"Oh, but when you're done in America, you've got to put your utensils diagonally across the plate, while the proper- er, the continental way is to place them in an X-pattern across the plate. Also, you can never let yer oars touch the water... I mean, you can't rest your utensils halfway on the plate with the handles touching the table. Bad form." Will remembered, inwardly thanking his mum for all the times she'd smacked his hand for doing that. Personally, he didn't know what all the fuss was about. As long as you chewed with your mouth closed, didn't talk with your mouth full, and didn't like, play with your food, why did there need to be all these rules about table manners? It was just eatin', after all... elbows on the table or not, you were there to fill your gut.

What in bloody hell? This was officially the freakiest school EVER! Freaky lessons, freaky students and freaky professors. Why had be volunteered to come home to this shambles? Durmstrang would have been teaching them how to brew a good antidote right now. But here they were being taught etiquette. Manners!? - in a potions class. Liam had been brought up proper like. He HAD manners. He placed his serviette in his lap and slouched in his chair, resting his elbow on the table and watched the other students discussing the do's and don'ts of cutlery. CUTLERY! For Merlin's sake!

Curt merely stared blankly at his dummy. Honestly, if he were to take an etiquette exam today; he would fail horribly. Coming from a huge family, he had five older brothers and a single older sister. One time, long ago Curt’s mother was very strict on teaching her boys table manners. But being the last child, his poor mother has finally given up and just neglected to even worry about such rules. Obviously, this was why the Ministry was interfering these days. Curt sighed slightly, and shook his head as Professor Branxton asked the class to name the silverware. Curt hadn’t the slightest idea what the proper names were for them, so he remained silent.

Really, all he wanted to do was learn some potions. OWLS were this year, and potions was one of the few subjects Curt thought he could actually make an ’O’ in, as potions was probably his second best subject next to Transfiguration. So far, it didn’t look like he was going to get the nessacary study time it. Curt sighed, and looked back up to the Professor with imploring eyes, hinting that he really wanted to move along badly.

"This is all very good. I'm glad I don't actually have to go through all of this as most of you seem to know what you're doing. I hope you don't mind but, I'm not going to force you to sit through a meal here but, I do expect you to follow these guidelines in the great hall. Now, before I dismiss you as your host are there any other questions pertaining to table manners or etiquette in general? I assume you all know to open doors for ladies and the like..."

Remy looked down the table's length at the professor and hoped nobody would ask a question. It was almost time for the class to end and Remy did not want to be late to his next class...which was ill mannered too.

Cale shook his head. Nope, no questions. He wanted to get out of this class and go to the next one, hoping they would actually learn the subject rather than etiquette. It really wasn't his thing.

But if they were going to do this in the Great Hall, well...better take a few mental notes.

There were no question and he hopped no one had any so they could leave.

They weren't going to be forced to sit through a meal here? Ugh! That wasn't fair! Clifford was starving hungry. And some practice probably would've been good too, he was bound to forget everything the second he stepped out of the classroom.

Oh well.

Finn was just ready to be done with this class. What did manners have to do with proper potion preparation?

Jason thinks to himself, please no questions.

Professor Branxton more than just relieved to be through with this nonsense. "Good. You are dismissed. Those who wish to get a head start on our first actual potions lesson can write an essay on the uses of Billywigs as ingredients for potions," he said and then leaned back in the chair, his eyes closed as he removed his glass with his right hand and began to rub his left temple with the other.



ooc: I know there may not be much information on Billywigs but, use what information you can find to be creative in your essays (should you wish to turn one in). I award 1-10 points for homeworks based on the effort and creativity put into it. That doesn't necessarily mean someone who writes a book will get any more credit than someone who writes a well thought out, concisely written paragraph. So, please keep that in mind if you're concerned about earning points.

Curt had to blink a few times, half make himself realize the lesson was over before he stood up. Essay on Billywigs eh? Curt liked the idea of actual potion's related stuff... OWLS were definitely looming. "I'll be looking forward to it Sir." Curt said with a crooked grin as he scooped up his stuff and departed.