The Call Of The Snakes

2 - Happy Birthday!

Harry woke up, and as soon as he was awake, he practically sprung out of bed. It was his birthday! The best day of the year, with candy, that Jack stole from the matron, and gifts, that Lillian snuck out to buy!

He was almost immediately greeted by Ruby. She slithered over to him, and wrapped herself around his legs. She had to go around them many times, since she was a big snake. "Good morning, Raven," she greeted, to which Harry grinned, and said back, "Mornin' Ruby."

He picked up the snake, and let her slither around his neck, shoulders, and chest, before he began walking downstairs. He was still in the oversized pyjamas he had gotten from Jack, but nobody paid much attention to him and his clothes anyways. His allies didn't even know it was his birthday, and they probably didn't care either.

As soon as Harry was downstairs, he was greeted by a girl. She was tall, for a girl of her age, which seemed to be thirteen, and had a mess of short curly light brown hair on her head. Her skin was dark, and her eyes blue, and almond shaped. She was wearing the same old hand me downs as most of the girls in the orphanage, but they fit her well, and she always said they were much more comfortable than new clothes anyways.

She greeted Harry by giving him a tight hug, and lifting him up into the air while hugging him. Ruby had managed to throw herself off Harry before she got caught as well. "Happy birthday, little Raven!" The girl said cheerfully, and using what air Harry had left, he said back, "Morning, Viper."

When Lillian finally put him down, his hair was ruffled from behind. And when he turned, he was met with a tall and slim boy. His hair was tangled, and in desperate need of a haircut, since it almost reached his shoulders. His eyes were like dark puddles of chocolate, and he was smiling mischievously at Harry. He looked like the guy that you definitely didn't want your children to be around, if you had any.

"So, our little Raven has aged another year? Amazing!" He said, making Harry chuckle. "Good morning to you too, Vulpex." He said, and Jack nodded in greeting.

Lillian grabbed Harry's arm, and began to lead him upstairs again, to her room, which Harry guessed that they had chosen to use to celebrate his birthday in.

Jack followed behind them, after he picked up Ruby, who wrapped herself around him.

When Lillian finally stopped, Harry's suspicions were proven to be correct, since she had lead him into her own small room. On the desk in the corner, there was a pile of gifts, and which was way bigger than normally, along with a letter. "Open the letter last." Jack told him, from behind.

Harry nodded, and starred with opening the square gifts, that he had guessed were books. He got several books on the wizarding world, along with some on pureblood manners, and etiquette. He was a bit confused on why he got those, but didn't complain.

All the books looked a bit worn out, and some had names inside of them, that had been erased, but were still slightly apparent. Harry didn't mind, knowing that Jack and Lillian has tried their best.

After opening the books, Harry began to open the big gift. It was soft, so he guessed that it was clothes.

When he opened it, he was surprised, however. It was clothes, but it was Jack's old Hogwarts uniform, just shrunk to fit Harry! The green colours of Slytherin were replaced by a dull grey, since Harry wasn't in a house yet, but it was still a uniform!

He turned around, and have his siblings a tight hug, before he opened the last gift, before the letter. It was a snake plushie, obviously wand made, probably by Jack.

It was the same silver snake as the Slytherin snake, and it had an emerald green belly. Harry chuckled. It was clear which house Jack and Lillian thought he were going to if he got his Hogwarts letter.

Speaking of letter, he looked over at the letter, and widened his eyes when he noticed it. It was the same letter that Jack and Lillian had gotten, just addressed to him!

Harry quickly reached over, and grabbed the letter. He opened it, almost tearing the parchment out of his excitement. He quickly skimmed over the letter, and his grin grew wider. "I'm going to Hogwarts!" He exclaimed happily, and turned around to capture his tall siblings in a tight hug. 

They returned it, of course, and congratulated Harry, clearly excited too. They all hoped Harry would go to Slytherin. Even Harry. He had heard much of the House of the Snakes, and definitely wanted to go there!

Jack soon let go, which caused the other two to do as well. "Let's go to Diagon Alley today. I already cleared it with Ms. Withers, and we have permission to go." He offered, and Harry nodded, excited to get the rest of the things he needed for Hogwarts. 

Lillian, of course, added her input. "Let's make a point to stop by Gringotts as well. I asked if people knew anything about the Potter family before we went home this year, and they said they were rich. So, it would probably be the best decision." Jack nodded in agreement. "Yes, let's do that too. Good idea, Viper. Raven, you go get dressed, and then we'll go." He said, with a smile. 

Harry nodded excitedly. "Sure! Can I bring Ruby too?" He asked, hoping for a yes, since he never went anywhere without his snake. "Of course, little Raven!"

Harry nodded, and took Ruby, who quickly wrapped herself around him. He picked up his many gifts, and sent his siblings on last big grin, before he exited the room, doing his best to keep everything in his hands. 

He soon finally reached his room, without dropping anything. And after placing his new clothes and snake plushie on the bed, he began putting his books in his shelf, next to the books he had been given by Lillian after she finished the years where she needed them, and had given them to him to read.

Harry placed his Hogwarts uniform in his small cabinet in the corner, and took out a pair of worn out jeans, along with an oversized hoodie, he had gotten from one of the older kids when he got adopted.

He also pulled on his old pair of shoes, that were almost falling apart, but he didn't mind. He let Ruby slither under the hoodie, and wrap herself many times around his chest, and place her head on his shoulder, to peek out of the hoodie. He then walked out of the small room he had gotten, and made sure to lock it, before he headed downstairs again, to meet his friends at the front door.

They were both ready to leave, and since Harry was too, they all left without a word. 

Harry had only been to Diagon Alley once, to help Lillian with her school shopping. And he couldn't remember the day clearly.

But he was not ready to visit it a second time, especially since his hair was brushed out of his eyes, and showed off the small scar on his forehead. 

Oh well, Jack had taught him a proper word for the thing he was going to experience when he entered the wizarding world again.

Fuck.