Harry caught up to Ginny quickly, but he didn't do anything when he did he just moved close to her so she knew he was there if she needed him.
She growled low in her throat and he could tell she was close to the edge, "how dare he say that to me. Of all the people I would have thought he would understand, he has Hermione after all," she spat and started pacing away from the house.
Harry was acutely aware of the wards around the Burrow and knew she couldn't go through them not after what Arthur had said, but he didn't say anything as she turned and seemed to walk the boundary line. After a few moments of walking he smiled faintly as she moved realising she was most definitely walking the exact boundary line which meant she could feel where the power was. Not ever witch or wizard would have been able to feel the wards until they walked smack into them, but Ginny could which meant she was powerful. He made a mental note to talk to Sirius when he could, but for the moment he just kept pace with her not saying anything.
Soon enough she ran out of steam and turned to look at him her eyes still blazing with anger.
"Why are you not angry?" she asked in an accusing tone her arms crossing across her chest as she lifted her chin.
Harry had to bite back the smile as he watched his little fighter getting ready to square up to him, "oh don't worry I am, you missed the whole me threatening your brother with bodily harm if he ever upset you again," he said this time unable to hold back the smile as she looked a little shocked.
"Oh, ok," she said as her body relaxed and her arms dropped to her side.
With a soft smile Harry walked forwards to pull her into a hug, placing a kiss gently against her hair. She sighed heavily as her body melted against his but he could feel the tension leaving her body as he held her. He rubbed his hand over her back slowly, feeling the muscles there unbunch. They stood like that for a moment and then she lifted her face so he could see her eyes and was happy to meet the warm amber of her human eyes. She smiled faintly at him and he ducked his head so he could kiss her.
Ginny wrapped herself in the warmth of Harry, chasing back all the pain Ron had brought up. Off all the things for him to accuse her off she never thought she would hear that. He hadn't even let her explain that this had been coming from the very moment she had laid eyes on Harry; he didn't want to hear that she very much believed she was falling in love with this man. She ached thinking about the way he had looking at her, as if she was filth, and try as she might to hang onto the anger all she felt was pain.
"Let's go back inside hay," he said finally and she nodded weakly.
Taking her hand in his he lead her back to the Burrow and her waiting family. He wasn't surprised to see that Ron wasn't there when they entered but was glad that Hermione was. When she spotted the couple she rushed forwards pulling Ginny into a hug and the two stood like that for a moment whispering to each other. Harry slipped away giving them some privacy and walked to stand with the twins.
Fred and George accepted his presence easily and Harry watched as the men grinned at each other.
"So scared the crap out of Ron did ya," Fred said finally and Harry chuckled.
"Guess I did," he said his eyes sliding back to Ginny who was now talking softly with her mother as Molly tended to the meal she was preparing.
"Hate to say it mate but you might have to expect more of the same. Not all our family is as cool as we are. Bill looks after Ginny like a second dad, and ever since Charlie came back because of the war Ginny's had him wrapped round her little finger. He still sees her as the innocent six year old he left behind," George said growing a little serious for a moment.
Harry stood silently watching Ginny as she tried so valiantly not to show her family the pain she was in. She would never admit how much Ron's words had actual hurt her but Harry could feel it and a resolve set into his body.
"They can say whatever they want to me, no one is ever getting between the two of us," he looked at both of them as he said this and then decided he needed to be nearer Ginny and with a whispered excuse me he slipped up besides her.
Fred and George watched the couple for a moment quietly, the way Ginny subtly moved to be nearer Harry. The way he watched her with careful but loving eyes. The way both of them seemed to know what the other was going to do before the other even made a move, it was amazing.
"When the hell did that happen?" George said and Fred frowned unsure of what he meant.
George flicked a hand dismissively at the sight in front of them, "When did Harry fall in love with our baby sister," he whispered and Fred simply turned back to watch realising what his twin had discovered was true.
Soon Molly had prepared enough food to feed and army and the group settled around the table to eat. Bill and Arthur got stuck straight in as the twins bantered on about something or another. Hermione sat next to Ginny, her eyes constantly sliding to her friend and every now and then she would frown in worry. Ginny tried her best to ignore all the looks she was getting from everyone but Harry and ate almost silently. Harry tried his hardest to be polite and chat with the assembled people but it was hard since he could feel Ginny's pain beating at him.
