Chapter Text
“still hanging in there?” Harry quips, twirling his wand between his fingers.
“Ha. Ha.” Owen deadpanned. “You’re SO funny.”
“Woah, easy on the sarcasm.” Harry grinned, “just trying to lighten the mood.”
Owen groaned, still swaying in place, “It’s NOT that funny.”
“It kinda is.” Barry says breathlessly, the hysterical laughter from earlier gone as he catches his breath. “It was uplifting, to say the least.”
“Oh my fucking god, if you don’t get your ass over here and untie me I’m going to-” Owen, who had been levitated and then tied to a tree and bound by magical ropes, was unceremoniously released. The man fell to the ground with a loud thump, the only reason he didn’t break anything was due to the silent cushioning charm Harry cast.
“You.” Owen seeth, “are the worst. The worst.”
“Me?” Harry’s incredulous tone did not match the shiteating grin on his face.
Owen didn’t bother responding, instead he stalked across the field towards his closest friend with his finger pointed. “And you! You.. you- I can’t think of anything right now, but know you’re somehow worse than the wizard because- the betrayal.”
Barry grinned and murmured something in French that had Owen throwing his hands in the air and walking away. Towards the paddock probably. It was almost sundown and they still needed to feed the raptors dinner.
Harry leisurely walked back to the Raptor pad, Barry following into step with him. “What’d you say?”
“Oh nothing,” Barry smirked, clearly reminiscing.
Harry shook his head but let it go, switching his wand back into his holster.
oOo
In the year since Harry joined, many changes have been made. The padlock for viewing was set up, it only took a year of construction and it’s predicted to take two more for the ecosystem to be established before they can add the raptors.
“sonofabitch-“ Owen cursed tripping on the slightly taller step he was distracted enough to miss.
The concrete step was a magnet for trouble and Harry had the edge painted with a stupid glow in the dark paint after Barry tripped so hard he sliced open his hand.
Luckily, Owen caught himself before he could spill either of the 5 gallon buckets full of fish. Which is great because cleaning fish residue out of concrete in a tropical climate would have been a bitch to do. Not to mention the smell.
Not so luckily, Owen hears one of the guards snickering. Probably Kasey.. he and Barry had been poking fun at her the other day for tripping in the step.
“Stupidass nosey Nancys,” Owen grumbles, continuing to stomp his way up the steps to the catwalk once he is sure the buckets of frozen Tuna are not going to spill out.
Usually the raptors hunted live food from below but occasionally Owen would break out the treats and practice their tricks. It helped that the raptors could understand English now, though most human concepts were lost on them. Despite them being able to understand him, however, they don’t always want to participate.
So, naturally, that lead to bribery. Hence the tuna.
“Alright,” Owen called out. “Today’s lesson will be about-“
“Alpha… Harry?” Blue trills curiously .
Owen paused, recognizing the vocal cue for his name, a chirp that end in a purr, and Harry’s, a long hissing noise
Delta hisses sharply, her head twisting around.
Owen wonders what she's saying.
“..doctors..look...” The alarm in Charlie’s squeal transcends language.
“…find Harry fast.” Blue orders.
Owen frowns. But before he can respond the raptors descend into chaos, splitting up and
it occurs to Owen that the raptors might be getting the wrong idea.
oOo
“Alpha, where is your mate?” Blue trills. “Has your mate finally had your hatchings? I do not smell them on you. What’s has he gone?”
Harry doesn’t blink at the question. But then Barry laughs and Harry feels his face grow hot as he remembers that the squib understands parseltongue.
Everytime the Velociraptors refer to Harry as such, he’s more and more thankful he never told Owen what they actually call him. He only said that that specific hissing noise was his name.
The fact that Barry kept ‘subtly’ dropping hints had nothing to do with it. Nothing whatsoever.
Before Harry had met the other raptors Delta had referred to him as ‘home ruler’ or simply ‘Harry.’ But once the other three raptors found out about him & he started working, they dropped his name completely.
“Is he missing?” Delta hisses. “Should we look?”
Harry applauds her restraint. Despite being capable of human speech, she really only gets to practice when they’re alone. And as of recently, they’re never alone.
Owen doesn’t respond, perhaps trying to work out what they’re saying.
“Missing? Did white coats take him?” The panic in Charlie’s voice is obvious. “We should look? Where do we look?”
Barry snorts, “that’s Charlie for you. She’s got something against doctors, I swear.”
“There’s not one kid who likes going to see the doctor.” Harry laughs. “You know she’s afraid of needles. We have to put a falcon hood on her every time she gets them.”
Blue’s response interest. “Split up. Find Alpha’s Mate. Fast.”
Harry can imagine Blue’s tail whipping behind her. The fact that they cared so much is touching, and a tad bit concerning seeing as he can hear Owen call after them and they’re very clearly not listening.
“Over here.” Barry calls out, laughing as his phone pings not a second later.
Harry’s does too and he smirks at the group message. It Owen, of course, letting him know that the girls are looking for him.
Alpha:heads up Harry, the babies are looking for you
Berrybeta: the fact that you still call them that is concerning
Harry: the fact that you have i still have your names as Berry the beta is concerning
Barry snorts from across from him. Then he looks him in the eye and says, “not everyone can be the alpha’s mate.”
“I’ll have you know I am the better half of the alpha pair.” Harry huffs.
“Beta berry is correct.” Charlie hisses, pupping out of the bushes. “Alpha would not accept just anyone by his side. Many potential mates have tried but Alpha only had eyes for you.”
Barry starts laughing. Full on cacling at the sincerity in the raptors tone and the Harry’s pouting in response.
Harry elects to ignore the man entirely.
“Are you alright?” Blue comes out of the forest to Harry’s left, coming up to the bars. “Charlie thinks you were taken by White coats.”
“Yes. I’m alright.” Harry rolls his eyes. “Call off the search. I’m fine. No one took me. I am not a thing to be taken.”
“Off you go.” Barry motions distantly to his right. “Alpha is waiting for you.”
Blue thrills noncommittally and takes off, Charlie hot on her heels.