I was sleeping. Quite peacefully, I might add. Unfortunately, that didn't last for long. The first thing I heard this very fine morning (which would've been better if I was still asleep) was my younger brother, Harry's voice, the annoying prat.

"Hermione! Wake up! We're going to the zoo, remember? Hurry up! If we're late because of you, I swear--"

"Shut up," I said with a groan, my eyes still closed. How could we be late for the zoo? Honestly, my brother makes zero sense. Good thing I have enough smarts for the both of us.

"Get up!" Harry yelled again. "Or else I'm going to burn all of your books and laugh as you cry over your dear possessions!"

My eyes opened with a start. "Fine, I'm up. Touch my books and you're dead!"

I heard laughter coming from the other side of my door. "Okay, 'Mione. If you say so, you weakling," I was about to resort with a witty comeback, but then I heard his loud feet walking away and I huffed in annoyance.

But then he was back at my door. "Hermione, what's taking so long?"

"I literally woke up five seconds ago. Go away and be patient!"

"I'm telling you, Herm--"

"Ugh," I yell, "I get it. Jeez!"

Once Harry had left once again, I quickly got dressed, and went downstairs. I avoided looking in a mirror, because I didn't care about my appearance one bit. But if I had looked, I would've seen a small eleven year old girl who would turn twelve in two months. My hair is a shade of brown, just like my eyes, though my eyes are darker. My hair is rather bushy and my teeth were larger than they ought to be, but I wasn't really too concerned. The only thing that facinated me about my own apperence was a scar on the side of my neck, shaped into a lightning bolt. I wasn't sure where I gotten it - my parents seemed to have forgotten, or so they claimed, but I was often curious about it.

I stepped into the kitchen where Mum was cooking breakfast. She smiled at me. "Hey, Hermione, sleep well?"

I nodded. "But I had a rude awakening. Thanks to Harry, of course."

"I'll have to kill that boy." Mum chuckled.

Mum has vibrant red hair and green eyes. She looked nothing like me, but I know I'm her daughter. I'm just as smart as my mum is, if I do say so myself.

"Hey, kiddo," Dad said as he walked in. He ruffled my hair. "Brush your hair."

"I did," I grumbled. "You messed it up. And as if you're one to talk!"

"I don't know what you mean." He turned to Mum. "Hello, Lily Flower." He kissed her on the lips and I turned away, digusted.

I sat down at the table, while Dad chatted with Mum as she cooked. Harry walked into the kitchen with the smug look he always had. His hair was black and always messy, just like Dad's. But he inherited Mum's eyes and sass and anger issues. Oh, and he also has Dad's personality and the need for glasses. The only thing I've seemed to inherit is Mum's smarts and nothing else. Well, maybe Dad's eyes, but brown eyes are so common anyways, I don't think it matters much.

Mum set four plates of eggs and bacon on the table and I began eating. Mum and Dad sat down, as did Harry.

Harry looked at me. "Ew," he said. "That beauty sleep isn't doing anything for you."

"Shut up, imbecile."

"What the bloody hell does that mean?"

"Harry, language!" Mum scolded. "And stop fighting, both of you."

Dad chuckled. "Oh, Lily, it's actually amusing watching them fight--"

"James," Mum warned.

"Kids, listen to your mother," Dad said, changing his point of view at once.

I went back to my food but Harry was glaring at me. He's freaking annoying. Why'd I get stuck with a younger brother like him? Not to mention he's only eleven months younger than I am, so since we don't have a full year gap, he sometimes acts like he's the older one.

"Mum, when are we going to the zoo?" Harry asked.

"After breakfast, dear."

Half an hour later, I sat in the backseat of the car, along with Harry. He kept poking me and I wanted to stab him in the eye -- with a knife. "Stop," I hissed, but he simply grinned.

While Dad drove, he and Mum talked about things, though I payed them no mind as I stared out of the window. I figured Harry must stop bothering me if I stop reacting, right?

I began thinking about some peculiar things that have been starting to happen. A few weeks ago, a coffee mug shattered without anyone touching it. I was arguing with Harry at this time. And only yesterday, the sink filled up while the faucet was off. I didn't know what to make of these strange occurrences, but surely, there must be a logical explanation, right?

Soon, we arrived at the zoo and Harry and I got out of the car. It was a very sunny Saturday afternoon and the zoo was quite crowded, which I expected. Dad and Mum bought Harry and me ice cream - Harry's was chocolate, and mine was strawberry.

I must admit, it was quite fun. Our day at the zoo, I mean. All of the animals were so cute, and I was absolutely facinated. We ate at the zoo restaurant. We all had burgers, and for desert, we got more ice cream.

After lunch, we went to the reptile house. It was cool and dark in there, with lit windows all along the walls. Behind the glass, all sorts of lizards and snakes were crawling and slithering over bits of wood and stone. Harry found the largest snake possible, but the snake seemed to have been asleep, much to Harry's disapoinment.

"Dad, the snake's not moving," Harry complained. He crossed his arms, staring through the glass.

Dad chuckled and tapped on the glass. The snake didn't move.

"James," Mum scoffed. "Times like these I wonder if I married a child."

"Sorry, Lily." Dad grinned.

"No, do it again!" Harry said. "Maybe it'd wake up."

"Maybe it's dead," I resorted, even though I didn't really think that, but Harry is annoying me.

"Don't you dare," Mum warned Dad.

"Sorry, Harry," Dad said.

"Ugh." Harry groaned and walked away, looking at the other reptiles.

I moved in front of the tank and looked intently at the snake. It may have been snoozing, but I couldn't look away. Once again, I was fascinated. But then the snake suddenly opened its beady eyes. Slowly, though. It raised its head until the snake was staring into my eyes. And then, it winked. I stared, astonished.

I bit my lip, wondering if I had imagined the snake winking at me. The snake turned its head toward Dad and Harry. I don't know if I imagined this part but the snake actually said, "I get that all the time." That couldn't have come from the snake though, could it? But somehow, I knew it did.

"I know," I said in sympathy. Why the heck am I responding to the reptile?! "It's annoying, huh?"

The snake nodded.

"Hm, where did you come from, snake?" I asked.

The snake jabbed its tail at a little sign next to the glass. I peered at it. Boa Constricter, Brazil.

"Was it nice there?" I can not believe I'm having a conversation with a snake. I must have gone insane, that's the only explanation there is.

"Hermione, let's go!"

I looked over to see Harry waving at me. I turned back to the snake. "Nice talking to you, but I have to go." I quickly caught up with my family.

Talking to a snake was something I never thought would happen.

Unless if I've gone mad, which is entirely more possible.