A/N: I don't know where this story idea came from or why I'm writing it for that matter when I have so many other works up that need attention…

However it just wanted to be published and I couldn't help but agree.

This story will start out as T and may later on become M as a general warning to everyone.

I hope you all enjoy this Prologue.

Onwards.

Disclaimer: Character belong to J.K. Rowling

Three year old Dudley looked on curiously as his mother locked the small boy away in the cupboard once again. Putting down his toys he walked to the locked cupboard and frowned when he heard a soft sob sound from within.

He had noticed the smaller child a lot more lately. At first, he seemed to almost blend into the background, never interacting with anyone besides obeying whatever order was given to him. He found it odd that the boy didn't live upstairs with them and how his parents treated him, but didn't think much of it. Lately however, he really wanted to talk to the mysterious stranger, but since his parents rarely ever let the boy out of the cupboard, it was almost impossible for Dudley to get to know him. It was always lonely playing alone, and more and more often Dudley couldn't help but hope that maybe the small boy would want to play with him if given the chance.

Mind made up he walked over to where his mother was now getting the roast done for dinner. He smiled up at her before softly tugging on her pretty flower patterned dress.

Her warm blue eyes lock onto his before she gave him a soft and loving smile. "What do you need pumpkin?"

He felt his heart beat up in anticipation and excitement, looking over at the closed cupboard he couldn't wait to start playing with the small boy. "I want to play with the small boy in the cupboard." He gave his mother his biggest puppy dog eyes, the ones that always worked on her. "Can I please mummy?"

His mother's smile seemed to slide off her face before her eyes became cold. He frowned as his excitement dulled. He had never seen his mother look at him so darkly before.

It terrified him.

"The boy…." She started slowly, a sneer on her face. "Is a freak and a menace." She smiled at Dudley and he couldn't help but shiver at how cold it looked. "You shouldn't concern yourself with him dear."

He frowned and nodded at his mother before walking out of the kitchen.

Looking back he noticed that she had started on the roast again, though she seemed stiffer then earlier, angrier as well.

He paused when he heard a soft sniff coming from the cupboard.

Turning once more to where his mother was he hurried back to his toys and picked out a few small metal soldiers.

Smiling softly he held them close to his chest before tip toeing back to the cupboard where he could hear the small boy sniffling.

Slowly he snuck the toys in through the open slots before hurrying away, a warm feeling blooming in his chest as wide smile lit up his face.

He for one would wait and see before he thought the small boy a menace.

4 years old

Dudley watched on as his father screamed at the small boy. His father's walrus like face was red with anger and slowly growing purple. His mother completely ignored the argument and merely tutted over his lack of appetite, fussing with him as if everything was completely fine and normal.

It disturbed him.

Earlier he'd watched as the boy had made their diner; he was so small he had to use a stool to reach the stove. However whenever he tried to help out his mother motioned him back to his toys, saying it would be too dangerous. He frowned and looked down at his food. How could it be dangerous, if they had someone younger then him cooking?

He felt sick.

He flinched when a loud slap sounded across the room and watched wide eyed as the child's small form trembled from the abuse. Bile rose from his throat as he eyed the already forming bruise, along with a couple of others the child's ragged clothes couldn't hide. Wide emerald green eyes were filled with tears as the small body trembled in fear. Boy seemed so weak and wretched.

He couldn't watch anymore.

He turned to his mother and whined pathetically.

"Muma! I can't eat with the freak here!" He spat out the words and was instantly disgusted with himself. "Make him go away!"

Thankfully his plan worked, if not he wasn't sure how much more he would be able to handle.

His mother smiled and nodded at him before turning to his father with a blank and cold expression, one that sent shivers down his spine. "Send the boy to his room; he's ruining Dudders appetite."

His father grunted before grabbing the trembling toddler by the hair and throwing him roughly into the cupboard before locking it.

Dudley had to swallow back bile when the small boy didn't even scream.

He trembled as he returned to his dinner and not for the first time wondered just how often this happened.

And if one day he would be the one locked away.

Dudley tipped toed out of his room carefully; pausing every now and then to make sure he's footsteps didn't wake up his parents.

