January 6, 1982 - Transfiguration Department

After so many years at Hogwarts, most of the castle began to look alike, no matter what part she found herself in; the hallways, the staircases and the portraits (goodness, the portraits!) all blended together, and as Juniper glidedwalked down the hallway toward Professor Foxwood’s office, she couldn’t help but note how similar the corridor was to the dungeon where she currently resided. She would never complain about going down than up. (First year flying lessons were still a sore subject, and June would never sit on another broom in her life if she could help it.)

The hallway was absent of noise as she drew to a stop in front of the office, blinking at the open door; Professor Foxwood hadn’t been her first choice to ask, but she’d been shot down once this week, and well, she was hoping that he’d be easier to convince. At least he heard his students out and wouldn’t outwardly call her out on the fabrications of her story. Perhaps she should have concocted something with Poppy first, but that was too little, too late. June sucked in a minuscule, sharp breath and stepped forwarding to gently knock against the door.

She had a better shot if she used some of the manners her governess had imposed upon her.

Not bothering to gaze around the room, the Slytherin straightened her back as she fully stepped into the office. If she looked as confident as she felt, there was no way he could turn her down. Then, without missing another beat, “Professor Foxwood, I would like to request access to the restricted section.”  She didn’t blink.

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Basil Foxwood

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Basil was fully invested in a tomb entitled “Animagus Woes: A Cautionary Guide to Transformative Errors” on this fine afternoon in his office. He didn’t have the seventh year N.E.W.T students today and he’d decided to take a short break from grading their essays to continue his research on animagus transformations. This particular text was one he’d picked up in London over the holiday and so far it was proving very informative for his research. Basil already had a roll of parchment almost three feet long full of scribbled notes to remember, to consider, and to remind his students when the first meeting of the animagus …club (he supposed) met.

So invested was he in his reading and scribbling that Basil didn’t even hear footsteps approaching his door. When a knock sounded, he looked up - entirely blank - and had to blink himself back to reality for a moment. He only just realized a student had waltzed in before she was asking for access to something he was not inclined on first impression to give.

Frowning a little, Basil straightened in his seat. “Good afternoon Ms. Edevane,” he greeted. “Please elaborate for me, on your request. Why is it you’d like access to the restricted section?” Setting aside his quill, Basil appraised the seventh year Slytherin. He didn’t know Miss Juniper Edevane to have a poor reputation for mischief, not like his cousin Poppy at least - even if the two were peas in a pod - but her request did seem rather abrupt. He would hear her for any potential reason that might entice him to agree, but the odds were not in her favor. There was little that could convince Basil to give a student access to the restricted section, even a seventh year. He knew what kind of things were hidden in those stacks and he was not about to risk her fortitude unless there was a bloody good reason.

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Juniper Edevane

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Juniper wouldn’t qualify this as a ‘good afternoon’ - it was much colder than she had anticipated outside and Professor Foxwood wasn’t instantly tearing off a piece of parchment to scribble her permission to enter the Restricted Section. Still, she managed to blink (finally) at him, offering him a strained smile in return. “Good afternoon Professor.”

Stepping further into the room, June entwined her fingers together before she sat at the edge of the chair opposite of him, her own back straightening. There were a multitude of reasons she needed access to the restricted section, none of which she wanted to say aloud, nonetheless to a professor. Her eyes flitted around the room - at least one portrait hung on the wall, currently unmoving. Blue hues narrowed at it before she thought better of it, she certainly wasn’t dealing with that here and now, her attention moving back toward her professor.

“I am doing some independent study, and I think a book in there may help. I… well, I’m afraid of flying, and while I understand an animagus is unable to pick their form, I think there’s a book that could help me focus on something with wings.” Juniper offered him slight smile accompanied with a small shrug; it wasn’t a complete lie, she did hate flying and she was praying her animagus form would be something with wings - preferably a bat, but she’d even take a pigeon if it meant she didn’t ever have to sit on a broom again.

It didn’t matter that she had ulterior motives once she was granted access; she had a list of (two) people she needed to jinx, and the spells taught at Hogwarts were much more tame than what she currently had in mind. To keep herself from frowning, the Slytherin continued. “And as my transfiguration professor, I thought you might be inclined to help me.”

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Basil Foxwood

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As Ms. Edevane came into his office and made herself at home, Basil watched with a keen eye. She seemed sincere enough, if a little determined. Now… if he could only extract the reason for her determination, he might be able to help.

