Kazimeriz entered the room and glowered at the boy. "Stop snivelling, Newtington. You are here because you deserve to be. When a professor tells you to do something-- to, for example, leave an area-- you do not stand about trying to share anecdotes about your dear mumsy. You do what you are told, immediately and without question." Especially in light of the recent flooding, obedience could save the boy's life.

Kazimeriz gestured to the room, which was filled with piles of little brown pellets.

"This is the owl pellet room. This is where the owls go to upchuck their undigestibles, something all owls must do. Those little furry, nasty balls you see are what is left of mice, voles and other prey animals the birds could not digest. Using your wand, you will separate out the bone materials from the fur, undigested cartilage, guts and other materials. Place the tiny bones into the tray on the desk; everything else goes into the bucket. You will use the spells that you find in the book on the table to accomplish this task." Kazimeriz gestured to a small desk and chair in the room. On the desk was a tray, a bucket, and a book entitled Spellwork for Simpletons: Spells So Simple a Squib Could Succeed!.

"This is the time at which you may ask a question, if you have one." Kazimeriz said. The boy obviously needed to learn when questions were appropriate, after all.