petunia's son, Dudley was a large, portly boy with blonde hair. To Vernon and Petunia, there was no finer boy than their precious Dudley. He was the picture of innocence in their minds. They tend to give Dudley anything he wants and allow him to rule the house. The neighbors tend to believe everything the Dursleys say, even if, in truth, looks can be deceiving.

What the neighbors didn't know was that #4 Privet Drive also housed a small, raven-haired boy. This boy was said to be 'a burden' to the Dursleys. This boy was also the reason that Petunia's garden was so neat and tidy, but she took pleasure in lying about it. Unlike Dudley, this boy also had to do an unreasonable amount of chores, usually within a certain time limit and got almost nothing in return. Dudley hardly worked for anything, but he was given all sorts of presents, loads of pocket money, you-name-it!

The small raven-haired boy was called Harry Potter, but he was almost never called that. His 'relatives' invariably called him freak, idiot, moron, or told the boy that he was simply a burden. While Dudley got the best clothes, young Harry was always given Dudley's hand-me-downs, and they were several sizes too big for Harry, to the point where he had to use a belt to keep his overly large pants from falling down. Harry also never got any toys or anything good to eat, as all of that was reserved for Dudley only. Because of Dudley getting alot to eat (especially junk food), he was grossly fat, while Harry hardly got anything to eat, and that resulted in him being unhealthily skinny, as his ribs were noticeable.

Young Harry also had a countless number of bruises and scars, and some of them happened to be fairly recent, thanks to his uncle and cousin. Dudley's gang members also helped in giving the bruises and scars to Harry, and Harry's overly large shirt wouldn't do an effective job at hiding them, as the shirt could slip off at anytime and expose the bruises and scars. Dudley also got two bedrooms to himself, one where he slept in and one where he would keep his extra toys in, while Harry was forced to sleep in the cupboard under the stairs.

It was a quarter after five in the morning, and nine-year-old Harry was asleep. Unfortunately, this didn't last much longer, as he was jolted awake by the loud and rude rapping on the door to his cupboard under the stairs.

"GET UP, NOW, FREAK!" screeched the voice of Harry's aunt Petunia.

"Getting up." said Harry, trying to hide his irritation.

"Now start cooking breakfast," said Aunt Petunia. "It's the first day of school, so I don't wanna see the breakfast burnt."

"Yes Aunt Petunia." said Harry as he got out of his cupboard.

Then he walked into the kitchen and got out the eggs and bacon. Then, Harry grabbed a frying pan, placed it on a stove burner, set it to the necessary temperature, and started frying eggs. He had finished cooking the bacon when his uncle Vernon and cousin Dudley walked into the dining room. Despite cooking the breakfast, Harry wasn't praised for it, nor did he get to have any.

After breakfast was over, Harry and Dudley got dressed into their school uniforms. Dudley's was all new, while Harry got the hand-me-down rags that appeared to be about four sizes too big. Harry once said that he needed clothes his size, which got him beaten with his uncle's belt. While Harry was smart, he wisely kept a minimal effort because if he got better (or much worse) grades than Dudley, he would get beatings. As he and Dudley started walking to the bus stop, Harry kept his distance as much as possible, especially when he spotted Dudley's gang meeting up with him. The other members were Dudley's best friend, Piers Polkiss (who was also Dudley's second-in-command), Dennis, Malcolm and Gordon.

As they got on the bus, Harry sat near the front while Dudley and his gang sat near the back. All of the kids ignored Harry, as Dudley and his cronies were the reason for that, and the reason Harry didn't have any friends. They scared off and/or beat up anybody who approached Harry to try befriending him. This was also the reason Harry opted to go to the school library from time to time and usually at recess, since Dudley and his gang always avoided going in there. Harry also saw something good out of that, as the librarian asked Harry to help out when it was needed, thus giving Harry something to distract him from his life, if one could call it that.

The bus made it to the front of St. Grogery's Primary School. Harry dreaded this because Dudley and the rest of his gang members were also in Harry's class. Their fifth year teacher's name was Mrs. Welker. This was her third year teaching. Harry walked around the classroom and found his name on a desk at the front of the room. Dudley was seated at the back, with Piers, while Dennis got a desk in the second row, Malcolm and Gordon were seated in the fourth row. When the students' names were called, they all stood up and introduced themselves. Harry didn't have much to tell about himself, which relieved Dudley because he didn't want the 'freak' to say that they were cousins.

