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

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1st year – Too Academy

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Daiki scowled as he stood beside Mac. Her hand was in his and he felt the way she was squeezing it like it was the only lifeline she had and he was the only thing keeping her anchored. The reason was standing in front of him and it really had him on edge because he really didn't like how upset Mac got.

Sirius was frowning back at him and eying the hand holding Mac's but he didn't say anything. Remus was looking calmer but also eyed the connected hands.

"You've been avoiding us," Sirius said breaking the silence. "I thought that you would talk with us now that you'd heard our stories."

Mac inhaled nervously and shifted a little on her feet as she glanced around the park where they met. She swallowed and looked at Daiki who gave a small smile and squeezed her hand briefly in comfort and support.

"I know," Mac said. "I…Well, I think we need to talk more and this isn't the place. So, um…if you could come back to my home?"

Remus and Sirius exchanged surprised looks.

"You're asking us to come back to your home?" Remus asked surprised.

"Well, I don't really see any other place where we could talk, really talk," Mac said awkwardly. "About well, you know."

Both Sirius and Remus understood and nodded and Sirius glanced at Daiki with a narrowed look.

"Does he know?" Sirius asked.

Mac frowned slightly before she blanked her face the best she could.

"Of course," Mac said. "He has known for as long as I have known."

"Oh," Sirius blinked and seemed at a loss for words.

Mac just shrugged and turned to walk back toward her apartment. She knew the two older men followed behind her and Daiki.

...

Her nerves kept getting bigger and bigger as they approached the apartment and entered the building and up the elevator until they stood in front of the door. She reached out to open the door but hesitated as she touched the doorknob.

Was she doing the right thing?

She wasn't sure. She had a feeling that she was doing the wrong thing and would create a lot of problems, but then again…she had already done it and the problems would come no matter what she did at this point.

The point was; it was too late to change her mind now. She had to go through with it and that meant that she had to open the door and enter the apartment where they waited for them.

"Mackenzie?" Remus' voice interrupted and she repressed a wince at the calmness of his voice.

She inhaled and opened the door stepping inside the apartment. She really appreciated that Daiki didn't complain about how much his hand must hurt right now because of how hard she was gripping it.

She paused right inside, just allowing them to come inside before she did and she heard the door click shut behind them. She stood there for a second before she inhaled again and walked into the living room.

She noticed the abrupt stop behind her and turned to see Remus and Sirius standing just inside the door staring at the two men that were waiting for them in the living room. Just one look was enough to tell them that these two men were wizards and Mac could see the flash of betrayal rush over both Sirius and Remus and she felt horrible.

"Mackenzie…" Remus started as Sirius took a step back. "Are these the people you are living with?"

Mac could see that Remus already knew the answer but that he was hoping for the best anyway.

"No," she said with a forced calm voice. "This is my professor, Sato Taichi, and my social worker, Sasaki Michi."

Mac fisted her free hand as she took in the tension in Sirius and Remus as they stared at the two men that were just introduced. Both Sato and Sasaki were looking at them with a serious yet curious look on their faces and Mac knew they were trying to read the two British wizards.

"Please don't try to run, Mr Black," Sasaki spoke up with a calm voice and a disarming smile, though the steel in his eyes wasn't to be mistaken. "We haven't called in the auror's. Not yet."

"That doesn't mean that we won't if you run away now or don't answer our questions," Sato added and he was not smiling as he looked at them. He looked as stern as he always did if not even more so and Mac was not really sure she wanted to know what would happen if anyone crossed him right now.

Apparently Sirius and Remus seemed to agree because they exchanged a look before they nodded and stepped further into the room. She suddenly noticed that they had their wands out and so had the other two.

"Put your wands away, please," she asked quietly.

Sirius looked at her for a moment before he seemed to make a decision and put his wand away. Remus did the same and Mac looked at her professor who sighed but did as she asked.

"Sit down," Sasaki said and pointed to the sofa and watched as they did as told.

"I'll find something to drink," Mac said hurrying toward the kitchen with Daiki right behind her. Seeing that the kitchen was connected to the living room she still saw the others and the tense silence that was happening there.

"Shh," Daiki said and pushed her hair out of her face. "Deep breaths, Kenzie. It's going to be fine."

