Harry took a deep breath and resisted the urge to simply pull Miss Weasley back into him. She looked a trifle downcast, and while he might be of the mind to return to the intimacy of their previous moment, he was of the greater mind to ensure she wasn't going to go running away from him.
"Are you alright?" He resisted the urge to link their fingers together again.
She sighed and smiled up at him. "I'm alright."
"You're sure?" He couldn't help himself and stepped closer to her.
"Yes," her smile grew a fraction and she looked up at him through her eyelashes.
Harry found his desire to kiss her almost overpowering.
"Shall," she bit her lip," Shall we prepare for dinner?"
Harry chuckled. "I suppose that with your future sister-in-law coming, you'd like to make a good first impression?"
Miss Weasley gave him a breathy sounding laugh. "Well, only because Miss Granger will be a relation."
Harry laughed with her, "Then I suppose we ought to be to the drawing room sooner than not."
"Would you walk me to my rooms before you prepare for dinner?" She didn't manage to hold his gaze as she asked, but the shyness in her manner when she was normally so composed was alluring in such a way that Harry wondered how any gentleman had let her pass them by.
"I think I wouldn't be happy if I didn't," He took her arm in his and moved them out of the room, her lady's maid and Sterling following quickly behind them.
"Well, then I insist that you see me to my rooms." She moved closer to him as they moved through the house, brushing gently against him as she walked.
"Tonight, after the evening's festivities, will you accompany me back to this room of trinkets?" Harry brought his other hand around to thread his fingers through hers as they held onto his arm.
"Yes," then she bit her lip and looked up at him, "there are several items I wish to know more about."
Harry felt his heart take flight at the opportunity. "I would be happy to explain each item for your enjoyment."
He stopped in front of her rooms and stole the feeling of her hand in his before he bowed.
"I'll meet you in the drawing room then."
"Yes," her returning smile was bright and Harry wanted nothing more than to see that smile directed at him every day for the rest of his life.
With reluctance, he stepped back and walked to his rooms with Sterling, feeling like perhaps if he tried, he might be able to fly the whole way there.
When she walked into the drawing room just before the Granger's arrived, Harry thought perhaps he had felt like he could fly because he had died and gone to heaven. There had been great pains taken in her preparations for dinner. Her hair was swept up and back, creating a style that pulled her eyes forward as it framed her face. Her gown hung in such a way that made him wonder at the softness of her form. And then she smiled at him and Harry knew he wasn't dead yet, at least he assumed feeling his heart pound in his chest was a decent indication of it.
Harry didn't manage to seat himself next to Miss Weasley, however, because her soon to be sister-in-law commandeered Miss Weasley's attention, as did her mother. And while a part of him was rather put out with Miss Granger and Mrs. Weasley for it, he didn't mind the chance to see Miss Weasley excited. Her eyes sparkled with light the way the pond on his grounds would when the sun was high above it. And her smile brought all the joy out of his heart. Captivated by her person, the sound of her voice, the feel of her laughter ringing through the room, Harry felt like he could never leave this room with her and be happy for the rest of his life. The fulfillment he felt with Miss Weasley dwarfed every adventure Harry had ever embarked on, every far-off land, every item he brought home, nothing compared. He didn't need those anymore, he only needed her.
The evening seemed to drag by, but when the Grangers left for the evening, Harry finally managed to steal Miss Weasley away and taking her arm seemed to be the first breath of air he'd taken since he had let go of her hand hours earlier.
"You appear to enjoy Miss Granger's company," Harry commented when he'd offered his arm to her, and smiled when she took it to step close to him.
"She's lovely, I'm already predisposed to love her, and I feel certain that spending more time with her will only increase that."
Harry walked them into the collection room, her lady's maid and Sterling a few steps behind them.
"I would like to look forward to spending more time with you." He guided her back to the tables with his souvenirs.
"Truly? And here I thought you were bored with my company." She laughed.
"Miss Weasley," he waxed bold and linked their fingers together, "I think I shall never tire of your company."
Her eyes were locked on their linked hands and her chest rose and fell rapidly, "Are you quite certain?"
"I am certain I shall never wish to be without access to your company." He ran his thumb over her fingers.
Her smile grew and she looked up from their hands, "I think I would very much like to have access to your company as well."
"Then we are agreed?" Harry stepped just a fraction closer to her. "I shall give you full access to my company, and you, if you would be ever so generous, might give me chance to call upon you?"
She smiled a soft and sweet smile that left Harry's knees feeling weak.
"I'm certain I could find time to entertain your requests."
Harry felt as though his feet might lift off the floor.
"I warn you; I fear I would have cause to make these requests of your time often."
"I hope you would."
They smiled at each other in silence, Harry running his thumb over her fingers, thriving off the feeling of her hand in his own.
She bit her lip and suppressed a laugh before looking down at the table. "Now, what, pray tell, is this?"
Harry chuckled and began explaining the metal button he'd picked up at the battlefield at Waterloo.
Harry was unsure as to what had changed Miss Weasley's disposition towards him. He liked to hope it was something to do with himself; or perhaps it was that she saw all the places he could take her as she viewed this room. But whatever had happened to change her frame of mind, Harry was unconcerned, because in that moment she was in his company and he felt certain that he never wanted to live without it.