Intrigued at her ‘independant study’, the professor leaned forward a little on the desk and placed his head in his hand thoughtfully. Uh-huh, he mused. It was odd she was considering this particular field, considering she’d shown no such inclination in animagus transformation before. At least not evidently to him. He supposed he had seen her in close contact with Ida whom Basil was helping along with her own transformation, but that didn’t necessarily mean anything.

Straightening, Basil grinned at Ms. Edevane. “You presume correctly. I have every inclination to help you prepare to the fullest for your transformation, though I must say I’m surprised at your interest. You should really consider joining my monthly support group so you can share your insights and learn from those of the other students who are in a similar state.” Basil moved some papers and things around on his mess of a desk, evidently looking for something. “Ah, here is is.”

Standing, Basil offered Ms. Edevane an old looking text, well worn in the binding and with a soft blue cover. The title on the side read “101 Possible Animagi Transfigurations”. “This should actually help you find exactly what you’re looking for, more than anything we currently have in the restricted section. The newest edition even includes first hand accounts of individuals who have undergone the process as each animal and their experiences. I believe there is an entire chapter dedicated specifically to flight.” He smiled again. “If you do find anything of interest, any patterns that you think might influence the animal one transforms into, I’d be much obliged if you could write me a short essay on the topic with references. It would tremendously help my current research endeavors.”

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Juniper Edevane

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Professor Foxwood grinned at her, and Juniper merely narrowed her eyes for a moment, soaking in his words as he rooted around his desk; he should really look at cleaning up, although she presumed a mess was good at hiding things. She could understand that. Juniper fidgeted in the seat before she stilled, her eyes flicking up to him as he continued to search around, hopefully for a quill so she could be on her way to the library.

“My father has been helping me and my sister during holidays; he has a fear of us getting stuck in a permanent half animal state, and would prefer we practice under his watchful eye. I shall write to him tonight.” She felt the need to explain, truthful or not yet to be determined, falling silent once Professor Foxwood stood, extending her a well-worn book. She blinked at it for a moment before she offered a weary smile, standing herself.

June accepted the book from him, tucking it against her chest as he rattled off information about it, before offering her yet another smile attached to homework. He did that far too often. She nearly scoffed - like she would write an essay, although she considered that actually being able to fly would be beneficial in more than one way. (Plus, if she helped him, perhaps Professor Foxwood would be more willing to help her.) Father's approval or not, she planned on at least attending the next meeting. “Thank you professor,” Juniper finally offered him a smile in return, “this will be very helpful. I am very hopeful to be able to choose a bat, although I suppose I shouldn’t be too picky.”

Her fingers tightened around the book, and she briefly wondered if he had studied from this exact - could he even transform? Then her fingers loosened, finding that the cover felt too soft under her fingertips. “Is there a date when you require this back?” Juniper tilted her head at him.

For a moment she stood there considering her next steps; she could walk out and bother Poppy (next time concocting a story with her that her cousin would believe - this entire situation had blown up in her face more than Juniper liked), or could continue on her quest to get into the restricted section. She was tired of tripping or falling backward every time she approached her sister, knowingly or not. “And Professor Foxwood?” Juniper hummed, “I promise you’ll see me in the restricted section soon.”

Then she winked at him. (Like it was their little secret.)

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Basil Foxwood

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Basil hummed as he fished around on his desk for the text he was going to hand the young Slytherin. Her explanation about her father seemed a little suspicious, but he supposed it could very well be true. As she accepted the book, he nodded. It was not surprising to the professor that she wanted to be a bat; he wasn’t sure why exactly, but it seemed fitting. “Well, best of luck with your research,” he replied. And he did mean it. Perhaps the girl really did just want to find some solace in flight through animagi.

“Don’t worry about a date,” he answered, moving back to his desk. “Whenever you finish that essay is fine.” Basil took a seat and picked up his quill once more. He was satisfied with how this little interaction had gone. For better or worse intention, he’d managed a student’s precarious desire to access something they very probably ought to keep away from and turned it into a useful learning lesson for her! He smiled at himself as he adjusted some of the mess he’d moved around on his desk, unearthing his original tomb.

Ms. Edevane called to him once more on her way out and Basil “Hm?”’d distractedly in response. Her quip and wink as he turned to look at her was unsettling and suddenly the professor felt dully uncomfortable. Basil frowned pointedly in her direction. Perhaps he had been too hasty in his congratulations. So it would seem, at the end of all that, she had been trying to sneak into the restricted section without any real (or honest) intention. As the girl stalked out of his office, Basil sighed and ran a hand through his too-long fringe. How troublesome.

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Juniper Edevane

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