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

...

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1st year - Too Academy

...

Mac looked up at the rehabilitation centre and felt a little nostalgic as she looked at the familiar building. All the times she had entered this place and visited Kiyoshi… it had been good times and she smiled a little.

She pushed the memories away and opened the door and walked inside. She walked the familiar corridors until she found a nurse and asked for directions. The nurse smiled warmly at her as she pointed her in the right direction and Mac continued on her way.

Her bag securely over her shoulder and she resisted the need to check once more that she had remembered the item inside of it.

She found the right room and paused outside of it for a moment before she knocked.

"Come in," a voice called, and she frowned a little as she didn't recognise it, but she opened the door anyway and stepped inside.

She hesitated when the first person she saw was a man she didn't know, and she wondered if she had gotten the wrong room.

"Potter-san," a familiar voice said, and she looked to the other side of the room and saw the one she had come to visit.

"Coach," Mac smiled.

"I thought we had gone over this," Shirogane said, "I'm not your coach anymore."

Mac just shrugged.

"Ah, she's here to see you, Kozo," the other man said curiously.

"She's a former player," Shirogane said. "Potter Mackenzie meet Ogata Renji."

"Nice to meet you," Mac said politely.

"You too, Potter-san," Ogata smiled. "Though I suspect you're not here to talk to me, so I'll go and pretend I have somewhere else to be."

Mac blinked but the man was already on his way out of the room whistling as he went.

"How are you, Potter-san?" Shirogane asked.

"I'm fine," Mac turned back to her former coach and smiled. "How are you, coach? I heard you were back here…"

"Ah, I'm fine," Shirogane waved off her concern. "Just healing."

"Good," Mac said.

"So, what brings you here?" Shirogane asked.

"I wanted to give you something," Mac said suddenly feeling a little shy.

"Oh?"

Mac opened her bag and found the envelope inside of it and handed it over to Shirogane who gave her a curious look before turning his attention to the envelope. Mac watched as he opened it and pulled out the stack of photo's inside of it. His brows went up before he smiled.

"Looks like you had fun," Shirogane said when he had finished looking through the photos and turned his attention to Mac.

"Yes," Mac smiled. "It's only a week or so ago… We met at Tetsu's birthday and just played for fun."

"That's good," Shirogane said and Mac knew he meant it. "They found their basketball again?"

"They did," Mac said sitting down at an empty chair. "It took a while, but…"

"But they found it and that's what matters," Shirogane nodded. "I'm glad."

"Thought you'd want to know," Mac admitted shyly and smiled slightly at the older man.

"I did," Shirogane said. "I worried."

Mac knew he did and that was why she had suddenly thought about finding him and showing him the pictures of their day. She knew he felt bad for pushing them too much and not being there to keep supporting them. It hadn't been the same after he got sick and Sanada had taken over the team. Sanada did his best, but he wasn't Shirogane.

"And Aomine?" Shirogane asked.

"He likes basketball again too," Mac smiled and Shirogane hummed.

"You're together, I take it?" he asked.

"I…yes," Mac said.

"Kiyoshi-kun said as much once," Shirogane admitted.

"Oh," Mac said.

"So, tell me more about how they ended up liking basketball again," Shirogane requested and Mac settled in to tell him about it all.

...

"Where were you?" Daiki asked when he found Mac at the street court close by his house. The one where they had met for the first time all those years ago.

"Just went to talk to someone," Mac shrugged before throwing a basketball toward him and watched him catch it almost absentmindedly. "Want to play?"

Daiki smirked and got into position.

Mac grinned back feeling the thrill go through her as she got back something she had missed. The opportunity to play just with Daiki one-on-one.

A while later, Mac didn't know how much time had passed, they stopped and Mac sat down on the court feeling her breathing coming out harder and her body had that good kind of ache that signalled a good workout but not enough to have her completely worn out.

"I've missed this," Daiki admitted.

Mac smiled slightly as she looked at him.

"Mm," she nodded.

