A/N: Hogwarts Writing Club Competition – prompt: animal. Word count: 430.
Harry slipped his hand into his father's grip as they made their way through the winding paths of the zoo. His legs had grown tired from all of the walking they'd done that morning, but he was eager to keep exploring the mazelike area that seemed to hold so many incredible delights.
His dad peered down at him and, with a fond smile, asked, "Tired?"
"No," Harry lied. The five-year-old was so focused on moving his feet ever onwards that he didn't notice the knowing glance his parents shared.
"Let's go see the snake enclosure," his mother suggested. "It's just over there. Would you like that, Harry?"
The young boy nodded enthusiastically at the idea. He had seen photos of snakes in storybooks, but he had never seen a real one before. From what his father and his friends had told him about snakes, he was expecting them to be more unnerving in person. "Yes," he said, all thoughts of his erstwhile weariness gone as he bounced up and down on his heels and grinned up at his parents.
His father's voice was clipped when he replied, "Let's go, then," but he didn't protest the decision, instead letting Harry tug him towards the building.
xoxox
As soon as they entered the dimly lit room, Harry dropped his father's hand and ran to the nearest enclosure. Lily smiled at his impatience, but, before she could catch up to the boy, James put his hand out to delay her.
"Snakes? Really?" he whispered.
With a casual shrug, she replied, "They're just animals."
"He'd better not get into Slytherin because of this. If he does – "
She scoffed at him. "Even if he did, you wouldn't do anything, because he'd still be our son. Besides, it's already clear where he'll end up; seeing a few snakes at the zoo isn't going to make any difference to his Sorting."
"You never know," James replied sullenly. "He didn't like the lions we saw earlier."
"He liked their manes," Lily offered up as consolation, "and the lions were eating at the time, so what do you expect?"
"Mum, Dad, the snake is moving! Come and see!"
She could tell that James wasn't convinced, but he let the matter drop as they made their way over to their son, whose face was pressed up against the glass as he watched the scaled animal slither along a thick branch. Although she knew that the Marauders would renew their disparagement of Slytherin House in the coming days, she was content to put the matter aside for the time being.