Disclaimer: See Chapter 1

A/N: Thank you to all my awesome readers for coming back to the next instalment, and hopefully those new to this story.

If anyone wants to join me on Discord, just go to my profile and get the link to the Emerald Library.

Today's story: Suspicions, secrets, triceratops and the velociraptors finally arrive in Jurassic Park.

-oOo-

Chapter 8

-oOo-

April 21, 1993

Carlisle, England

Harry was happy to be clean after yesterday, though his arms were still aching.

Sirius had slept until the sun came up. Harry was just barely awake. Seeing how bad Harry's arm was, the man risked suffering more exhaustion by apparating to a place his mom had told him was an old safe house. The house was empty right now, but more importantly, they were near a hospital. Two hours later, Harry was in a cast and they were finding a hotel in the city of Carlisle, using a credit card that Hammond had given them.

After collapsing on the bed, Harry had slept for eight hours. His stomach was now grumbling that he was clean. He ran his hand over a few scales they had taken from the lindworm that was not on a necklace.

"I ordered some room service. It should be up soon," Sirius told him.

Harry was looking at the stuff that Sirius was going through. They wanted to sort things before going back to the island.

There were two piles of wands on the bed as Sirius continued to pick through the one on the right. He picked up a very dark wood wand. Using some polish and a cloth that Sirius had gotten from somewhere, he ran the cloth up and down the wand. A few sparks shot out the end. "There are more good ones than I thought," his godfather said in an easy voice, but Harry could hear the strain in his voice.

After a moment, Sirius put the wand into the other pile on the bed. Walking over, Harry could see a pile on the floor. "How many?"

"Sixty-four good ones so far. Over a hundred bad. Grab a cloth and help out while we wait," Sirius told him.

Harry pulled up the other chair at the small table and put a cloth into the hand that was bound by a cast.

"How's the arm?"

"Sore," Harry told him.

"I got the medicine from the chemist while you slept. You should take some after we get our food. That's what the doctor said you should do," Sirius told him, reaching for another wand.

"How many are here?"

"Three-hundred and twelve," Sirius said, his voice sounding a bit thick this time.

Harry nodded and picked up a wand. He felt the warmth from it right away and began to polish it. The one Sirius had just picked up went to the pile at his feet.

"How are you feeling?" Harry asked.

Sirius picked up another wand. "Tired. Sore. I probably should have waited to apparate, but you needed a doctor. Give me a few days to get back to full power and I'll heal your arm."

"Don't push yourself too much," Harry said, putting the wand he just polished into the good pile, then reached for another. He could tell right away it was bad. There was no warmth. No feeling at all. His magic didn't respond. Tossing it to the dead pile, he reached for another. "Sirius?"

"Yeah, pup?"

"Can you teach me to fight like you did with your sword?" Harry questioned.

"I can try. I know how to fence. That rapier is a Black family heirloom. I knew I recognized it. My father had it in his study. I don't know how to really use a broadsword like the Sword of Gryffindor, but I will do what I can do," Sirius told him.

"How about all those shields? That wasn't a Protego shield," Harry told him.

"It was a 'scutum' shield. A fencing shield. It's meant to stop physical attacks. It's about a yard across and will stop just about anything. Not very useful against spell fire... or actual fire, actually," the man said, tossing another wand into the bad pile. Harry did the same.

"Can you teach me that?"

"I'll teach you everything I know, Harry. I wasn't expecting what we found at Hogwarts, and it almost killed us. I won't do that again until I know we are both ready," Sirius promised.

Harry looked up. "I will be going with you again, right?"

Sirius gave him a small smile, the first he had seen since yesterday before they found the Chamber of Secrets. "I wouldn't want anyone else by my side, but you need to learn more, and I need to get back in shape. James and I had many close calls when we became Aurors, but I should have been able to run that whole time. You did better, but still could get better."

Harry nodded, picking up another wand. This one actually shot out sparks. Sirius nodded. "If you find a good match, you should take an extra one or two."

"Sure."

It wasn't long before the food came up. Sirius went to the door and cleared a place off the table for them. The smell of beef and vegetables had Harry's stomach growling again. "Eat up. We both spent a lot of magic yesterday."

