July 23rd, 1895 — Transfiguration Professor's Office

It had been years since she'd last stepped foot on Hogwarts' grounds, yet for some reason, she felt as if she'd been a student here just yesterday. The castle was much quieter than she'd ever seen it, as term hadn't yet begun and there were no students about. Effie likely wouldn't have been allowed in either, if she hadn't flashed her Ministry badge and told the caretaker that she was here on official Ministry business. He'd agreed to even let her park her broom inside the foyer.

It hadn't taken her long to get to the Transfiguration classroom, and now her footsteps echoed on the stone steps that led to the professor's office. Then she was at the door. She gave a long exhale, steeled herself for what could be an intense situation, and then rapped her knuckles soundly against the wood.

Basil Foxwood

  

Basil could not put into words how proud and pleased he was for Gus to have been appointed Head of Hufflepuff House. The circumstances were, obviously, less than ideal, but the fact of the matter was that Gus was… actually seeming rather like he was sticking around this time. At least in as much as his career progression could indicate. Basil for his part was beyond tracking the pretty redhead’s movements (mostly.) It didn’t matter anymore if Gus was coming or going, not in the way it once had, but he was still… happy. And nothing if not supportive.

That support was what had driven him back to Hogwarts amidst his rather busy holiday schedule this week. Between his social obligations, his own research, and teaching at Flint, it was a miracle Basil had managed to slip away at all. But he’d had to. There wasn’t anything to date that he wouldn’t do for Gus. There never had been.

(If his heart skipped a painful little beat at the thought, Basil squashed it before it could take root.)

He was currently in his office at the back of the classroom tidying up some things he’d left behind at the end of term. There was a book somewhere here he was intending to lend Ms. Bonaccord and he knew if he didn’t pack it now, he was likely to forget it once he swung by to check on the new HOH. It was a strong knock on the door that half pulled him from the task, but only just.

Basil called out a distracted, “it’s open!” before ducking to check in one of his drawers. Where had the bloody book gone? “I dare say, the elves absolutely come in and move things about when we’ve gone for the holiday!” He complained, to whom he could only assume was Gus coming to find him first. “I have half a mind to set a confusion charm such that they lose track of their intention before meddling next time!”

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Effie May Woodcroft

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   Effie May Woodcroft

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It had surprised her that he hadn't even come to the door, simply shouting that she could let herself in. She didn't outwardly react, of course, quite the stoic when she was working–and promptly pushed herself inside the small office. Effie surreptitiously glanced around the room, looking for anything that might seem muggle-like and out of place as he chattered on about house elves. She'd never actually dealt with one and didn't have much opinion on them. They'd stayed behind-the-scenes when she'd been at Hogwarts, and it wasn't like she was wealthy enough to have any in her home.

It seemed like an odd thing to say to a stranger (that he hadn't even looked at, mind you), but Effie had dealt with her fairshare of odd humans in her line of work. This didn't even phase her, though she did make sure to leave the door wide open for just in case. Safety first. "Are you Mister Basil Foxwood?" She said to his back, lowering the pitch of her natural voice to sound more authoritative. Her physical appearance was often detrimental to people taking her seriously, so she'd found ways to compensate.

Basil Foxwood

  

Startled by the sound of a female voice and not the cheery tenor he was so accustomed to, Basil looked up quickly. In his office stood a rather petite witch he’d never met before. She looked very official and he was surprised to note anyone here at this time over the holiday, much less anyone official. Closing the drawer and ending his search inconclusively, Basil straightened. “Ah, yes,” he replied. “Forgive me, I thought you were someone else.”

Putting down what papers he’d been holding and lifting his jacket off the back of his chair, Basil came around the front of the desk. He was attired rather informally in just a white shirt and waistcoat and so he tugged on the additional layer to pull together an ounce more respectability. “Is there something I can help you with?”

