Quote:
Originally Posted by
Con_Stripes 
"There is a time and a place for everything, a lesson I had to learn for myself too." Truebridge began. "Sometimes even if what you say is not intended as rude, sometimes even if words you speak are legitimate, circumstances such as locations or timing may conspire to have you come across as rude, or some other negative way, to others." Did he follow?
Ethan paused and then after a moment, opened his desk and pulled out a bag of miniature chocolate frogs. Sugar free. He offered one to Jake, being sure to turn the label of the bag so the boy could see what they were.
"There is also a thing called self-preservation." Something that tended to be innate in Slytherins, but Jake was a Hufflepuff and different to boot so it would possibly need to be a learned skill for him.
What? That made no sense.
"So, if I'd asked my question in a different place and time, I wouldn't have been called rude and had twenty points taken?" Jake asked, almost as though checking he understood. But he didn't.
"That doesn't make sense. It's the same question no matter when or where I ask it."
Jake flexed his fingers ever so slightly before gripping the arms of the chair.
"I don't know what self-preservation is, sir," the boy said as he took a moment to look at the label of the bag. It only took a couple of seconds longer than the average person before he reached out and took one.
And after another moment he remembered the,
"Thanks."