Ginny's awareness came back to her slowly, her mind waking in patches. She was warm and she was somewhere she knew she was safe but much more than that she couldn't ascertain. The last thing she had remembered she had left the courtyard with Lilah because a wave of tiredness the likes of which she had never felt had spread across her body, she had barely been able to keep her eyes open as she made it back to her bed. She remember the feel of Lilah slipping into the bed next to her and then nothing for a while until the heat had taken her. After that all she could remember was heat, a burning so bright that she was sure her skin had been scorched by it. More than that though was the need that had flared in her body like nothing she had ever experienced.

Now as her mind collected together enough for her to open her eyes she looked up at the window that Harry had carved out of the ceiling of their room. Being creatures of nature always made them want to sleep within nature itself. The furs she rolled in was part of it, and here in the refuge where there was no fear of anyone looking in on them Harry had created a skylight that allowed them to lie under the stars. Now the room was dark and quiet and the stars were out over her head and she wasn't sure what time, or indeed what day it was.

As feeling came back to her body she felt the weight of an arm across her hip, a heavy familiar weight that made her smile. Slowly she lifted her hand a little, her muscles feeling tense as if she hadn't used them in some time and laid her hand over his arm feeling the heat coming from his skin. His warmth helped settle the nerves that had been churning in her stomach, but as she turned her head away from the side he was lying on she expected to see Lilah. When all she could see was an empty side of the bed she frowned, she knew what Lilah was like, she didn't leave the bed simply because Harry had slipped onto it. On the contrary she would often curl herself right across the both of them seeking skin touch and comfort from both her friends at the same time.

Pushing that worry from her mind for a moment she reached out for Harry instead and delved her fingers into his hair. She stroked them through it a few times until she felt him shift and wake beside her. Slowly he lifted his head from her shoulder and looked directly into her eyes, his own glowing slightly in the darkness.

"Hey," he whispered out his voice slightly croaky with sleep.

"Hey," she replied and smiled as she watched him roll away slightly and stretch.

She could see every muscle in his body ripple as he stretched and she felt her mouth go dry with it. Swallowing hard she pushed down the feelings that were rushing to flood her, even as her cat uncurled herself and rubbed against the inside of her skin.

It was then that she caught an odd feeling in her body, not just the after echo of the heat she had felt but something more. Her cat was very satisfied with herself but Ginny had no idea what was giving the leopard such a satisfied and smug attitude. She could feel an almost sense of discord in her own body and it was unnerving. Obviously sensing her distress Harry reached out for her his hand spreading over her stomach to splay wide against the heat of her skin.

"Are you alright love?" he asked as she scooted up the bed until she was looking up into his face as he hovered over her.

"What happened Harry?" she whispered as she reached up to push his hair out of his face, "I remember being tired, Lilah lying down with me and then…" she paused as her body flashed with heat and she shivered, "and then heat drowning me."

Harry reached up and smoothed his hand over her forehead chasing away the worry that had creased it. He had known she would wake without any idea of what had taken her, she had been so power drunk that he knew her memories would be weak and fuzzy.

"I wish I could answer all of your questions love, but I really don't know what happened," he paused as her eyes collided with his and he could see the slight tinge of fear in the very depths, "I got here after it started but babe you were power drunk. I was just about able to get Lilah out before I got pulled in."

Ginny rolled then and noted how her body protested it, she winced a little as she moved her thigh up over his hip and straightened out her leg seeking some relief from the cramp in her thigh and calf. Without her having to ask Harry reached down and began massaging her leg as she chewed over his words.

"And when you say 'pulled in' you mean before I threw myself at you right?" she asked and he simply nodded not sure what to say.

Closing her eyes Ginny tried hard to gather her thoughts enough to find the memories she knew were buried in her mind. As she struggled against the tide she caught flashes, the feel of Harry pressing into her body, his heat as he blanketed her body but there was others. Softer skin under hers, slender fingers tangling into her hair and soft plump lips melding to hers. With a gasp her eyes flew open and before Harry could reach for her she was out of the bed and striding across the room.

The moment her feet had hit the carpet she had felt the weakness in her body but she wouldn't give into it. In a few easy strides she was out of the door with Harry scrambling to catch up to her, but she didn't care she needed to see Lilah now. The corridor she slipped into was silent and she didn't expect anything other than that in the middle of the night, plus the fact that only a few select people had rooms here. Blair's were just down the hall from Harry's and hers, though he did have a full residence on the outskirts of refuge land, and a few others that were in the inner circle were probably asleep right now. Lilah's room was right at the end of the corridor, tucked into the very outside of the building, close to the trees just as she liked it.

