Chapter Three.
The Zoo.
"Get up! Up! Now!"
I awake with a start at the screeching of my Aunt Petunia. Her shrills shock me into sitting bolt upright resulting in me violently head-butting the stairs above me. Growling angrily, I kick my brother Harry in the arm until he had awoken whilst rubbing the top section of my head.
"Are you awake?" the high-pitched voice of Aunt Petunia echoed through the wooden door followed by the recognisable noise of the bolt sliding across allowing myself and Harry to exit the cupboard under the stairs – or as we call it, our bedroom.
"Yes, we are awake." Harry huffs, the sound of our Aunties footsteps walk away towards the kitchen and then the sound of the frying pan being put on the cooker. My brother throws the duvet over himself and rolled up hiding his entire body, no doubt trying to savour a few more precious minutes of sleep.
I wish I could just roll over and go back to sleep, in a desperate attempt to try and remember the dream I had been having. It was very strange, hazy and confusing. There had been a glowing green light and the waves of grey hair and half-moon glasses. As I remember sections, I have a funny feeling this wasn't the first time I'd dreamt about it.
Suddenly, Aunt Petunia was back outside the cupboard, "Get a move on, I want one of you to look after the bacon and don't you dare let it burn! I want everything to be perfect for Duddy's birthday."
Duddy's? I groan in my head as Harry groans out loud. Dudley's birthday – how could we forget? I threw my pillow in Harry's direction as I begin to get dressed starting by looking for my socks. Pulling on my left sock, I notice that in the top right hand corner of the cupboard, the spider which I'd named Felix. Living under the stairs, Harry and I had gotten used to spiders, at first I used to kill them but when I discovered that no matter how many I killed, two more would replace them it didn't seem worth it. However Felix is the longest to of stayed. Maybe more on to the corridor outside or adventure to the garage.
Harry suddenly threw the pillow back in my face with vengefulness. I made a strange noise as the pillow made contact with my face knocking me backwards into the stairs again. Throwing the pillow back, I escape the cupboard before my brother can retaliate it however he does follow me out quickly giving me a playful hug which earns us a sharp yell from Petunia.
Inside the kitchen, the table was practically hidden beneath the mountain of presents Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon had bought for Dudley. From one strangely shaped present, it looks as if Dudley had gotten that computer he had demanded for, and not to mention a new television. And there appeared to be some sort of BMX amongst the pile, which is strange because I can't imagine why Dudley would want one, he's incredibly fat and hates exercise. However Dudley enjoyed punching, and his favourite punching bags still remained Harry and myself, but unlike my brother, I have started to punch back but I assume that's because unlike Harry, I'm not a fast runner.
I'm not sure if it was because he was skinny that Harry was a good runner. There have been times when I worried about his health and well-being. My brother was short, the same height of myself but skinny with a thin face and knobbly knees. On top of his head was a mop of thick black hair that fell down over his forehead stopping just before the circle glasses he wore. About once a week, Uncle Vernon would yell over his newspaper about Harry needing a haircut, it wouldn't surprise me if he had more haircuts than any other boy, however something is strange about Harry's hair, it would just grow back, over night and in the same way as before – all over the sodding place. His glasses where held together by sellotape I had applied myself because at the time he couldn't see – Dudley had just punched him in the nose.
Harry and I were very different, both physically and mentally. Our hairs were different first off, his mop of black hair was nothing compared to my auburn hair that was darker than most with a strange hint of dark red, (due to this Dudley enjoyed calling me; Ginger, despite not being correct). I wasn't thin like Harry however I wasn't fat like Dudley. Mentally, Harry and I were rather different, he was a lot friendlier than I and a lot more sociable. I however, was slightly less approachable and with the constant facial expression of Wednesday Addams, I understand why people avoid me in school.
The only thing similar about myself and Harry, is our matching, thin lightening bolt scars. Harry's rested on his forehead whilst mine was set beneath my right eye on my cheek. We've had them for as long as either of us can remember, I remember the first and only time I ever asked Aunt Petunia about it.
"In the car crash when your parents died," she just grumbled, "And don't ask questions."
That was the first rule of living at the Dursleys – don't ask questions. Ever. However I couldn't help but wonder if she was telling the truth about mine and Harry's parents, I mean not to be disrespectful to Aunt Petunia – as my mother was her sister – or my parents but mine and Harry's scars are identical aside from placement.
Uncle Vernon entered the kitchen as I was turning over the bacon in the frying pan. Six pieces of bacon sat in the pan for me to dish up. Two for Dudley and two for Uncle Vernon, one for Aunt Petunia and one piece for Harry and I to share.
