Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

[My Story? Well sure, why not? Better sit down though, it's pretty long, but I’ll try to keep it interesting. It all started when I was even smaller than you…]

Hailey Potter, aged six. Stared down at the bright white rabbit, who was struggling to free herself from a nasty looking jaw trap.

Her Aunt and Uncle had decided to take their son Dudley to the park to play with his friends, and due to their usual babysitter, Misses Fig being unavailable, they had been forced to take Hailey along.

Of course the minute they got there they told her to make herself scarce, and not wanting to get caught up in Dudleys games, she quickly complied.

Which is how she found herself standing in a thicket of trees, watching the poor helpless animal try in vain to free its leg.

Hailey looked around, trying to work out what to do. She briefly considered finding an adult, but discarded the notion as an adult probably laid the trap in the first place.

Hailey noticed that the rabbit had stopped struggling, and was now looking up at her with its black soulful eyes.

With all the resolve that a six year old could muster, she kneeled down to the trap. “Don’t worry mister rabbit, I’ll get you out of here.”

Examining the trap, she tried to work out how to free the rabbit. At first she gave the rabbit an experimental tug, but a pained squeak discouraged her from that. So instead she looked at the jaws of the trap. She tried to give it a tug, and she felt it shift slightly. She tried pulling a little harder, but couldn't get it to move any further. So she got both hands in the trap, and put as much strength as she could into her tiny malnourished arms, even planting her foot against the trap to get more leverage. With a herculean effort, she managed to pull the trap apart enough for the rabbit to pull its leg out, and limp away.

Then Hailey made a dangerous mistake, she relaxed.

She yelped as the trap's jaws snapped around her fingers, leaving her locked in place. Giving a quiet whimper and trying not to cry, she tried in vain to pull her fingers out.

“Yikes, here let me help you with that.”

To Hailey's surprise, a pair of hands grasped both sides of the trap,and pulled them apart.

 Gingerly removing her hands, She looked up to see a young looking girl with blonde hair, a simple pink dress and a pair of rabbit ears, grinning at her.

“You ok kid? Sorry, I didn’t think you’d end up getting caught as well.” the rabbit eared girl said, letting the trap snap on air. “Your hands ok?”

“W-who are you?” Hailey asked.

The girl pouted. “I’m Mister Rabbit, remember? you just helped me get my leg out. Although for future reference, I am a Miss Rabbit, or more accurately Miss Inaba. Nice to meet ya!”

“You are that rabbit…?” Hailey said, confused.

The rabbit sat down and lifted her leg to show Hailey, there was a mark around her ankle, along with some grazed skin, and some swelling. “Yup, still hurts like a bitch too, I’ll probably need someone to have a look at it later.”

Hailey blinked, trying to work out which of the many questions she had should be asked.

She eventually settled for: “How?”

“Ehh, don’t sweat the small stuff.” The rabbit said, shooting her down immediately. “So how can I help you?”

“Help... me?” Hailey said, confused.

“Yeah, because you saved me from that trap.” The Rabbit girl said. “And as per tradition, when receiving a charitable kindness from a human, we rabbits are to grant them a boon.”

“A boon? What’s a Boon?” Hailey asked, tilting her head, still extremely confused, but the rabbits easy going way of speech had relaxed her somewhat.

“It's kinda like a wish, or a favour.” The Inaba said. “Ask for anything, and provided it’s in my power, I’ll grant it. So what do you want?”

“Umm…” Hailey hadn’t expected she’d be getting a wish, and her brow furrowed in thought. What did she want?

She first thought that maybe she wanted sweets, as she rarely got to have them. But then discarded that thought, as Dudley would no doubt steal them from her.

Then she thought about maybe some toys, but knew that her aunt and uncle would confiscate them.

Perhaps some friends would be nice, but Dudley's gang would probably drive them away.

She’d settle perhaps for not sleeping in a cupboard under the stairs, but she somehow doubts the Dursleys would let her.

She started wondering if she could wish the dursleys nice. But she somehow feels that this is probably impossible, even for magical wish granting rabbit girls.

“Come on kiddo, you can say what's on your mind, I promise I won’t laugh or anything.” the Rabbit said, looking a little impatient.

She tried to think harder, but she simply couldn’t think of any wish or gift that the Dursleys wouldn’t somehow ruin for her.

“Girl!” in the distance she could hear her uncle calling for her, it was probably time to go home, and she would probably be punished if she delayed too long.

With the impatient rabbit girl in front of her, and her uncle calling for her she suddenly realised something, something she wishes for more than anything. But even then she was tentative to voice it.

“Don’t got all day kid, and by the sound of it neither do you.” the Rabbit said, as Vernon’s bellowing continued in the distance.

“I mean, if it was possible…” Hailey started, suddenly very nervous as to what the rabbits response would be.

“Spit it out already.” The rabbit said impatiently.

“I wish… I had a family that loves me.” Hailey finally said.

The rabbit looked mildly taken aback, making Hailey almost want to retract her wish, but she stayed silent as the Rabbit’s expression became slightly apologetic.

“Geez, really put me on the spot here.” The Rabbit said, rubbing the back of her neck. “I’m not sure I can magic a family of existence though, I usually do simple errands and good fortune.”

Hailey tried not to look disappointed and failed completely.

The rabbit looked rather guilty, before an epiphany struck. “Wait, I might not be able to help, but I know someone who can. The head of my family is super wise and knowledgeable, she’ll probably know how to grant your wish.”

“She will?” Hailey said, her spirits lifting somewhat.

“Sure she can, she’s my great-great-great-great-great-great-great-”

“GIRL!” Her Uncle shouted again, this time much closer, making Hailey jump.

The Rabbit turned to where the sound came from, and with the knowledge of Hailey's wish, she frowned in grim determination.

“Come on, I’ll take you to meet her!” she said, standing up, and outstretching her hand.

[Now Perhaps if I had been older and wiser, I would have been more sceptical of the magical rabbit promising wishes.Thankfully, I had never been properly educated in stranger danger.]

After one more bellow from her Uncle, this time accompanied by some threats. She took the rabbit's hand.

“This way, we’ll be there in a jiffy.” The Rabbit said, limping away deeper into the trees, with Hailey in tow.

Uncle Vernon never did find her, no matter how hard he looked.

“Alright, here we are.” The rabbit said.

Hailey looked around. As far as she could tell, this was no different from the rest of the woods they just walked through.

“Ok, not here here.” The Rabbit said, “but it's how we are going to get there.” She then pointed out a rabbit burrow under the roots of a tree, “you see that?”

Hailey nodded.

“Now you see, we youkai rabbits, that’s what I am by the way, have a special way of getting around. All our burrows are magically linked to one another, in what we call the rabbit express way, pioneered after one too many of us took a wrong turn at Albecuky.”

“Ohhh.” said Hailey, impressed.

“Now the head of my family lives all the way in Japan, so if you wanna meet her, you gotta go down there.”

“Eh?”

“Come on, you go first, I need to make sure you can get through ok.” The rabbit said jovially.

In the face of the rabbits expectant gaze, Hailey tentatively got onto her hands and knees, and crawled up to the rabbit hole.

[Now if this had been a serial killer, or indeed most other kinds of youkai, I would already be dead and probably someone's lunch. Luckily we Rabbit youkai are largely vegetarian, and the few that do eat meat, don’t eat human flesh, or otherwise I probably wouldn't be here telling this story.]

Hailey stared into the hole dubiously, she somehow doubted she could fit into the rabbit sized hole, but just as she was about to vocalise this, she felt two hands on her butt, and a sudden forward motion that had her plunging head first into the hole.

“Hmmm… Maybe I need to widen this hole a little…” the rabbit said ponderously as she watched Haileys thrashing legs sticking out of the burrow. “Oh well!”

Grabbing Hailey by the ankles, and giving another solid push, Hailey disappeared down the burrow with a ‘Fwoop!’. The rabbit herself then dived in after her with considerably less difficulty, despite being bigger then Hailey.

Foomp!

With an indignant squark, Hailey shot out like she was spat out, landing arse up in the dirt.

Hailey lay dazed on the ground. It was possibly the most disorienting experience in her life, like she had been just sucked through a straw, for what simultaneously felt like five seconds and forever.

“That's not a good look for you ya know,” said the indistinct blur that Hailey assumed was the rabbit.

The blur helped her to her feet and handed her back her glasses, and the world came back into focus.

To her surprise, it was dark out, night having already fallen. And she seemed to be in a forest of densely packed weird looking green trees. 

[Actually it was Bamboo, but I didn’t know that at the time. So it might as well have been another planet to me.]

“Huh, forgot about time zones, I hope she’s still awake…” the Rabbit said, before taking Haileys hand, “come on, this isn’t the kind of place you wanna be after dark.”

The rabbit led her through the bamboo, which allowed Hailey to spot a huge building surrounded by wooden walls that was closeby.

The gate seemed to be guarded by another rabbit girl in similar apparel with blue hair, who waved jovially and said something in a language Hailey didn’t understand, but the rabbit guiding her did, and said something in return.

After a brief conversation she led Hailey past the open gate and into the courtyard, where she became aware of music being played.

There were a lot of rabbits loitering around the place, both normal looking rabbits and a bunch of rabbit girls all wandering around, chatting with one another, dancing, pouring each other drinks, or just lazing around in heaps.

“We are in luck, they are having a party tonight, so Tewi should be around here somewhere.” The Rabbit said.

“Tewi?” Hailey asked, feeling very overwhelmed by all this.

“The Family matriarch, everyone here is either her descendant, or related to her in some way. She’s the oldest rabbit alive today.” The rabbit said. “Like I said, she’s my great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grea-oh there she is!”

With the description, and the huge amounts of greats, Hailey was expecting some super old woman rabbit made entirely of wrinkles, but instead, she found Tewi to… look exactly like everybody else, barring her hair, which was black, shoulder length with a natural perm, and the carrot shaped pendant she wore around her neck. She was dancing in a circle of rabbits, bottle in hand as a few rabbits played instruments nearby.

As she twirled around laughing with her fellow rabbits as they clapped along to the beat, their eyes briefly met, and Tewi’s wine red eyes had an unfathomable depth, speaking of countless eons of life lived, yet twinked with youthful mischief.

Hailey had never seen someone quite so… Alive before. The sheer vitality of the display seemed to retroactively make everyone else she has ever met seem hollow and empty compared to the ancient rabbit before her.

[“Did you really think that? Really?”]

[Well… maybe not in so many words, I was only six after all, but you get the jist of it.]

As they approached, Tewi jumped out of the circle, and another, much drunker, rabbit immediately took her place, who wasn’t so much dancing but rhythmically staggering, but the other rabbits cheered on regardless. She stepped away from the group to meet them.

She started speaking in the same foreign tongue that everyone was, and Tewi and the Rabbit who brought Hailey here started having an animated conversation.

After a few minutes of standing awkwardly as a conversation was had both literally and figuratively over her head, the Rabbit Matriarch turned to her, crouching down to her level, and thankfully spoke in English, albeit heavily accented, but still passable.

“So, Stella here tells me you’re in the market for a new family. Is that right?” Tewi said.

“Hailey nodded, but then caught something. “Stella? She said her name was Inaba.”

Tewi laughed, “Every rabbit here is an Inaba, including me, Tewi Inaba, in english naming conventions. But anyway, how about you tell me about yourself?”

Hailey looked worried. “What do you want to know?”

“Oh just where you come from, who you are.” Tewi said, “the more I know, the better I can help you.”

Hailey felt nervous, as she wasn’t supposed to talk about her living arrangements outside the Dursleys, on threat of punishment. But then again, if she gets a new family, then she might never need to see them again, so steeling herself, she started telling Tewi about her life.

As the story goes on nearby rabbits stop in their revelry, and start listening in, slowly crowding around the unaware Hailey as she explains the ongoing tragedy that is her life. Stella behind her grew steadily more horrified as the story continued.

Tewi however, just kept the same encouraging smile, nodding to continue whenever Hailey started faltering.

As Hailey finally closed the story with her wish to Stella, she became aware of someone blowing their nose, and was quite taken aback when she found herself in the centre of a carpet of sad looking rabbits and rabbit girls, half the party having gravitated over to listen to her story. Hailey shrunk under the attention.

Tewi, still wearing an encouraging smile, patted her on the shoulder, “You were very brave to tell me all that, thank you.” She then barked something to the surrounding party goers, and they dispersed, many sending pitying glances in Haileys direction before rejoining the festivities, no doubt to spread the story they just heard to the rest of the party, probably adding one or two embellishments along the way.

[By the end of the night Uncle Vernon had become an evil usurper king and myself the rightful heir who lived in the dungeon and was only let out to clean the castle with a toothbrush. But that was neither here nor there.]

“Well, Hailey.” Tewi said. “I don’t think it will be too difficult to find you a better family. Hell, it would be harder to find a family that's worse than your aunt and uncle. But unless I am mistaken, your wish was not asking for a better family, but rather one that will love you. Am I correct?”

Hailey nodded.

“That's a little harder, as love is a tricky thing, it might take a bit of searching… oooor… say how would you like to be an Inaba?”

“Eh?” Hailey blinked.

“EH?” Stella said, slightly more surprised.

“I’ve decided I like you Kiddo. So if you like, I could adopt you into the clan as my daughter. It's been awhile since I’ve had kids, so I wouldn’t mind you being my tyke. We rabbits are also pretty free and easy with the whole love thing, so you’ll never be short of that here.”

Hailey stared incredulously at Tewi. “You… want me?”

“Yup, I think I do.” Tewi said, grinning. “You’re a good kid, a little fragile, but that's probably because you just need someone to build you up properly. I kinda wanna be that somebody.”

Her smile became one full of maternal warmth. “So how about it Hailey, you wanna be a rabbit?”

Hailey studied Tewi, before giving a brave little smile. “Yes please.”

Tewi reached forward and ruffled her hair, “That's my girl.”

“Umm… I’m real happy for you Hailey, and not to disturb the happy moment, but how are you gonna make her a rabbit?” Stella asked

Tewi gave a dismissive wave. “Oh that's easy. Somebody owes me a favour or two, Isn’t that right Yukari?”

Hailey’s eyes boggle and Stella yelped as a hole full of eyes opened in the air, and a blonde woman leaned out. She said something in the other, as-of-yet unknown language.

“Sorry, but can we keep this english for the moment? Hailey can’t speak Japanese.” Tewi said.

“Very well, but I can fix that for you if you like.” the woman said, in far better english than Tewi’s, with barely a hint of accent.

“What will it cost?” Tewi, said sardonically.

“Hmm… that will depend on what you called me for.” Yukari.

“Simple.” Tewi said, manoeuvring behind Hailey and grasping her by the shoulders. “I’m adopting this small child, and I want you to make her my daughter.”

“Ohho~” Yukari said, smirking with a deadly glint in her eye.

“Just change her species Yukari, none of that weird unbirth stuff.” Tewi said flatly.

Yukari clicked her tongue.

“What's ‘unbirth’?” Hailey asked.

“Weird fetish Garbage, I’ll explain later if we still care.” Tewi said dismissively. “So can you do it?”

“Can I do it? Honestly it's insulting you even need to ask.” Yukari said, almost looking offended. “I’d barely consider this a favour.”

“Does that mean this is a freebee?” Tewi asked.

Yukari seemed to think about it “…I’ll tell you what, I’ll throw in Japanese Language comprehension and create a direct blood relation, so she really is your daughter. Combine that with calling me in for something so trivial, and we might consider that a whole favour.”

“Deal-Ow!” Tewi rubbed her head where Yukari had pulled out a hair.

“This will only take a moment,” Yukari said, before leaning forward, delicately opening Hailey’s mouth and placing the hair in there, before closing it again.

Hailey stood there confused, until there was a loud poof, and her vision was filled with white smoke. After a moment of coughing Hailey opened her eyes again.

Something was drooping in front of her face, she tried to brush it aside, only to get shocked when she felt her own hand on it. That was when she realised it was her new ear.

She tried to wiggle it, and it twitched.

She also became aware of something uncomfortable in the back of her underwear.

“Ohh, a black rabbit, cute! Don’t have a lot of them in the clan, my genes are a little too strong.” Tewi said, who was now circling Hailey. “Looks like you got my fluffiness though.” She then noticed the look of discomfort. “What's wrong?”

“My butt feels weird.” Hailey admitted.

Tewi blinked, before slapping her forehead. “Oh right, your tail, give me a sec.”

Tewi, lifted the back of Hailey’s ill fitting dress, and yanked the back of her panties down, making Hailey yelp, but then sigh in relief as the discomfort stopped.

Hailey tried to turn around, and managed to glimpse the tiny black cotton ball that was her new tail. She gave it an experimental wiggle.

Tewi dropped the dress again. “That will do for now, we’ll see about getting some proper rabbit clothes in your size later.”

Hailey felt the weight of the dress against her tail, and hoped that would be soon.

“Will that be all?” Yukari said, examining her nails critically. “I’ll have you know my day has just started, and I have plenty to do.”

“Yeah, thanks for that Yukari. Until next time.” Tewi said, giving a wave.

“Try and make the next one harder.” Yukari said playfully. But just as she was ducking back into her portal she stopped, and turned into Hailey. “A word of warning, young Potter-Inaba. The past may come and find you in the most interesting of ways… And that was a freebie by the way, no need to thank me.”

She slipped into the portal, pulling it shut behind her.

“...should we be worried about that?” Stella asked nervously.

“Nah,” said Tewi. “Yukari’s always sprouting cryptic stuff, we can worry about it when it happens. She does have a point though, Potter-Inaba has a nice ring to it.”

She then gave a whistle that was higher pitched than Hailey had ever heard before, or was even possible for her to hear until now.

All of a sudden the party ceased, and all the bunnies turned to Tewi.

“Gather up everybody, I got an announcement to make!” Tewi shouted.

There was a rumble, and suddenly Hailey was standing in front of a sea of Rabbits, both Human and bunny shaped.

