As she sees his silhouette through the door this time, she can't help but think back to the first time she'd let him in after they'd made love at Fred's, remembering the feelings of apprehension and excitement she'd experienced then and thinking how similar her emotions are now. This is her chance to make him see that she's ready to face the gossip, the looks, the whispers, and anything else that might come their way if he'll just give her one more chance.
"Hello," she smiles as she opens the door, pulling back to let him in, determined not to feel awkward or embarrassed.
"Hi," he murmurs, stepping through the door but remaining on the threshold, a contented looking bundle of grey fur in his arms.
"Fidget!" she exclaims happily as he lifts the cat towards her and she takes him in her arms, burying her face in his soft fur. "I've missed you." Her cat meows and begins to purr loudly as she strokes him and steps back, looking up at Harry and saying, "Come in, Harry."
He hesitates for a moment, his eyes dark and unreadable, before he murmurs, "I think perhaps I'd better go." Then, perhaps seeing the hurt and disappointment, that she's trying hard to mask, on her face or in her gaze, he adds swiftly, "We've both had a... gruelling day, fortnight really, and I'm sure you want to... rest, relax, and enjoy being home again tonight. I don't want to impose and now is really not the time for... late night tête-a-têtes between us."
She nods in understanding, realising that he's not rejecting her, but rather, postponing their 'talk' about their future together. And she can understand that, how exhausted he must be after such a long and stressful operation and, after the way she's behaved recently, how unsure of her thoughts, feelings, and intentions. In his place, she'd want to be well rested too before embarking on a discussion of their relationship, but though she's perhaps equally sleep deprived, the relief of being back home has given her new energy and is making her want to put things right, to fix everything between them.
Even if she can't have that right now, however, she still finds that she wants his company tonight, so forcing herself to be brave, she replies softly, "You're probably right, but there's plenty of food, Harry, thanks to you and Malcolm, not to mention a rather good bottle of wine and I'd really like it if you joined me for supper. Of course, if you've eaten or are too tired, I understand, but if you haven't and you're not, I'd very much like it if you stayed a little while. You've done so much for me lately, Harry, that I feel it's the least I could do and I'd like to say thank you... We don't have to talk about anything much. Just spend some time together... as friends. The rest can wait until we're both feeling... up to solving it."
She watches him as the seconds tick by, relieved to find that he's tempted by her offer and hasn't flatly refused her yet. His face is unreadable and she's no idea what he's thinking, but before she can ask him or he has a chance to reply, Fidget jumps down from her arms, pads over to Harry, wraps himself around his ankles once, and with a loud meow, heads off into the kitchen. "There, you see?" she smiles happily, "He wants you to stay too."
"Then how can I refuse?" he murmurs with a small smile and steps into the house.