Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Kuroko no Basket!
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1st year – Too Academy
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Mac put her wand down when she heard the doorbell chime through the apartment. She blinked as she was pulled out from the deep focus of casting the Patronus Charm (she still couldn't do it…). Who could it be? She wasn't supposed to be meeting Daiki until later. Thinking about Daiki reminded her of the date and she couldn't stop the smile as she remembered the kisses and the way he said that he loved her.
The doorbell chimed again and bringing her out of her daydream. She put the wand away as she walked out of the living room where she had been practising since she was home alone for the moment. It an hour until her uncle would be back from work, and Taiga was out somewhere but she guessed he would be home soon.
She opened the door and tensed minutely when she saw Sirius and Remus standing outside the door.
"Hello, Mackenzie," Remus smiled.
"Hey, Mackenzie!" Sirius grinned and waved.
"Oh, um…" Mac swallowed. "Hey…"
The two men looked calm but a little unsure as they looked at her and Mac was not sure what to do or what to say. She hadn't seen them for a few days, not even on her birthday despite having received presents from them. She had sent a note back thanking them, but she guessed she shouldn't be surprised that they showed up.
"Um…come in," Mac said and stepped back letting them inside the apartment.
They came in and followed her to the living room. She was feeling flustered as she felt them behind her and she wished that they hadn't come only to feel bad right after because they hadn't done anything wrong.
"Did we interrupt something?" Remus said as he looked around at the opened books that were lying spread around the living room.
"I was just studying," Mac said and closed a book as she started to tidy up.
"Defence Against the Dark Arts?" Sirius asked as he picked up a book and looked at it. "It's not the book we used at Hogwarts."
"They do change the syllabus, you know," Remus rolled his eyes but he looked interested at the book as well. "But they didn't use that book when I was a teacher there either."
"Professor Sato doesn't give me the syllabus that would match Hogwarts," Mac said. "He was a professor at Mahoutokoro before he retired."
"I see," Remus said. "So, he gives you a lot of homework?"
"Sometimes I'm sure he tries to kill me," Mac said before she smiled. "But he really has taught me a lot."
Remus looked at her with a thoughtful frown but she didn't seem to notice as she finished placing the last book in the stack and turned back toward them.
"Did you say you were a teacher at Hogwarts?" Mac asked Remus.
"Yes, but only for a year," Remus said. "It would have been when you were 13."
"Oh," Mac said. "Do you know Hermione, then?"
"Hermione?" Remus asked surprised. "You mean Hermione Granger?"
Mac nodded.
"Yes," she said.
"Yes, I had her in my class," Remus said. "Do…do you know her?"
Both he and Sirius looked at Mac curiously.
"I know her," Mac said. "We're friends."
"How?" Remus asked.
"She attends Mahoutokoro now," Mac said. "And she was friends with Professor Sato's daughter and she brought Hermione home with her one day, and I met her then."
"Oh," Remus said.
"We didn't really become friends right away, though," Mac explained. "Because she wanted to tell someone at Hogwarts where I was, and I wouldn't let her. She couldn't understand why."
Remus nodded.
"I see," he said again. "So, how is she?"
"She's fine," Mac said. "I think she's doing better than what she was at Hogwarts."
"That's good," Remus said.
Mac nodded and offered them some tea before she went to the kitchen to find some and some cookies that she had made earlier.
...
They sat in silence for a moment and it was like no one knew what to say. Mac fiddled with her cup as she tried to find something to talk about or a way to ask the questions she wanted to ask but was unsure if they would be accepted.
"It seemed like you were studying a lot of subject at once," Remus finally broke the tense silence.
"Oh, well," Mac shrugged and looked at the stack of books. "I'm taking my OWLs soon, and I have to study a lot."
"OWLs?" Sirius asked. "Now?"
"In a few weeks," Mac nodded. "Professor Sato decided that I finally was ready to take them. But since I started to study magic so late I'm not taking the OWLs for every subject."
"What subjects are you taking, then?" Remus asked curiously.
"Defence Against the Dark Arts, Charms, Transfigurations and Potions," Mac listed. "Those are the subjects I've been focusing on in my studies, so…"
"Seems solid enough," Remus nodded. "So, what did you study when we came?"
"I was practising the Patronus Charm," Mac said.
"Patronus Charm, really?" Sirius asked surprised.
