 T8 and Derf acknowledgements + answering Hirsch's question Wowza!
Levi was about to open his mouth to say something to Nicholas Tate--probably 'hello,' maybe 'good morning,' either would have sufficed--when Derfael joined them. Tate didn't look particularly pleased, but Derfael looked quite excited, so maybe the younger boy was going to bring in some slight balance here. He offered both Hufflepuff boys a mild smile and would gone on to throw in a nod or two for good measure--manners were important, after all--but Hirsch decided to speak just then. To say hello and call him Levi instead of Mr. Kenning and to smile at him and do the whole glasses thing that would have normally worked, but this time it would not. Levi was quite resolute about that.
Maybe.
He had to keep himself from smiling by looking pointedly away, so the automatic smile did not actually flourish as it intended to, but. The corners of his mouth did indeed twitch. So, he reached up to cover it with one of his palms.
It'd been a close call. Certain reactions to certain things were just intent on putting up a good fight, it seemed.
Good news was that class had started and everyone had something to say about trolls. Levi couldn't say he'd have preferred pogrebins as Derf had suggested--trolls were a rather more exciting topic, of course--but it was interesting to him (and kind of weird, maybe, just a tad) how much his peers seemed to know about the beasts. Or beings, as someone had so adequately pointed out.
He'd had no idea trolls were so popular, but this was why he was sent to school, really. Learn something new every day and all that. He lowered his hand from his mouth. "Trolls are stupid but terribly strong. With the ability to be quite vicious." Obviously. "Which makes for a very dangerous combination, really." Super strong, over-grown toddlers,
really. "Though, possibly, with the correct tools and training, it'd be better to face a troll than a giant. If anything because giants are notoriously smarter."
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