Harry was already trying to cut his food but found it almost impossible with his arm in a cast. Sirius cut Harry's steak before his own. "Thanks," Harry said, frustrated he would have to rely on Sirius this way.

"Any time," Sirius assured him.

They didn't really say anything else until they had both cleaned their plates with the thick bread that had come with the meal. Sitting back, Harry was starting to feel a little tired again.

Sirius looked pensive. "Harry?"

"Yeah, Sirius?"

"I think we need to be careful for now on. I don't like what we found nor what the Grey Lady said," his godfather said, looking him in the eye.

"What about Lockwood and his team?" Harry asked.

"I don't know," Sirius replied, rubbing the stubble on his chin. "They know, but I'm not sure many others should."

"What about Lex?"

Sirius gave him a wry grin. "Not yet. Maybe later," Sirius told him.

Harry nodded. "Sirius?"

"Yeah?"

"I really like the dinosaurs," Harry told him.

"I know, but if there are other magical creatures out there, we maybe some of the only ones to still know how to handle them," Sirius commented.

They sat for a while. "We should finish the wands. What time do we need to leave tomorrow?" Harry enquired.

"Hammond is going to send a car around eight, and then get us back to Costa Rica. I think that will be the safest place for us right now. At least until we find out more here," Sirius replied. "I also need to go through the coins and jewellery. We need our own funds."

"There aren't any goblins," Harry pointed out.

"I'm sure we can melt things down and take the gems. I'll feel a little more comfortable once we know we can survive on our own," Sirius told him.

"You don't trust Hammond?" Harry asked.

"It's not him I don't trust," Sirius said. "I think Hammond and Lockwood mean well. I even like Muldoon and all his staff, but I'm not sure about some others, Like Dr Wu or those scientists that keep giving you issues."

"I've told Lockwood I don't want to work with Dr Gim anymore," Harry said back.

"I did too," Sirius told him. "I may try to obliviate her the next time I see her."

"Please do," Harry agreed.

-oOo-

April 25, 1993

Washington, D.C., USA

Lex was anxiously tapping her leg as she waited for her computer to reboot. She had just updated her computer to link to the new video camera that grandpa had given her. The brand new PictureTel machine was large, but if it worked, she would be beyond happy. All she had thought about all week was Harry, much to her chagrin with how Rebecca kept teasing her. Not to mention her new found feeling at her best friend when she had called Harry hot. Well, it was more the dreamy look of the beautiful brunette's face that had upset Lex.

Her computer beeped and she watched as Windows 3.1 booted up. As soon as the thinking circle stopped, she was navigating to the new software. Once satisfied, she checked the time. It was still another hour before she was supposed to call Harry. Feeling nervous it may not work, she dialled into the link to AOL. She would love to get into grandpa's lines, but he wouldn't let her. Some concern about her being able to access InGen computers if she was put into his line. Instead, he had given her a dedicated phone line.

The sound of the modem linking to the internet had her leg bouncing faster. She was getting closer.

Ten minutes later, running another program and making sure her IP was properly entered, she had to restart her computer once more. By the time she was back to where she wanted to be, it was only forty minutes until the call. She was happy she had modified her computer, or this might not have gone as fast or smooth.

She checked everything and then put in the IP that grandpa had given her.

Just to see if it worked, she pressed 'Start Video Meeting' on the screen.

The program cycled for a moment, then a ringing came out of her speakers. Surprised, she was going to cut it off when there was a voice. "Are you sure this is setup right? I clicked the mouse," she heard the scratchy voice of Harry.

"Harry!" she exclaimed happily.

"Lex? Le..? You can h...r me?" he asked. The connection was not great, but she was happy.

"I can. I can't see you. Is your camera setup?" she asked him.

"Open the f… tab," a woman's voice told him.

"The what?" Harry asked.

"The File. There. N… go to settings," the woman instructed.

"I have … idea what I … doing," Harry replied

She had no idea how Harry could be so clueless about computers. Even Tim knew how to do something so basic.

"No, you have to p…t in this IP," the woman said.

