Harry James Potter lived a miserable existence. Although he didn't know that his name was Harry Potter. He only could remember being called Harry by a woman he thought his mother when she died. He had only been called Boy or Freak by the Dursleys. He spent his days cleaning, cooking, scrubbing and more cleaning.
He was kept in the hot water cupboard in the garage, waiting to serve the Dursleys. The cupboard was small and had only a blanket he stole from the rubbish that had been stained with red wine.
He did not know why he was stuck in this horrible house. He was not the Dursleys child, that was for sure. He knew his parents had died when he was young. He remembered it all, the explosion, the bright lights, the screaming, the pain. He thought it may have been a car crash that killed his parents. But that didn't explain the laughing or pleading for his life, nor did it explain those two words. Avada Kedavra.
He knew he wasn't a normal child, he could do things that he couldn't explain. The biggest of these strange abilities. He could talk to snakes.
He learnt this when he was just three years old. Locked outside in the rain for the night he was freezing cold. After all it was the middle of February. There, peeking out from under the house was a little grass snake.
:Come under here, it's warmer: Harry heard something say.
:Wh-who's there: Harry asked.
:It is me, the snake, come under here out of the cold: The voice said again. Harry looked at the snake in shock, snakes can't speak can they. Deciding to listen to the snake he crawled over and under the house. It was still cold but definitely an improvement over the wind and rain.
:How come understand you, I didn't think snakes could speak to people: Harry said to the snake.
:We can't your speaking the snakes language, maybe mother can tell us: the snake replied, slithering off to find its mother Harry guessed. A few seconds later the snake returned with a much larger snake, its mother.
:My daughter says you are a speaker: the snake hissed.
:I think so, I don't know how but I can speak to snakes: Harry replied.
:I have heard stories but I did not think they were real. My father had spoken of wizards like you who spoke the serpent language but I did not believe him. You must be a very powerful wizard: the mother snake said.
:Wizard, like magic. They aren't real, Mrs Dursley says magic isn't real: Harry said.
:Would that be the same Mrs Dursley who locked you out in the cold. Did it ever occur to you she may be lying: The snake scoffed at Harry's stupidity.
:Well I guess, but lying is wrong: Harry said, still unsure of himself.
:So is child abuse sweetie, sometimes people do things that are wrong but we need to make sure we can see that they are. Trust is important but all trust must be earned. Never trust anyone without reason. I suppose this lady wouldn't teach you these things, clearly she does not care for you. What is your name child: The snake asked.
:Harry, I-I think, I'm not sure. They just call me boy or freak: Harry answered.
:My names Jess: the young snake added.
:Harry then, boy or freak are not appropriate names for a child. My name is Jasmine: The mother snake said.
Thus started a relationship that would save Harry's life and ensure he did not face the world unaware of its dangers. Jess became a sister to him and Jasmine his mother. She taught him the values that are important to any living being. Honesty, Honour, Bravery, Courage, Perseverance, Determination, Kindness, Respect, Trust, Love, Friendship. Everything he should have been taught by his own mother.
Along with these lessons Jasmine or Mother as Harry had taken to calling her, taught him of what he was. A wizard. She sat with him day and night as he attempted to learn to control the energy inside of him. After three long months, his piece of paper wiggled. A month later it floated peacefully around the cupboard. Three weeks later he moved the lock on his cupboard and he was free. Over the years Harry learnt to do all kinds of things with his talents.
It still took a lot of concentration to perform and took a few seconds to focus enough. Harry hoped to one day be at a level to move things instantly with just a thought. The most he could lift was about a kilogram but he was improving quickly with his speed.
He had met other snakes in the neighbourhood and had found many friends in his serpent companions. Harry led a secret life in privet drive, he was the lord of the snakes. He helped protect them and they did the same for him.
When he was six they had broken into the pet shops and freed all the snakes there. They did the same at the zoo in london. The little forest near Privet drive was filled with snakes to the point it was not healthy. All the snakes had conversed in one place with Harry to help find a solution. It was Harry that mapped out strategic locations nearby to divide the snakes.
Tribes of snakes had been formed across London in different areas. All the snakes had split into groups, families stayed together no matter what. Over night, thousands if snakes had moved across London to their new homes.
The snakes looked out for Harry as he did them, the tribes no longer needed his help and were baffling scientists with their now highly communal behavior. Harry stayed with his family in Privet drive. His real family with Jasmine, Jess and her siblings. Jasmines mate had been killed by a man not long before they took Harry under their wing. Sadly for all the new family he had, he couldn't escape the Dursleys who still hated him with a passion.