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Effie May Woodcroft

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Ah, so she'd startled him. That made a bit more sense and was met with relief on her part. The odd ducks were often difficult to deal with, and while she had no issue dealing with those cases, it was also nice to have more pleasant interactions. She nodded as she accepted his apology. Her gaze sharpened as he stepped a bit closer. Effie had learned to never let her guard down, and she wasn't about to start now. It seemed he'd just meant to be polite, however.

He'd confirmed his identity, so now it was time to reveal her own. Effie pulled her official investigative badge from her dress pocket and held it in front of her so that he could see it properly. "My name is Miss Woodcroft. I'm with the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts department from the Ministry," She paused to re-pocket her badge before continuing, "We have received several anonymous tips that you have an illegally enchanted muggle artifact in your posession." She watched him carefully as she waited for his response. The guilty ones always glanced in the direction of where the object was hidden away.

  

The woman made to reach into her dress and Basil raised a brow as she retrieved a badge of some sort. He recognized it quickly as belonging to the Ministry and the explanation that followed confirmed as much. Immediately Basil felt his blood run cold. What could he have possibly done to warrant such a visit? They couldn’t have found out about Gus could they? That had been eons ago now and he’d been rather to himself ever since. Agrimony certainly didn’t have any such bearing either and—

Oh. Misuse of Muggle Artefacts. Basil frowned. The notion of ‘several anonymous tips’ wranckled him a little bit (who could possibly think him likely to tinker with muggle contraptions?) but he held his peace. Perhaps they had mistaken him with someone else? He could certainly think of at least one person who might have such a frequent visitor.

“I beg your pardon, Ms. Woodcroft,” he began, “but I think there might be some mistake. I have no muggle artefacts in my possession, and certainly not enchanted ones.” Basil took a quick cursory glance around the room. “You are, however, welcome to search if you’d like. Perhaps one of the students has left something behind?”

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Effie May Woodcroft

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It was going to be like this, was it? So be it. Effie stood straighter in her boots and pressed her shoulders back slightly, which would make her appear slightly larger (though not nearly enough.) To be fair, Mr. Foxwood had reacted the way an innocent person might. Although he'd done the glance... but hadn't landed on anything in particular. She refrained from pressing her lips together. It was better to appear unruffled. She was here to do her job.

"Mr. Foxwood, I can assure you that things will go much better for you if you procure it now," She told him flatly, "You'll receive due process and a trial if deemed necessary, but it completely depends on how this moment goes."

  

As the conversation continued in a vein much less charitable than Basil might have liked, he decided he didn’t have time for this nonsense. What kind of muggle artefact would he even need in his line of work? He was a scholar dedicated purely to the research of magic, not muggle. The mere suggestion that he might be some petty criminal wranckled the professor’s usually easy going demeanor.

“It’s Professor Foxwood,” he correctly shortly. “And I can assure you Ms. Woodcroft, there is nothing to procure. You may search where you like, but I have things to do. When the inevitable investigation comes up null, you’re free to depart as you’ve come. In the meantime, I have nothing more to share with you.”

It was perhaps a bit more cross than he’d intended but as each word escaped his lips, Basil felt the offense mount. How dare this witch barge in here with such a ridiculous accusation, Ministry employee or not? He was not some ruffian with no standing, and certainly not someone with anything (much) to hide! Let her look. There was nothing in the whole of England that he had in his possession that would warrant any kind of trial. (Basil paused for a moment in his affront to think on Agrimony— but no, they hadn’t exchanged anything more than letters in weeks now so there was no harm there either.)

Turning his back to the woman, he made to collect a few things. The book would have to wait. He was determined now to leave this confrontation behind.

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Effie May Woodcroft

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Effie's nostrils flared, the only outward sign that she had become irritated by his demeanor. Professor Foxwood had gone from polite to snappy in no time at all. Still he claimed his innocence. And after all that, he'd turned his back on her. Rude, though not something she was unused to given... well, everything about her.

