Ira was absolutely blank as she sat there hearing to others' answers about expressions used in wizarding world. Being a muggleborn, she had no idea at all....
Still some of them appeared to be derived from the muggle proverbs...or was it vice-versa? Still she attempted an answer, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" surely it was applicable even in the magical world.

India looked at her name plate and sighed - what on earth was she supposed to do now. Better wait and see - or listen to other students.

Raising her hand she spoke. Carefull not to speak over anyone. In effort to not sound Cliche she brought an expression she thought no one else would use...but who knew - they just as well might. "Well...there's the not-so-much used He pulled a Pettigrew" now that might get Lil Miss some weird looks.

Desiree was pleased to see her answer up on the board (although not bolded) She wrote down the most important events in her notes and listened to everyone giving their definitions of an expression. Now Professor Scabior was asking for example, a wizard phrase.. she listened to some common ones like, "Merlin's Beard!" thinking she tapped her desk a bit..

She had one, it wasn't that great but she raised her hand anyway "There's 'Working as a hard as a house-elf'" it's the phrase her and her sister would joke about with their mum when she gave them loads of chores..

Everett had decided that he wasn't going to write these downs. But he was eager to hear what the students could remember or even what they could come up with."Yeah! That's one. Pretty ironic too since you wouldn't consider sadness to be a good thing, but it is with Phoenix's"

"Yes! Merlin's Beard and In the name of Merlin are expressions that are used to show outrage or shock. Galloping gargoyles also falls under that." Everett nodded. Correct!

Clearly this one had some kind of school pride. "Absolutely correct, and very good interpretation. It is actually stated in some sources that, that in fact is Hogwarts motto because that was the only thing that Salazar Slytherin and Godric Gryffindor agreed on together, with out any arguments." Of course that could be debated but everything could be. Everett nodded at her. Perhaps taking away the points made some people smarten up?

Or it could have been the head girl's glares.

"Correct Miss Hollingberry." Although, he had hoped that she would have explained a little further. "The basic meaning of that expression is to do something that causes a lot of worry to other people." She seemed to be in some sort of shock? Oh well

"Yup! A common one. Basically meaning to hold on or relax, could also mean, slow down? Or even wait for an explanation." Professor Scabior nodded. Right.

Professor Scabior glanced at the girl for a few seconds before finally opening his mouth. "Five points from Ravenclaw for using such a disrespectful and derogatory term in class." He said loudly, still looking at the girl. THAT wasn't needed. At all. They were talking about nothing of the sort. "And another five for not paying attention in class. Slang is not an expression or an idiom. Slang is a type of jargon. An expression is a phrase which was stated before if you had listened." He clicked his tongue. Wanting to take five more points away because he was now in a bad mood.

Urg. Wrong history facts. That just made Everett want to hit his head against a wall. "Good expressions. Merlin's heard, and in the name of Merlin are both used to express surprise or anger. But Miss DeSantis, Merlin was not the first wizard. He is just one of the most famous wizards." Even more famous than Harry potter.

Well..that was one you didn't hear every day. "Yes! That's an expression as well. Similar to Merlin's Beard, but less popular."

Everett sighed. Then blinked. Then shook his head. "Not quite...nice try though." He had never heard that one. And he doubted it made any sense.

"Yes! I suppose- actually yes. That can be one. In the sense of losing something valuable but learning a lesson because of it, or something along the lines of that." You got what he meant, yeah? Yeah.

"Yes. Not only is that bad luck. But you just never know what might happen, and that is exactly what this expression is trying to say."He nodded his head.

"You are as correct as the sky is blue." That meant really correct. Yeah. Hopefully he got that.

"Good! Perfect. This one is usually used by mothers or females, or even grumpy old men but yup. The meaning is pretty basic; there being no room, in a room." Which completely defeated the point of a room.

Another rarely heard one! Good job. "That's right Mr. Starr. That saying basically means that it's better to have a small advantage than a greater one." Everett didn't really believe in this saying but, it was there nonetheless.

