Valerie was not sure who the little Hogwartian was attempting to fool with her batting eyelashes and sing song tone, but she certainly was not swayed. Although the actions were just enough to cause the right corner of her lips to twitch upwards. There was even an almost affectionate gleam to her eyes when Zoryn Spinnet ate the whipped cream (briefly recalling a different time) until the younger girl proceeded to speak.

And something in her chest knotted.

An easy target. Valerie Gray had been officially labeled a bully and suddenly the cake she had been inquiring about may as well have been a pound of rotten meat. She supposed she could not blame anyone for the label (particularly not after Aurora's emotional display post task in which the Wampus had found her accusations so absurd she had not felt the need to defend herself. Along with simply electing to allow the Horned Serpent to take out her frustrations on the sixth year) but this struck a chord in her. Not that there was any indication of such externally. "I do not think you an easy target nor is stature something I concern myself with," she replied in an almost defeated tone. "You asked to be turned off and I capitalized on a need."

Surely enough of an explanation. She would have done the same regardless of age.

"Victoria sponge cake," she repeated with a nod as she lifted the cake from the table and retrieved a fork with a bit of a vacant expression. "No, I am not a cake hater." Although her stomach was still twisting uncomfortable that perhaps in this moment she was. Pausing a moment before sticking her fork into the sponge and feeling the prongs cut through it like a hot knife through butter, the Wampus glanced down at the girl once more.

"I am pleased that you are not afraid of me," she offered as an after thought.