AN- these are a series of flashbacks that I felt I have to add in order for you guys to properly see just how Ron and Hermione perceive Harry. Please read them all, as they are crucial to the story.

Tiny First Year

Ron Weasley followed his mother as she led her brood of redheaded children to the platform hurriedly. As always, the twins had gotten in trouble, therefore putting the family behind schedule. He was lost in his own thoughts, watching his brothers go through, when he heard a small cough. He turned to the direction of the sound, and looked down. A little boy, probably a year or two younger then Ginny, was standing there, looking lost and afraid. The little boy had huge green eyes, messy black hair that fell to his tiny shoulders, and looked about to burst into tears.

"Are you lost, kid?" he asked, never one to stand crying. This was apparently the wrong thing to say, however, and Ron watched in dismay as the kid let out a sob, before almost tackling him in a hug. Shocked, Ron hesitantly returned the embrace, feeling oddly protective of the distressed child. His mother had finally noticed what was going on, and bustled over.

"What's wrong, Ron? Who's this?" she asked, more then a little shocked at the sight of her youngest son holding the crying child as if he were its father. Who was this child that had triggered such a response from her son? From the angle the child was clinging to Ron, she couldn't even tell whether the child was male or female. It had long, soft looking black hair, and was absolutely tiny.

"Is the poor dear lost?" she asked. Ron shrugged. The little boy in his arms looked up at him, and blinked.

"I'm Harry. I can't find platform 9 3/4." He whispered, closing his eyes.

"Did you get separated from your parents and your siblings? Is that what's got you so upset?" Molly asked, a light clicking in her brain. Harry frowned.

"No. I don't have any parents or siblings. I'm supposed to go to school, and Hagrid told me to board at 9 ¾, but it's gone, and now I'm here all alone, and I'm sleepy, and I'm lost!" he sobbed, burying his face into Ron's chest again. Molly nodded, and gently took Harry's little hand in her own, not noticing the flinch. Ron did notice, however, and frowned. He didn't want his new friend to be scared of anyone, let alone his mother.

"Well, that's no problem, dearie. You, Ginny, Ron, and me will go together. You just walk through the wall over there and then you're on the platform!" she said with a soft smile, which Harry returned shakily. Since his mother had Harry's hand, Ron took Ginny's, and they all passed through easily. Ron had been on the platform before, but it never ceased to amaze him. Children shouting to each other, parents scolding children, teary goodbyes… the same thing every year. With a huge grin, Ron looked over at his Harry, and laughed at the awed look on his little face.

"Wow! This is so cool!" he cried, grabbing Ron's hand in his joy. Molly and Ginny both waved goodbye, and went to say goodbye to the other Weasley children, leaving Ron and Harry alone. Harry looked up at him, and blushed.

"Sorry I cried all over you. I was just kind of scared. I've never been away from home before. What if no one likes me?' he seemed genuinely worried, and was looking to Ron for reassurance.

"Don't worry about that, Harry. I have no doubt that everyone will like you. I do, and we just met." He said, squeezing Harry's hand with his own. I don't think we've been introduced properly, Harry. I'm Ron Weasley." He said with a grin. Harry returned with a small smile of his own.

"I'm Harry Potter." He said softly, eyes shining. Ron felt his heart tug. This tiny little creature was the Boy-Who-Lived? Impossible! Harry Potter was larger then life, stringer then anyone, tougher then anyone! This Harry was impossibly tiny, clearly unable to defend himself from anyone or anything, and didn't look like he was that magically powerful, either. Ron searched the boy's forehead, and sure enough, that little scar rested underneath soft bangs, slightly to the left on that little forehead. Right there and then Ron knew he would do anything to protect this little boy, no matter what. Then the train whistle blew, and Ron pulled Harry with him onto the train. They found an empty compartment, and sat down, relieved. Ron was still in shock. Harry's feet didn't even touch the floor while sitting. Harry, having exhausted himself from all the action, lay down and fell asleep. Ron amused himself with his rat, when a knock at the door interrupted him. Harry popped up, blinking owlishly.

"Come in!" Ron said. The door opened to reveal a girl. She had long, insanely curly hair, soft brown eyes, and, Ron noticed happily, a sprinkle of freckles across her nose.

"Have either of you seen a toad? Neville's lost his." She said, seemingly exasperated. Ron shook his head, and Harry whispered no. When her eyes ran over Harry, the girl immediately melted. It seemed Harry was no longer just Ron's, anymore.

"Aww! And who's this little one?" she asked, clearly assuming he was a teacher's child, or something. Harry blushed, and looked up at her. The girl gasped. "You have such pretty eyes! Whoa re you?" she asked. Harry seemed nervous about telling her, though, so Ron stepped in.