“I’d like to introduce you to Hailey Potter-Inaba, who I have decided to adopt!” Tewi said, putting her arm around Haileys shoulder. “Let's give her a warm welcome!”

There was a cheer from the general assembly, ranging from jubilation, to drunk shouting.

“Now Hailey here came from a rough household,” Tewi said, and there was some muttering in the crowd at this, mostly along the lines of ‘poor princess’ or similar sentiments but Tewi wasn’t finished. “So I need everyone here to make her feel loved and supported. Is that clear?!”

There was another cheer, and Hailey was growing red under all the attention, not noticing Tewi had taken her hand off and had backed away

“Alright, love and support on your mark, get set!” Tewi shouted, before blowing another impossibly high whistle.

Hailey looked confused, in the brief moments before she was buried in a mass of fluffy bodies, drowning in a sea of tiny rabbit hugs.

Tewi nodded in satisfaction at her handiwork, and the new rabbit mound where Hailey had been standing.

“Why are you whistling so much? What's going on out here?”

Tewi turned to look at the Compound's only moon rabbit, who had opened one of the paper doors, to stare critically at her smaller colleague.

“Hey Reisen, just welcoming a new member of the family.” Tewi said, before clapping, “Alright, that's enough everybody, let her breathe.”

The Rabbits disperse, and Tewi pulls a thoroughly dizzy Hailey off the ground. “Ya see Kiddo, love is in no short supply around here.”

“Love is heavy.” Hailey weezed, struggling to stay standing.

“You’ll get used to it.” Tewi said. “But look lively now, I’d like to introduce you to my co-worker, and the only rabbit outside of my clan who is an Inaba, Reisen.”

She turned Hailey to face the moon rabbit, and was surprised to see how tall she was, as most rabbits seemed to be the same height, while Reisen is as tall as a normal person, if not taller. “Reisen, this is my new daughter, Hailey Potter-Inaba.”

Reisen bent over to reach Hailey’s level, and examined her critically, before turning to Tewi. “Another one of your bastards Tewi?”

“Rude, she’s adopted.” Tewi said sardonically, “And you are supposed to greet someone when you meet them for the first time.”

“Oh!, right.” Reisen said, blushing. And turning back to Hailey. “Hello, I’m Reisen Udongein Inaba, as Tewi said, we are not related, our shared surname was due to an eccentricity of our master. But still, nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you.” Hailey parroted.

Reisen straightened up. “Polite kid, where did you get her from?”

“Probably somewhere in England, Stella was the one who found her.” Tewi said, pointing out the blonde rabbit.

“She speaks Japanese well for a foreigner.” Reisen remarked.

“What do you mea-” Hailey began, only to realise that she was indeed speaking a different language.

As she marvelled at this, speaking both Japanese and English words, Reisen cocked her head, before shrugging, and addressing Stella, “By the way, Stella was it? What's wrong with your leg?”

“I got it caught in a rabbit trap.” Stella said.

Reisens eyebrow rose. “How did that happen?”

“I don’t want to talk about it.” Stella mumbled, looking mortified.

“Our stella is a bit of a clutz.” Tewi supplied.

“Well you should probably get that looked at, Master is currently busy, but I can probably manage this much.” Reisen offered.

“Heh, I’ll take you up on that, thanks.” Stella said. “This thing hurts like a bitch.”

“Hurry back.” Tewi said, “Otherwise you will miss Hailey’s welcoming party.”

“Is that what this party was about?” Reisen asked.

“It is now,” Tewi said impishly.

Reisen shook her head. “Whatever, come on Stella, let's get you fixed up so I can go to bed. But no more whistling, please?”

“Sure, sure,” Tewi said, waving her off.

Hailey watched Reisen leading Stella away.

Tewi put a hand on her shoulder. “I know this is probably super overwhelming, and that's kinda my intention. But still, you’ll get used to it, and then you’ll find this a pretty cool place. You can have your own things, you’ll sleep in a proper room, you’ll be fed properly, no-one will bully you unless they want to be bullied by me, and you’ll be surrounded by family at all times. Doesn’t that sound good?”

Hailey didn’t really need to think about it. “Yeah... that sounds pretty nice.”

Tewi ruffled her hair, and Hailey decided she liked that. “Come on now, this party is for you now, so let's have some fun, then we can put you to bed, and tomorrow we can introduce you to the princess.”

“There is a princess?” Hailey’s eyes were full of wonder.

“Ah-ahah!” Tewi said, waving a finger in front of her face. “That's tomorrow, sometimes you just gotta live in the moment, that's how you get the most out of life. Now let's find you something to drink that isn’t alcohol.”

Tewi lay down in her futon, Idly stroking Hailey's hair as she curled up beside her, sleeping peacefully. Hailey being completely tuckered out by the earlier festivities.

In truth, Tewi didn’t really put much thought into the decision to adopt Hailey. She didn’t really need to.

It wasn’t that she had saved one of her clan and was owed a boon. It wasn’t that she felt sorry for the kid, and wanted to give her a chance. It wasn’t that she was impressed by her selfless act of kindness in freeing a trapped rabbit without even knowing there would be a reward. She didn’t really feel like she owed the child anything at all, because she didn’t.

She just saw a kid who needed a family, and decided to be that family. That was it.

The idea to turn her into a rabbit was a spur of the moment decision, and it might have been partly the fault of the alcohol. But still it turned out well, and humans are such a pain to raise, give her a litter of bunnies any day.

She gave a small smile to the child next to her. “Welcome to the family kid, we may be a noisy lot, but given time, I’m sure you’ll fit right in.”

Chapter Text

Warning: this chapter includes a rather frank discussion about what rabbits get up too

Hailey Potter-Inaba, aged eight and a half, sat patiently as Eirin concluded her check up.

“Well Tewi, your daughter is perfectly healthy as far as I can tell.” Eirin said to Tewi who was leaning next to the door.

“Really?” Tewi said, “I suppose that's a relief, I was worried her growth had been stunted or something, as she hasn’t gotten much bigger since I got her.”

“Actually, she is well within an acceptable range for a girl her age… her human age that is.” Eirin said as she handed Hailey a lollipop. “It's likely that her change in species simply didn’t affect the rate she matures, Possibly because it would cause too many complications within the species transition, or simply because Yukari was feeling cheeky. She likely won’t hit puberty for another four to six years.”

Tewi hmmed in understanding. “I guess that makes sense, guess I was worrying for nothing.”

“Well, it’s good to get a checkup every now and then,” Eirin said. “Especially with a curse scar on her forehead, who knows what health complications could arise if not periodically examined.”

“Any developments on that?” Tewi asked.

“Not since you last asked me,” Eirin said. “It's some sort of vile soul magic, the best solution I can think of, at least without some specialised tools, is bringing her to the brink of death to kill the attached soul fragment. Seeing as it is currently benign, I see no reason to embark on such a risky procedure unless some sort of complication occurs.”

[In hindsight, I kinda wish she had, it would have saved me an awful lot of trouble later, but hippocratic oath and all that, or whatever the Lunarian equivalent is.] 

“That's fair,” Tewi said, nodding. “Are we done here then?”

“I suppose so, although Kaguya-sama mentioned that she wished to see Hailey after her checkup.”

“That so? I guess we’ll head that way then. Come on Hai-chan.” Tewi said, turning to the door.

“Yes mama. Thank you for the Sweets Eirin-sama!” Hailey said, bowing to the doctor before falling in behind her mother.

Eirin smiled as they left. Hailey was such a sweet girl, surprising considering Tewi’s parenting. She doesn’t think it will last past puberty though, if she’s anything like her siblings…

“Hey mama?” Hailey said, walking behind Tewi, idly sucking her lollipop.

“Yes Hai-chan?”

“What's sex?”

Tewi peered over her shoulder, but didn’t slow down. “That's a complicated question, where did you hear it?”

“I was visiting Yue and Aimi, and they were kinda embracing while all naked and sweaty, and when I asked what they were doing, they told me it was sex.” Hailey said.

“And what happened after that?” Tewi asked.

“They told me to ask you what that meant, and that I was too young to join in.” Hailey groused. “Aimi’s only a year older than me though, so I don’t get it.”

Tewi laughed, “Well you are different, you’re getting older slower than the rest of us rabbits. But they were right though.” After a pause, Tewi continued. “You see, sex can be a lot of things, but mostly it’s a very intimate act between adults. It's primarily for having children, but it's also a very enjoyable act. So people, especially us rabbits, do it a lot for fun.”

“Why can only adults do it?” Hailey asked.

“Simple, because as you grow older, your body changes, and part of these changes is what makes sex enjoyable. Without these changes sex is more often than not painful, or simply not fun.”

“Ohh… When will that happen?”

“For you, the changes will start somewhere within the next four to six years, but it will be a few years after that point before your body is fully ready for sex.” Tewi said.

“That long? But it looked fun though.” Hailey pouted.

Tewi laughed. “Be that as it may, your body isn’t ready for it. You're gonna have to promise me that you won’t try it until your body is ready.”

“How will I know when that is?” Hailey asked.

“Oh you’ll know alright.” Tewi smirked. “When your body wants sex it has ways of letting you know. Trust me, when you reach that age sex will be all that you think about.”

“Wow…” Hailey said. “Do you have sex Mama?”

“Hai-chan, I did tell you that sex is used for having children right?” Tewi said.

Hailey nodded.

“And how many siblings do you have?” Tewi said.

You could almost hear the gears turning in Haileys head.

“Ohhh…” Hailey intonned.

“Exactly.” Tewi said. “I haven’t been doing it as much as usual due to raising you, but I still sleep around every now and then.”

“Sleep around?”

“Euphemism for having sex with lots of different people.” Tewi explained.

“Is that not normal?”

Tewi chuckled. “Ahh, the innocence of youth. For us rabbits it's fairly common, but many do only have one or two people they will have sex with.”

“Why?”

“Because of a little thing called love Hailey.” Tewi said. “Part of being in love with someone is wanting to have sex with them as opposed to other people.”

“... Does that mean you want to have sex with me?” Hailey asked, her eyes filled with innocent curiosity.

“Pfft.” Tewi had to stop herself laughing. “A-heh-a different kind of love Hailey, Sex is usually frowned upon between mother and daughter.”

“Ahh.” Hailey said. “You know so much about this, you must like the expert in sex!”

Tewi was really snickering now. “Y-yeah.” she said switching to english. “You’ll find I’m quite the sex-pert-pffHahaha!”

“What nonsense are you teaching her now?”

“Hey Auntie Reisen!” Hailey said.

“...I’m pretty sure I’ve said this before, but please stop calling me auntie.” Reisen said, weaning a slightly pained smile. “We aren’t actually related, you know?”

“But Mama said rabbits die if they get too lonely.” Hailey said, tilting her head.

“What the hell have you been telling her about me?!” Reisen said, tugging on Tewi’s cheeks.

“Ah mean, ish technichally tshrue.” Tewi said shamelessly, before extricating herself from Reisens grip. “And you are kinda a loner.”

“I am not a Loner!” Reisen said hotly. “Just because I’m not off getting drunk with all you earth Rabbits every second night does not mean I’m lonely!”

“And that attitude is precisely why you are a loner.” Tewi said sagely. “We’re all rabbits here, besides the masters, no need to be so uptight just because you came from the moon.”

Tewi then threw an arm around Reisens shoulder, pulling the tall girl down to her level. “Be-sideees what’s wrong with being the kids' Aunt? Haileys a good girl isn’t she?”

Hailey stood upright to radiate maximum goodness, forcing Reisen to squint from the glare.

“Th-thats not the issue here.” Reisen said, shielding her eyes, and pulling herself out of Tewi’s grasp. “It just feels really uncomfortable being called aunty, when I’m not even related.”

“We could be you know.” Tewi said, resting her back on Reisens front. “I mean you already got the name, how would you like to become Misses Inaba instead of Miss?”

Reisen turned beet red, and pushed Tewi off. “God, why even go there? That's just… just… GAAH!”

Reisen stormed off in a huff.

Tewi watched her go, paying particular attention to her little cotton tail.

“God you’re cute.” She muttered, “What I wouldn’t give…”

Tewi then remembered her company, more specifically her daughter with an inquisitive head tilt.

“You see Hai-chan, I want to have special love sex with Reisen.” Tewi said in explanation.

“Ohhh…” Hailey intoned. “But I thought you liked sleeping around.”

“Well, I do, but I would rather sleep with Reisen if I had the option.” Tewi said.

“So why don’t you?” Hailey asked.

“Well, that's complicated, but it boils down to two reasons. One, is that while we rabbits know sex isn’t anything special, a lot of other beings like humans or Lunarians view sex as something scandalous, taboo, or private. Some uptight humans view sex for anything other then making babies as something sinful. And Lunarians are even worse, as they don’t procreate at all, both life and death is considered impure to them. That is the kind of environment Reisen grew up in, coming from the moon and all. Moon rabbits are the servant caste of the moon, and while they are occasionally allowed to procreate if their numbers ever get low, it's not often. Because of this, Reisen is a mega prude who can’t deal with anything sexual, and despite leaving the moon behind, she can’t shake the sensibilities.”

Hailey blinked, not expecting such a heavy reason.

“The second reason, and arguably far more important.” Tewi said, making Hailey lean in. “Is that she currently doesn’t want to have sex with me.” Hailey blinked. “Now this may seem obvious, but when going into a sexual relationship, you must make sure your partner is comfortable, and actually wants to have sex with you.” Tewi said. “And if you don’t want to have sex, make it very clear. Sex is a mutual exchange, so if your partner isn’t enjoying it, its not sex, its sexual assault.”

Hailey nodded. Sex was a lot more complicated than she thought.

“So why do you tease Reisen so much then?” Hailey asked.

“Oh I’m just trying to annihilate her defences.” Tewi said dismissively.

“Eh?”

“You see, just because I respect that she doesn’t want to have sex with me, doesn’t mean I’ve stopped wanting to have sex with her.” Tewi said, her eyes glazing over, “In fact when the heat gets really bad its all I can do to not just take her where she stands, it becomes so unbearable that I usually just find the nearest Rabbit and screw her brains out until I can think straight, but it doesn’t stop me from wanting that adorkable moon rabbit. So by teasing her I’m hoping she’ll eventually build up a resistance to sexual things so she might come around to the idea of actually having sex for real.”

Hailey blinked owlishly.

“So yeah, I want Reisen to be my special someone.” Tewi said, surfacing from the depths of her depravity.

“...Should I keep calling her Aunty?” Hailey asked.

“Oh please do, her awkward smile is adorable, and if you are treating her like a relative, it might make her stop distancing herself from the other rabbits.” Tewi said, as she resumed walking. “I mean, she’s been here since the sixties, and she still acts like a stranger. If she keeps this up, she might really die from loneliness.”

Further into the facility, a moon rabbit felt an irrational stab of anger.

“I’ll do my best!” Hailey said, pumping her fists.

“Thatta girl.” Tewi said, ruffling Hailey's hair. “Now come on, We shouldn’t Keep Kaguya-hime waiting.”

It turns out, the reason Kaguya-hime wanted her was for one of the rabbits most popular duties.

“Uwwwahhh… so fluffy…”

Snuggletime.

The usually dignified and impossibly beautiful Kaguya Houraisan, was sprawled on a pile of cushions surrounded by about a dozen rabbits in various states of relaxation, with one black and particularly fuzzy one was currently being held and nuzzled by the princess.

Hailey, for of course it was, her scar being hidden behind her fur, was quickly becoming one of Kaguya's favorite snugglebunnies. And while at first it had been quite overwhelming to even be in the same room as such an unnatural beauty, she had eventually built up a resistance, and now she looked forward to the long lazy afternoons of relaxing with the princess. She even found out from the other rabbits that it was rare for the princess to remember and request an individual rabbit for snuggletime, so she couldn’t help but feel pretty special.

Then a rabbit girl quickly opened the paper door, shutting it quickly behind her and leaning on it. “Ah, Kaguya-hime! Mokou is here-”

The door was then kicked down, bringing the unfortunate rabbit with it. Revealing a pissed off looking young woman with long white hair, bright red pants with matching suspenders, a plain white shirt, with the entire outfit decorated with some sort of paper talisman.

“Kaguya!” the woman snarled.

“Mmmnnn… What is it Mokou?” Kaguya groaned, standing up, as most of the snuggle bunnies scattered, with the exception of Hailey, who Kaguya was still holding. “I’m kinda busy right now.”

The Woman, apparently called Mokou, raised her eyebrow. “You? Busy? I’d pay to see-” She shook herself, and started scowling again. “Look it doesn’t matter, you should have thought of that before you poisoned my breakfast you damn bitch, I can still taste the fucking Cyanide!”

“Ohhh? Did I do that?” Kaguya said airily, but her smirk betrayed her.

“Don’t you play-!” Mokou went to grab Kaguya’s collar, but hesitated when she noticed the terrified looking Hailey that Kaguya was holding to her chest. “...can you put down that rabbit? I kinda feel bad for it.”

“Ehhh? I don’t wanna.” Kaguya said, clutching Hailey a little tighter and lifting her to rub against her cheek. “She’s so soft. I was enjoying snuggling her until you showed up.”

“Please put me down, she looks scary.” Hailey mumbled.

“You see? She’s terrified.” Mokou said.

“Oh don’t worry Hailey it's just Mokou,” Kaguya cooed. “She’s harmless... unless you are me. Here!”

She thrust Hailey into Mokou’s arms and the phoenix girl took her on reflex.

“Eep!” Hailey Squeaked.

“Feel how fluffy she is, all your problems will just melt away.” Kaguya said.

“Wha-why?” Mokou said, clearly taken off balance. “...Ok she is pretty fluffy… wait, what are you making me say?!” the phoenix girl said, dropping Hailey, and this time actually grabbing Kaguya by the collar. “Do you really think just handing me a rabbit will make me forget why I came here?”

“Ehh, Can’t we just skip the fight today? I really can’t be bothered.” Kaguya whined.