When the dinner wrapped up Ginny and Hermione helped Molly clean the mess up, no one mentioning the fact that Ron hadn't returned yet, and Harry managed to snag Arthur for a moment. The two of them sat in the living room facing each other and Harry was glad he had a moment with the man before things go to out of hand.
"I wanted to talk to you about Ginny," Harry simply said and the other man just nodded indicating for him to go on.
"Well sir, she and I, well I don't really know what she and I are. But I do know I care for her a lot and I won't let anyone hurt her," he said feeling a little stupid at how weak that sounded.
Care for didn't even cover how he felt about Ginny, but saying more before he had a chance to talk to her alone didn't seem right. Arthur simply nodded and Harry could tell he was thinking things over.
"My daughter has never had it easy son," he said finally and Harry looked up to meet his gaze, "Molly and I blamed ourselves for that in the beginning, but there's nothing we could do to change what was. Frankly I wouldn't want to, my daughter is a miracle and I love every breath she takes."
He paused for a moment sitting back in his chair and studied the man sat in front of him. Harry was so serious, so very powerful, and had so very much on his shoulders he couldn't even begin to understand what it was like being the young man. But he could see the difference in him from when he had first arrived, especially when Ginny was nearby.
"I think that whatever you have will be good for the both of you, Ginny needs someone to love all of her, and you need someone to love," he said and Harry sighed softly nodding.
Arthur smiled then and Harry couldn't help but return it, thankfully though he was saved from having to say anything else when Ginny bounced into the room looking a lot more like herself.
"Mum wants to know if you're staying," she said her eyes sliding to her dad before they returned to Harry's face.
Harry rose to his feet and pulled her into a hug wrapping his arms around her shoulders and pulling her so that her face was pressed against his chest.
"I think I might go back to Sirius' I'm sure mum will want a chat," he said laughing slightly at the face she pulled.
He pressed another kiss to her lips, conscious of the fact that Arthur was sat a few feet away from them. He stepped back slowly, his fingers sliding across her arm as he did so and she smiled.
"Yea I guess she probs wants to talk," she said nodding absently as her mind grew heavy at the thought of spending time away from him.
He sensed this fact and stepped close enough to her to press another kiss to her forehead, "I'll be back in the morning," he said before turning and disappearing.
Ginny sighed and slumped down on the settee with her father who smiled lightly at her as she did.
Arthur stood up not soon after brushing a kiss over his daughters head before he disappeared up the stairs to bed. Ginny sat alone for a little while until Hermione appeared.
"Can I join you," she asked and with a small smile Ginny nodded.
Hermione slumped down onto the couch next to her smiling softly for a moment before she turned to look away. She wanted to say so much to Ginny but she just didn't know where to start, not after what Ron had said. Without looking at her she reached out and gripped her hand neither girl looking to the other.
"I'm sorry about Ron Gin; I don't know where he gets it from sometimes but I know he'll be sorry even if he's still angry right now he'll be sorry soon. I also know you have every single right not to forgive him, but please think on it ok," she turned to look at Ginny then her eyes shining with unshed tears, "you are all the family I have at the moment and I love you," her voice caught and she looked away from her.
Ginny's heart went out to her instantly; she knew Hermione had had to send her family away to protect them. That she hadn't seen them in nearly three years, and that they didn't even know she had existed. Taking a breath Ginny lunged and wrapped her arms around Hermione's shoulders pulling her friends back against her chest. She nuzzled at her shoulder purring softly and Hermione laughed.
"I love you Mione, no matter what my brother does you will always be my sister," Hermione reached up and gripped Ginny's entwined fingers where they rested on her collar bone.
Ginny laid her head against Hermione's back sighing softly and they sat like that for a while both taking comfort from each other.
"Want to stay here with me tonight," Ginny asked suddenly and she felt the last tension leave Hermione's body as she nodded.
Ginny pulled away and Hermione turned to smile at her knowing that no matter what everything would be alright between the two of them. The two girls talked for a while about Harry and Ginny's relationship. Ginny told her all about the way he made her feel, the way he was the first person she had ever felt safe with to be herself. As they chatted Ginny relaxed back against the sofa relaxing.
"Have you seen Harry's panther face," she said suddenly and Hermione turned to frown at her.
"No, I've seen fur ripple along his skin, seen his eyes change," she shivered at the remembered anger in his eyes, "but I've not seen anything else."
