Mathys nodded approvingly at the young man's answer. "Very astute. And of course will require zat one has observed a creature long enough and well enough to know its mannereesms to pick up some deefferences. As you all should be well aware, any creature zat is transfigured into anohthair does not retain zeir full consciousnesses but rathair gains zat of ze creature zey have just been turned into."

He had been warned by the Hogwarts headmaster that points could be a particularly touchy subject with his students, though the man had not put too much weight on such words until seeing the reactions to his scolding. Those beginning with Mademoiselle Grantham.

Tears had little effect on him, however. Especially in a setting such as this and he simply remained patient as she (to his surprise) offered up an answer. See? She was tougher than everyone who was gawking at him as though he had just kicked a cruppy would let others believe. All was a learning experience, nothing more.

"Zat would be one of ze more efficient ways of knowing, oui," he chuckled with clear amusement.
He would not consider it a temper, the man had not shouted at any of them, but while he was on the path of correcting students...he had to do something about her French. Though he did appreciate her attempt at it.

"Désolée, Mademoiselle Jenovick. Je suis désolée. As a young woman you must add ze additional e."

Unless she identified otherwise, though that was not the impression he had of the young witch.

Had this one not been paying attention to the sensitivity that had been the entire werewolf discussion? Or was she purposefully trying to push his buttons? He was inclined to consider both to be true but the latter to be more on brand. He was surprised she hadn't added the addition of the tufted tail just to drill the point home, in that case.

He would simply look her in the eye a moment and move on to the next raised hand.

He would not be addressing werewolves further this lesson in any capacity.

A witch or wizard who could turn into a kelpie as their animagus form. Not that was a terrifying thought to consider.

"Oui, as Monsieur Kaiser previously mentioned. Ze addition of ze animagus is anothair important distinction. As Mademoiselle Blaze alluded to in ze physical differences, ze creatures who are ze animagus form of a witch or wizard will often have unusual mahrkeengs indicative of zeir human form. Spectacles, for example. Or misseeng fingers."

Mathys' crisp gaze merely passed over the prefect, the disappointed knitted deeply in his brow that he had no answer to give but also appreciative for the diligence in the note taking. At least in that manner he was setting an example for his peers.
His face brightened considerably and he took a few confident steps closer to this one. "Exceptionnel, Monsieur Dakest," he praised. "Ziss is something zat all magizoologists must considair when we study creatures. Why do certain creatures behave ze way zey are? What are ze advantages of zese traits and mannerisms? Just as predators have evolved, zeir prey had to adapt ovair time as well." And despite reminding himself not to delve into the subject based on rumors in the press, he could not help himself. "Defense mechanisms, as Monsieur Dakest has shared, is one of ze most obvious reasons from an evolutionary perspective. Zere are some among us in ze field who would even declare zat a boggart's shape shifting ability is zat ah well. A means of protecting itself as its true form i very small and fragile. Of course...ziss is still only a zeory, but from an evolutionary standpoint makes sense, oui?"

Very impressed, he moved on.
"Anothair excellent point, Mademoiselle Anderson. For zose creatures zat have been transfigured from inanimate objects, zat is. Such as ze Lapifors Spell. Zese creatures have no will of zeir own and are nothing but empty vessels...unless the witch or wizard zat enchanted zem also enchanted zem to behave like a true creature," he added with a bit of a wink and tap of his nose.

He had seen it done among his colleagues, though it still too a remarkable set of spellwork to fool a magizoologist.
He smiled gently at Mademoiselle Summers, certainly catching her earlier glances to her housemate. It would all be all right. Those points would hardly even amount to the blink of an eye in their passage of time here at Beauxbatons.

"I am glad zat you agree," he nodded before moving along to the next hand.
Well...that was certainly...hmm.

Thankfully Mathys was a man of manners and his mouth was not hanging open or otherwise showed any outward reaction than polite pensiveness to her inquiry.

"Ze very nature of transfiguration magic is zat it changes an object by ze alteration of zat object's molecular structure to make it identical to zat of anothair. When performed correctly, zat is. Ze only traces you would find on such a level would be through an incomplete transfiguration effort. But...an interesting thought."
........this was a bit dramatic, oui?

Though in favor of not drawing attention to the prefect who was acting less mature than that of her first year peers who were still able to actively participate in the lesson, the professor simply moved on to stew for a few more seconds in his disappointment.

Originally Posted by SneakySeverusSnape