"Wh… is an IP?"

Lex giggled. "It's called the internet protocol. It's an address that allows the computers to talk to each other."

There was a broken up something Harry grumbled before his face suddenly came up. A huge smile broke over her face until he turned and the huge bruise on the left side of his face was visible. What was more, his left arm was in a cast and sling. "What happened!" she exclaimed. They had talked on the phone two nights ago and he hadn't mentioned anything about getting hurt. The video was choppy as he moved.

"This? It's nothing. Had a bad fall while I was in Scotland," Harry told her. Apparently, the voice was fixed now.

"Harry, you look like you were in a car accident," she said, worry lacing her voice.

He gave her a lopsided grin. "I'm fine. Really. The doctor says the cast will come off in three weeks and I'll be right as rain by June," he told her.

"You are not fine. Your arm is in a cast," she shot back at him. "Did you fall down a flight of stairs?"

Harry laughed. "Lex, I promise you, I'm fine. How was your week? Did everyone like your party?"

Lex gave him a look as though she didn't believe him but let him change the subject. "Everyone enjoyed themselves, and everyone loved you," she said rather pointedly.

Harry laughed, which broke the audio some. "You were the birthday girl. I only just met you," Harry said.

"Well, everyone is still talking about you. Thank you for the necklace," she told him. Lex had been disappointed that Harry had to leave before her real birthday. She fingered the small pearl necklace, rolling it back and forth in her fingers.

"Your mom said you like pearls and I saw it when we were at the Smithsonian," he told her

"I really like it. So, you going to tell me how you really got hurt like that?"

"I fell. Honest," Harry said, but there was something about his tone that had her very suspicious.

"I still don't believe that," she told him.

Harry shrugged. "You haven't told me what you did this week."

"Not much. I have swim practice this afternoon. I passed my Geometry test with a ninety-two. Grandpa got me this new video conference machine. What about you?"

Harry made a face. "I've had tutors the last few days. They are testing me to see what I need help in," Harry replied.

"And what do you need help in? Maybe I can help you. I have good grades," she offered. If it gave her an excuse to call Harry and see him, she would take it.

Through the video, she could see his face turn a little red. "Ah, I need help in almost everything, but I'll be alright."

"I can help. We can use the new video machines. I can call you Tuesdays, Thursdays and Friday and Saturdays. I have swimming the other nights and need the time I have just to finish my own work," she said rather happily.

"I have the tutors. They are working with me four or five hours a day during the week and I have a ton of revision," he replied in his cute British accent.

"Revision?" she asked, not understanding.

"Ah, homework," he replied.

"Oh. I love it when you do that," she said with a huge smile.

"Do what?" he asked confused.

"Talk British," she informed him.

Harry laughed. "It's proper English," Harry replied.

"It is not. You talk a little funny at times," she teased.

"And you don't?"

She stuck her tongue out at him. "I do not," she said back.

"Do too," Harry retorted.

"Do not."

"Do too."

"Do not," she said again, sticking her tongue out at him again. She loved his laugh, as childish as they were being.

There was a knock on a door on Harry's end. "Come in."

"Harry, Muldoon wants to know if you want to see the rexes. Dr Timmons will be heading over soon," a female's voice said.

"Yvonne, I'm on a call with Lex. Give me a few," Harry said. "Where were we? Oh, yeah, do too."

Lex was looking at his picture on her screen. "Harry, who is Yvonne, Muldoon and the rexes?"

"Oh, it's nothing," he tried to say. "Yvonne and Muldoon work with your grandfather. The rexes are nicknames for some animals that your grandfather has me helping with. They eat like a tyrannosaurus rex, and you know how much Mr Hammond loves dinosaurs. Your next swimming meet is next weekend?"

Her eyes narrowed. Harry was hiding something, and she didn't like it. For now, she would let it slide, but it wasn't the first time that Harry had acted like that. "Yeah. I am going to be in the 200M free and the 100M butterfly. Wish me luck. Last time I was two seconds shy of the school record."

"Good luck," Harry told her.

