Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Kuroko no Basket!
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"Tell me more about magic," Akashi requested tracing a hand up and down Adie's arm where they lied curled together on the sofa in her apartment. The television was on, but they weren't paying any attention to it. Teddy was already in bed and deep asleep.
"What do you want to know?" Adie asked tilting her head slightly to watch him.
"You said something about having your own schools?" Akashi asked having been curious about it.
"We do," Adie nodded, "there's a lot of different ones all around the world. I went to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, it's somewhere in Scotland. We start when we're 11 and attends for 7 years."
She continued to tell him about Hogwarts and how the house system worked and the classes, she could tell he was really interested and found it fascinating.
"What class did you enjoy the most?" he asked.
"When we had a proper teacher I liked Defence Against the Dark Arts best," Adie said, "but that was very rare that we had a good teacher for that class. You see, there was a curse on the position and no teacher lasted more than a year before something caused them to quit."
"Curse?" Akashi asked and Adie snorted.
"Someone wanted the position one time long ago and when he was rejected he put a curse on it, saying that if he didn't get it no one else would either," Adie said thinking of the petty Voldemort. "So no teacher lasted more than a year."
"That sounds…strange," Akashi said and Adie nodded in understanding.
"I know," she agreed. "Well, my third year we had a great teacher. Teddy's dad was the teacher that year and it was the first time I met him since I was a baby. I didn't know until the middle of the year, though, that he knew my dad. He helped me a lot, but he kept a distance between us as well."
"Why?" Akashi asked pushing a strand of hair away from her face.
"He lost a lot when my parents died," Adie said quietly and suddenly she was watching him with an intense look in her eyes and seemed to be trying to decide something. "He was a werewolf and people judged him very hard for it. He would always make sure to lock himself away every full moon so he never hurt anyone. He was the kindest man I've ever met, and he never deserved the hate and prejudice he faced every year since he was a child because of it."
Akashi blinked. Werewolves were real? Huh, that was…unexpected. He saw that Adie seemed defensive and wary as she looked up at him, clearly trying to judge his reaction to the news.
"So, that's why you call Teddy cub?" Akashi asked calmly and she smiled.
"Yeah," she nodded. "It's what Remus called him, and I wanted to continue so that he would have a part of his dad with him. Remus really loved his little boy."
A tear escaped Adie's eye and Akashi wiped it away with a thumb looking at her concerned. Adie tried to smile but it felt flat.
"What other classes did you have?" Akashi asked purposely changing the subject much to Adie's relief. She quickly started to talk about her classes and the teachers she liked and hated, he had a hard time believing she was trying to trick him when she told him about Professor Binns and the fact that he was a ghost.
"Fine," Akashi finally relented, "I believe you."
"Good," Adie chuckled amused and grateful for his distraction, but she knew she had to tell him the truth about everything. She didn't want to hide anything from him now.
...
Just then her computer started to ring and she saw Skype flashing on the screen, she sighed as she pulled away from Akashi's warm hold and reached for the computer and pulled it closer to her. She saw Hermione's name on the screen.
"It's Hermione," Adie said glancing at Akashi.
He smiled and nodded, "I'll go and make us something to eat while you talk."
"Thank you," Adie said and kissed his cheek lightly as he stood up, he ruffled her hair lightly chuckling amused when she glared at him annoyed.
"Answer the call, Adeline," he said and she rolled her eyes just as she clicked the accept button on the screen.
"Hi Hermione," Adie smiled seeing the face of her best friend.
"Hi Adie," Hermione smiled back, "you look good."
"Thanks," Adie grinned, "I feel good."
"You told him?" Hermione asked curiously.
"Yes, and he's fine with it," Adie said with a grin. "He's here now, actually. He just stepped into the kitchen to cook while I talked to you. We've been talking about Hogwarts and the classes…"
"That's good, Adie," Hermione said genuinely. "I'm happy for you."
Adie just smiled and glanced toward the kitchen where she heard him moving around, it felt good having him in her home.
"Ginny is preparing to leave tomorrow," Hermione said changing the subject. "She's looking forward to moving."
"Good," Adie said, "it'll be great having her here. Teddy has missed you all since you left."