"Yeah, I really want to learn to make a corporeal Patronus," Mac sighed. "But it's so difficult."
"That's advanced magic," Remus commented looking at her with a sharp yet interested look. "Not all grown wizards can do it."
"I know," Mac shrugged. "Professor Sato told me, but he also said that I'm almost there. I just have to focus more."
Remus nodded with a small smile on his face.
"Your mum would be very impressed with you, Mackenzie," Remus said.
Mac glanced up at him before she looked down and swallowed. She wasn't sure what to say to that.
"She would?" Mac asked with a quiet voice.
"You work very hard and has come a long way," Remus said.
"That's true," Sirius nodded and she noticed that he had a sad look on his face as he stared out of the window. "She was one of the smartest students in our year. She especially did well in Charms."
Mac thought about it and smiled slightly.
"And…dad?" She asked gingerly.
She didn't miss the way Sirius seemed to perk up at the question.
"Oh, he was smart but he wasn't one to spend a lot of time studying," Sirius laughed. "Though, he did get top marks on his OWLs and NEWTs. But he was too fond of pulling pranks and having fun to really manage to sit down and study."
"And you were right there next to him," Remus added making Sirius grin.
"Of course," Sirius nodded. "Remus was the bookworm in our group."
Mac wasn't sure what to think about that or if she liked the way it sounded. She frowned slightly and looked down at her hands. Would her dad think she was a bookworm or too studious?
"James was always looking at Lily with admiring eyes when he saw her study," Remus said making Mac look up and saw Remus watch her with a kind smile on his face. "He always loved the fact that she loved to study. When Lily got pregnant he said that he hoped you would inherit Lily's brain and love for study."
"Really?" Mac asked.
"Really," Remus nodded and smiled. "James wouldn't stop talking about it, you know."
Mac smiled slightly and looked down at her lap again.
...
Remus had been watching Mac and saw the doubt and hurt that crossed her eyes before she looked away from them when Sirius talked about James, so he could only imagine what was going through Mac's mind at the moment. Sometimes he wished Sirius would think a little more before he spoke, but instead of correcting Sirius and creating a new tension he just let her know that James admired that quality of Lily's and that he hoped that she would have it too.
It was with relief that he saw the light that went back into Mac's eyes but he could also see that she was getting overwhelmed again and felt it best to change the topic and not overload her with information at once.
"So, do you want some help on your Patronus Charm?" Remus asked.
Mac's eyes snapped to him and he saw the surprised look in them before she managed to hide it and only look at him with a searching look instead. Like she was trying to figure out if he was honest.
"You would help me?" She asked.
"If you'd let me," Remus smiled. "I'm not an expert, by all means, but I do know something about the Patronus Charm."
Mac bit her lip and looked back at him before she nodded.
"Alright," she said.
Remus got to his feet and Mac followed.
"You can use magic out of school? Or away from your professor's house?" Sirius asked.
"Yes," Mac said glancing at him. "Sasaki fixed it for me."
Sirius looked thoughtful as he leaned back and watched as Remus started to help Mac.
"Expecto Patromun," Mac called and a silvery mist shot out of her wand and flooded the living room floor.
"Not bad," Remus said.
"But that's all I can make it do," Mac sighed.
"Are you thinking about a happy enough memory?" Remus asked.
Mac frowned and seemed to be thinking deeply. She half-turned so she could look out of the window.
Remus was watching her with a pensive frown as he wondered what memory she was using but he didn't want to push.
"Okay," she said and turned back. "I'll try a different one."
Remus nodded.
...
They worked for the next hour and Remus had to admire the will to never give up that he saw in Mac but he also worried because he could see the strain it put on her and she was getting rather pale. It was a difficult charm and it would be taking much energy to perform over and over again.
"Mackenzie…" Remus started. "I think that we should…"
"No!" She said wiping her forehead with the back of her hand and turned pleading eyes at Remus. "One more time! Please! I'm getting close. I can feel it!"
Remus looked at her for a moment. The determination shone through her green eyes and her jaw was set just like James' was when he was determined and wanted something. Right there she looked so much like her parents and Remus could only nod and stepped back.
Sirius leaned forward slightly in his seat as he watched Mac and he too was thinking about James and Lily as he saw the same things as Remus did.
Mac inhaled deeply and closed her eyes before she raised her wand and opened her eyes again.
