'Ohh, let's not sulk.'

He offers another one of those genial smiles, and tips Johnny's chin up with two fingers. It's an innocent enough gesture, the touch light and not lingering, but it does come rather soon after that chokehold.

'You,' he says, sounding quite genuinely interested, 'know about the house, and I am quite, quite curious. I've heard rumours, you see, and your name does keep cropping up. One wonders what you've been getting yourself into, Mr. Truant. So I thought I'd go straight to the source, as it were.'