"Admirable," Septimus conceded, sounding almost more disappointed than approving, as if it irked him to have his suppositions upset. However, he was too much an academic himself not to admire the quality in others, however unexpected.
"So. A student of medicine, and a witch besides. Not a healer, by any chance?" It was not a gift that Septimus counted among his skills, but he was not remotely the nurturing type. He felt more impatience than sympathy towards the sick and injured.