One of the wooden floorboards creaked especially loud; making him pause and hold his breath in fear and panic. His tense shoulders finally relaxed when he could hear his father's loud snoring.

Without looking at the cupboard he hurried away into the kitchen and opened their large custom made fridge. Looking around he grabbed the heaviest and filling foods he could find before closing the door. Pausing once more to make sure no one was awake he walked over to the counter and grabbed the small rusted set of keys there before finally making his way over to the cupboard.

He felt awkward doing so and nervous. He had lived with boy for as long as he could remember and had never spoken to him, only slipping him treats every now and then and watching him whenever he was let out to do some chore. Hs heart beat loudly in his chest as he started to wonder what boy was like. Perhaps they could be friends?

Shaking his head he took one of the keys and sighed in relief when the padlock clicked open softly. Moving it out of the way he slowly opened the door and waited for his eyes to adjust.

Boy was sitting up looking at him curiously.

His cute dark wild hair framed his face perfectly and made him seem cherubic and innocent. Large green eyes seemed to glow softly in the dark and looked at him with child like curiosity while his small and bruised body trembled.

Whether it was from the cold or fear Dudley wasn't certain.

He smiled hesitantly at the small child. "Hello." He whispered, still standing awkwardly in front of boy.

The small child blinked at him in surprise before returning a soft and gentle smile of his own. "Hi."

Dudley decided at that moment he really liked boy's voice.

It wasn't harsh and grating like his mother's, or gruff as his father's usually was. Even Pier's high pitch tone didn't compare.

Boy's voice was soft and gentle, and made Dudley think of wind chimes oddly enough.

He gestured to the food he was holding and grinned at the small child. "I thought you might be hungry." His eyes soften when he noted the look of surprise and shock on the younger's face. "Mind if I come in? We can share if you want." He added nervously, afraid of being rejected.

Boy nodded and slid to the end of his small cot, leaving more then enough room for Dudley. He sat inside the cupboard and grinned before offering the young child a spoon.

It was too dark to tell but boy seemed to blush softly as he hesitantly grabbed the spoon and one of the containers Dudley gave him. "Thank you."

Dudley smiled and acting on instinct ruffled boy's incredibly soft ebony locks. "No need for thanks." He smiled and started on his own night time snack. "It's what friends do."

Boy's almost dropped his food as his eyes widened in shock. "Friends?" He whispered, the word sounding foreign in his tongue.

Dudley nodded and bit into an apple he pilfered from the fridge before glancing at the obviously starved child with a soft smile. "Of course; you live here with me." He shrugged nervously. "So I thought we could be secret friends." He gestured upstairs. "I don't think it'll be good if my parents find out."

Boy nodded seriously before returning his attention to the leftovers Dudley had given him; a soft smile on his gentle face. "Friends then."

Dudley grinned.

Age 5

Dudley grinned as he sat next to the smaller boy. "I found out what we are today!"

Boy blinked at him curiously before tilting his head cutely. "You did?"

Dudley nodded and grinned before showing boy an old family album. "We're cousins! That means we're related!"

Boy frowned in helpless confusion. "What does that mean exactly?"

Dudley hummed and leaned back in the small cupboards before opening the old album he'd swiped earlier from his mother as she busied herself cleaning the attic with a somber mood. Turning the pages his eyes quickly looked through some of the pictures before finally pausing on one in particular. Gesturing boy to come closer he pointed it out to him.

It was a picture of two young girls; one with blonde hair, and the other a vibrant red. The one with red hair had a soft and pretty face similar to boy's, yet it was her eyes that caught his attention earlier. Her eyes were an exact match to the ebony haired child. Earlier when he'd seen his mother sob over the pictures he knew it just had to be boy's mum, there was no other explanation in his mind. He smiled as boy looked at the picture curiously. "Cousins means that my mum and yours were related." He gestured to the one with red hair. "This has to be your mum! Isn't she so pretty?" He gushed excitedly.

Boy eyed the picture sadly before reaching out with a trembling hand and touching the aged picture with a look of reverence. "Do you…" He paused as his voice trembled slightly. "Do you think she really was a good for nothing whore?"

