Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Kuroko no Basket!
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3rd year – Teiko
Magical Child Protective Services (MCPS)
Sasaki Michi was looking at the papers in front of him with a pensive look on his face. He had finally found a family for Mac, and it had been harder than he would have thought. Yes, he could have found someone related in Britain since all British purebloods were related somehow and looking thoroughly enough you would find some link between them all. And the Potters were purebloods so they were related to the Blacks, Avery, Abbott and even Malfoy's through marriage, but as he had researched those families he had found them…lacking in their abilities in looking after Mac. Some of them even supported Voldemort and that was not something that was favourable for someone raising the Girl-Who-Lived. So, he dismissed finding family through her father James.
Though, finding family through Lily was more difficult and challenging seeing as she a muggle-born witch and therefore getting access to papers regarding her was harder. Less was known about her and even in her famous status little was knows of her family. He suspected that someone had blocked information about her family life in the muggle world from being spread after her death. But he had searched, even going to England for a visit and had hired some muggle private detectives to find more information about her family.
And now, after months and months, there had been a result of his searching. He wasn't even sure why he tried so hard to find a family for her that could take her in. Normally he wouldn't, and couldn't, spend so much time on one kid but something about Mac called for more effort. Even his bosses had told him to find the best suitable solution for her, and while he had other cases as well he kept returning to his search and attempt to keep Mac in the country and where she wanted to be. He suspected that the higher-ups wanted Mac in their country because of her history and the promise in power that lied within her. He just saw the hurt girl when he and Suzuki first found her and wanted to help her.
Though, given that she was now staying with her best friend and his family and seemed happy with them, he wasn't sure if moving her again was the best choice. But the living situation was only temporary and he had said so when they made the arrangement. He sighed and pulled a hand through his shaggy brown hair messing it up even further.
Focusing back on the file in front of him he pushed his worries away, for now, he had to talk to the newfound family first and see if they were ready and willing to take her in. He still couldn't believe the luck of finding a family for Mac that actually lived in Tokyo now. It turned out that Lily Potter had a half-sister that she (probably) never knew about. From what Sasaki could tell Gregory Evans had an affair shortly after Petunia was born that resulted in a daughter, and that daughter had been adopted by an American couple shortly after her birth mother had died in childbirth.
Sasaki was unsure if Gregory Evans ever learned of his daughter, but she was never brought into the Evans family. Both Gregory and his wife died during Lily's last year at Hogwarts, in what looked like an attack by Death Eaters at a local market. Sasaki was sure it was one more reason for the bitterness Petunia felt toward her sister. Anyway, the baby girl grew up and married a man from Japan when she met him on a vacation in Tokyo. They lived the first years in Tokyo where they had a baby boy and moved to California when their son was in third grade. Unfortunately, Mac's aunt had died the year before in a car accident leaving her son and husband alone. They had stayed in America one more year and had recently moved back to Tokyo before the son started his last year of middle school.
Sasaki got up and grabbed his file ready to meet with the man at the set appointment and hoped that he would be willing to take his wife's niece under his care.
...
Teiko
Mac grinned and laughed as she caught the ball and tried to twist around a warily looking Ryota who barely managed to get a finger on the ball causing her to lose control over the ball. She turned and rushed after the ball but Ryota managed to get control over it first, though she didn't give up. She shared a look with Tetsuya who nodded and before Ryota could shoot he found the ball leaving his grip and Mac caught the ball again before passing to Tetsuya.
She grinned hearing Ryota curse behind her but focused on getting past Seijuro before catching the ball from Tetsuya again. She jumped and grinned happily when the ball went through the hoop.
"Great pass, Tetsu!" Mac high-fived Tetsuya and he allowed a small happy smile to cross his face.
Mac ignored the blank looks on her teammate's faces as she did what she had promised herself she would do, to have fun playing basketball no matter what.
They were playing two on two, Ryota and Seijuro against Mac and Tetsuya. Shintaro, Atsushi and Daiki were training on the other side of the court but Mac knew that Daiki was likely to be asleep in the corner or something. They got him to come, but it was hard to make him actually participate in more than the joint training. When they split up like this he was likely to slip away and do his own thing. Seijuro allowed it, but mostly because Mac pleaded with him to let Daiki be. She knew that pressure him was a bad idea. He was there, and he tried.
Seijuro arched a brow when Mac tilted her head as she watched him dribble the ball against the parquet. Her eyes focused on him and not the ball, she had her head tilted to the side and when he moved she was already moving the right way and intercepted him. He lost control of the ball something she used to her advantage and passed to where she knew Tetsu were waiting.
