"I presumed you would rely upon your own observations, had you gone actually. As to speaking more plainly, I have been a teacher of both science and magic for quite some time. I find it rarely to the benefit of my students for the answers to be given plainly, and thus I am little accustomed to speaking that way. As your questions are not of a scientific or inherently magical in nature, I am attempting to be more straight forward, however you are best off trusting in your own observations or speaking to your friend when she visits next, for you know her biases more than my own. As to appealing to pity, I was doing no such thing. You asked, I answered. That is all."