Dudley frowned and shook his head. "I think my parents lie a lot." He smiled and gave the smaller boy a hug. "They say you're bad after all; but you're more like a cute brother!"

Boy's smiled as he returned the hug, quickly blinking away his tears. "Does that mean you're the older brother?"

Dudley sniffed with his nose in the air. "Of course! I take care of you don't I? That mean's I'm the oldest and bestest!"

Boy giggled, and once more Dudley wished he could hear that sound more often. "Big brother." He tested the words out on his tongue before smiling brilliantly. "I like it!"

Dudley smiled softly before turning back to the picture book. "Good! Now let's see if we can find your mum some more…"

Dudley frowned worriedly as he eyed the ripped and torn clothes boy was forced to wear. Whenever he had outgrown his clothes his mother would throw them at boy, but they couldn't keep him warm, especially with winter coming.

He grinned as a brilliant idea popped into his head.

Running to the coat closet he frowned as he eyed the small cupboard. It had grown cramp in there recently, he wished that boy could have a room upstairs, but already knew it would be a useless endeavor. Shaking his head he pulled out his emerald colored coat. It had reminded him of boy's eyes and he couldn't help but pick it when they went shopping. Running to his mother he pulled on her dress roughly. "Mum!" He whined loudly, making sure he seemed bratty as possible before shoving his new winter coat at her. "I don't want this anymore!"

She frowned at him and sighed softly. "But darling you liked it enough when we went to the store…"

He shook his head and screamed in aggravation; grinning inwardly he wondered if boy was enjoying the show. "But this one is green! I want blue!" He started to kick everything around him, getting closer and closer to tantrum level.

His mother bent down and tried to calm him. "It's alright love; we'll just return it-"

"NO!" He screeched in anger and worry. "I want a blue one now! No return or else I'll scream!"

His tantrum seemed to be working as his mother merely nodded to appease him. Softly grabbing the coat from his hands she smiled at him. "Alright popkin, we'll go and get you a new one." She grimaced at the coat she was holding. "I guess we can give this to the boy." She grumbled in obvious annoyance.

Dudley couldn't suppress his smile at that.

Success.

He frowned as he eyed all the food that boy was once more forced to make. Making note of the healthiest entrees on the table he mentally checked off what he'll need to bring for boy later on in the night.

Boy had been sneezing a lot lately even with the warm coat he now wore to sleep, and Dudley vowed he wouldn't let his little brother get ill if he could help it.

He sighed as the adults talked about utter nonsense before smiling at the thought that in just a few short months both he and boy would be starting school together.

Maybe there they could be friends; though still keep it sorta secret, so that his parents didn't find out. He sighed happily in thought of having boy finally leave the house. With school boy wouldn't have to worry about his father or-

He was shaken out of his musing by a high pitch bark and had to suppress the urge to glare darkly at the mutt running around his Aunt Marge's meaty leg. He always hated his aunt's annoying dog ripper, more now so since he had try to bite boy earlier.

He shivered as he remembered the horrid memory, of how the adults just stood by with small amused smiles as they let boy be attacked.

Sighed he started to play with his food; knowing from experience that his appetite was already long gone.

Tapping his fork against his plate he began to mentally count down the hours until he could go talk with boy again.

Dudley played with boy's shoulder length hair as he tried to rest. Despite all of the precautions Dudley had taken, the small child had ended up with a high fever. It had been days now since the small boy had been able to move without having a coughingfit and Dudley was beginning to get worried.

Boy smiled up at him sadly, his breath coming out in soft pants as he struggled to breath. "Dudley?" He asked softly.

Dudley smiled at him. "Yes?"

Boy sighed softly and opened his hazy emerald eyes. "Marge told me that my parents are dead." He smiled sadly at the older boy. "Do you think I can be dead too?" He looked down at his small cot. "Maybe my parents wouldn't mind me so much… or think of me as a bother…"

Dudley's heart stopped at those innocent words. He didn't fully understand what dead meant, but he knew it wasn't good.

