Gus wanted to tell Basil again that he was an actual professor. A shock, he knew. It was a shock to everyone that he’d given up the adventurous lifestyle he’d talk about since he could first babble words. ("Augustus Finch Lissington, you better not be trying to entice a leprechaun onto this property! We are not getting onto another prank war!”) Gus always told people he'd explore every corner of the world until he was old and grey; the great wide somewhere made his soul sing. It was an even bigger shock that he’d given it up to a professor when he could have gone straight into breaking curses within the vaults at Gringotts; he merely shrugged when people asked him the ‘why’ behind his decisions. He didn’t have one. Gus just did it on a whim. 

When Basil raised a hand to his head the young professor was by his side in an instant, his hands cupping his face. “Please, Basil.” He pleaded quietly with him, “It’s not me. It’s you. Poppy Dashwood, you know her, right? Poppy cast a spell that was meant to rid the target of negative memories and emotions and I’m afraid I reflected in your direction.” Pressing his hand against his back, Gus guided the Ravenclaw to sit in a chair opposite of his own. He didn’t move from his side, choosing instead to awkwardly bend in front of him to brush his hair back from his forehead.

“I made a mistake and I am so, so sorry. You haven’t been seventeen for many years. You teach here. You thrive here.” He sighed and pressed a chaste kiss against his forehead. Gus couldn’t find the words to tell him they weren’t a thing anymore. Hell, they weren’t even friends anymore. “You’re missing an entire decade of memories, and I’m afraid you won’t find me in any.” His voice cracked but he didn’t move, blue hues blinking up at Basil to search for answers he knew he wouldn’t have.

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