"If you die here alone one day, I wouldn't be surprised at all."
Harry spoke softly to the python behind the glass, his voice filled with an empathy born of shared experience. Confined to such a small space, it had to endure an endless parade of stupid, tapping fingers and loud, obnoxious faces, all trying to wake it from its slumber.
It reminded Harry of his own life in the cupboard under the stairs, waking each morning to Aunt Petunia's shrill shrieks before making breakfast for the family. But at least he could move around the house. At least he could go to school. This python might be stuck in this tiny glass box forever.
Suddenly, the snake, which had been sleeping soundly, opened its bright, intelligent eyes. It slowly raised its head until it was level with Harry's.
Harry held his breath, staring back at the magnificent creature.
The python blinked.
A jolt went through Harry. It understood me.
He quickly scanned his surroundings, but no one was paying attention. He turned back to the python and, feeling a bit foolish, blinked back.
A low, sibilant voice seemed to echo directly in his mind. "I am always dealing with stupid humans."
Harry gasped. "I know," he whispered back eagerly. "You must be so annoyed by them, right?"
The python nodded its massive head vigorously.
Pure joy flooded Harry's senses. He could actually talk to a snake! It was the most amazing thing that had ever happened to him. For a fleeting moment, he felt as if he had found a long-lost friend.
"So, where are you from?" he asked quickly, his heart racing. Having someone to talk to, a real friend, felt so incredible that the rest of the world simply melted away.
The python flicked its tail, tapping a small plaque on the glass.
BOA CONSTRICTOR, BRAZIL.
"What's it like there?" Harry asked, his spirits soaring.
The python tapped another part of the sign.
BRED IN CAPTIVITY.
"Oh," Harry said, his excitement dimming. "I see. So you've never been to Brazil... I've never seen my parents, either. They…"
Before he could finish, a deafening shout shattered the moment.
"DUDLEY! DUDLEY, COME QUICK! YOU WON'T BELIEVE WHAT THIS SNAKE IS DOING!"
It was Piers, hollering at the top of his lungs. He had seen Harry talking to the snake, and his face was alight with malicious glee.
Thump.
Piers charged over and shoved Harry hard, sending him sprawling to the concrete floor. Even though Piers was scrawny, he was still much bigger and stronger than Harry.
From a short distance away, Dudley watched with a frown. He, too, had seen Harry seemingly conversing with the python. At first, he'd dismissed it as childish nonsense. But then he saw the snake responding, the two of them communicating in some silent, mysterious language. He had been about to activate his Spirit Vision for a closer look when Piers's sudden arrival ruined everything.
Dudley's frown deepened. He had explicitly warned Piers not to bully Harry. It seemed a clearer, more forceful warning was in order.
On the ground, Harry glared at Piers, who was now plastered against the glass enclosure. A furious, white-hot rage boiled up inside him. He wanted to leap up and tear Piers apart, consequences be damned. The desire was so strong it almost made him lose his mind.
"It's amazing! This is incredible! The snake can actually understand people! Oh my god!" Piers shrieked, wriggling excitedly against the glass, trying to get a better look.
Vwoom.
Suddenly, the thick pane of glass in front of Piers simply vanished. With nothing to support him, he lost his balance and tumbled headfirst into the python's enclosure, landing with a loud splash in the shallow pool.
"Hmm?"
Dudley's expression shifted from annoyance to shock. He stared at the empty space where the glass had been, his mind struggling to process what had just happened.
What was that? How did the glass disappear?
For a terrifying moment, he felt as if he had been thrown back into that other, bizarre world. But this was different. This was something new.
"AHHHH!"
A piercing scream echoed through the reptile house. Piers, now face-to-face with the giant python, was scared out of his wits. Admiring the snake from behind a protective barrier was one thing; sharing its enclosure was another concept entirely.
Hiss…
The python flicked its forked tongue but paid Piers no mind. It swiftly uncoiled its powerful body and slithered out of the enclosure, heading directly for Harry.
"Watch out!"
Dudley didn't have time to think. He broke into a run, his Beyonder-enhanced physique allowing him to move with startling speed. The Arbitrator Characteristic granted him excellent combat instincts, and his reaction time was far beyond that of an ordinary person.
Though the python didn't seem hostile, he couldn't take any chances. Harry was small and frail; he wouldn't survive being constricted.
With a powerful stride, Dudley launched himself forward, planting himself directly between Harry and the approaching snake.
Hiss… hiss…
The giant python flicked its crimson tongue, its unblinking eyes fixed on Dudley. Dudley stared back, his gaze cold and hard. Man and snake were locked in a silent, tense confrontation.
Behind him, Harry was frozen with fear. The sudden rage, the disappearing glass, the approaching python, and Dudley's sudden intervention—it was too much.
"Scram," Dudley commanded, his voice low and laced with the undeniable authority of an Arbitrator. The python recoiled, a primal sense of danger washing over it. This seemingly soft, chubby human child possessed a power that terrified it.
Dudley clenched his fists, his muscles tensing. If his authority wasn't enough, he was prepared for a fight. Fortunately, his past experiences had made him a seasoned combatant. The thought of a physical confrontation didn't scare him; in fact, a part of him felt a familiar, exhilarating thrill.
The giant python hesitated for another moment, then slowly moved its body, slithering to the side and breaking the standoff. As it passed Harry, it paused.
"Thank you," the snake hissed into his mind.
"You're welcome," Harry whispered back instinctively.
The python's bright eyes flickered toward Dudley. "Be careful of this one."
And with that final piece of advice, it slithered away, disappearing into the panicked crowd.
***********
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