Holly bit the inside of her cheek and subtly dodged a pinch from Piers Polkiss who sneered at her twisting his rat face up even more. She had learned to tune out Uncle Vernon as he complained,which he was almost always doing.
"...Roaring along like maniacs, the young hoodlums!" Uncle Vernon grouched as a man on a motorcycle passed. Holly was wise to keep her mouth shut as a memory from the deep recesses of her mind came forward.
She swallowed back a hiss of pain as Piers finally landed a rough squeeze.
Uncle Vernon pulled into the parking lot, scowling as he drove circles around the parking lot in search of a good space that was close to the entrance, Dudley was whining and kicking the back of Aunt Petunias seat while Piers proceeded to pinch,punch, and flick Holly.
Suddenly, with a sharp swerve, Uncle Vernon pulled in between a station wagon and a beat up truck. Holly waited for Piers and Dudley to get out before she climbed out herself, putting a good bit of distance away from The Terrible Duo.
Uncle Vernon gave Holly the stink eye before nodding to himself and marched them to the booth, he gained a breif foul expression as he handed over the money growling as he tossed Holly's ticket to her uncaringly forcing her to pick it up out of a puddle from yesterdays rain.
She slid it into the pocket of the checkered dress and scurried to catch up with the group.
Holly found that she quite liked the heat, Vernon seemed to be melting and Aunt Petunia's makeup was smeared so they frequented the bathrooms so she could fix it, but mostly Piers and Dudley stayed far away from her and at least an arms length from each other.
"Dad, I want ice cream!" Dudley demanded and Uncle Vernon nodded in exhaustion before ushering them to an ice cream stand, a young blonde woman stood behind the counter and smiled warmly.
"Evening! What c-"
"I want four rocket pops." the lady nodded her smile dropping and handed the requested items out before watching as Uncle Vernon and petunia began to devour the treat and walk away.
"And what would you like to have sweety?" She questioned Holly who froze gaining a deer in the head lights look as she could literally feel the rage from Vernon.
"Just give her that!"Uncle Vernon snapped pointing to the cheapest item on the list.
"Here you go sweety." Holly managed a soft and slightly choked 'thank you' before Uncle Vernon was pulling her away roughly while muttering under his breath darkly.
"Sit!" He demanded and she sat on the burning bench while Dudley and Piers flung bits of ice at the tigers who began to pace back and forth snarling and roaring angrily at the two.
After an hour of the two boys torturing different animals, Uncle Vernon drug them to a resturaunt, pushing Holly's chair as far from them as possible and ordered a small water for her, but alas, there would not be a peaceful meal for Dudley was there and he always found a reason for a tantrum.
"There's not enough!" Dudley screeched stabbign his spoon roughly into the knickerbocker Glory and began to kick at Aunt Petunia's legs. Uncle Vernon seemed to inwardly groan before he swiftly ordered another one and slid the other one roughly at Holly who swiftly ate it relieving some of the ache in her belly.
Dudley demanded that the next place they go to was the Reptile house,Holly marvelled at the different reptillian creatures who slithered, crawled, and occasionally swam.
They soon found themselves in front of the largest exhibit holding a Ball python that was long and could have probably squeezed Uncle Vernon and his crappy car, but at the moment it was asleep.
Dudley was pressed flat against the glass smearing snot and ice cream over the glass as he stared at the python.
"Make it move," He whined to Uncle Vernon, who cleared his throat and lightly tapped on the glass, the snake slept on.
"Do it again," Dudley demanded with a scowl steadily forming, Uncle Vernon did it again only harder. Dudley scowled and stomped his foot roughly on the ground.
"This is boring!" He huffed and waddled away, Piers not far behind, Holly shuffled in front of the exhibit avoiding the spot where Dudley had completely smeared the glass so nothing could be seen but a blurred part.
The Python was black with gold sides and dorsal, from what holly could see their belly was a light cream, it seemed somewhat depressed.
"Beautiful.." she breathed softly and before her eyes the snake opened beady black eyes and lifted it's head slightly tilting it's head and winked.
Holly's eyes widened, a soft and amazed grin crossing her lips, it slowly looked to Piers,Dudley, and Uncle Vernon and it's eyes drifted to the ceiling causing Holly to very softly giggle.
"I see... that must get annoying." she said quietly and for the first time the snakes head bobbed rather swiftly, her eyes trailed over to the sign and she sighed.
Ball Python, Africa.
Scrawled under that was the name Monty.
"Is it nice here?" The snake seemed to contemplate something before bobbing it's head.
"DUDLEY! ! COME, HURRY! LOOK AT THIS SNAKE, YOU WON'T BELIEVE WHAT IT'S DOING!" Dudley waddled swiftly shoving holly to the ground roughly after a swiftly punch to the ribs.
"Out of the way, you," He spat and Dudley and Piers leaned against the glass their faces smushed against it,Holly felt a wave of anger (which clouded the pain in her ribs) come over her and in a blink of an eye the glass was gone causing the Terrible Duo to leap back with loud howls ( more like shrill girly screams).
Holly's eyes widened and her lips parted as Monty uncoiled and slithered from the exhibit he paused by holly and seemed to grin.
"Africa! Thankss kid." he slithered off and made it to a drain as screams rang out and people bolted for the exits, the keeper was in to much shock to even to anything besides mumble and mutter about the glass.
Holly sighed knowing that she was going to be in trouble, and dreaded when they would get to Privet driver number four.