This girl. With the heart on her name plate. Everett nodded slowly, the words forming in his head. "You see Miss Greingoth, that really wouldn't be considered an expression or an idiom. That is actually a quote- by Albus Dumbledore so a really good quote. But still a quote. You can basically tell because there is no deeper meaning to the words. They said what's right there. Don't dwell on dreams." Although not all expressions were more complicated most of them were, and for most the idea behind it wasn't so obvious.

Don't die. Oddly enough this was the SECOND time around he was hearing this. "Hm. Yes but again, there is no deeper meaning other than don't die. You wouldn't hit your thumb on a chair and yell DON'T DIE. It just wouldn't work." Really, he would have to have a word with Tate.

Professor Scabior sighed. "Well...yes..but I guess no. But yes. It is used often but personally I hate this so called expression. It dates back to the idea that wands made out of elder are really difficult to handle and therefore their owners don't do well. The only time you would be able to use this would be when you are talking about an elder wand but..but other than than you can't. But it still is a saying in the sense that...people still use it. I guess it's more like a myth." He shrugged. Really..sometimes things were always black and white. Sometimes there was a grey area, especially when it came to History more so than subjects like Charms.

"Very well said! Most likely the unicorn will never like him because it is a man but.." He shrugged. He didn't know too much about unicorns but he had heard the expression a lot.

Everett grinned then clapped his hands. "Yes. Perfect. And you see this expression is one I love because it seems like it was made for people around your age. With all your insults and taunting of one another." Smirk. What? It was true.

"Yes! Another good example of something a student would use. Basically that expression just means that someone seems normal, other than they are a bit dumb." Adults could use it too. He had heard many of them use it, just to sound less cruel.

Everett sighed then let out a breath. Really? How....would he explain this? Oh yeah. "That's more like a quote. But it can be an expression...if you relate it back to your enemies and relate it to accepting and whatnot." Huh. Yeah it could work. But it was still a quote. He nodded.

Huh. "Well..that could work." He grinned. He had actually never heard of that before! "Like saying the Ministry robs from Weasleys just to pay Malfoys....yes! You could be the creator of a whole new expression." Look! History in the making right now!

"Quote. By a Mr. Albus Dumbledore. You can't use it in everyday language and make it make sense. It would be more like giving advice. Just a quote, not an idiom." He nodded.

"Good! And the meaning behind that basically is hippogriffs are like wizards. They have their own minds. You can't force them to do anything. And you can basically substitute that for anything. You can't force anyone to do anything they don't want to do." The Professor nodded once again.


"If you are using it in the sense of just talking about a wand then it is a quote. If you are talking about...looking deeper like explaining if you care for your friend then they will care for you? Then yes! A good expression." Sometimes it was really in the eye of the beholder.

"Perfect. Basic meaning; if something is done its done. You can't take it back, because chances are you don't have a time turner so jus go and fix it." It was a good one.

"YOU!" Everett said pointing to the boy. "I shall come back to you in a bit."

Everett clicked his tongue. Huh. "That's more of a Muggle expression but it works. Basically saying that you are better off not getting into any problems then trying to fix them once you go get into them."

-----

"So. I was given a number of good idioms or if you rather expressions. There are more like, I'm so hungry I could eat a hippogriff, and time is galleons, but that's okay." He paused. Write. This down. "As you all know, everything has history behind it. All of these expressions have a story behind why they were created. Since it would be extremely dull for me to go through all of them, I have decided to just talk about my favourite one. That that would be a variation of the one that Mr. Watson said."

Professor Scabior pulled out his wand once again and tapped it on the board, right beside the list in big bold letters was a simple saying.

An apple a day, keeps the Healer away.

"Now, let's get your brains working. What do you lot think this means? And also, what does it mean to you personally? " Personally as in, do you think its true? False? Only lies that your mum has told you?





