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

...

...

2nd year – Teiko – the Nationals

"The National Middle School Basketball Tournament will now begin!"

The applause sounded from the spectators while Mac stood silently behind Daiki as the teams were lined up next to each other in the opening ceremony. It felt…different to stand there with her friends, she felt nervous and excited. It would be the first tournament she would play with her friends in.

"I'm hungry…" Atsushi complained and Mac smiled a little at the familiar complaint as she followed her friends. "I want my snack now."

"The opening ceremony just ended!" Shintaro scolded him.

"I have something for you when we're done here, Murasakibara-kun," Mac spoke up and he beamed at her like a little kid making her shake her head a little.

She jumped slightly when they were suddenly surrounded by people in yellow vests and microphones pointed right at them. Mac felt her eyes widen and breathing sped up as she eyed the journalists warily.

"Can we get an interview?"

"How will your team finish this year?"

"Is it true that you have a girl on your team?"

The questions came from them all at once and Mac took a step back not wanting to be in the spotlight or their attention to find her, but she saw how they looked at her. She couldn't do this… she blinked when she felt a familiar warm hand take hers and pull, she followed without really thinking about it and found herself away from the journalists.

"Thank you, Daiki," Mac said relieved and he smiled a little at her.

"I know you don't like that," he said. "You ok?"

"Yeah," Mac nodded. "You?"

"I guess," Daiki shrugged looking around the gym and at all the different schools that had come to the Nationals. "You think I'll find someone to challenge me here?"

"Perhaps," Mac said but in all honesty, she doubted it. She knew the teams here, and Daiki was better than all of them. She had done her homework well, hoping, searching for someone who had a player that would challenge Daiki. She was disappointed. "But even if they haven't, it doesn't mean that you'll never find someone. There's still High School, you know."

"That's a long way away," Daiki said looking away from her.

...

"Aomine!" Both Mac and Daiki looked up when they heard someone call Daiki's name and saw a light brown haired teen coming running toward them, he was about the same height as Daiki, Mac noticed and she recognised him as Inoue from Kamizaki Middle School. He was good, but…

"You're here!" Inoue Tomoya said. "We'll be playing each other again this year!"

"Yes, we will be," Daiki grinned looking happy again. "I'm looking forward to it."

"Eh, who's this?" Inoue said looking at Mac. "Oh, you're the manager from last year… but you're wearing a jersey?"

"She's a player this year as well as our manager," Daiki said with a proud smile, "Potter Mackenzie."

"Oooh," Inoue said before smiling, "nice to meet you! I'm looking forward to seeing you play, Potter-san!"

"Thank you," Mac said shyly as she watched the happy boy. He was similar to Daiki in many ways, she thought. She looked at him closely. Would he be able to challenge Daiki? She could see that he was strong and a good player, but… he lacked in speed and agility compared to Daiki and a strong feeling of foreboding hit her as she watched Daiki talk to the other boy with a happiness she hadn't seen in him for a long time.

"This year I'll win," Inoue said bringing Mac out of her musings.

"You can't beat me," Daiki returned with a smile as they shook hands.

Mac just watched with a sad little smile as they parted.

...

"KUROKO!"

Mac blinked at the sudden yell and looked around until she found the source of the loud yell and saw a boy with orange-brown hair rushing to Tetsuya who smiled at seeing however that was. She tilted her head curiously as she watched the stranger as he threw an arm over Tetsuya's shoulder and grinning at him. She noticed that the boy had rice on his face, she smiled a little.

"I wonder…" Daiki pulled her away from observing Tetsuya and his friend.

"Wonder what?" Mac asked.

"If I were too quick to write off a challenge," Daiki said.

Mac didn't answer as she saw the hopeful look on her best friends face, she couldn't bring herself to say that she didn't believe that.

...

Mac started on the bench for their match against Kamizaki Middle School and sat beside Shirogane who was watching with his narrow eyes like normal.

"Anyone, we need to look out for on this team, Potter-san?" Shirogane asked.

"Uh, no not really," Mac said quietly, "Inoue the power forward is good, but Daiki is better."

Shirogane nodded and Mac was left to watch her friends play, it didn't take long before they had the control of the game.

Mac was substituted into the game and high-fived Ryota as she stepped onto the court while he sat down on the bench. She caught the ball when Tetsuya passed to her and saw the narrowing eyes from the players on Kamizaki team. She dribbled the ball and moved past the Centre who looked to be in a heavy mood, she shot the ball and it went in.

