Disclaimer : I do not own Harry Potter. J.K. Rowling owns Harry Potter and all rights go to her

"Hello, Harry" Harry's head snapped up at hearing his name called, turning around to see Dudley and his gang standing around him, each wearing matching grins on their faces.

" Hello Dudley," said Harry, standing up slowly, his eyes scanning the garden, fruitlessly for a way out. His efforts were all for naught, as in his moments of obliviousness Dudley's gang had completely surrounded him.

Harry relaxed his shoulders and leaned back on the window, adopting a cool, careless expression on his face. He had suffered under Dudley long enough to know what got him off. Even though they had never cornered him at home, they had done it enough times at school for him to find out the pattern.

Harry cursed in his head. He was growing more agitated for the upcoming beating by the second. Although he mostly maintained his cool front, it was obvious from the way his eyes were darting back and forth and from how his muscles were tensed, ready to flee at the slightest notice.

" We're gonna play a game Harry " if possible he tensed even more at those words.

"What kind of game? " asked Harry. As if he cared! No matter how young he was it didn't take half a brain to know that whatever kind of game they would be playing, he would not enjoy it. He was trying to stall for time

" It's simple. You try to run and we catch you. It's nothing to worry about, it's just like Hide and Seek, Harry," Dudley said in a placating manner as if trying to comfort him. Unfortunately for Dudley, the effect was ruined by the growing maliciousness in the smirks that his lackeys had. One thing Harry would forever be puzzled by was why in the world anyone would ever follow Dudley, of all people!

"We'll even give you a 3 minute head start!" As if that would help him. It was an unfair fight of six to one, and no matter what Harry knew that he wouldn't escape unscathed. But then again his entire life was unfair so just maybe it wouldn't be as bad as it seemed.

Knowing he wouldn't get a warning, Harry ran as fast as he could, making sure not to step on Aunt Petunia's prized roses because he knew not even being beaten bloody would stop her and Uncle Vernon from having another round at him.

So he ran, not having any clear plan of where he was going. While he could normally outrun Dudley and his gang, the odds were stacked up high against him. He was weak and tired from not having any lunch and having completed half a day's work.

Before he knew where he was he had reached an old park. It was very old and rusty. The swings were barely functioning from all the rust and the slide was covered in mud. Dead leaves scattered across the playground. It was completely isolated, as no parent of the right mind would allow their child to play in such a dilapidated environment. Besides, there was a newer, safer playground across the street.

The playground was lifeless, not a single living thing occupying it except for him, a great big tree in the centre of the playground, all the other trees having been cleared away for renovation, and a couple of thin, pathetic bushes that wouldn't cover him at all. But it wouldn't be empty for long. Harry could already see Dudley's gang a couple of houses down, searching for him. Suddenly one big brutish member( although the same words could be used to describe all of them ) shouted something and pointed in the park's direction. Harry knew he didn't have much time.

The tree was very tall, reaching up to the sky like an endless ladder. Or maybe Harry was just short. It had long twisting branches in every direction, spreading out far and wide. It branches was thick, sticking out from the ground, rooting the tree heavily onto the earth.

He scrambled to the tree, trying to grab a branch to pull himself up onto it. But his short stature prevented his fingers from even brushing against a single branch. That's what happens if you're malnutritioned, he supposed.

But he couldn't leave and find another spot, Dudley's gang had split up and were now coming for to the park all sides. It seemed they were actually getting just a tiny bit smarter!

Of course, this was of no help to Harry. In a minute or two, they would reach him. And while he was used to getting hit by Uncle Vernon, one man won't compare to 6 kids, no matter the size.

Long held tears of frustration slid down his cheeks. Another difference was that most kids weren't getting beaten up every second of the day. Still jumping up for a branch, he began to beg for someone, anyone to help him.

Maybe it was desperation, but Harry could swear that the branches moved, curling towards him, an inch closer towards his fingers.

If there's a god listening, please help me! But then again what kind of god would force this on a child, he thought bitterly.

Jumping one more time, Harry knew that no matter how much the branch " moved " it wouldn't be enough to save him from his fate. He stopped jumping, instead choosing to sit on its gigantic roots dejectedly. Dudley's gang was in the park now, scanning it for him. He gave a long sigh as if the entire world was on his shoulders. Then again maybe it was. Maybe if he begged they would go easy on him? No, he might not have a family, ( they didn't deserve to be recognised as his family) he might not have a real room or an actual meal (scraps off their plates did not count) but he did have pride. And if he learned one thing from his relatives it was to treasure what you had and never let it go.

So he braced himself and waited for them. Hearing a cry of excitement he knew it wouldn't be long. Anytime now and-

Branches, dozens of them, scooped Harry up and lifted him up high. He could see the entire world from that height, he thought. Well, he could only see Privet Drive, but to him, that was his world. It was all he knew.

The branches held him gently, the opposite of what Harry thought being scooped up by monster branches would feel like but hey, you learn something new everyday right? They brought him to the centre of the tree and sat him upon the branch as if carrying a newborn child. Great, thought Harry, I'm gonna be eaten by a tree, what a fantastic way to die!

He could just see it. " Here lies Harry James Potter, the boy who couldn't even die normally "

Suddenly, the tree was shaking. Not in an earthquake-shaking way but in a more charged up way. It was as if the entire tree was vibrating, filled with energy, that made it seem so alive. Excited even. Green leaves cascaded around him and from the trunk, he could see something coming out from the centre of the trunk.

It floated up to him, only it didn't look like floating. It seemed like it was walking in air, adding to the ethereal aura that seemed to coat its very being.

Leaves fell perfectly into place forming hair, and a dress? Before he knew it, standing in front of him was a woman. Her skin made of tree bark, yet somehow it didn't look rough. Leaves of every shade of green were her hair and her dress, managing to look messy yet neat at the same time.

Then she spoke," Hello young elemental. I've been waiting for you for quite some time. "

Authors Note :

Two chapters in a day! I don't think I'll have an update schedule and there might be a few weeks that I won't update at all due to exams and such but I'll try my best to update at least once a month. This chapter is longer and there might be some grammatical mistakes but I hope it's ok and up to your standard. And also just to clarify Harry is 8 in this story