“Well maybe you should have thought of that before you sent your rabbits to Assassinate me! ” Mokou shouted in her face.

“So Noisy, someone really needs to teach you some manners.” Kaguya replied.

Hailey, as this exchange went on, slunk off to the edge of the room, where two of the snuggle bunnies were trying to rouse the dazed rabbit who had been under the door.

Transforming back to a girl, she asked. “What's going on?”

“Oh that's just Mokou, don’t worry about her, she’s never given one of us rabbits worse than first degree burns and a concussion.” the closer rabbit who was waving some smelling salts under the sitting rabbit's nose.

“I wish they’d take it outside, it’s always a pain when they fight indoors.” the other rabbit moaned.

“W-why are they fighting?” Hailey asked. Her eyes darted back to the pair. They were still staring each other down, but the tension in the air was palpable.

“Oh just some lovers quarrel… something about a proposal? I don’t know, I never really paid attention to be honest, but they’ve been at it ages as far as I know.” The first rabbit said, helping the now roused rabbit back to her feet.

“We should probably get going before they get started.” The second rabbit chimed in, “they can get pretty rou- hey where are you going?”

Hailey nervously approached the pair. E-excuse me.”

“Beat it rabbit.” Mokou said, not breaking eye contact with Kaguya.

“I think you best return to your mother Hai-chan, we tend to get a little… intense.” Kaguya likewise did not break eye contact.

“Umm well, but, but…” Hailey steeled her resolve. “Lovers shouldn’t hurt each other!”

“WHAT!”

“PFFT!”

That definitely got their attention, and Hailey flinched as Mokou’s head snapped in her direction with an expression somewhere between affronted and bewildered, while Kaguya turned the other way as she tried not to laugh.

“What on Earth are you-.” Mokou cried out indignantly.

Hailey however, wasn’t done, and in her panic to try and get her point across, she settled on something that her mother said earlier, that to her frantic mind felt suddenly relevant. “Its just… so if your partner isn’t enjoying it, its not sex, its sexual assault!”

“PFFFUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAH!!!!!” Kaguya lost it, collapsing onto the floor and rolling around, yet somehow managing to do so in a graceful manner.

Mokou also lost her composure in a different way. Her mouth flapped as she tried in vain to get coherent words.

“...WHERE ON EARTH DID YOU GET THAT IDEA!?” Mokou said incredulously.

“W-well my m-mama said that it's important to make sure that your p-partner-” Hailey stammered in response.

“NOT-” Mokou took a moment to calm herself down and stop screaming at the terrified child. “Not that, what on earth led you to believe that I am her lover?!.” she said.

Hailey pointed behind her, to where the other rabbits up until recently had been, but now definitely were not.

Mokou got the message though. “Well, we aren’t.” Mokou said lamely, not really thinking of anything else to say other than a flat out denial. “In fact, I hate Kaguya.”

“Why? She’s nice… most of the time.” Hailey said, remembering being handed to Mokou earlier.

“Look, it's really not something I should be explaining to a small child.” Mokou deflected, not wanting to explain about the complicated scenario that led to Kaguya and Mokou being murder buddies. “But we fight regularly because of it.”

“Are you gonna hurt her?” Hailey said, looking sad.

“...No.” Mokou lied through her teeth. “It's… more playfighting then anything.” Mokou said.

To Hailey’s sceptical expression, Mokou added, “I swear there won’t be a scratch on her.”

“Promise?” Hailey said.

“Promise.” Mokou said, hating herself.

“Well… alright then.” Hailey said. “I guess snuggletime is over, so I’ll go find mama.”

“Yeah, you do that.” Mokou said weakly.

“See you Miss Mokou.” Hailey said, running through the open doorway.

After she was sure Hailey was out of eyeshot, she turned to the still prone Princess who was struggling to breath from laughing too hard.

Mokou then raised a hand, and incinerated her before she got a chance to react.

“Never said anything about burning her.” Mokou said, as she casually walked out of the room, leaving the sad slowly reforming ash pile behind her.

“She seems nice.” Hailey said to herself as she skipped down the hallway. “A little scary though.”

[I didn’t even know the half of it.]

Chapter Text

Warning, Incredibly blunt sexual implications, still wondering if I should bump this up to a M, but worried people might mistake it for smut

“Nearing the top now! just a little further.”

“Hai~!” Hailey chorused with the other children, before bringing her attention back to the sheer rock face.

With deft and skillful movements, Hailey ascended quickly, hopping from footing to handhold with the confidence of a skilled climber with a death wish.

For a moment it seems that her confidence was her undoing, as a rock crumbled under her fingers, and she started teetering backwards. However she was grabbed from above before she could fully part from the rockface.

“Careful there Hailey, don’t want to have to start climbing from the bottom do we?” Tewi said jovially from below.

Hailey spared a glance downwards at the two hundred meter drop into the forest below, and her mama's amused expression. 

“Not particularly.” Hailey replied before turning to the one who caught her. “Thanks Julie.”

“No problem Oba-chan,” Julian Inaba, or Juilie to her friends said impishly. “But let's be a little bit more measured, shall we?”

Hailey pouted at what was technically her Niece, before being poked in the but by her Mama. “Come on let's not dally, don’t want the others to start without us.”

“Fine.” Said Hailey, losing the pout and continuing to climb after Julian.

Reaching the top, Julian hopped up onto the top, before reaching down to pick up Hailey. “Upsey daisy.” She said, pulling her up and onto her feet. Before doing the same for Wicket, who had been riding piggyback on the journey up

“Thanks, but I could have climbed up myself, you know.” Hailey said, as Velma did just that behind her, running past.

Julie laughed and patted her on the head. “Sure, but Gotta be kind to my dear auntie don’t I?”

“Yeah yeah.” Hailey said, brushing off the joke she had been hearing all her life.

Julie then reached down to pick up Sho, the last young rabbit in their little group, with Tewi climbing up just after her.

“Everybody accounted for?” Tewi said, surveying the group, before nodding. “Good, go on and find a place to sit.”

Sho and Wicket nodded, Velma having already ran off, before they followed Julian, to where the picnic was still being set up.

Hailey however took the time to do a few cooldown stretches after the long climb, and took the opportunity to take in the view.

“What do you think? Worth the climb?” Tewi asked, standing beside her.

“I’ve never seen anything like it.” Hailey said, looking out over the forest of stone pillars stretching out before her, their bases shrouded in fog, forest, and mist.

“Yeah, I’d almost go so far as to say this is one of a kind.” Tewi said. “ Zhangjiajie was formed by millions of years of rivers, rain and ice, carving out these pillars to what we see now, a combination of climate, terrain and rock formation made this place possible… Not a bad place for a picnic if you ask me.”

Hailey giggled.

“Tewi, Hailey, we have finished serving, come on before it gets cold!” Liang called out

With that, they turned away from the view and joined the rest of their family on the large blanket, around a generous spread of finger foods.

The mix today was an odd bunch, comprising of Hailey’s current group of playmates, Wicket Velma, and Sho, her Mama of course, and whoever happened to be around Entei when mother had the idea to take them on this little adventure, and had decided to tag along.

First, there was who might be considered the host of this little gathering, Liang, a motherly looking Rabbit girl local to the area, considered to be one of the Families sub-matriarchs, as many of the chinese members of the family are descended from her, and often look to her for guidance, with her are five of her youngest daughters who have yet to leave the nest, Wan, Song, Tang, Fu, with the youngest being Cui, who is barely a toddler.

Next, the one who was currently trying to wrangle the children, was Asahi, who was in fact Tewi’s first born, and Hailey’s eldest sister. A serious looking girl with a pair of round glasses, and hair down into twin braids. Some consider Asahi to be the second highest wrung in the family's informal hierarchy, under Tewi herself. With how much more calm and collected she was, along with her personality and bookish appearance, people often found it hard to believe her mother was Tewi, let alone being her firstborn.

With her currently holding Velma in her lap to keep her still, was Julian, Asahi’s daughter, who contrasting with her mother again, is a sporty athletic girl with a ponytail and a peppy and friendly demeanour, she is often seen helping her mother around the place.

Opposite Hailey was Sora, another of her sisters, although comparing her to Asahi was like night and day, as while the elder dressed modestly, not drifting too far from the traditional Inaba pink dress, Sora dressed like some Vegas showgirl, her outfit being somewhere between a playboy bunny and stage magician, which was appropriate, for that is exactly what she was. She was a bubbly and upbeat person, taller than the family average, with enough curves to fill her outfit, and a comically small top hat perched, at a jaunty angle upon her sandy blond hair, and between her long ears.

She was accompanied by her Husband, a small rabbit boy with platinum blond hair and pale pink eyes, and dressed far more casually. Presently, he was currently trying to make himself as small as possible, as he had been sandwiched between his wife and yet another of Haley's sisters, Minoru.

Minoru was, to put it mildly, the busty goth girlfriend that everyone wished they had. Thick with a capital C, with straight cut black hair that ran to her waist, dark makeup, and plenty of black clothing to offset the Inaba pink, and her white ears. She was a girl of few words and fewer expressions, rarely seen without her trademark deadpan.

She was listening to Koharu, her twin, although you wouldn’t know by looking. While Minoru leaned into the dark and gloomy, Koharu could not be described as anything other than Punk. Rather than stoic and hard to read, Koharu came across as more wild and debonair, with a cocky grin, and hair styled into a wild spiky mess with dyed tips. She carried herself like a 70s punk rocker with a wardrobe to match.

Under her arm, there was a Rabbit boy, rather small even by Inaba standards, and lacking the Snow white ears that the majority of the clan share, being a greyish brown. Hailey didn’t recognise him, but assumed he must be one of Koharu’s latest projects.

Completing the circle and, sitting next to Hailey and Tewi, is Ryuu, another of Tewis’ daughters, and quite possibly the biggest Inaba here, if not the entire clan. Even by non Rabbit standards she was a huge giant of a girl, tall and thickset, towering over everyone else even sitting down, with shaggy orange hair that often covered her eyes. Despite her size, she is a quiet, ponderous girl, who prefers listening to talking, and quite friendly. Rumour has it that she has a temper that matches her namesake, but Hailey had yet to see it.

At first there wasn’t much conversation, as people helped themselves to their lunch, prepared by Liang, taking in the surrounding skyline and enjoying the atmosphere, but eventually Tewi broke the ice.

“So, It's been a while since you’ve shown your face at Entei. How’s show business treating you?” Tewi asked, addressing Sora.

“Oh you know, same old same old.” Sora said airily, “been doing most of my shows at Babs place recently.”

“Really?” Hailey said. “I thought you were taking a break from the stage, going back to your roots or something?”

Sora made a face. “Well, I did try and take a break by doing some small venue entertainment, you know, kids birthdays and stuff. Unfortunately the parents either weren’t particularly keen on my dress sense, or a little too keen you might say.”

She sighed. “Seriously, you wouldn’t believe how many parents tried to hit on me, sometimes even the married ones. I honestly don’t get it, if you are going to cheat, hire a hooker or something, not a magician, and not during your kids birthday for crying out loud. Some people.”

“Honestly, with how you dress, perhaps they thought they were hiring a hooker.” Koharu laughed.

“Ha-ha.” Sora deadpanned.

“She has a point, Sora, it probably would have been wise to dress down somewhat.” Asahi added. “Honestly, showing up to a kids birthday party dressed like a Vegas showgirl is asking for trouble.”

“It's a classic though.” Sora pouted. “Flopsy likes it.”

Her husband, Flopsy, nodded, before shrinking under the attention. Privately he wondered how being invited to a picnic, had resulted in having to deal with some of his wifes most intimidating siblings.

Koharu laughed again, “Oh I bet he does, I bet that entire outfit glows under a blacklight.”

“Th-that was one time!” Sora rebuked, face flushing. “I just accidentally wore the wrong set is all.”

Flopsy pulled his ears over his face to hide his embarrassment, before deciding to just turn into his rabbit form instead.

“I don’t get it.” Hailey said.

“Semen glows under a black light, the implication is that they’ve had sex in that costume so often it’s covered in it.” Tewi explained.

“Ohh…”

“Don’t explain it!” Sora said, blushing.

“Speaking of boytoys…” Asahi said, sparing her sister and turning to Koharu. “I noticed you have a plus one today. Another of your projects?”

“That's right.” Koharu said, Picking up the quiet little rabbit boy and putting him on her lap. “This is Claes, He’s a Flemish Giant Rabbit, don’t mind him, he’s still figuring out the whole sapience thing, so he isn’t much for conversation. Say hello Claes.”

“Hello.” Claes said softly.

“He doesn’t look giant.” Hailey said, tilting her head, and comparing him to the actual giant Ryuu right next to him.

Koharu snickered. “Oh he’s giant alright, at least where it counts.”

“Can I hold him?” Minoru asked, with as much interest as she is capable of expressing through her perpetual deadpan.

“Knock yourself out, he’s very docile.” Koharu said, passing him over.

Minoru immediately started hugging and petting the rabbit boy gently, much to his visible enjoyment.

“And how about you Liang? you’ve been pretty quiet.” Tewi said, “How about sharing how you’ve been? I don’t see you around the compound nearly as much as I’d like.”

“Well you know how it is, I like keeping myself busy, and my branch of the family often seeks my guidance.” Liang said. “I also like the quiet, and Entei can be a little noisy for me.”

At this point Velma had finished eating, and had started vibrating eagerly. “Hey Hailey, can we play now?” she exclaimed, cutting into the conversation.

There were some chuckles, before Tewi turned to Hailey. “Go ahead Hailey, how about you indulge your little cousin?”

Despite wanting to listen along to the adult conversations some more, Hailey said. “Fine, come on, let's go play.”

The minute she was released, Velma shot off of Julians lap and ran off, away to the other side of the mountain top, followed by Hailey, Sho, and two of Liangs kids, Song and Fu.

“I'll keep an eye on them, come on Wicket.” Julian said, standing up, before helping Wicket to her feet, from where she had been sitting staring off into space. She then followed after the others, leading Wicket by the hand.

After they had left, Asahi said. “It's strange to think that Hailey is older than them by at least a decade.”

“Yeah, you can’t imagine how hard it is getting playmates for her.” Tewi said. “At two years, they are basically human eight year olds, and yet they will be adults when Hailey’s barely in puberty, this is the third group I’ve put her in.”

“Is that upsetting her?” Minoru asked, while burying Claes headfirst into her cleavage. “It must be frustrating, being constantly outgrown by her friends.”

Tewi made a non-commital noise. “Kinda? I’d think she’s more upset that she can’t grow up with them. A lot of her friends are adults anyway. She finds it more frustrating that she can’t join in on the grown up talk, and enjoy the grown up activities. It really doesn’t help being talked down to and babied, by people she is technically older than either.”

Tewi sighed and looked up. “I honestly worry that she is in too much of a hurry to grow up, ya know?”

“Is that why you set up these play dates?” Liang asked.

“At least partly, I also just like taking her to fun places.” Tewi said. “But yeah, I hope by interacting with some younger bunnies she might treasure her childhood a little more, god knows us rabbits grow up too fast anyway. She’s got something precious, and she should take the time to appreciate it.”

There was a moment of silence only broken by Claes soft panting.

“And on that note. Minoru, stop fondling the bunny boy’s carrot, let's at least try and keep this Picnic PG.” Tewi said dryly.

Minoru reluctantly withdrew her slightly sticky hands from Claes pants, to his audible disappointment. “Honestly, it's probably closer to a butternut squash.”

“So come on girls, what are we playing huh?!” Velma said, eagerly hopping from foot to foot.

Velma, was a hyperactive little rabbit with short sandy blonde hair, wild eyes and a difficulty sitting still. She is the first of Hailey’s official playgroup.

“Oh I know, Let's play house!” Sho said, puffing herself up.

Sho, another of Hailey’s playmates, was the very image of a little princess, with curly pink ringlets, and a bossy air of a child who needs to be told no more often. Even her clothes, despite being the traditional Inaba pink dress, were modified with extra lace and padding to make it more princessy.

[Hmm? Well the reason most of us dress like this is because we grow up so fast, so little buns grow out of their clothes so fast, that it isn’t worth buying or making children clothes, when you could just get a set from an older relative that outgrew them in life half a year. To that end, we have storerooms full of identical dresses to lend out to young buns. After that older bunnies just kinda keep wearing them out of habit more than anything, especially the ones who spend most of their time as actual rabbits…

I’ve gotten sidetracked, where was I? Oh yeah, Sho’s messed up idea on how to play house…]

Before anyone had even agreed, Sho was already divvying up roles. “Alright, I’ll be the sexually repressed housewife, Hailey can be the emotionally distant husband. Velma of course will be the hot pool boy we are both having an affair with, and Fu can be the daughter, as well as the pool boy's jealous ex-girlfriend who wants to get back together. Meanwhile Song can be the jaded chain smoking detective who is trying to solve the case of a string of seemingly unrelated murders across the city, while Alphonse,” At this point sho held up her stuffed Unicorn plushie, “can be the deranged serial killer who is prowling the streets.”

“...What about me?” Wicket asked, slowly tilting her head.

“...you can be the family dog.” Sho said, after thinking about it.

“Yaaaay~” Wicket cheered softly.

Wicket was an… uncomplicated soul, one might charitably say. The greenette had a friendly, generally sleepy disposition, and approached most things with as little energy as possible. She liked long naps in the sunlight, or long naps in the shade… Naps in general were up in her top ten favourite things to do honestly, along with any activity she could do lying down.

The others however were a bit less enthusiastic.

“Do I have to be the husband?” Hailey asked, crooking her eyebrow.

“Can’t I be the detective?” Velma said.

“What’s so great about dating a pool boy?” Fu questioned.

“The serial killer’s a stuffed animal?” Song said, unimpressed.

“...what's an affair?” Wicked asked, after processing what was said more.

