May 20, 1991 Dudley and Ashley's eleventh birthday.
Just as Ashley remembered, they were going to the zoo that day.
Ever since Dudley had nagged and pleaded until Vernon finally agreed to take them on their birthday outing, Ashley had felt a strong sense of fate about this day.
Unlike three years ago, when she had questioned her very existence, this time she was full of curiosity and anticipation. She wanted to see whether, in the absence of aggressive Dudley and the Dudley-disliking Harry, that snake would still be released.
Early in the morning, Dudley pounded on Ashley's bedroom door like a drum.
Honestly, Ashley had a bit of a temper when waking up. Thinking about what might happen today, she immediately decided to silently "curse" Dudley in her mind, hoping he would be scared half to death by the snake.
She was also genuinely curious how could Dudley, usually the king of sleeping in, be so enthusiastic about visiting the zoo that he got up so early?
It was completely out of character.
This time, the stairs weren't shaken, but Harry's door got the same treatment. Ashley marveled at the resilience of the door itself.
Of course, Harry's good temper helped. Thanks to the fight Ashley had helped him win years ago, he quickly opened his door and went downstairs to wash up.
Half-asleep, Ashley listened to the sounds downstairs, roughly timed Harry's washing routine, and then decisively flopped back onto the couch for a few extra minutes of sleep.
By the time she woke up and went downstairs, the timing was perfect. Dudley had indeed made a scene over his birthday gifts, and she had avoided it completely.
Harry, the little "spy," had whispered all the details, but Ashley wasn't worried. After all, her own gifts wouldn't be missed. There was no rush.
This time, Harry didn't receive any warning from Vernon, and he himself was genuinely excited for the zoo trip.
The three children wore the new clothes Petunia had prepared for them, looking bright and cheerful.
Petunia and Harry's relationship remained neutral but practical; he was never lacking for food or clothing.
This was proof, in Harry's eyes, that Petunia had changed the Dursleys' household in ways he had observed firsthand.
The three children sat in the back seat, Vernon drove, and Petunia rode shotgun.
Vernon's size was just as Ashley remembered considerably overweight.
Ashley had scolded him many times to watch his diet and exercise, but three minutes of effort and he'd revert back to old habits.
Marge was the same, which was no surprise; siblings often shared temperaments, and these two seemed cut from the same mold.
Speaking of heredity, Ashley couldn't help but worry a little. After all, obesity could be passed down genetically.
Not to mention Dudley under Ashley's influence, he had taken up boxing. Beyond any other benefit, his body had been transformed!
Originally tall and broad, he now had no excess fat, a firm build, and even hints of abs. He had completely shed the "chubby and round" image.
Without this vivid example, even someone like Ashley, who had stayed slim for over a decade, might have worried about gaining weight in middle age.
And yet, she could have inherited Petunia's slim build so worrying in advance was truly unnecessary.
Vernon's seat was pushed far back. At first, Dudley didn't notice, and when he became uncomfortable, he realized asking Vernon to adjust it would be futile. So, he tried to convince Harry, sitting on the window side, to swap seats.
Harry "played dead," staring out the window. Petunia considered intervening, but Ashley, noticing through the rearview mirror, gave her a disapproving look, and Petunia stayed quiet.
Vernon, annoyed by Dudley's shouting, finally adjusted the seatback slightly. Dudley calmed down and gazed out the window.
Harry, seeing all of this in the side mirror, felt a quiet warmth in his chest.
Once they parked, bought tickets, and entered the zoo, Ashley insisted on visiting the reptile house last, so as not to ruin the rest of the experience.
No one objected; everyone knew she was afraid of reptiles, and the order of exhibits didn't really matter to them.
Throughout the visit, Ashley found the trip worthwhile. Cute little animals were genuinely heartwarming.
More specifically, the babies were irresistibly adorable, every movement melting the heart.
Ashley couldn't help imagining taking one home as a pet while her family guided her toward the reptile house.
When she realized it, a huge snake in front of her startled her.
The whole family laughed, Dudley the loudest. Ashley silently "cursed" him again.
Although this was just entertainment, her safety was still paramount. She clutched Harry's arm, relying on him.
"Move! You better move!"
A classic line one only a certain someone could have shouted.
Harry seamlessly followed the cue.
Dudley, finding it boring, wandered off to another exhibit.
Ashley's mix of curiosity (to see the iconic moment) and fear (of the snake) had Harry "persuading" the snake back.
"Excuse me, could you move back a bit? She's a little scared of you."
Inside, Ashley's mind screamed with excitement: This is the iconic moment! I'm witnessing it live!
The snake coiled back slightly. Ashley, trembling, asked,
"Harry, did you make it move back?"
Harry replied excitedly, "Yes! I didn't expect it to listen so well!"
He had no idea anything was amiss.
Unlike in the movies, Harry wasn't speaking human language he had actually hissed like a snake.
That strange, eerie sound could have terrified someone unprepared.
Ashley, however, had anticipated it, and even though she knew Harry's secret, she still cast a wary glance at the scar on his forehead, thinking ahead to the challenges his body might face in the future.
Oblivious, Harry continued "talking" to the snake like it was a new, fascinating pet.
Dudley didn't return, wandering further away until almost out of sight.
Ashley thought, Has the story really changed?
Suddenly, a scream jolted her.
A small snake whether from inside the zoo or outside was slithering along the corner toward the building.
The crowd panicked. Ashley retreated, scared. Harry tried to grab her but couldn't, and followed her.
The snake advanced, and by terrible luck, Ashley was directly in its path.
With nowhere to go, she shut her eyes in fear.
The snake leapt, in attack mode, and Harry, seeing it fly toward her, shouted in panic, "No!"
Ashley crouched, covering her head. The snake landed safely in an exhibit behind her.
Harry, unaware the glass panel had momentarily disappeared, relaxed, collapsing to the ground.
Ashley took a long moment to recover.
Vernon and Petunia found them. Petunia hugged Ashley tightly, both trembling from fright.
Even without witnessing the full incident, simply knowing a snake had entered the exhibit was enough to scare a protective mother.
Vernon and Dudley hugged Ashley too, offering silent comfort, letting her feel the warmth and safety of family.
Her shock and fear began to subside.
Ashley glanced at the small snake in its enclosed exhibit and connected the dots.
Thanks to her family's cover, she checked the exhibit cameras. Luckily, since she had retreated along the corner, the camera hadn't captured the unusual moment.
Relieved, Ashley and Harry exchanged a glance full of gratitude and quiet relief. Everything was understood without a word.