Though ready to insist that greedy and selfish were last among the list of things she would use to describe Ernie, Hazel opened and closed her mouth without saying a word at Ernie's last. It seemed foolish to feel as surprised and delighted and uncertain as she did following as simple a proclamation as wanting to speak with her after several afternoons in the common room doing just that, but she did all the same.
"That's... that's a really nice thing to say, Ernie," she said hesitantly, needles still in her hands lest she lose another stitch. Unborn children did not deserve to suffer her nerves. "I really like talking with you, too."