She didn't notice the shocked look on Seijuro's face or the fact that the others had gathered to watch them finish. She was already moving, so she was free to catch the pass from Tetsuya again and stepped back when Seijuro was on her giving her room to jump and shoot the ball grinning when it went through the hoop.
"What was that?" Ryota asked Seijuro while watching Mac with sharp yellow eyes. "You never lose the ball like that."
Seijuro didn't say anything just sent the model a glare making him squirm as he rushed off ready to play again. Seijuro kept an eye on Mac and noticed how she seemed even more inclined to know just how they moved; reading their bodies better and he struggled with getting free from her defending her hoop. He more than once found himself forced into a corner manipulated by how she seemed to read him and his own moves.
Mac breathed heavily as she accepted the towel from Shintaro and gave him a small smile of thanks, she dried her sweat and sat down on the bench. She felt exhausted. Looking up she saw that everyone was looking at her making her frown and feel uncomfortable. She still didn't like it when she was being stared at.
"What?" she asked shifting a little in her seat.
"What was that?" Ryota asked his eyes wide.
"What was what?" Mac asked confused.
"You played differently, Kenzie," Daiki said a contemplative look on his face. "You intercepted them easier than before, and…it was like…"
He trailed off but she frowned.
"What are you talking about? I just read their body language and read how they were going to move," Mac said, "I always do that."
"Not this easy," Shintaro pushed his glasses off. "You've bloomed."
Mac blinked as she stared at him and then looked at the others. All looked at her with either a smile or a pensive look on their face, it was clear that they believed what Shintaro had said. Had she developed? Bloomed? She hadn't really felt all that different. Though, thinking about it she did feel it went a little easier during the match.
"Oh," she said.
"You didn't even realise, did you?" Seijuro asked with a blank look but she saw the amusement in his eyes.
Mac shrugged a little sheepishly and smiled at him. Seijuro only shook his head.
Mac couldn't believe that she had developed, or whatever she should call it. She had tried back after the game against Shoei, but she couldn't do it. She had been disappointed but accepted that maybe she wouldn't be as good as the rest of them. She would still have fun though, just like Kiyoshi had said. And now…now she had bloomed, developed. She felt a little wary afraid she would do what the others had done, but she would keep looking for what was fun with basketball.
...
Nao nudged her left leg making Mac look down at the little cub, though he wasn't so little anymore, and raise a brow. He made a soft noise and Mac glanced at the clock. Her eyes widened, it was almost midnight and she hadn't even noticed. She had been so lost in her magic homework that she had worked through the whole afternoon and evening.
"Ah, I didn't realise it was so late," Mac told Nao who yapped at her making her smile. "Thank you for making me aware, Nao."
Mac closed her book about transfiguration and stretched as she got up. She had luckily finished her essay for Sato that had to be ready for the next day.
Mac smiled as Nao jumped into the bed with her when she lay down and snuggled to her side like he normally did. She couldn't help the small gasp that escaped her when he suddenly glowed lightly and three extra tails appeared in addition to the one he already had as he curled up next to her.
She remembered what Newt said about Kitsune and Nao, about how he would show her the tails when he trusted her and she felt warmth fill her when she realised that her little fox finally trusted her completely and she hugged him tightly to her body. The soft barks he let out seemed comforting and adoring.
"Nao, my beautiful, wonderful little friend," Mac whispered emotionally. "Thank you for trusting me."
Nao opened his brown eyes and looked up at her with such trust she felt like she wasn't worthy of it but she promised herself she was going to be the best career and friend for Nao. She completely understood the trust he put in her, having been hurt by humans before.
Nao dragged himself up to her face and licked her cheek making her laugh lightly and squirm a little as he continued to lick her.
"Nao!" Mac laughed.
"Yow-wow-yow," Nao looked like he was laughing as well.
"Good night, Nao," Mac smiled contently and felt Nao snuggle closer and his tails wrapping themselves around him.
...
Sato's home
Mac couldn't help but grin even as she sat behind the desk working on her assignment from Professor Sato. The memory of Nao showing her his tails and waking up with the fox curled up next to her with his tails still showing.
She had moved to second year Transfiguration spells and was now learning to transfigure beetles into buttons. It didn't sound all that impressive, but it was harder than it looked. It took complete focus and actually managing to hit the beetle that seemed more interested in running around the desk trying to avoid getting turned into a button.
Nao barked lightly next to her in what she read as encouragement when the next beetle stopped moving and transformed into a round black coat button. Mac grinned and placed it in the growing pile at the corner of the desk.
She couldn't help but sigh when Professor Sato levitated yet another beetle over at her desk and she was back to yet again try to catch the active beetle with her spell. She didn't notice the amused smile on her professor's face as he watched her do so.
