a/n: After reading Secret Friends by Harriet_Evans, I knew I had to write my own. This is an excellent pairing and definately deserves it's own thread. If you haven't read Secret Friends yet, go read it. In fact, read it first, I promise you won't be disappointed.
She hated homework, like every normal teen her age, but this was worse, homework over the summer. Her astronomy teacher had assigned every one the task of charting the night sky until the next school year because of several significant events they would otherwise miss. So Ginny sat on the roof of 12 Grimmauld Place jotting down the various stars twinkling brightly in her velvet black surroundings.
“Care for some company little girl?” came a rough voice from behind her.
“If you hadn’t noticed, I’m not a little girl,” she shot back at the intruder.
“Wow, sounds like your temper matches your hair color.”
“And what’s that suppose to mean?”
“You’re a wild fire,” he smiled, “I like it. A girl should know how to stand her ground.”
She turned her head back to her parchment and continued to sketch the placements of the sparkling orbs in the sky.
Sitting next to her, he attempted to break the cold silence, “What’re you working on Wild Fire?” he said with a wide grin on his scruffy face.
“Homework,” came her stiff reply.
“Before school even starts? Taking tips from Hermione I see.”
“No, it was assigned last term. Professor Sinistra said there were many things occurring over the summer that we needed to see for next term. She wanted us to chart the sky every night for notes.”
“Poor dear! I hope you are at least enjoying the view. I know I always have. It was an escape from my family and there are a lot of things I love about the sky. Pay attention next term and you might learn a little more about me," he said with a wink.
She gave him an uninterested smirk. She didn’t want to talk about school. She didn’t want to talk at all, but she could sense he did. “So who are you hiding from now?” she asked with curiosity, “I mean, there is no family left to hide from…”
“You’re right; I’m not hiding from my family.”
“Then who are you hiding from?” she asked again as he obviously avoided her main question.
“If you must know, I’m hiding from myself.”
Ginny became silent, and she thought of Harry. Sirius may not have been Harry’s family by blood, but they were more alike than either knew. Ginny had seen Harry many times sitting quietly, as if hiding from his calling as a great wizard. He was unsure of himself, unsure he could live up to the title the wizarding world had given him. She desperately wanted to be there for him, to tell him to ignore what everyone said and believe what he felt in his heart, but she didn’t know how.
“Dear, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t place my problems on your shoulders…”
“You didn’t do anything wrong Sirius, I was just thinking of Harry. I just wish I knew how I could help him.”
“You’re good for him Ginny. You know that right? But I expect no less from him. His has a considerable weight on his shoulders and sadly, no one can help him with his load.”
“I know that, but I’m sure just talking to someone would help him, but he closes everyone out.”
“As do many men Ginny. We are all gits when it comes to our feelings, but most of us eventually wise up. Some take longer than others. Don’t give up on him Wild Fire. He needs you, and although he may not know it yet, when he realizes it, you’ll be there for him.”
With a sparkle in his eye, he placed his arm around her shoulders and held her tight. She smiled at his confidence in her tenderness for Harry. She would be there for Harry, always...
“Come now, let’s go back inside. It’s getting chilly and you Mum would have my hide if you got sick.”
He helped her up and carried her parchments as they headed inside. After stepping through the window into the attic, she took her parchments and placed them in a box nearby. As Sirius walked through the attic, he turned to see her still staring and the silken, black sky.
“I see you aren’t going to bed.”
“Not tired,” she said smoothly.
“Then would you like to join me in the kitchen for some tea? I’d understand if you wouldn't want my company though.”
She smiled sweetly and took a place by his side, “that would be nice Padfoot.”
His eyebrows rose with interest at hearing his old nickname. Placing his hand on the small of her back they walked down to the kitchen for their midnight drink. As she waited him to serve the tea, she thought back to the previous year, on an unusually warm day in Hogsmeade.
***
Ginny was casually walking through the streets of Hogsmeade. She wasn’t as close to her brother’s friends as many thought, and her own friend’s were all busy with other things. She found them to be somewhat childish at times, and their tastes frivolous.
Walking with no apparent destination, she found herself at the edge of the village, standing in the shadow of the mountain. She sat with a sigh on a large boulder at looked back towards to the student filled streets. She felt so alone and a single tear fell from her eye.
Hearing a few rocks fall, she turned and saw a large black dog. He looked hungry and lost and her heart broke at the sight of him. She couldn’t help but think that he was alone just like she was and motioned for him to join her. Digging through her pockets, she found a cauldron cake and other assorted items and he gratefully accepted, eating them hungrily.
She stroked his matted fur as he ate, and spoke out loud to no one in particular. He looked into her eyes and she couldn’t help but think he understood her every word. “Silly me, you couldn’t possibly understand me,” she laughed out loud.
He licked her hand and nuzzled her leg. He did understand her, but she couldn’t know that without discovering his secret. He sat by her side until she scratched his head one last time and headed back down the street to the school. “Goodbye my dear friend,” she called back to him, “and thank you,…I’ll never forget your sweet gesture.”
Nor will I, he thought, nor will I.
a/n: I really hoped everyone enjoyed it. Hopefully I can update soon. Until then, go read Secret Friends by Harriet_Evans and check out my other stories. I can't wait for reviews!