OCC: calling it a day for now. class will start back tomorrow at 4pm EST sharp (and by sharp this time I mean SHARP)

Just when Nora was about to raise her hand to suggest another expression, the professor went on. She also couldn't help but glare at the blackboard, when it wrote a boring next to her idea. Hmph.

"It means that we should eat healthy food to keep healers away," she said with her hand in the air, and then let it fall back on the desk.

Aiden doesn't want to become a know-it-all. Therefore, instead of shooting her hand up in the air like a broom being maneuvred vertically, she simply mumbles the answer. "If we eat fruits or healthy food in general, we don't need to see the Healer frequently."

"Eat a lot of apples" India said matter of factly - thats what it meant she knew that much...but what did it really mean. "I know Apples are a good source of natural sugars and are used in many muggle diets..." Thrumming her finger onto her hand as she thought she quickly added "Apples are also a great source of Vitamin C so they can help reduce cholestoral - and help with the immune system in general...I also heard that they are a good food for Insulin deprived individuals because they raise the blood sugar in a way that is not too high." She smiled nervously.

Maybe her answer was too muggle.

Corey eyed the professor, in general wondering what the point of THIS whole thing was. Apples and healers?

"I reckon it depends on the apple." He said, sticking his hand up. "I mean, if you got an apple from that Hag, Malodora Grymm, for example, well you'd better hope a healer wouldn't stay away, right?"

Poisoned apple, that one was.

Speaking of, "And apple seeds are poisonous if you eat too many, there's naturally occurring cyanide in 'em, if you crush 'em up. You would have to eat a lot or alter 'em magically though."

Tori positively BEAMED with pride when Professor Scabior complimented her correct answer. Hee. She was so awesome. He totally loved her and even elaborated on her answer. Amazing. Yes. Yes she was. FAVORITE STUDENT HERE.

Anyway.

"Like the others said," Tori lazily flung her hand in the air, "an apple a day means that eating healthily, like fruits and veggies, will keep away most diseases and will prevent you from ever needing to see a Healer."

Or, like Corey basically said, feeding your local Healer a poisoned apple every day would do the trick.

When the professor raised his voice at him, Harvey thought he was in trouble, he had only said the one that he known. As he had heard it many times in the muggle world. But then he saw that the professor was using the one that he said as an example to a wizarding version. So he relaxed and thought about the next question.

"Professor I think this means that eating an apple a day would keep you in good health and therefore would keep the doctor or in this case the healer away. Or another way of saying it is that if you eat an apple a day there would be less chances of you becoming ill and having to go to the doctor or the healer."

What did it mean to him personally?
"I think it is true as not just apples but many fruits contain good amounts of vitamins and anti-toxins which are good for our health, so eating these fruits would keep colds and flus at bay meaning less trips to the doctor.... I mean healer." Harvey surprised himself at how he answered this question, but hoping that he was along the right track.

Harlow raised her hand, "I think it means that taking care of yourself is always cheaper than fixing yourself up once you're broken," she offered. "I mean apples are like 4 knuts as opposed to going to St. Mungos and getting a huge bill because you didn't exercise like you were supposed to." That's what she thought it meant anyways. "It makes sense to me." After all Harlow was the smartest girl she knew. She smiled at the silly thought.

Did he just look...disappointed that she hadn't said more on her answer? Was there no pleasing this man? Kurumi sat up a bit more straight when he began addressing each student individually and smiled at the first year who had especially peaked his interest. Apple a day keeps the doctor away. Yep, she had certainly heard that one a lot before.

Ever so slowly, Kurumi began to raise her hand to speak. "Professor, the non-magical expression mentioned I believe originated in Wales, but the wording was a bit differently." Not that she knew the original wording, but she had read about it somewhere. Something about keeping doctor's from receiving their pay. "The expression then meant quite literally what it says. Eat apples and you will stay healthy." She took a moment to nod to those who answered before her about this.

And now, well, he had asked for it. They didn't call her cookie girl for nothing. She KNEW her ingredients.

