January 14, 2022 – 7:10 AM
Last modified: January 18, 2022 – 2:22 AM by Basil Foxwood.
Basil Foxwood — Played by Fox
Jan 12. 1982 - Hogwarts Castle, Great Hall (breakfast time)
Basil stared down at his brother’s familiar
handwriting as his heart began to beat dramatically. What on Earth could he mean, their mother was experiencing the same symptoms as their father had before he’d passed? It simply couldn’t be true. Perhaps this was just a cruel ploy to get him to come home and leave Hogwarts for good. As quickly as the thought had come however, it vanished. Surely not even Atticus could be that dastardly, and even if he was, their mother would never agree to play along. With a bit of a shaky sigh, Basil tucked the note away into his pocket and gave his brother’s owl a pice of his toast to keep it content. (The poor thing had fluttered back and forth from Hogwarts to Hogsmeade twice now over the course of the morning and would need to once again as he made his reply.)
It was early morning yet and Basil was currently sitting in the Great Hall having breakfast at the staff table. Only moments ago the post had arrived delivering to him the Daily Prophet, his monthly issue of Transfiguration Today, and this… updated horrid news. He’d received the first owl in his office before coming down, as an urgent priority, but it wasn’t until this second reply came in that he really felt concern begin to arise. Basil’s appetite waned completely. He supposed he’d have to speak with Headmaster Black and see if he
could get a few days home to deal with whatever this really was.
Taking one last sip of his tea, Basil knew he’d be distracted at best today. He supposed he ought to scribble his brother a reply in the interim while he made arrangements. With a flick of his wand he summoned his quill and a fresh piece of parchment to respond. Then, rolling the note up, he handed it to Atticus’ owl and, with a small scratch to the back of the head, he sent it on its way. Today had just gone from cheerful, to terribly over the course of a few hours.
January 23, 2022 – 4:42 PM
Phineas was naturally an early riser, mostly because he wanted to avoid the crowds in the Great Hall at meal times. Breakfast was often the only one he took in the hall itself, unless there was a special occasion for dinner he simply must be present for. Nobody could accuse him of never coming in, which was the whole reason behind attending breakfast; it simply wasn't his fault that most students were still sleeping or up in their dormitories at this point.
It was still early enough that only a few students and staff lingered in the Hall and Phineas made a beeline straight to his chair in the middle of the Staff table. He nodded at Foxwood down the way and Skeeter down the other, but the latter seemed ready to head out to his greenhouses already, which was typical. It pleased Phineas on some level to know he made the Herbology Professor still, despite his position at the school as professor instead of student.
Oblivious to the plight of his subordinate down the table, Phineas started filling his mug with tea and then began to compile his breakfast.
January 26, 2022 – 3:04 AM
Basil Foxwood — Played by Fox
With one last look at Atticus’ handwriting, Basil resisted the urge to crumple the note and instead folded it neatly into a square. He tucked the parchment into his pocket and pushed his plate back a little to avoid getting anything on his robes as he stood. It would seem just his luck that Headmaster Black had come in right when Basil needed to speak with the man. Good, this would save him a trip up to the office.
It wasn’t often that Basil and Black overlapped in their morning routines. While it was true that the Headmaster liked to come in early before the masses and Basil himself liked to avoid the crowds, there was something about the students chattering away that he didn’t so much mind. It was nice to see their faces in the morning while he had a cuppa and ignored them for the news. Today however he'd been sure to avoid most of that, what with the startling news and his anxiety to get moving.
Papers in tow, Basil made his way over to Mr. Phineas Black and cleared his throat gently.
“Good morning Headmaster,” he greeted.
“Might I have a word?”
January 30, 2022 – 1:28 AM
It wasn't often that anyone felt the need or was indeed brave enough, to interrupt his meal, and so Mr. Foxwood better have a good reason. Sighing, Phineas set his utensils down gently upon the table and cast a look at his staff. The impatience was clear on his features and he waved a hand at the Transfiguration professor to get on with it. He didn't have time for this.
February 2, 2022 – 4:42 AM
Basil Foxwood — Played by Fox
Basil could see the impatience on the headmaster’s face. He figured he ought to make this quick.
“Ah, yes, well,” he cleared his throat.
“You see, it seems my mother has been taken ill. It appears quite grave and I wondered if I could request a few days away from the castle to attend her.” Basil hoped to
Merlin he wouldn’t regret this. He had very little clout with Headmaster Phineas to be squandering it and if this was one of Atticus’ rouses…
“I plan to leave each of the classes with an extended assignment to complete in my absence, and hope to return as promptly as possible.” Basil offered a vague gesture with his hand. Ideally this would all be some mild illness that could be dispelled, but he supposed he was rather anxious to get home and see her.
February 12, 2022 – 6:25 PM
Well, this wasn't exactly what Phineas wanted to deal with right now, but it was hardly something he could ignore. He was not the most sympathetic of people, but he did supposed he had to show some here. Family was important and he didn't want to look like too much of an asshole here. He took a moment, trying to reason with what would be appropriate.
"I shouldn't be able to give you more than a three or so days, attached to the weekend," That would be fine. "And I will need you to submit your plans for the missed lessons before you leave." Somebody would still have to cover of course, perhaps one of the matrons wouldn't mind filling in, but as long as the students were not missing out on what they were supposed to be doing, Phineas could agree to a few days.
February 16, 2022 – 4:47 PM
Last modified: February 16, 2022 – 4:47 PM by Basil Foxwood.
Basil Foxwood — Played by Fox
Nodding in agreement, he let out a grateful breath.
“Yes, of course.” He replied.
“I’ve already started drafting some plans” mentally “and I’ll be back on Monday morning.” Basil nodded again, unsure of what else to say.
“Thank you,” he added as a last measure.
The former Ravenclaw was grateful he could be excused from classes for a few days, even if he knew he would be counting down the moments to be back here. He supposed he ought to be off and start preparing for the rest of what was undoubtedly going to be a busy day.
“I’ll have the lessons to your office by this afternoon.” Then, with a tip of his head in a parting gesture, Basil turned on his heel and made quick work of heading to his office.
