Basil nodded as the other boy introduced himself. How friendly, he thought to himself pleasantly. Suddenly, Macnair asked him about what book he needed and slipped under the rope; Basil’s mouth dropped agape. “I-I didn’t…” he replied, stunned. How simple had it been for Macnair to simply waltz into the restricted section! Basil wondered at his own mental fortitude, dubiously. Then, realizing the longer Macnair stood there the more likely they both were to get caught, Basil stepped closer to the rope. “Deadly and Dangerous Hexes from the Roman Imperial Society,” he replied, pointing to a specific isle just near them. “It should be on the third shelf there.”
Still stunned at how helpful the other was being, Basil figured he ought to find a way to thank Macnair. He never would have expected to come across someone willing to help him break a school rule! (Though Basil also didn’t stop to consider how most students often broke many schools rules). He also didn’t pause to consider how he was going to return the book after ‘borrowing’ it quite illegally. That was another problem for another day.