Sarah falls to the floor. It hurts and her eyes water a little but she resolutely doesn't cry.

Dudley waddles towards them as fast as he can, leaning against the glass—

—and then he yelps and jumps back as the glass vanishes.

There's the unreliable weirdness that she knows and hates. She smiles a little despite herself though.

The snake rapidly uncoils itself and slithers out onto the floor. People start screaming and running for the exits, but before it goes it looks at Sarah and says, "I will meet you outsside."

Then on it goes.

She makes a short affirmative sound and picks herself up off the floor.

Onwards it goes.

"Were you talking to it?" Dudley screeches.

"People can't talk to snakes Dudley."

Uncle Vernon does not look convinced.

And the zoo director makes Petunia a cup of strong, sweet tea and apologises over and over again, but that's it for them. Back to the car.

By which time Dudley's certain he's been bit and poisoned by the snake.

Sarah lingers a little outside the reptile house. Does the snake manage to find her?

She can see its little head poking out of a bush over there.

She can wander over without looking suspicious.

The snake looks around to make sure they're not seen then slithers out towards her.

"I don't know quite whether we can manage this but if we're trying you need to hide under my dress." She reaches down a hand so she can help it get there faster.

It does.

"Girl! What are you doing over there? Let's go!"

"Yes Aunt Petunia." She hurries to follow.

They get home and by then Vernon's playing along with Dudley and Piers' adventure story. The boy's parents arrive to pick him up soon after, and then he turns his previously concealed fury back to Sarah.

"Go—cupboard—stay—no meals."

Petunia runs over to the kitchen to get him some brandy.

Well this is less than wonderful. She goes to her cupboard. Once she's situated with the light on she turns to her new pet. "I'll let you out in the garden in the morning, or maybe during the night."

The snake nods, and burrows itself amidst the covers.

So the next morning she lets the snake out in the garden while she's walking to school. "I don't know how often I'll be able to visit you. Try not to let humans see you."

The snake nods and slithers away somewhere.