It was a bit awkward, explaining that he didn't want to go to a fancy private school, but Harry did his best. He made several arguments regarding normalcy, the attitudes of the others there and the desire to have more interactions with normal people.
Norman had not been happy with that choice and had argued against it, but thankfully for Harry, Emily had argued in favour of Harry. Emily had also attended a public school, and quite frankly just wanted Harry to be happy. Though she did warn him that there would be no takebacks and that if Harry was going to go to a different school then he would have to put up with it, something that Harry thought was reasonably fair.
This was why Harry was currently heading to Midtown High school in his father's limo, he was sitting in the back with his mother and father, the former of which was fussing over his hair and clothes.
Since Midtown had no official school uniform, the students were free to wear whatever clothes they wanted. Harry originally just wanted to go to school in a simple shirt and jeans combo, but his mother had insisted that he at least try and look smart. Which was why Harry was currently wearing a pair of smart brown shoes, grey trousers and a white button shirt under a thin black jumper. The clothes weren't as big of a problem as Harry's hair, he might be an Osborn but he still had the classic Potter hair, AKA a wild and uncontrollable mess.
"Dear God, what is wrong with your hair?" Harry's mum blurted out before throwing her comb away in frustration.
"I don't know, I guess my hair is just rebellious." Harry shrugged before he ran a hand through his messy hair. It was a fact of life, the sun was bright, the sky is dark at night and fixing Harry Potter's hair is a losing fight.
"Are you sure you don't want to go to that nice private school?"
Norman frowned as they stopped outside of the school, the school might have looked fairly decent if you weren't comparing it to a massively bigger and richer school.
"I'm sure, Dad," Harry barely managed to stop himself from rolling his eyes, his father really wanted him to go to that school but Harry was not willing to risk the possibility of spending another five years with a Draco Malfoy, even if it was a muggle one. There was also the possibility that there was another person similar to Draco at this school, but Harry was more than willing to ignore that possibility, and when he couldn't he remembered that a regular school would at least decrease the chances of that happening.
"Honestly, Norman," Emily huffed as she stared at her husband in a disapproving manner. you act like your son will catch a disease or something if he stoops down and mingles with the common folk."
"No, it's not like that," Norman sighed. "it's just that I feel like the other school was much better."
"Perhaps it was, but Harry did not want to go there, so he won't, yes?" Emily asked, raising an eyebrow in what was a clear invitation for him to agree with her and spare himself the trouble of what would happen if he didn't.
"Of course," Norman nodded, dutifully giving Emily a small smile.
"Thanks, Mum," Harry smiled at her before he picked up his backpack. "okay, love you." Harry pecked her on the cheek before he nodded to his dad who gave him a nod back as he pulled out his phone when it started ringing.
"Good luck, Harry," Norman told him before he answered his phone. "yes Otto? Yes, no, that shipment was authorised last Tuesday.'
• 11
"Have a good day at school, sweetie," Emily smiled at him, seeing that Norman was now preoccupied with work.
"Thanks, Mum," Harry nodded and sent a final goodbye to their driver before he stepped out of the car and closed the door behind him. A few seconds later the car drove off, Harry gave a small wave in its direction since he figured that his mother was probably looking back at him. Once the car was out of sight Harry turned his attention back to the school and saw a group of boys and girls staring at him. "Yeah?" He asked the group of people that looked to be a year or two older than him.
"Dude, you just came out of a limo! Are you rich or something?"
One of them asked.
"Well," Harry thought about his answer, truthfully if you weren't as rich as someone like Tony Stark then you were basically a peasant compared to Harry's family, at least money-wise. "a bit." Harry eventually settled on. He gave the group a small nod before he walked over to the school.
Harry currently found himself sitting down in a classroom that he was apparently supposed to report to at the start of every school day so he could be registered, the teacher that was supervising them, a teacher called Mrs Smith had asked that everybody get up one by one and introduce themselves.
