Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Kuroko no Basket!

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2nd year – Teiko – right before Nationals

Daiki frowned as he stared at the basketball in his hands. The spherical orange ball still seemed to be the same as always, the leather felt rough and slightly worn against his skin, but why did it feel so much heavier? It was as if it weighed several pounds more, when did that happen? He tossed it up in the air, watching as it spun around before catching it again. The heaviness in his chest remained and it didn't fill him with excitement anymore.

"Damn…" Daiki cursed under his breath a scowl settled on his face as he tried to push the unsettled and painful feeling away. "Why…"

He remembered so well how fun and excitable the game of basketball was when he was younger, how he could only think about playing and getting stronger. He would go out to play whenever he could, his parents getting sick of him coming back home muddy and wet after he had spent the entire day on the street court. Then he met Mac when he was 8 and he had someone to share the love of basketball with, someone who learned quickly and helped him getting stronger. It had filled him with a warmth he missed now.

When did that change? When did basketball become something that made him feel…sad, pained, scared? He closed his eyes and shook his head trying to clear his mind, but the utterly defeated looks on the Harada Middle School players' faces after the match the day before. They looked like they had completely given up, defeated, and he was the reason why they looked like that. He was the reason why they now hated basketball. He balled his hands into fists - forgetting he had the ball in his hands and making it drop to the ground and bounce a few times - his nails digging into his palms.

"-iki? Daiki?"

Daiki blinked when Mac's voice filter through his thoughts and found her next to him looking up at him with worried green eyes, he wondered how long she had tried to reach him before he snapped out of his depressing thoughts.

"Ah, Kenzie," Daiki said his voice shaking slightly, much to his dismay.

Mac frowned at him and he wondered what she was thinking.

"Are you ok?" she asked concerned.

"Yeah," he shrugged looking away.

Mac narrowed her eyes and slapped his arm making him look at her startled.

"What was that for?" he asked rubbing his arm lightly and staring at her.

"Stop lying," Mac glared at him. "You don't need to tell me if you don't want to, but don't lie to me."

"Like you don't do the same to me," Daiki muttered under his breath making Mac raise a brow at him and he hurriedly continued. "It's nothing, Kenzie. I'm just thinking about some stuff."

Mac looked at him for a moment longer before she sighed and looked away from him. It was first now he noticed the large stack of papers in her arms held up against her chest to keep them from falling.

"Ok, but if you need to talk I'm here, ok?" Mac told him and he nodded.

"I know," he said with a smile. "What are those?"

He pointed at the papers. She looked down at them before looking back up at him.

"Seijuro asked for data on our opponents during the Nationals," Mac said, "this is some of what I've gathered."

"All that?" Daiki asked ignoring the way his chest tightened at the mention of Seijuro's first name from Mac.

"Yeah, he wants us to be prepared," Mac said.

Daiki nodded and after a few more minutes of talk, Mac left him alone on the court in the schoolyard to find Seijuro. Daiki sighed and turned to pick up the dropped basketball before going home.

...

Mac frowned worriedly when she turned her back at Daiki, something was wrong with him. She knew it. She had seen it in his eyes, they were clouded and pained. A look she didn't want to see in her best friend. He had to be happy and cheerful, like when she met him. It must be the match the day before that forced him to have heavy thoughts. He had been on a roll lately and it wasn't just because he scored more points. He was dribbling faster, neater and more…complexly than before. He could pass the entire court without really having to pass the ball and even she had been stunned the day before when she watched him play. He seemed like a totally different player, and she knew.

Mac sighed and rubbed a hand over her face tiredly as she thought. Daiki had grown. Bloomed, if you will, she thought to herself. He would probably grow even more in the next few matches, and she was suddenly unsure if he should even play. She saw the pain in him when he realised that he was much better than those he played against. Would it break him if he played? She wasn't sure, but she also knew that she couldn't stop him from playing. He would play and he would grow even more, and something would happen, but she didn't know what.

