On that note, Anna placed the salad fork just where it belonged - belly up on the plate. She struggled in her seat a bit, trying to get her feet to touch the floor. It was only when she saw another fork heading down that she decided it just may be best to sit still and just let herself be. She steadied the fork and put it back in its proper place. She studied the belly-up salad fork. What was so different from it than the other fork? Wouldn't it both serve the same purpose? She felt like a flower. A short, tiny, lavender-colored lollipop looking flower. Maybe she should have gone with the black dress robes.

She stared down at her soup and licked her lips, wondering what goodies would be brought in for the main course. She hoped it would be chicken! My how she could use a good piece of chicken right about now. The meals served in the Great Hall lately had left something to be considered.

Steelsheen nodded in acknowledgment to the Professor's advice. But just how many wizarding households are like hers? she mused as she lay her salad fork down. Steelsheen figured that just as dinner hosts select their guests, this guest will have to be selective of the dinner party as well.

Anna's eyes widened at the sound of the word. Duck a la what with rice that was wild? She didn't even know rice could be wild...or tame for that matter. Then again, when it's sitting next to an orange duck on a platter waiting to be eaten, who knew where it came from. She'd never eaten duck before either. Hopefully it wasn't one of those foods she'd seen in the library books that were served with the little legs still sticking out of it.

She craned her neck, trying to see over the heads of the other students. My how she'd hoped for chicken. Was duck one of the foods that tasted like chicken no matter what it actually was? Maybe that would be a fair trade-off.

Tommy hide her disgust at being served duck. Brits and their strange eating habits. She looked around to see if anyone else was going to eat it.

Amelia had been trying her hardest to be very ladylike at the table. Perhaps it was an age thing, or maybe it was the fancy robes, but she actually felt as though she was doing quite well. She grinned over to the house elves as they appeared with their courses. The seventh year actually was pleased with this lesson because due to the changes in the great hall at her house table, she hadn't had much an appetite since arriving. Finally, some decent seating and food in her empty stomach!

Carefully spooning the soup as she was directed, she was actually more starved than she thought she would be. There was a soft Clink! made as her soon reached the bottom of the bowl. Oops! That's what she got for trying to get the last drop. Blushing, she laid her spoon carefully on the under dish and waited gleefully for the next course. At least they were getting fed; perhaps if there was quidditch this term she could persuade the Headmistress to do this again right before her first match...

Salad! Ooh yummy vegetable-y goodness! She rubbed her hands together but then stopped herself and placed her hands back on her lap. Ladies don't do that, she reminded herself sharply. After a few deep breaths to recollect herself, she picked up her salad fork, making sure to go from the outside and began to eat. Once that was finished, or close to it, as she realized it was rude to eat everything on the plate. One should always leave a small amount; at least that's what she was told. She then set her fork gracefully on the plate and waited for the main entree.

Duck!? Interesting... the seventh year never had duck before but the word 'orange' made it certainly more appetizing. Besides, her stomach was still telling her it was okay to eat more since it hadn't eaten a proper meal in a few weeks now. She grinned as Rae said, as fancy as they all look; ooh that made this lesson even more special that she almost forgot it was a class!

Hesitantly, she took a small bite of it for starters...

*Hearing what the main course was, Sheeta cringed. She had never had a problem eating beef or chicken. But whenever she saw something like a pig or a duck on a plate, she had felt sorry for the poor creature. She closed her eyes to make sure she couldn't see the food on the table.*

"Jade, can you serve me the food?" Sheeta said squeamishly.

Missus was going to have words to say to Beezley later, that was for sure. Beezley had got caught up in the kitchen and was late serving duck. The little house elf ran in as fast as her wobbly legs could carry her, all the while balancing the plates of duck on the little tray she'd retrieved from the kitchen cabinets. Her little elf eyes were wide with shock and fear. Oh why, oh why could she not have done this right for the Missus. Beezley was late, but Beezley's duck was sure to be a treat.

"Beezley sorry, Missus! Bad Beezley!" the little elf wailed from across the room. "Studentses have what is called duck a la orange now!" Beezley scurried around the table, sliding in plates of the main course in every place a studentsee sat. "Beezley prepare good food for studentses! Studentses should eat with happiness!"

She slid in the last plate of duck a la orange and then scurried back around to the professor. "Will Missus need anything else now?" she asked.

Beezley's little elf eyes grew wide and danced in pure excitement and happiness. She nodded as the Missus spoke with her. When the Missus was done, Beezley stepped back a bit, bowed, and turned to leave. Oh, she could just jump in the air and click her little elfy feet together now.

Melly stared at the house elves as they moved. Merlin, they looked so... awkward. And quite ugly in a way. The girl grimaced. A princess never had that kind of servants. Not at all. Quite on the contrary, a proper princess had gorgeous young men and women who'd actually have a life and would not punish themselves in such a violent manner when doing something wrong.

Ugh. She would have to do something about that. Now the question was what? And who'd help her? Yes, because she would definitely need help if she wanted to help those poor little creatures, but she doubted anyone in there would aid her for all of them seemed to be at ease with what was happening. Hmmm... Well, she'd have to get through to their heads. After all, she was certain Issy wouldn't like to live in the condition those house elves did. So, all she had to do was to explain the situation to her and a few more students (perhaps even the professors if she had the guts) and then they could all help the elves to live a happy life.