"So, who did you have to talk to?" Daiki asked and Mac laughed. She should have known that he didn't forget that she hadn't answered his questions.

"Coach Shirogane," Mac said with a shrug.

"Why?" Daiki looked at her surprised.

"I wanted to let him know that you and the others have found back to yourselves again," Mac said leaning back and staring up at the blue sky.

Daiki was quiet for a moment before he sat down beside her and sighed.

"He cares, huh," Daiki said.

"Yes," Mac said. "He worried."

"I see," Daiki frowned. "He was a good coach."

"Yeah," Mac agreed before she hesitated and looked at Daiki. "Do you think things would have been different if he hadn't gotten sick?"

Mac looked over at Daiki when he didn't answer right away and saw the thoughtful look on his face. He turned his head and met her eyes and smiled at her in a way that seemed to scream understanding and apologetic.

"No," he said. "I think it would have been much the same, Kenzie. I still would have lost the happiness I felt playing… I don't think he could have prevented that."

Mac sighed and nodded. She knew that, but she just couldn't shake the thoughts of 'what if'.

"But he wouldn't have let you skip practices like coach Sanada," Mac said.

"No, and I would have resented him for it," Daiki said. "I'm sorry, Kenzie."

Mac smiled a sad smile and nodded.

"I know," she said. "It's fine. I wouldn't change you, Daiki, you know that, right?"

"Of course," he smiled.

...

Coward… where are you coward?"

Mac hid behind a column and pressed a hand to her chest as she tried to calm her breathing but it didn't work. The sound of footsteps came closer and closer…

"You can't hide forever you know," the voice called. "We will find yoooouuuu…."

Mac ran and ran while the footsteps echoed behind her and the voice laughed and called her name over and over like a chant.

"Mackenzie… MackenzieMackenzieMackenzie…."

Mac startled awake and jolted up in bed clenched in sweat and breathing as she had just run miles. Her body shook lightly as she remembered the dream or nightmare.

It wasn't the first time she'd had the dream and she doubted it would be the last. She rolled out of bed and stumbled slightly as she made her way to the door and leaned against the doorway finding her balance again.

Inhaling deeply before pushing away from the doorframe she continued to the bathroom and closed the door behind her. She leaned against the sink before turning on the water. She stared at it for a moment just watching and listening to the water pour out of the crane.

She reached out and cupped her hand to let the water gather there and splashed her face feeling the cool water against her clammy skin. It felt refreshing and brought her back a little.

She turned the water off and reached for a towel to dry herself before leaving the bathroom and went back to her room. Nao was still on the bed, but he had woken up and slowly raised his head to look at her.

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

She looked at the clock and saw that the red numbers on alarm blink 4:23 and she knew she wouldn't be able to get any more sleep. She rubbed her neck before walking over to her desk and pulled out the files she had over potential basketball players they could get to Too Academy come march.

She still thought the two players she had mentioned to Harasawa was the best choices but she wanted to be sure. She wanted to make the right decisions and knew that Harasawa would listen to what she said. He had even given her a couple of names as well to check out, and she had gathered as much data she could on them.

"Mac?"

She turned and saw her uncle standing in the doorway looking at her concerned.

"Morning," she said.

"Have you been up long?" he asked stepping into her room.

She shrugged turning back to her research. She felt him behind her but didn't look over her shoulder at him.

"You seem to be busy," Tarou said.

"I have to find out more about these players," Mac said. "Coach is waiting for my answer."

The silence seemed heavy to Mac, but she resisted the need to look at her uncle. She felt a hand on her shoulder and tensed.

"Be careful not to overwork yourself, Mac," Tarou said.

"I'm not," Mac said. "I'm fine."

She was. She just had to focus on her basketball and that would help keep her mind in check.

"Okay," Tarou said and she blinked when she felt him kiss the top of her head before leaving. She swallowed as she felt her shoulders slump and suddenly felt emotional and a tear escaped her eyes.

...