Frustrated she rounded the corner and was almost in the room she would meet Seijuro. What should she do? Could she do anything? She felt helpless, a feeling she hated more than anything. It made her feel weak, and it reminded her too much of being with the Dursley's. It wasn't as if she was surprised by the change in Daiki, in the way he played. She had seen It coming, after all, just like she knew that the others also had more inside of them. They just hadn't reached it yet. Perhaps…it would be better if they never did…

"Mac," Seijuro greeted her breaking her out of her thought and she smiled slightly pushing her musings away for later and greeted her friend back and placed the papers on the table before sitting down opposite him.

...

"Mac-cchi!" Ryota whined looking close to tears. Mac just arched a brow at him and he calmed down slightly, but still looked at her with wide yellow eyes. "Tell Kuroko-cchi to pass to me too!"

Mac let out a long-suffering sigh as she levelled him with a look, "Kise, stop whining and play!"

"But…" he continued.

"Tetsu will pass to you when he thinks you're ready," Mac said, "stop whining already! Interact with the others on the court and stop getting in Daiki's way."

"He was the one who jumped on my pass," Ryota muttered stubbornly and Mac was wondering why she even bothered as she remembered the incident a few practices ago when both Ryota and Daiki jumped to dunk a ball when Tetsuya passed it. Of course, it ended with Daiki and Ryota colliding in the air and their team losing the ball and point.

"You both miscalculated and stopped communicating!" Mac said, "and if that had been a real match we could have lost because of that!"

Ryota swallowed and nodded looking chastised enough so Mac softened her eyes slightly as she looked at him.

"You're good, Kise, and I'm sure Tetsu will pass the ball to you as well," Mac said.

...

Mac wiped the sweat from her forehead and made her way to the changing room she had been offered since she couldn't very well change in the same room with the boys. She waved at Daiki who waved back before slipping into the room and headed for the shower. The practice had been hard and long, she had come up with the training regime together with Seijuro and knew better than anyone just how hard it was. Her muscles ached and complained as she moved but she let out a soft sigh when the hot water hit her and she felt her muscles relax slightly under the hot spray.

They were ready for the qualifiers and Mac knew that Shirogane was right, they would win. She thought back to the conversation she had overheard between Sanada and Shirogane when she had gone over to them to give them her notes and analyses of the team.

"The third- and second-years have reached a level of potential far beyond typical middle school students. They're almost certainly the strongest players ever!" Sanada said.

"Reached their potential, huh?" Shirogane said before pausing slightly and Mac wondered what he was thinking. "Actually, I'd say the opposite about them. They're still developing. They haven't reached their maximum potential. They're terrifying children. Someone called them the 'Generation of Miracles'. I couldn't agree more, and most people haven't even seen Mac play yet! There's no way they won't win. That's not resolve talking. It's certainty.

Mac heard the gasp Sanada let out and tilted her head as she observed the two coaches for a moment before walking up to them.

The Generation of Miracles, huh? It was a fitting name, she supposed, but kind of clichéd. Just who came up with the names? Didn't people have better things to do than to think up strange and large names for other people? She shook her head clearing it from the thoughts and wondered about what Shirogane had said.

Just like her, he saw that there was more in them, more potential for growth and development. He saw what was lurking underneath and she had heard the slight apprehension in his voice as he spoke, it became clear when he called them terrifying children. It was true, Mac knew. Yet, he seemed worried about something.

...

National Middle School Basketball Tournament Regional Qualifiers

"We're so excited about watching you play!" Ayano beamed at Mac who smiled back at the older woman who looked to be trying to keep still. "Both of you!"

"Thank you," Mac said quietly while Daiki shrugged with a small grunt.

"Mac-nee, we're going to watch you play today!" Shiro grinned at her showing his missing front tooth as he did. "I'm sure you'll be better than Daiki-nii."

"Daiki-nii is the best!" Sayuri protested with a glare at her twin brother.

"Mac-nee is the best!" Shiro glared back.

"Calm down," Takehiro said giving his two youngest a stern look making them both turn away with a huff and folded arms over their chests.

"They are both good," Ayano scolded her twins gently.

"I know that," Sayuri said and looked at Mac. "I know Mac-nee is good."

"You…" Shiro started but stopped when Mac placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Thank you both," Mac smiled at them, "I appreciate your support and belief in me."

