QL, Season 9, Reserving for the Wasps, Round 2, Seeker.

Theme: Hakuna Matata - The Lion King.

Note: AU

Word Count: 1497

Beta(s): Aya, LifeofKaze

Breathing in. Breathing out.

The slower his breaths, the more likely his aunt and uncle wouldn't realise he was attempting to escape. Harry Potter hadn't known anything different than the treatment he received at the Dursleys all of his life. However, Mrs Figg had offered him a bizarre opportunity. One that he fully intended to take on. One to get away from his so-called family and into a world where he would be welcomed.

Therefore, here eight-year-old Harry was, silently sneaking out with all of his belongings in a single plastic bag. The plastic part wasn't the best choice he'd ever made as the rustling of it might give him away to his 'caretakers'.

Harry hadn't considered why Mrs Figg was willing to take him away from his carers but it must have been better than his life now.

Quietly, he unlocked the front door, bolt by bolt, careful to not make too much noise. Unfortunately, he couldn't manage it in silence. But thankfully, there wasn't any sound coming from upstairs.

Clutching the cold handle, he paused. Was he ready to leave the certainty he had here? What if it was worse where Mrs Figg took him? Was running away really the solution?

Mrs Figg had told him many times that he deserved a carefree childhood. She always made him feel like he was worth something. So, when she told him he'd never have to worry again, he couldn't pass up the opportunity. Not when it could mean a better and relaxing life for him.

His thoughts came to a sudden halt when he heard something. Somebody was awake. Pulling the door open, Harry slipped out and closed it behind him before running across the road to where Mrs Figg was waiting.

"Let's go," she said instantly. Mrs Figg started to rush down the street away from both of their houses. "Hurry."

Harry quickly followed her, struggling to keep up with her. He had shorter legs than her and had to jog. He hadn't seen her move this quickly before.

Suddenly, they stopped.

"Why did we stop?" Harry asked.

Mrs Figg looked around nervously. "They'll take you somewhere safer. But you need to close your eyes."

Hesitantly, Harry held his hands over his eyes. He heard a pop and somebody moving towards them. Two hands held onto his arms and he listened to somebody walking away. Was Mrs Figg leaving him?

Suddenly, everything tightened and Harry couldn't breath. He tried to get air into his lungs but he didn't even feel whole. Everything hurt.

Just as quickly had it come, it was gone. He could breathe, he was whole again, and nobody was touching him.

Slowly, Harry removed his hands. Where was he? The one thing he did know was that he was in this unknown place without anybody he recognised.

Harry sat at the table looking around nervously. There were a lot of adults talking around him, about him. He understood them but no one had bothered asking his opinion on all of the things they were discussing. So far, he had been given a warmer jacket, food, and a drink without being shouted at. He'd choose staying here.

"My grandson isn't the chosen one," an old woman complained. "Why were we asked to come?"

She had walked in about three minutes ago with a boy his age. Most people weren't happy that that Harry was here. And she looked like he had just ruined her day.

"We need to get to the bottom of how young Harry was taken out of the care of his blood relatives." The old man who had introduced himself as Professor Dumbledore looked at him, a suspicious glint in his eyes. "And how he ended up in the Wizarding World."

Harry looked down. He had refused to reveal how he got away from his aunt and uncle; he didn't want Mrs Figg to get in trouble.

The old woman frowned. "What does that have to do with my Neville?"

Dumbledore smiled slightly. "How about young Harry and Neville outside for a few minutes while we talk."

Reluctantly, she agreed.

The two eight-year-olds were sent outside. There were still many adults standing around, each taking turns in looking at the two of them. But if Harry really thought about it, they were taking turns in looking at him.

"I'm Neville."

"I'm Harry."

"Do you want to play a game?"

Harry shuffled on the spot. "Are we allowed?"

Neville's expression changed to one of confusion. The frown on his face made Harry feel bad; had he said something wrong?

"Why wouldn't we be allowed?"

"I… I'm not usually…" he drifted off. His confidence started to dissipate. Maybe he wouldn't be accepted, just like he had been told his whole life. The short amount of time he hadn't been in trouble might come to an end very quickly.

"I'll ask," Neville finally said after a long break. Without another word he walked back inside and almost immediately came back out. "We can play."

Harry's lips twerked upwards. "Really?" He looked around for a ball or something he had seen Dudley playing with in the past. "What can we play?"

"Lots of things! Aurors and Criminals, Quidditch, Catch, Duelling." He paused thoughtfully. "Anything, really!"

How did you play Aurors and Criminals? He knew what criminals were, but what were Aurors? And what was Quidditch? How did you play that?

"You can choose."

Neville's entire demeanour dampened at his comment. "Me?" He nodded in confirmation. "I… I'll play anything."

Harry smiled. "I don't mind, I haven't played many games before so you'll have to teach me."

"I don't want to choose wrong." Neville's lower lip quivered mildly at his comment.

"That's okay! How about that… Quidditch game?" Harry watched as Neville still remained unsettled; looking around, playing with his hands, and avoiding eye contact. "Don't worry. Honestly, that's what I tell myself a lot."

"Why?"

Harry allowed himself to smile. He wasn't being ridiculed by this boy for his comment. "There's so much that we can't control, so why worry?"

Neville nodded. "Okay!"

"So let's play and not care about what anybody thinks! This can be our time to have fun and not think about anything else!"

Harry grinned when Neville began to relax. If this was Harry's only time to do what he wanted, he would take advantage of it. He moved forward and tapped Neville's shoulder. "Tag, you're it."

Neville hesitated, that was clear. He did a half-step forward before chasing after him.

Relief filled Harry and he let out a breath he hadn't realised he was holding. Harry was glad that Neville knew this game. He dodged the other boy a few times before letting himself get caught and became the one to catch Neville.

Realising that the other boy was a lot slower than he was and got out of breath quicker, he slowed himself down. Eventually, he placed his hands against his knees and breathed in deeply. "How about we sit down?"

Neville instantly dropped to the floor and tried to slow his breathing. "Yes, okay!"

Harry sat down opposite him, his whole body relaxed for the first time in his life that he could remember. The calmness, the lack of worrying.

"What were you saying about not worrying?" Neville asked after a few moments of relaxed silence.

Harry looked at him. "It doesn't help to get stressed; it just gets you in trouble. And there's so much that we cannot control, so, taking a step back and breathing helps."

"Like a… phil-os-sophie?"

"What's a phil-os-sophie?"

Neville bit his lip and looked down at his hands for a moment. "It's like a saying that you live by." He looked back up. "So, Gryffindors would live by being brave and courageous."

Harry nodded along to the first part and allowed his head to carry on bobbing up and down to the second half of it. He wasn't sure what a Gryffindor was but it sounded like a reasonable example. "Yes, something I live by! You can too! We can both move around carefree, without any worries."

The smile Neville gave him was contagious and made his lips turn up even further. "That sounds great! And… it won't just be today, but we both could have no worries for the rest of our days! It's not just today. But forever!"

"Exactly! It's not a crazy idea, it's a forever idea!"

The two boys began to excitedly chat about how they could get rid of their worries and be themselves. Unfortunately, after a few minutes, they were both called in.

Neville instantly left with his Grandmother. And Harry was left alone with different adults he didn't know. A very stern woman was keeping a close eye on a nervous man with three scars across his face. Harry didn't know who either of them were.

However, he still wouldn't worry, it was his phil-os-sophie! Things would work out one day, that he knew for sure.