“Ok then let's take a step back.” Julian said, deciding to cut in here, both to pre-empt an argument, and to avoid spreading Sho’s weird ideas of playing house to others. She also made a mental note to check Sho’s home life, because either there was something going on with her parents, or she is getting way too much access to reality TV. “lets… try playing something a little less… involved.”

She quickly glanced around, despite the beautiful view, there wasn’t really a lot of space on this pillar-like mountain top for something like tag, or other more sporty games. So instead she suggested. “How about a nice game of hide and seek?”

“Yeeaaaah~” Wicket cheered slowly, “I’m greeeat at hide and seek… at least the hide part.”

“Sounds better than house.” Song said, and Fu nodded in agreement.

“I’m game.” Hailey said, shrugging, mostly happy to go with the flow.

Sho however looked pouty. “Well I liked it.” she mumbled, but was well aware she was outvoted.

Velma also didn’t look keen. “I’m no good at hiding.” she whined.

“Yeah yeah, I know, you are not the best at sitting still.” Julian said. “That's why you will be seeking with me. We will try and find everybody else.”

“Well… alright!” Velma said, regaining enthusiasm.

Julie then clapped her hands. “Alright, me and Velma will start counting to thirty now, everybody better get hiding!”

With that, the remaining rabbits scattered. And after keeping Velma pinned to her chest for thirty seconds so she wouldn’t jump the gun, Julian released the vibrating little rabbit and shouted “Ready or not, here we come!”

Velma was off like a shot, leaving the amused older rabbit to plod along behind her as she darted this way and that, lifting rocks, and parting bushes.

Julian shook her head. Wondering not for the first time if she fell into a vat of radioactive caffeine as a baby. Nevertheless, she fully intended to leave most of the seeking to the eager young rabbit.

The first to be found, rather quickly as it happened, was a rather pouty Shou, whose poofy dress had projected out of the rocky alcove she had been hiding in.

“Hide and seek is a stupid baby game anyway, for stupid babies.” She muttered, as Juilian patted her back comfortingly. Velma had already run off to keep searching.

When Julian caught up to her, she found her climbing out onto a lopsided tree that projected over the edge of the cliff, where she had found Song, clinging to the trunk.

“How did you even…” Song said incredulously, convinced she had found the best spot, but Velma had already taken off yet again.

Next was Song's sister Fu, who had in fact been hiding behind her mothers back at the picnic, to the general amusement of the adults.

“I thought she would have taken longer to circle back here.” she said, embarrassed, earning a good natured chuckle from her mother.

However, despite the relatively quick locating of the three, Velma seemed to be struggling to locate the last two, Hailey and Wicket. Julian grew increasingly concerned, as Velma started zooming recklessly around the stone pillar, growing more frustrated at being unable to find her quarry.

Just as she was skirting around the edge of the drop checking in crevices, Julian spoke out. “Hey slow down, you are too close to the edge-”

“Oop!” Velma said, tripping and sailing right off the cliff.

“What did I just say!” Julian shouted, sprinting over to the edge, intending to throw herself off in pursuit.

However the sight that greeted her, was Velma being held up by a visibly struggling Hailey, who had caught her mid air, and was currently floating over the drop.

“Hey!” Velma said, pouting as if she hadn’t nearly fallen off a mountain. “No fair, you were hiding over the cliff, I can’t fly that well yet!”

Julian sighed with relief. Velma’s life probably hadn’t been in danger, but it probably wouldn’t have been a nice landing for the young rabbit, and a rather awkward conversation with her parents.

“All’s… fair… in love… and war.” Hailey grunted as she strained to keep herself and Velma in place. She then spotted Julian. “Little help?... I am… not rated for… passengers… yet.”

“Sorry sorry.” Julian said, floating down, and picking up Velma from under her arms. Together they all floated to safety, where the other kids were waiting.

“Now why didn’t I think of that?” Song said, crossing her arms.

“Cuz it's cheating, obviously.” Sho said, hands on hips and glaring.

“It was a legitimate strategy.” Hailey defended.

“Be that as it may,” Julian said. “It's not fair to your friends if you hide somewhere only accessible by flying. They are only two, they haven’t had as much experience in magic as you.”

Hailey could only pout.

“Well anyway, now that that's over with, can we play house now?” Sho said.

“Actually, aren’t you forgetting someone?” Julian said, raising her eyebrow.

“Oh right, Wicket!” Velma said, before running off yet again.

“Hey, slow down!” Julian said, running after her. “Lets try not to have a repeat incident okay!?”

Thus the search went on.

And on…

After a few minutes, the others started joining in…

Five minutes pass.

“Wicket!” Julian started calling, concern in her voice. “You win! You can come out now!”

“What's the problem?” Asahi said, walking over as the group neared the picnic blanket.

“We were playing hide and seek, but we can’t find Wicket anywhere.” Julian said, "It's been nearly ten minutes now.”

Asahi shook her head. “Honestly you really shouldn’t have let them out of your sight, what if she fell off the mountain? She could be lost and hurt in the middle of the park alone. I’ll gather everyone up for a search party-”

“No need for that, come over here.” Tewi called out, amusement in her voice.

Asahi and Julian shared a glance, before them and the kids all gathered around the Clan matriarch, who seemed very much amused.

“Mother, do you know where Wicket is?” Asahi asked.

“I wonder…” Tewi said cheekily, before leaning over to Ryuu, and deftly flicking up the hem of her skirt.

There, in between the massive rabbit girls crossed legs, Wicket sat, curled up, sleeping peacefully, causing a doubletake of everyone present.

“When did she get there?” Sora asked incredulously, “For that matter how? we were all sitting right here!”

“Oh that's just little Wicket.” Tewi said affectionately, poking the little girl's nose, which scrunkled at the touch. “You’d be surprised where she can end up when she wants a nap.”

All and all, it was a good day in the Inaba family.

Bonus:

All good things must come to an end, and as the sun was lowering in the sky, the picnic was winding down to a close. Asahi, Julian and Tewi had already started escorting the kids down the mountain, and the others were packing up.

With the exception of Minoru, who was still sitting impassively on the blanket, even after everything else was tidied away.

“Can you get up now? We need to fold up the blanket.” Sora said, as Liang was flying away with all the dishes and leftover food, her children in toe.

“Can I borrow it for a while? I’d like to stay here for a bit.” Minoru asked impassively.

Sora raised her eyebrow, before her nose twitched as she caught a scent in the air.

With a roll of her eyes, she said. “Fine but wash it before you return it.” She then took off herself, with her husband, still a rabbit, under her arm.

Soon it was just the Twins, Minoru and Koharu, on the mountaintop. Koharu's standing, while Minoru still sat firmly on the blanket.

“I want him back no later than tomorrow morning, you hear? I still haven’t finished educating him yet, so he’s still pretty green behind the ears.” Koharu said, smirking.

“I’ll manage.” Minoru said.

“Righto, have fun you twoo~” Koharu said teasingly, before taking off herself.

Alone at last, Minoru lifted the skirt of her dress, revealing a red faced and panting Claes who had been hiding underneath, who then started clambering up her body.

“Oh, we will~” Minoru said smiling as she, was pushed down, and felt something big and meaty press against her stomach.

It's always the quiet ones.

Chapter Text

There was a party at Entei today.

Now that in itself was not unusual, as the rabbits of Entei generally took any excuse to throw a party when they felt like it, and Kaguya was happy enough for the breaks in monotony to usually let them.

But rarely are they as big as Tewi’s birthday party.

Now most of the time, even in the Inaba clan, birthdays were usually small private occasions for close friends and family. After all, if the whole clan got together to celebrate every birthday, they would probably never stop. However things changed when it was the Clans Matriarch's turn, it was-

[“You don’t need to explain Tewi’s birthdays, we’ve all been to one.”]

[Sush. It's my story and I’ll tell it how I want to. Now where was I? Oh yes-]

-one of the few events that brought almost the whole clan to one place. It was never held on the same day each year, Tewi herself often picking it at random, sometimes even happening twice in a year to keep the clan on its toes. Tewi never asked for any presents or gifts.

The gift of company was gift enough for her.

Tewi herself drifted around the party slipping in and out of groups, catching up with distant grandchildren, drinking, dancing, and above all just living it up.

Hailey, drinking some of the non spiked punch, and taking a small breather from the festivities, sat watching Tewi coo-ing at some newborns.

“You know, I have no idea how she remembers everybody's names.” said Stella, leaning on a nearby post, her own drink in hand. “I can barely keep track of my own nieces, let alone the entire clan.”

Hailey shrugs. “Well, Yumi told me that Mama put herself under a powerful geas, to be able to remember the names of all her descendants, in exchange for never using protection.”

Stella snorted into her drink.

“I’m preeetty sure she was having me on though.” Hailey said, tilting her head in thought.

Stella coughed, “Yeah, probably right.”

Hailey continued. “After all, I know she is still having sex, and there haven’t been any new siblings yet, pregnancies are kinda hard to miss.”

“Hailey.” Stella said, turning a little red.

“I mean, she might have fathered a few kids, I guess.” Hailey continued, oblivious to Stella's growing discomfort. “But I’m pretty sure mama wouldn’t hide any new siblings from me-”

Hailey!” Stella said, louder, catching Haileys attention. “Enough about your mothers love life… please?”

Hailey pouted. Before shrugging. “Fiiine, I think some of the other kids over there are setting up a game of super twister anyway.”

With that, Hailey hopped to her feet and ran off.

Stella sighed.

“Sup?”

Stella jumped, fumbling for her cup as she nearly dropped it, almost juggling it for a moment, before managing to catch it without spilling. She sighed with relief before looking at a grinning Tewi reproachfully.

Unperturbed Tewi said. “Thanks for looking out for the youngins today, I like everybody having fun, so it's always hard picking kid minders.”

“Don’t worry about it.” Stella said, “I don’t mind watching the sprogs every now and then, I enjoy it, honest.”

“That said, you should probably find Asahi to take over for a while, enjoy the festivities. I’ll stand in until she gets here.”

“It's alright, I’m fine with staying longer. I wouldn’t want to keep you from your own party.”

“It's the clan's party, not just mine.” Tewi said, “Besides, I’ll be hanging around for a while anyway, I wanna play a few rounds of super twister with the kiddywinks while I’m still buzzed enough to enjoy it.”

“If you say so,” Stella said, tipping back her drink to finish it.

Tewi then gave a saucy look, and wiggled her eyebrows,” Also, lot of single buns out there. Maybe you could also take the time to find a date.” 

Stella spittaked.

“No rush of course.” Tewi impishly. “But two hundred years is a long time to be childless… for a rabbit anyway. You holding a candle for anyone?”

Wiping her mouth, she mumbled. “Well you know, waiting for that special someone…”

Tewi slapped her on her back encouragingly. “Well that's fine too, but don’t wait too long for someone to come and sweep you off your feet, sometimes you’ve gotta be the one to do the sweeping.”

Stella, more than embarrassed, said. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

Tewi, eyes once more gaining an impish glint, said. “Alternatively, I hear Koharu does requests these days.”

“I’m going to go find Ashai!” Stella said quickly, before hurrying off.

Tewi laughed and called after her “Go get em tiger! just go light on the drink. After all you’ll be minding Hailey for the afterparty!”

Stella was too embarrassed to reply.

Tewi shook her head fondly, before spotting Kaguya in a nearby Konga line with a pair of wacky star shaped sunglasses and a jaunty fez.

She called out. “Hey, Princess! I’m gonna be minding the kids for a minute, want to join me at super twister?”

“Do I?!” The Princess shouted back enthusiastically.

Nobody partied like a bored immortal with a Horei empowered alcohol tolerance.

In the city of Las Vegas, considered the gambling capital of the world by many, there was a casino resort called The White Hare.

It was a classy place with excellent service, and a staff made entirely of Bunny girls, dressed to please, and if Rumor had it, gave extra special rewards behind closed doors to high rollers.

It was run by a woman, a willowy beauty, with a cold calculating stare and imposing presence. Despite her establishment not being the most renowned on the Vegas strip, many of the movers and shakers tread lightly around this enigmatic figure.

And this was despite her insistence on ‘wearing’ bunny ears all day everyday, no matter how appropriate they might be.

Her name was Babs Inaba, granddaughter of Sora Inaba, Tewi’s great granddaughter… and she was currently dreading what she knew was coming.

Not a few hours previously she had been attending Tewi’s birthday, she hadn’t stayed long, just long enough to greet the woman of the hour and catch up with friends.

However, what Tewi had said as she left chilled her to the bone. “See you later~”

She knew what that meant.

The after party.

Every year, after the dust had settled and everyone had drunk themselves stupid. Tewi gathered those close to her, as well as any adults who could still walk in straight lines and speak complete sentences, and took them into the outside world to cause… trouble.

Sometimes it was an intercontinental bar crawl, sometimes it was filling nightclubs up to bursting, finding weird places to set up inappropriate amounts of fireworks. No venue was safe, pools, hotels, resorts, beaches. Hell, one Babs had participated in had involved them basically taking over a strip club for a day.

But the worst of all, and the one Babs was fearing the repeat of, was when Tewi had tried to get kicked out of every casino in Vegas.

Now Tewi had an ability, and that was to manipulate luck and fortune, an ability shared to lesser and varying degrees by a majority of the clan. And that was a dangerous ability to have in a casino. That day had ended with a bunch of poorly disguised rabbit girls being chased out of town with billions of dollars in loose currency, pissing off nearly everybody important in the city. Then naturally, as the bunny girl on the strip, suspicion had fallen on her.

That had taken months of damage control to deal with.

Sitting pensively on her desk, she leaned on her arms and groaned.

She eyed the bottle of expensive whiskey on her desk, and wondered if taking a drink or two to steady her nerves was worth the potential loss of inhibitions.

One of her staff came in, and said, “Miss, there is someone out on the floor who wants to see you, it seems important.”

Sighing and pushing the bottle aside, she thanked the girl absentmindedly, before leaving her office to face the music.

She got halfway down the corridor, before she stopped, and played back the encounter in her head.

With a groan and a facepalm, she turned back.

When she returned, what she had thought was one of her staff, was in fact, Tewi wearing a Uniform way too large for her to fit properly, who was now sitting at her desk, taking a swig of Babs whisky.

“Heya Babs, nice to see you again.” Tewi said, her rosy cheeks and general sloppiness suggesting she is well passed being merely buzzed. “Nice place you got here, really swanky~”

Babs noticed with despair that half the bottle was gone already. “Hello Great Grandmother, what do I owe the… pleasure?”

Any hope that Babs had of misunderstanding the situation was dashed, when Tewi spoke. “Well ya see it's been a while since I hit the strrrrrip. What was it? Ten? Twenty years? I donnnno. So I thought it was about time to top up the family emergency funds again!”

Babs pursed her lips. The ‘family emergency funds’ was basically a large amount of valuables and money that tended to eb and flow with time, to be used by the clan in times of need, like emergencies… or parties… or if someone was bored and needed cash.

“So seeing as you’re in the neighbourhood, I figured I’d invite you to join us!”

“Thank you, but I’ll have to decline.” Babs said, it was bad enough last time. She doubted her reputation could take the hit if she were to participate herself.

“C'mooon, it'll be fun. We can even wear these nifty uniforms, it’ll be like… whatchamacallit, free advertising!” Tewi cheered.

“You will do no such thing!” Babs shouted, between anger and panic, slamming her palms on the desk.

What she got back was a smug grin and a challenging glint in Tewi’s eye, as if to say “oh really?”

Babs eyed the whisky, and after a moment thought ‘fuck it’ . She snatched the bottle out of Tewi’s hand and chugged the rest herself. Ignoring the burning in her throat, she slammed it down and said. “You are not leaving this establishment. I had enough trouble cleaning up the mess last time, and especially not in My uniforms!”

“Is that so~?” Tewi said, cupping her chin in her hands with a saucy smirk. “And how exactly do you intend on keeping me here~?”

Stella emerged from the rabbit hole and surveyed the surroundings, before calling back down the hole. “Come on girls, coasts clear!”

Out came in quick succession, Hailey, Shou, and Velma, followed by a much slower Wicket.

“Welcome to Scotland everybody!” Stella said cheerfully, gesturing to the surrounding woodlands. She then took out a clipboard and Pen. “Now rollcall: Hailey!”

“Is this strictly Necessary? There are only four of us.” Hailey asked, eyebrow raised.

“That doesn’t sound like a ‘here’, young lady.” Stella said, with faux bossiness.

Hailey rolled her eyes, but acquiesced. “Here.”

“Velma!”

“Here!”

“Shou!”

“...Here.”

“Wicket!”

“…”

Stella looked up. “Wicket?”

Hailey nudged Wicket who had been staring at a passing butterfly.

“Huh…?” Wicket said, turning back.

“...You know what, I’ll take what I can get.” Stella said, tossing the clipboard away.

“What even was the point…?” Hailey asked.

“For fun.” Stella admitted. “Anyway, I’ve been tasked with looking after you kids while Hailey's mom ruins somebody's day at the afterparty. So I’m gonna introduce you all to a popular pastime for the local Inaba population… Touch the castle!”

The girls clapped politely.

“Follow me girls I’ll explain along the way.” Stella said, leading the little troupe up a nearby wooded hill.

“Now I’m about to show you one of the most magical places in the British isles.” Stella said, as she crested the hill.

She threw her arm out dramatically. “Behold, Hogwarts castle!”

Before the girls stood a regal looking fortress, perched majestically upon a cliff, overlooking a large dark lake.

The Girls ‘ohhh’d appropriately, and applauded yet again.

“Now Hogwarts is currently in use by British wizards as a school, or something like that. Lots of magical types of varying skill all gather here, and for as long as I can remember, us British rabbits have been using it for a game.”

Velma held up her hand eagerly, but didn’t wait to be called upon. “Oh! Oh! What kind of game?”

“I’m glad you asked Velma.” Stella said, shooting a finger gun in her direction. “It's a test of courage of sorts. You have to try and get as close to the foot of the castle as you can, without getting spotted and chased off. If You can touch the castle, you Win!, it's that simple.”