"I believe in you more," Shiro muttered but smiled when Mac ruffled his hair and leaned down to hug him.

Daiki just rolled his eyes but he smiled slightly as he watched them. He found the whole argument amusing, but he was relieved Mac was there to calm Shiro down. She had a way to calm him without really trying, while he and his parents would often fail and he would go off into a mood.

"Mac! Aomine!" Kubota called. "Coach wants us in the locker room!"

"Okay!" Daiki called back.

"Go," Ayano smiled. "We'll see you after the match."

"Good luck," Takehiro said and waved at them.

"Good luck, Mac-nee, Daiki-nii!" the twins called beaming and waving.

Mac smiled and felt a warmth in her chest that she knew had everything to do with the fact that she actually had someone there who was watching her. That was something the Dursley would never do. Even the idea was preposterous! She snorted making Daiki glance at her curiously.

...

Mac chewed on her lower lip as she stepped onto the court. She had held the analyse of the other team at the coach's request, it felt good to be doing that. She had been able to shove her nerves away while she talked about the other team and who they needed to look out for and what their strengths were.

Now, though, the nerves were back and Mac felt almost sick. Why did she say yes to play? She felt the eyes on her and she fought the need to shift in her feet and turn to run away. She winces slightly when she saw two of the other teams' boys start to whisper to each other and look at her when they spotted the jersey she was wearing.

"..you don't think she's going to play, do you?"

"Looks like it, she's wearing their jersey… who lets a girl play on a boys team?"

She heard their whispers and carefully kept her face blank as she followed the team to their bench before joining them on the court to warm up.

...

"Kenzie?" Daiki asked looking at her with a small frown.

Mac looked at him and saw the concern in his blue eyes and sighed inwardly, of course, she didn't manage to hide her nerves from him. She had hoped she would be able to hide it and not having to talk about it.

"I'm fine, Daiki," Mac said.

"Of course you are," Daiki said rolling his eyes. "You're nervous."

Mac shrugged and looked away from him, the hall was pretty full of being a Middle School basketball match, even a qualifying match. Mac knew that Teiko drew a lot of the spectators, being a top school and the team in itself was enough to make people want to see.

"Guess so," Mac said, "I.."

Mac frowned; she was unsure how to explain it to him without sounding stupid or weak. She felt…exposed, watched. She felt…unworthy of the trust, they showed her, their expectations felt heavy. What if she failed?

"You're going to be fine, Kenzie," Daiki said reading her correctly and she was hit with the realisation that he could read her like that. She knew she had hidden her thoughts well, but looking at him she saw the knowing smile on his face. "I know you, Kenzie. I know how you think. You are worth it, and you should keep your uncle's voice out of your head. He's wrong and you are worth it all."

Mac looked down to hide the emotions in her eyes she felt a spark of warmth and something else she couldn't name from his words and a small smile crossed her lips. She looked up and smiled making him smile his usual happy smile back at her.

...

I can't believe they're actually letting a girl play," a boy with a buzz cut said to his team who nodded.

"They must pity her or something," another said.

"They must be looking down at us! They think we're nothing!" A third player said with a glare at his opponents.

Mac ignored it but saw the way her friends' tenses and glared at the other team, making her smiled slightly.

"Come on," Daiki said a dark look in his eyes. "Let's show them what Kenzie can do!"

Mac saw the other nod and resolve themselves, she felt happy as she followed them out on the floor. The nerves were gone as she was reminded that she still had her friends with her. They believed in her and wanted her to play with them.

...

Mac grinned as Daiki slung an arm over her shoulders grinning at her proudly, the way his eyes shone reminded her of old times. They had won and had shown that Mac wasn't someone to be taken lightly. She glanced at the other team who looked defeated and felt a stirring of sympathy for them, but this was basketball. There would be winners and losers, and she couldn't stop playing because she felt bad about it. It wasn't respect.

"Let's go and celebrate our win!" Ryota cheered and the others nodded in agreement.

