Harry woke feeling comfortable and warm. He only ever felt like that when he was at Hogwarts, maybe even Hogwarts couldn't top how good he felt now. He snuggle deeper into the source of warmth and felt arm tighten around him. Harry sighed in contentment.
Wait… Arms? Harry's previously closed eyes shot open and he jumped up in the bed that he currently occupied. He was confused. When did I get into a bed? He stared wide eyed as he saw Owen slowly waking up next to him as he was woken by Harry's sudden moving. We're i-in the same b-bed! What…
"'Morning," Owen greeted Harry sleepily.
"'Morning," Harry stopped his freak out session to pay attention to the man beside him. "What…" He trailed off not knowing what to say.
"You fell asleep on my porch. I have only one bed, so we shared." Owen explained with a grin.
"Oh," Harry blushed, "sorry."
"It's fine." Owen waved off Harry's apology. "Want something to eat?"
"I…" Harry's stomach growled. "Sure," he sighed.
"Breakfast's comin' right up!" Owen grinned and climbed out of the bed. "There's clean water outside if you want to wash up. Also, the pack's there too so watch out for a pile up greeting."
"Thanks," Harry said and got out of the bed. He wanted to freshen up, so he went outside and as Owen said, got greeted by a pack of raptors."Good morning Blue, Delta, Echo and Charlie." Harry greeted the four.
"'Morning." Said the four all at once and it made Harry laugh.
Harry asked them to show him to the water so he could wash up. Blue pointed him in the right direction and Harry went straight for the bucket of cold water. Without much thought, he pulled off his shirt that he wore for a few days now and started by washing his face and enjoying the nice fresh water. He totally forgot about his scars or bruises left from his uncle's recent beating. He was so used to the dull throbbing pain that he didn't even pay attention to it. However, he also missed Blue seeing his injured back, warning her sisters and in turn attracting Owen's attention outside.
"Harry!" Owen's loud exclamation made Harry jump.
Harry turned around and flinched when he saw five sets of eyes glowering at him. Owen was marching straight for him, followed by Blue, Delta, Echo and Charlie.
What did I do? Harry thought.
Owen reached him quickly and as Harry watched Owen he understood that the man wasn't angry at him but for him. Only then did Harry remember his injuries and cursed his forgetfulness in his mind.
"How come you didn't tell me that you're hurt?" Owen asked, his voce devoid of anger but filled with worry.
"It's nothing, really…" Harry lowered his head.
"Mate. Hurt." Charlie chirped sadly.
Harry looked up at the raptor and was captivated by a puppy-dog look Charlie was giving him. "Oh for the love of… I'll let Owen treat me. How's that?" Harry couldn't refuse those eyes.
"Good." Charlie immediately cheered up.
Harry looked back at Owen and saw him grinning. "What?" He grumbled.
"Even without knowing what she said, I kind of understood her." He said.
"Owen, they're raptors! They shouldn't be making those eyes at me!" Harry complained.
Owen just laughed at him and led him back to the bungalow saying that he'll look at his injuries there. Harry was deposited on a chair and Owen brought out a first aid kit. They both were silent for a while as Owen worked. Harry hoped that the man wouldn't question him about the wounds, but his hope died when Owen cursed loudly as he saw 'I must not tell lies' scar on Harry's wrist.
"Who did this to you?" Owen asked, his eyes full of worry and righteous anger.
"Look, I…"
"Harry." Owen warned. "Tell me the truth, please." He begged as his left hand checked Harry for broken ribs. It wouldn't have surprised him, with Harry looking black and blue.
Harry sighed in defeat. For some reason, he couldn't bring himself to say no to Owen. "I've lost my parents when I was one. So, I got to grow up with my mother's sister and her family. She hated my mother and she hated me, along with her husband, and their son grew up watching his parents act like I was… All in all, they all hate me with a passion. Sometimes my uncle likes to show his hate physically."
Owen never before in his life hated someone so much as Harry's family. He could tell that Harry didn't say everything, but it was enough for now. One of his girl's chirping at the door brought Owen out of the darkest corner in his mind and he found Blue's head in the doorway, looking at him and Harry. She chirped a few more times and left the doorway.
"What did she say?" Owen asked.
"Um, she heard the story. She's on a warpath." Harry said. "Can they somehow get to the hotel where tourists are staying?" He suddenly asked.
Owen thought for a while. "They could if they were determined enough. They could find a way to cross the fence around the main zone where all of the people are. Why?"
"I," Harry glanced at the open door, "didn't come alone to the island." He finished in a whisper.
"Vic said you're emancipated, so did you bring your friends? I totally forgot that someone might be worried about you." Owen felt stupid not thinking of that.
"Well, they're not my friends. They wouldn't be waiting, since they would be more than happy if I got lost in the jungle or got eaten by a dinosaur. I came with the Dursleys." Harry said and sighed as Owen gave a confused look. "The ones who raised me." He clarified.
"Oh," Owen understood and felt his anger skyrocket.
The raptors' chirping outside drew Harry's attention and he froze in shock as he understood what they said. "They're on the hunt. They're on the hunt for my relatives!" Harry shouted and the two jumped up.
"Blue!" Harry called as he ran outside. "Wait! Please!"
Blue turned around to face Harry along with the pack. "Mate. Hurt. Protect. Alpha female. Destroy bad men."
"No! I don't want you in trouble! If you go then you endanger the whole pack, Owen and I included. I don't want you to get hurt. If you want I can stay here and never go back to them." Harry blurted out without thinking.
"Stay?" Blue chirped, tilting her head to the side.
"Stay." Harry confirmed and felt magic wash through him, making the promise binding.