Mac inhaled and nodded letting him calm her down and a small flicker of a smile crossed her lips as she looked up at him before she started to gather the cups and Daiki fixed the water and got it boiling.

...

"Here," she said and put the tray down on the table. "Tea."

She shifted awkwardly on her feet before she walked over to the chair where Daiki had sat down and sat down at the armrest so she could be close to him. He put his arm around her waist and held her close letting her know that she wasn't alone.

"So, you know," Sirius said breaking the silence apparently unable to bear the silence any longer. His grey eyes flickered over to Mac who looked down unable to meet his eyes.

"Potter-san didn't want to tell me," Sato said. "But she had no idea what to do so she asked me for help."

"Just who are you?" Remus asked.

"Potter-san told you," Sato said. "I'm her professor."

"She doesn't attend a magic school," Remus said, "I checked the records of other magic schools when I started to look for her, and we know that she attends Too Academy, a muggle school."

Mac looked up and then looked at Sato who was watching Remus with a pensive look on his face.

"I'm being homeschooled, sort of," Mac explained. "It was arranged when I found out about magic."

Sirius and Remus exchanged another look before looking back at Mac who went back to look down at her lap and the hand that was connected with hers.

"That's not the issue now," Sasaki spoke up bringing the attention over to him. "What we need to know is the truth because things seem a little…off, I guess you could say."

Sasaki leaned forward in his seat as he stared at Sirius who looked back with wide eyes and looked a cross between confused and curious and worried.

"I know a lot about the British Ministry's search for you, Mr Black. I had to learn about it when Mac's case fell into my hands and I had to decide what to do for her. So, I know that you escaped from Azkaban and I know it is widely believed both outside and within the British Ministry that you escaped to kill Mac in revenge for killing Voldemort," Sasaki continued.

"I never wanted Mackenzie dead!" Sirius protested hotly and his face was turning red and only Remus' hand kept him from jumping up to his feet glaring at Sasaki. "And I never, never, supported Voldemort!"

Sasaki didn't flinch by the harsh tone or the glare as he just stared back at Sirius with a contemplative look on his face. While Remus looked worriedly between Sirius and the others.

"Why haven't you called in the auror's?" Remus asked and Sirius frowned as well.

Sasaki looked over at Sato and then over at Mac and Remus followed his eyes and watched Mac who was looking up at them biting down at her lower lip and clutching Daiki's hand but didn't say anything.

"Potter-san came to me told me that she had met you," Sato spoke up and Mac absentmindedly thought it was just like he was in one of their lessons and was explaining something to her about charms or transfiguration with how calm he was. "She also asked me if there was a way to check if you had received a proper trial. She explained what you had said about changing secret keeper as well and while it sounds farfetched and like an excuse to get her to listen to you…"

Sirius made a sound like he wanted to protest but Sato gave him a look and he fell silent.

"I also wondered why you hadn't killed her yet," Sato said bluntly. "If you had found her weeks ago as she said then I couldn't understand what you would get from this by trying to get her to trust you and talk to you. There would be easier ways to kill her."

"Now look here," Sirius said looking a strange mix between red and pale as he glared at Sato. "I would never ever wish to hurt, kill or do anything to Mackenzie! She is my goddaughter and she is the daughter of my best friend! My best friend who asked me to look after her if he couldn't. I admit, I failed pretty badly at the looking after her part, but I am trying to make up for it now."

Mac stared at him and she wasn't sure what to think or believe but she was not really sure that he wanted to kill her. He seemed to be telling the truth.

"So you say," Sato said pensively. "But I am not prepared to take any risks with Potter-san's life. I do not wish to see her dead or hurt in any way."

"None of us wants that," Remus said squeezing Sirius' arm. "Tell us, what can we do to make you believe us?"

...

Sasaki smiled and pulled out a small bottle with a clear liquid inside and placed it on the table between them. He watched as Sirius and Remus looked at it and saw the recognition in their eyes.

"Veritaserum," Sasaki said anyway. "If you agree to take this and answer my questions…and if they are answered in a satisfactory manner we will discuss further action. If not, well I'm not going to start fighting in front of children…but the auror's will be called and told that you are in Tokyo."

