Author's Note: I completely forgot to say at the beginning of my last chapter, huge thank you to my little sister for editing this for me :)
Chapter two
The sun rose and shone through the windows as the house slowly woke up. Nearly ten years had passed since that night when Lily's life was destroyed in a second. Grimmauld Place hadn't changed from the outside at all. Even inside the building remained the same except from a few decoration changes.
A vast array of photographs on the mantelpiece and walls really were the only thing showing how much time had passed. It was a timeline that started with a singed picture of a smiling baby holding a painted welcome sign, burnt and torn in its new frame, growing bigger and stronger as the years passed. In the wedding photos between his mother and Severus Snape, he was six and looking adorable in his suit. He played the best man, helped by the other best man, Sirius Black. A strong, if unlikely, friendship had grown between the two men, helped by their love of Harry and Lily's determined refusal to have any arguments in the house.
Just over a year later Harry was passed a small, purple-blanketed bundle as his baby sister, Danica, was added to the family. The most recent photos showed Danica riding on Sirius's back chasing uncle Remus around the beach. Harry and his step father were laughing at the family, Severus's arm was wrapped gently around Lily's waist as her red hair whipped wildy around in the wind.
This was Harry's favourite picture and he had a copy next to his bed. Harry, at the moment, was fast asleep.
"Up! Up! NOW!" A voice called to him. There was a sharp knock on the door and it flew open.
Harry woke with a start and hid under the blanket just in time to feel a heavy weight land on top of him and he grabbed playfully at it. Danica's laughter filled his room and she pulled the blanket off him and began pulling at his arms.
"What do you want?" Harry said, pulling the very loud three-year-old into a hug.
"Ice ceeeeeeeeeem!" Danica squeaked.
"It's breakfast time." Harry laughed.
"I know," she sighed. "And mummy's here so uncle Sirius can't sneak sneak."
She pulled on Harry's arms again, "So we need to get dressed and nom nom nom breakfast, so we can go to Doggy Alley and get boring stuff and get ICE CEEM!"
"Well, you have a perfect plan then." Harry said trying not to laugh and incur the apocalyptic wrath of the small, black haired, girl.
"Yep. So UP!" Danica ordered as she jumped off Harry's bed and ran from the room.
Harry smiled up and looked up at the ceiling slowly trying to wake up. Pulling the curtain by his bed open slightly and sending sunlight straight into his eyes, he sat up and reached for his glasses. He could hear Danica running around down stairs as Severus and his mother tried to get her to sit down at the table.
He walked down the long staircase, smacking the portrait behind its curtain and running away laughing to himself as it began to scream.
"Filthy mudblood in my house!"
"Shut up mother!" Sirius shouted as Harry reached the bottom of the stairs, "Your mum is going to kill me for teaching you to do that."
"Yeah," Harry laughed, "But it's funny."
Sirius smirked and walked through to the dinning room with Harry.
Harry took his seat at the table and helped himself to toast.
"Would master Harry like something cooked?" Kreacher asked getting up from his seat at the table.
"No, he wouldn't." Lily said sternly, "I told you to stop hitting that picture. It's not her fault she's stuck on that wall. Thank you Kreacher, you may finish your own breakfast."
"Sorry mum." Harry said whilst taking a mouthful of toast and jam and trying not to smirk.
Lily finished her own breakfast quietly and placed her napkin slowly down by her plate.
"Well, it's the 23rd of June today." She said looking between Harry and Danica.
"Yeah..." Harry said slowly, "So?"
"Well we normally have plans on the 23rd of June." Lily said still looking between her two children.
"Yep! ICE CEEEM!" Danica shrieked, she jumped down from the table and began to run around happily.
Sirius laughed heartily at Lily's expression of desperation. He loved being a terrible influence on his two godchildren. Severus smirked as well before snagging his daughter and dragging her onto his lap.
"What your mother is trying to point out." Severus said calmly, "Is that it's your cousin's birthday today."
Harry rolled his eyes. Danica went one further and rolled her whole head, slamming it into her fathers chest and groaning loudly.
Sirius and Severus did their best not to laugh at Lily's sigh of frustration but only Severus was successful.
"We are going to go round and to give him his present and wish him a happy birthday." Lily said with what determination she could muster, "He's been accepted into a brilliant school. Smeltings, I think. His mother and father are very proud. So eat up, get washed and dressed in nice clothes and get ready to go."
Lily stood and headed for the door. "Danica's clothes are out on her bed, sweetie." she called behind her before heading upstairs for a bath.
