Slughorn tipped his head, as if admitting that Julius made a fair and true point. But at least the boy was not hear to turn his offer down, or to try and call his bluff about reporting Slughorn and his perhaps slightly less than responsible actions to some sort of higher power. He normally had no fears about such threats, but Julius was a student who was more... difficult than most, with a mind unlike most of the other students and certainly someone who would not hesitate about the idea of turning in his dear head-of-house for profit. It was clear even now that he would have to take more care over this particular boy than he normally would, and sweeten the deal a little more than he would have otherwise.
"Won't you sit?" He asked, hand moving and stretching out towards the green-velvet love seat that stood against one wall, between two rolls of bookcases, a small bowl of butterscotch creams carefully placed in the middle, in the curve where the two seat-cushions met.
"I suppose we've given enough time for your dinner to settle, Julius, so would you like something to eat? I believe there is some white chocolate trifle, or perhaps you'd rather some éclairs?" He said with a smile, "And you must tell me exactly what you've been doing over summer. I can't believe a young man like yourself would be content to sit idle and twiddle his thumbs where there is a world out to explore and conquer. So, what have you been up to, and who have you seen?" He asked, getting to his feet and moving to the narrow side-board behind his desk where a decanter stood, and poured two glasses. "Has your taste in wine changed at all? Do you still prefer sweet whites? I was holidaying in Crete this year, and I was introduced to a marvellous wine, very heady, very rich, it might tempt you. Have a glass."