[Revisions: Tuesday, July 16, 2024]

Basil started to relax now that he had finished eating lunch with his friends at the Slytherin table.

"Hey, Green Eyes," Draco called out, catching Basil's attention.

"Hm?" Basil hummed in response.

"You alright?" Draco asked, his concern evident.

"Yeah. I'm alright," Basil reassured, taking a sip of pumpkin juice.

"You sure?" Draco's grey eyes intently stared into Basil's bright green ones.

Basil glanced around, noticing that Harry wasn't in the Great Hall.

'He's probably checking on his friend instead of apologizing to Hermione and me for his and Ron's rude behavior,' Basil thought, turning his gaze back to Draco.

"Even though it's the first day of school, it feels like such a long day," Basil mumbled, looking disappointed.

"Has your brother always been like this?" Draco asked curiosity in his tone.

Basil thought of the book Hermione had lent him, recalling his memories of Harry.

"No. Harry was never like this," Basil shook his head. "Where we came from, Harry was such a sweet kid. He never bullied anyone or was rude. Heck! I was the one who usually beat up his bullies," Basil fondly chuckled. "But meeting that Weasley kid has influenced my brother to do horrible things," he muttered.

"Amico, sorry for interrupting," Blaise said, grabbing a bowl of mashed potatoes near Basil. "Have you told your relatives or guardians about your brother's immature behavior?" he asked while spooning mashed potatoes onto his plate.

Basil's eyes widened.

"You just reminded me of something!" Basil exclaimed, rummaging through his school bag.

"I did?/He did?" Blaise and Draco asked in unison.

"Yup!" Basil nodded, pulling out some parchment and a black pen.

Draco raised an eyebrow at the pen in Basil's hand.

"What's that in your hand?" Draco asked.

"No way! You brought one!" Blaise grinned widely. "I know how to use those. One of my stepdads taught me. It's so much easier than a quill and ink," he said happily.

Draco looked between Blaise and Basil, confused.

"Yeah. I saw we needed to use quills and ink in class, and I thought, 'Nope.' Pens and pencils are so much easier," Basil chirped.

"Not only that! I brought a whole packet of pens and pencils," Basil showed Blaise his school bag.

Blaise whistled. "You know, if you start selling Muggle school supplies here, you could get rich by the end of the year," Blaise winked.

"Huh. Not a bad idea," Basil mused.

Draco didn't want to feel left out, so he held out his hand. Basil looked at him, amused.

"Give me one!" Draco demanded.

"Please," Basil said, his tone teasing.

Draco blushed, looking embarrassed. "P-Please," he mumbled.

"Of course," Basil chuckled, handing the pen to Draco.

Draco's fingers brushed against Basil's as he took the pen, examining it with curiosity.

"I'm going to write a letter to my Aunt Petunia. She's my mum's sister and our guardian," Basil explained, grabbing another pen from his bag.

Blaise nodded, glancing at Draco, who was still studying the pen.

Draco noticed Blaise staring at him and narrowed his eyes. Blaise raised his hands in mock surrender, then continued eating.

Draco rolled his eyes and looked back at Basil, who was writing on the parchment with the pen. Intrigued, Draco watched closely.

Basil focused on his letter, pouring his thoughts and feelings onto the parchment.

"All done!" Basil smiled, holding up the finished letter.

"Do you know where the Owlery is? I know it's in the West Tower, but not much else," Basil asked, needing to send the letter to his and his brother's owl, Hedwig.

Draco and Blaise exchanged confused looks, unsure of the exact location.

Daphne turned to Basil with a bright smile.

"We can go together," she said, holding an envelope. "I need to send a letter to my parents," she added.

"Great! I think we can make it to Defense Against the Dark Arts on time if we leave now," Basil said, putting his letter in an envelope.

"We'll save you seats," Theodore reassured them.

"Thanks, Theo!" Daphne slung her bag over her shoulder. "Let's go, Basil."

"Okay!" Basil waved to his friends, following Daphne out of the Great Hall.

As they walked to the Owlery, Basil glanced at Daphne.

"Are you going to tell your parents you got sorted into Slytherin?" he asked.