"Mummy's going to make me wear the horrible dress aunty Pa-tuna got me isn't she?" Danica asked her father.
"Come on." He smiled at her and lead her from the dining room.
"Don't suppose you want help with the dishes, Kreacher?" Harry asked finishing his toast, trying to prolong the inevitable.
"No Master Potter," Kreacher replied with a smirk. "Lady Lily told me not to let you help today."
Harry sighed. "I hate 23rd of Junes."
"Yep." Sirius agreed, "I think it was one of the first things me and Severus agreed on that Petunia treats your mum like a…."
He trailed off before he said something he didn't want Harry to repeat, "Anyway, it means a lot to your mother. So please try. I'll look at getting you a broom for Hogwarts if you do."
Harry laughed, "Thanks Sirius."
Harry walked slowly upstairs and dug out his smart muggle suit. Last year he'd turned Dudley upside down so he was forced to walk around on his hands. Lily had to do a spell to turn him the right way round again, all while apologising constantly trying not to suggest that Dudley's threats to grab Danica's ankles and tip her upside down might have been the cause of Harry's annoyance, and that beating the magic out of Harry wouldn't actually work he just needed to learn to control it.
Needless to say, visits to the Dursleys' were not looked forward to.
Harry moped down the stairs about twenty minutes later to see everyone ready and waiting. Lily was dressed smartly in a pale blue suit holding Danica's hand. Severus was matching Harry in a smart muggle suit that he looked surprisingly comfortable in even though Harry knew he hated to wear it. Danica looked far less happy, in a cheap, scratchy looking dress with far too many plastic lace frills that sat at odd angles that Petunia had given her for her last birthday.
"You can take it off when we leave the house." Lily pleaded, her gaze sweeping across all three of them, "But please behave. All three of you."
They held hands and apparated to a dark alley not far from number four, Privet Drive. Lily walked up to the front door, took a deep breath and smoothed her skirt before ringing the doorbell.
"Thirty-seven? THIRTY-SEVEN?!" Erupted a distinct yell from inside the house, "That's two less than last year!"
"Quick, runed away." Danica said seriously, earning her a glare from Lily.
"Darling," came another, placating voice from inside, "You haven't counted Auntie Marge's present. See? It's right here under this big one from mummy and daddy."
Lily rolled her eyes before ringing the doorbell again. This time there was the sound of stomping feet coming towards the door.
"What do you want? It's an important day." grumbled a gruff looking Vernon as he opened the door, "Oh. It's you."
He left the door open and headed back to the living room. "Petunia! They are here."
"Lily. Hello." Petunia's welcome was less than inviting, she gave her sister a quick kiss on either cheek.
"Hi Petunia." Lily replied with noticeably more warmth, "I hope this isn't a bad time. We just wanted to pop in and say Happy Birthday to Dudley." She pulled out the nicely wrapped present she'd brought for Dudley.
"Oh you remembered." Petunia gave a tense smile, "We'd hoped you'd forget. Well, I'm sure you can come in for a few minutes if you have to but we're going out to the Zoo soon."
They sat down awkwardly in the sitting room to watch Dudley play with his toys. He never let Harry or Danica join in.
"So, what did you bring me?" He demanded after a few minutes.
Lily handed over the present. Dudley tore into the paper without bothering to look at the label addressed to 'Dear Dudley, Congratulations on getting into Smeltings! We are so proud of you! With love from Aunt Lily and family' and looked blankly at the books in front of him.
"What are they?" He asked, looking mildly affronted that they'd gotten him books.
"They're text books to help when you start at your new school." Lily explained patiently with a smile on her face, "We're all very proud of you for getting into Smeltings. I did my research and these are considered to be excellent."
Dudley briefly looked over the 'As Easy as π' and 'I before E except after C' books before tossing them aside.
"They don't count mummy." he pouted, "I still want my new presents at the zoo!"
"Of course baby angel," Petunia crooned, before addressing her relatives. "Dudley is a very bright boy. He doesn't need books to help him through school. Maybe Harry could use them?"
Severus smiled thinly and held Danica close to his chest, she was bored and squirming determinedly to get down and play.
"Are you looking forward to the Zoo, Dudley?" Lily asked, hoping to change the subject before she snapped at her simpering sister.
Her nephew merely looked at her as though she was stupid.
"Yes he is." Petunia said proudly, "We take him somewhere new every year. His friend Piers is coming with us."