"Very well, Professor," She said sternly. If he decided to run, it wasn't something she was able to stop. Protocol would have the law enforcement department retrieve him, and by that point, he would no longer be her problem. Effie took her work seriously–it was the only reason she'd been able to move from welcome witch to this department to begin with–so before she began the search in earnest, she informed him, "I will be conducting the search now. Please refrain from touching anything while I do so. It won't take long."

And then, before he had time to respond, she withdrew her wand from her dress pocket and began reciting the different spells required to identify the object.

  

Even as his irritation flared, Basil regretted speaking so sharply and turning his back on the woman. She was still a Ministry employee after all and - right or wrong - was only trying to do her job. He sucked in a short breath and held it, tidying a stack of scrambled papers as she emphasized his title.

He turned back towards the witch as she gave clear instruction on what was to happen next and Basil let the bluster fall from his lungs. He watched as she worked and focused instead of on her tone on her spell work. She was a rather gifted witch, he observed with some bias.

Clearing his throat and deciding it was best to be polite regardless of the circumstances, Basil made to speak again. “Forgive me,” he tried. “I have no objection to your investigation. I just find it a little difficult to imagine that I might be the subject of such a thing—“ as if that didn’t sound absolutely the most priggish statement in the world, he thought grimacing. “I am, however, at your disposal to assist in any way necessary. Ego set aside.” Basil tried to offer the witch a reconciliatory smile, even if it didn’t meet his eyes.

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Effie May Woodcroft

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She had thought he was going to let her get her work done in silence–which would have been her preference. However, he did seem to realize that he'd been short with her, enough so that he even gave her an apology. Effie didn't turn to face him as he spoke, instead focusing on the task at hand. If he'd wanted to assist, he could have cooperated with her from the very beginning and saved them both the trouble. She finished up the final spell just as he finished speaking. Nothing had popped out. He'd either been being truthful or had it stashed away elsewhere.

"How gallant," She deadpanned as she re-pocketed her wand. Men always had an ego. It had hardly surprised her that he'd revealed his so soon into their conversation. They never could resist, could they? And they said women were the emotional ones. Now it was back to business, so she pasted a polite smile on her face, "It appears that nothing turned up during my search. I expect you may have been victim to a prank." Based on the ten minutes she'd known him, she could completely understand why they had done it.

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   Basil Foxwood

Basil was not as much an idiot as some imagined him to be and when the woman curtly responded to his apology with sarcasm, he felt dully chastised and said nothing more. He tucked his chin down to his chest, reprimanded. Perhaps he ought to have thought about that before being a bit of a brute.

He let Ms. Woodcroft finish her work in peace then, silence hanging between them until the search came up inconclusive. She seemed displeased and Basil made every effort to keep the smugness off his face. Obviously there was nothing inappropriate here. He was (for the most part) a stand-up member of the magical community. A contributing member, in fact! And he didn’t have any interest in muggles anyway outside a book or two. If he was going to get dragged through the streets and hailed a criminal it would certainly be for something much more hedonistic than an artefact.

Basil blushed at the mere thought and cleared his throat, shoving it aside.

“I appreciate your diligence,” he responded to her statement of a prank. “Is there anything else I can do for you then, Ms. Woodcroft?” He wasn’t nearly as eager for her to go now that the search was over, but he supposed he did have Gus to return to.

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Effie May Woodcroft

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Thankfully, he didn't cause any other nonsense and she could conclude this conversation. She had plenty to do at the office–including writing up the scrolls of paperwork that were required with every investigation. At least this one would be relatively easy. Although, she would have been gratified if there had been something on Professor Foxwood. Maybe one day his students would be smart enough to plant something on him and then make a report.

Effie stepped toward the door, "That would be all, thank you for your time. If you should need anything or have any questions, please send an owl to the department." And with that, she closed the door behind her, fetched her broom, and returned to the Ministry.