-oOo-

May 14, 1993

Isla Nublar, Costa Rica

Harry was sweating. George Simmons, an ex-Green Beret from the United States, stood a few feet away. The man had taken a liking to old martial forms of fighting and was training Harry with Muldoon's permission. Simmons had a broad sword up, ready to attack. "Your attacks are sloppy," the nearly forty-year-old man said.

Harry was happy his arm and shoulder were back to rights. He had to wear that cast for two weeks before Sirius had looked through a few books they had saved and felt confident enough to heal Harry properly. Harry had heard Sirius grumbling though, as the old book didn't understand modern physiology. When he had walked in that afternoon to see Dr Rose, she had been as astounded as when Sirius had completed his healing overnight. The only downside to Sirius battle healing was that it meant he had to recover. Harry never thought he would miss the potions that Madam Pomfrey always gave him, but he did. Sirius had investigated potion making but couldn't find sources for any of the magical herbs or other stuff they would need.

They probably could look around Hogwarts again, but they weren't ready to go back anytime soon. Not if there were more lindworms around.

Without potions and having to still fully recover his strength, Harry's arm and shoulder burned with the exertion of learning how to handle his own broadsword. "I'm still younger than you," Harry countered.

Simmons gave him a feral smile and moved in. The strike came from his left. Harry spun the blade to catch Simmons on the side before pushing forward to try to get inside the strike. Simmons saw it and Harry was shocked when Simmons closed the distance, his hand shooting out and Harry was suddenly pulled forward. His wrist twisted, causing him to loosen the grip on Gryffindor's sword. Harry fought the move. That was until he felt Simmons hip on his and the world turned upside down as he landed on his back. Simmons' sword batted his away and Simmons' blade landed on his neck. Harry's sword landed two feet from his head.

"You have a broadsword. The name of the game is distance, not up close," Simmons growled as Harry panted.

"Then what the bloody hell was that?" Harry asked, not getting up. He was sore and tired.

"That was me using the hand-to-hand combat that I was taught as a Green Beret. You are not a close-up fighter. I will teach you, but you don't have the right instincts," Simmons told him.

Harry glared at the man. After a moment, his mentor pulled the sword away from his neck and extended a hand. Harry reached up and took it.

Someone clapped from nearby. "I am surprised you last as long as you do at times," Muldoon said, walking up to them.

"Muldoon," Simmons said with a slight nod.

"I'm going to take the lad out, if you are done," Muldoon said to Simmons.

"Harry is done for the day. We'll practice again on Sunday," Simmons replied, walking over to where the scabbards were.

Harry stood tall, still catching his breath some. "Where are we going?"

"Triceratops again. Then I wanted to check out the raptor paddock. Hammond wants to start moving them over," the man told him.

"I thought you said that was too dangerous?" Harry put to him, going over to retrieve his own scabbard after picking up Gryffindor's sword.

Simmons gave him a nod. "We'll work more on your strikes next time."

"Sure. Thanks," Harry replied.

Muldoon started to walk next to him as Harry started back for the apartment complex he now called home. The Workers complex had three buildings, each with eight apartments on three floors. The thing Harry was more curious about was the new fencing they were putting in, like around the visitor centre.

"The raptors are very dangerous. We should have killed them all after the last incident," Muldoon griped. "Hammond wants them here though. Thinks they will be one of the main attractions."

Harry had yet to see them, not being allowed to Isla Sorna yet.

After he took a quick shower and changed, Muldoon had him pile into the jeep with him. They went up to the visitor compound to pick up the vets and, to his surprise, Dr Bones. "Hello, doctor. I wasn't aware you were on the island," Muldoon put to her.

"I just arrived and heard that you and Harry were going out into the field?" the woman put to them.

"Yeah. If you are coming, I need to get a third jeep," Muldoon told her.

"I would like to come," Dr Bones agreed.

As Muldoon got on his radio, Dr Bones came up to him. He hadn't seen any of Lockwood's team in weeks. "Are the rest of them coming?" Harry asked her.

"Not this weekend. The others are still trying to figure out what you did last time," the woman said with a smile. "Sirius said you were in England a few weeks ago?"