After they had changed and said goodbye to their coaches and sempai's they made their way to the local grocery store where they normally hung out after school. Mac talked with Shintaro who tried to seem unaffected by the game and the easy atmosphere, but Mac knew he enjoyed himself by the way he kept hiding his mouth as he pushed up his glasses.

"We showed them what we got," Ryota said cheerfully.

"Mac-chin showed them, you mean," Atsushi said between bites. "I still want to crush them for being rude to Mac-chin."

"We settled it on the court, Murasakibara," Mac reminded him, "there's no need to carry the grudge any further than that. Besides, they apologized."

"Hm," Atsushi said not convinced but didn't pursue the topic any longer.

"I still liked the way you passed the tall one and by dribbling the ball between his legs," Ryota said. "The look on his face…"

Daiki laughed and took a bite of his ice crème.

"You did a good match, Mac-san," Tetsuya said quietly and Mac glanced at him but didn't jump as he appeared out of nowhere, but she noticed that Daiki and Ryota jumped. "Also, the tactic you used when it looked like they might catch up was brilliant."

"Thank you, Tetsu," Mac smiled feeling a small blush on her cheeks at the praise.

They spent the rest of the afternoon talking and laughing outside the store, they were really enjoying themselves as they celebrated their victory. Though, Mac couldn't help but wonder if this happiness was on borrowed time or not. Would they be able to keep playing like this when more of them bloomed?

...

"Is…that an owl?" Ayano blinked as she stared at the black owl that was sitting on the chair in the backyard.

"Huh," Takehiro said blinking as well. "Guess so. Is that a letter tied to its leg?"

The owl hooted sounding impatient and Mac who had been standing behind the two adults snapped out of her own shock and walked up to it.

"Mac, wait…" Ayano started to say but the owl was already holding out his leg and the letter attached to it toward Mac.

"Is that for me?" Mac asked and the owl hooted again and seemed to bob its head. "Alright."

Mac reached and took the letter from the leg and the owl hooted once more. Mac smiled slightly and turned to look at the stunned Aomine's.

"Sasaki-san said that owls were normal in the wizarding world," Mac explained, "it's how they send letters. I had forgotten about it until now. I never thought I'd see an owl this close."

"I see," Ayano said seeming a little breathless as she eyed the owl.

Mac smiled and opened the letter before reading it quickly.

...

Mackenzie Potter,

Your lessons will start next Monday at 8 am. I will come and receive you from your house to be ready to go when I get there. You will need to use your time-turner after our lesson so you will repeat the day by going to your muggle school after we have had our first lessons. I will teach you how to properly use the Time-Turner then.

Please, have read through the first three chapters of introduction to magical transfiguration before our lesson.

Ah, and please feed the owl and give her some water before she leaves. She eats normal food if you have it, she's not picky.

Sato Taichi

...

The letter was short and to the point, much like she imagined her professor to be. She quickly found a bit of toast and some water before placing it on the table for the owl to eat. Fascinated she watched the owl eating and sipping water.

"Wow," Shiro exclaimed loudly when he came outside and saw the owl. "Pretty owl!"

"You startled it," Sayuri scolded him nudging him roughly before she stared at the owl.

"Did not," Shiro muttered glaring at his sister.

"It's ok," Mac said, "she's fine and still eating. You didn't do her any harm."

"Why is there an owl here?" Daiki asked having come outside to see what the noises were all about.

"She was delivering a letter to me," Mac said, "my lessons start next Monday."

"Oh," Daiki said realising what she meant.

Mac nodded and blinked when the owl hooted and flew over to her and nipped at her fingers gently. Mac stroked her feathers and marvelled at the softness and warmth she felt. The owl seemed to preen as she did and she chuckled.

"Can I pet it?" Shiro asked.

Mac glanced at the owl who was watching the six-year-old, almost seven-year-old boy before she nodded and Mac held her arm where the owl was perched out so Shiro could pet her.

Shiro let out an excitable laugh as he felt the feathers for the first time and the look of wonder in his eyes was something Mac never would forget. Soon Sayuri also came wanting to pet the owl and Mac were impressed by the patience the owl showed as she allowed them all to pet her.

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AN: Thank you for reading :)