Somehow, Harry managed to have something of an uneventful day. In gym class, he was the last one chosen, which he dreadfully expected. It wasn't because he wasn't any good, it was because Dudley and his gang would see that as Harry befriending anybody, and all of the other students were terrified to try to make friends with Harry, out of fear of getting beat up. At lunch, Harry sat by himself, which he also expected because, as Dudley and his gang would say, nobody would want to sit next to the 'stick-skinny boy with overly large clothes.' Alot of students only reluctantly agreed, just to avoid getting pounded to a pulp, and reporting it to the teachers wouldn't do any good, because Dudley and his gang saw that as tattle-taling (even though it clearly wasn't). At recess (anytime the library was closed), Harry would just simply hide in the bushes, to avoid getting beat up. That was just a normal day for Harry, but all of that would soon change.

(Two weeks later)

Fourteen days had passed and Harry, as usual was forced to cook breakfast (but he almost never got any of it), tend 'Petunia's' garden, and do any chore, while Vernon and Petunia's 'precious Diddykins' got to do whatever he wanted. Harry was getting tired of this treatment he'd been receiving for as long as he could remember. Every year on his birthday, and Christmas, he always wished for a loving family, which was never granted. Life just always seemed so unfair for him, while life always seemed fair for the Dursleys, as well as for Dudley's gang members.

The next morning, Harry got up to cook breakfast, being careful not to burn it, otherwise it was a punishment if he did. Harry finished when Vernon and Dudley made it into the kitchen. They just ignored Harry, which was fine by him, even though Harry often wished that they would praise him, he never counted on it happening. That just proved how terrible the Dursleys were, and Harry often wondered why neither his uncle, nor cousin just died from heart attacks, given how fat they were.

(At St. Grogery's Primary School, during recess)

Harry was busy trying to outrun his fat-whale-of-a-cousin, Dudley and his gang. He usually could outrun them because they never bothered to exercise all that much, Dudley especially. In a desperate attempt to avoid their favourite game called 'Harry Hunting,' Harry strolled into the school library and peeked through the door window. He saw Dudley and his gang looking around.

"The freak has to be around here somewhere," Piers ranted. "We're bigger than he is, so how could he outrun us?"

"Yeah," agreed Dudley. "How can he? Bigger people should be able to outrun smaller people. The freak might be at the playground now, so let's go confront him there!"

Harry blew a sigh of relief once Dudley and his gang walked outside to the playground. Then he went to find a book to read. As he was doing so, he saw a girl with light brown hair that was tied up into a medium ponytail in a pink bow with white polka-dots, and she seemed to be reading a book as well. Naturally, Harry found himself unable to approach her and introduce himself, due to Dudley and his gang's negative influence. Harry picked up a copy of the book Curious George by H.A. Rey, and found a seat to sit down and read. Harry, for some reason found himself unable to stop peeking occasional glances at the girl (who was sitting four tables away). Anytime it seemed like she would look his way, Harry would go back to reading. After the fourth time of having done so, the girl finally got up and walked over to Harry (who was getting nervous, naturally believing this to be another occurrence of getting taunted for his overly-large hand-me-downs and stick-skinny frame). Instead of looking at him in disgust, the girl just gave Harry a smile. Harry also saw that she had the most beautiful hazel coloured eyes.

"You know, you could've just sat at the table I was sitting at." said the girl.

"I-I thought y-you'd just... make fun of me, because of the rags I'm wearing," said Harry nervously. "Not to mention that I'm t-too sk-skinny!"

"Nah, I couldn't," the girl replied. "Those five, fat kids who gang up on you, are the real cowards, despite what most of the students think."

"Oh," said Harry. "Well, the leader is my cousin, Dudley."

"That's odd," said the girl. "He always goes off claiming that he isn't related to you."

"Lying is something he enjoys," said Harry with contempt in his voice. "Especially about anything regarding me!"

"I'm Hailey," the girl introduced herself, holding a hand out at Harry. "Hailey Brandwood!"

