Basil’s stomach was in absolute knots as he scrambled to his feet and stood guiltily beside Macnair. He couldn’t believe it had come to this. Any sliver of respect he’d been building with his mentor was out the window now, certainly. There was no way Professor Thompson was ever going to let him intern, much less assist in writing a proper research paper after—Basil glanced up quickly as Macnair’s voice floated into the din between them and interrupted his rampaging thoughts. He stared at the other boy, taking the blame as effortlessly as if he was breathing. Grey hues blinked in confusion as the books they’d been carrying stacked themselves deliberately. Thompson looked from one boy to the next and raised a brow in their direction as if to ask ’is this true?’ Basil averted his gaze again and shook his head.
“No, Professor—” he corrected. “It was my ingenious idea to try and find something new, something more complex to write about for the Hex essay you assigned us this week.” He swallowed a lump building in his throat. “Macnair— he tried to stop me and, well, here we are.”
Basil felt that same blush from earlier bloom over his face again, but the lie had come much more easily with the emotion - the intention - of assisting the other behind it. Basil didn’t lie often, if in fact, ever - but he didn’t want Macnair to take the blame for this when really, it was his own fault. He didn’t know why the other had tried to cover for him - and it was sweet, in a way - but Basil knew it wasn’t right to let him.
“Well,” Thompson said then, crossing his arms. “Since both of are so willing to share the blame, you can share a detention in my office next week as well.” He selected one of the books Macnair had first tossed in Basil’s direction and eyed the cover. “And Foxwood,” he continued. “I expect that essay to positively stun after all this.” He handed Basil the text, pun and all.
Basil accepted the book cautiously, astonished he was being allowed to take the text. Thompson then shooed them off and Basil shuffled, dazed, back into the less restricted portion of the library. When they came to the door leading back into the main castle, he gave Macnair a grateful glance and shrugged awkwardly, the book still tight in his grip. “I - ah… thanks, for what you tried to do there.” He said, softly. “It was… nice.” Even if they did still get detention.