"Expecto Patronum," she said with a clear voice.
Instantly a silver animal shoot out of her wand and through the room before it started to run around the room with a silvery mist shadowing behind it. It ran gracefully around the room for several laps and its legs took long and powerful strides.
Mac twirled around watching it as it moved with wide eyes and a growing smile on her face as she took in the elegant moves and the majestic air that came from her Patronus.
"I did it…" Mac whispered awed as she followed the movements still twirling around. "I did it!"
"Very good, Mackenzie!" Remus said a little breathlessly as his eyes followed the animal until it stopped in front of Mac who also stilled ignoring the dizziness that came from twirling around like that.
"It's…a panther," Mac said staring at it without blinking.
And it was. The panther was standing there powerful and strong, proud and graceful. The eyes seemed to shine and the silvery skin was a beacon even in the living room.
Mac smiled as she raised her hand and reached out to it and waited. The panther moved closer and just as she touched it, her hand went through, the panther dissolved into the air and out of sight.
...
"That was some magic, Mac," another voice said and Mac turned to see her uncle standing in the doorway. His eyes briefly took in Remus and Sirius, who both tensed slightly but turned to see the newcomer, before looking back at Mac with a smile.
"Thank you!" Mac grinned. "I finally managed to produce a real Patronus!"
"That's great, Mac," Tarou said. "It was a beautiful panther."
"I know!" Mac beamed happily and looked back at the spot where the panther had disappeared and therefore missed the fond smile from Tarou but Sirius and Remus didn't miss it.
"You have visitors," Tarou said pointedly and Mac was broken out of her happy thoughts about the Patronus and looked between Sirius and Remus and her uncle.
"Oh," she blinked. "Right. I forgot… This is Remus Lupin and Sirius Black. I told you about a few days ago."
She looked to Sirius and Remus who both were looking at Tarou who had stepped into the room and was now standing next to Mac.
"This is my uncle Tarou," Mac said. "Kagami Tarou."
Mac swallowed nervously as she waited for someone to say something because right now it looked like both sides were watching each other closely.
"Nice to meet you, Kagami-san," Remus finally broke the silence and held out a hand. "Mackenzie has told us about you."
"Nice to meet you too, Lupin-san," Tarou returned politely and shook the offered hand before turning toward Sirius who hesitated for a moment before he too held out his hand and they exchanged polite greetings as they shook hands.
Tarou turned to Mac and looked at her for a moment before he smiled slightly.
"Where's Taiga?" he asked.
"He is out with Tetsu," Mac said. "He should be back soon. I'm going to start making dinner now. I didn't know you would be back so early."
"I decided to leave the office a little early today," Tarou said. "And you don't have to make dinner tonight, Mac. I can do it."
"No, no," Mac shook her head. "You're tired from work. You work way too much, uncle Tarou. You should rest and I'll make dinner. It's not a problem."
Tarou sighed as he looked at her.
"Alright," he said. "Are your guests staying for dinner?"
Mac glanced over at Remus and Sirius who both were looking at them curiously.
"If…if it's alright with you?" Mac looked back at Tarou.
"Of course," Tarou smiled. "I would like a chance to get to know them."
Mac felt a momentarily flash of worry but knew that she couldn't stop it so she said nothing.
...
So that was her uncle, Sirius thought as he looked at the other man in front of them. He was smiling as he talked with Mac and they seemed to have a good relationship. His chest felt like it was getting really tight as he noticed the way Tarou reached out and patted Mac's head as she excused herself to go and start dinner.
While he was happy that she wanted them to stay for dinner Sirius didn't like that her uncle was there and intruding in their time with Mac. They finally had a chance to talk to her, to see her and now he was there and taking her attention away.
Tarou turned back to them and Sirius saw the calculating look in his eyes as he looked at them and Sirius wondered if maybe he didn't like them any more than he liked him.
"You've been causing some trouble for Mac," Tarou said quietly.
"That was never our intention," Remus said calmly while Sirius glared.
How could this man accuse them of causing trouble for Mac when all they wanted was to find her and see her? When they had spent years thinking, wondering, worrying about her?
"That's hardly fair of you to say, is it?" Sirius snapped.
"Sirius," Remus said warningly.
Sirius stared at Tarou who met his eyes calmly.
"It might not have been your intention," Tarou said looking back at Remus. "But it happened, didn't it?"
