He was uncertain whether or not to assume that the young man was providing him with unnecessary lip. A hamster or a guinea pig? The absurdity of these words trickled off young Fuller-Thompson's tongue like unwanted mucus from a ailing abraxan's nostrils and required that the French man count backwards from ten in his head before addressing him.

Piers would be hearing about this incident when they ventured into the Forbidden Forest together to investigate, that much was certain. At least now Mathys would have another topic of conversation so as to avoid idle chit-chat yet again.

"I am deesappointed zat your fathair deed nat go ovair ziss with you prior to your arrival here at Hogwart," he sighed heavily as he clasped his hands firmly together on his waist. "Each Hogwarts student ees permitted to breeng ONE cat OR rat OR toad OR a pygmy puff OR owl. Anything not of zese species must receive explicit permission from ze Care of Magical Creatures professor prior to ze beginning of term. Seeing as you are een breach of ziss AND have misplaced your pet, a demonstration of negligence, I will be deducting ten points from your house with an additional subtraction of one point pair subsequent day you do not locate your tarantula."

And no, Mathys did not wish to "a hand in the reward". His sole priority was in the creature being found. Preferably before someone attempted to kill it.