But that would all have to wait. It was now time to eat.

"Guess we won't have to go to the Great Hall for supper today," She murmured to Issy with a small smile, her eyes set on the dishes.

Truth to be told, she wasn't a big fan of duck but she wouldn't mind eating it. After all, it wasn't like she was at home and could refuse to eat. On that place, with that dress, she was ought to act perfectly and that involved getting in her stomach whatever she was given and that was what she was going to do.

Anna sighed, deciding now was just as good of a time as ever. She picked her up her fork and poked at her duck a bit, trying to decide exactly how to go about eating it. It wouldn't be so hard, except...it had a little part in the center that looked like a rack of ribs, still in the same position and in tact as they were when the duck was still alive. Then there was the little part sticking out of the front of it that looked similar to a spot where the neck may have once been. What on Earth did the house elves do to this thing? Behead it, defeather it, rip its little legs off, then throw it in? Eww.

It can't be that bad, though. Anything the professor would serve them had to be good. Then again, if the duck was anything like the silverware Gryffindor had been provided with this year, then all students beware. Gryffindors were brave, were they not? With that thought in mind, Anna cut into her duck, speared a piece with her fork, and then took a bite. She chewed slowly, halfway because she wanted to get a feel for the taste and halfway because she fully expected a feather to be still on there somewhere.

Wow. It was actually good. All things considered, ducks weren't half bad. Anna speared another piece and popped it in her mouth, nodding to the girls around her that it was safe to proceed. No caution needed.

Standing hairs on the back of her neck gave Issy the pecuiliar feeling that someone was watching or looking at herself. Swallowing her bite, she glanced up curiously, glancing around, before finding that Ari was the one who'd given her the shivery chill. Without thinking, a grin already split her face. The Hogwarts Brigade had that kind of bond.

With a twinkle of her fingers, she waved. "Are you enjoying?" she asked. Fortunately, Ari wasn't far down the table. "This reminds me of home - when Daddy has big business parties, this is what we'd eat. And it's just as juicey as when Lorelei does it and the skin nice and crisp. Took me a short while to get used to it when I was younger, cos of the orange. But once you get used to it, it's really good."

Beaming, she took a careful sip from her goblet, proud of herself for not making any messes so far. How awful she'd feel if she messed on one of these lovely sets of formal robes.

OoC: Heehee, hey guys. Don't worry about your charries being upset that the duck still looks like a duck - duck a la orange is actually just the duck breast.

Ari bit back her laugh knowing it would be rude to do so. a proper lady never laughed. Giggles yes but not laugh. And she was so ... not ... a lady. She twinkled her fingers right back at Issy and grinned, "I am enjoying myself, I admit it's much better than dueling, though I do miss that too." she chuckled as she sipped her water, her food growing cold.

She glanced down at her half eaten plate of food, the rce all but ogne and a few nibbles of duck taken. "I'm not fond of duck, it's too ... weird for me." she gestured at her plate with a slight frown. "My mother made me go to a few fancy dinners, where I spent most of my time with younger children. Getting apple sauce thrown in your hair is not fun." she explained shrugging slightly before nodding

"Wow, you've eaten duck before?" She asked, slightly in awe over anyone eating something so interesting as this. "The most interesting thing I've ever eaten was pheasent. Very tender I might add." she nodded before dabbing her mouth with her serveitte again.

Kayla picked up her knife and fork and very gently and sedately she cut pieces of meat away from the bone and ate small mouthfuls at a time. It wasn't the burger she had been dreaming about but it was excellent nevertheless. Once she had finished she placed her cutlery on the plate and dabbed her mouth with the napkin and waited for the rest to finish.

Would it be snide for Issy to tell Callie that she wasn't supposed to be calling down the table? Hmm... craning her neck, she attempted to see if there was any salt or pepper down where she was but decided that she ought to just pass hers down there. To Becca to whoever was beside her and beside her and beside her and beside her down to Callie. Which was a lot of passing and might seem rather annoying, she realized.

But a proper lady was not rude and Issy was doing her best to be a proper lady.

"Here Becca," she said, grabbing the two shakers and passing them over to the girl. "Pass these down to Callie."

This suddenly seemed like the "So and so like so and so pass it on!" secrets...

Grinning, Issy bit down on her lower lip, happy that her friend was enjoying this class so much. It was disheartening to see so many students being uncooperative or talking back to the Headmistress - it wasn't her fault she had to teach this kind of class. And it wasn't really unnecessary... "Me too," she agreed, happily. "I love dressing up and playing Lady. Isn't it fun?" Maybe they'd get to learn stuff in the next lesson.

Her nod came with understanding - not everyone liked duck. For some, it was too fatty or the flaour was just too odd for them. "At least you tried it," she pointed it, glancing at some plates of food that had hardly been touched. "And the rice is fab." Another grin split her face as Ari asked about her eating duck.

"Phesant is really good, too. We've had all sorts of different foods. Daddy likes to have fancy meals when he comes home from long trips." The small girl's cheeks flushed lightly - she didn't usually talk about anything that gave away her family's financial status - her friends had been awed by her house.

Bowing her head, she finished the last of her duck, leaving a few bites of the rice. Was the pudding on its way?