"Our wizarding variant, replacing doctor with Healer may have originated in a different place," or maybe the same? "...but I have always seen it as saying the same thing. Apples are extremely beneficial to our health. They offer bone protection due to some of the compounds found in apples. Specifically...phloridzin, which is only found in apples. Also, apples can help ease the effects of asthma and help prevent Alzheimer's. As has already been mentioned, they lower cholesterol...and can also help prevent many types of cancer. My brother...he has diabetes, and he has apples daily because they lower's the body's need for insulin." She paused for a moment, almost wincing really, as she expected him to come down on her once again for 'sharing facts that were unnecessary' or whatever. "Apples...also can help with weight loss."

Her hand was getting tired by this point, but she was afraid to lower it while she spoke. No telling what the man would do.

"So...taking all this into account, eating apples significantly lowers your chances of becoming sick or injured and therefore you wouldn't need to visit the Healer or...as the expression implies...have them come to you."

She thought for a moment. "Professor, if the expression originated in the same place as the non-magical one...Helga Hufflepuff was from Wales and especially skilled in cooking charms...is it possible that she was the one who, um, coined the expression?"

That would be a nice little historical connection right there.

Nika raised an eyebrow. Well wasn't this quote self explanatory? UNLESS this is a trick question and Professor Scabior is really looking for an in depth out of the box answer! HA. Nika has figured it out. Your trick question shall not trick Nika. She's just too smart for that. She smiled as she waved her hand in the air. Well she didn't really have an answer for this one, but she could make it up as she went along right? Really it's improv shouldn't be too hard.

"Maybe it means that healers don't like apples so you have to have apples with you everyday so that they will keep away from you!" HA. Original answer. No one else had mentioned that healers might not like apples. "And well... To me it means discrimination." Where she was going with this Nika had no idea, "Because healers shouldn't discriminate against apples! Apples are fruit too and they are actually really delicious."

Kourtney listened carefully to the answers around her. There were some really good answers, but no one had really answered the second part of the professor's question. So instead of re-hashing the 'apples are good for your health' she decided to speak on the other question.

Raising her hand, she began. "Personally, I do believe that eating apples...or any kind of fruit on a regular basis would be good for your health and would be beneficial in keeping up ones energy levels. However, I don't feel as though it always keeps the Healer away. There are too many other factors in catching a cold or becoming ill than simply consuming the proper foods daily or living the right kind of lifestyle."

Alyssa thought about the saying. It sounded so much like the muggle saying, 'An apple a day, keeps the doctor away'. She believed that the saying was true and not just what her Mom said just to convince her to eat more fruits.

So she raised her hand and when acknowledged, stood up and answered,"Sir, the saying literally means what it says. That if we eat apples daily, there won't be a need for us to see the healer and yes, I believe the saying is true. The reason I say this is because I remember reading somewhere in a Health magazine that apples contain more properties than any other fruit has and that it's benefits have been proven over and over again. The magazine explained that even though we could get the benefits of these properties individually from other fruits, an apple combines everything and makes it simpler. For example some of the properties in apples help boost ones immune system and fight colds and diseases. That alone keeps the healer away. But in addition to boosting our immune system, the properties in an apple, also helps prevent heart diseases, lower calories, prevent cancers, help reduce bad cholesterol and increase good cholesterol, prevent tooth decay, protect our brain from brain disease and helps strengthens our lungs. In fact, eating apples also helps build a healthy and balanced diet, and all that keeps us healthy and when we're healthy, there is no need for the healer to come and heal our ailments, because we won't have any" Alyssa ended her explanation with a smile.

Raven raised her hand and give the meaning of those statement.

"It means prevent is better that cure."

The professor seemed taken a back at her answer. Oh well, at least she tried. Sky sat and listened to her classmates for a second. Hmm… she'd never heard the bit about the apple seeds having cyanide before. And what was that Gryffindor prefect, a human encyclopedia? Sky raised her hand. "I think it means that if you eat your fruits, overall you'll be healthier. Personally, I agree."