“Is that all?” Shou asked.

Stella raised an eyebrow.

Shou looked nonplussed, before rolling her eyes and raising her hand. “Is that all?”

“It's harder than you think, the lawn offers you little to no cover, and there are hundreds of both students and windows, and plenty of time for someone to notice and spot you… Usually anyway, It's currently the summer holidays, so there are much fewer people than normal, but still, plenty challenging for beginners like you.”

With that she started walking down, gesturing to the girls to follow. “Come on, we’ll be approaching from the gate, it's generally safer. The forest has been infested with giant spiders for about fifty years now.”

As they walked down, taking in the sights of the Scottish highlands, Hailey jogged up to walk beside Stella. “Hey, what's with the energy today? You usually aren’t this enthusiastic.”

Stella rubbed the back of her neck. “Well I don’t know, I just wanted to make this feel more… exciting. Sometimes the kids get a little sad that they don’t get to go to the afterparty, I know I was at their age. it can be hard to accept sometimes that you are too young to participate in something.”

Hailey raised her eyebrow. “You’re telling me about being excluded because of age?”

Stella blinked, before laughing, “Right sorry, you must be the world expert on that by now.”

“It is not a badge I wear proudly, but it is what it is.” Hailey said haughtily.

“If it makes you feel any better, I still haven’t been to one even now.” Stella said.

Hailey cocked her head. “Why is that?”

“Girl, It's less age for the afterparty, but alcohol tolerance. I simply don’t have the constitution to party hard with your mother.” Stella laughed.

“Nobodies around, come on.” Stella whisper-shouted, after checking the coast was clear.

Velma deftly hopped the wall in a single bound, while Shou just climbed over. Hailey hopped to the top, before bending over to lift over the ever lethargic Wicket.

Once everyone was accounted for, Stella had them huddle up. “Ok, we’re on the ground but we still got a lot of ground to cover, so let's stay low, and take it slow and steady. Okay? Go!”

After they broke they all got on their stomachs, and started commando crawling across the grounds, towards the castle towering above them.

“This would be easier if we just turned to rabbits.” Shou grumbled, worrying about the grass stains she will be getting on her favourite dress.

“Of course, and consequently much less fun.” Stella said, “come on, get into the spirit of things.”

Shou could only grumble further at that.

“Have you ever been in there Stella?” Hailey asked, quietly.

“Once, when I was a young lass, one of the ground floor doors were left open, and me and my friends decided to poke around.” Stella said conspiratorially. “Weird place, full of secret passages, floating staircases, moving portraits, ghosts. I remember the great hall had a roof made to look like the sky outside…”

‘Isn’t that just a skylight?’ Hailey thought privately to herself.

“... That was over a hundred years ago now, so who knows what has changed.” Stella finished.

Nevertheless, the description managed to invigorate the girls, even Shou started getting into it, all hoping that they might find an open door.

Slowly, the crept closer, and closer, Even Haileys naturally droopy ears were perked right up, listening for any sounds that might suggest their approach had been discovered. All the while, they scanned the various windows in front of them, falling still whenever they thought they saw movement above, afraid that someone might be looking out the window.

Eventually, what felt like an eternity later, they found themselves about twenty metres from the foot of the castle.

“Ok, now here’s where we make a decision.” Stella said. “We are really close now, so we can keep crawling, a safer but slower method, giving people more time to find or spot us. Or we can sprint the final distance, but risk being spotted quicker. Your call girls.”

Velma immediately got up and started to run.

“Get back here idiot!” Shou hissed. “You’ll get us caught.”

“It's fine, Shou,” Hailey said, standing up herself, and dusting her dress off. “We’d be better off running right now anyway, we’d be under the line of sight of most of the higher windows, and even if we are spotted, they couldn’t get down here in time to stop us from touching the wall. So unless someone steps out of that door right now-”

As if summoned by irony itself, the nearby door chose that moment to swing open.

An absolute giant of a man stood there, momentarily struck dumb by the collection of rabbit girls outside.

They all stood there staring at each other for a moment.

The girls unstuck first.

Shou immediately turned into a rabbit and hare’d off down to the gates.

Velma instead ran the last few metres to the wall, slamming it with both palms before sprinting off whooping and shouting “I Win! I Win!”

Stella tried to stand up quickly, slipped on the grass and face planted.

Hailey got to her feet, but was momentarily paralysed with either helping up Stella or Wicket, who still seemed to be processing the situation.

By this point, the large man had gathered his wits and was running over shouting. “Oi, what are you lot doin ‘ere? You rabbits should know by now you aren’t allowed on the grounds!”

Hailey, still undecided, and emboldened by the giant's lack of aggression, instead spun around to face him, deftly pulling a carrot from her pocket and holding it in her mouth like a cigar. “Eeeeeeeh… What's up Doc?” she said, munching the carrot for punctuation.

Stella paused in pulling herself up to stare at Hailey incredulously.

[What? Humour is a good way of diffusing tension, and I’d been dying to pull that out on someone]

“What's up, is I’ve told you Rabbits a hundred times by now that they shouldn’t be here.” The giant said irritably, “And what's more…”

But then he paused in his tracks, staring in wide eyed disbelief at Hailey.

Hailey, weirded out by the change in demeanour, quickly checked behind her to see if he was looking at somebody else. But nope, just Shou and Velma peering around the wall in the distance.

Turning back she asked. “Is there something on my face?”

“It can’t be?! Hailey Potter?!” the giant exclaimed.

Stella, who after getting up had gone to pick up Wicket, who had apparently decided the situation wasn’t urgent enough to do so herself, now looked at the exchange in concern.

Hailey cocked her head, giving the carrot another munch. “Have we met before? Sorry I don’t really come to this neck of the woods that often, mostly because…”

Hailey trailed off, and took a slightly more evasive stance, glaring suspiciously at Hagrid. “...You wouldn’t happen to know anyone who goes by Dursley… would you?”

Sensing the hostility, the man was quick to reassure. “No, not at all… Well I knew of 'em I guess, but I never even talked to ‘em. I was friends with yer parents.”

Hailey was slightly more relaxed, but cocked her head in confusion. “I have parents?”

There was a moment of dumbfounded silence as that profoundly stupid sentence was processed.

“...Everyone has parents, Hailey.” Stella said slowly.

“Ok, that came out wrong, what I meant to say is… I don’t know, the Dursleys never really talked about them much, and I haven’t really thought about my old family in ages. It was basically a lifetime ago.” Hailey said

“It was four years.” Stella said flatly.

“I know, it was like forever ago.” Hailey said, nodding as if that proved her point.

“Never mind that,” The man said, “How did you end up here of all places? Where have you been? Why are you with all these Rabbits?” He did a quick look up and down just to confirm what he was seeing. “For that matter, why are you a Rabbit?”

Hailey thought about it for a moment before saying. “Well to answer your questions, in order: Stella here is babysitting me, because my mother is throwing an after party inappropriate for minors, and this is a fun game for the local rabbits. I was adopted by rabbits. I was adopted by rabbits. And… I was adopted by rabbits.”

“What?” The man said, more confused than anything.

Hailey sighed, and finished the carrot. “Oh it's a looong story. But short version is that The Dursleys were shitty people. My new mom thought she could do a better job of raising me… and then she did. The end.”

His brow furrowed. “And how did that result in you bein a rabbit?”

Hailey shrugged. “Magic.”

The man scratched his head. “Well, whatever happened, I’m just glad to see you safe. You gave us all a scare disappearing like that.”

“I’m sorry, who's us?” Hailey said, raising an eyebrow. “I doubt the Dursleys would have lost any sleep over it. For that matter, can’t really think of anyone else who would even notice I was gone.”

The Man scoffed, “Well maybe not with their lot, but us Wizards were worried sick, I can tell you that for nothin.”

“Why… Am I a Wizard or something?” Hailey asked.

“Witch actually.” The man said. “Didn’t yer Aunt and Uncle tell you? Dumbledore left a letter and everything.”

“No… No they didn’t.” Hailey said flatly.

The man scratched his head again. “Well now I feel a little put on the spot. I’m not sure I’m the best one to be explainin’ all this…” He thought about it. “How about you come down to my hut, and we can talk it out over tea? I can tell you what you want t’ know, and while we’re at it, you can tell me a little bit about where you been?”

Hailey couldn’t lie that she was a little curious, but she instead turned to Stella, who is currently responsible for Hailey.

“Well Mister…” Stella prompted.

“Oh, haven’t introduced m’self have I?” The man said in realisation. “Rubeus Hagrid, Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts.”

“Well Mr Hagrid, I am Stella, one of Haileys babysitters, and currently her chaperone while her mother is busy. She doesn’t really need to be back until late evening local time. So if you wanna talk big guy, we have time. That said…” Stella gave a little smirk. “Unfortunately, us Inaba are not allowed on the grounds.”

She threw her head back dramatically, hand on head. “After all, Hailey's mother trusted me with her safety, even if you were to make an exception for Hailey, I’d be failing in my duty if I were not able to accompany her.”

Hagrid looked conflicted, but relented. “Hmmm… alright then I s’pose… But you’d best behave yourself! I haven’t forgotten what you lot did to my pumpkin patch a few years back.”

Stella’s eyes lit up. Ohhh, haven’t heard about that one. What happened?”

Hagrid regarded her suspiciously. “...I’d rather not give you ideas…”

Stella pouted. “Fine, I guess I’m just gonna have to grill the other rabbits for deets, I bet it was Lucy.”

Hagrid didn’t look impressed.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be good.” Stella said, having him off. “Hailey you watch Wicket for a minute. I gotta go bring over Shou and Velma, don’t move until I get back, kay?”

Stella then took off.

Hailey blinked, decision apparently made, she then shrugged and turned to Hagrid. “Before we do this, I’m fine with learning about my birth parents. But can we stop bringing up my aunt and uncle?”

Hagrid blinked. “Well… if that's what you want…” after a moment of thought he snorted. “Don’t have much to say about them anyway, nothing good at least.”

“I didn’t know Tewi had siblings…” Wicket said ponderously.

Hailey sighed. “No Wicket, its my old mother that had a sibling.”

“Oh…” Wicket said, a moment of computing took place before she said. “I didn’t think you could have a mother older than Tewi.”

Hailey facepalmed.

Chapter Text

After a long day of politics at the Wizengamot, Dumbledore was more than happy to settle back into the headmaster's chair behind his desk, sighing contentedly.

As might be surprising for someone with so many political appointments, Dumbledore wasn’t much fond of politics, if one had not assumed so from his constant rejection of the position of minister for magic.

He glanced over his ‘IN’ tray — no doubt school administrative tasks for the upcoming school year mixed with various missives from the Ministry and International confederacy of Wizards — and released a more resigned sigh.

Oh how he wished this was somebody else's problem. He found himself fantasising — as he often did — about dumping all of his responsibilities onto somebody else, perhaps even retiring as headmaster, and instead teaching full time again, as he would much rather be doing.

Alas, with Voldemort still at large, and possibly even currently on the move, and with many of his old supporters still in positions of authority and pushing his agendas, somebody needs to be there to keep them in check, and unfortunately, there are few people besides him with the will, means and influence to do so.

Indulging himself with a sherbert lemon, he resolved to continue where he last left off with the school's paperwork.

But before he began, he quickly scanned over the various apparatus on his desk to check for any anomalies, where he was surprised to find a particular tracking device seemed to be functioning properly. 

Surprising, as it had not been doing so for the last four years.

This particular apparatus was keyed to locate one Hailey Potter should she ever go missing, or travel too far from her home. Which was disappointing, as it had in fact completely gone haywire the minute she had. Ever since that day, it had been spinning aimlessly, or randomly shifting to seemingly impossible locations, like random cities across the world, or deep in the wilderness, in countries like Russia or Brazil.

But it was working now, and holding remarkably steady.

Not only that, but it apparently said she was right here at Hogwarts. Closer inspection told him that she was in Hagrid's hut off all places.

Now while he had generally given up on going on these various wild goose changes for what he had started assuming was just a compromised piece of equipment. But for one so close, he supposed there was no harm in taking a look…

“So let me see if I get this,” Hailey said. “I was born to Lily and James Potter, a witch born from non magical parents, and a wizard from a respectable magical family. They got in trouble from standing up to Wizard Hitler, who people don’t like talking about, and went into hiding to raise me. They got found, he killed them both, and went to kill me. But that didn’t work, he somehow killed himself, and gave me this scar. And then Dumbledore, headmaster of the school and general important person, lacking any closer magical relatives, sent me to live with someone on my mother’s side. Did I miss anything?”

Hagrid thought about it. “...I think you just about got it, yeah.”

Hailey leaned back, looking at the ceiling, processing for a moment. “...Huh, my old parents were cooler than I expected.”

Most of the rabbits in attendance were sitting around the large table in Hagrid’s rather homely hut, enjoying his tea, and some struggling to gnaw their way through his rock cakes. Velma had even grown out her full sized incisors to have a better shot at chipping it away. The only exception was Wicket, who was on the floor petting Fang, Hagrid's massive boarhound.

Hagrid chuckled. “They would be glad to hear that I reckon, yer dad especially. Finest pair of wizards you ever could meet.”

He then turned the conversation to her. “So how about you then, I’m still not sure how all this happened. How’d you end up a rabbit of all things?”

Hailey thought about it, before deciding there was no harm, and said, “Well I guess it all started when I was six years old in the park, wandering through the nearby woods-”

Just then there was a knock at the door.

“Hang on, I’ll go get it,” Hagrid said, standing up.

Opening the door, he greeted the visitor enthusiastically. “Professor Dumbledore! How can I help you?”

Hagrid stepped aside and let a venerable looking old man in. “Good morning Rubius. Sorry to bother you, but I was in my office and some of my instruments were telling me something unusual, and I decided to step down and have a look…”

He then glanced around the hut, his eyebrows raising at all the rabbits at the table, before shaking his head and smiling ruefully. “Although perhaps it seems, it might have merely been some rabbit mischief I’m afraid. I sometimes wonder if being banned from the grounds only encourages them…”

His eyes then landed on Hailey, he blinked.

Hagrid caught on quickly. “Oh yeah, I was surprised too, but Hailey Potter is right here. She’s a rabbit too now fer some reason.”

“Do you mind if I sit down?” Dumbledore said, looking a little faint. “I feel like I might need it.”

As Dumbledore was seated, Hailey said, “Hello, I’m Hailey Potter- Inaba . Hagrid had just finished explaining. I’m apparently some kind of big deal here? and you’re Dumbledore, right? Hagrid mentioned you, the generally important person.”

Having gathered his wits, he said, “A rather amusing way of putting it, although one I have difficulty disputing. Yes, I am Albus Dumbledore, headmaster of this school. You must forgive me for my shock as I had not been expecting to see you here, much less in such odd company. If you don’t mind me prying, how did this come about? As last I saw you, you were supposed to be living with your aunt and uncle.”

Hailey frowned. “I was just about to explain to Hagrid before you arrived. Also, as I told Hagrid, please don’t mention my aunt and uncle.”

Dumbledore raised his eyebrows.

Hailey then tilted her head. “Now where was I?”

“You had only just started Hailey.” Stella said, amused.

The other rabbit girls were also listening intently, as they hadn’t even been born yet when Hailey had come into the family, so this was new to them as well.

“Right,” Hailey said. “So as I was saying, I was at the park, trying to avoid some annoying kids, and was walking through a thicket of trees. It was there that I found a poor rabbit whose foot was caught in a nasty jaw trap.”

The rabbit children gasped.

“Naturally, being a kind and innocent soul…”

Stella snorted.

“Well I was at the time~” Hailey pouted at her chaperone. “You should know, you were the one caught in the trap.”

Everyone looked at Stella, who blushed a little. “Don’t ask.”

“Anyway, being a kind and innocent soul ,” this time she paused to wait for any more interruptions, before continuing, “I decided to free the rabbit. After freeing her, it was then that the rabbit suddenly became a tall rabbit woman… who I already revealed to be Stella, but never mind.”

[“Are we listening to someone tell a story about telling a story?”]

[I know, meta right? Anyway.]

“After introducing herself, Stella said, as reward for my kind act, I was to be given a boon, and asked me to ask for whatever I want, and if it was in her power, she would give it.”

This prompted another look at Stella, who shrugged. “It's tradition.”

“Not knowing what to wish for at first, I soon realised that for a poor orphan girl like myself there was only really one option, I wished for a family that would love me. Stella, despite initially not knowing how to grant such a request, decided to magically whisk me away to a magical realm, deep in the bamboo forests of the far east. There, hidden away, was the kingdom of the rabbits. The rabbit queen, sympathetic to my plight, in her wisdom decided to welcome me into her home, thus becoming her princess. Then I lived happily ever after, The end.”

“...Wow, I didn’t know you were a princess.” Wicket says.

Stella however, rolled her eyes at Hailey's account, but still addressed Wicket patiently. “No Wicket, she isn’t a princess, you know who Haley's mother is.” She then addressed Dumbledore and Hagrid. “To clear up Hailey's wild embellishments,” Hailey pouted at that, “Hailey isn’t a princess per say, nor her mother a queen, but she is the Inaba clan's matriarch and progenitor. Technically Hailey is everybody here's aunt, including me.”

“It was only a little bit embellished.” Hailey muttered.

“I see,” Dumbledore said, “that is quite the story, almost fairytale in quality I would say. And what of this kingdom of rabbits? Was that more tall tale or truth disguised as fiction? I only ask because I had been tracking Hailey, as all children are when under school age, although Hailey more closely than most, due to her unique circumstances. However she seemed to have completely dropped off the face of the planet during her absence.”

Stella waved it off. “She’s been living with her mother, in the home of her… masters? Employers? Not sure, it's always been kinda vague. Regardless, they are the masters of the home, and I cannot really divulge their location — it's top secret outside of the clan.”