Sirius stared at him for a long moment before he looked over at Mac who was looking back at him nervously. Her green eyes that were so much like Lily's was large behind her glasses and her dark-reddish hair was loosely hanging around her face and she looked so much like a cross between his two best friends that he felt it deep in his heart.

"What do you think, Remus?" Sirius finally looked away from Mac and over at his old friend.

"It's your decision to make," Remus said quietly. "But…I think it's the best option you have. That we have."

Sirius looked back at Mac again and ignored the glaring boy that was seated way too close to her and was touching her but he tried his best to ignore that part as well.

"Do you wish me to do it, Mackenzie?" Sirius asked startling Mac.

Mac kept her face as blank as she could.

"It's the only way they will help you," she finally said. "And if they tell me to stay away from you, I will."

Sirius looked at her for a moment longer and he sighed. He looked over at Sasaki again and nodded.

"Alright," he said. "I'll do it."

"Good," Sasaki said.

...

The preparations were made and Sasaki had Sirius sitting on one side of the dining table and he sat down at the other side.

"What is he doing?" Daiki asked Mac quietly as they watched.

"He's giving him the Veritaserum in his tea," Mac explained.

"And what exactly is it?" Daiki asked.

"It's a truth serum," Mac said. "Professor Sato explained it to me in one of our potion lessons. It's a serum that makes the drinker have to tell the truth. It will be impossible to lie."

Daiki blinked and shook his head in disbelief and wonder as he looked back over at the two men. He noticed that Sirius had gotten a sort of dazed look in his eyes.

"What is your name?" Sasaki asked.

"Sirius Black," Sirius answered.

Mac listened closely as Sasaki continued to question Sirius about what they already knew but needed to have confirmed and learned that he was not a Death Eater, he wasn't a spy and he never supported Voldemort. He also confirmed that they changed the secret keeper and the events that followed, how he found his best friends dead and Mac alive in the nursery of their ruined home.

He also filled them in on being an unregistered animagus and how they had become that back in school in order to remain with Remus for his transformations during the full moon.

Mac could tell that Sasaki and Sato both got more and more pensive as Sirius answered the questions and thereby confirming his version of the events. She felt a sense of relief fill her as she started to really believe that he was telling the truth and that she maybe had a reason to start to do so.

"Why did you escape from Azkaban?" Sasaki asked bringing Mac's attention back to the present.

"I thought Mackenzie was in danger," Sirius answered automatically.

"Why?" Sasaki looked a little surprised as he watched Sirius closely.

"I had been given a paper by Fudge and I saw a picture," Sirius said.

"A picture?"

"A picture of a rat," Sirius said. "It was Peter. I recognized him. He was missing a finger and he was on the shoulder of a boy who was attending Hogwarts. The boy seemed to be Mackenzie's age and I knew that Peter was close to Mackenzie. I had to do something. I escaped."

"How?"

"I used to transform into my dog form when the Dementors became too much. They can't see, you know. So they never knew. They only knew I felt like less. Less human. I transformed into my dog form before I slipped out of the cell, through the bars. I was thin enough. I swam over to the shore and started to make my way to Scotland." Sirius said

"And what did you do then?" Sasaki asked.

"I managed to get into Hogwarts. The school year had started. I looked for Mackenzie. I couldn't find her. I looked and looked, but she wasn't there. I was getting worried."

"What did you do when you realised that she wasn't at Hogwarts?" Sasaki asked.

"I decided to go to Remus. He was a teacher there that year. I went to him in his private rooms after dark. I scared him. I had to convince him that I was innocent. It took a long time before he calmed down to listen to me and decide not to call for Dumbledore."

"And then, what did you do?"

"We talked and he told me that Mackenzie wasn't there. That she hadn't shown up for her first year of school and that her aunt and uncle had moved and they had no idea where they had gone. I was angry. I was angry because no one had checked up on Mackenzie before she was going to start Hogwarts." Sirius answered.

Mac blinked a little and looked over at Remus who looked down and seemed to feel shame if she was reading him correctly.

"What did you do about it?" Sasaki asked.

"We decided to look for Mackenzie together," Sirius said. "But we needed proof that I was innocent first. For that we needed Peter. We tried to get to Peter but it was difficult. It took time before we managed to get our hands on Peter."

