Harry sighed staring at his cupboard wall, even though it was dark because his uncle had taken the light bulb, it helped him forget about the ache in his stomach. Harry didn't know how long he had been stuck in the cupboard but he could guess it had been at least one week as he had only been fed once, which was typical when he was being punished.

It all started on Dudley's birthday. He had just made his family there morning breakfast and was about to go when his uncle spoke. "Boy you are to be ready at the door when we finish our breakfast to leave for the zoo or else!". Vernon's two chins wobbled as he said this and it looked like it pained him to say the words. "BUT WHY DOES HE HAVE TO COME" yelled Dudley. Harry sensing a tantrum come on left the kitchen but stood out side the door as he to was curious as to why he was getting to go. "because ickle diddykins the neighbours have been talking about how they never see the boy and if they talk to much you might get taking away from mummy and daddy and they will say nasty things about us." pleaded his aunt. Harry thought Dudley must have still looked mad as his aunt quickly added "plus as an extra treat for your day almost being spoiled we will buy you two more toys". This must have worked as Dudley went back to eating his food.

Harry should have known there was a reason for them taking him and not them trying to be nice for once. Harry sighed and walked towards his cupboard as he passed the living room and looked in. He thought Dudley didn't need any more toys as the room was almost bursting with gifts and those were just the ones from his parents there was still a pile he had yet to receive from other family members. Harry personally thought Dudley was a spoilt little pig and that he probably wouldn't even use half the gifts once.

He opened his cupboard and put his shoes on. He then turned and sat on the stairs by the door and waited on his family as he knew his uncle was deadly serious. Harry thought that this might not be so bad after all. As long as he never spoke and he kept a reasonable distance, close enough so that he didn't look like he was on his own, from his family it might actually be an enjoyable day.

Once they reached the zoo and his aunt had paid for them to get in Dudley made them get an ice cream straight away as he was hungry again, even thought it was only a 30 minute car journey from the Dursley's to the zoo. They walked around the zoo for a while, Dudley and Vernon pointing at the animals and saying rude things about them. Harry wasn't looking at the animals though, he was looking at the other family's enjoying there day out to the zoo. Harry compared all the other family's to his. Where the other family's all looked alike. Harry looked nothing like his aunt and her family. Vernon was a large man with blue eyes, blonde hair that sat atop his pink face, he also had a moustache and he acted like he was superior to everyone. Dudley was pretty much and mini version of Vernon, without the moustache of course. His aunt was a thin, tall woman with blue eyes, brown hair and two much neck to be normal. Harry often compare his uncle and cousin to a walrus and his aunt to a horse. Harry on the other hand was a thin boy with a mop of black hair, bright green eyes and a weird scar on his head which he got when his parents died.

He watched how the other family's interacted and wished that someone would love him. Eventually Dudley was getting restless and asking for food again. The Dursley's walked to the nearest cafe and his uncle turned around and gave harry a look. Harry knew that it ment he was to hang around the enclosures near the cafe until his family had eaten. Whilst his family ate harry enjoyed looking at the enclosures, although his stomach began to rumble harry ignored it.

Once his family came out they went to there last destination of the zoo, the reptile house. When they walked in Dudley went straight to the largest snake, he was not amused when he saw it was sleeping. The Dursley's walked off but harry stayed there "it must get lonely living in a zoo" sighed harry looking at the boa constrictor. To Harry's shock the snake looked at his and replied. "yes I was taken from my family and placed in this glass box with no one but myself for company." Harry looked around but no one was paying attention. Harry thought he must have finally gone mental. "where are you originally from." said harry but he barely finished his question when Dudley elbowed him out the way. "Mummy harry was talking to the snake" smirked Dudley. Harry looked up at his uncle Vernon and panicked at the look of fury on his face. Just as he was beginning to really panic Dudley gave a shout and jumped away from the snake case. The glass of the case had vanished and the snake was slithering out and towards the exit. Vernon grabbed harry and Dudley and dragged them away from the reptile house and towards his car.

The whole journey home was in silence and Harry was dreading what would happen when he got home. He had gone and done a freak thing again. He didnt know how he was suppose to have made these things happen, such as the glass in the snake tank vanish, but he was punished for them anyway.

Once they got back to privet drive and into the house his uncle turned on harry "What were you thinking doing that freakishness in such a public place. Why do you think we don't take you out you little freak. You ruined Dudley's birthday" his uncle yelled going purple in the face. He whacked harry a few times around the head, and smashed his fist in harry's face. He then yelled at harry "get to your cupboard now."So harry stumbled into his cupboard. His uncle slammed the door behind him and locked him in. He was then informed that he would stay there for a week or two until he learned to behave himself.