Chapter Two

As a nearly eleven year old Harry Potter woke from his sleep that particular morning he felt the overwhelming sense of worry climb through his body. It wasn't a normal feeling that usually accompanied him when he woke up in the morning but today he knew exactly how horrible it was going to be.

Today was Dudley Dursleys birthday and he was going to the zoo...normally Harry was not allowed to accompany his aunt and uncle when they went anywhere but today he was allowed to go with his guardians and their son to the zoo.

That was a miracle in and of itself, the entire day was probably going to be spent doting on Dudley...their perfect little boy. He could do no wrong in the eyes of his mother and father, even though he spent the majority of his time chasing Harry and beating him up.

Petunia Dursley is Harry Potters aunt on his mothers side although he never felt anything like her at all thankfully, she was a tall, vain and skinny woman with almost no personality or taste. She dispised Harry and he wasn't never too sure why. He knew his aunts feeling on his parents...she made that perfectly clear every chance she got.

Her husband Vernon Dursley was just as bad if not worse. He was a horrid pig of a man who used his fists more than his words. Harry felt like an insect waiting to be squashed when he was around the mans presence...the man was the most disgusting of sorts. Harry dreaded the mans presence anytime he was left alone.

This house did not feel like a home but his cupboard did...his little sanctuary was also where he slept, a little room under the stairs was his all his. A very small bed took up the majority off the room but there were two shelves above it that had two library books and some small army figurines and a small toy tanker that Harry had found in the bin. Apparently Dudley Dursleys got it as a gift and hated it so he threw it away.

Dudley Dursley...his youngest cousin was the worst thought he was spoiled and got anything he wanted. All he had to do was cry to mummy...was a fat boy who enjoyed tormenting Harry every time he had a chance...and that was quite often. No number four Privet Drive definitely didn't feel like home, not that Harry Potter knew what a home felt like but he was content enough with what he had.

Even if he was an orphan some people had it worse...sometimes though he had the strangest of dreams of flying away from his relatives on the back of a dragon or some long lost family member comes by to take him away from his horror movie of a life but if he did what he was supposed to do in his aunt and uncles he was left alone if he didn't or he showed any signs of weirdness he was locked in his cupboard with no food or worse.

The young boy hearing the movements upstairs knew he would have to have breakfast at least started before Uncle Vernon came downstairs, so after deciding against going back to sleep he begrudgingly got up from his small little bed and made his way into the kitchen to start breakfast for everyone as he did every morning.

As soon as that affair was over and Dudley had pitched a fit because he got one less present than the year before he got changed into a pair of jeans two sizes too big that were held up by a huge belt...tucked in was again a large blue shirt with a grey t-shirt under it.

After they all made their way to the car and a stern warning from his Uncle, Harry made himself comfortable in the back seat of the car looking forward to seeing all the animals.

Everything Harry seen at the zoo was spectacular although his cousin seemed bored and ungrateful all day in the reptile house especially considering the snake was sleeping and he huffed away like a toddler after not getting the snakes attention.

"Must be awful living here with people bothering you all the time. Especially if they are all like Dudley." As he said this a huge python lifted its head from where it was resting and blinked at Harry. Unsure whether it was real or a figment of his imagination he took a step closer to the glass.

"Can you understand me?" Again in confirmation the snake nodded and unable to tear his eyes away he began talking with the snake that is until his cousin threw him out of the way to get a better look. Unable to control his anger he thought he was going to punch Dudley but before he could get the chance the glass that Dudley was pressing his full body weight into suddenly disappeared...and his cousin fell into the enclosure.

Making his break for it the snake took off hollering a thanks to Harry before slithering off and scaring the living daylights out of everyone.

This is when Harry Potter knew he was in trouble, the purple face on his Uncle Vernon came into full view and he knew he would be paying for it for a few days at least and he tried to mentally prepare himself for the hunger he was going to feel for the next few days. Possibly the pain from his ribs after a beating or worse.