As the game progressed the score widened and Mac saw how the other team started to give up, they were half-hearted in their attempt to stop them. Mac didn't like it and narrowed her eyes as she eyed Inoue as he let Daiki pass him without even trying to stop him from scoring.

Mac felt her breath hitch when she saw the pained and hurt look on Daiki's face when he turned to look at Inoue who had his back to Daiki but Mac could see his face. She saw the small smirk on his face, but it didn't seem happy, but twisted. His eyes were shadowed so she couldn't see them.

"You don't get it," Mac heard Inoue say as Daiki ran past him. "You're a monster. No one can compete with you."

Mac fisted her hands as she saw the look on Daiki's face and how he ignored Tetsuya who looked so hopeful, the pain of the rejection on his face was too much. What was happening? Where was the happiness in playing?

...

"Inoue!" Mac called when the game was over and the two teams went to go to their own benches. Inoue hesitated, his eyes dark and Mac could see the pain he felt for losing, but she was too angry to really care right now.

"What?" he asked.

"Who do you think you are to call Daiki a monster?" Mac demanded with a sharp glare. "I get you're upset about losing, and that you're upset that Daiki is stronger than you, but that doesn't excuse you to go and call him a monster!"

Inoue and his team were staring at her, but for once she didn't care as she kept her glare on the Kamizaki player.

"He is a monster," Inoue said quietly, "he is too strong. He shouldn't be allowed to play…"

"Shut up," Mac snapped, "you're the ones who gave up! You're the ones who stopped playing so don't you dare blame Daiki for playing and winning! You didn't even try!"

Inoue frowned at her but didn't say anything.

"Hi, you should go back to your own team," the Captain of Kamizaki said, "stop harassing the losing team."

Mac glanced at him her eyes narrowed, "this has nothing to do with who lost or who won, Captain-san. This is a matter of how he hurt my best friend who looked forward to playing against him because he knew he would meet someone who would fight back. I won't let anyone call my best friend a monster! He's not!"

With a last glare, she turned and walked away and back to her own bench where her team was watching her with wide eyes. She ignored them and sat down taking a deep drink from the water bottle.

...

The atmosphere in the locker room was tense and Mac hated it, this was not what she had pictured when she was allowed to play with the team. She looked at Tetsuya who looked dejected and refused to look up. Daiki was sitting quietly next to her without saying a word while the others looked scared to say something to set them off.

A loud bang started Mac out of her thoughts and saw Daiki standing up and his fist against the locker like he had just hit it.

"Daiki!" Mac said.

"Leave me alone," Daiki said quietly but Mac flinched back and watched in stunned silence as he left the locker room. He had never said anything like that to her before, the hurt filled her but she remained silent as the door closed behind him.

"I had a bad feeling, but I wasn't expecting this," Shintaro said breaking the silence that had filled the room.

"Are you ok, Mac-chin?" Atsushi asked.

"Fine," Mac mumbled without looking at them. She knew Daiki was hurt and in pain but was he mad at her now?

...

Mac was on her way out of the locker room when she spotted Tetsuya closing his phone looking sad, or sadder she should say. Pushing her own worries away for a moment she walked over to him.

"Tetsu?"

He jumped and started when she spoke up and she actually had to smile a little at the fact that she had managed to get him to jump when normally it was the other way around.

"Oh, it's you, Mac-san," Tetsuya said.

"Are you ok?" Mac asked worriedly, "you look sad. I know Daiki hurt you."

Tetsuya looked away from her and shrugged a little, but he didn't seem inclined to say anything and Mac sighed silently.

"You know how Daiki gets," Mac said, "he's not thinking. I know he values your friendship."

"I know," Tetsuya said, "he's been upset for some time now, hasn't he?"

"Yeah," Mac sighed tiredly, "I don't know how to fix it."

Tetsuya looked at her for a moment before nodding, "me neither."

They stood in silence for a moment and Mac realised that Tetsuya would be the one beside her that hurt the most over Daiki's loss of passion for the game. Daiki had been the one to help Tetsuya the most and they were close, if not for her then Tetsuya would be Daiki's best friend. Mac looked at Tetsuya who was staring at his phone again like he was seeing something else.

"Did something else happen?" Mac asked quietly, "to make you upset?"

He was silent for a moment longer before he put his phone back in his pocket and glanced at her with sad teal blue eyes.

"My friend lost his match," Tetsuya said, "he's the one who taught me about basketball when we were kids. He moved away before we started Middle School and we promised to play each other during the Nationals…we finally saw each other for the first time in over two years, but…he lost."

