Harry was content. Asha, the black mamba who had found him, was curled around his shoulders, which themselves were clad in a silken green shirt. Hedwig perched on his shoulder, and he wandered the midway. He stopped at a bench, pulled a sign tucked unobtrusively under his arm, and unfolded it. Two black cats, just out of kitten-hood, twined around his legs; almost blending in with the black jeans he was wearing. The sign read
"Meet the Creatures Not Before Seen
Please have caution.
Pictures 3.00 ea.
No animals are for sale."
Harry leaned back on the bench, and Hedwig hopped onto bench, giving him a nip on the ear for his trouble. Soon a little boy had spotted the sign.
"Hello mister. Can I pet your snake?" he was exited hopping from one foot to another. Asha lazily raised her head up, tongue flicking the air.
"Sure kid. One second, do you want to have her around your neck?" the boy nodded. His parents looked worried though.
"Excuse me sir, but what type of snake is that?" the father asked.
"Asha here is a black mamba, one of the most deadly snakes in the world. Don't worry though. As long as you move slowly with her, she's as well behaved as Hedwig here." Harry gestured to the owl, who barked as if to say 'Who? Me'. The parents nodded reluctantly, and Harry held his arm near the boy's shoulder. Asha slowly slithered down the extended arm and lay on the offered shoulder. The mother raised a camera, and Harry shook his head.
"Pictures are three dollars mam' and a bargain at that. Neither of my animals likes the flash much, but both put up with it." The woman sighed and handed over the money, and Harry pocketed it with a jingle. The photo was duly taken, both animals admired for another half hour by a variety of people, and then Harry stood up. He folded the sign up sent Hedwig on ahead to grab him some food, dropped Asha and his sign with one of the arcade game women, knowing that Asha would undoubtedly get a treat, and hurried over to the Rodeo stands. He was just in time to start fixing up the chuck wagons, making sure that tarps were fastened, harnesses secure, and axles unharmed, and started calming the excitable horses. The races passed without trouble, and the next day Harry did the same.
Manning a game was dull, but not completely boring. His eyes flickered to a man, tall with blue eyes and brown hair. He made his way over to the dart game Harry was handling.
"Hello Harry, when did you start working with a rodeo and midway?" he purred.
"When did we get on a first name basis Tom? I saw a way out of my family and took it. It has the added side affect of keeping me away from the manipulations of our beloved Headmaster." Harry was sidetracked for a few minuets, dispensing prizes and starting others up on the game.
"I must admit, no one would think to look here for you. If our connection wasn't able to aid me in finding you, I might never have found you."
"Why did you want to find me anyways? I want out, and I took it at the first opportunity possible. I don't have to wear a mask here, and the most life threatening thing I do is to calm restless animals. I was a snake in a lions den, and I was about to be squashed."
"Hmm, you are more of a snake than any of the others in the lions den, but all I've seen is the foolishness of a lion."
"I pride myself on never letting my mask slip. I really didn't see the point inn going through with any of the tests he set for me, but I did them, just because it was the only way I could keep my friends. I never had a friend before my eleventh birthday, did you know? No friend but the mice and the spiders. My first human friend was more interested in something I don't remember doing, and the first snake I met insulted my intelligence and the first people I remember being actively kind to me. I refused to admit I was a snake, and now I'm stuck as a lion."
"So a snake was the golden boy of the lions? That'll give my inner circle a laugh."
"Either play a game or go away Tom. I'm working for my food."
"So come with me, serpent. Come and never work again."
"It's going to take more than that for me to go away from here Tom." Hedwig flew towards him with a churro, Harry's version of heaven, and another crew member came. Harry accepted the churro, placed Asha around his neck, and walked to the horse corral.
A/N: I give you the evilness of the cliffy! It may be short but it's a start! Bow down to me and all the carnival sugary sweetness! I was at the Northern Peace Rodeo and Midway at Grimshaw when this idea started bugging me! I have no ideas about British money, so don't pester me about that. Warning! This will contain shonenai Tom/Harry. The beginnings of the summer before fifth year that led Harry to this routine will be explained in the next chapter. All Reviews are welcome.