"We were," Harry agreed. Sirius and him hadn't told anyone what really happened yet, as much as he was sure Mr. Hammond and others would love to get their hands on that lindworm. Truth be told, Sirius and him were unsure what creatures may be in the woods there, or possibly other magic, and thought cloning a lindworm or something else as dangerous was far worse than the scary raptors or a T-rex.

"I would have liked to have known. I could have had you and your godfather come by the labs and introduced you to Susan," Dr Bones put to him.

"Maybe next time," Harry replied.

"That is an interesting sword," Dr Bones said, nodding to the sword on his back. He was not to harm the dinosaurs unless they were really trying to harm him, but he had been allowed to keep it on him if he needed to defend himself. "A souvenir I picked up while we were in England."

Her eyes lit up. "So, you found others?"

Harry shook his head. "No."

He wasn't much for giving any long answers about their trip. The swords were the only outward sign they had found something, with all the other scrolls and books split between two pouches that were now on Harry's belt. They were small, about five inches by three. Large enough for him to carry a map of the island, some writing supplies, a utility knife, etc., without drawing any curious looks. Inside though, Sirius had been able to cast an expansion charm that not only defied detection by the scientists, but also made them the size of a small walk-in closet. The information in the scrolls and books, even if they were three hundred years out of date, and weapons, were too valuable to just leave around.

As it was, Sirius was off again, this time going towards Brazil and where he thought Castelobruxo would be. Harry was left behind while Sirius scouted so he could work with the tutors. Sirius was hell bent on Harry getting a high school diploma now that they were sure they would have to live in the muggle world. Yvonne and Ericks had gone with him. Mr Hammond and Muldoon didn't want him to come back beat up again, even if they didn't know how they had been so beaten up.

Dr Bones gave him a discerning look for a moment before shrugging.

"Are you both ready? The vets will be out in a moment, and I wanted to head over now. Control room says more rain is coming in," Muldoon told them. "If it's too rainy, I don't want them in the paddock. The triceratops and stegosaurus are fighting over the upper plains again."

"Is it dangerous to go into the paddocks?" Dr Bones asked.

"It's dangerous everywhere," Muldoon said. "And getting more so."

Harry just brushed off the comment, but Dr Bones looked a little unsettled.

"Just stay back and you'll be fine," Harry told her.

"Harry, there are small tranq guns in the back. Get one for you and Dr Bones," Muldoon ordered as he climbed into the jeep. Harry jumped in the back, settling in before opening the locked case. He had keys for a few different things now.

"Is that necessary," Dr Bones asked nervously.

"Have you ever been out into the park?" Harry asked, checking the CO2 cartridge and the four-dart magazine. He noticed that there were two of the larger tranq guns in the case today. Muldoon took off, dark clouds building over the mountains. Harry had been out in the park a few times now in heavy rain and had to admit it made him a little nervous to hear the rain on the electrified fences. He was just happy that he didn't have his glasses anymore.

His prescription had arrived on the island about a week ago. Dr Rose had helped him put them in the first time and now Harry thought contacts were awesome.

"I've only drove through it. What are we going to see today?"

"Sick triceratops. Two of them. With two down, the stegosaurs have tried to encroach on the trics," Muldoon yelled loud enough for both of them to hear.

Going down to the paddock, they passed a work crew installing the electrical track in the ground along the main road.

"What are they doing?" Dr Bones enquired.

"Completing the main attraction. Hammond wants the automated cars to be fully operational by start of July. They still have a few miles to finish. Then debug, or whatever the engineers do," Muldoon answered Dr Bones.

Harry watched a backhoe digging a trench. Behind it was a crew lining it with moulds for cement and then those filling it in. Every thousand feet or so a trench or already completed mould went off to the left. It was another mile down to find another crew working on laying electrical and phone lines in the cement trench.

"That looks complicated," Dr Bones commented.

"I think that all the guests should be driven in gas jeeps with a guide," Muldoon replied.

"So, Harry, how are your tutors going?" Dr Bones asked, ignoring Muldoon's paranoia.

"Fine," Harry replied. She gave him a look and he sighed. "I'm about three years or so behind on my math, know very little about science, am hands with computers, but I can read and write at a college level."

