"Get in the car." Aunt Petunia said coldly.

Harry Potter looked at her with a quizzical expression, to which she responded, "Mrs. Figg's cat is ill. You'll come with us to the zoo, and we'll get an extra day's labour out of you - you'll just have to work harder to accomplish it."

Harry Potter looked slightly grim and gave a quick nod. "I'll be in the car." He said quickly, verging on the edge of impoliteness. Luckily, since his relatives always seemed to want him out of the way, they didn't mind.

Harry sat in the car, doing his level best not to seem impatient. In fact, he looked down, as he thought that might make more of a cowed impression. Meanwhile, his mind was spinning. He'd never been to the zoo, and had read about all sorts of animals. Giraffes, Elephants, maybe a Lion? Deer, muskoxen, gazelles. Maybe even a bear. He didn't think the bears danced at the zoo, though. His mind was busy ranking the animals, prioritizing what he wanted to see. So, almost inevitably, he was completely unprepared when Dudley slammed into him with his full bodyweight.

Harry Potter's head hit the window, and, blinking back stars, he was relieved to see it not broken. That would be just what he needed, to get blamed for something Dudley had done. Again.

The trip to the zoo was surprisingly uneventful. As they stepped from the car, Uncle Vernon collared Harry** and said, "You'll be back here by five, is that clear? We won't wait for you if you're late."

"I'll just have to be early then." Harry Potter said, with a level voice. He had learned early that Uncle Vernon was like a spade, he didn't appreciate fancy language or dancing around issues. He also didn't appreciate tears, crying, or any attempts at sympathy. It was far easier to simply take your lumps from someone like him than anything else.

Harry Potter went into the zoo by himself, having stood in a different line than the others (the quizzical look from the tickettaker was met with "I'm actually fourteen. Just small for my age."). He ran from place to place, getting a good view of most everything, and even managing to be there when they fed the penguins. The fish smelled something awful though.

It was about midday (Harry knew time by the sun, as he didn't own a watch), and Harry stepped into the Reptile House, promising that he'd be back outside (it was rare for him to be outside without needing to watch out for Dudley) in a mo***. There were snakes in there, Harry thought, as he looked around and carefully read the sign saying "do not touch the glass." He walked up to one of the snakes, a large multicolored one, and said, "Are you happy in there? It seems awful small for such a beautiful big creature like you."

"No, but it's not sssssooo bad," the snake responded, "There's a great big 'not in view' part to this cage, so I don't have to ssstay when unruly children bang on the glassss."

Abruptly, Harry Potter was about two feet to the left - only well-practiced reactions kept him on his feet. Dudley, again. Harry thought wryly that he had to stop letting himself be taken so unaware.

Of course, this being Dumb Dudley (a nickname Harry kept quite to himself), he started to bang on the glass.

"Sssssooo long, Speaker." the boa said, starting to slither away.

Harry Potter reached out a hand, saying emphatically, "No! Wait!"

Dudley did something completely impossible. He plunged through the glass, as if it wasn't even there. The snake paused, looking up at Harry, before turning towards him and nodding. "Sssspeaker, you have my thanksss..."

Harry Potter stood frozen, as the snake left the cage, heading for someplace safer and less noisy no doubt. As the tail of the snake left the cage, Harry Potter sprang into motion, running for anyplace else as quickly as he could. He didn't even see the glass reform.

Harry Potter knew he was in trouble, and that Vernon would take it out on him. Probably the belt, and more, with him avoiding punishment like this. Still, Harry had determined from the moment he sprinted away, that he was going to take this one day, and explore.

**not literally. an expression

***moment

[a/n: anyone else would say "have fun", but Harry's quite a bit unused to the concept. Write a review, if you would?]