-April 7 1985; Easter Day-

-#4 Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey, England-

Children ran all across Privet Drive, scrambling to find Easter Eggs. Bunnymund watched in amusement and satisfaction peaking through the leaves of the bushes surrounding the backyard of the house of number 4 Privet Drive. Another Easter well done.

"Are you the Easter Bunny?"

The small soft voice startled him into whipping around. Behind him was a child, a girl, maybe three years old. Knee length unruly hair framed a small frame and heart shaped face. She had milky white skin and the brightest green eyes he had ever seen. Those eyes startled him even more, for inside those eyes was a deep loneliness, along with a sorrowful glint. She tilted her head to the side in a silent question. He hesitated before crouching in front of her.

"...Yeah, mate."

A small smile lit up her face, and some of the sadness in her eyes faded away. "You're very different then what I've heard people describing you as."

Heard? Shouldn't she know? "Every tale is based on truth, but not all of it is correct." The girl's smile widened. "What is your name?" He asked gently.

"Freak." She answered honestly.

Bunnymund jerked backwards in shock. Why would a child think her name is Freak?! Anger coursed through him, knowing someone must have constantly called her that without anyone correcting that person for many years for her to believe such a thing. "I'm sure your name isn't... freak." He spit the name out in thinly veiled disgust. She must have catched it as she flinched back. She lowered her head and started to talk lowly.

"T-that's.. that's what Uncle Vernon and everyone else calls me..."

Magic swirled around him, sensing his anger. The girl flinched harder than before as if she could sense it.

"B-but..! I think my name is N-nix! Nix Potter. I hear my teacher calling it in class all the time but no one answers... so maybe..." She spoke quickly, stumbling over words. "I don't know what it means, but it's very pretty!" She smiled softly at him, eyes closed. Suddenly, loud voices came from around the corner of the house, and a group of five children came running into the backyard. His eyes widened when their eyes looked straight at him... but then, they slid right past them. Surprise flitted across his face. A little giggle came from the girl.

"They can't see us." She told him happily.

Ears twitching slightly, he raised an eyebrow. "I asked Magic to make it so no one can see me and I asked it to make sure they couldn't see you." She had a shy, but proud look on her face. She could use Magic?! Slowly, a small smirk lifted his lips and he patted her head once in praise. "Good job, Nix." The look on her face... it made him mad all over again.

She looked at him with wonder in her eyes, moisture building up in them. She looked at him like it was the first time she had ever been praised. She wiped her eyes clean with a long sleeve, determination filling her eyes. "W-wait here! I have something for you!" She slipped out from under his paw and dashed towards the back door almost tripping a few times from the too long pant legs. She stealthily opened the door and peaked around it before slipping inside. Something.. for him? Bunnymund waited patiently until she creeped back outside, something clenched in her cupped hands. She ran across the yard and stood in front of him, hands trembling.

The girl bit her lip and slowly opened her hands. What was inside suprised him. On a thin silver chain, was an easter egg. It looked to be a locket and was decorated in green with gold splotches. She picked it up by the chain with one shaking hand and held it out to him, taking a deep breath. She looked at it with sad nostalgia in her eyes, but a shining hope lingered far behind them.

"I-I.. I saw you.. a year ago... and I.. I wanted to thank you.. for bringing me Hope." She took another deep breath, seemingly holding back tears as he took the necklace. She clenched her fists by her sides and looked down. "I read and read, so many books.. So I could make it.. I finally finished it a few months ago. I asked Magic to make it so it can never break! S-so.."

She looked at him, green eyes shining with hope and gratitude and it nearly made his heart break when it clashed with the sorrow and loneliness in her. She grinned, eyes closing and tears leaking from her eyes.

"Thank you!"

He put the locket around his neck and pried it open. A folded paper fell from it and he caught it. Opening it, he clenched it tightly when he saw what it was. It was crude child's drawing of him and the girl holding hands in a flower field with eggs surrounding them, and the words 'Thank You' scrawled over the top. He folded it tightly and put it back in the locket, closing the top over it.

"You're welcome." He said softly.

Nix grinned as if all her wishes came true, as if she was in heaven. She cried harder rubbing at the tears with her sleeves. She reached out to him as if to give him a hug. Then the back door swung open.

"GIRL! Where are you?!" A fat man came woddling out, roaring with all his might, rolls of fat jiggling. He was angry. Nix gasped and fear filled her eyes as she froze. Then she suddenly pushed him away. "I know you're out here girl!"

"Go! You have to go!" She whispered desperately.

Bunnymund resisted her pushes, concluding that this was the man that caused this little girl so much pain. Then he felt little hands grab his fur and pull him. He looked down at Nix, whose shining eyes were pleading.

"Please...!"

Reluctantly, he nodded. He couldn't have done anything anyway. The man didn't believe in him, so he could not affect him. He tapped the ground once and a hole appeared beneath him. She smiled sadly at him and ran out to meet the roaring man, drawing his attention to her. As he disappeared down the hole, the last thing he saw was the girl hitting the ground from the force of the man's hit.

The ground closed over him.