A/N: I'm going to make this clear. I don't own the Harry Potter series or it's characters. That right goes to JK Rowling

A Non-Magical Day at the Zoo

After two or three more missed exits and Remus taking over the wheel from James, they manage to make it to the Zoo.

"Dad, I think next time we should let uncle Moony drive the whole way," Harry said.

James muttered and pouted as everyone got out of the car.

"How is it you can drive a motorcycle across country and yet you miss so many exits?" Remus asked.

"For your information, I haven't drove my motorcycle in years," James responded.

It was true. Even before that night, Lilly forced James to put away his motorcycle since Harry couldn't ride them yet. After that night, James mostly stick to foo powder, or apparition to get from place to place. Even once in a while using a porkey. Heck, Sirius took Harry on more rides on his Motorcycle than James have.

The two adults and three children manage to get into the zoo where Remus got the map of the place so James don't lead them in circles.

"Okay, what should we see first?" Remus asked.

"Lions!" all three boys yelled.

James chuckled. "Future Gryffindors in the making."

Their first stop was the lions exhibit. Unfortunately the only exciting thing about them was that they would sometime roar as they yawn as they lay around.

"It says here Lions are one of the dominant preditors in Africa," Remus tried to entertain the boys by reading them facts.

"No offense, Moony, but I don't see these beast being a dominant species of anything," James said.

"I'm just trying to entertain the boys," Remus said. "By the way, according to this Lions are one of the only known big cats that lives in groups known as a pride."

James shook his head as Remus kept trying to entertain the boys with facts. James knew for a fact this is Remus' first time at a zoo. Sometimes he wonders if Remus wasn't sorted into Gryffindor House would he have been sorted to Ravenclaw House.

James bought everyone ice cream before they went to the Gorilla exhibit. The gorilla there was sitting while scratching his head while eating a banana."

"He reminds me of my cousin Dudley." Harry said.

"Really? I thought he was more like Neville," Ron joked as Neville sitting at a nearby bench was doing the exact same thing, but with an icecream comb instead of banana.

Both boys laughed at their friend's actions.

"What?" Neville asked.

"Nothing," both replied with a few snickers.

Their next stop was the bird exhibit before they got something to eat.

While getting their order, the female cashier tried to flirt with James who turned her down. After Lily's death, James haven't gotten back into the dating business. He knew Lily would want him to be happy for their son, but James just couldn't find a girl that caught his heart.

Sirius had tried to hook up James several times, but each date ended without a girlfriend.

After everyone ate, they went to the reptilian exhibit—although they mostly looked at lizards and turtles found there, and paid no attention to the snakes. At least most of them did.

Harry was walking through the exhibit when a certain exhibit showing a Boa Constrictor.

Harry remember hearing Dudley complained about a huge snake that could crush his dad doing absolutely nothing. And judging from this sleeping giant snake, this must be it.

"So you're the snake my cousin complained about," Harry said. "It's all right. I won't expect you to do anything."

To Harry's surprise, the snake looked up gratefully.

"Do you hear me?" Harry asked. "Can you understand me?"

The Boa Constrictor nodded. Harry didn't know what to do. His dad always told him not to do anything Muggles would consider weird, but he didn't know if this count as one. He heard of wizards that talk to snakes, but he never thought of himself as one.

"Where are you from?" Harry asked to test this.

The snake jabbed its tail at a little sign next to the glass. Harry peered at it.

Boa Constrictor, Brazil.

"So you're from Brazil?"

The boa constrictor jabbed its tail at the sign again and Harry read on: This specimen was bred in the zoo. "Oh, I see."

"Harry what are you doing?" James asked.

"Nothing," Harry lied.

James looked at the boa constrictor that was looking at Harry with interest.

"I think it's time we find the next exhibit," James said. "Maybe the giraffes, or birds."

Harry didn't argue as his dad went to round up the others who were looking at an iguana.

…

The rest of the day went normal, but by dinner it was time for Neville and Ron to go home since no one was in the mood to stay for the night. Remus took the two home.

"Dad, am I a freak?" Harry asked James during dinner.

"What? No!" James responded, "Harry James Potter, you're no freak. Why would you ask that."

Harry admitted about the conversation to the boa constrictor. James was shock to say the least, but he then sighed. Dumbledore warned him there might be some magical side effects to Voldemort's spell back firing on Harry. But James was just hoping it had to do with Harry being small for his age.

"Harry, it's true talking to snakes is—a rare gift among wizards—but that doesn't make you a freak," James replied. "It just means you're gifted, and how you use that gift is up to you."

"Thanks dad," Harry responded.

After dinner Harry went up to bed.

James looked at the photo of him and Lilly holding baby Harry thinking to himself: Lilly, I wish you were here. Maybe you can help me with this new found gift of Harry's.