"Do you want to come to Teiko with me?" Mac asked.

Daiki looked at her, "why?"

"I promised Momoi that I would come and visit," Mac said. "I just haven't had the time."

"I don't really want to," Daiki said.

"Okay," Mac said a little disappointed despite herself. She hadn't expected him to join her even if she had hoped he would.

She picked up her bag and smiled at Nakano who looked over at her from where she was talking with Matsushita.

"I'll walk you to the buss," Daiki said.

"Alright," Mac said and smiled when he reached out and grabbed her hand.

She stifled a yawn making Daiki look at her.

"You've been tired today," Daiki said.

"Mm," Mac said. "Guess so."

She didn't want to think about the dream.

"Well, you should go home and relax," Daiki said.

"I need to do this," Mac said. "And I want to talk to Momoi about something."

Daiki sighed but didn't push it. He knew better than anyone that pressing her wouldn't do anything so he would wait. Though, he worried.

Mac said goodbye to Daiki when the bus arrived and found a free seat. She stared unseeingly out of the window.

...

It was kind of nostalgic standing outside of Teiko looking up at the school. This place had changed so much for her, she had so many memories from this school. Both good and bad, but it didn't change that this was where she gained her best friends.

"Hey, Mac!"

Mac blinked and tried to shake all the memories flashing in her mind out as she looked to see Momoi coming running toward her with a big smile on her face. Mac smiled back and waved.

"Hey, Momoi," she said.

"I came to meet you!" Momoi said and Mac chuckled and refrained from pointing out that she could see that and that it wasn't really necessary since she knew where to go.

"Thank you," Mac said instead. "You didn't have to do that."

"I wanted to," Momoi said. "I thought you had forgotten about your promise to come and see us!"

"Sorry," Mac said as they started to walk. "It got a little busy."

"I know," Momoi said. "Congratulations on winning the Winter Cup, by the way."

"Thanks," Mac said. "So, you still have practices? I was a little concerned that it was too late now."

"Some have quit," Momoi admitted. "The third years are focusing on their schoolwork now as you did. "

"Yeah, that's normal," Mac said.

"Mm," Momoi nodded, "but I mentioned that you would stop by today so most of them will be there."

Mac blinked, "oh?"

"They wanted to see you again," Momoi smiled.

Mac glanced quickly over at Momoi before she turned back and smiled a little.

"I see," she said.

She again felt the familiarity of entering this school. She almost expected to see her friends when she reached the gym. The gym was filled with the sounds of basketballs against the floor and feet running as well as shouting and cheering. It made her smile.

"Hello, Potter-san," Sanada greeted.

"Hey, coach," Mac smiled turning her attention to her former coach.

"Momoi-san said you were coming today," Sanada said.

"I wanted to see how the team had progressed," Mac shrugged. "And wanted to ask Momoi about something too."

"I see," Sanada said. "I hear you won the Winter Cup. Congratulations."

"Thanks," Mac said. "It was a team effort, though. I still can't really believe that we won."

He nodded and smiled a little.

"Mac!"

Mac turned away from Sanada and smiled when she saw Kuroki Dan, Yago Masao and Mitsui Keisyun coming toward her.

"Hey," she said.

"Momoi sand you were coming," Kuroki said when he reached her.

"Ah, I thought I would stop by," Mac said. "Though, I know it's a little late."

"You've been busy," Yago said. "We've followed some of your matches!"

"I can't believe you guys beat Akashi!" Mitsui said awed.

Mac shrugged, "it was a team win."

"And even Aomine played together with the others… you must be happy," Kuroki said.

"Of course," Mac smiled. "It was fun. I hear you also have done well this year?"

"We won Nationals again this year," Kuroki said with a wide grin. "Though, we didn't win as comfortably as you guys did."

"Good job," Mac smiled. "I knew you could do it. And do you have any interesting first years?"

"Some," Mitsui said with a shrug. "But only a couple that was frequently used with the regulars."

