When the child bopped him on the nose, Shannon snorted out more smoke in surprise and shook his head away. His neck was not as long as some of the more serpentine dragons out there, but it was long enough to turn his head almost entirely sideways while he gave the boy a warily amused look with brightly-colored eyes unaffected by the change. It turned into curiosity as the rest of the students began to swarm him once it was revealed he was no threat; upon prodding and light tugs and pokes, he unfurled one of his wings to stretch it out over their heads to their excited gasps and murmurs, half a mind to the safety of his students while the other half remained on the one still waiting patiently in front of him.

He moved closer, nudging him gently on the chest, then the side as if to urge him toward taking a look. Shannon was not often this magnanimous with his animal form and there wouldn't be many other chances for study. As his head got closer to the ground, another student came up and poked at his lip.

"Professor! Can I see your mouth? Where the fire comes from? Pleaaase?"

It was another third or fourth year by the voice, someone who knew well enough to ask but not enough about what they were dealing with. Shannon grunted and shook his head, lightly trying to pull her away with a claw at the back of her robes. His mouth was off-limits.