"You did indeed promise," Severus answered, raising an eyebrow. "Though if you intend to go back on your word, I might just find it in my heart to forgive you." Especially if she planned to play with his hair. He really didn't think he could be cross with her, if she planned to do that. "All I ask is that you warn me, so that I don't injure myself." Because he was hardly used to such things, and if she were to sneak up behind him and blow in his ear, he might just lose a finger.
"Mind games do appear to be their preferred pastime, yes," he answered, nodding, as he slid the sliced bits of caterpillar up with the blade of the knife before scraping them off into the cauldron. "I don't know, because -- as you say -- they are sadistic arseholes," he added with a slight shrug. "But since I haven't managed to locate Hulk yet, either, it seems rather a moot point." He stood then, wiping his hands on his handkerchief before pulling his wand to conjure some water. He filled the cauldron a quarter of the way, and then lit a fire underneath.