“I see…” Dumbledore said, a little disappointed. “A shame, although if it would not be prying, why is it so secret?”

“The masters have their enemies, and their peaceful life depends on those enemies not knowing where they live,” Stella said, shrugging.

“Enemies?” Dumbledore asked, hoping they wouldn’t mind the little extra prod, wanting to know if this is something to be concerned about for Hailey's wellbeing.

“Moon people,” Stella said simply.

Now he couldn’t tell if Stella was having him on.

“That's all very well.” Hagrid said, all the more happy to leave that kind of problem to others, in favour of the thing he has been wondering about the whole time. “But how did that end up with you as a rabbit, Hailey? I’m still not clear on that.”

“Because I was adopted by a rabbit, duh,” Hailey said, cheekily.

“More specifically, Hailey’s mother called in a favour with some big powerful youkai, and magically made Hailey her actual daughter… somehow,” Stella said.

“Must you constantly rain on my parade?” Hailey sulked.

Stella ignored her. “For all intents and purposes, Tewi is Hailey's mother by both adoption and blood, and therefore, she became a rabbit.”

Dumbledore gained a thoughtful air at that. However, Hagrid was more sceptical. “Can’t be, Hailey still the spitting image of her folks, She’s even got her dad’s hair and mum's eyes.”

Stella waved her hand in a circular motion. “I can’t claim to know all the technical details. But as it was explained to me, not even magic can fully change who someone's parents are, without fundamentally changing who they are as a person. You know, genetics, nature and nurture, yada-yada-this-and-that-and-the-other-one. Thus Hailey technically has three parents, Tewi, and her two original ones, her mother’s genes being added on top of rather than overriding anything.”

“I inherited Mama’s fluffiness,” Hailey said, with a hint of pride, “as well as… well you know.” she twitched her ears.

“Hailey’s dad… James, I think you said? Must have had very strong hair colour genes, because it even spread to Hailey's fur, not many Rabbits in the clan, especially among Tewi’s direct children have black fur.” She twitched her own ears, as well as the other rabbits around the table, as if to draw attention to their snow white colouration in contrast to Hailey's black. Even Wickets ears stood up, and she had fallen asleep on Fang.

“That's me, black rabbit of the family.” Hailey said, “And just to be clear, I am only making that joke to pre-empt anyone else making it.” Hailey had the face of a tall person who had one too many people ask about the weather.

She then cupped her hair. “At least my hair is much softer than it used to be, got that from mama.”

“I see…” Dumbledore said.

Just then Velma interjected. “I’m bored! Can we go play now?”

Indeed, the younger rabbits were evidently losing interest, with Velma starting to vibrate, Shou having taken out her unicorn doll to play with, and Wicket was starting to drool all over Fang in her sleep.

“Oops, looks like I better get the youngins out before they riot,” Stella said, standing up. “It's been nice chatting with you, and I’m sure Hailey has appreciated learning about her family, but it's probably about time we get going.”

Dumbledore blinked as he returned from his thoughts, as the rabbits all stood up to get ready to leave. “Ah, hold on a moment. Before you go, there is something I need to give Hailey.”

With a flourish, a mint green envelope appeared in his hand, which he proffered to Hailey. “You are ten, approaching eleven correct? As it happens, you are eligible to attend Hogwarts school of witchcraft and Wizardry, this coming school year. It was the wishes of your parents to see you attend, and I see no reason that your current circumstances should prohibit this, should you be interested.”

Hailey looked down at the letter. “Wait, so to be clear, you are asking if I want to attend this school?”

“Indeed, although I would not force you to decide now. If it suits her, you and your mother can come and discuss it further, at any time before the deadline specified in the letter.” Dumbledore said.

Hailey cocked her head. “I thought rabbits weren’t allowed on school grounds.”

Dumbledore smiled with amusement. “Yes, that is a rather old and long standing rule, as your kind have a habit for mischief, as I’m sure you well know. However, as the headmaster, I see no problem with making an exemption for your mother and yourself, should you wish.”

Hailey thought for a moment, before taking the letter. “Thanks, I’ll think about it.”

Stella then gathered up all the little rabbits, and had them thank Hagrid for his hospitality, before they all disappeared out across the grounds, and out the school gate.

“You sure that's gonna be alright professor?” Hagrid asked, worried. “I don’t think the school board will be too happy with a non-human student. Even if it is Hailey Potter.”

“Well, by their account, Hailey is still two-thirds Witch, well within precedent.” Dumbledore said with amusement. “I imagine they will be difficult, no doubt, and there will probably be a media circus when this gets out. But as long as we keep it on the down low, she should be on the train before anyone gets a chance to complain about it.”

Later, as Dumbledore walked up to the castle, he considered his somewhat good fortune. Despite all the headaches and sleepless nights Hailey's disappearance had caused. Her going out and finding new blood relatives was probably better than he ever could have hoped for her blood protection spell. She is probably safer than she ever could have been under the Dursleys.

He was honestly hoping that Hailey’s new mother — Tewi, as he gathered — would take up the offer to meet him. He was quite curious as to what kind of person she was.

He stopped, as he felt a slight sense of foreboding.

Chapter Text

Hailey and the girls had spent the rest of that day playing around the Scottish moors, before the exhaustion of both today, and the entire party they had less than twelve hours previously, had caught up with them. 

So just as the evening was closing in in Scotland, they slipped into a rabbit hole to the morning in Entei.

Stella, carrying a drowsy Shou and Wicket on each arm, said. “The afterparty should be done now, will you be alright heading home yourself? I gotta take these back to their parents now.”

Hailey waved her off with a yawn. “I’ll be fine, you go ahead. I’ve got enough juice in the tank to get myself in bed before passing out.”

“See you then, I’ll check back in after delivering these tykes just to make sure you got home ok.” Stella said. “If you are already asleep by then, See ya later.”

“Bye, Stella.” Hailey said, wandering in the directions of her mothers rooms, while Stella took the two sleepy duo, as well as the comparatively more peppy Velma following behind, in the opposite direction towards the guest rooms, where their parents are probably nursing hangovers.

 Weaving between the piles of drunk, hungover or unconscious rabbits, it didn’t take long for Hailey to arrive back at her and her mothers shared rooms.

She pushed open the door to reveal, as expected, Tewi passed out on her futon, half dressed in some sort of showgirl outfit, as well as another considerably less dressed rabbit face down sprawled over the table.

With a snort, she properly tucked her mother into her Futon, threw a blanket over the bun on the table, and sprayed a bit of air freshener around to get rid of the scent of ‘what rabbits get up to’. Eventually she pulled out her own futon, and not even bothering to change into her pajamas, snuggled into a comfy sleep.

It was around mid afternoon when Hailey woke up again, still drowsy, but with the scent of food tickling her appetite enough to overpower her desire for sleep.

Getting up, she saw the room was now considerably cleaner, and Tewi, no longer asleep, and dressed once more in her usual attire, was in the process of setting down some… Breakfast? Lunch? Brunch maybe? On the table, for both herself, Hailey and the considerably less chipper looking Rabbit bundled in blankets and nursing some sort of hot drink.

“Good morning sleeping beauty, come on, there's plenty to go around.” Tewi said, noting Hailey waking.

Hailey, plodded over to sit down in front of her portion, a relatively traditional japanese breakfast.

“Morning.” Hailey said, to both her mother and the rabbit hunched over her drink.

The other rabbit croaked a hello.

Tewi, sitting down herself, said. “So Hailey, how was your day? Did you have fun with Stella?”

“Yeah, I had fun.” Hailey said, in between bites, “it's exhausting trying to keep up with Velma though.”

“What sort of things did you get up to?” Tewi asked, as she started eating herself.

“Oh you know, exploring the Scottish wilderness, Stella introduced us to a bunch of local games and pastimes. We also saw this big castle, which was apparently a school for wizards…”

Hailey remembered the letter and fished it out of her pocket. “Oh yeah, the headmaster of the school showed up. Apparently he and the groundskeeper knew my original parents, turns out they were wizards. I’m eligible to attend because of that.”

Tewi took the envelope and looked at it. “Address unknown huh?” She then put the letter down and continued eating. “Well, you always were a magical kid of some description. You learn anything else about yourself?”

“Well, my scar was given to me by a magical terrorist, who murdered my parents.” She caught Tewi’s concerned look, and waved it off. “Don’t worry, I’m fine. Anyway, apparently when he tried to kill me, it bounced off or something and killed him instead, so now I’m kinda famous apparently. Dumbledore, the headmaster, who apparently was in charge of what happened to me out of lack of someone else or something, decided to send me to my ordinary relatives because he didn’t think it would be healthy to grow up as a celebrity.”

Tewi seemed to consider something. “Bounced off, huh?”

“What?” Hailey asked.

Tewi just smiled, leaning over the table to ruffle her hair, “Nothing, just that you were probably very well loved.”

Hailey tilted her head. “Okay?”

“We should probably mention this in your next checkup though, Eirin will probably want to know where the scar came from.” Tewi said, returning to her breakfast.

A small moment of companionable silence later, Tewi said. “So, are you interested in going?”

“Huh?” Hailey said, who had started zoning out.

“The magical school? You interested in attending?” Tewi prodded.

Hailey shrugged. “Dunno, haven’t really thought about it that much yet.”

Have you read the letter yet?” Tewi asked. When Hailey shook her head, she added. “How about we both look at it after we are finished eating then?”

“Sounds good.” Hailey said, nodding.

Not long after, when the food had been enjoyed, and the dishes cleared from the table, the pair sat next to each other to read the letter.

“...Dumbledore has a lot of titles.” Hailey observed.

Tewi absentmindedly petted her head. “That he does.”

They read over the rather short letter, and then the comparatively longer supply list.

“Hmm… I wonder where people get cauldrons in this day and age.” Tewi wondered.

There was a contemplative silence, before Tewi said. “Well it's not much to go on, but have you put much more thought into it? You interested in learning some magic?”

Hailey cocked her head from side to side, in deep thought. “...Well I’d be lying if I said I don’t find the idea at least somewhat appealing. There aren't a lot of casters in the clan in general, and even fewer Magicians.”

“It is a boarding school though.” Tewi said, “That means you will probably be spending a long time away from home.”

Haley scoffed, “Nowhere is that far from home, the nearest rabbit hole is a half hour hike.”

Tewi laughed. “True enough. But you should know, a school, especially one for humans, will be a lot stricter than you might be used to, and there will be a lot more rules you’d be expected to follow.”

Hailey started pondering this, making humming noises as she considered her options. While she was doing that Tewi put down the letter and lifted Hailey into her lap, holding her close and stroking her head gently.

“Mama’s gonna miss it when you get too big to sit in my lap,” Tewi said gently, resting her chin on the top of Haileys head. “I can already tell you are gonna be taller than me.”

Hailey ‘hmmm’d’ in affirmation and contentment as she allowed herself to melt slightly into her mothers embrace.

There was a silence as Hailey thought and Tewi enjoyed the moment.

“...I think, at the very least.” Hailey said eventually, catching her mothers attention, “I’d like to give it a shot. This is possibly a once in a lifetime opportunity, after all, you’re only eleven once.”

Tewi chuckled and lightly tousled her hair. “In that case, how about tomorrow we go to see the headmaster and then see about you getting enrolled.”

Hailey nodded. “Sounds good to me.”

After a moment of sitting there on her lap, still feeling the fatigue of yesterday, and not really feeling like moving, a thought struck Hailey. “Soo… how was the afterparty?”

Tewi snickered. “Why don’t you ask Babs about that?”

Babs, still slouched on the table wrapped in blankets, raised her hand to point vaguely in Tewi’s direction. “Drop dead you old hag.” she growled horsley.

Tewi tittered. “That's not what you were calling me last night sweetie.”

It was the following day, and Tewi and Hailey were now leisurely walking up to Hogwarts’s gate, in order to have the discussion Dumbledore promised.

“Neat place, very magical.” Tewi commented. “Feels older than it looks though, looks early modern if I had to guess. Maybe it was renovated some time within the last few centuries?”

“Have you really never been here?” Hailey asked, somewhat surprised.

Tewi laughed. “Even I haven’t been everywhere, Hailey. Worlds a big place, even I haven’t had the time to look under every rock and over every hill. Scotland also isn’t very high on my places to visit list, not very fond of golf you see. Now mini-golf on the other hand…”

Eventually they found themselves standing under the impressive double doors of the castle… and then just sort of stood around as they weren’t really sure how they were supposed to let Dumbledore they were here.

“...Do you think anyone would hear if I knocked?” Tewi asked uncertainty, looking at the heavy looking oak doors.

Thankfully they didn’t have to wait long as the doors opened before them, and they were greeted by a tall austere looking woman, in robes and a pointed hat, who regarded them with an appraising eye.

“I take it you are Hailey Potter and her… guardian?” The woman said.

Tewi grinned and stepped forward, with an outstretched hand. “Good morning, nice to meet you, I am Tewi Inaba. Hailey's mother by both adoption and magical shenanigans. We are here to see Professor Dumbledore, I am led to believe he is expecting us?”

The Woman held Tewi’s eye for a moment, before sighing and taking the handshake. “Good Morning, I am Professor Mcgonagall, Deputy headmistress. Dumbledore is indeed expecting you, so if you could, come this way please.”

The professor turned to lead them into the hall of the building. “Please do not wander off, the school is large and difficult to navigate. And I would rather not have to come to find you.”

“Of course, of course, thank you for your consideration.” Tewi said so pleasantly, that Hailey thought she was laying it on a bit thick.

Mcgonagall spared her a searching look, before sighing again and resuming leading them into the castle.

Up several flights of confusingly laid out stairs, that Hailey could have sworn were moving behind them, they arrived at a Gargoyle in an otherwise unremarkable corridor.

“Wine Gums.” Mcgonagall said.

At that the Gargoyle shifted out of the way, revealing a spiral staircase.

“This way,” Mcgonagall said, leading them up.

“What's with the cloak and dagger?” Hailey asked as they climbed. “I thought this was a school? Why does the headmaster’s office need a password?”

Mcgonagall gave her a look, although unlike the ones she has been giving her mother, the one she wore was somewhat conflicted.

“...Hogwarts is an old castle that was converted into a school.” Mcgonagall eventually said, in a slightly softer tone she had been giving Tewi, “There is a lot of security that is a holdover from that time.”

“Isn’t that a problem? What if someone has to talk to him about something important?” Tewi asked.

“The teachers and prefects know the password, if a student needs to talk to the headmaster, they are encouraged to talk to a teacher or prefect first, and if they deem it necessary, they can escalate it up to the headmaster.” Mcgonagall explained.

At the top of the narrow flight, was a door, and after knocking, Mcgonagall stepped inside. “Hailey Potter and her mother, Tewi, Inaba have arrived.”

“Thank you Minerva, I’ll take it from here.” Dumbledore said from behind his desk, before addressing the two rabbits. “Nice to meet you, Miss Inaba. Please, take a seat.”

“Don’t mind if I do.” Tewi said, going to sit down in one of the two chairs opposite Dumbledore, Hailey doing the same, with Mcgonagall excusing herself, and stepping out.

“I thank you for coming to see me about this. I don’t suppose you have already made your decision about attending yet?” Dumbledore asked. “Also, sherbet lemons anyone?” He proffered a bowl.

“Thank you kindly.” Tewi said, taking a handful and handing Hailey one, and pocketed the rest, before continuing.  “Well Hailey has expressed an interest in attending, so I thought it best to come and get a feel for things.” Tewi said. “But allow me to introduce myself, I am Tewi Inaba, Hailey's Mother, as well as Matriarch and progenitor of the Inaba clan. I take it you are Professor Dumbledore, headmaster and man with way too many titles.”

Dumbledore smiled wryly. “That is indeed I. I myself feel I could do with a few less titles myself, but I find it quite hard to get rid of them. They have a habit of sticking like glue if you aren’t careful.”

“Oh I can imagine.” Tewi said with a chuckle.

“I must say, when I heard you described as a progenitor, I was expecting someone as venerable as myself, if not more.” Dumbledore said. “I am quite surprised to see you so youthful.”

Tewi gave her own wry grin. “What can I say? The millenia have been kind to me.”

She then leaned in. “So, exactly how is this supposed to go? I admit, for all my years, I’ve never really put one of my family through school before. Higher education perhaps, but most rabbits are not young for long enough for most schools to be an option.”

“Oh really? How so?” Dumbledore asked, curious.

Tewi waved her hand. “Oh us rabbits just grow up quicker. Our five is your twenty. Hard to explain that to a human school.”

Dumbledore spared a glance at Hailey. “Will that be happening to Hailey?”

“Nah.” Tewi said. “She’s maturing at a normal human rate. Although I suspect puberty will be hitting her like a freight train.”

“Here’s hoping.” Hailey chipped in.

Dumbledore decided he didn’t really have any comments to that, and returned the conversation back to the subject at hand. “Well, if Hailey wishes to attend the school, allow me to explain the process. Hogwarts is a boarding school, with a long summer break, and a small winter Holiday around Christmas and New Years. New students will be required, and older students encouraged, to take the Hogwarts express from platform nine and three quarters from Kings Cross station in London, a secret platform hidden behind the divider between nine and ten. All school supplies can be bought In Diagon Alley, a Wizard street hidden behind the Leaky Cauldron pub on Charing Cross road. Don’t worry about finding the entrance or locating your supplies. Since you are new to this, I will be happy to arrange for one of my staff as a guide for your first trip at a later date.”

Dumbledore then opened his desk, and took out a large ornate Key. “I also should inform you, that as the sole heir of the Potter family, Hailey is entitled to a substantial inheritance, as well as ownership of her family's vault in the Gringotts Bank. I have been holding onto the key until Hailey was of school age.” At this he handed Tewi the key. “This should more than cover Hailey's school expenses, should she decide to attend.”

Tewi took the key, examined it for a moment, before handing it to Hailey, who pocketed it. “Alright, that sounds simple enough, what can you tell us about the school itself?”