Harry rolled his eyes. She acted like her son had just cured cancer rather than simply getting a birthday day out.
"Well I'm sure you'll have a brilliant day." Severus said politely, standing up to leave and putting Danica down whilst keeping a tight grip on her hand, "We should get out your hair."
"Yes." Vernon said gruffly, "We want a perfect day for Dudley after all, and I'm sure you have plenty of things you should be doing."
"Harry could always come with us." Dudley said with a mean smile.
Lily and Petunia looked awkwardly between each other.
"Uhm...are you sure you want them to come son?" Vernon asked nervously.
"Yeah." Dudley laughed, "It'll be fun!"
Petunia grasped at the necklace around her scrawny neck, as if it were suddenly too tight.
"Well, if you're sure." she said hesitantly before giving her sister a tense smile, "Why don't you lot come with us?"
Lily smiled back, "We'd love to. I know Danica was looking forward to having ice cream and they have a lovely little shop at the zoo."
Harry gritted his teeth in frustration the last thing he wanted to do was spend the day with his cousin.
"But Doggy Alley..." Danica said tearfully.
"Harry will be getting his letter soon." Severus soothed his daughter, "So we can go then."
Vernon and Petunia froze at the mention of 'letter'.
"You think he's going to Hog...that school?" Petunia said quietly, her voice full of distaste.
"Well we hope so." Lily smiled, "He's very talented so far."
Petunia didn't return her sister's smile.
"Well I think we should get ready to go." Vernon said gruffly, "I assume we'll meet you there."
The Dursleys got their shoes on quickly and rushed to the car ignoring Dudley's grumbles of wanting to keep playing with his toys. Lily looked out the window to see them sitting in the car for a good five minutes before a young scruffy-looking boy that she assumed to be Piers arrived and got into the car. Lily sighed, it didn't seem to matter how hard she tried, her sister always would push her away.
They waited the twenty-minutes it would take the Dursleys to drive to the zoo before apparating to a quiet spot nearby. They then waited another ten minutes for the Dursleys' car to pull up.
"Shall we go in." Vernon said gesturing pointedly for them to go in first.
Dudley and Piers stuck behind Petunia and Vernon, laughing, pointing and giving both Harry and Danica snide looks.
"Would you like an ice cream Dudley sweetums?" Petunia asked after an hour or so of looking round animals, most of which Dudley had scowled at for about thirty seconds before getting bored and wanting to see something else.
Dudley looked around quickly to see where Piers was. He was talking to Vernon whilst looking at the giraffes a short distance away.
"Yes mummy," he said whilst letting his bottom lip quiver slightly. "But I don't want Harry and Danica to get one."
He quickly stopped the pathetic lip quivering as soon as Piers and Vernon headed over.
"Vernon," Petunia called, "Dudley would like to go for some ice cream."
"That's my boy." Vernon smiled indulgently at his son, "How about we get you and Piers here a couple of big knickerbocker glories?"
They made their way to the small ice cream café.
"Two of your biggest knickerbocker glories." Petunia told the serving girl while everyone else sat down at a table. "And make sure they're as big as possible, with lots of cream."
"Anything else?" the girl said, looking cheerfully, pointing at Harry and Danica.
Petunia huffed and looked for the cheapest ice cream the café did, people behind her began to huff at the time she was taking which only made her take longer.
"Two lemon ice lollies." she snapped.
The girl happily loaded the two small, plainly wrapped ice lollies and two head-sized glasses overflowing with cream on to a tray. Petunia paid for the ice creams and went back to the table carrying the very heavy tray.
"Here you go Duddykins." Petunia cooed handing over one of the giant glasses to both Dudley and Piers, before throwing the two wrapped ice lollies at Harry and Danica. "Here, I got you these."
"That's very kind of you. I would have gotten them something." Lily told her.
Danica looked at her feeble and already melting ice lolly in dismay, before squinting her eyes for a moment and the plain ice lolly turned into a bowl of strawberry ice cream. Petunia squawked, her eyes darting towards Piers, but thankfully he was distracted with Dudley. She and Vernon looked horrified at Danica.
Lily quickly dragged Danica on to her lap and turned the ice cream back to it's original form with a quick tap of her wand, which was hastily hidden again in her bag. Harry kept his head down so he wouldn't laugh.
"I'll take Danica to the bathroom." Lily said quickly, hoping to defuse the situation.
"I can't believe she'd try and ruin Dudley's special day," Petunia hissed at Severus. Harry felt his blood boil and took a few calming breaths.
