Harry Potter 'sTwin Brother

Chapter 17: Dudley's Birthday

23 June 1991 – Early Morning, Privet Drive

Sunlight broke gently over the rooftops of Little Whinging, spilling golden streaks across the neatly mowed lawns and clean driveways. Birds chirped from the hedges, and the soft hum of a delivery van passed in the distance.

Inside No. 4 Privet Drive, the clock in the hallway chimed seven. The air was filled with the smell of warm toast, sweetened milk tea, and the faintest trace of perfume—Petunia's signature scent on birthdays.

From their shared room, Harry and Hardwin crept out barefoot, each holding a small, wrapped package.

"Ready?" Hardwin asked in a whisper.

Harry nodded, clutching a squarish gift box in blue paper. "Do you think he'll like it?"

"Even Dudley likes surprises," Hardwin said softly, a faint smile playing on his lips.

---

The Living Room

Dudley was already up, bouncing with excitement at the foot of the stairs in his pajamas. His hair stuck up wildly on one side, and his eyes sparkled with expectation.

Petunia, dressed in her tidy floral housecoat, walked into the room holding a neatly wrapped box. Vernon followed, carrying a new red and silver handheld racing game console.

"Happy birthday, Diddykins!" Petunia sang, pressing a kiss to Dudley's cheek.

"Happy birthday, son!" Vernon beamed, handing over the box with exaggerated flair.

Dudley tore through the wrapping paper, eyes wide. "YES!" he shouted. "This is brilliant!"

He threw his arms around both his parents, actually saying, "Thanks, Mum! Thanks, Dad!"

Petunia blinked in quiet surprise at the lack of whining or demands.

Hardwin, standing a few feet back, exchanged a small glance with Harry.

> That's new, Harry mouthed.

Hardwin only gave a small shrug, but inwardly, he felt the tiniest weight lift from his chest.

> He's not perfect. But he listens more now. He learns—slowly—when he doesn't realize he's learning.

---

The Boys' Gift

Harry stepped forward, holding out his package awkwardly. "Er… Happy Birthday, Dudley."

Hardwin followed, placing a smaller parcel wrapped in newspaper but tied with clean twine. "Hope you enjoy these."

Dudley looked puzzled for a moment, then opened Harry's gift first: a notepad and colored sketch pens—something practical, but playful.

Then Hardwin's: a puzzle cube—the kind with sliding metal pieces and secret compartments.

Dudley turned it in his hands. "This looks weird."

Hardwin said, "Try to open the center. It's not about strength—it's about patience."

Dudley squinted at the box, already hooked.

---

Breakfast Moments

Petunia served scrambled eggs and toast. The kitchen buzzed with quiet contentment. No shouting. No food thrown. Vernon even poured Harry a second glass of milk without protest.

As they sat, Vernon cleared his throat.

"I've decided," he announced. "We're going to the zoo today. London Zoo. It's been a while since we've all gone out together."

Dudley whooped. "Brilliant!"

Even Harry looked surprised. "All of us?"

"Yes, yes, even you two," Vernon said gruffly, avoiding eye contact. "It's Dudley's birthday."

Hardwin didn't say anything, but he looked at the table—at the neat breakfast, the gifts, the laughter. He folded his hands quietly in his lap and thought:

> It may not be perfect. But it's changed. Little by little.

> And today, something begins.

...

The parking lot of the London Zoo was buzzing with weekend life. Children shrieked with excitement, strollers rattled over uneven pavement, and the sweet smell of popcorn and warm pretzels drifted on the summer breeze.

The Dursley family stepped out of the car, the doors slamming one after another. The heat shimmered off the car roof as Vernon straightened his tie and locked the vehicle with an unnecessarily dramatic beep.

"All right," he said. "Let's not lose anyone. Stay together."

Dudley could barely contain himself. "Where are the lions? Where's the reptile house? Do they have penguins?!"

"You'll see everything, Diddykins," Petunia said, smoothing his shirt collar. "Let's get the tickets first."

---

At the Ticket Booth

Hardwin watched quietly as Vernon bought the tickets—five of them, no protest. He handed the stubs to the boys without a word.

The smell of blooming flowers and damp earth greeted them as they entered the zoo gates. Children ran past with balloons, maps fluttered in adult hands, and a recorded speaker overhead welcomed them with cheerful instructions.

"Stay to the left and enjoy our new savanna exhibit!"

---

Inside the Zoo

The gravel path crunched underfoot as they made their way past enclosures. Harry leaned over every railing, wide-eyed.

"Look at that leopard!" he pointed.

The animal stretched lazily in the heat, its coat golden and black under the sunlight. It blinked, yawned, and rolled onto its back.

Dudley pressed his face against the glass at the monkey enclosure. "That one looks like Piers!" he howled with laughter.