"I'm afraid so," Remus nodded.
"We just want a chance to get to know her," Sirius said.
Tarou looked at him again and Sirius was really starting to feel uncomfortable being searched by those eyes. It wasn't often he got the feeling that someone could look through him like that, especially a muggle.
"You won't try to take her away from us, will you?" Tarou asked bluntly.
"No," Remus said immediately.
Tarou glanced at him before he looked at Sirius who hadn't said anything. Tarou narrowed his eyes as he took a step forward. In the background, they could hear Mac working in the kitchen preparing dinner.
"I won't let you take that girl away from me or my son," Tarou said calmly but there was steel in his eyes. "I am warning you now. I hope we can have a good relationship and that Mac will get a chance to get to know you and her parents' though you, but I will not let you take her away."
"I'm her godfather," Sirius started to say, "and…"
"You're not her guardian," Tarou interrupted. "I am. I have the paperwork to prove it. I'm a lawyer, so I know the law and how it works. Mac has been through enough and the last thing she needs is to be uprooted and thrown into a mess again. She has settled here with us better than anyone hoped, so I will not let anyone threaten that safety and home she has found here. Not even you."
Sirius frowned but he had nothing to argue with because he could see the truth it what he was being told and logically he knew it was the right thing, but… it was not so easy to let go of that dream he had clung to for so long. The dream of living with Mac and being the one to raise her…
"Now, I'm not saying that I am against her having a relationship with the two of you," Tarou said and his tone was lighter and he was smiling slightly again. "I know she must be important to you, and I can understand that. I'm just letting you know that she is important to me and my son as well."
Sirius had to admit that he was kind of impressed by that speech and he grudgingly nodded to let him know he understood. He did see Remus shoot him a nervous glance but seemed to calm down when he saw him. He knew his friend was worried he would mess this up again, but Sirius refused to let that happened so he would back down.
...
"Dinner's ready," Mac called just as Tarou came back into the living room, having gone to change out of his work suit and into something more comfortable.
"Good, I'm starving…" Taiga said entering and blinked when he spotted Sirius and Remus. "Oh…"
"You remember them, don't you?" Mac asked.
"Um, yeah," Taiga nodded. "I didn't know they were here."
"It wasn't planned," Mac shrugged. "But, come on. Let's eat."
They sat down and Mac couldn't help smiling still in a good mood over finally managing to make a corporeal Patronus. She couldn't wait until she had a chance to do it again and she really couldn't wait until she could show Daiki. He would love it.
"You're in a good mood," Taiga commented and Mac glanced over at him.
"I am," she grinned and he smiled.
"Why?" he asked.
She told him, and he smiled proudly at her and she again felt a warmth inside of her because she knew it didn't really make any sense to him but he still looked proud. Of her.
"That's great, Mac," Taiga said.
"Thanks, Taiga," she said a little shy.
Remus and Sirius watched the two closely and they too saw the pride in Taiga's eyes as he listened to Mac explain her Patronus.
"So, did you have a good birthday, Mackenzie?" Sirius asked.
Mac looked over at them.
"I did," she said. "Thank you for the present by the way. I'm sorry I forgot to say it right away… I really enjoyed the broom and the book."
"It's the fastest broom there is," Sirius said with a grin.
"Daisuke has told me about it," Mac nodded. "He will love it when I show it to him."
"Who's Daisuke?" Remus asked confused.
"Professor Sato's son," Mac said with a smile. "He has left school and is working at the Sports Department at the ministry at the moment. He is also sometimes working with Magical Animals."
Sirius nodded and wondered just what kind of relationship Mac had with this guy but then again she did seem very close to that friend of hers. Aomine Daiki. That reminded him that he really needed to figure out just what kind of friend he was. He was always way too close to her when he had seen them together. He didn't like it.
"So, what did you do on your birthday?" Remus asked before Sirius could say anything else about the boy like Remus knew he wanted to do. And right now wasn't the time to ask.
"Daiki arranged a whole day for me," Mac said smiling softly and they didn't miss the small blush in her cheeks. "He made sure that we played basketball just for fun at practice and it was really good. The team was all smiling and laughing… It's been a while since we could play for fun like that."
"And Aomine fixed it?" Taiga arched a brow. "He doesn't really like basketball anymore, does he?"
Mac frowned at him.