"Nao!" Mac laughingly scolded when the fox swapped after the beetle that rushed passed where he was laying on the free space on the desk next to the one she used. "Don't do that."
"Yow-wow-yow," Nao pouted.
"Yeah, yeah, I know," Mac said, "you'll get your fun later, ok?"
Nao nodded his head making Mac shake hers before focusing on the little beetle. She tapped her hand in a perfect motion and the beetle seemed to freeze in place before stiffening and transform into a shiny black button this time. Again placing it in the pile before looking up at Professor Sato who smiled but didn't levitate another beetle over to her.
"Very good," Professor Sato said, "next I want you to try to transfigure rabbits into slippers."
Mac arched a brow, "really?"
"Yes, but…um, your fox…" Sato said and eyed Nao making Mac bit down on her lower lip as she too watched Nao.
"Nao," Mac said and Nao looked at her. "No eating the rabbits, ok?"
Nao tilted his head watching her for a moment before barking and Mac smiled.
"Good," she said knowing he understood. He was a smart little fox.
Professor Sato shook his head a little at the strange but fascination relationship between Mac and the Kitsune. He had never seen a fox or any animal understand their humans like Nao understood Mac. He conjured up a rabbit before levitating it over to Mac.
"How do I do it?" Mac asked not looking away from the white rabbit while Professor Sato glanced at Nao who eyed the rabbit but didn't move to attack it.
"You twirl your wand over it," Professor Sato said and explained the spell and how to pronounce it.
Mac nodded and got a determined look in her green eyes. She twirled her wand but all that happened was that the rabbit jumped and almost fell off the table. Mac managed to grab it before it fell, though.
"Calm and steady," Sato said making Mac nod and her tongue stuck out between her lips in concentration.
Swirling her wand again and again and again, she kept trying until the rabbit started to shrink until a small white slipper was in its place.
"I did it!" Mac grinned and her professor allowed himself a small smile at her excitement before conjuring another rabbit and levitating it over to her as well.
"Good, now do it again," he said.
Mac sighed but nodded and gave Nao a look when he barked scaring the rabbit. Nao just blinked but he didn't bark again and Mac turned her attention back to the rabbit.
...
"I see you learned how to turn rabbits into slippers today," Daisuke commented looking down at the pair of slippers that was placed at her desk.
"Yes," Mac grinned and Daisuke smiled at her before blinking when a low growling sound was heard and looked to Nao who glared at the older boy.
"Looks like you have a guard dog," Daisuke said amused.
"He likes to think he is," Mac said fondly. "How is job hunting going?"
"Very well," Daisuke said, "I've got an apprenticeship with Magical Sports Department here in Tokyo."
"That's great! Congratulations!" Mac smiled knowing that he had worked hard to get that apprenticeship.
"Thanks," Daisuke smiled back, "I still haven't got to show you Quidditch."
Mac shook her head, she had been so busy with her magic lesson and basketball as well as trying to keep a hold on her friends that she hadn't had time to watch Quidditch. She glanced at the clock and saw it was time for her to go home and set her Time-Turner back and start her day over again.
"We'll have to set a time to do that;" Mac said making Daisuke nod with a smile.
"I'll come and watch you play basketball one day too," he promised.
Mac forced a smile and nodded. She wasn't sure she wanted him to come and watch her, or meet Daiki or Seijuro for that matter. They would be all overprotective and suspicious if they were to meet him.
...
Teiko
Atsushi glowered down at the boy that was collapsed by his feet, he was breathing hard and tears were leaking from his eyes but Atsushi didn't care about it. How could anyone so weak play basketball? He couldn't understand how they played basketball or even loved the game. It was so boring and easy, the effort didn't matter.
"Why do you play?" Atsushi asked with a sneer. "Why bother? You'll never play in our games! You're just wasting your energy and effort."
The boy who Atsushi didn't remember the name off sobbed and got shakily up to his feet and rushed out of the gym leaving the room silent and Atsushi sighed bored and moved toward the bench before stopping when he saw the glaring green eyes directed at him.
"What do you think you're doing?!" Mac glared at him and Atsushi felt like wincing. He hated it when Mac was mad at him, but he couldn't stop the way he thought.
"I just told him it was impossible for him to play with us," Atsushi said lazily, "he should spear his efforts and do something that he's better at."
"You are not the one who decides that, Murasakibara!" Mac snapped at him, "that's the fifth one you've chased off! They're part of our team, of our club! Even if they don't play in games doesn't mean they're useless! They support you, support us every match! They deserve better than being belittled and looked down on by their own teammates!"
