Taking the dog for a walk

Even though there was a laughable height difference between them and Balsam’s heart was full of fear, he managed to look down his nose at Sirius somehow. “You will never own me, not really.” He said this firmly despite feeling as though his heart was in his throat.

He had been beaten down. Embarrassed in front of the woman he thought was his soulmate. Sold to some thick-headed henchman that belonged to a mottled witch. And yet, not that evil viking or these fiends with him now, had managed to take his spirit from him. They would never own him. “And someday I will be rid of you.”

When the woman addressed him Balsam stared down his nose at her too and then looked away dismissively. “You will learn nothing from me.”