"Um… hi," A voice interrupted Harry as he looked at his timetable after exiting the classroom, Harry turned around and saw Peter Parker standing in front of him with his own backpack in his hands. "uh… do you… um… have science first as well?" He asked awkwardly.
"Yeah," Harry nodded. "do you know where it is?" Harry asked.
"Not really," Peter admitted. "but I figure that we just follow the signs around the school until we find it."
"Fair enough," Harry smiled. "should probably get started then, don't want to get late."
"No, we don't want that," Peter agreed. "do you want to go together?" He asked hopefully.
"I don't see any reason why not, we're in the same class anyway, might as well." Harry agreed, Peter smiled happily at him before the two began walking together through the school hallways, doing their best to not crash into the sea of students and teachers going in every direction.
"So, I'm Peter by the way," Peter began.
"I know, Peter Parker, right?" Harry asked.
"That's right, you're Harry Osborn, right?" Peter asked.
"That's right," Harry confirmed before looking forwards and seeing a sign on the wall. "I think we have to go right."
"Seems right," Peter said in an amused voice before they followed the directions of the sign. "So, are you actually Mr Osborn's son?"
"Yeah, why?" Harry asked suspiciously, hoping that Peter wasn't another fanboy. He had already had to deal with them in his last world, Colin Creevy was more than enough, thank you very much. Though, Harry also knew that in this world it was more likely that most people just wanted access to the vast amounts of money that Harry's father possessed.
"Oh, I didn't come and talk to you because of who your dad is!" Peter said quickly, hoping he hadn't just offended Harry. "It's just… I'm a bit of a fan."
"Really?" Harry raised an eyebrow. In his experience, eleven-year-old kids weren't usually big fans of scientists and businessmen, even rich ones, instead, they preferred to look up to sports stars and celebrities.
"Yeah, I read his paper on nanotechnology," Peter smiled. "it's really brilliant stuff."
"You understood it?" Harry asked in a surprised voice.
"Well, most of it, well… a bit of it," Peter admitted, looking slightly embarrassed about not understanding all of it. "like I understood what he was getting at when he pointed out the various differences and benefits that come with the use of different materials." Harry stared at him, apparently, the boy didn't know just how amazing it was for somebody his age to have read a science paper by Norman Osborn and a bit of it most of it.
"You must be pretty smart then," Harry commented, earning a blush from Peter.
"A bit." Peter mumbled.
"Great, if they pair us up then you can work with me in science then," Harry grinned. "between you and me, I bet we'd get top marks."
"Yeah, that sounds great!" Peter quickly agreed just as they arrived outside of the classroom. "I don't think the teacher's in yet." Peter frowned before he tried the door, which was locked.
"Well, I suppose we just wait then." Harry shrugged.
"I guess so," Peter agreed. "so, what do you do for fun?" He asked, seemingly intent on making conversation.
"I guess I like to read," Harry answered. "I like fictional stuff, but when your dad's like mine then you tend to like reading non-fictional stuff as well. I like science and stuff, I suppose, but I also like watching films and playing video games." Peter's eyes seemed to be twinkling by the end of Harry's answer.
"Dude, I'm the exact same," Peter smiled. "what's your favourite movie?"
"Hmm, I don't really have a favourite one, but off the top of my head I suppose that I would go with Tim Burton's 'Batman'," Harry answered.
"Oh, I love that one!" Peter grinned. "It was awesome, the Batmobile was so cool!"
"Definitely," Harry grinned back. "I really want to ride it, maybe one day I can convince dad to build one." Harry joked.
"That would be so cool!" Peter exclaimed, apparently not picking up on the fact that Harry was joking. Harry was about to correct him but then stopped when he remembered that it was an actual possibility, Norman was rich enough and probably wouldn't mind making it, if Harry phrased it as a challenge or a business idea then Oscorp would probably be selling Batmobiles within a year.
"Yeah, it would be." Harry's grin got wider. "Though you know what else would be cool, the Bat-wing."
"I loved that, shame it was so weak though."
"What the hell do you mean weak?" Harry scoffed. "Didn't you see all the damage it did?"
"Dude, it got taken out by a single gun." Peter pointed out.
"A very long and powerful gun," Harry corrected him.
"Still a gun," Peter reminded him. "anyway, what did you think about the sequel?"
"I liked it," Harry hummed thoughtfully. "I thought the first one was better though."
"Same," Peter nodded. "my aunt didn't really like the second one."
"Why not?" Harry asked.
"Apparently it wasn't really appropriate for kids my age."
"Well, to be fair, there was animal cruelty, dead people, people getting their noses bit off, a couple of parents trying to kill their own baby by throwing him off a bridge, all of the interactions between women and the Penguin, plus…"
"I get it," Peter gently interrupted.
"Just saying," Harry replied. "what about your mum?"
"Excuse me?" Peter blinked in a confused manner.
"You said your aunt didn't like the film, what about your mum?" Harry asked, though immediately he felt like he made a mistake when he saw Peter look a lot tenser.
"I live with my aunt and uncle, my parents aren't around anymore." Peter recited.
"I'm sorry," Harry said, not knowing what else to say. Suddenly a thought occurred to him. "do your aunt and uncle treat you nicely?" Harry asked, narrowing his eyes.
"What?" Peter looked confused but answered the question. "Yeah, they're really nice to me, why?"
"No reason," Harry grunted, he was about to say more when suddenly the rest of the students arrived.
"Yo Osborn," Flash said upon spotting Harry. "how are you doing?"
"Peachy." Harry dryly replied while wondering what Flash wanted with him.
"We're going to go to the mall after school," Flash said, gesturing to a few kids around him including Liz. "you want to come with us?"
"Not really," Harry answered honestly.
"Come on, Harry, it'll be fun." Liz smiled at him
"Come on, Harry, it'll be fun." Liz smiled at him.
"I appreciate the offer but I don't really want to go to the mall today, maybe another time." Harry saw a few kids looking disappointed, a part of him couldn't help but feel like he was costing himself future friends, but a bigger and more cynical part of him told him that they had just wanted him to come for his money, and so far it looked like he was right.
"Oh, hey dweeb," Flash smirked, remembering that Peter was here. "find your glasses?" He laughed while a few people snickered behind him.
"Right next to those brain cells you dropped," Peter responded without thinking but almost instantly regretted it when Flash narrowed his eyes and stepped forward.
"What'd you say?" Flash glared at him and was about to take another step but stopped when Harry placed a hand on Flash's chest to stop him.
"Flash, this is the first day of school and I'd rather not start it with you attacking my friend here, besides, I don't think you want to be known as the kid that got detention on his first day." Harry stopped speaking and gestured down the hall to the teacher that was walking toward them. Flash glared at Peter again before backing off.
"Sorry," The teacher apologised as he opened the door. "I'm not normally this late but there was an incident involving a pair of scooters that I had to deal with, now, get in everybody and we'll get to work on studying the best topic in the school: science." The teacher grinned as the students walked in, the students all sat down and Peter couldn't help but notice that Harry had voluntarily sat down next to him.
'Wow,' Peter thought to himself. 'I actually managed to make a friend, that was a lot easier than I thought.'
.