A/N a day later than I wanted to get it up but then again it's up none the less. Hope everyone is enjoying the ride and I would love to hear what people would like to see in the next chapters. I have a road in my head but I think it might be worth spliting into more than one story. On that note enjoy and let me know what you all think! :)
Harry watched Ginny as she moved down the hallway; almost floating she was so at peace. He knew the peace wouldn't last, that it was superficial at best but he wanted her to hold onto it for as long as possible. As he moved with her he could feel her presence singing to him through their bond, a bond that had almost melted away, but thankfully it seemed to have come back tenfold. He could feel every molecule of his body being pulled towards her and he didn't want to fight it. He could feel more than just her though.
Spending time with the other shifters like he had, completely without defences, something about them had sunk into his skin. He could feel their tug, feel them in his cells and he knew it was a call he would have to answer eventually, but for the moment he had to concentrate on one war at a time. He needed to defeat Voldermort before he could ever even think of taking anything else on.
For the moment though he put all thoughts of wars and battles aside knowing that he and Ginny faced enough trouble outside. As they reached the bottom of the stairs he could hear voices out in the garden and knew that her family had gathered out there. When they hit the kitchen she stopped and reached back for his hand, he was there instantly wrapping her small hand in his, still awed at the feel of her fingers in his own. She seemed so dainty so breakable but he knew she had a core of steel, so taking her hand he let her lead him outside.
They emerged from the back door to find that someone had strung up lights to illuminate the dark back garden. There was a large table draped in a white linen cloth and her family, along with a few others were scattered around it laughing and joking. It seemed that Molly had decided since they had to stay outside that she would make a game of it.
Lily's eyes snapped up as soon as emerged and she stood but didn't move away from the table. It seemed as if she was stuck on what her next move should be so she didn't move at all. Ginny and Harry walked hand in hand across the grass until they entered the circle of light stopping at the foot of the table. By this point everyone had turned to look at them.
Hermione caught Ginny's eye from where she sat tucked in next to Ron and she beamed at her friend, Gin could see the worry at the edge of her eyes but it softened as Hermione took in the couple together.
"I'm sorry we kicked you out of your own home," Harry simply said breaking into the silence that had fallen.
Molly was up and out of her seat then circling around the table to stand in front of the both of them. She reached out and gripped a hand each from Harry and Ginny squeezing them in her small grip.
"I am so glad to see the both of you," she whispered and Ginny didn't fail to hear the hitch in her mother's voice.
"Oh mum," she whispered and then she was wrapping her mother in a tight hug and Harry placed his hand on Molly's hair.
Molly's actions seemed to break the silence and the other stepped forwards from the table. Lily was at the head and she practically threw herself at Harry. He caught her easily in his grip and pulled her against him in a crushing hold. He heard the soft sniff as she started to cry and he pressed his cheek to her head.
"I knew you weren't dead, everything in me knew it," she whispered over and over until he soothed her enough for her to be able to pull back.
When she did he pressed a kiss to her cheek feeling the moisture there that she quickly wiped away with the back of her sleeve.
When Harry's eyes found Ginny again she was in the middle of a twin sandwich laughing lightly. He smiled at the joy in her face knowing her family's acceptance was the best thing for her. Before he could move to her thought Arthur caught his arm pulling him slightly to the side.
"I want you to know that I saw everything that happened on that battle field," Harry felt his stomach drop and rushed to say something but Arthur held his hand up stilling him, "I saw that you were lost Harry, but out of all of that the thing that sticks we me most is this," Arthur's eyes flashed to his daughter where she was now being hugged by Bill, "you could have easily killed Ginny that night. She was a small obstacle against your power, and yet when you realised what was happening, when you returned from the darkness that had taken you," he turned to look up at Harry and Harry could barely breathe, "you chose her, chose her over your own life. I saw that power Harry saw the destruction. It should have destroyed you both, and yet here you are. You chose her Harry and I know for better or worse you will always chose to protect and love my daughter," he patted Harry on the arm with a soft sad smile and then he was gone turning to pull Ginny into a tight hug.
