Almost Brothers
Chapter 1
Harry was hiding.
For a five year old Harry Potter this was a normal state of affairs. Harry seemed to have been born for the sole purpose as a target of ire for his relatives, and his most frequent tormentor was his cousin, Dudley, who enjoyed nothing more than humiliating and hurting Harry.
The newest invention of Dudley's to bully Harry was the result of Dudley and Harry finally starting school. Dudley had quickly established his place as the class bully, while Harry was the outcast with his hand me down clothes and quiet behaviour. Dudley had gained a group of like-minded friends and started a new playground game he liked to call 'Harry Hunting'
Luckily Harry seemed to have found a hiding place that Dudley had not yet discovered, technically not on the playground where he should be but around the back of the school nearer to the staff room. There was a bush there that Harry could hide in, as long as he did not let the teachers see him, and not even Dudley should come back here to look for him.
It was boring however, even someone who was used to having to be constantly quiet at home, still quickly got bored of sitting in a bush for nearly an hour waiting for the bell to ring where he could escape to the relative safety of the classroom under the teacher's eye.
Harry sighed and wished he could be in a completely different school to Dudley altogether, or at least a different class. More than anything Harry wished he had a friend, someone Dudley could not scare off.
Luckily it seemed that day that someone was watching over Harry and heard his prayer, as not a moment later the bush that was Harry's hiding place gave a shake as someone clambered in. Harry held his breath, he body tensing, fearing that Dudley had already found his hiding place, when he spotted a flash of red hair.
Following the red appeared a boy that Harry recognised from his classroom. There boy had bright ginger hair, with a pale and freckled face, a wide grin and a smudge of dirt on his nose. His uniform while fitting him, was a little on the scruffy side just like the boy, who seemed quite content to clamber through the dirt to Harry's hiding place.
The boy looked surprised to already find someone in the bush, but quickly broke into a wide grin and asking "Have you seen any treasure?"
Harry's mind went blank as he stammered out "S- sorry?"
"Treasure" the boy repeated, stressing the word "I read a wicked book this weekend about some kids who find treasure and I wanted to try as well, are you looking too?"
Harry did not know what the boy was talking about, but since he seemed willing to talk to him, he played along for now, maybe he could play with him today before Dudley scared him off "What type of treasure?" he asked instead.
The boy got an excited look on his face, practically bouncing as he replied "Like in a chest, you know gold, like a pirate buries so no one will find it"
"But were not by a sea" responded Harry confused, and quickly regretting his words, knowing the boy will get offended and leave him. Just like his Aunt said, he always had to argue and ask questions.
But the boy did not leave, instead he tilted his head to the side and after some thought said "Good point, I didn't think of that, hey you want to go on a different adventure? I'm Ron by the way, Ron Parker" and he pushed his hand out for Harry to shake
Harry looked at this scruffy boy in hope, could this be a friend? He didn't dare to hope really, knowing tomorrow that Dudley would scare him off, but maybe for just today Harry could have fun?
With a tentative smile he shook hands and replied "Harry Potter"
With their hands joined the boy, Ron, gave a tug and led him out of the bush to find an adventure.
Although he couldn't help but add "You have dirt on your nose, you know?"
Harry was wrong that day, for the very next day when Dudley tried to threaten Ron, both ended up in detention for fighting and immediately after Ron came to find Harry to inform him that his cousin was an idiot who would one day grow up to be a Dark Lord, although 'Not a cool one, like Vader".
It was the start of a beautiful and long friendship.
AN: Just a small start, hoping for things to pick up, and while the boy's identity is not really much of a spoiler, I think you realise things are not what they seem. Anyway thanks for reading and hope you enjoy.