"Yeah. My relatives thought I was too nice and delicate. They bet I'd be in Hufflepuff. What they don't know is that being kind is a great way to manipulate people," Daphne winked.

Basil looked at her, surprised. "You remind me of a queen or someone in power," he said.

"You're so cute, Basil," Daphne giggled, gently pinching his cheek.

Basil blushed, looking bashful.

"Mr. Potter. May I speak with you?" a masculine voice called out.

Basil didn't respond immediately, unsure if they meant him or his brother.

"Mr. Basil Potter. I'm speaking to you," the voice insisted.

Basil and Daphne turned to see Headmaster Albus Dumbledore approaching.

"Forgive me, Headmaster. I thought you were looking for my brother," Basil said.

"Where are you heading?" Dumbledore asked.

"To the Owlery, sir. I'm sending a letter to my Aunt Petunia," Basil responded.

"May I see it?" Dumbledore held out his hand.

Basil hesitated, suspicious. Daphne raised an eyebrow.

"Forgive me, Headmaster. But I cannot give you my letter," Basil said firmly.

"And why is that? What are you hiding?" Dumbledore asked, staring intently.

Basil felt uncomfortable. His head started to ache as if someone were punching his forehead. Daphne's eyes widened as she realized what Dumbledore was doing.

'This headache... make it stop!' Basil thought, unknowingly pushing the throbbing sensation away.

Dumbledore's eyes widened in shock. He couldn't read Basil's thoughts; something was blocking him.

'Could it be? No. A natural-born Occlumen?' Dumbledore wondered, dumbfounded.

"Let's go, Basil!" Daphne shouted, seeing the Headmaster distracted.

Basil blinked, confused, but his eyes widened as Daphne grabbed his hand and pulled him away.

Dumbledore came to his senses and saw them running up the stairs. He was further surprised to realize Daphne had been with Basil the whole time.

"I cannot believe he would do that!" Daphne hissed, fuming.

"What? What happened?" Basil asked, surprised.

Daphne opened her mouth to explain but stopped when she saw Slytherin Prefect Gemma Farley stepping out of a classroom.

"Gemma! Gemma!" Daphne called, still dragging a confused Basil.

Gemma turned, seeing Daphne and Basil running towards her.

"Woah there! Is everything alright?" Gemma asked, noticing a furious Daphne and a confused Basil.

"Where are you going right now?" Daphne asked.

"To the Great Hall to eat lunch. I had to turn in a summer assignment to Professor McGonagall. Why?" Gemma responded.

Daphne looked around, then motioned for Gemma to come closer.

Basil still looked at Daphne and Gemma with a confused gaze, unsure of what was happening.

Gemma leaned closer to Daphne, who whispered to her.

"Headmaster Albus Dumbledore illegally used Legilimency on Basil," Daphne whispered. "Please, let Professor Snape know about this," she added, her concern evident.

Gemma looked at Daphne, then at Basil. She nodded, seeing the truth in Daphne's words. The sight of one student furious and another confused, frequently rubbing his forehead, was enough proof.

"Where are you two heading right now?" Gemma asked, not wanting to leave Daphne and Basil alone.

"We were heading to the Owlery to drop off our letters," Daphne responded.

"Then we'll go there together," Gemma said firmly, fulfilling her duty as a Prefect to protect younger students.

"Okay!" Daphne nodded, relieved.

"Um. Are you girls going to tell me what is going on?" Basil asked, still confused.

Daphne and Gemma exchanged glances, unsure how to explain to Basil what the Headmaster had tried to do to him.

"Basil," Daphne began gently, "the Headmaster was trying to read your thoughts without your permission. It's called Legilimency."

Basil's eyes widened in shock. "He what? But why?"

"We don't know, but it's not right," Gemma said, her voice steady. "We'll inform Professor Snape. He needs to know about this."

Basil nodded slowly, trying to process the information. "Thank you for telling me."

"Let's send your letter, and then we'll head to Professor Snape's office," Gemma suggested.

The three continued to the Owlery, with Gemma and Daphne staying close to Basil, providing support and protection.