"I know," Hermione said, "it will be good for her, I think. Molly is a little apprehensive, but you know how she gets. She'll accept it when Ginny is there."
"Yeah," Adie knew very well how Mrs Weasley got when she worried, and Ginny had always been the baby in the family, the only daughter.
They talked a little longer until Adie noticed Akashi standing in the doorway and took it as a sign that the food was finished.
"Looks like the food is finished," Adie said and Hermione nodded.
"Ok, I'll let you go," Hermione said. "We'll talk later."
"Of course. Bye," Adie said and ended the call.
...
"Wow, I didn't know you could cook," Adie said when she saw the small dish that was prepared and Akashi snorted.
"I learned," he said and she arched a brow at him and was amused when she saw him blush lightly, "I wanted to be able to cook for you so I learned."
"You're sweet," Adie said feeling touched and kissed him quickly as she walked to the table and sat down. He grumbled something she didn't hear, but followed her to the table and sat down.
"You're ruining my reputation," Akashi said and Adie grinned.
"Deal with it," she teased and linked their feet together under the table, and he smiled back at her.
"I guess I will," he said like it was something he suffered greatly for, but she saw the amusement in his eyes.
"It's delicious!" Adie exclaimed when she had tasted the food. "Really good."
"Of course," Akashi said smugly.
"I remember one time in the summer before my fifth year at Hogwarts," Adie started looking at the food at her plate as the memory hit her, "I was staying at my godfather's house in London and he decided that he was going to cook for me. Said he never had the chance before and that I would love his cooking. He was so sure of himself and bragged about the mad skills he had." She laughed a little as she remembered how Sirius had awkwardly moved around the kitchen in an attempt of arrogant confidence. "He finally presented me with the final product, only it didn't look anything like food at all. Everything was mushed together, but he looked so hopeful that I decided to try it. It was a mistake. It was horrible. I never tasted anything worse in all my life."
Adie smiled though as she remembered it, he had been so disappointed, but he had kept trying over the summer even going so far to ask Mrs Weasley for help even when he hated to ask her for help with anything.
Akashi listened amused as she talked about her godfather, he realised that it was the first time she had ever mentioned having a godfather and he wondered where he was and why she hadn't talked about him before. It was clear that she loved him from the way she talked about him. He met her eyes when she glanced up and saw the deep pain in her eyes making him inhale deeply at loss on what to say.
"Adeline…" he trailed off.
"Sorry," she said getting up and grabbing her now empty plate and walking to the kitchen sink and put it down. Akashi got up and followed her, he placed his arms on either side of her and pulled her close to him.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
Adie didn't speak for a moment only turned and leaned into his comforting warmth and was relieved when he put his arms around her and held her close. She knew he was confused and worried, and she was going to tell him.
"Come," Adie said pulling away and grabbed his hand. "Let's get comfortable."
...
"Everything in my life in the magical world wasn't…good, Seijuro," Adie finally started glancing up from where she had been watching their intertwined fingers. "There is a reason for why I left. It wasn't just because Teppei asked me to join Seirin, I needed to get away and he offered me a place to go."
Akashi frowned feeling a deep sense of dread fill his gut as he saw the haunted expression on her face.
"What?" he asked unable to say anything else.
She inhaled deeply seemingly trying to calm herself and he felt her tighten her hold of his hands like she was afraid he would pull away or something.
"I will tell you, but I warn you; it's not a pretty story;" Adie warned him and he nodded wanting to know but at the same time felt apprehensive.
"Ok," he said.
...
Adie took a deep breath and prepared herself to tell him about the war, she knew it as necessary. She didn't want any more secrets from him, she needed him to know, to know her. She started to tell him about her parents, how they were killed and went on from there all through her school years and every meeting with Voldemort. She told him about her friends, and how the school had turned on her over the years, how she had witnessed the rebirth of Voldemort and fought him to escape.
It was hard to tell him about Sirius, but she made sure to tell him everything, how he had been a prankster when he was younger, how he had split from his family because they believed in the pureblood was the best and only ones deserving to learn magic. She told him how he had escaped from Azkaban prison because he found out the Pettigrew was close to her, and he was the only one knowing he was still alive. She confided in him the pain and loneliness she had felt when Sirius had to leave to escape the Ministry and she was again on her own, despite the fact that he wrote to her. She still felt alone. She told him about how he had been her fifth year, how depressed he had been and how he had tried to put on a brave face for her. She paused slightly before telling him about her vision and rescue attempt that turned out to be a trap leading Sirius to be killed when he tried to save her.