Mac arched a brow in surprise, so Tetsuya had someone like that? She hadn't known that she realised that she didn't really know that much about Tetsuya outside of basketball. He normally talked basketball when he was with them, but she guessed Daiki would know more since the two of them would hang out alone sometimes.

"I see," Mac said with a small smile, "I'm sorry he lost then, it would have been interesting to play your friend."

Tetsuya nodded.

"What team was he on?" Mac asked curiously.

"Meiko," Tetsuya said. "Ogiwara Shigehiro."

Mac tried to remember her notes on the teams and she had made some of Meiko, she remembered thinking they were a good team and that their Ace was good. His name was Ogiwara, she thought.

"Huh, I see," she muttered. "There's always next year."

Tetsuya smiled more genuinely now and nodded in agreement.

...

Mac walked out of the building looking for Daiki, it was time to go home and she wanted to see if he was still around. She didn't think he would leave without her, so she went looking. She found him by the pool in the back sitting by himself with a leg over the edge and the other pulled up while he rested a hand on the knee. He had a towel over his head so his face was hidden from view, but to Mac, his image hit her hard. He looked so…lonely and hurt where he sat and anger toward Inoue who had placed those words in her friend's mind flashed through her once more.

Mac sat down next to him without saying a word; she looked at the water that was shining slightly in the sun even as the area started to be swollen up by shadows. The silence between them seemed stifling, something it never was before. For once Mac didn't know how to break it, she didn't know what to say to make him come back.

"Kenzie," Daiki's voice sounded rough but soft at the same time.

"Mm?"

"I'm…sorry," he said.

"Don't think about it," Mac said glancing at him to see him still sitting like she had found him, if not for the fact that he had spoken she would have doubted that he even knew she was there. "I understand."

Daiki didn't say anything and Mac looked back at the water as her mind worked, they sat in silence for a little while longer and Mac was pleased to note that it wasn't as stifling anymore.

"He's wrong, you know," Mac said being the one to break the silence this time. "Inoue-san, I mean."

"No, he's not…" Daiki said darkly, "I am a monster."

"You're not!" Mac said firmly. "Daiki, you're not a monster and he had no right to say that. You're good and on a higher level than the others around you, but that doesn't give him the right to call you that."

Daiki looked up and the towel fell off his head and around his neck instead and Mac saw the redness in his eyes suggesting he had been crying. Her heart broke for her best friend.

"Daiki, you know that you're better than the others," Mac said looking at him, "you need to find out why you play and what you want from playing basketball. It will probably take time before you will be able to meet someone who'll challenge you the way you need and want, but you can't keep taking your disappointment out on your team."

Daiki looked up when Mac got to her feet and stretched her arms into the air and yawned, she was tired after a long day of playing and they were finally nearing the end of the tournament. He got to his feet as well and looked at her with a concerned look.

"Are you okay, Kenzie?" he asked.

"I'm fined, Daiki," Mac smiled at her friend glad to see him looking a little more like normal, "just tired. It's time to go home."

He nodded and sighed, "I don't know what to do, Kenzie."

"You need to find a reason for why you play, Daiki," Mac said, "you used to find basketball fun and exciting."

"I know," he said, "but…"

"I know," Mac said, "I'm not saying you have to find the answer right now because that will be impossible, but think about it. Try to have fun with us, Daiki. With your team."

Daiki looked at her for a moment before nodding making her smile.

...

Mac knew that her words wouldn't solve anything overnight for Daiki, but she was pleased to see that he at least looked a little better during their next games. He played his best and focused on the team and not the opponents anymore. While she was sad he didn't really look at their opposing players she was happy he got a little more life back in him again.

"I did wrong," Shirogane broke into Mac's thoughts where she was watching her team play Kamata West in the finals; if they won they would be champions for the second year in a row.

"Eh?" she looked at the coach and was worried to see how tired he suddenly looked, he looked older than before.

"Aomine is a talented player who has more love for the game than anyone else on this team," Shirogane said. "I knew this would happen."

Mac looked back to the court and Daiki who just performed his formless shot scoring another point for them. She knew what the coach meant, how could she not?

"I knew that he would surpass his peers, but my desire to see his talent bloom surpassed my worries for his feelings," Shirogane admitted. "I'm sorry about that."

"I knew it too," Mac whispered clenching her hands, "I…I helped…"

He glanced at her, "you both are talented and love the game. It's natural for you to seek the path to growth and victory. It's the adult's job to lead you right, but… I failed you both."

