(A/N) Many thanks to those of you who reviewed or followed my story. The more reviews I get the more inclined I am to post chapters (hint hint). Again, I do not have a beta and any mistakes I missed are mine and mine alone.
Disclaimer: See Chapter 1.
Chapter 1: Dudley's Birthday
"UP! UP! GET READY YOU LAZY FREAK. Everything WILL be perfect for Duddy's birthday!" Petunia's shrill voice woke up Rose. It took her a few seconds to fully comprehend what she said. She had forgotten that Dudley's birthday was today. She started scrambling for her clothes. Rose couldn't afford to be late or ruin anything. Vernon wrath was even more volatile on days like this. She had learned that the hard way.
"Coming Aunt Petunia," she responded meekly. Rose heard the key unlock the padlock on the door and the deadbolt slide. They had started locking her in the cupboard under that stairs when Vernon caught her rummaging through the icebox one night to sneak some leftovers. When he heard her and came into the kitchen, she had gotten one of her longest punishments. She had been in the cupboard for almost a month, only being let out each day to go to school. That was one of the few times Vernon had used the belt on her. She laid in her cupboard hours afterwards silently crying. She refused to cry in front of them. It was simply a matter of pride, and how much weakness she would show in front of them. Dudley would just bully her for it anyways, so it didn't really matter.
Rose slipped out of the cupboard and walked over to the kitchen. Her aunt wasn't there but she could see the fixings for a traditional English breakfast on the counter. She pulled out the necessary pots and pans and set to work. Sausage and bacon went in one skillet, eggs in another, and mushrooms and tomatoes in a third. After making sure things wouldn't burn, she filled a tea kettle and set it on the stove, then started the percolating then coffee. She could hear Petunia upstairs trying (and failing) to wake up the Dursley men.
The smell of food apparently woke them up, and they were all in the kitchen 10 minutes later. By then the only thing left cooking was the baked beans and the bread she had just put in the toaster. She quickly served them all huge portions, and walked back to her 'room'. Rose grabbed the mop and broom and made her way to the entrance hallway. She was to clean it up before Dudley's friend Piers Polkiss showed up. The doorbell rang just as she was finishing. She opened up the door and saw Piers and his mum.
Mrs. Polkiss was a nice woman. Unlike the Dursley's, she believed all the reports sent home saying that her son was caught beating up little kids or bullying Rose. She still cared about her appearance in the neighborhood, so she never approached Rose in front of others, but by themselves she would greet her with a smile, or sometimes invited her in for tea. She had even given Rose a couple of her daughter's old dresses after seeing her wear Dudley's hand me downs. Dudley was the size of a young killer whale, and his old clothes were about ten sizes too large to fit her. Luckily, she was also the seamstress for the Dursley's, and had purposely shrunk her clothes in the wash.
"Hello Rosie dear, how are you today?" Mrs. Polkiss asked. Piers had run into the kitchen to find Dudley, who was just finishing eating.
"Fine, thank you for asking ma'am." She replied. Aunt Petunia then came, and after talking with her Mrs. Polkiss left. As soon as Piers' mum was out of sight, Petunia rounded on Rose.
"Mrs. Figg has broken her leg and can't watch you. Unfortunately that means you have to come with us. There better be none of your freakishness or else it'll be the cupboard for the rest of the summer." Rose nodded obediently. She wouldn't put it past them to do that. The only upside to being in her 'room' was that Vernon and Dudley couldn't beat on her.
After a 15 minute drive, where Rose has to endure a whole lot of poking and pinching, they arrived at the zoo. Near the entrance was an ice cream stand where her uncle bought Dudley and Piers both large ice lollies. Before they could get away the lady asked Rose if she wanted anything, but she declined after receiving a look from Vernon.
"No thank you ma'am, I am not terribly fond of sweets." The vendor shot her a strange look but didn't comment. Once out of sight Dudley started cackling at her, showing her his half eaten lolly.
Two hours later they found themselves in the Reptile House. The whole day she had just shadowed her aunt, not showing particular interest in any of the animals. Dudley was currently tormenting the Brazilian python. After leaving him, Rose walked over to it.
'Hello ssssnake' Rose hissed. She had known since she was little that she could talk to snakes. She could also somewhat understand some lizards, but couldn't speak to them. She found it could be quite amusing to listen to some of their conversations.
'Ssssspeaker, have you come to free me and my relativesssssss?'
'I'm ssssssorry but I cannot today. My relativesssssss would be very angry with me.'
'Well, it was worth a ssssssshot. Good day ssspeaker.'
Rose quickly scurried back to her uncle after seeing that Dudley noticed the snake was awake now. He started banging on the glass again. After the fifth or sixth strike, the glass part of the enclosure mysteriously vanished, and Dudley toppled into the enclosure. The python slithered across the floor, and as it left the room, he turned his head and winked at her.
'Thanksss amiga'
The reptile keeper, after calming Petunia down with several cups of tea, refunded them for their trouble. The problem was that there wasn't a shard of glass in sight, and no one could explain how a sturdy glass barrier seemingly disappeared. As they neared the car, Piers turned to Rose.
"You were talking to that snake, weren't you Potter?"
Hearing this, Vernon's eyes bulged out, Petunia pales dramatically, and Dudley stumbled a bit. Her uncle quickly shoved her in the car and looked around the lot. Everyone else got into the car.
They rode in tense silence, and making it back to Privet Drive Vernon dropped both Dudley and Piers off at the Polkiss's saying he would pick him back up in a little bit. When he pulled into the driveway and parked, he came around the side and locked his meaty hand around Rose's arm. Her aunt went ahead and was locking all the doors and closing the blinds. That was new. Vernon dragged her into the living room and threw her to the floor. Dragging in a long breath, he bellowed,
"YOU UNGRATEFUL BRAT! HOW DARE YOU USE YOUR FREAKISHNESS ON OUR PRECIOUS SON. WE CLOTHE YOU, FEED YOU, AND GIVE YOU A ROOF OVER YOUR HEAD! AND WHAT DO WE GET IN RETURN?" Every comment was punctuated with a kick to her stomach or back. She had already curled into a fetal position and was silently sobbing. After a few minutes he tired out and sunk into a chair. Petunia's head was swiveling every few seconds, going between her and the covered windows. Regaining his composure, her uncle stood back up and grabbed her 'round the middle, and tossed her into the cupboard under the stairs. She could hear the lock sliding in place from inside. A few minutes later Rose cried herself to sleep.
Rose woke up hours later to an empty stomach and an aching body. She hadn't eaten much the past week, ever since the summer hols started. Her ribs felt tender and bruises ran down the length of her back. There were clear finger marks where her uncle had gripped her arm and on her face where he had slapped her. All in all, she felt like crap. She couldn't see any light filtering through the crack on the door or hear the telly, so she assumed it was nighttime. Her uncle had never beaten her like this before. He had used the belt occasional when she was young, but nothing like this. Even when she did accidental magic like apparating onto the school roof or turning the teacher's wig blue. She guessed that since their Dinky Diddydums was 'harmed' it was more severe.
Carefully, she maneuvered over her bed to the shelf where she kept her pajamas and slipped them on. Rose lifted up a crate of cleaning supplies she had moved on to a loose floor board. Under the floorboard she had stashed a couple bottles of water in case of long stays and extra blankets for when it got really drafty during winter. After taking a few sips, she popped the floorboard back in place and shifted the crate. She stowed the water in between layers of her folded clothes and went back to sleep, changing position every few minutes in an attempt to accommodate her injuries.
