Harriet Potter book 1

Dudley's Birthday

I greatly apologize for the long wait. I was spending a lot of time trying to earn my college tuition and hadn't found time to write until now. I hope you all enjoy the update.

It had already been 10 years since the day Harriet was dubbed the girl that lived. Next to nothing changed at Pivet Drive, this includes the house that held a large brass four on it's door. This house is the one that took in Harriet but there were no differences in the house since she had entered with the exception of the pictures above the fireplace, where there were once pictures of the pudgy baby named Dudley there were now pictures of Dudley growing up. There were no signs of Harriet ever being taken into this home though, because those photos never featured her.

As the sun rose over the tidy garden outside of the Dursley's home and the light slowly spilled into the house, the occupants of the household began to stir. The first person to be up was Petunia Dursely and that was easily definable because of the shrill voice she used as she tried to stir Harriet from her dream. "Get up! Get up Now!" Harriet jolted awake at the sound of the voice blended with the banging on her bedroom door. "Up!" Her shrill voice called out once more before she stormed into the kitchen to begin setting up breakfast. The young girl rolled over in her bed and tried to remember some of the amazing dream she had been having; but all too soon her Aunt was back at her door, "Are you up yet?"

"I'm almost ready," Harriet replied.

"Well stop dawdling and hurry up. I want you to keep an eye on the bacon to make sure it doesn't burn. Everything must be perfect on my little boy's birthday."

Harriet rolled her eyes before brushing a spider off of her socks so that she could put them on. Spiders were nothing new to Harriet being as they loved the cabinet beneath the stairs a.k.a Harriet's bedroom. Once dressed she bustled down the hall and into the kitchen like she was asked. glancing over the counter Harriet found that the dining room table was buried underneath all of Dudley's birthday presents. Dudley always got what he wanted even that racing bike he pleaded for, though Harriet couldn't fathom why a kid whose entire exercise program consisted of being violent toward someone. Harriet, of course, was his favorite punching bag. It was easy to decipher how often she received beatings by the condition of her glasses; which, during his bouts of rage, are often knocked off of her face. This being the reason for the thick layer of scotch tape holding the bridge together.

By the time Harriet had to flip the bacon her Uncle Vernon had arrived, he barked out an obnoxious "Comb your hair," before going to sit at the table. Her uncle always had problems with her hair because it grows out all wild and untamable so she is often getting hair cuts, her hair has never been aloud to grow past her shoulders.

She had finally moved on to the fried eggs when Dudley strolled in. Dudley Dursely looked a lot like his father. Aunt Petunia liked to think of Dudley as a baby angel; Harriet, however, thought he looked more like a pig in a wig. When Harriet finally began setting the table, which was very difficult, it was about the same time the birthday boy finished counting his presents. "Only thirty-six. That's two less than last year!"

"Don't forget to count the present from your Aunt Marge. It's buried here under this huge present from your daddy and I see,"

"Thirty-seven then. It's still one short," The spoiled brat sneered at his parents. Harriet could tell he was close to throwing a tantrum because his face lit up a bright red. His mom easily soothed him though by promising him two more presents to make up for the one missing gift.

Instead of feeling upset with his son's greed Uncle Vernon praised the boy by saying, "Ah! That's my boy, always wanting his money's worth," as he ruffled his child's hair.

Aunt Petunia Soon left the room to answer the phone, after the minute it took her to talk on the phone she came back looking far more disappointed than she probably hoped to. "Mrs. Figg has a broken leg, say she can't watch her," She jabbed her thumb in Harriet's direction.

This new development invited conflict. At first they tried to find someone else that would be willing to watch the young girl but eventually they figured the best option would be to just bring her along. "As long as she doesn't leave the car," Dudley tried to negotiate.

That idea was immediately shot down when Vernon said, "Absolutely not. We just got that car." When his son started to turn red with the signs of yet another temper tantrum and eyes wide with fake tears he rushed to add that Harriet wouldn't cause any problems at the zoo so as not to ruin his birthday. Reluctantly Dudley agreed with his father.

Soon after this development settled Dudley's best friend Piers Polkiss arrived for their trip. Harriet was not fond of Piers because the scrawny rat-faced boy was often the one to hold the person Dudley was dead set on punching. About thirty minutes later Harriet was dubbed the luckiest person on earth becauseshe had the pleasure, or rather misfortune, of sitting between Piers and Dudley as they made their way to the zoo.

Nothing even remotely interesting happened at the zoo until after they had lunch. Dudley and Piers had wanted to see all these huge snakes that they had at the zoo. At the moment Dudley had his face pressed to the glass of the boa constrictor exhibit, whining about it not moving. "Make it move, dad." Uncle Vernon rapped his knuckles against the glass but receive no reaction from the snake. "Do it again," The birthday boy whined further. His father obeyed but the snake just ignored them. Bored Dudley wondered off.

Harriet moved to stand in front of the boa exhibit next. As she stared at the cobra she wondered how the poor thing hadn't died of boredom. She wondered how the snake was able to withstand the constant tapping on the glass. Harriet was snapped out of her thoughts when the snake raised its head so that they were at the same level as her's and then wink.

Harriet turned to see if anyone else was around to see it before turning back and winking in return. The snake jabbed it's head in the direction of Harriet's uncle and cousin before looking up. It was as if the snake was saying "I get that a lot."

Harriet didn't want to attract attention so she whispered back a short, "I know." It was so quiet she wasn't sure if the snake had heard her so i little louder she added "It must be really annoying.

The snake animatedly nodded back.

"Where do you come from?" The young girl questioned the snake.

In response the boa constrictor pointed it's tail in the direction of a little sign that was next to the glass. Harriet glanced at it and only read the breed and Brazil.

"Was it nice there?"

Again the snake simply gestured to the sign. Harriet read further ans found out that the boa was bred and raised in the zoo. "Oh- so you've never been to Brazil?"

The snake replied by shaking it's head no. A screech broke through the calm air the boa and Harriet had somehow managed to form. "DUDLEY! MR. DURSLEY! LOOK YOU WON'T BELIEVE WHAT THE SNAKE IS DOING! COME ON, LOOK!"

Dudley ran back as fast as he possibly could. With a quick shove Harriet was on the ground and Dudley was closer to the exhibit. As soon as the chubby boy started to lean against the glass it disappeared causing him to go tumbling into the exhibit. The snake quickly uncoiled and slithered it's way out off the space that once had glass. Again the boa winked and a weak hissed, "Here i come Brazil.....Thanksssss friend," was heard before the boa constrictor slithered off.

When Piers and Uncle Vernon went over to retrieve Dudley from the exhibit they find that the glass was once again firmly in place. While Aunt Petunia began to whimper and worry over her son, Piers went and noted a peticular observation, "Harriet! Harriet was talking to the snake!"

As soon as they got home Harriet was dragged to the cupboard beneath the stairs. Her uncle all but threw her in before slamming the door shut and locking it. "You are never leaving this blasted cupboard!" He swore before going to see to his son.

That turned out longer than I meant to make it. I hope you all enjoy it. Thanks :) Please give me feedback because it has been so long since I've last written.