"She didn't mean-" Severus began.
"MUMMY!" Dudley shrieked.
Petunia jumped up and threw her arms around her son. "What?! What is it?!" she cried.
"Mummy, I want another ice cream; this one isn't big enough!" He pouted. Severus was seriously considering what sort of unpleasant concoction to slip into Dudley's ice cream.
Harry looked over at the giant ice creams and thought it possibly had more to do with the fact that Piers was eating his a lot more slowly, where as Dudley was ¾ of the way through his.
"Of course darling," Petunia said letting go of her rather embarrassed son and dispatched Vernon to the counter to order another ice cream, just as Lily returned from the bathroom with a clearly subdued Danica in tow.
"Sorry aunt Pa-tuna," Danica said holding on to her mother tightly. "'Ank you for my ice ceeem."
Petunia grumbled but nodded in her direction. "Harry and Danica, would you like to finish Dudley's old ice cream?"
She pushed the nearly empty glass towards them. Harry and Danica thanked her politely and ate the last of the ice cream quickly before she could change her mind. They then sat in sullen silence until Dudley and Piers had finished their ice creams.
"Where shall we go next?" Vernon asked Dudley.
"I don't know." Dudley replied sullenly, having his cousins come along hadn't been as much fun as he'd been hoping.
"How about the snake house?" suggested Piers, sniggering at Danica.
They got up and wandered towards the large building labelled 'Reptile House'. Lily and Severus held tightly to Danica's hands while Harry walked slightly in front with Dudley and Piers, who pointedly ignored him.
"Still got that stupid hair cut hasn't he?" Piers said loudly laughing to Dudley.
"And that ugly scar," Dudley joked giving Harry a slight push.
"How exactly would I get rid of a scar oh great and wise cousin?" Harry asked him sarcastically.
"Harry? Come and walk with me and Severus please. Now." Lily said holding her free hand out. Harry smiled and slowed down to walk with her.
"Baby Potty needs his mummy." Dudley laughed.
Harry bit his tongue to stop himself from pointing out Dudley was hardly one to talk about needing his mother around. They reached the reptile house and once inside the group split up to look at different things.
"Come on." Severus said, picking Danica up and carrying her on his shoulders. "Let's go and see what we can find..."
"An iggy!" Danica squeaked happily, and she disappeared off on her father's shoulders.
"Iguanas are her favourite." Lily explained to Petunia, who was looking at the departing pair strangely.
"That's not why I was confused," Petunia said with disdain. "But what a strange favourite animal; especially for a girl. You really aren't very good at raising children are you?" With a haughty sniff, Petunia stalked off into the reptile house in pursuit of her husband and son.
Harry wondered around the dark and cool room, watching Dudley and Piers look for the venomous cobras and man-crushing pythons, enjoying a few minutes to himself.
Dudley quickly found the largest snake in the entire reptile house. It could have easily wrapped itself twice around a car and crushed it into a rubbish can. At the moment, though, it didn't look in the mood. In fact, it looked like it was fast asleep in a big pile of scaly coils.
Dudley stood, with his nose pressed against the glass, staring at the glistening brown snake.
"Make it move!" Dudley whined at his father. Vernon tapped loudly on the glass, but the snake ignored him.
"Do it again," Dudley ordered. Vernon rapped the glass smartly with his knuckles, but the snake slept on.
"This is so boring," Dudley moaned and shuffled away.
Harry moved in front of the tank and looked intently at the snake. He wouldn't have been surprised if it had died of boredom in there. After all, apart from the zookeeper to feed them, it had no company except for stupid people drumming their fingers on the glass all day.
The snake suddenly opened its beady black eyes. Slowly, very slowly, it raised its head until its eyes were on level with Harry's, looking straight at him.
Then it winked.
Harry stared at it in disbelief. Then he looked round to see if anyone was watching. They weren't. So, he turned back to the snake and winked as well. The snake winked again, then jerked its head towards Vernon and Dudley and then up to the ceiling with a look that quiet plainly said 'I get that all the time. Such idiots'.
"I know," Harry muttered in complete agreement, not completely sure the snake could actually hear him. "It must be really annoying and I only have to put up with them a couple of times a year."
The snake nodded.
"Where do you come from, anyway?" Harry asked.
The snake jabbed its tail at a little sign next to the glass. Harry peered at it.
Boa Constrictor, Brazil.
"Was it nice there?" Harry continued, realising that he was making small talk with a giant reptile.
