The Dursleys
"36, but last year, last year I had 37." Daisy Potter was awoke with a start by the screams of her morbidly obese and even more morbidly spoiled cousin Dudley. Since the death of their mother when she was 4 Daisy's father James had established a tradition whereby they along with her older brother Blake would visit her mother's sister Petunia Dursley and her family for a few days once a year. However since Blake was now of age he didn't have to come, despite Daisy's protests James promised the only major bulk of time they would have to spend with the Dursely's was on Dudley's birthday which was today.
Daisy thought maybe she could avoid this by continuing to sleep but as she rolled over the door to the bedroom opened. "Surely I thought you're cousins outburst would've woken you up sleepy head, but if that didn't do the trick then it'll have to be the tickle monster." As James swiftly leapt onto the bed, intending to land on his daughter she rolled out of it, laughing at him. James Potter was 35, 6'1, muscular with messy black hair and hazel eyes, adorned by spectacles. Aside from the 17 year age gap Blake was the spitting image of their father. Propping his head up on one arm James stared down at his 10 year old daughter "As much as I would like to hole myself up in here, it means that we'll miss the zoo, and you know how obsessed I am with monkeys"
"Zoo" that one word brightened Daisy's day immediately.
"Yes, as part of Dudley's birthday present the five of us and some friend of Dudley's are going to the zoo" Daisy sunk back down into a moody slump "Hey, come on now, odds are they'll ditch us at the reptile house anyway. Unless we ditch them first and 'accidentally' trap Dudley in a snake enclosure."
…
"You do know I was kidding right" said James, trying and failing to suppress a grin. The day had started out nicely enough. On a sunny Saturday Daisy, James, Vernon, Petunia, Dudley and his friend Piers had had a fairly pleasant time wandering around the zoo. Although there had been segregation between the Potter's and Dursely's, Piers continued making comments to Daisy. James noted that he was always trying to impress the girl or make her laugh, clearly because he had something of a crush. James couldn't blame him. His very pretty emerald eyed, red haired daughter was the spitting image of her mother-who had been a stunning woman. James felt sure that when Daisy was grown the only distinguishing features between her and her mother would be the glasses Daisy wore (she had been afflicted with her father's eyesight) and the lightning bolt scar that marred her forehead. James liked not to dwell on that terrible night; that had left him a widower and single father to two children instead of three. Unbeknownst to her, it has also left his cherished daughter one of the most famous people in the wizarding world. He only had a month left until her 11th birthday when he would tell her the truth. How he wished he could stop time.
"Daddy, daddy" he was torn out of his thoughts and looked down to see Daisy tugging on his shirt "Yes babe"
"Uncle Sirius and Uncle Remus are here" looking up James could see that there stood in front of him stood his two best friends. They had decided to come spend some time with their goddaughter at the zoo. "Prongs, I know these meerkats are adorable and all but they're hardly captivating enough to warrant you ignoring the two of us" commented a very amused Remus.
"I don't know Moony, they've got me and Miss Daisy pretty mesmerized" chimed Sirius as he and his goddaughter mimicked the motions of the animals. Remus sighed. James laughed. "Oi Prongs, where'd the land whales and horse face go," questioned Sirius. Daisy stared up at her godfather before laughing incredulously, if she didn't know who he was referring to it was cemented when James shoved Sirius and whispered, attempting to suppress a laugh himself, "I thought I told you not to call them that in front of Daisy". Sirius was about to fire back, when sensing an imminent amusing yet long winded argument on appropriate behaviour in the presence of children, Remus suggested they go to the reptile house.
The reptile house was cool and dark, with brightly lit windows lining the walls. Behind the glass, there was all manner of snakes and lizards crawling and slithering around. As the quartet entered the building they saw the robust figures of Vernon and Dudley Dursley, pressed up against the glass of some poor unsuspecting creature. After Vernon's futile attempts at invigorating the creature by rapping on the glass they left it in peace. As James, Sirius and Remus went to look at some lizard Daisy approached the glass.
This window contained what must be the largest snake in the place. This thick, man-crushing python could easily have ended the lives of great men in seconds and struck fear in the hearts of millions, but at the moment it was having a sleep. Daisy saw why Dudley had become disheartened with it-but Daisy wouldn't be surprised if the snake had itself died of boredom. The snake suddenly opened its beady eyes. Slowly, very slowly, it raised its head until its eyes were on a level with Daisy's. It winked.
Daisy stared. Then she looked quickly around to see if anyone was watching. They weren't; in fact James and Remus were busy teasing Sirius with some other snake. She looked back at the snake and winked, too. The snake jerked its head toward Uncle Vernon and Dudley, then raised its eyes to the ceiling. It gave Daisy a look that said quite plainly: "I get that all the time."
"It must be really annoying." Daisy murmured sympathetically. The snake nodded vigorously.
"Where do you come from, anyway?" Daisy asked.
The snake jabbed its tail at a little sign next to the glass. Daisy peered at it. 'Boa Constrictor, Brazil'. She was about to ask about Brazil when she saw that the sign further explained 'Bred in Captivity.' "I know what that's like" the snake jerked its head in a quizzical manner; Daisy scanned the room again then whispered "I'm a witch, but I grew up in the muggle world, but soon I'll be going to Hogwarts, that's a school for wizards." The snake's eyes seemed to brighten, as if it was smiling. Daisy was about to continue when "DUDLEY! MR. DURSLEY! COME AND LOOK AT THIS SNAKE! YOU WON'T BELIEVE WHAT IT'S DOING!" shouted Piers.
Dudley came waddling toward them as fast as he could. "Out of the way, you," he said, punching Daisy in the ribs. Caught by surprise, Daisy fell hard on the concrete floor. What came next happened so fast no one saw how it happened. Whilst Piers and Dudley were leaning right up close to the glass, Dudley had fallen in the enclosure causing Piers to leap back. Both were howling with horror.
Daisy sat up and gasped; the glass front of the boa constrictor's tank had vanished. The great snake was uncoiling itself rapidly, slithering out onto the floor. People throughout the reptile house screamed and started running for the exits. As the snake slid swiftly past him, Daisy could have sworn a low, hissing voice said, "Brazil, here I come... Thanksss, amigo." As if that wasn't enough, when Dudley went to get up…the glass of the enclosure had reappeared, trapping him inside.
Before Vernon or Petunia could do anything James, Sirius and Remus sprinted to Daisy's side and helped her to her feet. After Dudley had been released through the door of the enclosure, there was nothing but venomous stares from the Dursely's. Once they had arrived home James and Daisy packed up their belongings in the guest room, thanked the Dursely's for their hospitality and escaped through the front door. Instead of going home they decided to stay with Sirius in his London apartment and Daisy, James, Sirius and Remus spent the night howling with laughter as Daisy recounted what happened. Sirius couldn't help but comment that now they could term Dudley a land whale, as he had been exhibited in a zoo.