Atsushi pouted childishly, but he shrunk back slightly affected by what Mac was saying and the cold look in her expressional green eyes. He blinked and looked down feeling slightly ashamed, but at the same time defiant in the belief he was right.
"Do you hate me, Mac-chin?" Atsushi whispered making Mac sigh and pull a hand over her face suddenly feeling really tired.
"No," Mac said her eyes softening as the tall centre looked at her. "I'll never hate you, Murasakibara. I just…I just wish you could understand the hurt you bring to others when you're talking to them like that. Even if you believe it, you don't have to tell them that. Please, just…try to keep your opinion to yourself?"
Atsushi looked at the girl on their team and his friend, he didn't want to see her sad. She was looking at him pleadingly and he felt himself give in. He sighed and nodded getting a smile that seemed to give him a warm feeling back.
"Fine," he mumbled.
"Thank you," Mac said and turned to follow after the player who had rushed out of the gym. It had become part of her (self-appointed) job to find them and try to get them back to the club. She knew it was easy for the others to let their frustration out on the remaining club members, but it didn't mean it was right.
...
"Potter-san," a voice said making Mac blink and look up from where she was playing with Nao and look at Kiyoshi who grinned at down at her. "Where did you get that fox?"
"He's my pet," Mac said in lack of a better term to a muggle who didn't know about familiars and such things. "His name is Nao."
"He's cute," Kiyoshi said looking at Nao curiously while Nao looked at him suspiciously and growled slightly in warning. "He's not very friendly, is he?"
"He's wary of humans," Mac grimaced slightly, "he's still not warmed up to my team or even Daiki."
Kiyoshi arched a brow but didn't say anything as he watched the fox who still growled but then Mac distracted it with a toy and Nao barked happily and started to chase it. Mac leaned back where she was seated in the grass and glanced up at Kiyoshi.
"You're going to stand there all day and give me a crick in the neck?" she asked amused.
Kiyoshi laughed and sat down next to her. He gave her a look and Mac wasn't blind to how he seemed to try to read her. She noticed the school uniform he was wearing, black trousers and black jacket with a blue stripe around the zipper.
"You look better," Kiyoshi broke the silence.
Mac gave him a small smile remembering the last time she'd seen him and how broken she had felt that day. She had been on the verge to give up and he said just what she needed to hear to continue. She still thought back to his question whenever she doubted that she could enjoy basketball anymore.
"Thanks to you," Mac said making him blink.
"Huh?" he stared at her confused.
Mac looked at Nao playing on the grass in front of her without saying anything for a while, she wasn't sure how to explain it or how much to say to the older teen.
"Thanks to you I'm able to look for the fun in playing basketball," Mac finally said, "even with my team that struggles with enjoying it."
Kiyoshi nodded and smiled but she could tell it was a little sad. He was no doubt remembering how they were during their match all those months ago.
"So, what High School do you attend?" Mac changed the subject.
"Seirin," Kiyoshi answered with a knowing look but he allowed the change much to Mac's gratitude.
"Are you on the basketball team?" Mac asked.
"I'm trying to start one," he admitted and Mar raised her brows in surprise.
"You mean there's no team at your school?" she asked shocked.
"No, it's a new school," Kiyoshi explained.
"Then why do you attend it?" Mac asked, "why not go to a school with a team. I'm sure many schools would want you on their team."
He was a uncrown king, after all, and Mac couldn't see any school turning him away.
"I like Seirin," Kiyoshi said his eyes focused on Nao, "and it's close to my grandparents' house. They're getting old and they need me to help around the house more often. I owe them for taking me in like they did."
Mac swallowed her questions knowing it was likely something he wouldn't want to talk about, just like she didn't want to talk about her family to someone she just met. Though, she wondered if Kiyoshi would be able to understand her better than the others.
"I see," she whispered also looking at Nao and thought that Kiyoshi was a good guy.
"I'll start up a team though," Kiyoshi said passionately, "and we'll be the best in Japan!"
Mac grinned and laughed lightly at his declaration.
"I can't wait to see it," Mac said and he grinned at her. "Do you have anyone ready to enter?"
"I am in the process of getting one," Kiyoshi said with a smile that made Mac think he was planning something amusing.
"Good," was all she said even if she was curious.
They talked a little longer before Mac got up and had to leave. Mac waved back at Kiyoshi who was grinning happily and thought it wasn't a bad thing to run into him even if it had been accidental. They even made plans to meet again later. Mac was curious to hear about the new team he was building.
...
"Well?"
Mac frowned as she studied the board ignoring Seijuro for now as she tried to see a way for her to last a little longer. She was getting rather good at Shogi, but still no match for Seijuro. Not that it stopped her from trying. She bit down on her lip as the thought.
