The truth of the matter, of course, was that Bill had been avoiding talking to Fleur. They'd argued over her willingness to let Umbridge add her to that stupid Registry, and shortly thereafter Bill had left yet again for France. If irony had a sense of humor it certainly would have been amused by that.
"I've been away from home for a long time. There were a few things that needed to be done. I apologize for my tardiness."
Bill took a seat, patting the dog when it came to sniff him. "So how have you been? I've not been back long enough to catch up on much of the goings on."