"Daiki knows I like it so he did it for me," Mac said before she looked down at her plate. "And he does like basketball. He loves it more than anyone…that's the problem."
Taiga frowned and opened his mouth.
"Taiga," Tarou said in a warning voice and his son closed his mouth and looked away.
Remus frowned pensively as he looked at Mac.
"What did you do after the practice?" Remus said getting the topic back, "you said that Aomine arranged a whole day?"
Mac blinked and looked over at him again and seemed to shake herself out of whatever memory she had been lost in.
"Well, he took me to the park afterwards and our friends from Teiko was there and Taiga," Mac said with a small smile again. "They all came from their different schools even if it was just for a few hours."
"That's great," Sirius said.
"Yeah…it is," Mac nodded. "I really miss them so it was good to see them again."
"You were close?" Remus asked. "They seemed to really care about you when we met."
Mac nodded.
"They're my best friends," she said. "I met them my first year at Teiko at the basketball practice, but it took a little while before we became friends. But when we did… they always looked out for me. They made me feel…safe."
She trailed off like she had said more than she had expected to say.
"Sounds like good friends," Remus said.
"Yeah," Mac said.
"You had a good day then?"
"Yes," Mac said deciding to not tell them about the date that followed. It was not something she wanted to tell them because it was special.
...
"You didn't have to walk us out," Sirius said looking at Mac who was walking beside them and crossing the street.
"I'm meeting Daiki anyway, so it's fine," Mac said.
Sirius frowned as he looked at Mac. She was meeting him now? It was rather late…
"You're really close with him aren't you?" Remus asked but his voice was a little tight.
Mac glanced over at him a little puzzled.
"Well, yeah," she said a little confused.
"Kenzie!" Daiki's voice sounded and he came jogging up to them.
"Daiki," Mac grinned and without thinking reached out to hug him and pressed a chaste kiss to his lips. "Hey."
"Hey," he smiled back before blinking when he spotted Sirius and Remus scowling at him.
Mac blushed having forgotten them.
"Ah, sorry," she said sheepishly.
"He's your boyfriend?" Remus asked.
Mac frowned at him.
"I thought that was obvious," Mac frowned at them.
Remus nodded as he looked at Daiki with a new look. He was still holding her, his arm was around her waist and she seemed to almost melt into his touch. He felt really stupid for not seeing it before. Or he had probably seen it but refused to really believe that she had a boyfriend.
"You're a little young to be dating, aren't you?" Sirius frowned.
Mac arched a brow as she stared at him.
She noticed how Sirius glared at Daiki and even Remus looked at him with a disapproving look in his eyes. She tensed and she felt Daiki's arm around her waist tighten.
"Too young?" Mac asked quietly.
"You're just turned 16," Sirius continued glaring at Daiki's arm around her waist. "There's plenty of time to find a boyfriend, there's no reason for you to rush it."
"What…" Mac felt a loss of words as she looked at the two men.
"How can you know he's good enough for you," Sirius asked.
"Oi! What are you trying to say?" Daiki asked angrily.
"You seem to have a temper," Sirius said.
"Calm down, Sirius," Remus said.
"No, I don't want to see Mackenzie hurt by him because of his temper!" Sirius said.
"I would never hurt Kenzie!" Daiki snapped.
Sirius snorted.
"Boys like you always hurt people," Sirius said.
"Shut up," Mac snapped glaring at him. "Who do you think you are? You don't even know Daiki!"
Sirius blinked as he looked at Mac.
"Mackenzie…"
"Does your uncle know you have a boyfriend?" Remus asked.
Mac glared at Sirius for a second longer before she shifted her glare over to Remus. He might not really say anything against Daiki but his eyes were disapproving.
"Yes, he knows," Mac said sharply. "And he approves of Daiki, he likes him."
"Still… you're young," Remus said.
"I'm not a baby anymore!" Mac yelled. "Don't you dare come here and treat me like I'm a baby! I'm not the little girl you knew. I'm 16 and I'm not too young to date! I'm not too young to have a boyfriend and you're not the ones to decide that!"
"Mackenzie…"
"No!" She interrupted the two of them. "You don't make decisions for me. You have no say in what I do. Don't think you can come here and tell me what to do just because I decided to talk to you and try to get to know you."