Mac felt her eyes widen as she looked at Shirogane but he wasn't looking at her anymore, he was watching the match again with faraway eyes. She couldn't find her words, couldn't find the correct answer to his statement.

"But, please, don't let the talent go to waste," Shirogane continued. "Potter-san, I know you helped him get back after the match against Kamizaki Middle School. You can reach him still, help him continue playing. If he, or you, give up now then you're left with nothing. That would be a waste."

Mac could only nod but that seemed to be enough for the coach who smiled gently before couching into his hand.

...

Mac caught the ball and glare at one of the Kamata West twins whom she knew was manipulating the judges to get their way, both Daiki and Ryota had more fouls because of them and she felt annoyed. She passed the ball to Shintaro who scored another three-pointer.

"We'll stop you," twin number 1 said.

"You can try," Mac said.

She ran back to defend against their offence but they were stopped by Atsushi who looked bored before he passed the ball to her, she dribbled the ball across the court and passed to Seijuro who passed back to her when she got past their centre, free she jumped and dunked the ball.

The spectators cheered loudly and wildly and she could hear many shouting for Teiko to win, it was clear they had won the audience over with their playing. She saw the way Kamata West started to get desperate, but at least they didn't give up as they just scored a basket.

She saw Daiki sitting next to Shirogane one the bench and he was watching her with a small smile making her feel lighter, and it gave her more confidence to continue with her game.

...

"We won!" Ryota cheered when the referees blew the whistle for the final time. Ryota through an arm over Tetsuya's shoulder and grinned widely in victory.

"I'm hungry," Atsushi predictably said, "can we eat now? Do you want any?"

The question was directed toward Shintaro who nodded, "yes, please."

"Eh?" Atsushi looked so shocked that Mac had to laugh, "seriously?"

Seijuro was smiling, his eyes closed as he took in everything around them.

Mac grinned and stood beside Tetsuya very aware that Daiki was standing a few feet off watching them, she knew she had to let him be for now and saw Nijimura coming up behind him so she didn't have to worry too much. She wasn't sure what the former captain told her best friend but soon he was smiling and came to join them in their celebration.

She leaned into his side when he placed an arm around her shoulder and squeezed, this was what had her playing. For once they looked happy and enjoyed their mutual victory. Even the third years joined them in the celebration.

Mac didn't pay too much attention to the ceremony afterwards; she was too tired and happy. The trophy in and on itself didn't matter, but the feeling she got from winning and playing with her friends mattered. She did notice the thoughtful, almost pensive look on Shirogane's face as he watched them, though. She worried.

...

Sato's home – magic lessons

"How did your tournament go?" Sato asked looking up from where he was sitting behind his desk reading some papers when she entered the room.

She had been to a few lessons now and still found it to be interesting and new, she felt a little nervous when she port-keyed into his home. She still remembered the first time when he had come and picked her up from Daiki's home.

Flashback…

"You ready to go?" Sato asked looking at her.

"Yes, um, how are we getting there?" Mac asked nervously, "and where are we going?"

"We're going to my home," Sato said, "since we need to use magic in our lessons it's important we'll be somewhere safe. My wife and kids are home, but they know to leave us alone. We'll get there by port-key."

"Port-key?" Mac asked feeling stupid but having no idea what that was.

"Port-keys are objects made to transport us from one place to another," Sato explained patiently. "Like this (holding up a chain with a charm on it), this will transport us to my home and back again. I have made it to activate with certain words as the trigger and it is how you'll be travelling back and forth for your lessons."

"Oh," Mac said softly. She grabbed the chain and heard him say: "maho".

Mac felt the hook behind her navel and it was like she was being pulled away and soon she reappeared in an entrance hall, coats were hanging on some hooks on the wall and she saw several pairs of shoes lined up.

"Come this way," Sato said and had already started to walk making her follow behind him. They passed a staircase that leads to the second story of the house before coming to a door that led into a large room that had a large window stretching from the floor and all the way to the ceiling and a door next to it leading out to a garden, it was clear that they were in the back of the house. She also saw several bookcases that were filled with books and a desk that was filled with papers. She also saw another table that seemed to have been placed there for her, it looked a little out of place so that was why she guessed that.

… End Flashback

"We won," Mac answered his question as she placed her bag on her desk and saw him smile a little.

"Good, congratulations," he said.

"Thank you, professor" Mac accepted shyly.

...

"Have you read your material?" Sato asked getting back to the reason for her to being there.