"I'm Ron Weasley, and this is Harry Potter." The girl perked up at that, but had enough tact to not ask Harry anything.

"I'm Hermione Granger, first year. You?" Again Ron answered for Harry.

"We're both first years as well. Have a seat, won't you?" he asked, gesturing to the one by Harry, knowing no female could resist the chance to sit by someone so cute. She looked torn.

"Well, I promised I'd help Neville search for Trevor… but I'm sure he's already found him." She said, taking her seat as close to Harry as she could without freaking him out. They sat in silence a while longer, with Harry sound asleep again, Ron trying spells out on Scabbers, and Hermione with her nose buried in a book. The silence carried on for a while longer, until Hermione looked up at Ron and nudged him with her foot.

"What's Harry's story?" she asked. "No eleven year old should be that tiny. I thought he was just riding the train up to the school, where his parents would pick him up, or something. Younger kids have snuck onto the train before, you know." Ron shrugged.

"I'm not sure what his history is. It can't be too pleasant, though. When I first met him in front of the portal, he almost tackled me to the ground, and was crying about how he was lost, and scared and stuff, and then when my mom took his hand to show him how to pass through he portal, I saw him flinch. No one's scared of my mom, Hermione. And he's really skinny, too. I swear, I could feel every rib when he was hugging me. As soon as he told me his name, I knew I would protect him forever, no matter what, you know. I've only known him about an hour, and I already feel as if I'd give my life to keep him safe. He's too sweet, and innocent. I don't want that to be taken away." He said, shocking the girl and himself with his mature words. She nodded.

"Harry's special like that. He's like a baby angel. Our baby angel." She said, stroking the hair of said baby angel. Ron knew then and there that they were now a part of something larger, scarier, and more wonderful then anything they had ever experienced.

Weird Weasleys and Puny Potters

Severus Snape was a cold man. He loathed children, hated his colleagues, and tolerated his Slytherins. But above all, he despised every fiber of the being that was Potter. Which Potter, you ask? Take you pick. This year's first years filed into the great hall, he was understandably pissy, and glared much more then anyone had thought possible. He watched unfalteringly as Minerva called name after name, clapping shortly when his House gained a new student, but otherwise uninterested. He rolled his eyes as yet another muggleborn brat was sorted into Gryffindor, this one with bushy hair and oddly sized front teeth. Then he heard it. The name he had spent eleven years cursing. Harry potter. He scowled, and waited for the brat to emerge from the sea of children, tall and cocky as his father had been. He growled when a tall student he assumed to be potter shoved a tiny black haired boy out of his way. The child was smaller then the average ten year old, and was shaking in fear. But the child moved forward, and placed the tatty hat in his head. Severus gaped. That was Potter? The child sitting under the hat was positively innocent! There was no other word for it. Not even the newest muggleborns were as frightened as this child was, his little hands gripping the stool tightly. This child looked to be no older then nine, maybe a small ten. Potters as a whole were tall, arrogant, dimwitted, and all around assholes. Was it possible that the child had gotten his better genes from his mother? He was so lost in his thoughts that he barely heard as the tiny Potter was sorted into Gryffindor, much to his displeasure. He hoped the boy hadn't made the same mistake as his mother had, convincing the hat to put him in the 'brave' house, as opposed to the 'sneaky' house. Something told him the boy had, though. He watched, not even disguising his disgust, as the most recent Weasley spawn was sorted into Gryffindor as well. Something about the tall boy was off, though. Sure, he was happy to be in the house of the lions, but he seemed to shrug off all congratulations, instead speaking in a low voice to the tiny Potter child. His whole demeanor screamed protective and loyal, but the children couldn't've been acquainted for more then a few hours, at most. How was it that the child had managed to get a child, a Weasley, no less, to seemingly adore him so quickly? And, by the looks of it, the bushy haired girl hadn't been immune to his charm, either. Then the tiny Potter said something that made the other children laugh, while he sat there looking confused, and Severus knew he was in for a hell of a ride the next seven years.