"Good." Blue nodded and without anymore arguing went to lay down on the grass with her sisters following her example.
Harry felt like he just walked into a trap. Maybe I did…
"What happened?" Owen asked and it made harry jump slightly, he totally forgot the man in his hurry.
Harry explained what happened with the raptors and Owen laughed at him for 'walking straight into it'. Harry was only left to sigh in defeat. He couldn't go against his magic, which seemed to be bent on keeping him far away from the Dursleys.
After the crisis of raptors going on a human hunt was averted, Owen finished treting Harry and making breakfast. The two ate in silence, bit Harry felt the moat relaxed and content at the moment. Their pace was disrupted bu Owen's phone ringing. Owen was asked to come to meet with Mr. Masrani and bring Harry along.
The raptors weren't happy to be separated from their alpha and his mate. Owen and Harry had to do a lot of talking to get them back to the cage. In the end though, they managed and left for the meeting running ten minutes late.
Mr. Masrani was kind enough to ignore their lateness, though Owen got a scolding fom Claire Dearing, the park operations manager, themoment he stepped foot into the control room. It made Harry wonder if Owen didn't have some history with the woman. For some reason that thought made his heart hurt.
"Mr. Grady and Mr. Potter, if you would follow me." Mr. Masrani asked and the two followed the man to his office.
The trio reached the office quickly and went inside. Mr. Masrani took a seat behind his desk, while offering them to take their seats before him. Harry liked his office. It was bright and spacious.
"So, what did you want to talk about?" Owen asked.
"Actually, I wanted to offer ajob to Mr. Potter. I never thought that The Harry Potter would ever come to my island, but here you are. Imagine my surprise, when Mr. Hoskins comes to me and tells me that some kid can communicate with velociraptors, then I learn his name ant that he's considered a grown up. I just had to offer you a job." Mr. Masrani smiled at Harry.
Harry sat frozen in his seat, while Owen glanced back and forth between him and Mr. Masrani in confusion. "So," Harry took in a deep breath, "you know who I am?" At Mr. Masrani's nod he sighed. "And you want me working here even if I am liable to attract danger, especially of the Death Eater kind?"
"Of course," Mr. Masrani said. "I've contacted the current Minister Shaklebolt and he told me to keep you if you wish to stay. The Great Britain is unsafe for you. He said that if you agreed to work here, you are allowed to inform Mr. Grady about everything, since you would be working with him and the raptors, along with anyone else you see fit. The Minister trusts in your judgement. As for your schooling, he will send any necessary materials and if you'd need help, you just ask."
"Wow," Harry was surprised and relieved that he could, for once in his life, choose what he wanted to do. "What about Dumbledore?"
"He can't force you back, especially with the Minister backing you up and you being emancipated." Mr. Masrani explained. "So, what do you say?"
"I'm in." Harry didn't even need to think much.
"Wonderful," Mr. Masrani smiled and without another word, he drew his wand, waved it, and presented Harry with the contract for the job. "If you would sign these…"
"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?" Owen's exclamation drew the other two's attention to him.
"Mr. Potter will explain everything to you, Mr. Grady." Mr. Masrani said.
"That'll be fun," Harry grumbled.
As Owen drove his bike back to the bungalow neither him nor Harry spoke a word. Harry promised to explain everything when they got to Owen's home, it was more private than any other place. Harry dreaded the explanation. He never had to inform anyone of magic before and he was worried about telling his life story too. For some reason he feared Owen's reaction of him for being a wizard, being different.
Before Harry grew anymore anxious Owen managed to drive home. He parked the bike and the two got off. Without even the word to each other they sat down on the porch's steps.
"Let's hear it," Owen said as he turned to Harry.
Harry took in a deep breath and began speaking. He first told of what he was and showed some magic, while explaining about the Wizarding World. Then he told Owen his life story, beginning with the birth of Voldemort and ending with his excursion to the Ministry of Magic, the Dark Lord's defeat and his ending up in the park after his uncle won the trip.
Throughout the whole speech Harry avoided looking at Owen, instead he stared at the lake nearby. He didn't want to see the rejection he was sure that he was going to get. As he finished speaking, silence settled. Harry waited for Owen's reaction with his head down. He was startled when suddenly arms drew him into a warm embrace, holding tightly, as if afraid that Harry might disappear. His head ended up under Owen's chin as one of Owen's hands gently ran through his raven locks while the other held him firmly.
For the first time in his life, Harry felt like he was finally home. His body relaxed in Owen's arms, even if he wasn't comfortable with human contact due to his relatives. He sighed in contentment and snuggled even closer to Owen.
"You went through so much so young. It's no wonder that I felt like talking with an adult when I met you." Owen said.
"I had to grow up if I wanted to stay alive." Harry said. "Are you…"
"I'm okay with it," Owen cut off Harry. He understood what Harry was afraid of. "It doesn't matter to me that you're a wizard. Harry is Harry."
"Thank you," relief was evident in Harry's voice.
"So, you're going to be working with me." Owen stated after a moment of silence. He was still holding Harry and didn't wish to let go. "Do you want to live here, with me?" He sked.
Harry sat up in surprise and looked at Owen. Brown met green as Harry stared at the man. "Are you sure? Mr. Masrani gave me a place to live on the island. I don't want to intrude…"
"I'm sure. Besides, I live alone. There's plenty of space and it's closer to the paddock. We'd only need to get you a bed." Owen said. He wanted Harry close with no idea why, but he decided to trust his instincts. They never let him down before.
"If you're sure…"
"I'm sure." Owen grinned.
"Okay then," Harry smiled.
That was the day when Owen Grady, the resident "raptor dad", got a roommate who later became known as "the raptor mom", the one and only Harry James Potter.