Basil frowned pointedly at Augustus’ dig about his class. He didn’t think the middle or lower classes were much different, but he bit the retort back knowing it was a lost cause. There simply didn’t seem to be any way to reason with Lissing! Basil simply couldn’t understand why he was being so stubborn about this. Was there some big piece he was missing from the equation? Evidently, if it was this complicated to unravel. Basil ran a hand frustratedly through his hair and eyed the red-head as he called out their entire relationship.

Now that one took Basil for a loop. He didn’t know what ‘sham’ Gus was referring to and frankly, he found himself getting a little offended at the implication. He wanted to continue bickering, to force Gus to see that the only ‘sham’ here was his own folly and expectations! Basil had been entirely genuine all these months they’d shared. It had been lovely, it was everything he could have wanted. Why that had to change or become obscured by this… silly miscommunication, he would never know!

Still fuming, Basil debated swatting Lissing away entirely as he encroached on the Ravenclaw’s personal space. Thinking better of it, he clenched his hands into fists again and stood there icily as the Hufflepuff bade him farewell. The kiss, however chase and light, still sent his blood pumping and Basil growled under his breath. “You don’t understand!” He accused hotly, even as the other turned to walk away. Basil growled again, this time more audibly.

“You’re a selfish cad, Lissington!” He called angrily. Selfish, egocentric, and all-around infuriating. How dare the other put him in this position, to choose between their friendship and his own career! How dare he ambush Basil with that dratted ‘I love you’ nonsense! How dare he walk away like this was finished?! Basil couldn’t help himself. He tromped over to where the Hufflepuff was retreating away from the cliff face and grabbed him by the robes, accidentally - on purpose? - shoving the slightly taller boy into a tree. Pressed against him, Basil stared directly up into blue hues with his own angry greys.

“Don’t pretend to comprehend how I’m feeling in all of this,” he hissed. “We live very different lives.” Releasing the other’s robes with a huff, Basil glared at him. “You get to go home to a supportive family who might believe you when you say you’ve fallen in love with another boy. I don’t have that luxury and I’d thank you not to bring it up again.” He hesitated for a moment before adding: “And don’t think for a moment you know where my heart lies. Because evidently, you don’t have a clue.”

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Gus Lissington

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When Gus felt his robes being tugged he spun around, already fuming; after being told he didn’t understand his feelings, clearly wasn’t in love Basil and was confused about his damn feelings, incapable of love, and now selfish for attempting to save face in some manner after a clear rejection, he was angry that he wasn’t allowed to walk away. There was nothing he had left to say to him. So when the Ravenclaw backed him up against a tree he growled softly at him. He moved to flick his hands off but the other had already released his robes.

“No, I’m not you. I’m not telling you you’re confused or how you feel. You have just made your rejection clear and I apologize for offending you.” Gus gritted through his teeth; how much more could Basil toss in his face that he didn’t want him? He understood, completely; now he just wanted to retreat to his other friends and pretend this never happened. (Relive his memories to see where he’d misconstrued what he thought he and Basil had; it’s not as if he went around kissing everyone!)

Closing his eyes, the Hufflepuff heaved a small laugh. “And please stop putting my mam and da on a pedestal. It’s delusional to believe they would accept me with open arms. I’d be stripped of the Lissington name, my family and probably my skin before I’d even finished the sentence. Fig would be disgusted with me; I’d never get a ministry position again because I choose to live in sin.” It was a terrifying thought, to be alone in the world for a preference he felt he had little, if any, control over. Despite how much his parents adored him and he adored them they would be appalled - disgusted by his secret. He could be arrested and rot in prison for the rest of his life because he’d done a simple thing like fall in love with the wrong person.  Still, he’d thrown caution to the wind because there was something special about Basil; he was willing to lose everything for a shot at being with him.

“I don’t know where your heart is, but I can just tell it’s not with me.” Gus sighed as he narrowed his eyes at him; he was still angry with Basil for dragging this out, for accusing him of so many things; he was well aware of his feelings and he'd tried to let them both leave with a bit of dignity intact. "Now get off me." He growled.

****
Basil Foxwood

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Even still, still, Lissing was misconstruing everything Basil tried to articulate! It was infuriating. The Ravenclaw snorted derisively, not even deigning to respond to the atrocious mangling of his communication. Lissing was never going to get it. He was never going to understand how… complicated all of this was. It wasn’t simply black and white, to love or not to love! Ignoring the red-head’s statement about his family entirely (because really, that would have to be categorized and revisited later), Basil took a deep breath.

“You’re right.” he finally conceded coldly. True or not, he knew at this point there was no amount of discussion that would force Lissington to hear him for what he was saying. They were both beyond that point.

Perhaps Basil had been too hasty this year letting the Hufflepuff get so close. Perhaps this whole endeavor had been a mistake. Their friendship, their bond, their shared moments. What had he called it? A sham? Perhaps after all this, Gus was right. Deep down the very notion of such a defeat ached at Basil in places he didn’t even know could hurt, but he held firm.

“I’m sorry I’ve wasted your time.”

There was nothing more to say.

Loving you is a losing game.

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Gus Lissington

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“Perhaps this breakup is the only way I will rediscover who I am, the me that is purely myself. I had these dreams. I had these amazing technicolour dreams that I need to make into some kind of reality for others... and for me too. Your dreams are so very different and so together everything becomes muted and confused, we morphed into some terrible compromise instead of supporting each other as brilliant and vivid individuals with passion and drive.”

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   Basil Foxwood

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