Akashi squeezed her hand giving her strength to continue telling him about how she reacted to Sirius dying and the prophecy, learning that she would have to kill or be killed. She glanced at him and saw the worried and horrified look on his face then, but there was no disgust and she continued to tell him about her sixth year and how everyone now believed her and called her the chosen one. Akashi had tensed and scowled at that, but once more hadn't spoken just listening.
Adie told him about the lessons with Dumbledore, Voldemort's past and how he had grown to become the Dark Lord. She didn't pause as she told him how the war was getting worse outside of school, people disappearing and being killed, how she had to watch classmates being pulled out of class being told their families just had been killed. She told him about the last mission Dumbledore had taken her on, to find the Horcrux. She briefly explained what it was, even as she had her misgivings about it. Not because she didn't trust him, but because it was something so evil and disgusting that she didn't really want him to know about it. She did notice him going a little pale when she told him, but he just jerked his head to make her go on. She continued to the potion and then the inferi in the lake making him go even paler, but she continued. She told him about the dark mark over the astronomy tower and Draco and Snape… how Dumbledore was killed.
...
Adie paused and looked at him for a moment and saw that he was close to being overwhelmed. It was a lot to process.
"Are you alright?" she asked worriedly.
"Am I alright?" he repeated slightly incredulous making her frown confused.
"Yeah, I know it's a lot to take in," Adie said blinking confused when he abruptly pulled her into a tight hug lifting her off her seat and into his lap. She quickly hugged him back, though, and circled her arms around his neck as she hid her face against his neck.
"It's me who should ask you if you're alright," he whispered. "God…Adeline. I… I never thought… how did you survive like that? How could any of the adults just… argh! It makes me angry knowing you went through all this!"
"Look, Seijuro, I know," Adie said pulling back slightly so she could look at him. "It's unfair and harsh, but… it's my life. I had to live it and while the adults could have done a lot of things differently, I would still have been involved. Voldemort wouldn't have stopped coming after me. He was obsessed with killing me, and I had to make a choice. I chose to fight back and try to stop him."
"I know," Akashi said softly, "I know you will do everything you can to do so, but it doesn't mean it's easy to listen to."
Adie nodded and adjusted a little on his lap to get comfortable, his arms were around her waist holding her in place. She gave him a critical look as she considered her next move.
"Do you want to continue or do you want to wait?" Adie finally asked. "It's the last year and it's…not pretty." That was an understatement, but she wasn't sure how to describe it.
"Tell me," Akashi said knowing it was going to be terrible and probably more than he could take, but he wanted to know. He needed to know. He knew that he would probably lose sleep over it, but if it was a chance he could somehow help her by listening he would do so. He had a feeling she hadn't really talked about it before, not like this. Her friends and family in Britain already knew so she wouldn't have to go through it like she was now doing. He hoped, prayed, that putting it into words and talking about it would help her.
She looked at him for a minute longer and he met her eyes calmly, determinedly and finally, she nodded having seen what he wanted in his eyes. At least he hoped so. She didn't get off his lap and he was greatly pleased by that.
...
Taking a deep breath she started to tell him about how she went back to her aunt and uncle's one more time like Dumbledore had asked her to. She told him how the Order had arranged protection for her relatives and how she struggled to get them to accept it. She told him about the seven Potters, and how Voldemort had been so close to her. She told him how Mad-Eye was killed and how guilty she had felt. She didn't stop as she went on to the birthday party, the Minister of Magic coming to see her and Dumbledore's will. She smiled a little as she told him how beautiful Fleur had been at the wedding, and how it had been crashed and they had to run. She told him about fighting the Death Eaters at the diner, going to Grimmauld Place and figuring out that a Horcrux was with Umbridge at the Ministry. She told him how they broke into the Ministry and how they got split up and finally managing to get the Horcrux and escape helping muggle-borns as well to get out.