Ginny didn't pause as she reached the door and simply pushed into the room, skidding to a halt at the sight in front of her. Lilah was sprawled naked across her bed, nothing strange there, except for the man she was sprawled over. It took Ginny a moment to realise that it was Bastian, the Tom shifter Harry had introduced her to, and she gasped. Off all the men she had expected to find in her friend's bed this certainly wasn't it. The sound of her gasp made the occupants of the bed stir a little and though Bastian simply settled deeper into the bed Lilah lifted her head and turned to look at Ginny. Her eyes caught the dim light of the hallway behind Ginny and bounced it back so that they glowed orange for a moment.

"Gin," Lilah whispered out her voice raspy with sleep.

Ginny turned meaning to leave her friend to what was obviously her own business, but Lilah detangled herself from the bed and pounced at her. Ginny felt her heart skip as Lilah wrapped herself around her, she had been so worried that the memories she had dug up would have meant she had lost Lilah. Lilah was a life line that she needed so desperately some times, but she also knew that she didn't give the woman everything she needed.

Lilah purred as Ginny ran her hands over her hair and buried her face against her neck breathing in her familiar scent.

"Are you alright?" Lilah whispered and Ginny shook her head.

"I don't know, something doesn't feel right and Lilah I had no idea what I was doing," Lilah pulled back and saw the unshed tears shinning in Ginny's eyes.

"Oh Gin please don't cry," and before Ginny could say anything else Lilah pressed her lips into Ginny's.

It wasn't a soft kiss that they had shared before, it was demanding and Ginny could do nothing but wield to it. Her mind flashed with more memories of earlier, of the feel of her thigh pressed between Lilah's legs and the need that had rode her body as she had searched for some kind of release that had only come when Harry had arrived. When Lilah pulled back she smiled down at Ginny as she pressed her forehead against hers and they simply held each other.

"There's nothing to forgive and I wouldn't give it to you anyway even if you'd have asked," Ginny frowned a little at that but Lilah pressed on, "there are some barriers I know you won't willingly cross, I could have fought you more Gin. I could have scrambled from that bed but I took advantage of the moment, yes I called for Harry but I wanted that little bit of you while I could have it," Lilah shivered as Harry's power washed over her as he finally let himself be known.

The feel of his fur caressed over her skin and she had to suppress the need to turn to him. She knew for a fact that neither of them realised how alluring they were, that they were so wrapped up in each other that they didn't know the needs they brought out of the people around them. Ginny was everything pure and light, she was love personified, but Harry, Harry was power. Lilah could taste it in the very air she breathed whenever he was around and it was a hard thing for woman and cat to ignore. She begrudged her best friends nothing, but she wished they could feel what they did to her sometimes.

Stepping back Lilah turned to the bed finding that Bastian was awake and watching the scene silently. She knew she had used him, that what Ginny had roused in her had needed an outlet and he had been the closest at hand, but there was more to him. He had felt her desperation and had given of himself willingly without demanding much in return. With a smile to her friends she moved back to the bed and crawled up it to rest against Bastian, even as she felt both Harry's and Ginny's power crawl across her skin. She gasped a little and buried her head against Bastian's shoulder for a moment before she looked to Ginny once more and smiled.

"I don't know what's happening love, but in the morning when we're all well rested I will help you work it out I promise."

Ginny nodded, feeling calmer now that she knew her friend wasn't angry at her and after whispering her goodnights slipped from the room.

For a moment Bastian simply stared at the doorway where the two extremely power shifters had been stood and then he turned to the female that had wrapped herself around him.

"They don't understand do they?" he whispered and Lilah turned her eyes up to him with a small smile and a shake of her head.

"How can you stand it, Ginny stood in that doorway, she almost glowed with need. And then when Harry joined her, damn I wanted to jump them both and I don't do guys," he laughed and Lilah's smile deepened.

"I handle it because I love them, and because they don't realise. They need protecting, even more now that Ginny is obviously having problems and I will do anything to keep them safe," Lilah lowered her head to his shoulder as Bastian thought over her words even as he felt her hand dip across his abdomen and show him how much she was aroused by the power that had drenched them.


Ginny curled onto the bed and Harry pulled the covers over her until they were tucked under her chin and she was cacooned in warmth. He could feel her tiredness beating at him, knew all she wanted was to succumb to its pull and sleep but still her eyes remained open as she starred at the wall.

"Talk to me breeze what can I do?" he asked as he nuzzled at her neck from behind as he wrapped an arm around her stomach and pulled her back until her back was pressed against his chest and she was seated against his bent legs.

With a sigh she wiggled a little to get more comfortable and he had to bite the inside of his cheek to stop a moan from spilling from his lips.

"I don't know what's going on, you leaving caused a cascade of effects that I just don't get. I can understand the pull to be together, and the mind blowing sex when we did come together, but what was earlier? Why did the power consume me and pull at me to do things I would never do."

Harry could hear the distress in her voice and all he wanted to do was wipe it away even though it was out of his power to do so at that moment.