"They have potential, though," Yago said. "But they could benefit from having you push them a little."

Mac snorted, "what? You missed it?"

"Kind of?" Kuroki said.

"Kind of?" Mac repeated. "I feel missed. Oi, Momoi, what have you been doing with them if they miss my training?"

"Nothing," Momoi laughed.

"She's not as tough as you," Yago said. "We can still walk home… so that's good. But she has this way of making us feel guilty for the mistakes we make. It's horrible."

Mac chuckled as she took in their expressions.

"Ah, I see you have them in line," Mac glanced at Momoi who smirked lightly. "Good."

...

Mac greeted the new players after having talked with her former teammates and then stood by to watch the rest of the training. She stood with Momoi who had a notebook out and was scribbling down something now and then.

"So, what do you think?" Momoi asked.

"You don't need me telling you," Mac said glancing at her. "You have this under control."

"I still would like to know what you think," Momoi said.

"Hm, well, they're good," Mac said. "But they could benefit from having even better relations between them."

"Oh?" Momoi frowned.

"Kuroki, Yago and Mitsui have been core members of the team, right?" Mac asked.

"Yes," Momoi nodded.

"Well, they're not there anymore," Mac said. "So, the new players will need to get involved in the team even more. They need to get to know how the others will play, how they want to receive the ball, etc… You know this, so I don't need to go into detail. That's what I think about them."

"I see," Momoi nodded thoughtfully. "We had the same thing after you guys left too, but then we had to change practically the whole team. Now a few will remain."

"Mm," Mac said. "But you'll figure it out."

She had to do much of the same, she thought.

They talked more as the practice continued and Mac was aware that Sanada kept an eye on them. She wasn't sure how she really felt about him because he had in a way allowed Daiki to stray even more from basketball than necessary. Yet, she knew that it wasn't fair of her to blame him either. Daiki had said that he didn't think Shirogane would have helped either. And Sanada had been pressured by the school to do everything to please them. But still… he was the adult, the grown-up who should have been the steady presence they needed.

She sighed.

Would things have been better if Sanada had been firmer?

...

"So, I was wondering what you think about Yugi Ren from Shoei and Kasahara Jisuke from Kamizaki?" Mac asked.

"You're scouting new players?" Momoi asked.

"Well, I'm interested," Mac admitted. "I remember them from last year, but I haven't been able to follow them too much this year…"

"They're good," Momoi said. "I have some research on them that you can have if you want?"

"Really?" Mac asked. "Sure! Thank you!"

Momoi told her a little more about the two players Mac had asked about and described their match against their teams. Mac smiled a little as she heard the way Momoi talked and used her hands to make her points.

"You've done a good job with the team," Mac said with a small smile.

"Thanks," Momoi blushed. "I tried to follow what you taught me."

"So, tell me more about how you are," Mac asked. "I don't mean to just ask about basketball. How are you, Momoi?"

"Potter-san," Sanada said interrupting them.

"Coach," Mac said.

Momoi looked between them for a moment before she excused herself and walked to the side.

"I never coached a team like yours," Sanada suddenly said.

Mac blinked, "I would assume we were not what you'd call a normal team, no. But this year's team was good, though?"

"Yes, they were good and won," Sanada said. "But they don't have the same overwhelming strength as you and the others."

"Mm," Mac wasn't sure where Sanada was going with this.

"I fear that I messed it up," Sanada said regretfully. "I never should have allowed everything you got away with. I see that now."

Sanada knew he had messed up. He could still see the shock and betrayal in Daiki's eyes when he told him that he didn't have to come to training as long as they won. He had wanted to take the words back the moment he had spoken them, but it was too late. The words were out there, and the damage had been done.

It wasn't an excuse that the leaders of the school had put pressure on him to keep up the work Shirogane had done with the team, that they had to keep winning. Winning was everything. That was the school's motto, but Sanada had wondered. When he watched how they lost their excitement after wins... when they lost their smiles... when they just kept going and going and going… when they started to play among themselves even when they were playing against other teams. It had him questioning if winning really was worth it if they were the ones paying the price.