Harry wasn't sure how to respond, didn't know if the rest of them knew exactly what had happened that night. He watched Arthur as he whispered something in Ginny's ear that made her smile and then she was pressing a kiss to his cheek and they were laughing together. He scanned the faces of the people gathered and realised that they didn't know what had happened, that Arthur had kept his quiet on what had taken place and he was thankful. He didn't want these people who were fast becoming important to him to look at him in fear.
Once again before he could make his way back to Ginny he was caught by another Weasley and not the one he had expected.
"Glad to see you back mate," Ron said pulling his attention to were the man was stood with Hermione wrapped around him.
"Thanks," he simply replied not really sure what to say when it came to Ron.
Ron sighed rubbing his hand over his face, "I'm still not a hundred per cent alright with this thing between Ginny and you," he looked down at Hermione as she looked up at him and smiled softly, "but who am I to stand against what is obviously love. Gin was shattered without you Harry, make sure it doesn't happen again," he finished and detangling himself from Hermione walked over to the little group that had enveloped his sister.
Hermione chuckled as she walked forward so she could stand next to Harry as he watched the family. Leaning her head lightly against his shoulder she was surprised when she felt the tension leave his body. She wasn't a touchy feely person herself but she knew shifters lived for it, and she was glad that in that moment he was allowing her to give him comfort.
"Don't mind Ron, that's the best you're going to get in a way of an apology for how he's been acting. But you not going to get any more trouble from him," she laughed lightly at the thought that Ron could ever give Harry trouble.
She was a little startled when she felt Harry's arm slide around her shoulder and then even more shocked when she felt him press a kiss to her hair.
"Thank you Mione," he whispered and then he was moving away leaving her smiling broadly.
Ginny's eyes locked on Harry as he approached and she moved subtly so that he could slip up beside her and wrap her in his arms. He pulled her back against his body his arms wrapped around her so that his hands rested lightly on her stomach, on hand splayed out wide so his palm was hot against her. She sighed into his touch and leaned her head back against his shoulder. Things grew quiet around them again, but this time it was a peaceful quiet and when she looked around she could see her family were chatting lightly.
A little time later it was decided that everyone would stay at the Weasley home that night. Bill and Fleur headed up to bed fairly early, Fleur feeling more tired than anyone else. Charlie didn't last much longer disappearing upstairs half an hour later and soon enough everyone else was drifting up until it was just Harry, Hermione Ron and the twins left. Lily had happily accepted the room Molly had offered her and the two mothers had climbed the stairs together and with shrug of his shoulders Arthur had followed. Harry wasn't sure what had taken place between Molly and his mother but he was glad the tension was gone.
Now he was sat in front of the fire leaning against an arm chair with Ginny curled in his lap her head resting lightly on his shoulder. Hermione was tucked up against Ron on the sofa and the twins had taken an arm chair each. There was a lazy air about and more than one yawn passed through the group but nobody wanted to break it up yet.
"So," Fred sais suddenly pulling Harry's attention from the flickering flames, "what's next?"
Harry knew exactly what the man meant and shaking his head he replied, "I'm not really sure." For most of his life things had been crystal clear for him, his path laid out and set in stone. All of a sudden though everything had changed the woman he held in his arms the lynch pin to all of that. She tightened his grip on her and she snuggled closer her warmth a comfort to his panther.
"We still have work to do before we can go up against Voldermort," Gin said and then yawned and with a sheepish smile she pressed a kiss to Harry's jaw, "but every day the last battle draws closer," her words dropped into the silence like a weight and Harry could help but feel it pressing on his chest.
"Well whatever I next, we are here to help," Hermione said reaching out so she could grip Harry's shoulder with a tender smile, "you're not alone in this."
"Here here," George said making Ginny laugh but Harry couldn't say anything never had he had this many people willing to stand with him.
"Your loved, there's nothing else to it," Ginny whispered against his ear her lips feathering kisses over his skin," any of us will let you go without a fight
Harry pulled back slightly so he could look down at her, until he could see the leopard prowling behind her eyes and smiled.
"Not alone, not anymore," he said before capturing her lips.