"Stop worrying for now, Lilah is fine, I'm here with you in case it happens again. I can feel how tired you are give yourself a chance to rest and I'll get Blair to bring a healer by in the morning. Maybe they will be able to get to the bottom of what's going on."

Ginny nodded and with a sigh she let her head drop to the pillow as Harry ran his hand over the side of her head and down her neck caressing her hair in a soothing stroke. He felt the moment her body stopped fighting and she gave herself over to sleep and it was only as he was sure she wouldn't wake again that he let himself relax and let sleep tug him under also.


The healer sat at the edge of the bed watching Ginny, as Ginny sat tucked into the covers watching her. She was glad that it wasn't someone like Sarah that had been called, but she wasn't sure about the woman that was watching her silently. Celine was a healer that worked with Blair closely, she had been there at the castle to help the shifters heal themselves after the battle, but she was also someone Ginny had barely said two words to. She knew Blair trusted the woman completely and that was the only reason that she hadn't moved away from the room when she had come in. Harry was busy explaining everything that had happened recently, but Ginny wasn't really paying attention, her eyes and hearing all for Celine. She could feel the power from the woman crawling over her skin and knew that she was testing Ginny in some way but she just didn't know what way.

Feeling more and more uncomfortable under the steady gaze of the healer Ginny pulled her knees up and wrapped her arms around them as she rested her cheek against one knee, her eyes never leaving Celine's.

"I'm not really sure what to make of everything you've said. I know all about the hormonal fluctuations in a bonded couple when they are separated. That often leads to the need to mate once you are together again, as it releases the hormones and reaffirms the bond, but the rest of it is most unusual."

Celine finally tore her eyes from Ginny to look at Harry and Ginny dared a chance to look at her mate. He looked tired and she knew he had been feeding her power to help steady her, and that he had spent most of the night up watching her. He wouldn't admit it but she knew what he was like. As she looked back at the healer she realised the woman was back watching her with a little frown.

"Alright Ginny I have thoughts floating around in my head right now that just can't be true so I need you to answer some questions for me ok?" Ginny nodded and Celine turned slightly until she could look her square on.

"When was your last period?" her voice was steady as she asked and Ginny could practically feel the weight of it against her skin.

"Maybe four weeks ago, I'm not steady and with all the travelling I tend to lose track," she replied and Celine nodded frowning a little as she thought.

"And Harry is the only person you've had sexual intercourse with in the last two months?" her voice was steady as she asked but Ginny felt a stab of anger flood her body and as she lowered her knees and straightened out she let Celine see the anger she had roused.

"Of course, not that it's any of your business but Harry is the only person I've ever slept with, full stop," her voice was clipped and short she knew but the woman had rattled her.

"I can see the truth of your words but this just doesn't explain what's happening," she frowned again and Ginny was starting to get a really bad feeling, "can you lie back so that I can examine you?"

Ginny flicked her eyes to Harry who simply nodded even if his face didn't give anything away. Ginny had felt his echoing anger and annoyance at Celine's words but he was better at schooling his features than she was.

Scooting down the bed a little she laid back and let the woman pull the fur from her body. She was only wearing a tank top and some shorts, bed attire she wore when she was at home at the burrow but something she had felt more comfortable in for meeting a new person. She watched as Celine closed her eyes and held her hands over Ginny a few inches above her body. Ginny could see her whispering and knew she was casting a spell of some kind, she could also feel the power sliding over her body and it made her feel a little dizzy. Celine began moving her hands starting at the top of her head and working down. She paused when she reached just over Ginny's heart and Gin knew she could feel the bond magic that she shared with Harry. She paused again when she reached just over her belly button frowning for a moment as she obviously tried to figure something out.

"I'm having a little trouble reading you Ginny, but that isn't unusual when it comes to mated pairs. You all tend to have your very own bubble of magic protections, and yours is the strongest I have ever felt. I can tell you that the bond between Harry and you is very strong, though that was never in question," she smiled at Ginny and Gin tried hard to return it, "I can't feel any illness that would cause problems, your body is slightly out of balance though."

She lowered her hand to the side then and cast another spell and Harry watched as glowing golden runes appeared over Ginny's body and the healer leaned in to read them puzzling them over. With another wave of her wand they were gone again, and Harry stepped up closer to Ginny reaching for her hand now that he knew his own power wouldn't interfere with the diagnostics Celine was running.

"Like I said the balance in your body is out. We all know well the heat the bond can push a mated pair into but this seems more. Usually it would balance out once the hormones were slacked with that initial sexual encounter when you came back together," Ginny swallowed but didn't say anything, she wouldn't show anything that would make someone think she was ashamed of what her and Harry did, even if talking about it still made her embarrassed.