"If you got your hands on Peter why aren't you free?" Sasaki asked.

"He escaped. He used the boy as leverage and we couldn't get at him without hurting the boy. He used him as a diversion and transformed back into a rat and then disappeared into the Forbidden Forest," Sirius said.

"And the boy? Did he see him?" Sasaki asked.

"Yes, but the officials didn't believe his story about seeing Peter," Sirius said. "They claimed I had used a confundus charm on him."

"You were caught?"

"Yes."

"How did you get away again?"

"Dumbledore helped me. I escaped with the help of one of the schools hippogriffs. He was taken back to Hogwarts when I got away." Sirius said.

"Why would Dumbledore help you?" Sasaki asked.

"He believed the boy and Remus when told the truth. He wasn't able to convince anyone else so he helped without anyone knowing that he did." Sirius explained.

Mac frowned slightly as she heard that but didn't say anything or make any other sign of being upset or concerned by that.

...

Mac watched as the questioning went on but it wasn't long before Sasaki ended it and gave the antidote to Sirius who blinked as his eyes came into focus again. He grimaced slightly but looked calm even if he was a little pale. Remus walked over and put a hand on his shoulder and gave it a light squeeze. Sirius gave a short nod and smile showing that he was okay so he could ease the other man's concern. He looked back at Sasaki who was watching him with a thoughtful look on his face.

"What do you think, professor?" Sasaki asked and looked over at Sato.

"He didn't sound like he was manipulating the serum," Sato said, "and he seemed to answer as the serum tells you that the recipient will answer."

"So, you think he's telling the truth?" Sasaki asked.

"Well…" Sato said dragging it out a little. "There's always ways to manipulate the serum. But he seems to be telling the truth or what he believes to be the truth."

Sasaki nodded.

"I was thinking the same," Sasaki said.

"So, what does that mean?" Mac asked.

"It means that this just got even more complicated," Sasaki said. "I had a friend in Britain look up the records of the arrest and trial of Sirius Black for me. They were…lacking. They support their story about the sham of a trial."

Sasaki rubbed his forehead as he watched Sirius and Remus.

...

"So, what now?" Sirius asked breaking the silence that had settled over them.

"I will need to figure out how to proceed," Sasaki said frowning. "I think I might be able to get you asylum here in Japan based on the evidence from your questioning under the influence of Veritaserum and the fact that you never had a fair trial back in Britain."

Sirius stared at him with wide eyes.

"You mean…I would be free?" he asked.

"If I can manage it," Sasaki said. "Though, I will have to ask a friend of mine in the Magical Law Department for help because I'm a social worker and not really a lawyer. I only have some experience with the law, but not enough to do something this big. But don't worry. My friend is very trustworthy and I know that she will help you when she has seen my memory of the interview."

Sirius just nodded looking shell-shocked and Remus smiled lightly in relief but he too looked to be in shock or very close to it.

Sasaki and Sato got up.

"I think it's time to finish this for today," Sasaki said and glanced at the clock. "I'm sure Mac's family will be back soon and we shouldn't take more of their time."

"Right," Sirius said and Remus nodded.

"Um," Mac said and looked at Sato who met her eyes. He frowned slightly before he nodded.

"Fine," he said. "I'll see you tomorrow, Potter-san. I expect you to be rested and prepared to start on the final revisions before your exams."

"Yes, sir." Mac smiled.

...

"Um, do you want to stay for dinner?" Mac asked when Sato and Sasaki left through the fireplace much to Daiki's amusement and wonder. He had smiled when he saw the green flames spin and taking the two men one by one away.

"Kenzie, did you see that?" Daiki asked.

"Yes, Daiki," Mac smiled before looking back at Sirius and Remus. "So, if you want, I mean. I…"

"Sure," Remus smiled and nodded.

"We would love to," Sirius nodded and smiled making him look years younger.

Mac tried to smile as she nodded and clenched and unclenched her hands nervously. She stood still for a moment before she turned and walked toward the kitchen.

"I'll make us something to eat," she said.

"Do you need any help?" Remus asked.

"No," Mac shook her head. "I'm used to cooking. I have it covered."

"I'll help you," Daiki said and walked over to her and Mac didn't protest.