She continued to tell him about losing Grimmauld Place and having to live in tents, always moving around even as it was difficult at first with Ron injured. She told him how the Horcrux affected them all, playing on their worries and fears. She told him about being hungry and scared, not leaving much out. She didn't tell him that Ron left though, knowing it would colour him against her best friend. She didn't want him to get angry at him for leaving her and knew that she was best not to tell him that. She never really brought it up to anyone, only Bill and Fleur knew and that was because Ron had gone to them when he left.
She told him about visiting her parents' graves for the first time and the last minute escape from Nagini and Voldemort, losing her wand and being injured. She told him about seeing Voldemort killing her parents through Voldemort's eyes feeling tears in her eyes as she told him. Akashi reached out and wiped an escaped tear away with his thumb, but he didn't say anything. Taking strength from him she went on to tell him about finding the sword of Gryffindor and Ron finally destroying the Horcrux.
She explained the Deathly Hallows for him and how they had visited Luna's father; she told him how it pained her not being able to go and save Luna when they learned she had been taken. She told him about the radio program Potter Watch and how it had given her new courage and strength to go on. She went on to tell him how they were caught when she slipped and said Voldemort's name, and having to listen to Hermione being tortured. She told him how they found Luna, Dean and Mr Ollivander, the wand maker, in the cellar and how Dobby had come to help them.
She paused briefly before the told him how Dobby had saved them, but getting killed in the process. Dying in her arms. Akashi had tightened his hold around her waist when she told him, sensing and seeing her pain and wanting to lessen it. She leaned into his warmth before telling him about their stay at Shell Cottage.
She told him about their planning to break into Gringotts and the actual break-in with the help of Griphook and saw the stunned look on Akashi's face. Had it not been something so serious she would have been amused by his shock. He normally didn't show it if he felt shocked. She continued to tell him how they managed to escape by riding out on a dragon, and how they had jumped onto a lake to get away from the dragon.
She paused a moment before she told him about Hogwarts and going back, how Voldemort now knew what they were doing and how time was running out. She told him about the reception they got coming back and the resistance Ginny, Neville and Luna had been leading back at Hogwarts. She told him everything she could think off and how they looked for the last Horcrux.
She told him about the final battle, the friends who died and the pain she had felt. She hesitated when she got to the part where she had discovered that she had to die. Would it be too much for him to hear? She knew it might be the final straw that made him leave and say he couldn't handle it. Watching him closely she saw the fear in his eyes, the sympathy and worry, it was all there in his red eyes and he was holding her so tightly that she thought it might bruise, but she didn't pull away from him.
"Adeline?" he asked when she had been silent for too long.
She squared her shoulders and started to tell him the hardest part of everything and she felt how he stiffened as she told him about her decision to give herself up, to save everyone else even if it meant that she would die. His face went blank as she told him how she had been hit by the killing curse, again, and the conversation with Dumbledore. She silently told him everything that happened after that and finally ending with Voldemort's death.
...
The silence stretched between them and Adie was finding it very difficult to not say anything, she watched how Akashi seemed frozen in his seat, his expression blank. His eyes were locked on her though, and she saw the overwhelming emotions in those eyes and she was almost regretting telling him everything.
"Seijuro?" she whispered worrying her lower lip as she watched him with worried eyes.
He blinked and she felt his arms tighten even more around her before he pulled her to him and hugged her like he thought she would disappear. She hugged him back unsure how to help or what to say to get him to say something. Anything, really. Had she told him too much?
"Adeline…" he murmured. "Never do something like that again. I…I can't… if… you died. You died!"
Anger was filling his voice now and he jerked back and she saw the rage in his eyes and expected him to push her away, she opened her mouth to say something, to explain, but he didn't let her. He crushed his mouth to hers and kissed her harshly, taking complete control over the kiss and soon she felt herself being laid back on the sofa with him over her. She kissed back the best she could, but let him take control knowing he needed it.
He pulled back and his eyes looked at her with a look that she couldn't read, he was still laying over her and his weight was pressing her down on the sofa.
"I can't deal with it if anything happens to you," he whispered sounding broken, and it broke her heart.
"I'm fine, Seijuro," Adie promised. "I'm safe and I'm here."
