Basil couldn’t help the snicker that had settled across his face. He took another puff of his cigarette and listened with all the aplomb Nee’s story demanded. As the other continued, he couldn’t help but tease even more.

“Ah so you did attempt to lock the door, Rhiannon just foiled your efforts!” He laughed again. “By George, Eldritch - you are a scoundrel aren’t you?” Basil made a suggestive sort of expression at his friend, not quite an eyebrow wiggle but along those lines. He knew how difficult that awkwardness must have been with Nee’s sister, but it was better than an outright feud. Nee had a point on him there and Basil had far less sympathy than he ought.

“Poor little Rachel,” he continued, shaking his head. “I should be glad it wasn’t her if I were you,” he chuckled. “She seems to have plenty of her own ideas apparently, you don’t need to be giving her more.” Basil rolled his eyes in reference to the comment Nee had made earlier. The only ‘good authority’ Nee had on the ongoings at Hogwarts were his youngest sibling and piecing it together, Basil was slightly affronted. He couldn’t imagine Rachel seeing him in that light and he desperately hoped she did not.

“Anyway,” he continued, amused. “You’re a better man for it. More worldly, at the very least.”

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