"You would've made a good Hydra," Cressida said, "Assumptions is what we do and you're assuming more. I'm not beyond reason, but if this what you wish to assume I'll do, so be it." Because she wasn't going to argue with him to tell her what his story was. If he didn't want to share out of fear of criticism, then that was his own personal problem that he would have to deal with. If he felt he had a strong enough view, if he felt that someone could understand him, and if he felt like he wouldn't end up seeing all the flaws in what he thought, he would share.
"Science has proved that nature and nurture work together. It is not one or the other," Cressida returned, "For whatever reason he is here, he is here and developing and growing. If he were not, Ms. Menides would not allow him to stay." Because someone that could not mature and grow and would remain in their undeveloped state would not gain anything from four years at the school. They wouldn't gain anything from a thousand years there.
Cressida bristled again, but once more didn't allow it to show on her face. The idea of this man coming in here and determining whether something lived or died . . . someone irritated her a great deal. People made mistakes plenty, but apparently dragons were only allowed one. She didn't want to point ot that Ashton wouldn't be allowed to make a mistake that big because the staff here were skilled enough to handle Ashton as he was.
"I would hate to have to live my life like that," she commented, "fearing constantly that anything I might do would be considered the one wrong move. A mighty high standard to set for a teenager who are prone to make numerous mistakes."