"The lad is also a crack at handling the dinosaurs and how to handle himself in bad situations," Muldoon praised. Harry smiled. He really liked getting out in the field and was learning more from the observation Muldoon and his team had of the dinosaurs than the vets and scientists. It was like the others didn't just go out and watch their behaviour.

"I heard you are liking the park. Do you enjoy getting away from the classroom?" Dr Bones enquired.

"Going to see the dinosaurs is brilliant. Since I've been here, we found that the stegosaurs are making nests, but no one knows why when they can't mate," Harry replied. "I also love to go watch the tyrannosaurs. They are much happier now that some goats are release so they can hunt them."

"How can you tell they are happier?" Dr Bones enquired.

"The big one doesn't try to attack the fences or the small one anymore," Muldoon said.

Dr Bones gave them a curious look. When they stopped, Muldoon took out a pair of binoculars before standing on the edge of the door frame.

"What is he looking for?" Dr Bones asked.

"Probably seeing if the stegosaurs are harassing the two sick triceratops," Harry answered, opening his door and doing the same. He could see the main triceratops heard staying a little distance from two lumps on the ground. Four of the five stegosaurus were meandering near the sick triceratops.

Muldoon held the binoculars over his shoulder. "What do you think?"

Harry took them and looked out over the fields. In the two months he had been here, he learned much. Harry looked through, first to the laying animals, then to the two groups. "The stegosaurus are nervous and there are a few cuts on the side of the big tric. Sarah was her name?"

"That's what the vets call her. Something about some kids' movie," Muldoon commented. "We may have to tranquilize the whole heard to get a better look."

"Who is going to take the other gun?" Harry asked, looking back towards the stegosaurs. He didn't see any visible signs of damage.

"That one is for you. You've been practicing. You and Ross are my backup," Muldoon told him.

Harry had been practicing, but he didn't think he was good enough to hit a charging triceratops.

"Why not have Harry use his magic? We know he can stun people," Dr Bones asked.

"First, not everyone here knows of Harry or Sirius abilities. Second, we don't know that will do or if it will work the same. No one wants to take the chance of harming the little beauties," Muldoon replied.

Harry had to hold in a snort. He was still reminded of his old life at times, and it sounded like Muldoon was channelling Hagrid.

"Why Harry? He's not sixteen yet," Dr Bones questioned.

"I took down my first lion at fourteen. Harry is old enough," Muldoon answered.

It was another ten minutes before the other two jeeps joined them. "Good to see you out here," Dr Timmons said to Harry. "Ready to learn more today?"

"Always," Harry told him.

"Simmons, you keep an eye on the triceratops, Harry will watch the stegosaurs. Ross, you are to stay at the jeeps today. I want them ready to go. If that storm moves in, or the stegosaurs decide they are ready to move in, we may have to get out of here quickly," Muldoon ordered.

Hefting the larger air rifle, Harry followed behind the others with Simmons, while Muldoon took the lead. Following the standard protocol, it wasn't long for the vets to start looking at the sick triceratops. Harry watched the stegosaurs, like he had been told.

When thunder rumbled across the fields, the stegosaurs turned and left.

It was almost two hours before they made it back to the jeeps. The rain was coming down hard, making the ride back slow. Dr Bones looked rather pensive, sometimes looking towards Harry. "You said you were good with handling animals at your old school?"

Harry gave a half-smile. "It was one of my favourite classes taught by an old family friend."

She nodded absently. The rain pattering off the cloth roof. "I noticed that you never really tensed while watching after the one with big plates on their back."

"Stegosaurus," Harry told her.

"Thank you. Why didn't you raise your rifle the few times they came closer?"

"They weren't going to attack," Harry replied.

"How did you know that?"

Harry shrugged. "You could just tell. They were agitated, but not aggressive. I think they had already gotten into a scuffled with Sarah and didn't want too again."

Dr Bones looked to Muldoon. "You taught this?"

Muldoon chuckled. "The lad is a natural at reading animals. It's like he was born to be a hunter or a warden. Perhaps he can take over for me in a few years."