The First Nightmare

It had been about a month since Harry, Ron, and Hermione had met, and the three were as close as possible. Ron was their fierce protector, always ready to defend Harry when someone made fun of his size, or teased Hermione about her blood status. Hermione was their teacher, simplifying the lessons that the teachers made too difficult to understand for the boys. And Harry was their rock, their home base. Whenever Ron and Hermione had a fight, which was often, Harry could calm them down with a sad look, or a slump of his tiny shoulders. Their fighting hurt Harry, and they had vowed never to cause him pain. He also made the other two laugh. Harry was strangely naïve, and was always asking the oddest questions. He had wandered into the Forbidden Forest one time, because he'd heard Luna Lovegood mention unicorns lived there. Once Ron and Hermione found him, expecting him to be hurt, or dead, they could only gape, as Harry lay asleep, using a pure white unicorn as a pillow. Or when Snape had been grilling Neville over yet another ruined potion, and Harry had shyly informed Snape that Neville had done it all right, and that Snape's instructions on the board where incorrect. Where no one could ever get out of trouble, Harry did so with ease. No one could resist those huge green eyes once they were focused solely on you, seemingly reading your soul. But only Ron and Hermione knew the pain that came with seeing those eyes filled with fear and hurt. Ron and Hermione had sent Harry to bed, while they had been up later then usual, studying for Snape's test, when they heard it. A soft, gasping sob. Hermione looked up, alarmed, to see Harry standing at the foot of the steps, tears in his eyes, blanket in his arms.

"What's wrong, Harry? She asked, standing and pulling the clearly scared boy into her arms. Harry sniffled.

"I had a bad dream. There was a scary guy with red eyes, and he hurt my mum, and then he turned into my uncle, and he kept hurting me, and then he turned into you guys, and you wouldn't stop and I promised I'd be good, and I didn't tell anyone about the cupboard, or anything, I swear!!! But you kept hurting me. Then I woke up. I don't wanna go back to bed." He cried, biting his lip. Ron shared an aghast look with Hermione.

"What if I do a spell so you won't have any bad dreams, Harry? Would that be okay?" she asked, rubbing his back soothingly. Their little friend nodded, and Hermione swirled her wand in front of his eyes. Harry fell asleep instantly, and Hermione laid him out on the couch. Then she looked up at Ron.

"What did he mean, cupboard?" she asked, gritting her teeth. Ron frowned.

"I don't know, but I have pretty clear idea. It would explain his nonexistent height, Mione." He added, shaking his head.

"I don't like where this all is going. I think we should bring him to Pomfrey, have her check him over. I want to know exactly what that uncle of his' part is in all of this. Harry's clearly terrified of him." Hermione nodded. "How strong's that spell of yours? Because I don't want to wait. Let's take him now." Hermione wrapped Harry's blanket around him, and Ron carefully lifted his tiny friend into his arms. Without a second glance, they made their way to the school nurse, needing answers.

The Nurse Scares Me

Harry sat in the stiff white bed, utterly confused.

"Ron? Mione? Where are you guys?" he called, more then a little freaked out. Here he was, all alone, in a strange bed, and he did not like that feeling. He hated being in other people's beds. Brought back too many bad memories. Harry shivered in the cold, damp air, not at all thrilled. He was bloody terrified, really. He spotted a dark, blurry shape in a nearby chair, and, throwing caution to the wind, leapt on it, clinging like no other. Until, that is, he heard the unmistakable drawl that was Severus Snape. Blushing like a tomato, he jumped off of his teacher, fearing his reaction. The sallow man stood, towering over Harry by at least a couple feet, if not more. Harry's blush faded to a ghostly white, and he let out a whimper. He didn't like being alone, but he found being alone with a man as gigantic as Snape? Utterly terrifying. Snape reached out a hand, and Harry panicked. While in his mind he knew the professor wouldn't harm him, his body jerked away, coiled tight and ready to defend his most vital organs, as was necessary. Suddenly the strange room was flooded with light, and a frazzled looking woman had entered the room, wand in hand. When he met her eyes, he saw a flash a pity, and he panicked. Did they know? Had he somehow blabbed his secret? But he calmed himself, for surely if he had blabbed about a life or death situation, he'd remember.

"Severus! That child is in no shape to be near anyone, let alone a… a man." She whisper shouted. Harry jerked back as if he'd been slapped.

"W-What? What do you mean?" he asked, looking up at the two now silent adults. Their looks said it all.

"You know." He stated, face crumpling. They would all hate him now, he was sure. He was disgusting, a freak, and now they would send him back to that place, happy to be rid of him. Pomfrey, as her nametag stated, rushed to wrap her arms around him, but froze when he cried out.

"I don't wanna go back there! Please, don't make me! I'll do anything. I can cook, and clean, and I can garden, and I can run errands, and I know some grown up stuff just please don't send me back!" he sobbed, gasping in sharp bursts of air. Pomfrey and Snape seemed to be in shock.

"What did those muggles do to you, Potter?" Snape asked, glaring furiously. Harry shrugged.

"I had to earn my keep." He said simply. There was a gasp from the doorway, where Ron and Hermione stood. Harry felt his face pale even more, until he passed out.

AAN- that's the end of flashback scene one. I just really needed to add some back-story to this, so… tada! Flashback scene two will involve Draco, and then I'll get back to the actual story! Thanks for reading, and enjoy!