"It quite scared me when I first read it," Q admits. "I was twelve. It wasn't nearly as good the second time round."
Q jots all of this down, nodding all the while. He's seen deer sign in the garden, but never any velvet or antlers. "So the older the animal, the less effective it is. In this case anyway." He smiles. "Sounds about right."
"Should I apply?" he asks. "Just so I can have access to the library without having to disturb you all the time?" Q nibbles his bottom lip. "I'm game," he says. Realising this might sound too flip, he tries again. "If you think I can do the work Severus, I would be honoured to be your apprentice."
"Of course you can," he replies promptly. "They do it all the time for churches and cemeteries and things." Q frowns. "I know. I think it has something to do with the ley line this place is on. I've done some very preliminary investigations, but," he shrugs, "I've not come to any conclusions. I don't even have any viable theories."
He won't get away with this. Severus knows him too well. But he's got to give it a try. "Why Severus," he asks innocently, "can't I smile?" His grin promptly widens.
Heh! No worries. So noted and thanks for the advice.