"Brush your hair!" he barked at me as Harry and I swap over so he could fry eggs. Aunt Petunia then attacked my hair with a brush, mumbling about how it's important to look nice and respectful. I sleep in a set of Dudley's old clothing – a set of P.E shorts and a plain black T-shirt. Harry sleeps and dresses in Dudley's old clothing which drowns him as Harry is a lot smaller than our cousin.
Soon, Dudley enters the kitchen. Aunt Petunia instantly makes a fuss over her son, smoothing down his already flat hair that sits on top of his fat head. Aunt Petunia often goes on about how Dudley looked like a baby angel – Harry and I often laugh about the fact Dudley looked like a pig in a wig, much like Uncle Vernon, both have large pink faces, not much neck, small and watery blue eyes.
"Hurry up!" Uncle Vernon suddenly yelled, "Where's no coffee girl?" he questions.
"Coming, Uncle Vernon." I mumble, pouring out freshly made coffee and adding three large teaspoons of sugar into the cup and stirring it. As I take the cup over to the table, Harry is bring over breakfast. We place our items down on the table, which is difficult because their isn't much room. Dudley, meanwhile, was counting his presents. And one he'd look like he had finished, his face fell.
"Thirty-six," he said, looking up at his mother and father, "Two less than last year."
Aunt Petunia looked worried, "Sweetie, you haven't counted Auntie Marge's present, see, it's here under the table."
This didn't help Dudley's temper, he was quickly going red in the face. Both Harry and I could sense a huge tantrum from their cousin coming quickly and began wolfing down our breakfast as fast as possible in case Dudley tipped the table over – which wouldn't be unlikely.
"Last year I had thirty-eight!" he screams making Auntie Petunia jump violently which causes Uncle Vernon jerk, spilling his coffee over the white table cloth. Before he could hiss at me, I'd fetched the tea towel and began pressing it on the hot coffee which was now staining the cloth.
"Yes, but some of them are quite a bit bigger than last year." Uncle Vernon attempted to reason with his son.
Dudley went even redder – I wasn't aware it was possible, and almost raised up to over power his father, "I don't care how big they are!" he spits.
Aunt Petunia stands beside her child, rubbing across his shoulder tenderly, "No listen, poppet." she coos softly, "This is what we are going to do, when we go out, we're going to buy you two new presents, hows that?"
My cousin just huffs, and stalks off to his pile of presents and begins ripping the paper off his presents. The air in the kitchen is thick with tension but Harry and I are used to that sort of environment. Nevertheless, it was somewhat off putting knowing that Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon were even more on edge that usual, Harry and I cleared and washed the plates and cups.
The telephone rings making Aunt Petunia jump as she was too busy watching Dudley tearing open at box that held a golden wristwatch – which was strange since he couldn't tell the time. By the time Aunt Petunia had returned, Dudley had thrown the watch to the side, showing no real interest in it.
"Bad new, Vernon," she announced, "Mrs Figg's broken her leg. She can't take them."
Them? We have names, not that it really truly bothered me, its just the tone she used, like we were the scum off the earth. A complete inconvenience to them, surely if they didn't want us they could of said. Dudley's mouth hit the floor at the news but I can tell by the wideness that had taken to Harry's eyes, his heart had given the same leap of mine.
Mrs Figg was an elderly lady that lived across the street, she was mad. Her entire house smelt like cabbage with six cats lazing about on difference pieces of furniture. Mrs Figg had a strange likely to Harry and always sat him down to show him pictures of all the cats she's had over the years, whereas she just leaves me to muck about with Harley, a Bengal cat that had – for some unknown reason – taken a liking to me and refused to leave me unattended whilst I was round there. Every year on Dudley's birthday, Petunia and Vernon took him out for the day, usually with a few friends. They went to burger restaurants and amusement parks. Every year, myself and Harry was left behind with Mrs Figg, he hated it, I didn't find it too bad.
"What now?" asked Aunt Petunia, who was staring at me and Harry so furiously I'm surprised we still have some of our face left, it wasn't as if we had planned this. Petunia suggested Marge, but she hates us so that wasn't an option, neither was Petunia's friend Yvonne – who was apparently on holiday in Majorca.
"You could just leave us here," I suggest, rather optimistically, if they left us here, we could watch what we wanted for once on television and maybe play on Dudley's computer.
Uncle Vernon scoffed, "And come back to find the house in ruins?"
I raise my arms in a disbelieving manor, "We aren't going to blow the house up." I object but they were listening. Harry comes to stand next to me as our Aunt and Uncle begin to discuss us like we aren't even there.
"They could stay in the car..." Petunia whispered.
Vernon snarled, "It's a new car, they aren't sitting in there by themselves."
Just then, Dudley let out a howl of upset. Harry and I knew instantly that our cousin wasn't really crying, it had been years since he truly cried but Dudley wasn't stupid in the art of pretending, especially when it came to his mother. He knew that if he screwed up his face and wailed like a dying dog, his mother would give him anything he wanted.
