A/N Hello peeps and peepettes hopefully life's been treating you well. I think I'm rapidly coming to the end of my story which I'm both happy about and sad to see. Happy cause my brain has been skittering away to other projects and it will be nice to have another completed under my belt, sad because I'm really loving this Harry and Ginny. I have a feeling though that this story won't be the last we see of them... anyway hope you enjoy and I hope I can get my brain around the last battle (that always seem to suck whenever i try lol) so yeah read and review! xx
Harry felt the moment that something new passed onto the grounds of Hogwarts, something that hadn't set foot here in some time if ever at all, it was a power that he had not been expecting to follow his call. Looking up he looked out at the darkness as if he could see them moving towards him, and he could definitely feel it.
Turning he caught Ginny's eye and she instantly climbed to her feet ignoring the questions of her companions as she joined Harry at the window. His arm snaked out to pull her roughly against his side and she let him instinctively knowing that he needed the feel of her, she needed to feel him after all. He buried his face in her hair and breathed deeply taking in her scent for the millionth time. He could spend forever breathing that scent and his cat happily rolled in the feel of it as he took it into this mind.
"What is it Harry?" she asked finally unable to keep her worries silent.
"Someone's coming and I'm not sure who it is yet, I want you to hang back ok until I'm sure it's safe," he pulled back enough to see her frowning at him and he chuckled at the look his hand coming up to cup her cheek.
"I'm not leaving you behind I just want you to hang back a little," her frown deepened and he couldn't help but kiss the corner of her mouth, "please?"
She shivered at the feel of him whispering against her skin and simply nodded knowing that she couldn't say no to him.
He smiled as he moved back to look out of the window again, his eyes going blank for a moment and she realised that he was looking at something that none other could see. She felt the flare of power crawl over her skin and she shivered stepping against him as he let it pour over her skin. Merlin was she addicted to the feel of his power against her skin and she could feel her cat rising to the surface.
Just as she was about to do something she would more than likely regret in front of everyone harry turned as if he had heard something his eyes locking on the entrance to the great hall. Ginny turned in time to see a third year come skittering into the room her face flushed and looking deathly scared. Harry didn't even pause he was moving before anyone had even realised the girl had burst into the room in search of a teacher. She was moving off to where a few of the teachers were assembled but Harry ignored her he simply strode between the tables that were being moved back, and headed out into entry way.
"Harry!" Ginny called as a scream of fright ripped the air and suddenly everyone was moving as one.
Fighting back the fear that was building in her throat Ginny moved meaning to catch up to Harry but she was caught by the flood of people and they hampered her movements. Searching inside her mind she found Harry and found he was completely calm, but really that didn't tell her anything, he was like this at all times when there was a situation a foot. So she sent a pulse of love down the connection to let him know she was there and slowly fought her way through.
Harry felt Ginny moving in his mind and he pulled the sensations down into his chest, let her warmth soak him as he approached the double doors that had been bared. Sinking into the castle power he moved the bars back and people that had been in the entryway skittered back, some having already seen the figures as they walked across the courtyard were already fearful. Harry blocked it all out, feeding the emotions of those around him into the void as he centred on the power to open the door, and the feel of the approaching people. His skin tingled as he felt a familiar caress but he didn't let it swamp him, it could be one of many one of which he well and truly didn't want here anywhere near his mate.
When the doors opened it was to show a group of about twenty climbing the steps all wearing hooded black cloaks that masked their identities completely. Harry wasn't surprised as he heard screams behind him, but he knew these were death eaters, these were potentially a new threat altogether. Stepping forwards he stood in the middle of the entry way, his hands behind his back and his legs braced apart encase someone threw a curse at him. Letting go his power rippled along his skin and he felt a flex of fur before it receded. As he curled his fists he also felt the bite of claws, his cat letting him know he was ready for the fight. But he didn't move he simply waited as they climbed the steps and stopped just inside the doors.
So far the magic around his was just more confused than anything, since these were creatures that it knew but hadn't had many interactions with. Harry on the other hand knew the feel of them so completely that his cat stopped pacing and perked its ears up.
Just then one of the figures broke from the ranks and walked forwards in front of the others obviously their leader. Harry felt the moment that Ginny broke through the assembled crowd but she hung back and he was glad, the feel of her at his back was both soothing and distracting and he knew he couldn't have her closer to these people before he knew exactly what they wanted.
"Reveal yourself," Harry said simply feeling the power in his own words and hearing the base rumble of his cat.
Hands slipped from the folds of cloak revelling hands wrapped in black gloves and they moved to push back the hood. People all around him gasped but harry simply observed as a man in his early thirties with skin black as mahogany revelled himself.
Instantly Harry felt the worry in his bones slip from him, this was definitely the best outcome that he could hope for. Taking a step he closed the gap between himself and the man and reached out his arm in a warrior's greeting that the man returned.
"It is good to see you Blair," Harry said as he gripped the man's arm and smiled.
Blair returned the smile and behind them Ginny caught the glint of his eyes in the candle light.
They stood in the greeting for a moment and then Blair waved his arm and the cloaked figures around them stepped forwards and as one swept back their hoods revelling people that Ginny had never met but Harry seemed to know.
Harry turned then his eyes locking on to her without searching and gestured for her to come forwards. She slipped from the assembled wizards and witches and walked confidently forwards until Harry pulled her against his side so she had no choice but to wrap her arm around his back or be pulled off her feet. Blair watched quickly as she approached and then appraised her as she stood wrapped around Harry.