"Your parents…"
"My parents, my parents," she echoed. "It's always back to that with you two. Stop using my parents as an excuse for everything you do around me! I never knew them. I hate that I didn't have the chance, but it's the reality of my life. I want to know more about them, but it doesn't change the fact that they're not here. They won't know me or Daiki. But I think that if they knew Daiki they would love him too. He is the best friend I ever had and the best boyfriend too me. He is the one I want and I know they would see that. If they wouldn't…then too bad. I love Daiki and I'm not going to stop just because someone said so."
She inhaled trying to calm down and cursed the fact that tears had sprung up in her eyes. She stubbornly rubbed them away before they saw her crying.
"Thank you for the help today with the Patronus," she said stiffly. "But I think you should leave now."
She turned away from them and hid her face against Daiki's chest. She felt his arms around her tighten as he hugged her close and she knew he was glaring at Sirius and Remus. She could hear them still standing behind her and she hoped they would just leave because she really couldn't handle anymore today.
...
"Are you okay?" Daiki asked worriedly as he looked at her. They had stepped into a small café and found a table by the window after ordering some hot chocolate.
"I'm fine," she said with a smile. She reached out and took his hand in hers and watched their entwined hands resting on the table between them.
"You sure?" Daiki still looked worried.
"I just… why do they think they can tell me that I'm too young to date?" Mac asked scowling.
"Well, they probably think I'm not good enough for you," Daiki said.
"They're stupid," Mac said. "You're too good for me. I love you."
"And I love you," Daiki smiled squeezing her hand.
She still felt giddy when she heard him say that and she couldn't help but smile.
"Let's not think about them right now," Mac said. "Did I tell you that I finally managed to cast a Patronus?"
Daiki smiled.
"Is that the protection thing?" Daiki asked quietly.
"Yeah, the protection thing," Mac laughed. "It turns into a spirit guardian of sorts."
"So, what's yours?" Daiki asked.
"A panther," Mac said.
"Really? That's cool," Daiki said.
Mac nodded.
"You have to show me sometime," Daiki said.
"I will," Mac said.
...
Time-skip two weeks – Japan Ministry of Magic, Division for Magical Education
...
Mac smiled weakly at her professor who watched her with a calm look.
"Are you ready, Potter-san?" Professor Sato asked.
"I don't know…" Mac said nervously. "I feel like I have forgotten everything I ever learned… It's like my head is empty."
She took a deep breath and tried to remember the charms and spells she had learned, but her mind was blank. She frowned.
"That is normal," Sato said with a small smile and reached out and placed it on her shoulder. "You will remember when you get the question. Just calm down and let it come to you. You know this. I wouldn't have signed you up for this if I wasn't sure you were ready."
Mac felt the light squeeze of her shoulder and felt calmer. She nodded and smiled at her professor. She really wanted to do well for him and for herself. She wanted to prove that she had made the right choice in doing the home school thing at the same time as her muggle school, even if she was tired from going back in time and doing her days over. At times it had been really difficult, but she had made it. Now she just had to prove it.
"Kagami Mackenzie!" A voice called and Mac looked up to see a woman with a stoic expression on her face look at her. She swallowed before she nodded and started to walk toward the woman. She felt like there were a million butterflies in her stomach.
It felt strange hearing someone calling her Kagami Mackenzie but Professor Sato and Sasaki had thought it best to register her under that name and have her take the exam like that. They didn't want it to slip out that Potter Mackenzie was taking her OWLs in Japan, so having a fake name seemed to be the best solution.
Of course, the higher-ups in the Ministry knew that she was taking the OWLs there and she would have her real name on her paperwork. It was just a precaution.
...
"I can do this," Mac muttered to herself as she stared down at the first page of the Charms exam.
Private OWLs exam in Charms August 2009.
There were a handful of other teens in the room with her. So she wasn't the only one taking the OWLs like this. Four boys and two girls and if she would guess they were the same age as her. They also looked a little queasy so at least she wasn't the only one. The girl next to her was muttering something under her breath.
"Oi! No talking," the woman who had come to get her called out and the girl stopped immediately.
"You have five hours," the woman said. "Then you have a two-hour lunch before the practical exams start. You will then be brought in alphabetically."
The woman looked around the room and with a last look at them all, she told them to start.
Mac inhaled and looked at the first question ready or not she was now starting the OWLs exam. There was no going back.
...