"Hi guys, I'm Liz Allen." One pretty girl in nice clothes said just before the most muscular kid in the class stepped up, he might not have been the tallest, that achievement went to some boy named
'Kenny Kong', but this latest kid looked the most athletic here. He had combed blonde hair, a grin on his face and was dressed in expensive-looking jeans and a T-shirt.
"I'm Flash," The boy announced. "Flash Thompson."
" don't have a 'Flash Thompson' on the register," Mrs Smith frowned as she stared down at the paper in her hands. "hmm, maybe you've come to the wrong classroom."
"What?" Flash blinked. "…..no...I..."
"Ah wait, there is a Eugene Thompson," Mrs Smith smiled.
"Call me 'Flash'!" The boy insisted.
"If you're sure," Mrs Smith murmured before signalling Flash to sit down, once he was sat down she began calling for the next few students to come.
"Um...hi," Said a skinny boy with brown hair and glasses, dressed in black shoes and smart black trousers along with a white buttoned shirt, he had a pen and pencil sticking out of his chest pocket, on his head he wore a pair of glasses much like Harry used to in his previous life and did for a few short years in this life before he got contact lenses (apparently Harry was also destined to have bad eye-sight in every world), though this boys glasses weren't as expensive judging by how they looked. Harry looked around the class and saw that this boy and himself probably looked the nerdiest when compared to everybody else's casual clothes. "I'm Peter, Peter Parker." His voice held a nervousness that he had tried and failed to hide.
"Excellent, take your seat, Mr Parker." Mrs Smith told him before looking down at her register. Peter awkwardly shifted on his feet before walking back to his seat, unfortunately for him, he didn't notice Flash putting out his foot. A second later the whole class witnessed poor Peter Parker falling straight down to the floor while his glasses fell off of his head, a great many of them laughed, though none laughed as loud as Flash who looked like he was bursting with laughter. "What happened?!" Mrs Smith interrupted, standing up and seeing Peter on the floor. "Mr Parker, what happened?"
"He tripped." Flash laughed while Harry rolled his eyes. Even if Harry didn't have a problem with bullies, he didn't think that tripping over somebody was that funny.
"I didn't trip, you tripped me!" Peter hissed as he looked around for his glasses, meanwhile, Flash stopped laughing and glared at Peter.
"Shut it, dweeb!"
"Mr Thompson!" Mrs Smith interrupted. "That is horrible behaviour, since this is the first day of school I am willing to give you a pass, but if I ever see behaviour like this again then expect to see yourself in detention, is that understood?"
"Yes Ma'am," Flash mumbled, looking less than pleased.
"Here you go, dude," Harry said to Peter after picking up the boy's glasses and handing them to him.
"Thanks," Peter said gratefully before he put them on and stood up, he gave Harry an appreciative look before he went to his seat.
"Now, it is your turn to stand up and introduce yourself to the class," Mrs Smith told Harry. Harry bit back a sigh before he stood up and walked to the class, he stopped in front of everyone and began introducing himself.
"Hello, my name is Harry Osborn."
"Osborn?" Mrs Smith blinked before looking down at the register, after a second she found his name and looked back up at him. "As in the son of Norman Osborn?" She asked, wide-eyed.
"Yep." Harry barely refrained from rolling his eyes. Apparently, he was destined to be burdened by fame, even if the fame came from somebody else.
"Amazing." The teacher blurted out. "is vour father...
"Uh, Mrs Smith, if I'm done then can I go back to my seat and sit down now?" Harry asked, interrupting her before she could say anymore. Mrs Smith paused before realising that she was about to fan-girl over a celebrity to his son.
"Um...yes," She said with an embarrassed blush. Harry went back to his seat while being careful to not get tripped up just like Peter had been earlier. Fortunately Flash had the necessary brain cells to realise that it wouldn't be a good idea to repeat the same trick in front of a teacher who had already caught him doing it.
"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 vou because of who vour 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.
guess I like to read," Harry answered. "I like fictional stuff, but when your dad's like mine then you tend to like reading nonfictional 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.
"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. " thought the first one was better though."
"Same." Peter nodded. "mv 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.
"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, 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.