A natural sensitivity towards the body language of others made Theodore hesitate; a lifetime with an emotionally repressive father and a naturally subtle school house made him wary of people who were friendly in overtures only, and Padma's body language suggested she was unnerved. Myriad possibilities occurred to him -- that she didn't want to be seen in public with another pureblood, that she wanted to be left alone, that she was troubled -- but he took a seat anyway. If she remained tense it was easy enough to find some reason to excuse himself, and he did have tea to drink.
"I hope I'm not interrupting," he said, easily affable and set his files between himself and the chair.