September 6, 1894 - Ravenclaw Tower

Sitting back in his chambers and reading the letter over again, Basil was surprised at the jovial, lighthearted nature of it. He'd meant to write to Ms. Bonaccord about her work, and he had, but–

Perhaps this really was how he was feeling. A little lonely, a little remiss, and certainly missing her easy way of things. Better to be genuine than to force it, he supposed.

---

Miss Bonaccord,

I find myself walking the hallways back here at Hogwarts thinking on our conversation about crisis management. I have to say, you've given me a greater appreciation for badgers as a whole. Ashamed as I am to admit it, I have been remiss in my professorial duties to have taken this long to realize it.

thoughtfully,
Basil Foxwood

P.S. - Please do keep me appraised of your research! I should hope not to sever our contact merely because we are at a distance.

---

Hermia Bonaccord & muse song (aha the thread title lyric was so close to their actual dates!)

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   Hermia Bonaccord

While Hermia was grateful to be back in classes, she was mourning the loss of her teaching post. No amount of explaining would convince her she was somehow unfit to stand before a room of men. Still, she found herself mourning something or someone else.
When the letter came at breakfast, she'd choked on her tea.

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8 September 1894,

Dear Professor Foxwood,

It gladdens my heart and brightens my day to receive your owl. I am proud my house has upheld my faith in them, as they always do. Never would I call you remiss in your duties. If you are to embody the traits of your house and have your head in the clouds, it is only your nature.

Forgive me for teasing you. I find your adamant defense of your house most admirable. Your eyrie is lucky to have you as its leader.
Thank you for inquiring after my research. I wrote to my former tutor in Tunis, and he was most helpful confirming my Arabic translations were sound. I believe my hypothesis is ready for publication. I cannot believe it to be true, but I have the proof before me.

I have you to thank for this.

Yours, in gratitude,
Hermia Bonaccord

  

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Lady is a genius

Thread Log

September 9, 1894 - Great Hall, breakfast post

Basil was loathe to admit even to himself how much Ms. Bonaccord's letters pleased him. It had been a long time since he'd been so invested in something a fellow academic had to say, and if his toast went a little unnoticed that morning, it was only because he had more important things to attend to than breakfast.

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Miss Bonaccord,

You badgers are ever so kind, aren't you? Even in teasing you are so complimentary, I feel embarrassed by my own playful affront. I won't be convinced of it. We Ravenclaws are clever enough not to allow ourselves be lulled into complacency.

I am, however, pleased to hear of your continued progress, and even more so as to the completion of a draft! Brava, Ms. Bonaccord!

Have you a panel yet to provide commentary? A publication avenue selected? I would be happy to discourse on this subject further should you require assistance, or extend a critique to the draft, in as much as my own expertise may overlap with your subject matter.

At your disposal for whatever may arise,
Basil Foxwood

---

Hermia Bonaccord & muse song

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   Hermia Bonaccord

September 9, 1894 - Hermia's study near midnight

No one commented if she was overly eager to receive the late post. It was common enough for her to receive letters related to her research, and her mother had stopped commenting on her hobbies after an exasperated intervention from her papa. She'd kissed him soundly on the cheek for that. The letter taunted her as she worked through her assignments and made her research a joke. Why pretend there were any other words she wanted to read?

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9 September 1894,

Professor Foxwood,

Curse your Ravenclaw senses! It seems you’ve discovered my insidious plans. Perhaps, in your insight, you can tell me exactly what I planned to do. I am but a simple badger and plotting is a Ravenclaw’s realm, after all.

My sincerest thanks for your guidance and for providing your notes on South American botany. Your work provided insights and avenues I hadn’t considered. How can I thank you for such a gift?

I could not bother you with a critique. I fear you have enough mediocre essays to read now that term started.
Your Ravenclaw wit strikes again. I find myself feeling guilty for slighting myself and unnamed students. As I have tutored some of them, I would like to think they can write at level.

In gratitude,
Hermia Bonaccord

  

---

Lady is a genius

Thread Log

September 10, 1894 - Transfiguration classroom, late afternoon

Her letter had settled on the corner of his desk amidst a number of other items Basil had yet to attend to for the afternoon. He had a few first year essays to grade and correspondence with his editor that was yet to be returned, but of all these things it was a book on botany that had captured his attention. Skimming through it and noting a few things in the margin that might be of use to his or Ms. Bonaccord's future work, Basil did not notice that supper was approaching. It was only when his stomach rumbled that at last the professor set down his reading and decided he might indulge in a response before he went off, first to the Owlery, then to the Great Hall.

