Ashton hated to be cowed by the gorgon woman, but even he could admit that it was a good thing she had been there. Although he was still angry, his anger now was tempered by shame that he so easily, almost effortlessly, let himself be ruled by another creature. The dragon knew each staff member was equipped in their own unique way to deal with things like a raging dragon, some more than others, and that was specifically why they maintained their position at St. Margaret's, but it didn't help mend Ashton's massive ego that such a small creature could have that affect on a mighty, albeit adolescent, dragon.
Paxton's question only made it worse. Ashton looked up from where he had crouched, the heavy feeling making it impossible to stand just yet from his cower, but the scowl he wore was quickly erasing the expression of stunned fear. "Quiet!" he hissed at Paxton, shifting a look at Ms. Stheno as she turned to stride back to her office past a gathered circle of spectator students who dispersed in her path.
Ashton straightened up, pushing with a hand off the book littered floor before turning the palm to look at it, blunt human nails and all. He bent his fingers, slowly curling them to make sure they had not turned to stone as he had feared.