"Yes, sir," Mac nodded hiding her yawn; she had stayed up late last night to finish reading it after the celebration of their win.

They started with transfiguration today and Mac listened as he explained the magic and different theories, she took notes and answered the questions he asked. It was a very complicated subject and Mac could feel herself getting frustrated by all the theories in it, but at the same time found it interesting and fun. She looked forward to learning more about human transfigurations but was disappointed learning that they would need to start small.

"I want you to try to change a match into a needle," Sato said levitating a box of matches over to her.

Mac nodded looking determined as she took out her wand, and muttered the spell he gave her and frowned when nothing happened. She tried again and again, and finally, she saw some results.

"Good," Sato praised her when he saw the match had turned silver and looked like a needle, "it's not as sharp as a normal needle, but that was very good for your first time trying."

Mac smiled at the praise.

...

They ate lunch with Sato's wife, Sato Kaori, a very kind and loving woman with short light hair. She had been very welcoming toward Mac and seemed to love the chance to make lunch for her even when Mac protested and said she could bring her own lunch. Kaori-san, as she demanded to be called saying it would be confusing with so many Sato's, just waved her protests off and said she liked the chance to cook.

"Ah, the kids are home," Kaori said looking up and Mac glanced up from her plate. She hadn't met their kids yet.

"I see," Sato said from his place at the table.

Soon two teens came into the kitchen but stopped when they spotted her sitting at the table with their parents. Mac wasn't sure what she expected, but when Kaori and Sato talked about their kids she had pictured someone like Shiro or Sayuri, not the two teens that were clearly older than her.

"Oh, right," the boy said breaking out of his shock first, "dad had his lesson today."

He smiled at her, he looked kind of like his dad, Mac thought. Dark hair and dark eyes, but his smile was Kaori's. It made his face warm and handsome.

"I'm Sato Daisuke," he smiled introducing himself. "Nice to meet you."

"I'm Sato Sachi," the girl with long light hair and grey eyes introduced herself, "nice to meet you."

"Potter Mackenzie," Mac said quietly, "nice to meet you."

She saw the widening of eyes and how they looked to her forehead, she felt like covering her scar with her hair but she remained still. They hadn't known who she was then, she glanced at her professor who watched with a stern face.

"Not a word that I'm giving her lessons," he told his kids who both nodded. "Come eat."

They sat down and Mac felt them continue to give her curious looks, but she didn't look up to meet them.

"How did your Tournament go, Mac-san?" Kaori asked breaking the silence.

"We won," Mac said, "it's the second year in a row we've taken the title now."

"That's amazing," Kaori said, "you played, right?"

"Yeah," Mac nodded shyly.

"Tournament?" Sato Daisuke asked. "Quidditch?"

Mac frowned confused, "no, basketball."

"The muggle sport?" Sato Sachi asked with a small frown.

"I attend a muggle school," Mac shrugged looking down, "and play basketball."

"Why?" Sachi asked. "Why not attend a magic school? You'd go to Hogwarts, right?"

Mac just shrugged and didn't answer, it wasn't any of their business and she felt that the slightly older girl talked down to her and she didn't like it. She swallowed and suddenly missed Daiki.

"Sachi," Sato warned his daughter, "the circumstances are different and do not pry."

Mac hears the huff from the other girl and glanced up to see her scowl at her food while Daisuke looked at her with a small smile and curious look in his dark eyes.

"I have never seen basketball before," he said, "is it fun?"

Mac nodded smiling more genuinely, "it's fun when you play with your friends."

He smiled, "mm, maybe I'll come and watch you play sometimes."

Mac fought a blush but nodded in agreement. She saw Sachi roll her eyes from the corner of her eyes, but Mac ignored her.

"Are you finished with school?" Mac asked curiously.

"I am," Daisuke said, "I finished this year, but Sachi still got two years left."

"I see," Mac said, "and what's Quidditch?"

"You don't know Quidditch?" Daisuke asked shocked making Mac shake her head. "It's the best sport ever and it's played on brooms."

Brooms, Mac blinked, that's right she had seen brooms in the stores when she went to the magical district with Sasaki. She hadn't really thought about it before, though. She listened as Daisuke went over the rules and how great the sport was. It was clear he really loved the game.

"We'll play one time you're here for a lesson," Daisuke promised, "we have brooms you can borrow."

Mac nodded and felt a little excited.

...

...

AN: Thank you for reading! Also thank you for favouriting, following and reviewing! :)