---

Miss Bonaccord,

You give me too much credit. How am I to know what your plots may warrant? I only suspect that this sweet facade is but a rouse and I am not to be made a fool. How else could someone be so perfectly pleasant all the time? I forswear it-- I shall inspire a spiteful word of you yet. The challenge has issued!

I will agree with your chastisement however, that at the very least your work could hardly be mediocre. Not from what I've seen to date. I will respect your wish to keep it private until such date it has been published. Just know, I await eagerly.

Please do let me know if, and how, I may be of service in the process.

In other news, I should like like to hear your take on a prospective idea I've hatched. What do you think of a combined Transfiguration and Defense Against the Dark Arts Field Study? I haven't worked out the details yet, but I am thinking to approach Professor Lissington on the topic this week. It might be nice to get the students out of the classroom and in a practical environment to see what, if anything, they've retained by mid-way through term.

Always at your disposal,
Basil Foxwood

P.S. I am sending along some interesting notes that I came across recently. Just something curious to pass the time.

---

[Attached is a small scroll of parchment with a few sketches and some scribbles from the botany book he'd spent the afternoon examining.]

Hermia Bonaccord & muse song

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   Hermia Bonaccord

September 11, 1894 - Evening post

She gave her owl extra treats this afternoon before giving the weighty packet of parchment to the owl. She had reviewed his notes and quickly added him to her attributions. She trusted his expertise and could think of no other way to thank him until she finished hand-copying her article. She considered her decision carefully as she copied her title page. Was it presumptuous of her to do this? Was her work of high enough quality to do such a thing? She figured, she would know soon enough.

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11 September 1894,

Professor Foxwood,

Now I know you mock me. I am well known for my sour, moody disposition. I shall do my best to be obliging and find a word or two of spite. Or perhaps not, as I am so fond of being disagreeable.

I admit I am guilty of pride. I have become so attached to my writing, treating it as precious, that I’ve been hesitant to seek further feedback. I know collaboration and a wider base of knowledge can only improve the work, and, should you still be willing, I would be most grateful for any notes you have.

I think your combined field study would be brilliant! There is no better way to test muscle memory than to put the students to work on a project. Of course, you would need different challenges for different levels of students, and perhaps you should consider making the study a group or pair project. I know the general student sentiment on group projects, but teamwork can always be improved.

Faithfully,
Hermia Bonaccord

Included in a soft leather satchel is a handwritten copy of Variations on the Animagus Potion: A Comparative Linguistic Examination of Botanical Components by H. E. Bonaccord.
A simple line on the dedication page: To Prof. B. Foxwood, with all gratitude.

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   Basil Foxwood

---

Lady is a genius

Thread Log

September 13, 1894 - Ravenclaw Tower, Basil's quarters, early evening

It had taken a full two days for Basil to go through Ms. Bonaccord's work and annotate it with care. He reviewed the document a number of times, checking references, making suggestions-- and in the end, it was redlined more than anything he'd redlined yet this term. Most of it was supporting commentary; he was impressed by how well researched and thorough her concept was. It would be well received in the industry.

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Miss Bonaccord,

Sour? Disagreeable? Moody disposition? I dare say, you and I know different people. Have you a twin, because nobody can be that talented an actress.

As for your work, I can absolutely understand the same sense of pride and confess to having been victim of it myself on many past occasions. The longer the work, or the more time spent, the worse I find it is. As such, I have taken my time to review your document very thoroughly and provide (what I hope to be) helpful commentary only.

I will summarize as much to say that I was right in previous letters-- there is nothing mediocre about this body of work and you ought to be quite proud, Ms. Bonaccord. I have no doubt it will be well received in the industry and you make compelling points that inspire more questions and thought on a very interesting topic! Brava, I toast to you again.

Of lesser note, I should like to say that we've taken your suggestions as to the field study as well. In discussion with Professor Lissington, he too agrees that groups of two or more would be beneficial, particularly for those OWL or NEWT students who wish to take only one of the two courses being tested. (Though how anyone could conceive of dropping Transfiguration still baffles me.) I shall keep you appraised of furthering developments should anything arise.

Always at your disposal,
Basil Foxwood

P.S. I am at a loss of how to thank you for the dedication other than to say it is utterly unnecessary. This work does you credit as both a scholar and an academic; I am simply honored to have been involved in a very small part of it.

---

[Attached is the same satchel with Ms. Bonaccord's document, well annotated.]

Hermia Bonaccord & muse song

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   Hermia Bonaccord