Dead meant you had to go somewhere far away.

If boy was dead… Dudley would never see him again.

He didn't want that.

Wrapping his arms around boy's too small waist he brought him up for a hug, ignoring the fact that he could get sick if he held him for too long.

"I don't want you to be dead though." He held boy tighter, scared that he would disappear should he let go. "I want you to stay here with me."

Boy nodded, his soft ebony lock tickling Dudley's cheek. "Okay, I'll stay with you… big brother."

Dudley smiled in relief, and noted faintly that his heart no longer hurt.

Age six

Dudley froze at the foot of the stairs in horror. He knew tears were streaming down his face and that his body was trembling but he couldn't look away.

He had been reading a story book his mother had brought him, trying to find which stories would be the best to read to boy when he'd heard a small scream.

Dropping the book he had rushed down the stairs and was now forced to watch the horrific scene.

His father was obviously drunk. Dudley could see the liquor bottle the man clumsily held in one large meaty hand as his whale like body began to sway dangerously. His face was a dark purple and he could vividly see the man's veins as he seemed to growl at what he was currently kicking, every now and then he would say a curse or something equally demeaning as he delivered a particularly hard kick.

He couldn't help but shiver in fear when he saw his father's eyes gleam with sadistic pleasure.

Turning his attention to the floor Dudley instantly felt sick.

Boy was full out sobbing with pain as he tried to make his body small. Bruises were already showing up all over his too pale skin and he could see that one of boy's arms was twisted in an unnatural angle.

What truly made him sick though was all the blood.

Blood that seemed to soak all over the floor, painting it a gruesome red as it spilled away from boy's too small body.

"Useless freak!" The whale of a man roared angrily as he kicked at boy's ribs; grinning when he was rewarded with a sickening crack and scream. "You bloody cost me a deal! I'll make you regret it you worthless waste of space!" He hissed angrily as he began raining down blows on the small and trembling child.

Dudley couldn't take the horrific scene any longer and desperately sought out his mother. Maybe she could stop his father! He was going to kill boy if this contiu-

He felt his body still as he watch her bustling in the kitchen, ignoring the horror that was happening just a few feet away from her.

As if it was normal.

Boy screamed out again as yet another sickening crack sounded through the house.

Slowly he felt his heart turn to ice as he looked upon his parents with a blank mask.

Had anyone noticed him they would have seen his eyes burning with pure hatred.

Dudley cooed softly as he tried to tend to the softly sobbing boy, the rag he's chosen earlier was now completely drenched with blood, as was the bowl he had set aside with warm water.

"Shh boy, you'll be ok, c'mon don't cry." He smiled sadly as he wiped away boy's tears, careful not to apply too much pressure to his bruises.

Boy trembled and gasp as spasms of pain went through his small body. "I-it h-hurts." He sobbed weakly.

Dudley swallowed and nodded. "I know… I'm so sorry…"

Boy looked up at him with tear stained cheeks, his eyes filled with hope and fear. "Make it stop?'

Dudley stilled before nodding, a determined glint entering his eyes before he looked down at the small boy. "One day… I'll make it all stop…" He held the small boy close, not caring for the blood soaking through his clothes. "I'll make it all stop."

The small child pressed closer against him, seeming to not hear his quiet vow. "You're so warm."

Dudley blinked in surprise before gasping in shock as a white light seemed to envelope boy's body, the wounds closed up and small pops could be heard as broken bones aligned back together. Boy sighed and closed his eyes as he fell asleep, his breathing no longer labored or pain filled.

Dudley looked at his hands in surprise as they tingled, a warm feeling filling his chest.

He smiled and kissed boy's forehead. "One day… no one will ever hurt you again."

A/N: Just a short prologue to kick things off with. I thought I should mention that this story will be slash later (way later) for anyone curious. Also on that note if anyone has any suggestions on who they would like Harry to end up with by all means suggest away. Dudley can be a slash or het pairing; I'm honestly not that picky when it comes to him.

That's it for now; I hope you've all enjoyed the first installment of Brothers and will stick around, even if the updates may be sporadic at best.

Thank you.

Till next time.