Alexander burned to ask him so many things - like what class he taught or if it was possible to not be sorted into any house - but it was obvious the conversation was at an end. He looked at the man's offered hand for a moment while the instinct to keep distance waged war with a new desire to leave a good impression. He'd already called the man 'sir', he remembered with an internal grimace. A handshake was a smaller concession than that by far.
He took his hand and gave it his most respectable, well-mannered shake but the sensation of it shot a memory through his mind without warning. He'd all but forgotten about the people who'd wanted to shake his hand at his parents' funeral until now. He ended the shake a bit abruptly, as if breaking contact might push the memories away.
Instead of agreeing to stay out of trouble, which was definitely not a level he was lowering himself to, he bobbed his head in a weird kind of nod-bow and turned heel to finally make his escape.
He took his hand and gave it his most respectable, well-mannered shake but the sensation of it shot a memory through his mind without warning. He'd all but forgotten about the people who'd wanted to shake his hand at his parents' funeral until now. He ended the shake a bit abruptly, as if breaking contact might push the memories away.
Instead of agreeing to stay out of trouble, which was definitely not a level he was lowering himself to, he bobbed his head in a weird kind of nod-bow and turned heel to finally make his escape.