Even Vernon cracked a smile.

Petunia dabbed her forehead with a handkerchief. "Well, at least you boys are finally outdoors."

Hardwin walked a little behind, observing the layout, the animals, the signs, the air. He read each plaque silently, absorbing names in Latin, diet notes, conservation status.

> Even here, there's something to learn, he thought.

Their energy. Their behavior. The way they adapt to cages and crowds.

---

Snack Break

Near the elephant sanctuary, they stopped for a break. Dudley devoured a sausage roll and a lemonade in minutes. Harry nibbled on a sandwich Petunia had packed. Hardwin, as usual, had brought his own small lunch in a cloth bag—aloo tikki wraps with mint chutney folded into soft bread.

Dudley sniffed. "That smells weird again."

"It's the same thing you liked last week," Hardwin said casually.

"Oh. Right."

---

The family moved slowly through the remaining glass corridors.

Petunia took a photo of Dudley in front of the giant crocodile skeleton. Vernon mopped his forehead and checked his watch. The air buzzed with distant murmurs and the occasional hiss of the heating vents.

Hardwin stood in the middle of it all, feeling the pulse of nature behind glass and bars.

> A strange place to celebrate a birthday.

But for once, everyone smiled.

And for a boy like Harry... this was one of the happy days of the year.

---

Reptile House

The air inside the reptile house was humid and thick, like damp wool draped over their shoulders. A quiet stillness floated in the dim space, broken only by murmurs and children's footsteps echoing across the cool tile.

Tank after tank of scaled creatures lined the walls—silent observers behind glass and foliage.

Hardwin lingered at the edge of each display, silently reading the signs. His breath fogged faintly against the glass. Names flickered in his mind: Boa constrictor. Nile monitor. Corn snake. Burmese python. Facts, yes—but also something more.

The Boa Constrictor

At the far end of the exhibit stood the largest tank, enclosing a long, mottled boa constrictor, coiled like a sleepy river.

It didn't move. Not even when groups of children tapped the glass or pressed their noses to it.

Harry walked up beside it and stared. "He's beautiful."

Hardwin nodded. "He knows everyone's watching."

Dudley stomped toward them, dragging Piers behind him. "Out of the way! I want to see the big one!"

Before Harry could react, Dudley elbowed past and shoved himself against the tank, pressing both palms on the glass.

Piers giggled. "Look at its fat head!"

"Do something!" Dudley whined at the snake. "Wake up, you lazy thing!"

Harry looked frustrated, but didn't move. Then he muttered under his breath, "Poor thing. Must be bored to death."

At that exact moment—

The snake opened one lazy eye.

It looked directly at Harry. Slowly, deliberately.

Harry blinked. "Hardwin… did you see that?"

Hardwin's spine tingled. The air had shifted. He stepped closer, squinting at the snake's eyes.

Then it happened again.

The snake winked.

And then, unbelievably, it raised its head and nodded.

Harry stepped back, stunned. "I— I think he understood me."

Hardwin whispered, "You didn't speak in words."

Harry turned. "What?"

"You felt. He responded."

> Just like they say about wandless magic, Hardwin thought.

Intent. Emotion. Energy before voice.

Dudley, irritated, slammed his fist on the glass. "Why's it looking at him and not me?!"

And then—

The glass vanished.

Not shattered. Not cracked. Gone.

One moment it was there, the next, a warm breeze floated where the barrier had been.

The boa slid forward silently, gracefully, and flopped onto the tile floor with a wet thud. Visitors screamed. Piers jumped back. Dudley shrieked.

The snake reared its head, turned to Harry… and gave him another slow, deliberate nod.

Then it slithered past the stunned crowd, out of the exhibit corridor and into the service duct nearby.

As chaos erupted, Harry stood frozen, face pale, breath shallow.

Hardwin touched his arm.

"You didn't mean to."

"I didn't do anything!" Harry gasped. "At least—I don't think I did."

Hardwin looked toward where the snake disappeared, then back at Harry. "You did something. And it's beginning."

---

Outside the Reptile House

Vernon was furious. "Vanished glass?! That's impossible! What did you two do?!"

"We didn't—" Harry began.

"Don't lie, boy!"

"It wasn't his fault," Hardwin said evenly, placing himself slightly between Harry and Vernon. "We were both watching. The glass just vanished. Maybe a trick. Or heat pressure."

Vernon growled but said nothing more.

Petunia looked at Hardwin—longer than she usually did. Something unreadable flickered in her eyes.

Dudley was still in shock, holding onto his mother's arm as if it might vanish too.

---

On the Way Home

In the backseat of the car, Harry sat in silence, occasionally glancing at his hands.

Hardwin sat beside him, eyes forward, calm.

