Basil could feel his heart pounding in his eardrums as the wand to his head left a sharp impression. He’d never known Macnair to be so quick to draw, but it was a mental note he filed away for further examination later. For now, his breath came out in shallow little rasps, waiting for the other to withdraw and address him like a gentleman. His surname on the other’s tongue didn’t help the flutter of doxy wings in his unsettled stomach, even as Agrimony finally did pull back.

Basil let out a soft breath and lowered his hands, turning to face the younger Slytherin. He was met with a visage he was… quite familiar with by now, as they slowly, awkwardly bumbled their way towards friendship (he hoped.) Basil didn’t make and retain many friends, at least not easily, and he was proud to count Macnair as one of them these days. He found Macnair pleasant what with his comfortable quietness, and refusal to demand much of anything from Basil in the first place. It was an easy acquaintance he found himself drawn to. At the blonde’s sharp question however, Basil only flinched.

“Er— I saw you leave the castle and I…” he scratched the back of his head awkwardly, grey eyes darting towards the ground. A soft blush touched Basil’s features as he contemplated finishing that sentence. I wondered where you were going, I wanted to warn you about being out late, I wanted to spend time with you— Deciding against it, he dropped his hand back to his side. “I dunno! What are you doing out of bed anyway?” Cornered, the response was a bit defensive even as Basil continued to feel warm under the collar. He wasn’t the one in the wrong here in the first place! Though… now he supposed they both were.

---

---