The Heir of Hogwarts

The Unique Zoo Trip

The Dursley household was loud June 23rd, 1991. Petunia, Harry Potter's aunt, was in the kitchen cooking. Vernon Dursley, Harry Potter's uncle, was watching television on the couch. Dudley Dursley, Harry Potter's cousin, was running down the stairs very loudly in attempt to wake his cousin. Harry Potter was in the cupboard, under the stairs, waking up from the loud noises.

Harry went to climb from the cupboard when his cousin pushed him back inside. The small, underweight boy, stumbled as he was pushed. He climbed from the cupboard and into the kitchen, heading to where his aunt was standing only seconds before. Petunia had her hands over Dudley's eyes as she lead him to the living area where all of his presents were for his 11th birthday.

Harry walked to the eggs and bacon as he heard his cousin scream, ignoring it, and putting the breakfast onto four separate plates, his plate having the least amount of food on it. "How many are there?!" The overweight boy asked, well screamed, at his father.

"36! Counted 'em myself." His father had paused the television in order to watch his son.

"36?! But- But last year I had 37!" The boy was screaming at the top of his lungs. Harry resented his cousin so much for his attitude. Dudley always complained because he didn't get enough presents each year. Harry didn't get any. Well, unless you count a pair of dirt old socks from Vernon a present. Harry made his way to the table as his aunt spoke up.

"Dudykins, some of the gifts are quite a bit bigger than the ones you had last year." Dudley's mother tried to sooth her son, failing of course.

"I don't care! I had 37 last year, I expect more than that this year!"

It was Vernon's turn to speak. "Alright son, we will stop and pick you up two more gifts on the way from the zoo. How does that sound?"

"The zoo! Let's go now!" Dudley was bouncing on the balls of his feet.

Harry finished setting the table and they all ate. Once everyone ate and were fully dressed, shoes and all, they headed out to the car. Vernon grabbed Harry's hair, pulling him to the side. "If anything happens, no food for a week." He spat at the small boy. Harry nodded his head, as he learned to do early on, and climbed into the backseat with his cousin.

20 minutes later, the family arrived at the zoo. For most of the trip, Harry was reading an interesting school book of his. But, upon arriving at the Reptile House, Harry placed his bookmark into his book and tucked it safely under his arm.

Dudley walked over to a Boa Constrictor upon entering. The boy started banging on the glass, ignoring the sign that read Do not tap on glass. Snakes will be disturbed. Harry rolled his eyes as his uncle also began rapidly tapping the glass separating them and the snake. "This is boring! Why won't he wake up?!" The bigger boy walked away afterwards.

Harry leaned against the railing that was in front of the glass wall and spoke, not realizing his language changing. "People just don't understand that you are sleeping, do they?" The snake nodded his head at Harry. "Can you understand me?" Again, the snake nodded his head.

Dudley ran over, pushing Harry to the floor and banging on the glass whenever he saw the Boa Constrictor was awake. "Mum, Dad, look! The big snake is awake!" Harry held back the urge to say, Yeah, and it's still smaller than you. But, remembering his uncle's warning, he held his tongue.

Harry looked to the snake, telling it was annoyed. How he could tell, he did not know. Harry being fed up with his cousins behavior, the glass vanished. The small boy fell into the exhibit and the glass reappeared as the snake left the exhibit. On his way by the small boy however he hissed, "Thank you sssspeaker." Harry was amazed at the fact that the snake could speak to him. He also called Harry a speaker. What's a speaker? Harry wondered as his uncle approached him.

"This is all your fault boy!!" Harry was furious. He couldn't make glass disappear, it was impossible. However, knowing his punishment would be worse if he spoke, he stayed silent.

For the next week and a half, the boy was locked in his cupboard without any food, coming out occasionally to do chores.

Little did he know, everyone in the wizarding world was awaiting his 11th birthday, everyone trying to apply their children for Hogwarts, the school the boy would be attending, just so that their children would have a chance of becoming friends with him.