Percy couldn't tell if what he had said had made her sorry for its content, or sorry because he could not say more. Had it been so long since they had conversed candidly? It had.
"Well," Percy said, his tone at first quite like one he might have taken with a clerk at the Ministry, but softening almost as soon as he had begun. "You're welcome. It was good to see you." Softer still. "Truly."
The waiter glared and there was nothing for it, Percy had no intention of ordering anything beyond his water nor endangering Penny further by lingering here. He nearly stumbled out of his chair in haste to leave it.