Do you ever become friends with someone because you feel bad, then start to actually like and be protective over them?

Like Aristotle once said, "All great friendships are born of pity and condescension"

It’s happened a couple of times. I’m not proud of it, but some of the people I bullied in my younger years became some of my best friends as I matured, apologized and got to know them.

That pretty much sums up me in junior high. I made friends with all the outcasts and got them to befriend each other.

no, the friendships i've made out of sympathy or pity never work out.

Nope