Life hadn't improved on that front after he met the snakes. He was forced to work long hours in the kitchen, garden or cleaning throughout the house. Their treatment of him also got worse.
He was constantly starved by them and locked in his cupboard for weeks at a time. If not for his magic he would have died of dehydration or starvation. Standards were set impossibly high for him, if he failed to reach them he was punished brutally.
Struck with the pan full of oil for not cooking food fast enough. Fingers in the oven, fridge or pantry door for the same reason. The kitchen was Mrs Dursleys domain and she was responsible for punishing his crimes within it. She had broken many wooden spoons over his head and bottom.
Mr Dursley punished him for all kinds of things, hands in pockets, smiling, frowning, being too close, working too slow, being too loud or too quiet, even because he needed to blow off steam.
His favourites were a punch, kick or backhand. The cupboard was where he went after every beating. But Mr Dursleys prized possession and most creative and torturous thing he owned. Was Harry's birthday present.
Every year on the last day of July Mr Dursley gifted Harry a belt. Not just any belt, a thick, hard, leather belt with the big metal buckle. It was placed on the cupboard door and used to whip Harry with. It made a mighty crack when someone whacked it on something and the belt and buckle had done all kinds of damage to Harry's body.
It was only recently that Dudley had taken up Tee-Ball and recieved a big hard bat. Dudley was encouraged by his father to practice his swing all hours of the day. That meant hitting Harry with it whenever the two crossed paths.
Dudley had the itch to hurt Harry in some way, shape or form when ever he saw him. Be that a punch in the stomach, kick to the shin, bat to the back or legs or pushing him over, into walls or down stairs. Dudley was a bully in every sense of the word and took cruel pleasure in seeing Harry suffer.
Harry's only escape was his cupboard. when one first opened the door the hot water cylinder was immediately in front of them. It was only by squeezing around it that you could reach the small space that Harry lived in. The gap wasn't that small, any average man could slip through. However Mr Dursley and Dudley were no average people, they were the fattest in all the land. Beyond fat, so fat that the house was changed to have wider doorways to fit them through. Both of their chairs were made of steel to hold their weight and their bed bases were the same.
Harry's keepers, not family or caregivers, keepers, were horrible people who claimed to be normal upstanding citizens of society. They put up the act to the outside world but behind doors, they were wicked, evil, monsters.
Contrary to his keepers beliefs, he was very intelligent. He had learned to read at age three from recipe books and Jasmine and Jess had expanded his vocabulary. Speaking to snakes was the same as people to Harry. He had stolen Dudley's maths books and learned mathematics in his cupboard. On weekends he escaped to the library and read books on all kinds of things.
He had spent many months looking for the answer in books for a question that bugged him for years. It was only after speaking with Jess that he made progress. She had asked around and after a while gave him the answer he needed. Avada Kedavra was a killing curse used for murder. His parents hadn't died in a car crash at all, they were murdered.
"BOY!" Vernon bellowed. "Come make me breakfast you useless freak."
"Yes Mr Dursley." he replied, quickly walking to the kitchen. He took a pot and filled it with water, setting it on the stovetop to boil. A pan was filled with oil and bacon. Hash browns went into the oven with ridiculous amounts of salt. He placed four pieces of toast in the toaster, buttering them as they were cooked. Shortly he had a pile of toast, poached eggs, crispy bacon and hash browns on the table.
"Go weed the garden boy." Vernon shouted at him, egg yolk running down his chin and bread flying from his mouth. Harry nodded and scurried outside to the garden.
:Good morning milord: a long green snake said from within the flowers.
:Good morning Jess, what can I do for you: Harry hissed back.
:The question to be asked is what can I do for you. My family and the other serpents in the forest have been working hard to help you milord: Jess hissed.
:Is that so, what can you do for me then Jess: Harry extended his hand and let the snake slither onto his shoulder as he worked. Jess was about a meter and a half long and told Harry she would grow to at least half that again. She had dark green scales that were almost black and venom that would kill a small dog or rabbit and make a human very sick for a week.
:Word of you has travelled quickly through the serpent nests all over the land. All the snakes know that the Lord of Serpents is in need of help. Word has returned that there is a king hidden beneath a mountain in the north. He wishes to meet you and asks us to bring you to him. Follow us to the forest where another serpent will take you. You would be free from here and these horrible people: Jess explained.