It nagged at him. That was why he had changed part of how the team was run now, and the pressure had lessened a little. It helped, he thought.

But it didn't mean that the damage done to Mac and the others hadn't hurt them, or that it was alright. It wasn't.

"You did the best you could, coach;" Mac said breaking Sanada out of his thoughts. "I know that."

"I still owe you all an apology," Sanada said. "I should have fought harder."

He should have…

"It was the first time you were the main coach, right?" Mac asked.

"Yes," Sanada said.

"We couldn't have been easy to coach," Mac said looking away. "We must have made it difficult."

He frowned. While they did present challenges, they were the best team he had coached and probably would ever coach. The way they fit together and developed was unheard of. He was lucky to have had the chance to work with them.

"No," he said. "I doubt I will ever coach a better team."

"Maybe," Mac said. "The school pressured you, right?"

Sanada really shouldn't be surprised by her knowing that.

"You knew?" Sanada asked.

"It was pretty obvious," Mac said.

He shook his head, "of course. Still, I'm sorry."

She looked at him and saw the regret in his eyes and she knew that she didn't blame him. Not really. While he could have done more and done things differently, he had done the best he could. She knew that now.

"I don't blame you," Mac said. "I'm sure the others don't either."

He blinked. "And Aomine? I hear he is enjoying basketball again?"

"He is," Mac smiled (she still couldn't stop the smile from coming just thinking about it). "He's smiling again."

"That's good," Sanada said. "Very good."

...

"Mac!"

Mac blinked when she heard her name being called just as she reached the apartment building. She was looking forward to getting home so she could relax. She was tired. But now she saw Hermione coming running up the street.

"Hermione?" Mac blinked confused.

"Hey…um…Mac…" Hermione was breathless when she finally caught up.

"Breathe, Hermione," Mac said reaching out to steady her and calm her down.

Hermione inhaled deeply and visibly tried to calm her breathing. Mac frowned a little as she took in the flushed cheeks and the messier hair.

"Come inside and I'll find get you some water," Mac said leading the way inside.

Hermione followed and Mac pushed back the curiosity she felt at Hermione's state.

"Here," Mac said holding out a glass of water. Hermione took it gratefully and downed it in one go making Mac arch a brow.

"Thanks," Hermione said.

"So, what had you running like that?" Mac asked not able to keep from asking anymore.

"Oh, I… I have something to tell you," Hermione said looking nervous and concerned.

Mac blinked, "okay?"

"Um…well… You see…" Hermione stopped and frowned.

"Hermione?" Mac frowned.

"Professor Dumbledore is here!" Hermione blurted.

Mac stilled. What? Her mind went blank as she stared at Hermione.

"Um… Mac?" Hermione winced. "Sorry. I shouldn't have blurted it like that…"

Mac just stared as Hermione's words spun in her mind. Dumbledore was here? What? How? Why?

"Why?" Mac asked.

"He says it is to see how the magic school is run here," Hermione said. "I haven't talked to him, only heard what headmaster Okashima said when he introduced him."

Mac felt weak. She sank down on a chair by the kitchen table and dropped her head in her hands. What did this mean? Dumbledore was here. He was in the same country. Did he know she was here? Did he suspect it?

"Are you okay?" Hermione asked.

"Fine," Mac muttered distractedly. "You sure you don't know why he's here?"

"Really, I don't know," Hermione said. "I just thought you would want to know."

Mac nodded even if she didn't really want to know but at the same time it was probably best.

"Does Professor Sato know?" Mac asked.

"I told him before I came here," Hermione nodded. "He is worried."

Mac nodded again.

"I don't know what to do," Mac admitted. "I…"

She had pushed back everything that had to do with the articles Sato had shown her. She didn't want to think about it, and it was better to pretend it didn't exist. But now… were they the reason he was here? But how…? Why should they lead him here? That didn't make any sense at all.

