The smile tells him enough. Maybe he should have waited for her to approach him, but-- it’s been so long, and he’s wanted so badly to see her again, to speak with her. She’d been one of his dearest friends, even before she and James began to date. He’d missed her like he’d missed James, like he’d missed Peter before he knew the truth, like he’d missed Sirius after he knew the truth… like a chunk of his heart was gone, a piece of his lungs missing.

His hands twitch to reach out to her but he stuffs them in his pockets, holds himself back. He’s already forced his presence when she wasn’t prepared for him.

“Some of them are more literally like we were, I’ve heard.” His own smile is faded, tired.