They made spaghetti and a tomato sauce which Mac made from the bottom just like she knew Daiki liked it.

"So, who are you living here with?" Remus asked as Mac set the table and they noticed that she had put on one extra plate.

Mac glanced up at him before looking back at what she was doing.

"My uncle and my cousin," Mac said putting the last glass down.

"Your uncle?" Sirius frowned. "But…"

Just then they heard the door open and close before a thud sounded and footsteps came closer.

"Hey, Mac!" Taiga called.

"Taiga, dinner is ready," Mac said just as her cousin entered the room and stopped when he saw the two men. He arched a brow before he looked at Mac.

"Taiga this is some friends of my parents, Sirius Black and Remus Lupin," Mac said. "And this is my cousin, Kagami Taiga."

"Oh, um, hello?" Taiga said sounding confused as he glanced at the two men before looking at Mac. "They're friends of aunt Lily and uncle James?"

"Yes," Mac nodded and twisted her hands together. "I'll explain it to you later, Taiga. Are you hungry or did you eat with your team again?"

"I could eat," Taiga said.

"Of course you could," Daiki scowled.

"Oi! What did you say?!" Taiga demanded as he glared at Daiki.

"Stop it," Mac interrupted their fighting before they could really get started. "Go and wash up and get back to eat, Taiga."

"Yeah, yeah," he muttered. "Whatever."

Mac shook her head and gave Daiki a look. Daiki huffed but didn't make any more signs of starting a fight.

"Please, sit down," Mac said and nodded toward the table.

...

The air around the dinner table was tense and awkward but they ate and Mac was aware of the confused looks from Taiga and realised that she really should have told him and her uncle about what was going on before now. She hid a grimace as she realised that she had forgotten to tell them.

"So, this is really good," Sirius said awkwardly.

"Thanks," Mac said shyly. "It's nothing much…"

"That's not true," Daiki protested. "You're really good to cook, Kenzie. I always love eating your food."

"Well, your mum taught me a lot," Mac smiled.

"A little," he said. "But…"

"Not now, Daiki," Mac said tensely and he fell silent ignoring the confused looks from Remus and Sirius.

"Well, Sirius is right," Remus said. "This is amazing."

Mac smiled slightly but didn't say anything else.

Taiga had no idea what was going on or why the tension and awkwardness were so thick in the room and he was really curious about just who these two men were and why they were in their apartment with Mac alone. Well, Daiki was there too, but. He wondered if his dad knew about this.

He was almost relieved when the meal finished and used it as an excuse to retreat to his room.

...

"So, your uncle and cousin?" Sirius asked when Taiga left the room.

Mac sighed and nodded.

"Yes," she said.

"You have one aunt and uncle and they are both in England," Remus frowned, worried that someone was tricking her.

"That's not true;" Mac said. "I have another uncle as well. His wife was mum's half-sister. They had the same father, but I don't think mum ever knew that she had a half-sister. My aunt died a few years ago so I never met her, but uncle Tarou took me in any way."

Sirius and Remus exchanged looks.

"And how did you learn about this?" Remus asked.

"Sasaki found him when he looked for a family for me," Mac said shortly. "He found out about a year after the Dursley left."

She got up and started to clear the table and waved them away when they tried to help.

"Let her do it," Daiki said when it looked like they would protest. "She needs it to calm down and think. Don't press."

Sirius frowned but looked over at Mac and noticed that she seemed a little tense and guessed that he was right. So he sat back and just watched her instead.

"Coffee?" Mac asked politely five minutes later. She already had cups with coffee ready.

"Thank you," Remus said with a smile and Sirius nodded and smiled as well.

"Let's sit down on the sofa," Mac said. "It's more comfortable."

"Sounds good," Sirius agreed.

Mac sat down beside Daiki and again grabbed his hand as she watched Sirius and Remus. She was not sure why she had asked them to stay, but it felt right and well, awkward, but knowing that Sato and Sasaki both believed them she was ready to at least listen to them.

"Mackenzie…I know we have a lot to learn about each other," Remus said breaking the silence. "But I really hope that we can start to learn about each other now. So if you have questions feel free to ask."

Mac looked at him for a moment before she nodded slowly.

"Can I ask…what you meant when you said the Dursley's left?" Sirius asked.