"I won't tell him I know where you are," Hermione said, and Mac looked up and met her eyes.

"I know," Mac said with a small smile. It felt fake on her face, but Hermine seemed to understand and smiled back. "I just wish I knew what he wanted."

"Yeah," Hermione said sitting down on the chair next to her as well.

Mac tried to think but she had trouble getting past the fact that Dumbledore was here. In Japan. Was he there looking for her? Was she too self-conscious? Maybe he really was there to check out the Japanese magic school as he claimed? Surely that was something a headmaster for one school could do, right? Maybe it didn't have anything to do with her at all…

"Did you know him at all from your time at Hogwarts?" Mac asked looking over at Hermione.

"Not really," Hermione admitted. "I met him a couple of times because of bullying, but I mostly talked with Professor McGonagall."

"I see," Mac said. "From what I can tell he's normally someone who has a reason for everything he does even if no one else knows it."

"Yes," Hermione nodded. "I don't think he's just here to check out the school."

Mac scowled. "Great."

"I'm sorry," Hermione said.

"It's not your fault," Mac said looking up and tried to smile. "Thank you for telling me."

...

Hermione left and Mac was alone with her thoughts. She almost wished that she weren't because her thoughts were running away with her but at the same time, she was glad to be alone. She just wasn't up to entertain a guest right now.

"What should I do, Nao?" Mac asked looking down at her fox who had curled up in her lap and made soft comforting noises. Mac sighed as she combed her fingers through Nao's fur. It was comforting to feel the soft fur and hear the purr from Nao.

What should she do now?

She didn't doubt that if Dumbledore knew where she was, he would find her. Since he hadn't found her jet then maybe he didn't know. That was comforting at least.

A part of her wanted to deny it and just push it away and just dive into her basketball and preparations for next year. She had the data from Momoi she needed to go through before she talked with Harasawa again. In fact, she really needed to get that done.

With a sigh she gently lifted Nao off her lap and placed him on the bed before walking over to her desk and grabbed her bag again.

She stilled as she realised that she had allowed herself to get distracted like she knew she shouldn't do. She had to deal with this…

She closed her eyes and groaned… This was not getting her anywhere.

Jumping up on her feet she kicked her chair back and tossed the papers away from her unable to keep still and gritted her teeth together. She walked out of the room and barely noticed Nao following her.

"Mac?" Taiga blinked as he entered the apartment just as she stepped into her shoes.

"I'll be back," Mac said without looking at him.

She thought he was about to say something but didn't stop to hear him as she left the apartment and caught Nao when he jumped up at her and snuggled into her arms.

She walked through the streets without any destination in mind. Her feet just carried her wherever as her mind never rested one way or another.

Suddenly she stopped realising that she had somehow ended up in front of Koizumi's office. She blinked because she hadn't thought about this place when she left and must have walked longer than she had thought because this was not close by her home.

She swallowed looking up at the building and noticed that there was light on in the window to Koizumi's office. So she was still there even though it was late.

Hm… but should she go up? She was probably busy with a client so Mac probably shouldn't disturb her. Not that she really wanted to talk to Koizumi or did she?

"Mac?"

Mac blinked when she saw Koizumi in front of her looking at her curiously.

"Oh…" Mac blinked again. How long had she stood there?

"You've been standing there for twenty minutes," Koizumi said. "I saw you from the window."

"Oh," Mac said again.

"Why don't you come up?" Koizumi asked.

"I don't want to bother you," Mac mumbled.

"You're not," Koizumi said. "I was just doing some paperwork and would love an excuse to postpone it even more."

Mac felt her lips twitch slightly as she nodded despite the unease she felt. Why had she sought out Koizumi now?

...

Koizumi was watching her, and Mac resisted to fidget in her usual seat in the office.

"What's going on, Mac?" Koizumi asked after a long stretch of silence.

"Dumbledore is here," Mac said.

Koizumi frowned, "Albus Dumbledore?"

