Chapter [II] Birthday Boy

"Morning," Jamieson greets his step-parents, both looking groggy as usual as they made their way down the rickety stairs.

"Don't remind us," His stepmother groaned, trying not to remember what the day was while letting out a yawn. Jamieson stepped back, letting both of his step-parents make their way to the kitchen for their morning coffee.

"It's your turn this year, Talbot," The stepmother rolled her eyes, pouring coffee into her signature black mug, seeing her husband shake his head in annoyance.

Jamieson looked forward to this year in particular, since his stepfather seemed to be sliiightly more merciful than his stepmother... Or at least less nagging and visibly annoyed when taking him out for his birthday trip.

That's right, 25th August, 2081 was the date of the day, which also happens to be his Birthday! One of the only days he gets to leave the house and actually go somewhere he wishes to go.

"Alright, runt," Mr. Dursley finally piped up, both of them in the car after sending his daughter to school and wife to work. Jamieson's birthday was conveniently on the same day as Mr. Dursley and Mrs. Dursley's day off each year, meaning they take turn taking him out every year.

They tried going out as a trio once, neither of his parents enjoyed doing what he enjoyed, which is where the decision of taking turns came in, so they wouldn't have to suffer through entertaining him that year.

It's also the only year where they act a bit more humane towards him than they usually would.

"Can we... go to the zoo?" He asks, earning an eye-roll from his stepfather in the front seat, "Didn't we go to the zoo last year?" Mr. Dursley asked, changing the car's gear.

"Yea but I miss the penguins," He admits, wishing to see the black and white flightless birds, watching them waddle around and making weird noises was entertaining to him. "Of course, the penguins. Just as useless as you," Mr. Dursley grunts, "I mean, they're birds, but they can't fly? What's the point of that? Chickens can't fly but at least they're delicious, penguin meat on the other hand is illegal," Mr. Dursley began on his usual rant, complaining on things Jamieson liked, which the boy simply turned a deaf ear on, only tuning in and responding if his name was mentioned.

He'd learn to build a wall when his step-family talked, knowing full well if he didn't, he'd be offended by everything they say.

"There. Go have fun, meet me back at the car in exactly 2 hours," Mr. Dursley instructed as they entered the giant zoo. Jamieson immediately made his way towards the penguins, pushing through the crowd easily due to his small size.

Letting a small child run around a crowded zoo unsupervised, what could go wrong? It's not like he'd get kidnapped or something, eh.

On his way towards the waddling birds, a voice suddenly rang through his head, speaking in a hiss-like language, prompting him to stop immediately and turn his head towards a nearby snake enclosure.

'Free me, child,' One of the large snakes spoke, its eyes fixated on Jamieson, who was extremely confused at his sudden comprehension of snake language. 'I... don't remember learning snake hiss,' Jamieson thought, making his way towards the snake, his mouth seemingly moving on its own, hissing in a quiet tone as the crowds around him continued on with their life.

'Free me, little one,' The yellow-black spotted snake hissed, confusing Jamieson even more. 'How? I'm not strong enough to break this glass,' He replied in snake language, both of them fell into silence after a while, the boy not even questioning why he knew snake language all of a sudden.

Jamieson suddenly entered a somewhat trance-like state, his eyes locking with the snake's own beady black ones, staying in said trance for about 3 minutes, only to have his focus be broken by a man shouting, "Cotton candy! Get your animal shaped cotton candies here!", causing him to snap.

Blinking his eyes a few times, Jamieson quickly left the snake enclosure, a bit spooked out by his sudden ability to talk to snakes, he sprinted his way towards the waddling black and white birds enclosure, unaware of what he had just done.

While Jamieson was enjoying watching the penguins mind their businesses, with a zookeeper inside chucking fish all around, the previously mentioned snake slithered its way out of the enclosure through a small hole in the glass, which Jamieson inadvertently created during their interaction. Said snake slithered into a nearby pipe, into the sewers beneath the city, making its way to freedom after years of being enclosed, 'Freedom at last,' it hissed.

Jamieson spent over an hour staring at the penguins in awe, wishing he could be as carelessly free- in a sense, as they were. If he were to compare his current life with theirs, one similarity they had was that both he and the penguins lived a life within a cage. Only difference is, the only thing the penguins have to do is to look cute and waddle around, making noises now and then and earn their daily rations. Jamieson, on the other hand, had to keep his house from turning upside down... Even then he's not guaranteed a meal after doing so.

"Are you done? Mr. Dursley asks, startled awake by Jamieson's knocks on his doors. 2 hours had went by and knowing just how bad his stepfather could be if he wasn't punctual, he decided not to test him today, at least not on his birthday.

"Good, we're picking up your cake and going home," Mr. Dursley instructed, Jamieson nodding in silence, knowing full well they'd be picking up a bright pink strawberry cake, which was his stepsister's favourite.

Jamieson doesn't even like strawberries, but that never came to the thoughts of the Dursleys.

As usual, they went to pick up the cake from the Dursley's favourite bakery, which frankly makes one of the worst pastries in the entire city. Why do they even bother going there? Jamieson knows not, nor does he care. Not only will his name be misspelled, something he's tired of correcting, he's only gonna get a small, 1/10 piece of the cake anyways.

Later that evening, just as all of his birthdays had gone, Jamieson received a small slice of the rather big cake with his misspelled name, got a small, unenthusiastic "Happy Birthday" and was instructed to eat it within his sad excuse of a room, which the boy had grown accustomed to.

"Happy Birthday Jamieson," Jamieson smiles to himself, picking out a candle from the small box of birthday candle he'd kept in his room for years, taking one out each year to blow out on his own once he got his privacy. "Here's to another year of slavery," He jokes to himself, wishing that his life would change, knowing he'd die of boredom soon enough if it keeps being the same thing every single day.

With a small huff and a puff, the candle was blown out, Jamieson's wish carried out to the stars as he ate his cake within a few bites, throwing away the used candle and tissue he was given as a 'plate' for his cake into a small bin in one corners of his underneath-the-stairs-cupboard-room.

Laying down onto his bed, Jamieson let out a small sigh before shutting his eyes and going to sleep, drifting into the world of dreams yet again.

Two chapters in one day?! WHOAH :O

I know I'm a bit late to the Harry Potter fiesta, but hey, better late than never, I guess? I've had this entire storyline in my head for a long time now and I thought, might as well just push it out.