The boa constrictor jabbed its tail at the sign again,
Bred in captivity
"Oh," Harry sighed sympathetically. "I see. So, you've never been to Brazil?"
The snake shook its head, looking dismayed.
"That's terrible." Harry said and the snake nodded, rather sad. A deafening shout from Piers, made them both jump.
"DUDLEY! MR DURSLEY! COME AND LOOK AT THIS SNAKE! YOU WON'T BELIEVE WHAT IT'S DOING!" Piers shouted rushing over.
Dudley came waddling toward them as fast as he could. Followed by Lily, Severus and Danica.
"Out of the way, you!" Dudley said, shoving Harry in the ribs.
Caught by surprise, Harry fell hard on the concrete floor leaving him badly winded. What came next happened so fast no one saw how it actually happened. One second, Piers and Dudley were leaning right up close to the glass, the next, they had leapt back with howls of horror. Dudley trying to climb his mother who was buckling under the weight of her son.
Harry sat up and gasped. The glass front of the snake's tank had vanished. The great 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 could have sworn a low, hissing voice said "Brazil, here I come! Thankssss, amigo!"
Harry felt two strong arms pull him to his feet. He looked behind him and saw a worried Severus helping him up. Lily rushed over holding tightly to a squirming Danica.
"Snakey! Snakey!" Danica squeaked happily reaching down towards the snake that was slithering quickly out the door.
"Yes, snakey." Lily said in an irritated and worried voice, "Severus, we need to go. Now."
Severus nodded and started to lead them towards the door. Harry looked behind them to see a hysterical Dudley being smothered in his mother's arms, whilst a furious looking Vernon glared at their backs. Piers was just standing there looking both scared and dumbfounded.
Severus quickly guided them out of the zoo and to an empty spot to apparate home. They landed in the library, in front of a confused looking Sirius.
"You guys are back early." Sirius said surprised, putting his copy of the Quibbler down and getting to his feet. He noticed Lily's expression, "What happened?"
Lily took a few deep breaths to calm down, "Harry what where you thinking?" she said, dangerously calm.
"I'm sorry mum, I really am." Harry replied, "I don't know what happened. Really."
Lily put Danica down and paced around the library for a few moments.
"Well, we won't be going out to Diagon Alley today." Lily stated, "Harry, you are grounded for a week and both you and Danica will write letters of apology to your aunt and uncle."
"But mum! I'm going over to Ma..." Harry began.
"No." Severus said calmly but sympathetic, wrapping one arm around Lily's waist and pulling her into a hug, "Grounded is grounded, Harry. Your mother is correct."
Harry huffed and threw himself onto the sofa.
"Can someone tell me what happened please?" Sirius asked, clearly very confused, "Where were you if you weren't at Diagon Alley?"
"Harry can you go upstairs please?" Lily told him with a sigh, "Severus? Would you mind taking Danica to the play room?"
Harry felt a wave of guilt pass over him, his mother looked exhausted, "I am sorry mum," He said giving her a big hug.
"I know." Lily sighed, returning the hug and kissing him gently on the head, "It's not completely your fault. Dudley shouldn't have pushed you. Now go on. Go upstairs."
Harry gave his mother another apologetic smile and then headed upstairs to flop down on his bed.
Lily filled Sirius in on what happened, both the changing ice cream and the disappearing glass before sitting down on the sofa and grabbing the phone.
"Lily, don't…" Sirius begged her.
She smiled at him, "I know. And I shouldn't. But I have to."
Sirius sighed and left the room with a shake of his head. He sat by Severus, who was waiting on the stairs looking despondent.
"Danica with Kreacher?" Sirius asked.
Severus nodded "She picked up the phone didn't she?"
"Yep." Sirius let his head flop into his hands, "She always does. I'm going to go and play with Danica and check on Harry."
Severus nodded and moved down the stairs to the living room entrance. He could hear Lily on the phone and sighed.
"Petunia I know...I'm really sorry...Yes, of course he's in trouble…Well no, but...I know...Dudley did...No, I'm not blaming him...I'm so sorry...maybe we could...I understand... Maybe we could meet up?...No... no I understand... I'll see you soon...Yes, I understand you're very busy...Goodbye."
Hanging up the phone, Lily dropped her head into her hands and wiped a few tears away.
Severus knocked quietly on the door and poked his head round, forcing a smile on his face. "Can I come in?"
Lily nodded as she sank onto the sofa, sniffling. Severus crossed over the library, settled down beside her and pulled her close as she started sobbing into his chest.