"I don't want them to come!" Dudley yelled through his fake sobs, "They spoil everything!"
A smirk crosses my face, unintentionally and Harry nudges me before Uncle Vernon sees. Suddenly, Aunt Petunia had me by the upper arm, her sharp, neatly polished nails digging into the sensitive skin. She dragged me up the stairs and into the spare room – or better known as Dudley's second bedroom. Petunia dragged out a box out of the wardrobe, I remember Dudley kicking off about it when his mother first placed the item in the room.
I watch as Petunia's lanky form lingers over the box she rummages through, then she pulls out the most hideous thing I had ever seen. It was a pink dress with white lace collar and hem, the sleeves where short also with white lace marking the edges.
"I'm not wearing that!" I hiss.
Aunt Petunia laughed like a witch, "I think you are." she says before throwing it at me, "I will not have you go out looking like a scruff."
Crossing my arms, I drop the dress to the floor. "No."
She gripped me by the upper arm, her nails digging in so much she actually punctured the skin, "You will wear it. Change now!" she yells, leaving the room and slamming the door. Signing heavily, I knew it would just be easier to wear it, punishment will only follow if I defy her.
I take off my night clothes and slip on the dress, catching a brief glimpse of myself in the mirror of the bedroom. I looked like an idiot. Pulling at the collar of the dress (that seemed desperate to strangle me) I exited the bedroom, Aunt Petunia held back her giggles as she saw me.
"Now, lets sort out your hair." Petunia said before attacking me with a hairbrush, ripping the item through my knotted hair. My eyes watered horrifically but I fought back giving Petunia the satisfaction of seeing me hurt.
"Where are we going?" I ask.
Aunt Petunia huffs, "The zoo."
Harry and Dudley laughed together for the first time when I had followed Aunt Petunia downstairs to join them. Uncle Vernon just stared at me like I was nothing whereas Petunia actually looked rather pleased with herself at my appearance. Half an hour later, when Harry and Dudley were appropriate dressed, we were all squished in the back of the car, Dudley refused to be in the middle or the squish seat, however he continued to complain the entire journey that Harry – who had sat in the middle – was deliberately repeatedly elbowing him in the side. Which wasn't true but of course, neither Petunia or Vernon was going to believe us.
I was so excited to go to the zoo for the first time, animals fascinated me more than anything and I couldn't wait to see some of the animals I had only seen in photos in real life. Apparently my excitement had gotten the better of me because as soon as the car stopped, I shot out. Uncle Vernon pulled me to one side quickly.
"Stop embarrassing us girl," he hisses before pulling Harry to my side, "Listen here you two, I'm warning you, any funny business... anything at all – and I'll lock you in that cupboard with no meals for a week."
My eyebrows furrow unintentionally, "Were not going to do anything,"
"Honestly..." Harry trails off. But Uncle Vernon didn't believe us. No one ever does.
There was one little problem with Harry and I promising we wont do anything and the problem was that strange things often happened to us without us influencing them. However it was useless telling the Dursleys this, they'd never believe we didn't make them happen. For example, Aunt Petunia got so sick of Harry coming back from the barbers looking as if he hadn't been at all, she one day took a pair of scissors and cut his hair so short you could see his scalp, except for his fringe which she left 'to hide that horrible scar'. I remember Harry tossing and turning that night, no doubt worrying about what would happen at school tomorrow, he is bullied, I know he is despite him refusing to tell me about it.
The next morning however, we woke up to see that his hair was exactly the way it was before Aunt Petunia had sheared it off. We both had been given a week in the cupboard for this, even though we both had tried to explain that neither of us could explain how it happened.
But today, nothing was going to go wrong. It was even worth being with Dursley, Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon to be spending a day that wasn't school, in the cupboard or with Mrs Figg's house. It was a very warm and sunny Saturday and the zoo was crowded with families. All happy. Dudley was bought an ice cream at the entrance whilst Harry and I went without.
My brother and I had the best morning we'd had in a long time, as we carefully walked a nice distance from the Dursleys so they didn't acknowledge us laughing and saying the gorilla looks like Dudley – who had started to get bored of the animals by lunch-time. We all ate in the zoo restaurant, Harry and I were forced to spare a plate of chips whilst Dudley got two meals because his first wasn't large enough for him.
After lunch, we headed for the reptile house, which was the place I have been most anxious to visit since we arrived. The building was cool an dark with lit windows that acted as look ins into the reptiles accommodation, where different sorts of lizards and snake climbing and slithering over rocks and wood and a few caiman swimming in a pool and lounging on the sand. Dudley wanted to see huge, poisonous cobras and thick man-crushing pythons. Our cousin quickly found the largest snake in the place, it was eighteen feet long with the ability to crush a human – preferably one of the Dursleys – but at the moment, it didn't look in the mood. In fact, it was laid on a rock in the shine of it's heat-bulb.
