[However brief was the moment of introspection and self-doubt, that tone and the proclamation he makes has the effect of drawing her attention. Her gaze snaps up from the floor to his - and here, she doesn't really hesitate, she's gotten used to the red eyes and all - and the words repeat themselves in her mind again, in echo.

An exceptional individual.

Well, damn. She is definitely blushing now.] I - oh. Um. Thank you. [She clears her throat (was it dry?) and shifts in her seat a little.] That's - I mean, thank you.

Just to clarify, he didn't say I'd be useless. We were just talking of...well. The villagers took my wand and bag for that whole bath thing. I panicked - I promised them to integrate, just to get it back. Thought I had to pretend they were heirlooms to keep them, because...truth is, I can't do a lot of magic without the wand. [Oh the other hand, she can do a lot with it.]