"You died, Adeline," he said again pain and hurt crossing his face, "died! I almost never met you! I… I can't…"
Adie knew he had trouble expressing what he felt, and knew that he was overwhelmed. It was to be expected. She reached out and cupped his face between her hands and met his eyes.
"I survived and I'm here," she said firmly. "I'm not going anywhere, Seijuro."
"Ok," he said letting himself relax a little and changed their positions so that she was resting on top of him and his arms were around her, not willing to let go of her. He was still processing what she had told him and knew he would need more time to come to terms with the fact that she had died. It hurt him almost physically to think that she had actually died and that it had been so close that he never would have met her, not even knowing that she existed!
"I know it's a lot to take in," she said quietly, "I'll give you time to think."
"Good," he said, "what happened after the war finished?"
He needed to know and he wanted to distract his thoughts a little from thinking about her sacrifice.
"We mourned and tried to clean up the mess left behind," Adie said, "there was a lot of funerals and I went to a lot of them. I helped Andy with Teddy but then she had a heart attack and died. She lost her husband and daughter and son-in-law in the war, and she just didn't have any more fight in her."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Akashi said thinking about Teddy's grandmother, it was strange thinking about the fact that Teddy hadn't always been with Adie. To him, it was like the two belonged together.
"Yeah, it was difficult at first," Adie said with a sad smile, "but I wouldn't be without him for anything. He gave me something to focus on and live for. He helped bring me out of my depression and overwhelming sadness that threaten to overcome me after the war."
Akashi held her tighter and pressed a kiss to her temple in comfort and just because he needed to know that she was still there in his arms.
"Kingsley offered me a chance to join the Aurors," Adie said and he remembered what she had told him about them and arched a brow not really surprised, "they needed all the help they could get. I did help at first to gather up the Death Eaters that escaped, but I declined the offer to join the Aurors. I don't want to fight anymore. The year after the war I spent taking care of Teddy and helping Kingsley with fishing out the employees at the Ministry that had supported Voldemort. It's still a work in progress, but the Ministry is well on its way to get cleaned up. Kingsley is doing a good job as the Minister if Magic."
"That's good," Akashi murmured. "Why did you decide to come to Seirin?"
He had to admit that he was curious about why she would want to leave her friends who she saw as her family behind. He now knew just how close and how deep a bond they shared.
"I had been getting more and more frustrated," Adie admitted, "my so-called fame had only grown after the war and I couldn't step outside my house without being recognized and stopped on the street. The reporters were intolerable and were asking questions and demanding to know how I was raising Teddy, what my plans for the future was, why I had broken up with Seamus… So, when Teppei asked me to come to Seirin and join the team, I saw a chance. A chance to start over and be normal for once, and to give Teddy a chance to be raised without the watching eye of all of Britain."
Akashi only nodded not sure what to say, but he heard the frustration and sadness in her voice.
"I'm very glad that I came," Adie said and smiled a full smile for the first time in hours and he felt his heart skip a beat as she directed the smile at him. He knew she was saying she was glad she came because she met him, her eyes showed him just how much she cared for him and he smiled back unable to look away.
"Me to," he whispered and kissed her.
...
Akashi woke with a start and looked down to see Adie sleeping her head resting against his chest, a peaceful expression on her face. He wasn't sure what he felt, but he was sure that he loved her and that he wanted her to remain by his side. She was so brave and strong, he was in complete awe that she had survived what she had. How many teenagers would survive something like what she had gone through, the pressure of knowing that she was the one who had to save the entire wizarding world from a mad-man? Survive and come out still so compassionate and kind like her, she always saw the best in people and gave them a chance. He didn't deserve someone like her, but he wasn't stupid enough to push her away, no, he would hold on and make sure that she was happy and loved like she deserved to be. He was going to make sure of it.
...
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AN: Thank you for reading! XD I had some trouble with this chapter, it kept getting too long... I struggled with how much she should say and how I should show it... So, I ended up with this summary kind of version. I'm not sure it was the best solution, but it's what I ended up with. :)
Now he knows everything, and it will bring them closer together :) It's nearing the end of the story now! Only three chapters left now (and one one-shot that follows the story)... XD