Mmm. Indy was thinking about apples now. They were really yummy. Ahh. She was distracted now, and had drawn an apple on the top of her parchment again. Darn it. She wanted an apple now. But she figured she better start concentrating again. She looked up, thinking about the question. "That you should eat your fruit?" She asked, as she raised her hand. Well that was a bit obvious really. Or she hoped so anyway. But she was sure it was right, because like you could get nasty stuff if you didn't eat fruit and that wasn't good. No. Not good at all.

William raised his hand. " I believe that the saying means be careful of what you do" William told the professor." It a;so means take care of your body" William said to the professsor." I believe in te saying "An apple a day keps the helaer away" as long as O am not over careful not eat just competely healthy" William explained to the professor.

Lies?! Marilyn was horrified by the idea. Why would someone lie about food?

Raising her hand, she answered. "Um, I believe it's much to do about eating right and not putting a bunch of junk in your system. I suppose it could also reference working out and just staying healthy in general..."

Was there anything she wanted to add..."I know that certain foods are known to improve our immune systems in different ways. I drink a lot of orange juice and eat green, lefty vegetables. Vitamin c and all that..."

Ira raised her hand and answered, "According to me, as my mother used to say, apples may be good for us but it wasn't only because of their medicinal properties that were being highlighted when this phrase was coined. Rather actually here, an apple meant all the fruits in general. So it isn't a lie but it isn't even the complete truth. Eating only an apple cannot guarantee good health"

Elise snapped her head around to STARE at the girl who had just lost her house 5 points. FIVE!

Giving her a sympathetic look (she was probably hitting herself mentally), she turned around and tried to earn back the lost points.

Elise grinned as Professor Scabior praised her answer. Yeah... She liked that one to... Her mom said it applied to her especially.

Man, she missed her mom.

Nodding, she scribbled all the answers into her notebook. Squinting at her writing, she frowned. She'd have to improve it soon...

Writing into her notebook in big bold writing, Elise scratched in the saying on the board.

Now, to figure out what it means.

"My mother used to tell me this, while she was alive," she mused. "She said that it was because apple skin is a rich source of anti-oxidants, which aids in preventing oxygen related damage. They also reduce chances of cancer and Asthma, is good for digestion...." she said. "And aids in weight loss."

"It's not entirely true, however, as even religious apple-eaters do fall sick sometimes. They don't exactly render your immune system perfect or anything..." she added, making it a point.

Hopefully, that was enough.

An apple a day keeps the healer away.

Jonathan raised his hand to answer "If you eat healthy food on a daily basis, it will keep you from any trip to the school Healer?" he wasn't sure if he was correct but it did make sense right? The idiom used was a fruit so basically if you eat healthy you wouldn't be sick.

But can it be done literal though?

Ashley got busy writing as he'd thought it would be good to write some of these down, especially the ones he'd either never heard before, or only heard very seldomly. Once he had a fair few taken down, he raised his hand to try and offer his opinion on the new topic at hand.
"I thought it meant that you should always take care of yourself so that you don't end up getting so sick you need a healer. But I used to think you literally had to eat an apple once a day and you would never get sick." And no one ever felt the need to clear that up for him, either! It wasn't until he fell out of a tree once that he realized all those apples did nothing to protect him.

An Apple a Day keeps the Healer away. That was very similar to a muggle saying she had heard before, but what did it mean to her ?

Everyone almost seem to have the same answer. And it was all likely the same. Yes, eating nutritious food especially fruits make you healthy which means that you are to visit the Healer less frequently. And because the idea was rather spread by a huge number of the class, Beezus chose to answer if she believed in the idea the saying was about to convey.

"Professor, they have already said almost the whole objective of that saying and I think they did a rather great job. So I'll just give my opinion on this." she started, "I personally think that the saying is true. It is very true indeed for we need nutrition everyday. But I also think that eating the right kinds of food aren't the only factors that can affect your body development. You also need exercise and many other nutrients not only intended for the body but for your whole being as well." So that was her opinion.