What a world of difference there was between the way most people had been greeting him today and the way Dallon had. He couldn't help but smile, taking in the paint spattered shirt and the grin, feeling his mood lift for the first time all day. "Dallon," he said, because fuck this titular bullshit. He was throwing caution to the wind! Alright, it wasn't exactly taking on a dragon for fun and recreation or something, but still. "You were painting," he noted. "Sorry to interrupt."
"I wish I was here for just to talk," he said, already feeling a bit apologetic, like he'd lead him on somehow. "But I need to ask you a few questions about the students that have come down with magical fatigue. Is that okay?" Well of course it was okay, tehcnically--he was a fucking auror, that was his job. Why did he feel so awkward all of a sudden? Usually questioning people and doing things in the capacity of his job was where he excelled, was sure of himself, didn't say the wrong thing.