Chapter 5
"Harry? Harry, are you okay?" Emily's voice pierced through Harry's foggy thoughts.
Harry looked up to see the two of them leaning over him with concerned faces.
"Yeah, I am fine. I just got tired that's all." Neither one of them looked convinced. Harry gathered his feet beneath him and brushed off his jeans. "Come on, I wanted to go to the pet shop while we're here." He brushed off their words of concern and swept from the dusty shop and into the sunlight.
He knew they were trailing behind him, talking quietly. Harry was sure Emily was recounting how he passed out a few days ago, but he really didn't care. His mind was still spinning and he had the immature wish that Hermione was there so that he could say I told you so. So much for books not being evil.
The distinct smells of a pet shop assaulted his nostrils as he stepped out of the sunlight and into the dim shop. Rustlings came from the many cages and Harry spotted what looked like Crookshank's brother sleeping in a high window ledge. He wasn't one hundred percent sure why he had the urge to visit the shop but he felt like rolling with his gut feeling.
Emily cooed over the kittens while Draco watched, keeping on eye on Harry as he made his way further into the darkened room. At the back of the shop were tanks lining the wall. In one of the tanks, lay a beautiful green snake with the width of about a pencil. She was basking in the fake sunlight and lazily looked up at him as he stopped by her tank.
"Hello beautiful," he hissed quietly when he was sure no one was close enough to hear.
She cocked her head to the side to look at him. "You speak?" Harry nodded. "Good you can get me out of this infernal thing." Harry smirked.
He looked around for the shopkeeper. She saw him and came over to see if she could help.
"How much for her?" Harry asked as Draco came up behind the shopkeeper to see what he was up to.
"She is a little expensive, she is a rare breed. Her scales are very useful in potions…"
"We will take her." Draco interrupted. Harry raised an eyebrow. "Consider it an early birthday present." Harry smiled as the shopkeeper and Draco went off to discuss pricing.
Harry placed his hand in the tank and the snake wrapped around his wrist. She wrapped three times around and rested her head on her tail. He heard her mutter, 'much better' and he couldn't help but laugh. Emily looked at him funny.
He shrugged. "She's pretty, don't you think?"
"Have fun talking Mum into thinking that." Emily just shook her head and watched Draco who was walking back towards Harry with a bag.
"Food and the start to a habitat." Draco said as he handed the bag to Harry. He gave him a sideways look. "Never really thought you liked snakes, but I have to agree, she is pretty." He studied the snake wrapped around Harry's wrist. "What are you going to call her?"
Harry cocked his head to the side and thought. "Not sure yet." Emily shook her head again and sighed.
"Come on, crazy brother. Let's go home."
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"A snake?" Lilly said dubiously from her spot at the kitchen counter.
"She's pretty and I liked her. What's the problem?" Harry was leaning against the other counter.
"I just…a snake, Harry? Why?" Lilly looked fairly exasperated.
Harry shrugged. "Why not?"
Severus sighed from his spot at the table. "Lilly, leave the boy alone. It's not hurting anything."
Lilly humphed. "I suppose." She turned back to the stove. Harry shot Severus a grateful smile, and Severus just rolled his eyes.
Just then Kason ran into the room and launched himself at Harry's leg.
"Harry, Harry, Harry, Harry…"
"What Kason?" Harry asked with a smile.
"You're back!" Kason's face split into a huge smile as he looked up into Harry's face.
Harry laughed and scooped up the little boy so that he was sitting on his hip. "Yup and guess what? I brought a friend."
Kason's eye grew wide and he whispered excitedly. "Who?"
Harry pulled back his sleeve to show off the snake. "You have to be gentle," he warned Kason as the little boy tried to grab Harry's wrist so that he could see better.
"Pretty." Kason touched her head with one finger, giggling when she moved to get a better look at him.
Shifting so that he had a better hold on Kason he suggested. "Why don't we go wash up for dinner?"
Kason nodded but never took his eyes off of his new friend. Harry chuckled and carried the boy out of the kitchen, aware of the black-eyed gaze that followed him.