A Trip to the Zoo
The morning started with screeching for the twins. Waking to the sound of their Aunts voice telling them sharply to wake up and get started was the norm for the two. Carefully sitting up on the cots they had they carefully gathered their clothes for the day and braided up Mariposa's long red hair and tied a bandana over it to hide the vibrant hair.
"You two better not burn breakfast today it needs to be perfect for my duddlikins big day." She said as she saw that they both stood there realizing what day it happened to be. Mariposa nodded and moved around Harry to start the cooking while Harry nodded once more and began keeping the kitchen clean as she cooked. They worked in tandem bacon cooking in its own grease. Eggs cracked and scrambled carefully then added to another pan. Toast was carefully made then buttered at the right moment to be perfect as the food was settled to the table.
"Mum how many presents are there this year?" The birthday boy asked as he began to shovel food into his mouth.
"37 presents," Petunia replied and saw the twins brace for the tantrum.
"Thirty seven?!? Last year I had More!" Dudley began to rant.
"We will get you two more presents while we are out today to celebrate your birthday that will leave you with 39," petunia said quickly.
Dudley just nodded as it was expected and would make sure they were expensive.
"Pet darling seems that Arabella has a broken leg and won't be able to take the two terrors,"Vernon sneered as he stared with so much hate at the twins that were cleaning away at the spotless kitchen to be seen doing something productive to earn their keep.
"I guess we have no choice we cannot leave them here," Petunia said as she looked at them as they paused and looked up.
"But it's my birthday and I don't want them there!" Dudley began ranting.
"I'll make sure you and your friends don't have to be seen with them but they have to come, if you allow it I'll add a present to your pile," Vernon said which pacified the young boy who nodded.
"Go clean up after making yourselves a little toast and water," Petunia said as she went about finishing her own breakfast. She could not be seen being to kind to them but once Vernon was distracted with the boys she would try to get the twins something cheap to supplement their weak breakfast. It was about appearances right now and with them going out into public she could get them some actual protein but they would have to be patient.
The twins quietly ate and drank their water before going back to find their better clothes. The two of them were tiny due to their shared living space. Mariposa found it hard to not feel bad about how her twin suffered more. She only hopes something would change with them about to go into secondary school soon.
"Brother, do you think anything will change?" She asked softly. Her voice was soft to keep from drawing attention. It seemed like when ever she spoke or was happy she was punished by Vernon or Petunia. She didn't want to get caught talking to much.
"I don't know butterfly," Harry said worried she would lose her sparkle that she tried to hide from everyone. He knew if she tried to make friends she would gain the target he had from time to time so they found solace in books regardless what their grades said. Since Dudley had been held back one year the twins had to dumb down their own work to never do better than him.
"I want something to change, even a long lost uncle that could take us would be nice," she said sighing as she grabbed one of her dresses that was only for "family" outings. It was a little washed out but it made her look like a doll. She was careful as she helped Harry pick out his best clothes that she had tailored by hand. She smiled as he saw it was the outfit she had fixed for him.
"Making it a family outing posa?" Harry asked
"Of course Ric, we are celebrating our loving cousins birth, we have to look our best or we would make the whole outing for nought," she said as she carefully grabbed the pale blue scarf to tie her hair back with and protect her from the sun.
"Of course my dear butterfly, let's go face inspection," he said helping her switch to her Mary Jane's and he tied his own sneakers.
The twins carefully stepped out and looked down as they waited to be noticed. "Finally," Dudley stated as he shoved past to go to the car. Vernon said nothing but sneered at them. He paused then looked at them and stated as a second thought. "No funny business today be quiet and shadows and you might get dinner tonight," he said letting them know that they were going to get food out since it was their image of wealth.
Petunia watched them as they walked out to the car and prayed that the day went smoothly. It was hard when both seemed to cause unexplainable things to happen.
The ride over to the Zoo was uneventful but Petunia was still getting the feeling something was going to happen while here. She could not be prepared for what would happen with the twins as she sat there riding along.
For the majority of the day Mariposa and Harry stayed back and let their cousin make a fool of himself in public. They were careful to be polite and well mannered as they went through the crowd when the birthday boy who was turning 12 was acting more like he was turning 7. When lunch happened they were able to eat a hotdog a piece and have water. Mariposa was able to get them a second cup by asking nicely but when Dudley tried to demand more soda he was told only water was free refills. This made him become a right terror for the rest of the day. His foul mood was taken out on the animals through yelling and aggressive displays.
So them going into the reptile house was a recipe for disaster. Not every reptile was day time hunters so many were barely moving or were trying to rest for shows and such they were going to be part of later. So when Harry and Mariposa were standing carefully by the boa enclosure. Talking to each other and seeing the snake respond they hid their excitement as they continued to converse with the boa. It didn't take long for the snakes movement to draw their cousins attention after he had moved on. He shoved both of them out of the way.
Harry did his best to take the brunt of the fall. Mariposa was careful as she looked back and saw her cousin plastered against the glass. She glared as she tried to get up with Harry's help. It wasn't until they looked away that the revenge seemed to take hold. The glass disappeared and what was once holding up the rotund boy left him free falling into the tropical enclosure.
Without a moments hesitation the snake escaped it's enclosure. The boa snapped at people as it said thanks leaving the snake house. Mariposa seemed to cower into Harry's arms to make it seem it wasn't their fault as Dudley tried to get out only to find the glass back in place and him trapped on the other side.
Mariposa did her best to keep Harry from laughing but she just had him lean into her so it seemed that he was comforting her even if he was laughing at the situation.
The ride home was only broken by the shivering of Dudley as the twins tried to remain as quiet and unseen as possible. Mariposa was watching as Vernon glared at them in the mirror. She didn't know what the glare was for but she didn't want to be on the other side of his anger.
Once the reached the house Petunia helped Dudley inside and Mariposa and Harry carefully made their way to go back to their room. As they thought nothing would be said Mariposa felt her arm get gripped. She gasped as she was pulled back to their uncle. He was livid and purple.
"Now tell me what happened and no funny business," Vernon hissed at the twins adding pressure to Mariposa's arm.
"We don't know sir," Mariposa started tears in her eyes as she tried to not move. "We had been pushed from the enclosure moments before and were trying to get righted when it happened," she said not letting her tears fall.
Vernon sneered at her as he looked at Harry how nodded. "It's the truth sir, we were busy trying to get up when the snake escaped, I then kept Mariposa from getting to close and tried to comfort her while looking for Dudley as I thought he had been closer," he said
"Fine," Vernon relented and released Mariposas arm and told the twins to go change and make dinner then return to their room. He couldn't place it on them if they never mentioned magic.
Mariposa and Harry walked quickly to their room and did as they were told. Harry looked over Mariposas arm and could see where the bruises would form just under her shirt sleeves.
They nodded and carefully went about making dinner staying silent and letting everyone else eat and talk. They washed up the dishes then returned to their room. It had been a long day but not a terrible one so they considered it a win that the door wasn't locked.