"Aw man," a boy groaned when the woman had collected their papers and left the room. "That was awful."
Mac rubbed her eyes tiredly as she wondered how she was even going to be able to do her practical exam when all she felt like doing was sleep. She glanced over at the boy who had talked and saw him leaning over his desk resting his head on his hands.
"It wasn't that bad," one of the girls said superiorly and flipped her hair back. "If you…"
"If you had read…blah blah blah," the boy said. "Whatever."
"You two always argue," the other girl sighed. "Stop it. The others will think you're insane."
"Who? We all know each other…" the boy said.
"Honestly, are you blind, Kohaku," the girl said. "We don't know her…"
The boy turned to her and blinked shocked.
"Oh…" he said. "Who are you?"
"Rude!" The first girl said. "Sorry about him. I'm Hisakawa Natsuko and that airhead is Mizushima Kohaku."
"Hey…" Mac said a little thrown by suddenly being talked to. She had not expected that. "I'm Po…Kagami Mackenzie."
"That's a Japanese last name, but you're not Japanese," Kohaku said tilting his head as he looked at her curiously. She resisted the urge to reach up and make sure her scar was covered by her hair.
"Again, rude!" Natsuko snapped. "Ignore him. He's too curious for his own good."
Mac just nodded and her eyes flickered over to the others who were watching her with either curiosity or mild interest.
"Oh, this is Davis Andrina," Natsuko said nodding to the girl who had accused Hisakawa and Kohaku of always arguing. "She's American and Bradford Lou is as well."
"Nice to meet you," Lou smiled and waved a hand. Andrina just nodded.
"Scholz Gregor," Natsuko continued pointing at a boy with blond hair that was slicked back. "He's German."
"I'm Colbert Luc," the last boy said before Natsuko could speak, "and I'm French."
"Where are you from, Kagami-san?" Kohaku asked and Natsuko rolled her eyes.
"England," Mac said shortly and looked away.
"Are one of your parents Japanese since you have a Japanese name?" Kohaku asked.
"Stop asking questions, Kohaku!" Natsuko snapped. "Sorry, you don't have to answer him."
Mac wasn't sure what to say because her professor or Sasaki hadn't told her what to say in situations like this. She felt like she had to say something but what?
"My uncle is," Mac finally said. "My parents are dead. I took my uncles name."
Kohaku's eyes widened and he got a guilty look in his eyes.
"Oh, I'm sorry," he said.
"It's fine," Mac said with a shrug. "You didn't know."
She could feel them looking at her and she shifted in her seat slightly. She wished she could take Nao out of the bag but she knew she couldn't. Again she resisted the urge to flatten her hair over her scar on her forehead.
"Let's eat," Andrina said breaking the awkward silence.
...
Mac started to eat the lunch Ayano had made for her and had stopped by the apartment before Mac had left this morning and on her way to work. She smiled to herself.
"So, why haven't we seen you before?" Andrina asked.
Mac looked up realising that the others were watching her as they ate.
"Should you have?" Mac arched a brow.
"Well, we have had some lessons together even if we have been homeschooled," Natsuko said. "Like seminars and obligated lessons in order to make sure we are meeting the standard of the magical lessons since we're not going to any official magic schools."
Mac blinked. She had no idea what she was talking about. Obligated seminars? She had never been to one, but then again…her situation was probably different from theirs.
"Strange," Lou said around some food.
Mac just shrugged and focused on the food. She listened as the others started to talk and she was glad that the focus was off her for the moment. She watched them from the corner of her eyes as they talked or more like went back to complain about the exams and worry about the practical exam.
She wondered if she would have been a part of it if she had gone to a magic school, would she have been able to talk about magic like that? To complain about homework or exams to someone who went through it as well?
The questions surprised her. She hadn't even been aware that she had missed that or wondered about that. But she couldn't deny that a small part of her did wonder.
...
...
AN: What do you think? XD
Finally, her Patronus has been revealed! Did you like the Patronus? :)
I also want to make clear that the way I described the Private OWLs exam is completely made up by me. I have no idea how one would do that in canon Harry Potter, they never did cover what happened to those who decided to be homeschooled and would take their OWLs. I haven't seen anything about that at least. So, I decided to just make something up that works for this story. Do you want to see more of the group taking the OWLs with Mac? Let me know in the reviews. XD
Thank you for reading and supporting the story! XD You're great! :)