Ginny smiled then closed her eyes as she let her leopard slink forwards and heard Hermione gasp as she felt fur crawl over her skin.
When she opened her eyes again her sight was sharper then before and she could see the shock in her friend eyes. Slowly Hermione reached out a hand and Ginny just watched as her hand slipped forwards, not moving knowing it would freak her out. Carefully Hermione pressed her palm to her cheek sucking in a breath as she felt the heat of the fur under her hand. Ginny smiled the cat in her very much liking the petting she was now receiving from Hermione. When Hermione realised what she was doing she blushed and dropped her hand into her lap. With a touch on concentration Ginny felt her face turn back to normal and she grinned at the other woman.
"Ginny I don't even know where to start with that," she paused shaking her head slightly then smiled, "that is truly amazing. So Harry can do that as well, is it a change you can do to your whole body," she said suddenly switching into knowledge mode.
Ginny laughed but started telling her all about their half forms, missing out how she managed to discover hers tough her cheeks did flush pink as she thought about it though. Hermione seemed to have a million questions and Ginny was happy to answer every one but soon enough the other girl slowed and then stopped and Ginny figured she was processing what she had been told. She was happy to sit in the silence and wait for her friend to catch up.
"Ginny did you hear Harry when he threatened Ron?" she asked suddenly pulling Ginny from her thoughts.
She turned frowning and shook her head; she had fled the Burrow very quickly knowing if she had stayed any longer than she had she was likely to murder her darling brother.
Hermione looked up at Ginny then a half formed smile on her lips but she still seemed a little worried about what she was about to say.
"Oh for god's sake Mione will you just spit it out already," Ginny laughed and Hermione's smile broke forwards properly.
"Well is just that of course Harry threatened Ron, and that alright," she said when Ginny went to say something stopping her short, "it's just well he called you, well that is to say he called you his mate," she said softly looking down at her hands folded in her lap.
Ginny heard what Hermione had said but it took her a moment to process it.
"His mate," she whispered and Hermione looked up with a half smile.
Huh, was all Ginny could think unable to process that one. She knew enough about the animal and shifter worlds to know that a chosen mate was extremely important to their partner. She thought over how that statement made her feel and realised this was what she wanted, and slowly a smile crept across her face.
She looked up at Hermione then and Mione noted that her eyes had gone cat but she didn't say anything, "I take it you're happy about this," she said laughing when Ginny nodded.
"I just wish the git had mentioned something to me before proclaiming it to my family," she said and both girls feel about laughing.
Harry wasn't surprised to find his mother waiting for him when he returned home; she always seemed to have radar when it came to him. She looked up at him her face blank and then back to the cup of coffee she held in her fingers. With a sigh Harry crossed the room to sit with her, taking a chair opposite hers so as to give her some space.
"How's Ginny?" she asked not looking at her son as she did.
"She's fine now," he said simply not sure what else to say.
Lily nodded but he could tell she wasn't happy about something. He wanted her to spit it out so he could get to bed, he was aching all over in a good way but he wanted to rest.
"I hope you haven't forgotten what is expected of you," she said suddenly her eyes turning up to take him in.
Harry felt a wave of anger ripple through his body but didn't say anything or show even a flicker of how he felt inside. He simply watched her blank face knowing that she hadn't finished.
"I understand your urges son, I know the pull she has on you but you can't forget what's at stake here."
Harry's knew his eyes blazed and that she'd be able to see it but he didn't care, "I thought you were the one that wanted to keep me from all of that mother," he said dryly.
Lily knew she was going about this all wrong, but she just couldn't seem to get her thoughts right in her head enough to say it to him. She didn't think Ginny was a bad thing, the exact opposite of that in fact, but she also knew her son very well. She knew that even for the love of a wonderful and beautiful woman, he wouldn't turn his back on what he knew was his destiny. She was worried that Ginny would act more as a distraction to him, a pawn that certain forces could use against him but she didn't know how to express that.
Before she could get all of that out though Harry rose to his feet and walked calmly across the room turning only when he reached the door to look at her.
"I'm going to bed, I'll be up and out early so no use getting anything ready for me," with that he turned on his heel and headed to bed.
Crap, she thought knowing that it couldn't have gone much worse but she didn't know what to do to fix it yet so with a sigh she downed the last of her drink and headed up to bed herself.