Chapter 8

The base camp for several miles where the port key set them down, so with equipment in tow, the group trekked to the area they set up as headquarters. Along the way, Charlie told them about the party that they would be working with. Everyone promised to play nice and not reveal the real reason they were there. Charlie had no idea when the muggles would show up and wondered whether his group would be able to keep the secret. Finally he decided that muggles were for the most part oblivious to all things magic and were more likely to attribute the magical for the coincidence.

It was fairly obvious that none of the star students sent on the expedition had any experience outside of the classroom, but they were enthusiastic learners. They all seemed to be terrified of Boo, wary of Wolfgang, and in awe of Charlie. After all, how many times does one get the opportunity to work alongside a world famous Quidditch player?

Technically speaking, Wolfgang was in charge of the expedition, but he was so anti-social and managed to disappear every morning right before dawn and evenings right at sunset that the team began to depend on Mike as the leader. Wolfgang didn't seem to mind. He considered himself a researcher and went on scouting missions (in his bird form) and was happiest when left alone. The only time he engaged in conversation was when he and Charlie argued about Quidditch. He was an enormous fan of Atletico Mineros de San Luis of the Mexican Quidditch Association.

Charlie was beginning to believe that they would never hook up with the muggles, but they showed up on the third day, loaded down with gear that none of the wizards recognized. Three of the four students watched in amazement as the scientists methodically set up their camp. When the tents were pitched, Dan looked confused that the inside of the tiny two man tents had room for only two men. He was about to ask one of the university students who had joined the expedition, when Charlie cut him off.

"I'll explain it later," he told him, shaking his head. "No magic," he whispered. "And it wouldn't be a good idea to invite any of them inside our tent, either."

Their tent had been magicked to accommodate the whole team and it included a toilet and Jacuzzi tub and kitchen complete with dining area. "Oh yeah," Dan said.

The muggle team was led by a college professor named Dr. Leland Smith, who was apparently some kind of department head. He was a smug, egotistical man who looked down on Charlie and the others and had no tolerance for those who didn't work hard enough to make him look good. The second in command was Dr. Sheila Preston, the pleasant worker-bee of the group. She had led the original study and found what she believed to be the fossils of a flying dinosaur. She rushed back with the proof and Dr. Smith intercepted her work and decided to take over the project. He stayed in his tent and told no one to bother him unless they found something significant.

There were five intern graduate students who worked closely with Dr. Preston. Charlie figured any one of them would throw her under a bus to win favor with Dr. Smith. He liked her, but she was too naïve for her own good. She believed that Smith would at least acknowledge her part in the discovery. It was really too bad they wouldn't find the dinosaur.

One of the muggle interns discovered a small cave on the side of the mountain near the command post was. He also found bones inside the cave. Carefully, he removed the bones and was on his way to Dr. Smith when Boo and Charlie intercepted him

"What cha got there, hombre?" Boo asked casually, blocking his path.

"I have to get these to Dr. Smith," he said.

"Where'd you find them?" he asked.

The man pointed to the cave entrance. "Over there."

"I don't see anything," Boo said as the nonverbal disillusioning charm concealed the cave.

"Are you blind, man?" the intern said, turning. "It's right, uh, where's the cave?"

"Those are mountain lion bones," Charlie said glancing at the bundle wrapped carefully in burlap. "Confundo!"

"Wait! What? Are you sure? That makes no sense? Why would I… I'm looking for fossils."

Charlie nodded. "Yeah. Why don't you give them to me and I'll get rid of them for you. Wouldn't want you to piss Dr. Smith off."

"Oh right! Thanks." He handed the bundle to Charlie.

"Merlin, these guys are easy," Charlie said watching the poor man turn left, then right, and finally wandering back to the original digging site.

"That was close," Boo said.

They took the bag back to their tent. He put the bundle on a long table and opened it carefully. Mike, Boo, and Charlie took a deep breath and let it out slowly. They looked at each other and grinned. Yes! It was dragon bones!

They stood in awe and Charlie felt a tear falling down his face. Surprised at the emotion, he swiped the tear away and looked at Mike, who had the same soft look in his eyes. This was a remarkable moment for the wizards. They had to find out if the bones were of a known dragon or, as they suspected, the new species.

"What if this was the only one?" Boo asked.

"We have to explore the cave."

"Absolutely." Mike said.

"Do you think we can get rid of our guests?" Boo asked irritated. "By the way, how in all that is magical and good did we manage to get stuck with these muggles?"

Mike sighed heavily. "Unfortunately Dr. Preston chose the exact same spot that we were looking for our dragon at the very same time. Of course the Department of Magical Creatures has a new boss, and the only word she heard at the monthly director's meeting was, cooperation with the non-magical types, so all of a sudden now we're sharing space. The department also wanted to make sure that the non-magical world doesn't discover there are real dragons, so it's up to us."

"The problem is the non-magical world really does want to believe in dragons," Boo said.

"Yeah, but the good news is it's only twelve year old girls and one thirty year old man who still lives in his mum's basement." Charlie said shaking his head.

Mike snorted a laugh but Boo looked confused and obviously didn't get the joke.

"Someone want to get the interns?" Mike asked. "What about Wolfgang?"

Boo shrugged. "Who knows when he'll get back? I say we just kind of stroll over there, not to attract too much attention because that smart one, what's her name?"

"Dr. Preston," Charlie supplied.

"Right, Dr. Preston. She's pretty much on the ball."

"You're right about that. God, she's curious," Mike said. "We should wait until dark; the muggles never go out after the sun goes down. But what if they go snooping around there?"

"No worries about that, Mike. The disillusioning charm will last a full week. They'll never find it." Boo assured him.

"Excellent. What about the dumbass that found the bones?"

"His head will clear in about an hour. He'll doubt what he found." Charlie said.

The man stood around inside their tent strategizing, when they were interrupted by a soft rap on the canvas door.

"Yoo hoo," a soft voiced chirped. "Anyone in there?"

"Yes?" Boo asked in a threatening manner.

It was Dr. Preston. "Uh, I was wondering if maybe I could talk to you gentlemen."

The men looked at each other; Mike threw a cloth over the bones. "We'll be out in a second," he said.

"May I come in?" she asked.

"Sorry," Charlie said sticking his body out the tent flap. "The place is a mess. What can we do for you?"

"I hope you don't mind me being so nosy, but I'm curious about a few things," she said.

Charlie looked at her expectedly as Mike and Boo exited the tent. "Sure," he said. "Shoot."