Bragi caught the hesitation, and wished he hadn’t — he now regretted his question and believed it dim, realising all at once that even an intern would not be at liberty to pause and wander with a stranger. This was the British Ministry, the laidback Scandinavian mindset did not translate all that well.

And now he’d made the Head of the Department feel obliged to show him some of the Ministry. If Bragi was a blusher, he would’ve turned bright red. As it happened, he was more the type to go white with embarrassment. But he couldn’t back-pedal now, he mustn’t stammer out excuses apologetically and run for the hills. He must be like Mr Crouch and maintain his grace.

Standing as he placed the finished parchments neatly aside, Bragi replied; ”oh, well — thank you very much indeed, sir. If you are going that way anyway, I’d be very glad of your company.” He’d been about to say honoured, which was true, but would sound incongruous if spoken outloud.

”I hope I am not too whacky to be so interested in the Ministry…”