"I lost." She grumbled.
She rolled her eyes at the smug look on Seijuro's face. She gave him a half-hearted glared.
"You know I always win," he said surely.
"Perhaps," Mac admitted, "but it will come a day when you also lose."
"My victory is assured, Mac," Seijuro said not bothered by her warning.
Mac looked at him for a moment before sighing and starting to clear up the pieces again, she knew that right now nothing she said or did would convince him that he wasn't invincible. She just hoped that when it happened that she would be there to help him find his place again.
"You disappeared yesterday," Seijuro suddenly said and Mac glanced over at him to find his intense eyes on her, she was probably the only one who could detect the worry deep in his eyes.
"I just felt like being alone," Mac shrugged, "practice was over and everyone was going home anyway."
He didn't say anything but kept watching her like he was trying to see if she was lying or not. Mac didn't say anything about meeting Kiyoshi, or that she had spent the remaining of the afternoon with the older teen. She knew Seijuro would get worked up about it, and she didn't feel like fighting with him. She knew he liked control, but she wasn't about to let him control her life.
"How are you doing, Seijuro?" Mac asked changing the subject slightly and looked at her friend worriedly.
"I'm fine," Seijuro said calmly, "busy with work and basketball. Like always."
Mac looked at him and nodded hiding her sigh at the brush off, but she didn't push knowing it would do little good. She kept telling herself that she was just happy she still got to spend time with her friends and even if the team was changing she still got them in her life. She wasn't losing them.
...
Sasaki – Magical Child Protective Services (MCPS)
Sasaki leaned forward in his chair in front of the impressive desk and looked at the tall man sitting on the other side wearing a slightly stunned expression on his face. Sasaki took the moment to study the man in front of him. Kagami Tarou was a surprisingly large man for a Japanese man, he was muscled and had an imposing presence in the room. His dark hair was short and well kept, making him look very much like the lawyer and businessman he was. Sasaki could very well imagine the way he was in the courtroom, imposing and demanding. Yet, he saw the humour in his eyes as well from the start of their talk. It had been replaced with shock and overwhelming emotions now, though.
"You mean to tell me that…."Kagami Tarou swallowed before he continued, "my Sophia has, had, two half-sisters and that one of them is dead but her daughter, Sophia's niece, is not? And she needs a home?"
Sasaki nodded, "yes, Kagami-san. Mac needs a family and she really wants to stay here in Tokyo where her friends are. I've kept looking for a solution and this seems to be the best one."
A sigh and a hand-pulled over a tired face before intense eyes locked onto Sasaki again making him feel like shifting in his seat.
"And…you're saying that magic is real?" Kagami Tarou continued.
"Yes," Sasaki nodded again.
"And…Mac," he sounded like he tested the name to hear how it sounded, "is a witch?"
Sasaki looked at him and saw no signs of disgust or fear, a spark of hope swelled in his chest as he nodded soundlessly waiting for the man to process everything he had been told.
"Where is she staying now?" Kagami asked.
"She's staying with her best friend and his family," Sasaki said again having explained it before but understood that it was a lot for the man to take in. "The Aomine's have been good to Mac and she has been thriving under their care. Though it was only temporary and it's already almost been a year."
Kagami leaned back in his seat and stared at Sasaki for a long time before speaking up again.
"Well," he said, "I must say it's a lot. I did not know that Sophia had family out there, and I know she would have taking Mac in without a doubt should she still be here….but…"
Sasaki could see the struggle in his eyes, sorrow and doubt as he thought. Sasaki watched as he got up from his chair and walked over to the window overlooking the city. Not breaking the silence that was filling the office.
"My son doesn't…like staying Tokyo very much," Kagami Tarou finally spoke up startling Sasaki a little by the change in topic. Sasaki nodded even if the man couldn't see him, he did know that Kagami Tarou had a son named Kagami Taiga. "He misses his friends in the States."
Sasaki nodded in understanding. Kagami Tarou turned around to face Sasaki.
"I'll take her in," he said, "if that's really what she wants and needs."
Sasaki smiled relieved. "It is what she needs. She needs family and support."
"I'm not good at dealing with teenagers," Kagami Tarou grimaced, "my wife… wife was the one who knew how to handle kids and teenagers. She was…the caring one, but I will do my best for her sake. Taiga also deserves a chance to get to know his cousin."
Sasaki nodded and smiled getting to his feet and held out a handshaking Kagami Tarou's hand before speaking.
"Very well," Sasaki said, "then let's look at the paperwork, shall we?"
...
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AN: Thank you for reading and supporting my story! :)