Mac stilled and her jaw tensed.

Daiki looked at her worriedly before shooting the older man a glare for upsetting Mac.

"I meant what I said," Mac finally said. "They left."

"But…" Sirius and Remus both looked confused.

Mac looked at Daiki with a pleading note in her eyes and he gritted his teeth before he looked at the two men.

"They abandoned her," Daiki said sharply but his grip on her hand was soft and warm, comforting. "So, stop pushing."

"They abandoned her?!" Sirius demanded seemingly ignoring the last part of Daiki's statement.

"Those lying…" Remus growled and for the first time sounded almost like the werewolf he was.

"How could they? Why would they?" Sirius and Remus both said.

Mac looked away from them and her face turned emotionless as she did.

"They had been looking for an excuse to get rid of me for most of my life," Mac said with a voice void of emotion. "They finally found one. They left. It's as simple as that."

Remus and Sirius both stared horror-struck at her and the anger seemed to build up in their eyes and being as they did and realised that they had been lied to and had believed the lies told by someone they should have destroyed.

Anger like Remus never had experienced before seemed to fill him as he realised just how badly they, he, had failed her and he had to fight with the wolfish side of him in order to not lose control of himself in front of Mac and Daiki. He should have checked up on her. He shouldn't have listened to Dumbledore when he said she was fine and happy with her aunt. He should have…

Oh why had he given her to Hagrid that night? Sirius cried to himself as he stared at Mac. Why hadn't he just taken off on his motorbike and went to someplace safe with her? Why? Why? The questions remained unanswered as he realised what a failure he was as a godfather. No wonder she hated him… he had allowed her to live with relatives that abandoned her.

Daiki was looking at Mac with a worried look and Remus took a second to observe how he leaned in closer to her and whisper something in her ear and pushed a strand of her hair back behind her hair. She seemed to relax slightly under his touch and gave him a small smile that seemed to give some more life to her face again.

"I think that we might have overstayed our welcome," Remus said and got up.

Mac looked up and opened her mouth but closed it without saying anything.

Sirius gave Remus a look before he looked back at Mac and nodded.

"Yes, I think so too," he said and got up as well.

"Maybe we could meet again tomorrow or the next day?" Remus asked. "Right now I think you need to rest and process everything that has happened today. I know I need to do that."

"Me too," Sirius said.

Mac nodded and got up as well.

"That sounds good," she said quietly.

They made their way to the door before they paused.

"Um, I…" Mac started but paused as they turned to look at her. "I'm sorry."

"Sorry?" Sirius asked.

"About springing Professor Sato and Sasaki on you like that," Mac said shuffling on her feet and fiddling with the hem of her shirt. "I…"

"It's alright," Sirius said. "It's because of you that I have a chance to get my freedom again. I had given up the idea of ever being free, properly free, again."

"It's understandable that you went to your professor for help, Mackenzie," Remus nodded. "We're not mad at you."

Mac nodded and smiled tightly.

"Alright."

...

"So, who exactly were they?" Taiga asked when Mac finally was alone.

Mac looked up she saw Taiga standing in her doorway watching her. She sighed tiredly and rubbed her eyes as she thought about what to say and how to explain this.

"I told you they were friends of my parents," she said.

"And when and how did you end up meeting them?" Taiga asked. "Are they the reason for why you have been so distracted lately?"

Mac looked at him for a moment before she nodded toward the bed signalling that she wanted him to sit down. He frowned slightly but walked over to the bed and sat down as he looked at her with an arched brow.

She inhaled deeply before she told him about everything that had been going on lately and just how she had met Sirius and Remus.

To say that Taiga was surprised would be an understatement but he listened and was uncharacteristically serious as he did.

...

...

AN: What do you think? XD

A big step in Mac's relationship with Sirius and Remus was taken in this one. I'm curious about what you think about the Veritaserum and Sasaki and Sato and their questioning Sirius. :) I'm not completely happy with this chapter but it was necessary before I could do anything else. I decided to put it in one chapter and not prolong it any longer. Hopefully, I'll be able to turn back to more basketball-related content in further chapter and have a growing relationship between Mac and Sirius and Remus as well. :)

Thank you for your patience and for reading! XD