"So this is your mate," Blair said dipping his head in greeting which Ginny returned.
"She is," Harry said simply, but Ginny knew there something more to this that she as missing.
Blair stepped back from the couple then and turned to his companions who walked forwards. Harry smiled when he saw the girl move up next to Blair, her eyes down cast as she fidgeted with the edge of her cloak. Ginny guessed she couldn't be more than fifteen, with tight golden curls pulled back from her face in a ponytail.
"Is that really the greeting a get Lucy," Harry said and Ginny was surprised to hear laughter in his voice as he let her go so she could stand on her feet steadily.
The girl, Lucy, looked up then and Ginny had a flash of large sapphire eyes before the girl threw herself at Harry wrapping her arms around his neck so that he could lift her from the floor and crush her against him in a hug that left her squealing.
"That's more like it," he laughed and Ginny simply stared dumb founded.
She had never seen Harry like this with anyone but her, but she knew instinctively that this girl was no threat in that way, they way Harry looked at her was like a big brother.
When he put her down he pressed a kiss to her cheek and she snuggled into him, rubbing her race against his chest, and Ginny knew the gesture instantly. She was scent marking him, a very cat move, and then it hit her why these people all felt so familiar and her eyes widened.
"Yep breeze you've got a pack of cats at your back," Harry said as he trailed his hand over Lucy's hair and Ginny watched as she nuzzled into the caress.
Turning Ginny looked at the assembled people as they stood passively and she realised they were all watching her waiting for her reaction. She felt a pulse of love down the bond and turned to find Harry holding his hand to her. She instantly reached a hand out to slip into his touch and he pulled her forwards so that he could bury his face against her hair.
"These are loyal cats that Blair has assembled. I know a few and others I have only heard of but I trust them," she shivered as she felt his lips against her pulse point but didn't move, "they trust me and know what I'm capable of but they don't know you Breeze you need to show them what you are for them to accept you."
Pulling back she looked up into his emerald eyes and saw the understanding there. He knew she was still hidden from everyone but family and close friends and this wasn't going to be an easy move for her. She turned then looking at the crowd of people that had gathered but not moved forwards, students, teacher, wizards and witches all watching them.
"Don't hide anymore breeze," Harry whispered and she shivered as she felt his power wash over her skin and then she was smothered by the feel of fur under her fingertips.
Leaning down he nuzzled against her face as she heard the gasps and cries from behind her and knew exactly what they were seeing.
When he moved back she was looking into his beautiful cat face and she felt her own cat stalking in her mind demanding to be released. She looked back again and this time she saw her family all of them smiling at her with love and understanding. Turning back to Harry she watched as the girl still pressed to him turned her head up and then she was looking at a cat that had bright golden fur and strips of a deeper gold.
"Little tabby," Harry laughed as he ran a furred finger over her nose to which Lucy started purring.
Ginny turned in time to see the others drop their cloaks to the floor and shift, each of them showing their half form. Eventually she was the only one stood in a crowd of cats and her skin was singing with the need to change. Taking a breath she glanced at her mother who simply nodded and then she was shifting. This gained more gasps as people knew who she was even if they didn't know who Harry and these people were. When she opened her eyes again Harry was smiling at her and he detangled himself from Lucy so that he could gather her against his body. Burying his face in her neck again she felt his teeth there and shivered as he publicly claimed her in front of his assembled people.
When he lifted his head she felt a tentative hand on her arm and she turned to find Lucy smiling at her as she rubbed her hand over Ginny's furred arm.
"So pretty," Lucy whispered and Ginny couldn't help but grin.
Soon all of the cats were surrounding both Harry and her and she felt hands caress over her skin, hot and gentle in their touch and she realised she was being welcomed by them. she watched as Harry ran his hands over peoples hair, touched their faces, hands arms, anything he could reach and then almost of their own accord her hands were moving to mirror his. One woman nuzzled her face against hers and Ginny closed her eyes marvelling at the feel of it as a man moved to run his fingers over her hair. Harry only growled once when one of the more exuberant young men tried to venture his hands into areas that were Harry's and Harry's alone, but it was in a good natured way.
Soon they were stepping back and Ginny felt the cool touch of their magic as they shifted back and she followed suit until it was only Lucy tucked happily against Harry in her cat half form. With a chuckle Harry rubbed behind her ear and had her purring quickly.
"Little tabby let's play nice ok," he said as he tilted her chin up so she was looking him in the eyes and the girl simply smiled and melted back to her human form.
Harry turned to Blair then, the playfulness slipping from his face as the seriousness of their predicament fell around them.
"I hope you understand what you're walking into old friend," Harry said addressing Blair who simply nodded.
"We know Harry and we're with you," one of the younger shifters said as she stepped around a man that gave of obvious mate vibes.
She squeezed his arm as she moved but he didn't let her out of his sight, his eyes for her and any perceived danger only. Harry reached out and ran his thumb over her cheekbone in a soft caress and Ginny watched as the males face tightened though he didn't say anything and turning back to Harry she found that he wasn't looking at the girl but at her mate.
"I am glad to have you all with us," he said simply and the man nodded once in return.
Turning Harry moved to her and tangling their hands together he moved back towards their crowd of watchers. They quickly scrambled out of his way as he moved, Ginny at his side of course, and the group of cat shifters at his back. Harry felt better having the feel of all that cat surrounding him, but he also knew that this was going to be dangerous and he worried for the people that were by extent part of his family.