His smile never once left him, and despite doing what Lily tried telling him not to, he felt better for it. When she stepped closer he immediately felt his heart rise up into his throat, and when her arms wrapped him in an embrace that he'd been craving for months, he let his head fall against her shoulder and encircled her within his own hug, momentarily ignoring the dull pain in his injured arm. He let himself enjoy it after that painful ordeal. When she pulled away, he felt an instant longing, but tamped it down in favour of finally acquiescing to her request.
"Yes, I probably should. I — " he began anew, but stopped and changed tacks, "Well, yes, we can talk later," he affirmed, nodding. With a last pass over her hand, he headed for the sofa in Professor Slughorn's sitting room, tossing one more thought over toward Lily. "I'm glad that you still consider me your..." he started to hesitate as his eyes ran across her face, but then just let it out, "well, your best friend, Lily. You've always been mine."