A/N: Laa dee dah. So apparently nobody likes this story. Guess what though? I'm still going to write it because I WANT TO. Reviews are nice, yes, but a lack thereof will not stop me from writing.

Disclaimer: Writing this story has made me rich I tell you! Rich!... ahem. I mean, I own none of it.

Chapter Two: The Vanishing Glass

Nearly ten years had passed since the Dursleys had woken up to find their nephew on the front step, and their world had changed forever. Although the sun still rose and set on the same house, which itself stayed as immaculately clean as before that day, the Dursley's lives were different than they had expected.

For one, they were raising not only their son Dudley, but his cousin, Harry Potter, who was left on their doorstep with naught but a letter. Petunia had been angry, distraught and confused, and Vernon had just been angry. If it had not been for a stiff-looking woman who appeared the morning after, explaining the situation in greater detail and giving them a book on raising magical children- "Raising Your Young Wizard Properly: An Instructional For Muggles"- they would have been utterly lost and probably have wound up dropping the boy off at an orphanage.

As it was, Harry had grown up with limited, but essential knowledge of what he was and could do. He knew that he might someday get a letter to go to a secret school for wizards, that he shouldn't try to make things happen just because, and that he shouldn't use his special powers to hurt Dudley or anyone else. In fact, his aunt had told him he shouldn't use them at all, or he might get in trouble. He knew that his mum and dad had died because of a big secret wizard war going on, and that somehow, he was a part of it, and that he was probably very well known in the secret world. His aunt had told him it might be strange to be famous, but he shouldn't let it inflate his head. When he pressed for more details, she told him he had to wait until he got his letter.

Harry was just waking and making his bed, while Dudley was in the shower, preparing for his birthday, which was always a day full of presents and fun. Petunia was downstairs cooking happily while Vernon read the morning paper. Everyone in the house knew the day would be a fine one.

At the zoo, Harry and Dudley enjoyed themselves even though it was blisteringly hot. Halfway through the day, after watching orangutans fight, wild cats lie about, and birds with clipped wings do a whole lot of nothing, they decided to head to the reptile house before eating lunch. It was, thankfully, cool in the reptile house, and dark. The walls were lined with lit windows. Harry headed to the first one on the right while Dudley headed left, where an employee was feeding a large, angry looking snake a live rat.

Harry examined the first snake he saw, a yellow, red and black one. It looked to be asleep, and the sign above it said "North American Coral Snake". Harry wondered if snakes were supposed to sleep all day, or if zoo-snakes were just bored to death.

Turning quickly to make sure no one could see, Harry leaned close to the glass and whispered, "Are you awake?"

The snake's head rose immediately. He looked closely at Harry, flicking out his tongue. He was long and slender and on his head were rather large scales, at least for his size. He seemed to examine Harry for a moment before he replied.

"Why do you speak to me, strange one? You are not of my kind."

Harry grinned. "I just wanted to see how you were. Is it rather lonely here?"

The snake rose up, looking angry, though not at Harry. "This place is horrible. I am forced to eat rats and have only one place for a nest, and no where to go to hide from scary things..."

"Don't you like to eat rats?" Harry looked around again to make sure no one was watching.

The snake hissed. "Disgusting. I only eat them when I have to."

"What would you like to eat then?"

He flicked his tongue out. "I prefer small garden snakes. They are easier prey, much easier on me, and much tastier."

Harry tried not to look disgusted. "Isn't that cannibalism?" He wondered if that word would translate.

"I know not of what you speak."

Harry sighed. "Never mind." He glanced up at the plaque, which was not very informative. "Are you dangerous?"

The snake rose up proudly, leaning back. "Oh, yes, young human. Do not underestimate me because I am small. Do you wish to eat me?" Before Harry could answer, the snake continued. "You will never get the chance, if you try. If you ever come close enough, I could strike upon you in an instant and fill you with death." The snake lowered itself, suddenly looking... sullen. "If I were free, you could never get to me, human. I long to bury in the soil, to hide, and stay cool..."

Harry looked up at the plaque again, which did say the Coral snake preferred to live underground. The encasement, however, did not have very much soil. "I am sorry for your home." He tried to say 'problem', but there didn't seem to be a word for it. "Is there anything I can do?"

The snake looked up at him. "You are gifted, young human."

"You know?" Harry was only a little surprised the snake would know this. He was, after all, talking to it.

The snake nodded, a strange thing to see. "Young human, let me out, and I will escape, always to be free."

Harry hesitated. "Will you bite anybody?"

"Not unless they threaten me. If they come too close, or try to hurt me, I will."

Harry looked around one last time. He knew what he was going to do was stupid, but it didn't seem fair that this snake was so unhappy because some zoo people didn't know what they were doing. So, with some trepidation, Harry turned his back to the glass and pretended to watch the feeding across the room. He closed his eyes and willed the glass to go away.

'Disappear.' He thought desperately. 'Go away. Go away, if only for a moment. Please, please, do it! Do it now! Now!'

Suddenly, he felt a cold touch on the back of his ankle. He knew without looking it was the snake.

"I thank you, young human, by allowing you to leave my presence alive."

Shuddering, Harry walked forward toward his aunt and uncle, turning and jumping in false surprise as a terrified scream came from across the way.

"Snake! Good God, SNAKE!"

As they watched, the snake slid out of the front opening and into some nearby foliage. An employee closed the door and hit a button on a nearby wall. "If everyone would please follow me to the emergency exit, thank you..."

Petunia grabbed Harry's hand with her left and Dudley's with her right, following the crowd, her face tight with feat and worry. Harry felt guilty for a moment, wondering what sort of thoughts were going through his aunt's head.

Really, though, he was glad he hadn't been caught. He was only ten, he reasoned to himself, and he never did anything bad before. Besides, the snake will be happy now.

Satisfied with his logic, Harry quietly did as his aunt told him, trying his best to 'make it up for Dudley that the trip had been ruined.' Really, Dudley thought it was all brilliant, and had become bored with the zoo anyway, and was glad for an excuse to leave.

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