The Speaking Serpent
Harry sat looking out the window of his aunt Petunia and uncles Vernon Dursleys car exhausted from the night prior. They came to get him at seven am prompt to “Beat the crowds.” Harry had foolishly stayed up late reading a book about Dragons. Each part of the dragon was available for use in brewing potions.
Harry had not received his Hogwarts letter yet but according to his Dad Severus Snape it was only a matter of time. Harry hoped it would come before his birthday.
The book was a gift from a family friend who he looked up too (literally and figuratively) Hagrid, a giant towering man, who to little eleven-year-old Harry, was a giant. Course Harry did not believe he was truly a giant since giants were according to wizarding world books as big as mountains. Harry had suspicions though.
“Harry you, are you wake?” Harry turned to see the other giant in his life. His cousin Dudley was a bit chunky for his age. But the kids left Harry alone since they were cousins, so he was not complaining. Dudley’s presence in the seat next to Harry naturally pushed Harry into the window like a book end. “You ready to see the snakes? And the lizards? I heard they have a kimono dragon! They bite people and follow them until they die so they can eat them.”
“Naraly.” Harry chuffed. If only he knew about the magical creatures and of what they were capable of doing to people. The Dursleys were muggles though and they angrily shut down any talk of “magic.” This did not matter to Harry they were family on his mom’s side. From what his dad had said about them they were a bit dim witted.
Upon entry to the local zoo Dudley immediately grabbed Harry and pulled him to where the retiles were. In the dark cave of the reptile’s enclosure Dudley zipped around to all the different ones looking for the deadliest. He landed on a Burmese python.
“TAP! TAP!” Dudley rapped on the glass. “Wake up your stupid lizard it’s time to entertain us.”
Poor Dudley, Harry thought such an idiot. Since it was in fact a snake and not a lizard. Dudley quickly gave up and ran off to the next enclosure. Harry stayed with the snake, “Sorry about my cousin. I have been trying to tell Aunt Petunia not to feed him pound cake for breakfast.” The snake lifted his head and winked at Harry. Baffled, Harry looked at the snake in disbelief. “Can you... understand me?”
The snake nodded its head and said, “I deal with them all day.”
Harry figured this must be a talking snake. “That is tough, I know what its like to not be among your own kind. Do you miss wherever you came from?”
The snake nodded to the sign that read, “Bred in captivity.” The snake continued, “What I wouldn’t give to get out of this place and get a proper stretch any chance you could help…”
The snake was interrupted, and Harry was knocked over by his whale of a cousin. Dudley was so excited he pressed his nose into the glass. Harry, irritated at his cousin for knocking him over. From the stone floor of the cave, watched Dudley. Seeing how Dudley was standing he suddenly wished very much that he would tip over into the enclosure to get a proper fright.
Then just that happened. The glass disappeared. Dudley went in and began bellowing. His aunt and uncle came running. And the snake only eyeing Dudley for a moment, said “He is lucky my mouth is not that big. Thanks.” Then slithered out of the cave hissing at everyone he passed to make room.