Yawn.

How's David doing?

Seems to be chatting with Tom and Edmund over at the Slytherin table. He's smiling, a bit, which is better than it could be.

Oh good.

He turns to Tintin. "So, about that flirting."

Deborah chokes on her spit.

"Mind your own business, sis," he says without looking at her.

Tintin blushes again. "I am not sure if I am the best choice to flirt with," he cautions. "I am sure there are plenty of boys who are... I do not know how to say it. More... Less..."

He gestures vaguely at himself.

"He's going to flirt with them, too," cautions Deborah.

"Debs, don't you have better things to do right now than being the opposite of an overprotective older sibling?"

She laughs and ruffles his hair but she does also make a point to turn around to look at other people and stop inflicting herself on James.

"More to the point, I observe your objection is not that I am a boy, too, so I will make my own choices about who to flirt with, thank you very much."

"I would not dream of stopping you. ...if we are going to flirt I think I would like to start it better than 'I think you could defeat a handicapped troll'. Perhaps 'you are very pretty'."

He waves a hand vaguely. "Anyone can be pretty, just get some potions, killing trolls is way cooler." Pause. "But thank you, you are very pretty, too."

"...you are right, it feels less - like something that matters. But it is nice to know that you think so."

"Of course I think so, I have eyes."

Tintin looks - confused, maybe.

"—what?"

"...it has not always been very obvious. Or at least people have not said it."

"Deborah says I am too small to worry about this kind of thing. You know, boys, girls, kissing. Maybe the other kids just are too young." Shrug.

"...yes, perhaps."

Dippet finishes his speech, and the tables fill with food. Tintin gasps with delight.

James knew this was coming but it's still rather incredible to actually see it.

He dives in.

Tintin doles himself out a heaping portion and sets about it. It seems possible that he has never had food before. It seems certain that he has never had food like this before.

James is also a growing boy and as such will eat as much as he's able.

Tintin eventually slows down. "I should leave room for dessert," he observes. "That is important."

"We are growing boys and we need to eat as much as we can," recites James—although it is unclear if he just made that up right there and then—as he stuffs his face some more.

"Dessert is also important, and I want to see what it is like in this place of wonders."