The next morning Ginny came down to the kitchen to find Lily and Sirius laughing as they cooked breakfast. When she entered they fell quiet but were still smiling softly as they moved around the room. Ginny couldn't help but smile at the both of them as they moved around each other perfectly; it was like they had never been apart.
"How are you this morning red," Sirius asked as he put a plate of toast down in front of her.
She reached out and snagged a piece nibbling the corner before she replied, "fine I guess," Sirius frowned at her answer but didn't push it.
He could see that she was worried about something, but her eyes kept darting to Lily and he knew she didn't want to discuss it in front of her. With a nod he turned back to collect the plates of readily cooked food Lily was laying out on the counter.
"Where's Harry this morning," Ginny found herself asking, the words slipping from her lips before she could catch them back.
Lily turned around with a plate of cooked sausages and placed it down before she pulled out a chair and sat next to the now seated Sirius.
"He's been up for a while, he has a whole routine in the morning, I'm sure he'll join us soon," Lily said with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
Nodding Ginny grabbed a plate and began pilling scrambled eggs and sausage onto. With a little laugh Sirius slid the bacon her way and she helped herself.
Lily watched the other two quietly, chewing on a piece of streaky bacon. She was a little surprised by how much Ginny was pilling onto her plate, but she didn't say anything. Instead she filled the piece of knowledge away as she usually did. Lily had become an expert at studying people especially since her life or that of her son could depend on noticing something out of place. Ginny didn't seem to be shy about her eating habits since she tucked in like she had been starved.
Ginny could feel Lily's eyes on her but she didn't care, let the woman watch her, she was sure that Harry would share his little bit of stolen information if he hadn't already. So instead of worrying she dug into her breakfast, letting it fill the gnawing hole in her stomach. A big breakfast was normal for her since she burnt through calories so quickly, and Sirius knew that, that was why she hadn't put a second thought to helping herself.
Just then the back door banged open and Harry walked in, his light green tee stuck to his torso with sweat.
"Good workout?" Sirius asked eyeing Harry as he passed.
"Yeah," he replied shooting Sirius a look before turning to his mother, "I'm gunna go grab a shower."
Lily smiled and Ginny could see the love in her eyes, "ok, we'll save you some food."
With a nod he disappeared up the stairs and Ginny released the breath she had been holding.
The moment that her eyes had fallen on Harry she had felt a shiver run through her body. The memory of his hot skin under her fingertips seared across her mind and she had to close her eyes for a moment to try and gather her composure. She could feel a flush running up her body, but this wasn't a normal blush, but a heat wave that enveloped her.
Opening her eyes she saw that Lily had given up all pretence of eating and was now just starring openly at her. Swallowing the lump that had risen in her throat Ginny pushed her plate away.
"I'm not feeling so hungry now, I think I might just go and grab a shower," she said rising to her feet and dashing from the room before Sirius could say anything.
Sirius watched Ginny's retreating back with a frown; it definitely wasn't like Ginny to pass up food. Plus she had been acting weird all morning. Turning his eyes to his other companion he wondered if it was Lily's presence that made her uncomfortable. Resigning to ask her later he carried on with his own breakfast lost in thoughts.
Ginny made it all the way to the landing outside her bedroom before the hyperventilation set in and she slid down the wall to crumple in a mess. She could feel her skin becoming tight and knew she had to get everything under control quickly, but she couldn't seem to get her mind to stop spinning. She tucked her head between her knees trying to think, trying to get her chest to calm down since it was really starting to hurt.
Suddenly she felt a heat press against her back and she knew it was him, his hands were holding her as she lost it.
"Breathe," he whispered into her ear, his lips tickling along her neck.
Shivering she suddenly found the capability to breathe and dragged in a lung full of air. When she blinked up it was to see his bright eyes shining down at her. All of a sudden embarrassment set in and her cheeks blazed with it. She tucked her head back down into her arm and tried to keep her head from freaking out again.
She felt Harry slip down onto the floor besides her, his weight settling against her side and his hand resting lightly on her knee. Even through her pants she could feel the heat of his skin, but this time it was soothing. When she looked up again she felt calmer and less embarrassed.
"Are you alright?" he asked concern laced in his voice.
She gave him a weak smile and a nod and surprisingly he returned her smile. She realised then that was the first time she had seen it, the first time she had seen anything other than his blank face. It tuned his features truly beautiful when he smiled and she found herself wishing she could see that more.
They sat silently for a moment not moving until Ginny felt like she could get up again. He seemed to anticipate what she wanted and got to his feet in one fluid motion holding his hand out for her to take so he could help her up. After a second she took his hand, and her considerably smaller hand was enveloped by his. She felt the same tingle as before run along her arm but this time she didn't pull away, in fact she enjoyed the feeling.
"I think I'll be fine now," she said and he drew his hand from hers a little reluctantly.
His face was back to being blank again, but this time she could see a spark in his eyes that hadn't been there before.
"Can I ask what was wrong," his voice seemed a little strained to her but she ignored that.
Taking a deep breath she nodded but looked away from his intense gaze, "no one knows what I am except for a few well chosen people, and then there's you who spent two seconds with me and knew," she paced away from him a little down the corridor but he was like a shadow moving with her, "and then there's your mother who wouldn't stop watching me, if you haven't told her then she has her suspicions," stopping she turned to look at him an accusing look in them.
He threw his hands up in mock surrender and she spotted a smirk on his lip that twisted her heart in a funny way.
"I swear I haven't said anything to her," he stepped closer to her but didn't close the gap completely, "didn't you wonder how I knew what you were, how my mother knew what signs to look for," his eyes were scanning over her body and it was getting harder and harder to think.
Swallowing she tried to find her voice, but it seemed to have fled her; all she could manage was a nod.
"Then you know you're not the only one then," he said closing the gap now so that his hand was resting on her hip and the other palm on the wall behind her head.
She nodded again still unable to talk, but this time she didn't push aside the animal that was running through her mind, she embraced it.
Harry watched as Ginny's eyes changed slightly turning rather golden and he smiled truly.
"There you are," he whispered as he looked into her eyes.
Ginny smirked at him, but her heart was racing, as his eyes changed to the strange golden green they had been the night before.
"It seems we have more than just our ability in common," she said realising where she had seen eyes like that before.
"You're a cat aren't you," she finally managed to say and he grinned at her.
"Aren't you?" he said leaning in and rubbing his cheek along hers.
Her eyes closed at the feel, there were so few who knew what her body liked when she was like this, and it seemed Harry knew exactly what to do. But before he could deepen the caress they heard someone on the stairs, and Ginny took that opportunity to slip from Harry's grasp making a mad dash for her bedroom.
Harry knew he could have caught up to Ginny but he let her go, and soon Sirius appeared on the landing.
"Oh Harry, your mum was wondering what kept you," Sirius said talking to his back as Harry hadn't even acknowledged him yet.
Harry didn't look as his godfather as he knew his eyes still hadn't changed back, he could still feel the effects Ginny seemed to have on his body.
"I'll be down in a minute," he said and he heard Sirius hesitate for a moment before heading back down stairs.
When he knew the coast was clear he let the growl he had been holding in ripple from his body. What was going on, he had never felt so out of control in his life, never had anything been able to distract him like Ginny Weasley could. Turning he headed downstairs knowing if he stayed to close to her he wouldn't be able to keep from beating down her door and taking her.