Harry smiled, thinking that sounded like a fun job.

-oOo-

June 3, 1993

Isla Nublar, Costa Rica

Sirius had returned a few days ago, not having much luck, but he hadn't expected it, knowing that Castelobruxo had been a relatively new school. He had heard rumours of legends of cities in the forests but hadn't had time or the resources to really go in deeper. Thus, Sirius was now digging through historical records and history books while Harry focused on his tutors, learning the fighting skills that Muldoon had approved, and learning about the dinosaurs.

Oh, and new rounds of testing from Lockwood and his team. Luckily, Lockwood had heard him and Dr Gim wasn't allowed near him now.

With how busy he was, he wasn't missing having friends or anyone his age, so when Charlotte had come this last time with her father, Harry was surprised to be happy to have her tagging along. Apparently having Charlotte around reminded him of having friends. Though, the conversations he really looked forward too were Lex's. They talked on the phone many days and did the videos once a week or so. She made the emptiness of not having Hermione, Ron, Neville, Luna or the others around less.

He also found he had less nightmares the days he talked with her. He just wished she could be here, or he could go back to Washington, D.C.

Today the whole island was alert. There were two more carnivores that were being introduced to the island in the next few weeks, and the velociraptors were the concern today.

They were standing outside the gatehouse to the paddock. The fences had been extended to twenty-fifteen feet high, and the thirty-foot-wide moats behind them had a five-foot-long fence overhanging the moat to keep the raptors from climbing out, as they had apparently tried to do on Isla Sorna.

Just beyond the moat all the jungle had been cleared, leaving a hundred yard wide clearing full of high ferns or grass. Muldoon had told them that the paddock curved around the main road and was about a mile wide and more than half a mile deep. That was one thing Harry found nice. Hammond wanted the dinosaurs to be as natural as possible, so they had large paddocks. At the same time, that was a lot of land for the Velociraptors to live in.

Charlotte had been allowed to come out to watch this. "Don't leave Harry's side," Muldoon had told her.

"I won't," the thirteen-year-old had said, not looking like she had any intention of leaving his side.

Even Hammond was here, sitting in a jeep, to watch the raptors being set loose in the paddock.

"How long before they get here? Dad hasn't let me near them in the last year," Charlotte said, looking around.

"I'm not sure," Harry said. "I don't hear the helicopter yet."

Yvonne came over to them. "Hammond said the copter should be here in about ten minutes," she said, as though knowing what they were talking about.

"Do you think they will let them hunt?" Charlotte asked, almost giddily. "There old pen was a lot smaller and a few of them were killed by the others. There are only five adults right now and three juveniles. There were eight at Christmas," Charlotte said. "After this, can we go see the sauropods? I would love to finally touch an adult. I only ever get to take care of the babies."

Harry chuckled while Yvonne said, "We'll see what Mr. Lockwood and Muldoon say."

Charlotte pouted for a moment before perking up. "I hear it," she said, looking to the sky.

Harry heard it too. Though, this time it didn't sound like the helicopter was labouring. After a moment, he spotted the big two bladed chinook coming around the volcano cone. They all watched in rapt attention as it came in. A large flat area by the gate allowed the helicopter to land.

Muldoon moved in a forklift with half his security team. They all had rifles and long shock sticks today. The back of the helicopter opened, and a large metal crate was rolled out. The forklift took the crate and moved it close to the special doors and the guardhouse. This was the only paddock to have a guardhouse at the gate. Not even the tyrannosaurs warranted such. Muldoon had grumbled that two of his men would be required to staff it at all times for now on.

It took a little bit for the unloading to finish. Five large metal crates were now on the edge of the cement pad. Dr Timmons and his team moved in. Muldoon barked out, "You are not waking any of them until their cage is locked in," Muldoon said.

"It could take up to ten minutes for each of them to wake," Dr Timmons countered.

"I will not have another man killed by these monsters. You have an issue, talk to Hammond and have me fired," Muldoon barked back. Harry had never seen Dr Timmons and Muldoon argue before.

Charlotte looked a little concerned. "Someone died?"

"I heard one escaped and killed a geneticist and hurt two others before they could capture it about a year back," Harry told her.

