Basil couldn’t help but jump a little in surprise when a voice drifted over to him in the great alone. He should have known better than to think he could escape the festivities without someone noticing, notably either Nee or Gus. Turning a sad little smile onto his friend, Basil shifted a bit as the other came to sit by him. “I apologize, I just needed to get out of there,” he replied quietly. Basil didn’t flinch or move away as Augustus bumped shoulders with him; it was easy, friendly. When the other reached for his hand Basil’s cheeks went pink but he allowed it, saying nothing. There was so much in this moment he wanted to hold onto, much as he gripped Gus’ hand. It was like a tether to the here and now. If he let go, everything might float away with that one little gesture: Hogwarts, his friends, his goals and ambition in life.
“It’s so odd isn’t it?” he asked, still staring out over the lake. “How can things just change so dramatically overnight. How is it, that I can be in Wellingtonshire tonight and for the foreseeable future instead of here in my four-poster ever again?” Basil let out a disgruntled breath, frustrated. He hated the idea of… not knowing. Of having no real direction or aim. Of his life not being his own to command.
He hoped one day, soon, he would feel again what it was to be striving towards something he wanted. Something that was his and his alone. But Basil knew the reality of it would likely see him awkwardly dressed to the nines all summer, making frivolous conversation with debutantes who likely couldn’t even transfigure a rat into a teacup! He rubbed a tired hand over his face, hoping to scrub the image away entirely. He would miss the freedoms academia provided.