Dudley pressed his ugly face against the glass, staring at the beautiful scaled creature. "Make it move," he demand to his father. Uncle Vernon then tapped on the glass surprisingly gently with his knuckle but the python didn't move.
"Move!" Dudley screamed suddenly making Harry, myself and Petunia jump as he bangs on the plastic window making it shake violently, but the snake still remained asleep. "He's boring..." Dudley then moaned before shuffling away.
Harry and I swiftly moved in front of the glass to peer in and look intently at the large snake, I wouldn't be surprised if he hadn't died of boredom. His enclosure was large but with only him inside the poor creature must be lonely with only people drumming their fingers on the glass trying to disturb them whilst pressing their faces and hands against the glass.
"Sorry about them," I say intently trying not to look crazy, "They don't understand that its like, hell, non of us understand what it's like to lay there day after having people press their ugly faces in on you."
The snake suddenly opened its beady eyes. Slowly, very slowly, raised its head until its eyes were level with mine and Harry's. Then, it winked. Harry continued staring at the reptile whilst I darted my head around making sure no one else was watching. Thankfully they weren't, and the Dursleys where a safe distance away.
Then I turned back, I winked at the snake. The creature jerked its head in the direction of Uncle Vernon and then raised his head to the ceiling, almost rolling his eyes as if to say: "I get that all the time."
"It must be really annoying." Harry murmured through the glass, neither of us where sure if the snake could actually hear us. However, the snake nodded vigorously. I looked over at the sign on the right hand sign next to the glass, it reads: Boa Constrictor, Brazil.
"Was it nice in Brazil? Do you miss your family?" I ask the snake. The constrictor jabbed its head towards a separate sign, this specimen was bred in captivity. "Oh, I see – its the same with us, we never knew our parents either."
The snake dipped its head, almost in sympathy to me and Harry because I guess he, or she, understood how it felt never to know your family or to know where you really came from.
"Just so we know," Harry then said, "Do you speak to people often?"
As the snake shook its head, a deafening shout from behind us made all three of us jump. "MUM! DAD! COME HERE YOU WON'T BELIEVE WHAT THIS SNAKE IS DOING!" our cousin screams waddling towards us as fast as he could before lunging between me and Harry shoving us both to the side, knocking Harry and I to the floor.
We both landed either side of the constrictor's vivarium on the cold concrete floor. Anger flooded through me, and I could see the same anger flicker across Harry's face. What came next happened so fast, Harry and I didn't believe it, but as we scowled at Dudley, the glass on the front of the enclosure vanished and Dudley fell into the snakes home.
I sat up swiftly as Harry gasped; the great snake uncoiled itself rapidly and began to slither out on to the floor, ignoring Dudley. The snake turned from Harry to me before almost grinning and in a low, hissing voice said, "Thanks." I felt instantly faint but for some reason, everything seemed normal about this.
"Any time." I replied with a small smile before looking over at Harry to looked shocked but a ghostly smile rested on his lips. Suddenly, I remembered Dudley was inside the snakes accommodation as the Boa slithered off causing people throughout the reptile house to scream and sprint towards the exits. Looking up, I saw Dudley was laid in the snakes pool, he stood up soaking wet and reached out to get out the same way the snake had but the glass had reappeared, sealing him in.
"Ah! Mummy! Daddy! Help!" he began to scream banging on the glass.
Aunt Petunia let out to most awful, high-pitched scream I'd ever heard, "OH MY DARLING BOY! HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?!"
The keeper of the reptile house was in shock at the sight of Dudley in the snakes accommodation. I get up and walk over to Harry and help him to his feet but one look at Harry caused me to crack up into giggles, my twin erupted into chuckles.
Uncle Vernon's eyes then jerked to me and Harry, neither of us to stop our giggles in time. And it was then we knew a punishment was headed our way. The zoo keeper let Dudley out of the Boa Constrictors accommodation, wrapping him up in a blanket before allowing us to leave but not until giving the Dursleys free access passes to the zoo for the next year.
As soon as we got home, Uncle Vernon went red in the face and he looked furious, he clasped one of my ears and one of Harry's dragging us together before demanding, "What happened!?"
"We don't know!" Harry screeched as Uncle Vernon twisted our ears painfully.
"One minute the glass was there, then it was gone!" I gasp trying to deal with the pain, "It was like magic!"
Uncle Vernon growled like a hound, he opened the door to our cupboard and practically threw us in there and locked the door behind us. "There's no such thing as magic!" he screeches before shutting the hatch, plummeting us into darkness.
A/N: Thought I'd give you a long chapter, what did you guys think? Give me a review!