Ford had been expecting more engagement from Noble on this. He'd been in flying club at Hogwarts, so he had at least that much more athleticism in him than Ford did; he ought to have been at least twice as capable as Ford was of making small talk on the subject of Quidditch. Ford had gotten through a lengthy card game in the club and a whole night in Derry without making himself look too foolish, and Noble apparently couldn't muster up even one appropriate comment. Ford frowned, with his mouth scrunched slightly to one side, and raised his eyebrows back in a way that meant he'd really been hoping for a little more than that. If Noble had been seated closer, he might have kicked him lightly to try and figure out what was going on, because he definitely seemed out of it and this really wasn't the time.

Verity to the rescue, though. If even Verity had found something appropriately complimentary to say about Quidditch then Ford felt his disappointment with Noble was justified. He smiled briefly at his sister, then gave Noble another what's up with you? look.