His first snake came to him when he was six. It slithered into an open door frame of the small unfinished building of grey betony that he used as a hiding place. He discovered the building some months ago, it was not far from his kindergarten. He wasn't welcome there, he found out on the first day; children mocked him and pushed him around. That's when he discovered a small library, a room filled with book shelves and a dusty old smell. That's when he learned stealing…
He had no qualms about taking the books no one ever read anyway. He decided it was high time to prepare for school a bit, so he started with basic chemistry and European history. Chemistry was difficult but highly inspiring; he knew the implications of being able to command the elements. The practical use was of enormous value. As far as history was concerned, he preferred the Roman times, so full of drama and life. Some fiction was also welcome; he enjoyed Shakespearean Macbeth and Hamlet very much. No one disturbed him in that carcass of a building with a low ceiling, and he spent all his free hours there. The Dursleys, the family he lived with, had thankfully not prevented him from getting early education like reading and basic math; they weren't complete monsters after all, or just thought that would make him more docile as he was always busy.
So one nice autumn day, filled with golden sunrays and crimson leaves swirling in the air, he was left to his own musings, curled neatly into a corner on a small comfy pillow he nicked from the kindergarten. That's when he heard soft hissing. The snake apparently came from the nearby small forest, rather isolated in its own right as people preferred to stay away from it, for some reason. The snake was a python, as it promptly said, introducing it- - him - self. Harry was shocked when the hissing formed into words, he first thought his mind was playing tricks on him. The snake was black with beautiful silvery spots. It was also slightly warm and of a nice scaly texture, he found out when it slithered up his arm. He wasn't scared; there was no sense of danger here at all.
- What are you doing here? How is it that you can speak? - asked the snake. - Human hatchlings so very rarely speak snake tongue.
- I don't know, - replied Harry after a slight pause. - I wonder that myself. Must be a genetic thing, in my blood. I never knew my parents, you know. They died when I was little.
- It's decided then, I'll be your teacher and parent, - declared the snake. - What's your name, hatchling?
- Harry. Harry Potter.
The snake froze. Its pupils turned into slits. - I've heard so much about you. Apparently, you somehow killed the Dark Lord when he came after your family. And you, apparently, have no idea of that…
Harry felt his pulse quicken. - I killed someone? How is it possible? I'm six years old!
The snake moved in circle around his arm. - But you did. No one knows how that happened. We on the Dark side believe it was some form of blood magic. The Dark Lord's curse must have rebounded. Perhaps you have it in you to be a great wizard, young one.
- A wizard? Is that what I am? Well, it explains a lot.
- Have those criminal muggles told you nothing?
- Muggles! Yes, that's an appropriate name for those people. No, they have never told me anything. Anyway, now I've met you. And it's truly a pleasure.
- The pleasure is all mine, Harry. Now I must go to do some hunting. We'll see each other again, soon.
Harry felt like his life has turned inside out, and a whole new world opened up to him in its pristine glory. He tried casting a spell. - Fireball! - he screamed. Nothing happened. He wasn't disappointed, having not really expected anything. Then he hissed in snake language, "Fireball". His hands warmed up, and tiny red sparks flew off his fingers. He smiled brightly.