DIVERGENCE

Declaimer: Not mine

2. Tinted windows

Harry Potter was very pragmatic child. Since early childhood, he had learnt that the world is very selfish place and he couldn't depend on anyone but himself. Life had taught him hard lessons. He knew he must learn them well and adapt accordingly.

This orphanage was a competitive place. When you had to fight for every little thing provided by meagre funding, obviously there would be some stronger ones who would get the most benefits and some too weak to do anything about that. This whole thing always led to bullying, groupism and punishments.

Poor matron was simple minded thing, unaware of happenings in children's world. She and her staff had penchant for equality. They tried to instil morals in every child there but they were unaware of this fact that not every child is angel. They too could be vicious. In the end it all came down to power and Harry had this clear opinion, formed by years of observations and firsthand experience, that if you don't have it, lay low and wait for good opportunity to seize it. After all there was nothing wrong in strategic retreat. Only those who were fools didn't understand this, then they were brought to their bitter end.

'Just like my parents' he thought bitterly.

When Harry first saw that eccentric old man with weird dressing sense, his mind reminded him to be careful... as anyone with ounce of common sense could tell that beneath that all benevolent aura, man was dangerous and powerful. It all just showed in his body language as he tried to down play it. Afterwards as this man started to tell this whole unbelievable story, Harry just could not decide his reaction. His mind was whirling; so many emotions were clashing together, fuelling by outrageous events, the man unfolding before him.

He needed to calm down. There were some inexplicable things that had happened around him since his early childhood. Now he could name them...MAGIC! He was bloody magical saviour of some hidden world and his parents were murdered by a psychopath whom he defeated when he was just baby! This came as a shock. Like all other orphans he also always wondered about reasons why he was in orphanage. They must have died, was the most logical and the least unpleasant of the all others. But he never had imagined this...that they left him because of that war. They should have just left this country or any other option which would have kept their family safe, but no...They chose to fight! They gave priority to that war over him and then died to save his life. Of course he understood their love for him, but it made him to long for them even more. Who would fight the war when they have a baby to think of...it made no sense to him...where is self preservation!?

Sometime Harry had wondered what would have happened if he had any relative...just anyone.

'Ah...Harry, then your disappointment would have been much greater, leaving nasty wound. Always first consider negative side', his cynical side obediently warned him.

He used to be naive. Once upon a time he had tried to make real friends, stared with longing at families playing in garden; dreamed about his parents who would just say sorry and take him with them...faraway. Then one by one these dreams were crashed. Now here he was, old and bitter...he had grown up very early.

Harry was sweet child or as they had called him. For as long as he could remember, he was in this orphanage. He was naturally very curious. He always kept asking questions...why, how. Mainly what he didn't understand was the peoples around him. Big people around him would smile at him and then told him to go and play with his friends.

Well, friends were another mystery...for he simply didn't get it. Here in this orphanage...means 'Home' as Mrs. Crook insisted they should call it...there were many children. He used to play with them so they might have been considered as his friends. There was this Bob...the leader in their home. He was older than Harry. All children just obeyed his every whim. Whenever they received any charity, Bob got to decide who would get what...they even developed subtle language to convey that. Staff remained blissfully ignorant.

He still remembered those early days. As five year old, Harry was younger member and he was here since his childhood hence Bob and he never had any confrontation. This was changed on one day. There was a couple who visited orphanage.

All children knew it was big event, whenever this happened one lucky child would get new home...real one and of course real parents as they saw on telly and on there garden trips...after such event their Home would always remain in melancholy for few days...each small mind was wondering, why didn't they choose me.

It came as complete surprise to him when they starting talking to him...Him! Harry liked them immediately. This became talk of Home. He started to think maybe wishes do come true...otherwise look at Nina ...she was so pretty with big blue eyes but all were saying that they would choose him. He was such gullible thing back then. That couple never even came back again but his whole life changed drastically. Bob got jealous and never ending bullying started. All his so called friends deserted him. He unable to tell that to matron as it would have meant he crossed that fine line to become pariah.

He was alone and miserable. All adults had started to notice but somehow it was always not enough to intervene. He started to get punishments for wrongdoings, he had not done. None had taken his side, all just let Bob do what he wanted. Harry was helpless against them and he just hated it.

That was the period when he started to notice very curious things. These things when had happened in his early childhood, never enough to grab his attention, but as he had seen his bruises, cuts heal very fast, he knew something was different. His belief confirmed, when one day, a boy named Jack started beating him in backyard. He just wished with all his might to stop him...and just like that Jack was thrown several feet. No one thought he had done that but he knew he had a special power which helped him. He started to explore it but never able to grasp it. One thing he observed that it always helped him in some very dire situations...just came to him naturally.

Not that this changed his situation, he had to face more bullying whenever he fought with them...physically or as he could tell now...magically.

One day they had a visit planned to local care home. This was new activity decided by Mrs. Crook to improve there social interactions. Not all were happy with that as it had always meant loss of playtime and extra boring work. Harry just wanted to be left alone. He had never would have thought that this little trip would change his life forever.

A/N: Here Harry still don't know about prophecy so he only reacting to given information.

Thanks to those who reviewed and read this story. R & R