Loneliness Forgotten
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Jerking awake to the sound of banging on the door yelling for breakfast, she sits up slowly and thinks back to her dream, the flashes of yelling, the sounds of hissing, the feeling of humor and fright.
~~~~~DreamScene~~~~~
He was in a building with glass windows that showed different breeds of snakes, he was walking around when he heard his cousin complain very loudly about how boring this place was. Spying him in front of the window he slowly slides behind them listening to what they were saying.
"Make it move," Dudley was whining to his father. Uncle Vernon rapped the glass smartly with his knuckles, but the snake didn't budge.
"Do it again," Dudley ordered. Uncle Vernon tapped again 3 times but still, the snake snoozed on.
" This is so boring!" Dudley moaned. He moved away to check out the other reptiles.
He moved in front of the tank and looked intently at the snake. HE wouldn't have been surprised if it had died of boredom itself - no company except stupid people drumming their fingers on the glass trying to disturb it all day long. It was worse than having a cupboard as a bedroom, where the only visitor was Aunt Petunia hammering on the door to wake you up; at least he got to visit the rest of the house.
The snake suddenly opened its beady eyes. Slowly, very slowly, it raised its head until its eyes were on a level with Harry's.
It winked. Harry Started. Then he looked quickly to see if anyone was watching. They weren't. He looked back at the snake and winked too.
The snake jerked its head toward Uncle Vernon and Dudley, then raised its eyes to the ceiling. It gave Harry a look that said quite plainly " I get that all the time."
I know," Harry murmured through the glass, though he wasn't sure the snake could hear him. "it must be dreadful."
The snake nodded vigorously. " Where do you come from anyway?" Harry asked. The snake jabbed its tail at the little sign next to the glass. Harry read it; Boa Constrictor, Brazil.
Was it nice there?"
The boa constrictor jabbed its tail at the sign again and Harry read on: This specimen was bred in the zoo. "Oh I see- so you've never been to Brazil?" As the snake shook its head, a deafening shout behind Harry made both of them jump. " DUDLEY! MR. DURSLEY! COME AND LOOK AT THIS SNAKE! YOU WON'T BELIEVE WHAT IT'S DOING!"
Dudley came waddling toward them as fast as he could. " Out of the way, you,' he said, punching Harry in the ribs. Surprised Harry fell hard on the floor. What came next happened so fast no one saw how it happened - one second, Piers and Dudley were leaning right up close to the glass, the next, they had leaped back with howls of horror.
Harry sat up with a gasp; the glass front of the boa constrictors' tank had vanished. The snake was uncoiling itself rapidly, slithering out onto the floor. People throughout the reptile house screamed and started running for the exits.
As the snake slid swiftly past him, Harry heard a low hissing voice said, "Brazil, here I come….Thankssss, amigo."
(Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - 'The Vanishing Glass' Ch. 2. J.K Rowling)
~~~~~END DREAM~~~~~
Swiftly making her way to the kitchen to finish breakfast for Dudley, she remembers how pretty the snake had looked. Maybe if that snake was at the zoo today she would set him free again; though she has no idea how'd she accomplish that; she is willing to do what she can.
"Thirty-six! THAT'S 2 LESS FROM LAST YEAR!" Dudley screamed at his parents.
"Sweetums, you haven't counted the presents under the big one from Mommy and Daddy," Aunt Petunia complacently. " All Right, Thirty- Eight then," Dudley said going red in the face. Helli seeing this decided being in the kitchen was better than being near him. Aunt Petunia must have sensed something because she heard her mentioning something about stopping on the way and getting another one. Helli rolled her eyes, she should be grateful they're more likely to use the money SHE earns to spoil his arse rotten.
Just as Dudley was tearing into his present the front door rang to announce the duddleykins gang member Piers Polkiss sauntered into the room like the sleazeball he was. "Dudley! Happy Birthday! Mrs. Dursley, Mr. Dursley." He stated with exaggerated charmed. He sent a leer towards Helli and she flipped him off.
She never liked Piers and she never could figure out why. He was just a pimpled face little snob who hung out with Dudley but from what she had seen in her dreams and the uncomfortable shiver she gets every time he is around her she just finds it better to stay out of his way.
Finally making it to the zoo Helli was twisting with excitement. She was so ready to check on the reptile exhibit to see if her dream snake was there. She didn't have much of a plan if he was but she had to see anyway. As she walked into the Reptile house she made sure to keep to the middle of the room as she didn't want to attract too much reptilian attention.
Sweeping her eyes around in search of Dudley, she spots him and his father exactly where her dream said they'd be. In front of the boa constrictors.
Creeping closer to see if it was the same pretty green-scaled boa as the one in her dream she was pleasantly excited to see that it was with a pretty diamond shape it either didn't carry in the dream or she had failed to notice with all the drama. Leaning against the wall next to the exhibit she hissed quietly to the snake ~ Hello, don't look at me just yet. I just wanted your attention. If you could do me a favor of waving at the whales in front of you when they knock on the glass we can avoid a really bad scene...Could you do that for me?~
The snake lifts its head slowly and flickers its tongue out at Dudley earning a squeal from Dudley for his performance. Once Dudley was able to look his fill, he realized that the snake wasn't going to move anymore; he quickly moved on dragging Piers and Uncle Vernon out of the reptilian house.
Once she was sure that Dudley, Piers, and Uncle Vernon were gone on she moved in front of the window to find the prettiest green snake she has ever seen.
~ Hello, Speaker~ said the Snake. ~ Was that good enough?~
~Yes,~ Helli replied, ~ I didn't want to have them hang around longer than needed. What's your name pretty one?~
~The feeders call me Serpico, I do not know any other name. I have been here all my life~
~It would please me to take you away from captivity,~ Asked Helli ~ I can either let you escape to find your own way or I could take you home with me. How would you like that?~
~ That would be mossst exssellent, Speaker. I would go with you. I can help you with your learning. I am what your kind refers to as a familiar.~
Helli's eyes widen slightly and she gave a soft giggle. ~ Well that was unplanned for but I would be honored to care for a beauty like you. Beware once your glass is gone please move quickly I don't want anyone to notice what's going on.~
Serpico gives a slight nod and Helli focuses on disappearing the glass. She's never tried to do any of this stuff on purpose but she'd be damned if she left Serpico behind. Just as she was getting frustrated she feels a slight pop inside her chest and the glass vanishes. She grins big and true as Serpico wraps his body around her and she zips up the jacket she's been wearing to hide him from view. Once she feels secure she quickly makes her way to the nearest exit of the park to wait for the Dursleys so she doesn't get left behind.
Maybe 15 minutes later she hears than before she sees them, complaining about her and how ungrateful she was for running off, she sidles up to Uncle Vernon and quietly in a sad and weepy voice, " Uncle Vernon you weren't around! I came back from the bathroom and everyone had left the snake house!"
Uncle Vernon's face turned bright cherry as he realized that people were starting to look in their direction with judgy eyes for leaving a 10-year-old alone. He quickly grabs her arm smiles tightly and says "we thought you'd wandered off and went looking for you." he drags her to the car. Quietly to make sure no one hears him he states hatefully ' Just for that little scene your in your room for 2 weeks without meals!'
Thankful it wasn't more she tucks her chin into her chest and replies "Yes Uncle Vernon."
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