Basil couldn’t help the lopsided little smile that graced his features at Macnair’s responding quip. This was familiar territory. Even though he hadn’t seen the Slytherin in… lord knew how long, it still felt easy. Familiar. And Basil needed easy after the past few months he’d had. He studied Macnair’s face looking for some semblance of returned affection, even superficially, but was unsurprised to find none there. Agrimony had never been the particularly expressive type. Nodding at the man’s response as to his reasons for being in the castle, Basil feigned interest. “Anyone promising stand out?” he ventured to ask. While potions and transfiguration were polar disciplines, he could imagine the students that showed promise in academia at large might stand out across a number of areas. Perhaps he would recognize a name from his own NEWT course.
As the former Slytherin asked after his ongoings, Basil felt a sheepishness overtake his features. He had been skipping most of his weekends free for favor of staying within the confines of this sanctuary. He couldn’t bear to risk seeing his family, or worse Victoire even in passing. But it wasn’t like Macnair knew any of that… As far as the other was concerned he had every reason for being here other than hiding from his social reality. Basil shrugged noncommittally. “I’ve some things to grade and a draft to review for my next submission to Transfiguration Today,” he replied, offhandedly. “And you? Any big plans for the remainder of your afternoon?” Inquisitive minds wanted to know.