"Yes," Mac said staring at a spot on the floor.

"You've seen him?" Koizumi asked.

"No," Mac shook her head. "I don't know if he knows that I'm here… He's at Mahoutokoro."

"Oh, I see," Koizumi said. "Why?"

"Don't know," Mac admitted. "Hermione told me today… and I just… I don't know…"

"You just learned that he is here?" Koizumi clarified.

"Mm," Mac nodded.

Koizumi didn't say anything for a moment and Mac fidgeted a little in her seat.

"What do you want to do with this?" Koizumi asked.

Mac looked up and stared at her.

"What?"

Koizumi repeated her question making Mac frown.

"I don't want him here," Mac said. "He will try to take me back to Britain."

"How do you know?" Koizumi asked.

"I…" Mac frowned. "Because he wants me at Hogwarts! Remus and Sirius said so too!"

"And if you told him that you don't want that, would he still want that?" Koizumi asked.

"I don't know," Mac frowned. "But I can't… won't take the chance that he won't!"

Koizumi was watching her and nodded.

"Okay," Koizumi said. "I won't pressure you. But what do you want to do now?"

Mac slumped in her seat and fixed her stare back at the spot on the floor. That was it, though. She didn't know!

"I don't know," Mac said frustrated. "I just… I can't do anything! I hate it! I need to finish something for basketball because I'm the Captain now and coach Harasawa is waiting for me to get back with my data about a couple of players and I was going to do that tonight but then I learned this about Dumbledore and my mind won't shut up and I want to focus on my basketball but then I can't and I need to and…"

All that was said in one breath and Mac trailed off frustrated and scowled at the floor as her hands fisted against Nao's fur and Nao yapped at her sadly.

"Who knows about Dumbledore?" Koizumi asked.

"Hermione and Professor Sato," Mac said. "Hermione told him."

"So, you haven't told anyone," Koizumi stated.

"No…I don't want them to worry," Mac said.

"Or you don't want them to ask you about it and make you think about it," Koizumi said.

"That's not it," Mac denied.

"Look, Mac, coming here is a step forward," Koizumi said leaning forward and waited until Mac met her eyes. "You actually want to do something about this and get help. And you sought out help on your own, that's good."

"I do ask for help," Mac mumbled.

"From your friends, yes," Koizumi nodded. "At least more than others, but this? You can't go with magical issues to them."

Mac hid a wince because she could. She just… hadn't and she wasn't sure why. She knew Seijuro would drop everything he had and come to see her, the others too.

"You know this is bigger," Koizumi said. "And you need your family and Sirius and Remus, you've talked about them, right? They would want to know too."

"They would do something stupid," Mac said. "And I don't want Sirius to risk the freedom he got here now because of me."

Koizumi watched her for a moment.

"If you want them to trust you with information shouldn't you do the same?" Koizumi asked gently.

Mac frowned. She hadn't thought about it like that.

"You do your family a disservice not telling them," Koizumi continued. "And you want to tell them. I can tell, so what hold you back?"

...

Daiki frowned when he saw that Mac wasn't in the classroom like he had expected. He had been a little late so he hadn't seen her outside like normal, so he had assumed that she had already gone inside.

He walked slowly over to his desk and sat down while looking over at the empty desk that belonged to Mac. He saw Nakano and Miyamoto on the desks next to Mac's but no Mac. Where was she? She was never late…

"Hey, Aomine," Fujimoto said.

Daiki glanced at her before looking away.

"What do you want?" he asked.

"Is it wrong to say hey now too?" Fujimoto asked.

"When I don't want to talk to you, yeah," Daiki said.

"Why can't we be friends?" Fujimoto asked. "You and Potter were friends."

"Kenzie is my best friend," Daiki said. "You are not her."

"I know that," Fujimoto scowled. "I don't see why you can't see that other people than her care about you too!"

