Bill found it hard to settle his footing as he walked to the floo point. He couldn't believe it, he had his head in the clouds after two days, two days of knowing her was all it had taken.
Heads turned as he flood back to the burrow. Molly sent him a warm smile over her shoulder and Fred, George and Ron ushered him over to the table, where they had been playing cards.
"What's up with you? You look like you've seen a ghost." Fred chuckled, nudging George on the shoulder.
"I'm in love." He mumbled, but it was loud enough for the entire kitchen to freeze.
"Love?! With who?!" Ron gawked, but it was clearly true, as clear as day on his face.
"Fleur Delacour." He told them and Ron leant even further forward.
"FLEUR DELACOUR?! You've got your head in the stars." He shook his head and Bill shrugged his shoulders.
"There's nothing I can do now."
Ginny was there then, with a list of questions.
"How did you meet?" She asked.
"She's my assistant at Gringotts." He answered and Molly felt a wave of excitement roll through her, the first Weasley wedding!
"How do you know?" George asked and he looked over at his brother.
"I just know." And that was all that needed to be said.
—-
Fleur sat with her friend at dinner and sipped on a butterbeer.
"What has gotten into you? You seem different." She asked and Fleur looked down into the cup, wondering how she could explain meeting someone like Bill Weasley.
"Is it a boy?" Jenifer asked and Fleur's silence gave her away.
"It is a boy!" She cried out and Fleur shook her head.
"It is nothing, I have only known him for a few days." She deflected but Jenifer was having none of it.
"What is he like? Tall? Dashing? Intelligent?" Fleur nodded.
"All three." She confirmed and Jenifer sat, bobbin on her chair with excitement.
"But nothing will happen." She shook her head, but her friend did not seem quite so sure.
—
After dinner, Bill sat with Arthur.
"Do you really think you're in love?" He asked and Bill sent him an honest nod.
"I'm in love with her."
"Everyone who's ever met her is in love with her!" Ron called across the room and Bill wondered if he was right. She was infectiously kind, with the looks of a goddess. How could anyone be immune to her charm.
"But is it appropriate now? When all of this is happening?" He asked his father and Arthur shook his head, pursing his lips.
"Don't be so silly. Now is exactly the time that the world needs love." He explained and Bill thought he was right.
—
Once he arrived home, Bill could not take his mind off of what his father had said. He needed this, wanted it more than anything he had ever wanted before. But did she want him too? Did she need this romance as desperately as he did? He couldn't be sure.
Before he could control himself, he pulled on his boots and began stomping through London, towards Diagon Alley. He remembered the girls' house well and once he arrived, he thought himself an utter fool for coming. He turned to leave and was met with an astounded Fleur.
Fleur couldn't believe he was there.
"I-I just wanted to check you got home safe." He told her and she sent him a smile.
"Would you like to get a drink?" She asked and he was beside her then, leading her to a small pub.
Bill felt his foot tap as they sat opposite one another.
"How is your friend?" He asked and she looked down into her mug of cinnamon milk.
"What do you think will happen?" She ignored his question and he knew what she was asking about.
"I don't know." He told her the truth.
"My parents still care about high society and what people think of us. I don't know how they can think of anything while he is out there." She lamented and Bill felt grateful for his family.
"You know, we will fight. If they are going to take us, it will not be lying down." He told her in earnest and when she looked at him, she believed him.
She loved looking at him as he spoke of valiance and bravery and the such. There was a light that came from his eyes and she couldn't help but smile.
"What are you smiling at?" He asked her with a wry grin and she shook her head, looking down at her hands.
"Where did you come from, Bill Weasley?" She asked and he was rendered speechless by her question.
He walked her home and she wished they could have stayed for another drink, just so she could be around him longer. He had this calm, dense energy that made her feel safe, as if she was not so alone in this new place.
They stood in her doorway and she looked up at him. He was most certainly a very handsome man. He had a few scuffs here and there, but it was those imperfections that made him who he was.
"I am very happy that we met, Bill Weasley." She told him and he tucked a piece of hair behind her ear, making her mouth fall open slightly.
"Not as happy as I am, that's for sure." He whispered against the dark.
"It is good to have a friend, in such times." She admitted and he couldn't resist the urge to pull her against his chest. He thought she might pull away, but she clasped her hands around his back and squeezed him tighter than anyone ever had. He made a promise to himself in that moment, that no matter what happened, he would always see to it that she was safe.