“More than enough I should hope,” Dumbledore said jovially. “I am its headmaster after all, it would be quite embarrassing if I could not.”

“Hogwarts has four houses, which all students will be divided into in their first years, each with their own history and prestige. Hufflepuff, Gryffindor, Slytherine, and Ravenclaw. The houses compete academically each year, and the winning house gets to have a trophy the head of house is allowed to display in their office, until another house wins, and all the bragging rights that entails.” Dumbledore said, with a hint of amusement. “The Houses themselves are somewhat meaningless, a holdover from the differing values of the school's founders, each has their fair share of troublemakers and have produced plenty of excellent witches and wizards. But it gives us an easy way of rewarding academic performance and good behaviour, a harmless way of punishing bad, promoting camaraderie with your housemates, and even an air of occasionally-friendly competition against the others.”

“Then there are the classes. As a first year she will have seven mandatory classes, Transfiguration, Charms, Potions, History of Magic, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Astronomy and Herbology. In her third year she will gain some electives, and in sixth year she will be allowed to pick her own classes, based on career track.”

“There are also a variety of extra-curriculars, various clubs to keep students occupied in off hours, and there is also the house Qudditch teams, and a school league that runs the length of the year... Sometimes I wonder if that was the real reason for the houses, So the school quidditch team had someone to compete against…” Dumbledore mused.

“Do you foresee any problems with Hailey being a rabbit yokai?” Tewi asked suddenly.

Dumbledore was momentarily caught off balance, hesitating as he cast a glance at Hailey.

“Don’t worry about her, Hailey’s a big girl.” Tewi said. “And if there is a problem, she is better off hearing about it now, rather than after the fact.”

Dumbledore sighed. “Under current Wizarding law, non-humans are not allowed to possess or use wands, let alone attend Hogwarts. However, as you describe, Hailey is technically a ‘half-breed’, and there is precedent for exceptions to have been made for them in the past. But due to your additional leporine features, there will be some resistance from certain groups, it may even come to trial, and you may be asked to prove you are ‘human’ enough to attend.”

“That said, the wider public does not know Hailey has become a youkai rabbit, and I intend to obfuscate this fact until after she boards the Hogwarts express.” Dumbledore said, allowing himself a wry smile, the twinkle in his eye returning. “After all, being Hailey Potter, a widely respected figure, it will be much harder for them to remove you from Hogwarts, then to block or postpone you from attending in the first place. It should be easy enough to sort it out from there.”

Tewi chuckles. “Devious, I like it.”

She then turns to Hailey. “How about you Hailey? You fine with being a legal grey area for a while?”

“Sounds like fun honestly.” Hailey said with a giggle.

Tewi laughed and tousled her hair. “That it does, sounds like my kind of mischief.” She addressed Dumbledore. “If it does go to trial, make sure to invite me, this will probably be funny.”

Dumbledore, despite himself, also chuckled. “I will be sure to do so.”

Thus, after hashing out a few extra details, it was agreed that Hailey Potter-Inaba would be attending Hogwarts, in the coming school year.

Chapter Text

Walking through the doors of the Leaky Cauldron, dressed in stylish bonnets, with little round sunglasses. More than anything, Hailey and Tewi looked like two celebrities going undercover to slum it in bars. In reality though, it was to hide the fact that two rabbits just walked into the establishment.

Spotting Hagrid at the bar, Hailey led them over.

“Hey, Hagrid.” Hailey said, lowering her glasses in his direction. “It's me, I’m here for our appointment.”

Hagrid stared at her uncomprehendingly, before recognition dawned. “Oh, Hai-”

“Ah-ah-ah. I’m currently incognito.” Hailey said, waving her finger. “I’m trying not to draw attention to myself.”

“Ohh… right, Dumbledore said we should keep it on the down low.” Hagrid said. He quickly finished his drink. “Come on, let's step out back, then you can introduce me to yer… mom?”

Hagrid looked at Tewi, no doubt confused by her not being that much taller than Hailey, before shaking his head and leading them out the back.

Now out back beside the bins by a suspiciously unremarkable brick wall, Hailey and Tewi removed their glasses.

“Hello, You must be Hagrid.” Tewi said, extending a hand to the giant. “Tewi Inaba, Hailey's new mama.”

Hagrid returned the gesture, pausing to let Tewi grasp his finger to avoid crushing her much smaller hand, “Nice to meet ya. Hagrid, Keeper of keys and grounds at Hogwarts, although I suppose you already knew that.”

“Hailey did say something to that effect.” Tewi said, grinning. She tapped her bonnet. “Sorry about all the cloak and dagger, but you know, ears.”

Hagrid nodded. “Probably fer the best, you folk are not the most popular, most wizards view magical rabbits as nuisances.”

Tewi tilted her head, “And you are one of them I gather?”

Hagrid coughed awkwardly, but Tewi laughed. “Oh don’t feel bad, we are nuisances. We tend to do as we please after all.”

“Well if you lot are aware of it, maybe you could reign it in a bit.” Hagrid mumbled.

Tewi waved her hand dismissively. “Ehh, not really on the cards. We are mischievous by nature. And even if that wasn’t the case, as a mother, grandmother, and however-many-greats-you-want-to-add grandmother, all I really want is for my kin to be happy. As long as nobody takes it too far, I’m happy to let them run amok.”

Hagrid furrowed his brow. “And what exactly do you consider too far?”

Tewi stopped to think for a moment before answering. “Don’t do anything to friends and kin that cannot be undone, and don’t kill, mutilate or otherwise traumatise anyone who doesn’t deserve it.”

There was a pause before Hagrid asked incredulously. “...That's all?”

Tewi shrugged. “The rest is situational.”

She then tilted her head in recollection. “Oh yeah, almost forgot one. If you are not ready or willing to take responsibility, either pull it out or wrap it up.”

Hagrid coughed awkwardly.

“I need to remind people of that one more often than I would like. Lotta happy accidents in my family.” Tewi admitted.

“You should put that one on your business cards.” Hailey added cheekily.

“Anyway,” Hagrid said, a little quickly. “It's about time we get going, can’t hang around all day.”

At that he pulled out his umbrella, and Tewi and Hailey put their round sunglasses back on.

Hagrid looked at them quizzically. “Alright, I understand the hoods, but why the glasses?”

“It completes the look.” Hailey said. “We were going for ‘Hollywood actress trying to get a cup of coffee without being harassed’ chic.”

Hagrid didn’t even pretend to understand what that meant and instead just got back to the subject at hand. “Alright, now to get in you gotta use yer wand… although in yer case Miss Inaba, yer a magical creature, so yer finger will probably do.”

“No need for honorifics, just Tewi will do.” Tewi interjected.

“Right… anyway, you gotta touch these bricks in this order…” Hagrid said, quickly tapping a pattern of bricks on the wall, which then caused it to rearrange itself into a stylish brick archway.

“And welcome…” Hagrid, sweeping his arm out dramatically. “To Diagon Alley.”

Tewi and Hailey ‘ohh’d appropriately and gave a light applause.

Hagrid rubbed the back of his neck bashfully, “er, no need for that, I just think it adds a little something. Let's get a move on, banks first of course. Dumbledore gave you the key right?”

“That's right.” Hailey said, as she and her mother fell in behind the giant. “I am interested in seeing what my parents left me.”

“Should be a good sum, I’d imagine, the Potters were pretty well off folks as I understand it, and James… yer dad… Well, he was always pretty generous when it came to shouting folks at the bar, or gifts around christmas.” Hagrid said, a bit of nostalgic melancholy entering his voice.

There was a pause there as Hailey didn’t really know how to respond to that, and Hagrid seemed to be lost in his recollection, so she started to look around.

The magical street she found herself in was a strange place. Plenty of bizarre stores selling equally bizarre wares. Cauldrons, magical telescopes, regents, overflowing bookstores, owleries, broomsticks being gawked at like sportscars by enamoured teenagers, she itched to explore.

“Go ahead kiddo.” Tewi said, catching Hailey's attention. “Just keep pace and don’t wander too far, kay?”

Hailey's eyes glittered, giving a quick nod before taking off, staring through windows, ducking in and out of shops quickly, drooling over magical sweets, laughing at weird magical toys, getting into staring contests with a frog in a shop window, and having the time of her life.

Tewi looked on fondly at her daughter's antics.

Hagrid also couldn’t help but smile at Hailey clearly enjoying herself, before deciding to ask Tewi something. “I hope you don’t mind me asking, but from what I had heard about you, I thought you’d be someone older looking.”

Tewi chuckled. “Oh I get that a lot, that's why I tend not to bring it up much, when you have lived as long as I have, age is just a number.”

“How old are you then?” Hagrid asked.

Tewi grinned mischievously. “Now that would be telling. Let's just say I’m old enough to be your mommy… if you ask me nicely that is.”

Tewi cackled at Hagrid's flustered coughing.

Not long after, they arrived at the steps of a large shining white marble building that couldn’t be more obviously a bank. After calling Hailey back, Hagrid said. “Alright, this is Gringotts Bank, safest place in the world for anything you want to keep safe, ‘cept maybe Hogwarts of course. This is where yer folks vault is.”

Tewi however, was looking at the two armed goblins. “This place hires Goblins?”

“Not just hire. Banks run by ‘em. You’d be mad to try and rob it.” Hagrid said, as he led them up the steps.”

Tewi considered this. “Well, there are worse people you could have watching your money, as long as you don’t plan to take any loans.”

She turned to Hailey as they were led through the doors. “An important thing to remember when dealing with Goblins. As with many fae adjacent creatures, they can be trusted to keep their word and only their word, always check the fine print, and never, I repeat, never owe a goblin anything you cannot reliably repay, as it may be the last thing you do. One way or another, a goblin gets their due.”

As they stepped through the doors. The Goblin guards shared a glance. 

“Harsh.” one said in goblin.

“But accurate.” Conceded the other.

With a screeching halt, The small cart stopped in front of a simple stone door in the wall of the cavern.

“Here we are, the Potter vault.” The goblin, griphook, said smartly.

Hailey shot to her feet. “Wooo!’ That was awesome! this has to be like, the coolest bank ever!”

Tewi shook her head, smiling at her daughter's enthusiasm. “Certainly less dry than most.” She then looked up at Hagrid. “You ok big guy?”

“M’fine.” Hagrid grunted, looking a little green, “Carts don’t agree with me is all.”

While the others disembarked, Hagrid having to steady himself against the wall, Griphook, Hailey's key in hand, opened the vault.

What came out was a billowing cloud of green smoke, and beyond was a large mound of wizard coinage piled in the center of the room.

Tewi whistled. “Smaug called, he wants his hoard back.”

“Ah yes, a Tolkien reference, very droll ma’am.” Griphook said dryly, with the air of someone who hears that joke frequently.

“Oh you’ve read the Hobbit?” Tewi said conversationally. “I didn’t think it would appeal to a goblin. It isn’t exactly flattering to your kind.”

The Goblin shrugged. “Good literature is good literature, and fiction is fiction.”

“True enough.” Tewi said. 

After a pause, she asked. “So is this general policy to just leave the money in a heap, or was this the preference of the Potters?”

Griphook gave a crooked smile. “Sorting and organising costs extra.”

“Forget I asked.” Tewi said diplomatically.

Hailey was busy examining some of the non coin items stacked haphazardly against the walls. “What's all this stuff?”

“Your Family's possessions. At least the ones not lost to the destruction of their home, or were already in storage.” Griphook said. “Would you like us to take inventory? For a small, one time fee of course.”

Hailey and Tewi shared a glance before Tewi said. “No thanks, we’ll just get a few family members, and sort it through ourselves some other time.”

“Of course.” The Goblin said, not the least bit surprised by the rejection. “In that case, please make your withdrawal, we have one more stop to make, before we can all get on with our day.”

“Sure, sure,” Tewi said, before going to help Hailey.

After they loaded as much money as they could fit in their purses, and another journey for Hagrid to pick up an odd little package from another, deeper vault, they once more found themselves on the steps of the bank.

“Alright, where to now?” Tewi said, rejoining them after a quick detour to exchange some euros for galleons.

“Probably best to start off with your robes.” Hagrid said, nodding towards a shop proudly declaring itself to be ‘Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions’. “You mind if I leave you to it for a bit? I need a little pick me up in the Leaky Cauldron. I hate those carts.”

“Go ahead, I’m sure we’ll manage.” Tewi said. “Where shall we meet?”

“Outside the shop, I won't be too long.” He promised, before lumbering off.

“Nice guy. I wonder if all of him is that big…” Tewi wondered idly, before remembering her company. “Not that you need to worry about that kinda thing yet, let's get you uniformed.”

“You don’t have to dance around the issue.” Hailey said, falling in behind her mother. “I know you are talking about his-”

“Penis yes. But speculating about hypothetical endowments is not a conversation I should be having with an Eleven year old. That's my bad. Sometimes with how mature you act I sometimes forget you are still a kid.” Tewi said over her shoulder.

Hailey rolled her eyes. “If you say so, mama.”

“Atta girl, plenty of time for that once your voice drops and your hormones spike, then you can talk about all the genitalia you like.”

Hailey snorted. “What a privilege, can’t wait.”

They stepped into the store, and a woman bustled up to them. “Hogwarts dears?”

She looked them up and down, “Are both of you here for uniforms? If so, one of you will have to wait your turn, somebody is already being fitted.”

Tewi cupped her cheek bashfully. “My my, you certainly know how to flatter a lady. No, my daughter here is the one being fitted.”

“Oh… my apologies I thought….” the woman said, surprised, but quickly regained her professional demeanour. “In that case, please step this way dear. We’ll get you fitted in a jiffy.”

“Do you mind if she keeps on the bonnet? We are currently travelling incognito.” Tewi said, as Hailey was led to a stool.

The lady raised her eyebrow at the odd request, but said. “Shouldn’t be a problem. Come on, stand on this.”

Hailey was stood on a stool, and a large robe slid over her head, which the lady immediately started pinning. Next to her was a bored looking boy getting a similar treatment.

“Hello,” The boy said, “Hogwarts too?”

“Yup.” Hailey said.

“My Father’s next door buying my books, and mothers up the street buying potion regents.” said the boy, who spoke in a disinterested drawl. “Then I’m going to drag them off to look at racing brooms. I don’t see why first years can’t have their own. I think I’ll bully Father into getting me one and I’ll smuggle it in somehow.”

“Fair enough.” Hailey said diplomatically, however she felt her ears twitch under her bonnet, and her tail quivers under her dress. Her Inaba instincts were already reacting to the boy's smug aura, demanding mischief.

“Have you got your own broom?” the boy went on.

“Of course.” Hailey said poker faced, there were closets full of them in Entei.

She knows he meant the flying one, but she didn’t like the accusatory tone.

“Play Quidditch at all?”

“Not really.” Hailey said, as she didn’t really know what Quidditch was, and that would be too easy a lie to be called out on.

“I do. Father says it’s a crime if I’m not picked to play for my House, and I must say, I agree. Know what House you’ll be in yet?”

“No clue, does it matter?” Hailey asked, remembering what Dumbledore had said.

“Of course it does,” the boy scoffed, “And I know I’ll be in Slytherin, all our family have been. Imagine being in Hufflepuff, I think I’d leave, wouldn’t you?”

Hailey hummed noncommittally, her ear twitching increasing, her need to bully this smug child increasing with every word.

“I say, look at that man!” the boy said suddenly, pointing out Hagrid waving in the window.

“Oh thats Hagrid, he’s the groundskeeper over at Hogwarts, He’s showing me and my mama around the Alley.” Hailey volunteered, at least trying to remain civil.

The boy then glanced at her, with an appraising, almost critical eye. “Why does he need to do that? You are… one of our kind are you not?”

And with that went the last of Hailey's self restraint. ‘Oh joy, classism and or Racism. Fuck it, time to knock him down a peg or two.’

“And what kind would that be? Ain't no kind like me and my Mama.” Hailey said, tilting her head with feigned ignorance, all while figuratively turning up the dial on her ability slightly.

The boy looked annoyed, and opened his mouth to speak, but it was cut off with a yelp.

“Sorry dear, hand slipped.” The seamstress working on him said.

Hailey continued as if she didn’t notice. “I must say I am quite taken by how charmingly quaint magical Britain is.” Hailey said, making sure not to visibly smirk. “It has a certain rustic style with how backward things are around here.”

“Backward?” The boy said, sounding affronted, but Hailey kept going, without letting him get a chance to speak further.

“Oh yeah, what with everybody dressing like it's the middle ages, all the cauldrons and gold coins. It's almost like I walked into a Ren faire, or a Museum.” Hailey said cheerfully. “They even still use birds for postage, I asked someone and they didn’t even know what a telephone is, talk about old school.”

Hailey continued, bulldozing over the boy's attempts to talk with her faux friendliness, she was on a roll now. “I suppose I should be glad, mind you, it will be an absolute relief to go to a school where nobody knows who I am. I'm a bit of a celebrity you see, that's why I have to dress like this.” She tapped her glasses. “The price of fame I suppose, can’t even walk down the street without being mobbed by fans and weirdos.”

At this point, Tewi chimed in, mostly directed at Madam Malkin. “My girl is one of those international pop sensations that is all the rage these days. Me and her father couldn’t be more proud of our little girl.” she said fondly, exaggerating her Japanese accent a little to sound more foreign, cupping her cheek.

“Couldn’t have done it without you ma.” Hailey said, feigning bashfulness.

“Oh nonsense, you were selling out to crowds of tens of thousands since you were eight, and millions of fans around the world.” Tewi said, waving her hand dismissively. “It takes more than good genes to have that kind of star power, its raw talent.”

“Awww, shucks mama.” Hailey said, hiding her cheeks behind her hands shyly.

Madam Malkins and the other seamstress shared a glance, sensing something was afoot. However the Boy looked like he was sucking a particularly bitter lemon.

