[ Given the way Coraline's shoulders stiffen slightly in reaction, she's had just enough time in school to hear plenty about the darker history of Slytherin House ]

Sorry, I just... wizards, the way they talk about muggles sometimes, like they're an extra-dumb species... they might be dull as beans most of the time, but they're still, um. I mean, we're people too, and- [ She very carefully holds her tongue ] Yeah, lets... just not talk about it, I guess.

[ But there's one more nagging itch of curiousity, which finds its way out as Beckett prepares to consult her texts for the best method.]

D'you have the snake, because of your father?