:Are you sure, what if she doesn't like that you call me lord of serpents. What if she tries to kill me: Harry questioned the plan. Their conversation was broken as a bat came down hard on Harry's shoulder, breaking it and crushing Jess' midsection.
"Freak, how dare you do your freakish things out here." Vernon grunted. He kicked Harry in the ribs, breaking several of them. Vernon took the bat and swung at Jess, she dodged the swing and made a break for the gate leading to the front of the house.
Giving up on the snake he turned back to Harry. The bad came down again and hit Harry in the leg, snapping it clean. He picked Harry's little body up effortlessly and threw him into the rose bush, hundreds of thorns cut into Harry's skin.
Harry was grabbed around the neck and ripped out of the roses again and beaten viciously with fists, feet and bat. After what felt like hours of pure agony and torture Vernon left. Although Harry did not scream. He had learnt that screaming did nothing but bring more pain to shut him up. Tears did not fall from his eyes, he would not give that satisfaction to the man who did this to him. Instead he lay in the dirt, shaking silently in pain.
Vernon returned a minute later with a knife in his hand and an evil grin on his face. Harry shook in terror and tried to get away but his limbs did not obey him. He squirmed and shook as his Uncle tortured him on the lawn. After more agony and pain beyond pain his Vernom stopped. He raised the blade above his head, ready to strike and end Harry's life.
Instead a snake flew from behind Harry and struck vernon in the neck. Hundreds of other snakes burst into the lawn and kept his Uncle at bay whilst others slithered over Harry. Wrapping him in a cocoon of serpents that carried him away. When Harry was away the other snakes retreated and followed after. It would be the strangest sight any had ever scene. Thousands and thousands of snakes racing through the streets.
They travelled out of Privet Drive and carried on out of Little Whinging. People fled in terror from the overwhelming mass of snakes. Police were called and were helpless against the snakes other than to ward off people and keep them safe. The snakes moved quickly in one direction, the forest at the edge of Greater Whinging.
When they reached the trees they carried on beneath the canopy until they reached the small lake within. They moved to the edge and hissed at the water. An enormous snake fourth feet long and a meter in diameter emerged from the lake. It had solid black scales and a silver belly with four silver horns on its head and silver spikes at the end of its tail. Its eyes wee ocean blue and a huge blue stone was set in its forehead like a third eye.
:Where is the boy: the serpent hissed.
:He is here but he is badly injured: a python hissed in reply. The cocoon of snakes feel away to leave Harry lying on the lakes edge.
The enormous snake bent its head low over Harry's form. A drop of blue liquid feel from the stone in its forehead partly healing his injuries. His bones mended partly and his wounds sealed but scars remained. His body would need to rest and finish healing itself.
Harry's eyes snapped open and looked around. He sat up, wincing as his tender muscles and brittle bones still ached.
:Milord, how are you feeling: Jess curled around his shoulders protectively.
:I'm fine Jess, thank you, all of you, you likely saved my life: Harry replied.
:We have not finished saving you yet little lord: The large snake hissed. Lowering its head in a bow and coming to eye level with Harry.
:Are you the serpent sent to take me to the king: Harry asked tentatively.
:I am tasked with bringing you to the king of snakes: The snake replied.
:Do you have a name my friend: Harry asked.
:My name is Helaina. I am a horned serpent gifted with the ability of flight. Climb upon my back my lord and I will take you to our king milord: Helaina answered.
Carefully Harry stood and approached the snake. He swung his leg over her back and held onto her horns. Looking back to the group of snakes that had saved him he spoke.
:Thank you all, today you saved my life and I will not forget: Harry hissed.
Helaina raised her head and the pair raced off into the air. They travelled vertically for a few hundred meters until they were safely above the clouds and out of sight.
Harry was tired and almost asleep on Halaina's back by the time they had arrived. She had hissed at him that they were almost there to wake him. As they dipped below the clouds Harry could see a huge castle on a hill. The windows lit up with bright yellow lights.
"This must be the mountain" Harry said to himself.
They glided in closer, flying just above the waters of the lake the castle looked over. Harry was awestruck by its beauty.
"Of course." Harry berated himself. "Why would the king of serpents not live in a castle.
:Hold your breath milord and close your eyes: Helaina said.
Harry could barely choke out a "What" before they plunged into the icy depths of the lake.