Nill's never sat in front of him and moped, and really, given the setting, she could do. She's unfailingly polite and hardworking, and Severus has a measure of respect for that - or at least regard. Why shouldn't she use her circumstances in the pursuit of advancement?

"I'll send it to you," Severus says, sounding like he approves. "Though I reckon she'll be put out with me if she thinks I've said anything." This is probably an understatement. "Did you know the boy she was looking after? I don't know that I ever came across him. He had the... panda."

Why is there a panda.