SPOILER!!: Like a teddy bear with a nibbled on nose? XD
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ArianaBlack 
Oh. He had done something wrong. Clearly. It wasn't hard to tell by the way her childish grin turned into a cold, hard glare. And for the first time, James didn't actually mean to offend. His facial expression, however, didn't falter. "I am," he gave her a nod in confirmation. The sass was strong with this one. He paused for a moment, to see what else her face would do. "I find them to be good listeners too," he looked over at the horse for only a moment before turning his gaze back to Barefoot. "Though the creatures who talk don't often fancy listening." There were quite a few creatures that talked back as well. None that said much past babbling, but the horses were good listeners. He'd give her that much.
Barefoot was interesting and James somewhat wanted to see how far he could push her, though his greater instinct warned him against it. She came from his former house, he could tell with a simple look. Better not shake the reds too hard, they didn't take well to being shaken.
"Um no." Feral child? Who did she think he was exactly? He gave her a questioning sideways glance. "I was a curious kid though, got into too much trouble for what it was worth, quoting my parents not myself." To clarify. She seemed to fit in the same category too, honestly. With the way she jumped straight onto accusatory and suspicious glares. Maybe she could relate? "While I was in the military, I was stationed in the forests of Brunei. Not a feral child, just one who took to venturing off." Did that answer her question?
Also it was his turn. She asked her question, it was his go now. "Do you have horses back at your farm?" Again it was more of an observation than a question. She had to have some sort of similar creature given the precise care and her selection of snacks. Barefoot was impressive.
So he was, was he? Her gaze turned even more scrutinizing, until he went and said
that. So, he had been challenging her then? Making her think? It gave Amur pause. Finally, a small smile touched her lips.
"Like people."
People that talked too much didn't often bother listening well. It seemed, this man had a good understanding of animals after all. He was acceptable as a creature's professor. She wouldn't have to go and report him. He was safe. For now.
As he explained, to her disappointment, that he was not a feral child, Amur clambered up onto the stall door and straddled it. She offered the horses a few more carrots as she watched said non-feral-child-professor-man.
"You sound pretty proud of it. People don't usually quote their parents for something that's embarrassing to them."
Hence, he had to be proud of the trouble he caused, which earned him a good number of points in her book. If one was going to cause trouble, they may as well be proud of it.
Her expression turned curious at his mention of being in the military. How, exactly, did a military man end up at Hogwarts, teaching in Care of Creatures nonetheless. She wanted to ask, but finding the words for what seemed like a potentially touchy topic had her hesitating. Long enough that he got his question in first.
It broke a grin out from her and she shook her head.
"Nope. Just sheep and cows. But, when you're young enough, riding a sheep is similar to riding a horse. And cows well......" The horses got a considering look. She clicked her tongue.
"Not really sure about cows, still."
It was an ongoing discussion between her and them. As to what she thought of them. Perhaps if she wasn't constantly trying to tip them, their relationship would be better.
Her grin turned back to the Professor, and she withdrew it a little.
"So, did you work in Calvary in the military? Or with the K-9 units?"