“I’m just lucky Professor Dumbledore is so accommodating.” Hailey said. “I was worried about how going to boarding school was going to affect my touring, I’ve got a European tour later this year, and an American one next spring. All the classes I miss might affect my grades, but I can’t just leave my fans hanging. It's tough being this important.”

“Important.” The boy blustered, but before he could expand on that, Tewi cut in again.

“I’ll say. Did you know my girls up for a knighthood, for her services to music?” Tewi said conspiratorially. “Can you believe that? My girl, up there with the greats.”

“I see,” Madam Malkin said dryly, who seemed to have figured out they were just yanking the boys chain. “That’s you done, dear.”

“Thank you." Hailey said, stepping down from the stool,” Before turning to the Boy, “See you at Hogwarts, I’ll properly introduce myself then, I’ll even give you an autographed copy of my latest Album.”

The boy was left speechless, as they quickly paid for their robes and left the store.

When out the door, and out of sight of the boy, they both burst into a fit of giggles.

“What's got you two so amused?” Hagrid said, nonplussed.

“Oh nothing, nothing, just giving some pompous lad an ego check.” Tewi said, wiping an imaginary tear from her eye. She straightened up to properly address Hagrid, “So where to next?”

“Well, I was planning to grab some ice cream for Hailey on the way back from the Cauldron,” Hagrid said, sounding a little sheepish. “But it occurred to me I’d best ask you first before giving yer daughter sweets, you being her parent an’ all.”

Hailey's ears tried to rise under her bonnet, before she stared pleadingly at Tewi.

Tewi laughed, “No need for the puppydog eyes, Hai-chan, of course you can have ice cream.”

As they set off, Tewi did add. “You don’t have to buy us ice cream though Hagrid, Hailey is kinda rich already.”

“Oh it's no trouble,” Hagrid said. “Just wanna do something nice is all.”

“If you are sure.” Tewi said.

Arriving at the Icecream parlour, and sitting at one of the outside tables, Hagrid handed Hailey some knuts. “Since you are here, you can pick yerself a flavour, I’d like a Chocolate and raspberry with chopped nuts if you’d be so kind.”

“Get me whatever’s weirdest.” Tewi said, looking amused. “Bonus points if I’ve never had it before.”

“On it.” Hailey said, before making her way to the counter.

As she left, Tewi then turned to Hagrid. “By the way, do you know if there are any good sweetshops or party supply shops around here?”

Hagrid furrowed his brow in thought. “Well I know of Honeydukes and Zonko’s over at Hogsmeade near the castle, but I can’t say I’d ever looked for one around here. Sorry to say.”

“Ah, shame.” Tewi said, "Hailey's birthday was coming up so I thought I might spice up the party with some wizarding paraphernalia. Oh well.”

She then stood up. “Hey, I’m going to step away for a minute, gonna look around for any fun birthday presents. I won’t be long, but keep an eye on Hailey for me will you?”

“Of course.” Hagrid said. “Don’t be too long though, or yer ice cream might melt.

“Don’t worry, I’m only browsing, won’t be a mo.” Tewi said, before slipping away, and down the street.”

Hagrid sat there quietly for a few minutes, until Hailey came back with the ice creams.

“Where's Mama?” Hailey said, sitting down, and handing Hagrid his cone.

“Thank you.” Hagrid said, accepting the frozen treat. “She just said she needed to do somethin’ real quick, she won’t be long.” Hagrid said cagily.

“Ah, birthday shopping, gotcha.” Hailey said, putting her mothers into a cone holder thoughtfully provided in the middle of the table.

Hagrid coughed awkwardly. “Er, yes, that.”

There was a moment as they both just enjoyed their ice cream.

Hagrid then decided to ask a question. “So… Hailey.” he said, catching her attention. “If you don’t mind me asking… What kind of mum is Tewi?”

“Best I know. Why’d you ask?” Hailey said, tilting her head.

“Oh, well, nothing against her, but she seems kinda…” He said, struggling for a word.

“Free spirited?” Hailey suggested.

“That’ll do.” Hagrid said, nodding. “I’m just wondering how she’s raising you is all.”

Hailey took a minute to drum her fingers on the table. “Well, she's… It's kinda hard to fully get a grip on what kind of mother Tewi is until you meet a few more of my siblings. But for what it's worth, she cares about family more than anything. She encourages us to be free with our wants and desires.”

“Don’t get me wrong I love my family, but some… okay, a lot of my siblings are absolute nutcases. But that doesn’t matter to Mama, as long as they are happy and healthy at the end of the day, she lets us be whoever we want or need to be.”

“For instance, I think mom has had a bit of baby fever for a while now.” Hailey said conspiratorially, “but she’s currently holding back on giving me any siblings until I’ve grown up a little more. She wants to make sure she can focus all of her parenting energy onto me until I no longer need it.”

Hailey then smiled fondly, and a little bashfully. “Back in your hut, I did joke about being a princess, but that's how she makes me feel sometimes. She makes me feel important, wanted… loved.”

Hagrid nodded thoughtfully, before smiling softly. “Sounds like a mother and a half, thats fer sure… Reminds me of my old man a bit there. Good man he was.”

“Which half was he?” Hailey asked, making Hagrid nearly choke on his ice cream.

“Sorry, was that personal?” Hailey said, a little sheepish. “I just kinda guessed you were half something. You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to, but for the record, I won’t judge.”

She tapped her head where her ears were hidden for emphasis.

Hagrid thought about it, looked around to see if anyone was listening, before saying in a lower voice. “It's alright, I am half giant asa’matter of fact, on me mums side.” He then leaned back and spoke more normally, “I’m not ashamed of it, but I find it easier not to mention. They don’t have the best reputation, an’ not fer nothin neither. They aren't the most friendly folk.”

Hagrid gained a far off look. “Can’t tell you how proud my dad was when I got me letter, didn’t think I would.”

His expression turned dour. “Probably fer the best he passed before I got expelled.”

“What happened?” Hailey said, concerned. “Did you get kicked out because…” she let it hang in the air.

“No, not that.” Hagrid said. He then thought about it before continuing. “I’d rather not go into it though, bad business that was. It was a misunderstanding that nearly landed me in Azkaban prison if it wasn’t fer Dumbledore, great man he is. He was only a professor at the time, but thanks to him I only lost me wand, and was allowed to stay on as apprentice groundskeeper.” He leaned in again, “also let me keep me broken wand, and me textbooks, it's not much, it's no Hogwarts education, but it was better than most would have given me.” 

“That sounds rough.” Hailey said sympathetically. Privately she wanted to know what kind of misunderstanding a school kid could get into that could lead to a prison sentence, but decided to not pry that deeply when he was clearly uncomfortable about the subject. He had only met the man a few weeks ago after all.

“While we are on the subject of personal stuff.” Hagrid said. “If you don’t mind me asking, something has been on my mind since we met.”

“Oh?” Hailey said.

“You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to. But I was wondering about yer aunt and uncle-”

“Oh.” Hailey said, this time more flatly.

“As I said you don’t have to tell me, but I just want to know why you don’t want people mentioning them.” Hagrid said, wondering how horrible they could have been if even mentioning them was taboo.

Hailey frowned, but then shrugged. “Well fair’s fair I suppose, I was prying a little too.” She stopped and considered it. “I probably made it sound worse than it was honestly.”

“Don’t get me wrong, they were negligent pieces of shit, and their son can suck a fat one.” Hailey said conversationally, making Hagrid blanch a little at the crassness. “But I’m mostly over that now. The only reason I don’t really want to talk about them is, well… I just don’t particularly want to be reminded they exist.”

“Whatcha mean by that?” Hagrid asked.

Hailey opened her mouth, but then Tewi appeared from behind her, resting her hands on her shoulders, startling Hagrid. It was also her who answered. “Because they don’t matter.”

“Cripes when did you get there?” Hagrid said, clutching his chest.

“Sorry, didn’t want to interrupt.” Tewi said impishly, very pointedly not answering Hagrid's question.

She started patting Hailey's head. “But those three did nothing for Hailey worth a damn, so why should they get the privilege of living in her head?”

Tewi then ran her hand down the sides of Hailey's bonnet where her ears were hidden. “Thats why I intend to stuff her little head with so many happy memories, that all the bad ones get squeezed out of her ears.”

“It's like the old saying.” Tewi said. “There is no greater revenge than a life well lived, and no greater insult than being forgotten. Hailey’s got her whole life ahead of her, and if I have my way, her Aunt and Uncle will be little more than a footnote.”

“What she said.” Hailey said, preening under her mothers hands.

Hagrid was somewhat taken aback. But then he gave a quick laugh. “Suppose I can’t argue with that.”

There was a pause, before he turned Somber yet again. “Although, I do hope there will be some room left in there for Lily and James. They were good people, finest you could find. They don’t deserve to be forgotten by their only daughter.”

“Well… How about you tell me about them then?” Hailey said, as Tewi went to sit down and take her surprisingly unmelted ice cream, out of the possibly enchanted cone holder. “I don’t really know anything about them to be honest. Perhaps you have an anecdote or two for me?”

Hagrid smiled. “Now that I have. Lessee now… probably best to start at school, thats where I first met ‘em. Yer father was a right troublemaker he was…”

While Hagrid started regaling Hailey with some tales of her fathers schoolhood mischief. Tewi frowned as she tasted her ice cream.

‘Yuck, lobster.’ she thought, ‘teach me to ask Hailey to surprise me.’

She then smiled ruefully. ‘Jokes on her though, I’ve had this one before.’

After getting a majority of their shopping out of the way, it was finally time for possibly the most important stop on their trip, Ollivanders.

Stepping into the pokey, somewhat shabby shop, Hailey glanced around, examining the stacks upon stacks of small square boxes in shelves. There was a hush in the air, the place feeling almost sacred.

“Good afternoon.”

They all jumped at the sudden appearance of an wiry old man with silver eyes among them, Hagrid nearly breaking the stool he was sitting on. He stood in front of Hailey, examining her with a soft eye.

“Jeez, warn a girl next time,” muttered Tewi, her bonnet having nearly sprung off with the force of her ears perking.

“Err, hi?” Hailey said.

“I am Olivander, maker of wands… I thought I'd be seeing you soon. Hailey Potter." He spoke, in a soft, almost ethereal tone. "You have your mother's eyes. It seems only yesterday she was in here herself, buying her first wand. Ten and a quarter inches long, swishy, made of willow. Nice wand for charm work." He got closer, as if examining Hailey. "Your father, on the other hand, favoured a mahogany wand. Eleven inches. Pliable. A little more power and excellent for transfiguration. Well, I say your father favoured it, it's really the wand that chooses the wizard, of course."

“That a fact?” Hailey said, leaning back a little at the quiet intensity of the man. How did he even know who she was?

Unfortunately, he leaned in as well.

“And that's where…”

Hailey flinched as his fingers brushed against her scar. Hasn’t this guy ever heard of personal space?

“I’m sorry to say I sold the wand that did it,” he said softly. “Thirteen-and-a-half inches. Yew. Powerful wand, very powerful, and in the wrong hands… well, if I’d known what that wand was going out into the world to do…”

He shook his head, and suddenly changing gears, enthusiastically greeted Hagrid. “Rubeus! Rubeus Hagrid! How nice to see you again. . . . Oak, sixteen inches, rather bendy, wasn’t it?”

As the wandmaker chatted with Hagrid, Hailey released a breath she didn’t know she was holding.

“You ok?” Tewi said, stepping beside her, and putting a hand on her shoulder.

“I’m fine, but good grief it felt like he was staring a hole in my soul.” Hailey said.

“Alright, just let me know if he gets too much again, I’ll make sure he tones it down a notch.” Tewi said, patting her on the back.

“I’m afraid you have me at a disadvantage, Miss.” Olivander said, appearing beside them after concluding his chat with Hagrid.

To Tewi’s credit, only Hailey flinched this time. She turned to address him. “Oh I am Tewi Inaba, Hailey's new Mama. We’re here to get her wand.”

“Ahh, an Inaba…” The wandmaker said, adjusting his glasses as he surveyed Tewi. “The Inaba unless I am mistaken. It's not often I see one such as you in my shop.”

“Now who is at the disadvantage?” Tewi said sardonically.

“Your reputation does precede you.” Olivander said. “You have taken the young Potter under your wing?”

“That's right, It's Hailey Potter-Inaba now.” Tewi said, proudly. “Hope that won’t be an issue, will it?”

“Not at all, Step this way Miss Potter-Inaba, I need to perform some measurements.”

After a reassuring nod from Tewi Hailey did as instructed, standing in the middle of the floor.

“If you don’t mind, could you take that hood off?” Olivander said. “I will probably need some measurements of those new ears of yours.”

‘Well, cats out of the bag.’ Hailey thought, pulling off the bonnet, letting her ears flop free. “What gave it away?”

“Once I knew who your mother was, the matching hoods made it fairly obvious.” Olivander said, dryly. “Please hold out your wand arm.”

Hailey assumed he meant her dominant arm, and lifted her right one.

The tape then lifted itself into the air, and started measuring Hailey by itself, starting fairly normal, with measurements like arm length, and hand span, but steadily getting more and more absurd over time.

Meanwhile, Olivander, not even looking at the results, started pulling boxes off the shelf, talking all the while.

“Every Ollivander wand has a core of a powerful magical substance. We use unicorn hairs, phoenix tail feathers and the heartstrings of dragons. No two Ollivander wands are the same, just as no two unicorns, dragons or phoenixes are quite the same. And of course, you will never get such good results with another wizard’s wand.”

Hailey might have found this more interesting, but she was somewhat distracted by the Tape Measure measuring nostril width and ear lop.

“That's enough.” Olivander said, and the tape immediately ceased and fell to the floor.

“Right then Ms Potter-Inaba. Try this one. Beechwood and dragon heartstring, nine inches, nice and flexible. Just take it and give it a wave."

Hailey did so, and gave it a little swish, nothing happened, and Olivander took it back. Before handing her another.

What followed was a long and tedious process of being handed wands, getting no results, and getting them taken away.

“What was the point of all that measuring if it was going to take this much trial and error.” Grumbled Hailey as another wand failed to produce results.

“It is a process, Miss Potter-Inaba.” Olivander said airily. “Not to worry, we'll find the perfect match here somewhere... I wonder now... yes, why not? unusual combination, holly and phoenix feather, eleven inches, nice and supple.”

The moment the wand entered her hand, she somehow knew this was the right one. With a deft flick she sent sparks showering across the shop.

Ollivander cried triumphantly. "Oh, bravo! Yes, indeed, oh, very good. Well well well... how curious... how very curious... " 

Taking it back, he put Hailey's wand back into its box and wrapped it in brown paper, still muttering, "Curious... curious...”

“What is?” asked Hailey, eyebrows raised.

Mr. Ollivander fixed Hailey with his pale stare. "I remember every wand I've ever sold, Ms. Potter. Every single wand. It so happens that the phoenix whose tail feather is in your wand, gave another feather, just one other. It is very curious indeed that you should be destined for this wand when its brother... Why, its brother gave you that scar.”

There was a pregnant pause.

“...Should I… be worried about that?” Hailey asked, uncertain.

“Perhaps, perhaps not. But Lord Voldemort did many great things… Terrible of course, but nonetheless great.” Olivander said, placing the wand box in Haileys hand, closing it around it. “Perhaps we can expect great things from you too.”

The thoughtful silence that followed was interrupted by Olivander asking politely. “That will be seven galleons.”

“Well that was something.” Tewi remarked, as they walked away from the wand shop.

“Yer, Olivander’s always been a bit like that, strange bloke he is, but the best wands you’ll ever have.” Hagrid said.

“If you say so.” Hailey said, still holding the wand box, regarding it with a suspicious glance.

“Is there anything left on the itinerary?” Tewi asked.

“Not really, I was hoping to get Hailey a birthday present though. After all, I won’t be here for her actual birthday.” Hagrid said. “You mind if we make a quick extra stop?”

“Well, what are you thinking?” Tewi said.

“I was thinking of getting her a proper wizarding animal. Owl’d be best, dead useful creatures they are, keep down pests, and carry yer mail. Great for keeping in touch with people. Is Hailey allowed pets?”

“That depends on Hailey.” Tewi said, before addressing her. “How about it? If Hagrid gets you an owl, it will be your responsibility to look after it.”

“I think I can do that.” Hailey said, with enthusiasm, the dubious wand forgotten. “Having a postal owl sounds pretty cool.”

“Alright, you can have one.” Tewi said. “Just be sure to teach it not to hunt any rabbits, otherwise you might get a few complaints.”

“Oh, didn’t think of that.” Hagrid said apologetically.

Tewi waved him off. “Don’t worry about it, it takes more than a magical postal owl to take out an Inaba. But for the owls sake, its probably best to make sure it gets the memo. Some of the family like baiting hunters and preditors…” 

She stopped for a minute to consider if she needs to rephrase that.

‘Nope,’ she eventually decided, ‘Neither interpretation is inaccurate.’

Some of her family had weird hobbies.

Chapter Text

I am taking a small break from releasing for the next two-three weeks.

Had a rough time recently, I got a little too ambitious and started writing three chapters a week, which worked for a while, and I was pretty proud of myself. but I think I stressed myself out trying to keep it up and fell off a little bit, and ended up with a bunch of half finished chapters.

And to top it off, I had to take a few days off writing, because our Family dog died, Eccles. He was was old, and he had a lot of health problems, He died on Halloween, I had to dig the grave. It sorta took the wind out of my sails a bit (even thinking about it now makes me feel teary). I still tried to write things this week, but I barely finished a chapter.

I'm not taking a break from writing, but I'm taking a break from releasing, to take the stress off a bit, top up my backlog, and do some editing, Since even for me, I've been getting sloppy (I'm currently investigating getting an editor, to take that off my workload so I can focus on the writing part).

Sorry about this, Hopefully I'll be back, bright and bushy tailed in a week or two, and we will resume with the scheduled release of Youkai of Grudge and Silent Daughter.

This is a Temp chapter, and will be deleted after the break.