After a while, Harry whispered, "Hardwin… have you ever… done something you couldn't explain?"

Hardwin was quiet for a moment. Then he said:

"Yes."

Harry nodded slowly. "Is there something… wrong with us?"

Hardwin looked out the window, where the trees blurred into green lines.

"No," he said softly. "There's something very right. You'll see."

---

Would you like Chapter 18 to begin with the arrival of the Hogwarts letters, or first show the strange days that follow—how Vernon tries to prevent it, how owls begin to appear, and how Hardwin watches it all unfold with careful awareness?

Absolutely! Below is an expanded version of the snake tank scene, adding more conversation between Harry and the boa constrictor, while keeping the emotional impact and magic subtle but clear. This version still stays within the logic of early accidental magic—but gives Harry a more meaningful moment of connection.

---

Expanded Scene: Harry and the Boa Constrictor

Harry leaned against the glass, his breath fogging the cool surface. The boa constrictor lay coiled, unmoving, its scales dully reflecting the low yellow light of the reptile house.

"I bet you're tired of this," Harry murmured, almost without thinking. "People banging on the glass… shouting all day…"

The snake did not move. But something in the stillness shifted.

"I know how it feels," Harry said softly, almost embarrassed to hear his own voice. "Being trapped where you don't belong."

Behind him, Dudley's loud voice echoed as he shoved past another family.

Harry continued, almost as if whispering to himself. "They don't really see you, do they? Just stare. Point. Laugh."

The snake's eyes opened.

Slowly, deliberately, it raised its head and fixed both slitted eyes on Harry's face.

Harry flinched. "Oh… you're awake! Sorry. I didn't mean to—"

The snake flicked its tongue once, then nodded.

Harry blinked. "Wait… did you just… nod?"

Another slow tongue flick.

Harry leaned closer to the glass, heart thudding.

"You… can understand me?"

A pause.

Then a distinct gesture: the snake nodded again.

Harry's jaw dropped. "Wow."

He looked around—nobody else had noticed. Dudley was arguing with Piers near a crocodile case. Hardwin stood a few steps back, watching silently.

Harry turned back to the snake. "You ever been outside?"

The boa raised its head a little more, then shook it.

"Never?" Harry's face fell. "That's awful. How long have you been here?"

The snake flicked its tail toward the small plaque on the glass:

Bred in captivity. Born: Brazil, 1985.

"Oh… you've never even seen a jungle," Harry whispered.

The snake blinked once. Slowly. Deliberately.

Then it slid forward, its head nearly brushing the glass where Harry's hand rested.

For a moment—just a second—it felt like something electric passed between them. Not shocking. Not magic in the flashy sense. But felt. Real. Like minds brushing.

"You're not a monster," Harry whispered. "You're just in the wrong place."

The snake's tongue flicked out once more, then curled back.

Then Dudley shoved him aside.

"Move! I wanna see!"

Harry stumbled and fell sideways, catching himself on the railing.

Dudley pressed his fat face to the glass. "Stupid snake. It's not even moving now."

Then it happened.

The glass vanished.

The air whooshed, and there was no sound of cracking—just absence.

The boa slid out with quiet grace, rising to face Dudley and Piers.

Both boys shrieked and stumbled back.

Then, calmly, the boa turned toward Harry.

Thanksss, it hissed—not in English, not in words—but Harry understood. Somehow.

Harry stared, wide-eyed. "You're welcome," he whispered.

The snake gave him a final look, dipped its head in thanks, and slithered away toward the open service hallway.

Hardwin stepped beside Harry, silent. His gaze followed the snake.

"That wasn't normal," Harry whispered. "That wasn't me, right?"

Hardwin said nothing for a long moment.

Then:

"You've always been special, Harry. You just didn't know it yet."

---

.

---

Outside the Reptile House

Vernon was furious. "Vanished glass?! That's impossible! What did you two do?!"

"We didn't—" Harry began.

"Don't lie, boy!"

"It wasn't his fault," Hardwin said evenly, placing himself slightly between Harry and Vernon. "We were both watching. The glass just vanished. Maybe a trick. Or heat pressure."

Vernon growled but said nothing more.

Petunia looked at Hardwin—longer than she usually did. Something unreadable flickered in her eyes.

Dudley was still in shock, holding onto his mother's arm as if it might vanish too.

---

On the Way Home

In the backseat of the car, Harry sat in silence, occasionally glancing at his hands.

Hardwin sat beside him, eyes forward, calm.

After a while, Harry whispered, "Hardwin… have you ever… done something you couldn't explain?"

Hardwin was quiet for a moment. Then he said:

"Yes."

Harry nodded slowly. "Is there something… wrong with us?"

Hardwin looked out the window, where the trees blurred into green lines.

"No," he said softly. "There's something very right. You'll see