Yvonne looked distinctly displeased. "I agree with Muldoon. Those things should be put down."

"But they are living animals," Charlotte countered. "It is our responsibility to care for them now that they are here."

"And we should put them down," Yvonne reiterated. "That is the only responsible thing."

"I don't agree, and my father won't agree," Charlotte stated hotly.

"Ms Lockwood, I know Muldoon has talked to both Hammond and your father about it. I will do anything I can to protect you, but those things are the deadliest animals I have ever seen," Yvonne said.

"You haven't really seen anything," Harry muttered, thinking of dragons, lindworms and three headed dogs.

The first cage had been manoeuvred into place and the animal handlers had ensure the crate was secure. Dr Timmons moved in to put a pole through the bars in the cage and then backed off. Everyone pulled back a good ten feet, electrical prods coming up. Harry felt very nervous. Muldoon had told Harry all about what he had seen of the raptors so far, and he thought they may be as dangerous as a acromantula.

After a moment, there was a chirping sound, then a rustling in the cage.

"Why don't they stand closer to the cage? Don't they want to make sure the raptor is waking properly?" Charlotte asked.

"Muldoon's new safety measures," Yvonne replied.

The blare of an airhorn went off, startling Charlotte. Harry watched in fascination as the velociraptor ran out of the cage into the fences. The inside door closed, and the team moved in to get the metal box out and move the next one in.

Inside the fences, the raptor ran, its head and back just above the ferns and stopped near the tree line. After a moment, it stooped, blending in with the undergrowth.

The way the raptor moved and was suddenly gone had him reaching for his wand.

"That wasn't very kind," Charlotte whinged.

Yvonne shook her head. Harry was much more alert. He knew the reports that Wu and his team had put together. Muldoon wanted all his staff to understand, and then went over his own feelings on the monsters. After seeing the speed for himself, and the way it moved, Harry was starting to think Muldoon and Yvonne had the right of it.

It was another fifty minutes before all five were in the pen. During that time the others had been moving around in the ferns, calling out and acting agitated. It wasn't until the last one, the largest of the five, ran out, that the other four seemed to calm and they all congregated around the large female. She stood a good few inches over the others. She made some type of funny barking call. As though sizing up the twenty humans outside the cage, she watched them for a few moments, before making another sharp barking call and turning towards the woods.

The other four followed her as they lopped off at a speed faster than people walking, but not the cheetah speed they had been warned about. A moment later, they were in the jungle that made up the centre of the paddock.

"Magnificent, aren't they?" Mr Hammond put to them as he walked up.

"Are they going to let them hunt, Uncle John," Charlotte asked.

"I don't think we need to watch that, Charlotte. I'm sure they will release a cow later on," Mr. Hammond said. "Now that they are in a larger paddock, we can really study what they do now. It should be magnificent, and the visitors should love them."

Harry wasn't sure he shared Mr Hammonds enthusiasm on this. They heard a few barking calls from the forest.

"Are they going to take over the juveniles?" Charlotte enquired.

"Not yet. Dr Harding is concerned that they wouldn't survive with Fern in charge," Mr. Hammond said.

"Oh, Dr Wu finally named her?" Charlotte said excitedly.

Mr Hammond chuckled. "I think the team liked your suggestion. If you would all like to join me, the chefs were going to have a meal ready about one. I think there will be ginger and chocolate ice cream."

Charlotte smiled. Like Yvonne, Harry was watching the woods. The handlers were moving the metal crates back onto the helicopter, while Muldoon was looking into the woods as well. Even from this distance, Harry could see the way he was holding his gun and his finger was near the trigger.

If Muldoon was feeling this antsy, then Harry knew he should be wary of the raptors as well.

"Harry, are you coming?" Charlotte asked as she took off towards the jeeps.

"Sure," Harry said. He wanted to stay here, maybe go up into the guard tower. Instead, he knew he had an appointment with Sir Lockwood and his team this afternoon.

-oOo-

Next Chapter: Signs that Jurassic Park may not be ready for visitors as Lex's suspicions are nothing of what she thought they might be.