Having grown up on the same street as Harry you’ve only ever really seen him at school or at the park after school and from what you’ve seen of him and his friends you’ve never really felt the need to go and speak to them. On this particular day you’re little sister has insisted she wants to go and play in the park so you’ve taken her and are watching her run around when you spot Harry and his friends enter the park. You call your sister over to you but as she runs over to you one of the boys sticks out his foot a trips her up. She screams before bursting into tears as she hits the ground, you rush over to her glaring at the boys as they start to surround her.
You: Shhhhh let’s see, are you bleeding? You ignore there intimidating stares knowing your sisters welfare is more important. Some of them start sniggering at the pair of you that makes her cry harder. You hug her into you to try and make her feel safe and are surprised to hear Harry say.
Harry: You tripped a child? That’s disgusting. His friend goes to defend himself but Harry steps in again.
Harry: You lot are really starting to wind me up, is that what we do now traumatise children? What next robbing old woman? His frustration makes the group give you and your sister some space, so you can tend to her slightly grazed knee.
Harry: Just get out of here. His slightly raised voice makes your sister cling to you a bit tighter as you turn to see the rest of the group slowly walk away. Harry walks over to you, stuffing his hands in his pockets he watches as you do your best to calm your sister but she won’t let go of you.
You: Thank you for making them go away. He shrugs as though it’s nothing.
You: you know you’re as bad as them right? You stand with your sister on your hip, noticing his eyes narrow.
You: You torment kids at school, I see you reduce that kid, Kevin to tears every day.
Harry: I’m not proud. He snaps.
You: Then why do it? So they don’t start on you? You feel your own anger rise as Harry shrugs. You roll your eyes and make to leave.
Harry: I find it hard to make new friends. He blurts out and the words fly back at him of your tongue.
You: That’s’ because you hang out with losers. Harry nods and you actually feel a little bit sorry for him as you catch a glimpse of sadness grace his features. Letting out a small sigh you shift your sister onto your other hip.
You: Why don’t you try being nice to people more often? You can start with walking us home. He nods and as you walk home you are surprised at how easy he is to talk to, he admits to falling in with the popular crowd to save his own skin but has felt uncomfortable with how cruel they are becoming. You tell him that so long as he stops being so horrible to people he can hang out with you and he even wins your sister over by offering her a piggy back. You reach your house and he lowers her to floor, you watch as she runs in the house the grazed knee forgotten now.
You: I’ve seen a different side of you today, one I could really grow to like. A slow smile creeps over his face as he replies.
Harry: Then I’ll make sure you get to see more of it. With a small bow he stuffs his hands in his pockets again before heading for his own home, you watch him walk away and are pleased when he glances round offering you that killer smile again which you return before going into your own house.