"I'm Harry, Harry Potter!" said Harry as he shook hands with Hailey.

"Are you really?" said Hailey as her eyes widened in surprise. "I-I've heard all about you!"

"You did?" said Harry, baffled. "But, I'm just an ordinary child!"

"You're famous in the wizarding world," Hailey began explaining. "My mum was a witch, and she once told me about how you made He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named disappear, after your parents gave up their lives to save yours!"

"I never knew that," said Harry, surprised. "I was told they were drunks who died in a car crash."

"What?" said Hailey, outraged. "Who would lie to you about that?"

Harry was hesitating to answer, not wanting any more beatings from Uncle Vernon. The last five times he reported Dudley and his gang bullying him, it was always called off somehow, and Uncle Vernon would always give the 'freak' more unrelenting beatings, as well as meal deprivations, and a couple weeks in his cupboard. Hailey gave Harry an encouraging look, as if to say that he can tell her.

"My aunt and uncle," said Harry. "But anytime they claimed my parents died in the car crash, they never looked me in the eye, and they even said it in a quick voice. Then, they would 'remind' me not to ask questions."

"The worst sort of muggles they are," said Hailey. "Keeping certain information from you."

"What are muggles?" asked Harry.

"That's what the wizarding world refers to non-magic people," Hailey explained. "My father is one, but he doesn't care about me. My mum died a couple years ago, and a week later, my father revealed his true colours, and enjoys abusing me. In fact, he gets drunk frequently and just yells at me, and even hits me in any way possible."

"That's what my uncle does," said Harry. "He makes sure he gets drunk enough before giving me unrelenting beatings. Every Christmas and every year on my birthday, I keep wishing for a better life, with a loving family."

"Same here," said Hailey. "It seems like our wishes will never get granted."

"Yeah," said Harry. "It's not too much to ask and yet, it seems like luck for us doesn't work much."

All too soon, recess was over and the two kids had to head back to their respective classrooms. Over the next few weeks, Harry and Hailey continued hanging out in the library, helping the librarian out. She filled Harry in about the wizarding world and she also mentioned that her mother once encouraged her to go to school in the muggle world, calling it an experiment to see how muggles manage. Sitting together at lunch wasn't an option because of Dudley and his gang always scaring anybody off who tried approaching Harry. Hailey would help with Harry's food deprivation by saving some food and giving them to Harry. Their friendship was also kept secret, so no kid would inform Dudley and his gang, and at the same time, risk Hailey getting beat to pulp.

One day, the library was closed during one recess, so Harry and Hailey couldn't hang out in there. Dudley and his gang eyed Harry with evil smiles. They hadn't been able to beat up the 'freak' all that much for several weeks.

"Alright, freak," said Dudley. "Since you've been eluding many of your punishments, you're going to be getting even harsher ones!"

"Fine," said Harry slyly. "But before you do, are you, Piers, Dennis, Malcolm or Gordon the 'greatest' bully ever?"

"That would be me!" said Dudley proudly.

"Are your 'friends,' really your friends?" asked Harry.

"Yes," said Dudley. "Because I'm the greatest bully!"

"I thought I was!" said Piers.

"Wait, I should be the greatest bully." said Dennis.

"Nah, it should be me!" said Malcolm.

"No way, I am!" said Gordon.

"No, you know I am!" whined Dudley.

This resulted in the gang arguing over the title for the greatest bully. Then, the five bullies began beating each other up, for the title of 'the greatest bully ever.' This caught a teacher's attention and she (along with four more teachers) came over to restore order. The five bullies were escorted to the nurse's office, and were subsequently punished with two weeks worth of detention. The other kids were shocked at how Harry had turned the tables on the bullies, without so much as receiving a punch or a kick. Hailey, on the other hand had witnessed it all and she was laughing until tears came a pouring down her face.

Harry knew that it was inevitable that Aunt Petunia and, worst of all, Uncle Vernon would find out, and they did, since Dudley lied about the situation, yet again. Harry was given extra chores by his aunt, and his uncle gave him more unrelenting beatings. This was the final straw, Harry had enough of his life. At the same time, Hailey was also having enough of her life. Neither one knew that they were planning on running away.

To be continued!