"But in your case my dear that hormonal imbalance hasn't been rectified. It seems to be slacking, so what I would suggest is that Harry and you stay in your room, take some mate time. If you try to separate, even for a few moments, it could cause another magical backlash like earlier."

Celine turned to Harry who was frowning and gave him a soft smile reaching out to pat him on the arm.

"Take some time Harry, all of the problems will still be there in a week, but you need to take care of your mate," Harry nodded as his jaw clenched and Ginny sat up so that she could wrap her arms around his waist and bury her face against his hip.

For a moment he was still and then his hand came up to stroke down her hair in a soothing familiar gesture that settled her nerves.

With a smile Celine headed for the door only pausing once she had opened it and moved to step out, "things should be fine in a week or so, but I can't predict it. You two are the most powerful bonded pair that we have had in some time. Some of my information might be out, with your permission I'd like to talk to some of the other healers in the other communities. I won't mention any names, no one will know it's you, but they might have some tidbit that I don't know that will help."

Once again Ginny pulled back so that she could look up at Harry and watched as he gazed at Celine for a moment and then finally gave her a terse nod. With that she slipped out of the room closing the door softly behind her.

For a moment the room was silent and Ginny could feel Harry's emotions rolling off him in waves, though they were a jumbled mess that she just couldn't read at the moment. Finally he looked down at her and she could see that his emotions had brought his cat out, his eyes were the bright golden green that she loved so much though they were hooded right not.

"I'm so sorry Gin," his words rocked her for a moment, having not expected them.

"What, why?" she asked as she shifted back so that he could drop onto the bed next to her.

"This is my fault, when we got back I promised you rest and I just didn't give it to you. I should have given you more time, instead I separated us and caused this to happen."

Ginny reached for him and Harry made to move back but she simply clutched his top and pulled him closer to her, "and pulling away now is going to help how?" she asked and with a sigh he rolled onto the bed wrapping his arms around her so that he could pull her in to lean against his chest.

For a little while they simply stayed like that cuddled together, Harry's fingers training through Ginny's hair. She snuggled into the feel of his fingers soaking in the comfort that she needed already feeling her emotions levelling out.

"Can we stay at the refuge for a few days, maybe just relax?" she asked as she lifted her head to look at him.

He scanned his eyes over her face looking for any sign of apprehension and when he didn't he nodded and she smiled.

"Please don't treat me like glass Harry, that's one of the things I always love about you, you know my strength remember that please," she said as she detangled herself and slipped from the bed.

He watched as she padded across the room, stripping off her clothes as she went until she was completely bare as she slipped into the bathroom. Harry felt the familiar hunger spill through his body but he didn't move to follow her, he could sense she needed a moment to gather herself. Instead he reclined back against the pillows and thought about what to do for the next few days. He needed to show Gin she was number one, but without smothering her.

When Ginny slipped from the bathroom Harry was stood next to a cart of food helping himself. She didn't question where he got the food from, she knew what he was like, the way people were around him. Instead of saying anything she simply slipped up beside him and snagged a sandwich taking a bite as she circled around him.

"So what are we doing today?" she asked as she took a bite and lifted her eyes to his face.

For a moment he simply stared at her, his eyes roving over her every feature, before he reached out snagged her and pulled her against his body. He buried his face against her hair breathing her in and then stepped her back so that he could press a kiss to her forehead.

"Nothing, that's what we're doing today. You heard Celine, we're both going to be home bodies until you feel right again and I don't care how long it takes."

Ginny could hear the resolve in his voice and knew that he would broach no arguments on this one, and she didn't want to argue. He was partially right, though she would never blame him, but he had promised her some couple time and now that it was practically doctor ordered then she wasn't going to argue.

Crossing the room she stripped off the towel she had wrapped around herself as she went, instantly feeling Harry's heated gaze on her skin and slipped back onto the bed pulling the thick fur blankets around her. As she snuggled down into them she watched as Harry's jaw worked a sure sign he was fighting with himself and she couldn't help but grin at his discomfort.

"Does this bed rest involve food, because I'm starving," she said as she pulled the fur to wrap it around her shoulders.

She couldn't help but sigh as the fur heated around her and she settled into it enjoying the feel against her bare skin immensely. Harry indicated to the cart of fruit he had been picking at with a shrug and she turned to it. Glancing at the cart of food and shook her head, there wasn't anything there that she wanted. With a shake of his head Harry padded across the room to drop a kiss on her forehead.

"I wont be a minute," pulling back he strode across the room and slipped out of the room.

Ginny knew he wouldn't be going far so she settled back against the bed and simply let her mind tumble with everything that had happened in the last few days.


A/N I want to say thank you to everyone who has reviewed my little old story, 17 reviews for the last chapter is truly spectacular. I was really worried people wouldn't like the way the story dipped. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and that I'm keeping you on your toes. Can't wait to hear what all of you think.