Daiki scowled back at her and fisted his hands as anger rushed through him. She had stayed away from him and Mac since the school festival and he had thought he had gotten past it, but seeing her reminded him of how she had hurt Mac and how he had failed to keep her happy and protect her.

"Stay away from me and Kenzie," Daiki said. "I don't want to talk to you."

She gave him a wounded look but walked back to her seat where Fukui immediately grabbed her hand and said something. Daiki didn't care.

Nishimura entered the classroom and still no Mac.

He couldn't pay attention to class as he was thinking about Mac and why she wasn't there. Was she sick? Had something happened yesterday when she went to Teiko? But what could have happened there?

Nishimura had not said a word about Mac being missing from class and Daiki was close to just skipping the rest of the day to find Mac.

"It's strange seeing him on his own," Nakano commented looking over at Daiki.

"Yeah, normally Mac would be there too," Miyamoto agreed. "Wonder where she is…"

Daiki heard them but didn't turn to look at them or say anything. He had checked his phone but there was nothing from Mac. He had sent a text but she hadn't responded yet, and he felt worried. She always responded. Had something happened at her magic lesson?

As soon as the classes were over (finally!) he was out of the room and turned toward the gym. He needed to see if Mac would be there even if he doubted it. If she wasn't in class then she probably wasn't at the gym either.

"Aomine?" Harasawa looked surprised when he entered the gym.

"Have you seen Kenzie?" Daiki asked.

"No, she's not coming today," Harasawa said with a small frown. "Her uncle called and said she was sick."

"Oh," Daiki frowned.

Then why hadn't she told him that?

He turned and left the gym not seeing the way Harasawa shook his head behind him.

...

Mac groaned in pain as she turned over in her bed trying to find a comfortable position again. She heard the doorbell but couldn't find the energy to get up to answer. Hopefully, someone else was home to see who were at the door. Her head felt like it was going to explode and everything she did hurt.

Her uncle had taken one look at her that morning before he sent her back to bed and said to stay home from school. Mac hadn't had the energy to protest (too much) and had gratefully curled up in bed again.

"Kenzie?"

Mac opened her eyes and turned slightly before wincing and saw Daiki standing in the doorway looking concerned.

"Daiki?" she murmured pathetically.

"Are you okay?" he asked coming over to the bed and sat down on the edge and took one of her hands in his. His hand felt warm…

"Fine…" she muttered. "Just a headache."

"I was worried when you didn't show up at school," Daiki said.

Mac winced as she turned more and realised that she had forgotten to text him. She felt bad.

"Sorry," she said. "I forgot to text…"

"Your uncle said you have been sleeping most of the day," Daiki said and reached out to push her hair out of her face, and she smiled slightly as she leaned into his hand. It felt nice having him stroke through her hair like this. He noticed she liked it and kept doing it much to her joy.

"Mm," Mac said. "I didn't sleep much last night."

Stupid Dumbledore…

Her mind just wouldn't shut up no matter what Koizumi had said, and she hadn't been able to stop worrying. She hated this… it made her feel weak. Stupid.

"You've been pushing yourself too hard for a long time," Daiki said quietly. "You need to take care of yourself, Kenzie."

"I am," she mumbled not really realising that her eyes had drifted shut.

He sighed but didn't say anything else. She felt the bed move and his hand pulled back and she opened her eyes again to find him standing and about to turn. She reached out and grabbed his wrist making him look back at her with a questioning look.

"Stay," she said before she could stop the word.

He looked at her for a moment before he smiled softly and nodded.

She moved to the side and tried to ignore the way her head hurt as she did and watched as he sat down with his back leaned against the headboard of the bed and his long legs stretched out so he was half-lying half-sitting on the bed. She moved closer to him again and curled up against him letting her head rest on his chest and felt his arms hug her close.

She knew she would need to tell him about Dumbledore, and she would. Soon. But right now, this was enough. It made her feel safe and warm. It was just what she needed.

...

...

AN: What do you think? XD

Sorry for the delay in posting this. Hope you liked it! :)

Thank you for reading! XD