Chapter Text
Alex Degust was always different from the rest of her family. They all acted like they knew something she didn't. She looked different then all of them. Each of them had pale skin and green eyes paired with sandy blonde hair, compared to Alex's tan skin, brown eyes and brown hair. She was often treated like a ticking time bomb. She knew it was because they thought she was a ticking time bomb.
When she was about 7, she had made a ball explode with just her mind. Alex was sure it was that they were now scared that she would make them explode. Couldn't say she wasn't temped to. Alex was more scared she would do it to someone that didn't deserve it.
She was starting to think that her family didn't want her around. It started with odd comments and cold shoulders, but now, it's death glares and being flat out ignored.
Alex was now hiding at the back of the oval. She didn't fancy having her hair pulled by Dudley and his gang of Wanna-Be sumo wrestlers. Whenever she mentioned this to any adult, they would just tell her that he liked her. That would be very unlikely. Even if he did, this seemed like a way to get the opposite effect of what he wanted. She had never liked him in the first place, anyway, but what Alex wanted was to be friends with the small boy that got the brunt of Dudley's tomfoolery, but every time she tried to, she would get her hair yanked and the small boy a workout. She thought it was best to leave it alone.
The boy also got treated badly, getting chased every other day. Alex felt bad for him. The most people showed that they didn't like her was comments, cold stares and yanking hair.
Alex heard laughing coming from the other side of the oval. She saw the other girls in her year. She knew damn well that the girls on the other side of the oval were laughing at her, she could hear them quite loudly. It was they favourite past time. She never mentioned this, seeing that it would bring pity, and she didn't need anyone's pity, seeing there was plenty of that from herself. She looked over her shoulder to see the small boy running away from the Wanna-Be sumo wrestlers. Alex felt bad yet again, someone mention them being cousins or something along those lines. She would hate being related to that piece of rubbish and she related to enough of those. She stood up and walked over to the boy.
"Hello!" The boy jumped. She didn't mean to startle him.
"Sorry." She pressed, quickly. "Dudley's quite the wanker, isn't he." He giggled.
"Yes, quite a wanker. You're the girl Dudley always likes to yank the hair of, aren't you?"
"Yep, that's me. I was wondering if-"
"OI, POTTER!" Dudley had spotted them. He walked over and went to grab Alex's hair.
Alex grabbed his hand°. Dudley let out a loud gasp.
"You listen closely, Tosspot. I don't have the plague. You and your band of Wanna-Be sumo wrestlers best jog on." Alex let go of Dudley's arm and saw that he had wet himself. He started to run away, crying.
"What a wuss." The boy looked like he had just met Jesus himself.
"That was AWESOME!" He jumped up and hugged her.
"Really?" Alex hugged back. She felt him nod vigorously.
"So, what's your name?" Alex asked, still in the hug. Harry stepped away.
"Harry. What's yours?"
"Alex." She smiled.
"I think you finally made Dudley give up."
***
After that experience, the two of them were attached at the hip. They came to found out that they lived a few houses down from each other. Knowing this had made their summers much more bare able.
Alex had gone ballistic when she found out that Harry lived under the stairs.
"We need to call social services or something! That isn't normal, Harry!"
"And you living in the wine cellar is?"
"No, but I don't exactly have access to a phone, now do I?"
"I don't either. How are we supposed to call social services without a phone?"
"I don't know! I'm-" Alex sighed. "- I'm just worried about you, Harry. I'm pretty sure this is a form of abuse."
"Your family isn't much better than mine."
"I know, I know." Alex checked her watch.
"Crap. I need to be home in 2 minutes. Bye Harry!" Alex started sprinting home.
"DON'T DIE, ALEX!" Harry called before making his way home too.
***
As Harry's 11th birthday approached, Alex started to plan his birthday.
"But Harryyyyy, you've never had a real birthday, it'll be nothing fancy. Just us, I promise."
"Ok..."
"YES!!" Alex tackled Harry into a hug. "What's your favourite type of birthday cake?"
***
It was a few days before Harry's birthday and Alex was getting his cake. She just left the house when Harry came running up to her.
"Woah, Harry. Everything ok?"
"My-uncle's-gone-insane." He panted.
"Take a deep breathe, then explain."
"A bunch of letter came addressed to me for this place called Hog warts and My Aunt and Uncle lost they heads when they found out and more have been coming every day and our house is full of them and my uncle is taking us away." Alex felt defeated.
"That Motherfucking son of a bitch!" Harry was shocked by her choose of words but said nothing.
"Do you know how long for?"
"Nope."
"When are you leaving?"
"Now." Alex felt like crying.
"Oh."
Harry gave her a big hug.
"I'll miss you, Alex."
"I'll miss you, too Harry. Happy birthday."
"Thanks for trying to give me a birthday."
"We'll make up for it when you get back."
"ALEXANDRINA, GET INSIDE!"
"Goodbye, Harry."
"Bye, Alex."
***
A few days later, Alex was left alone at home. She was reading in the cellar when there was a bunch of knocking followed by a giant thud. The same thing happened but closer. Alex's Anxiety started to run around and throw a tantrum.
When the door to the cellar came crushing down, Alex let out a scream. A giant man with a hairy beard came down the stairs. He looked nice enough, but Alex didn't what to take any chances.
"Hello, there. Are yeh Alex?" The man asked. Alex sat there, frozen in fear.
"No need ter be so worried, Alex. I'm not goin' ter hurt yeh!"
"Who are you?" She asked timidly.
"Rather rude o' me! I'm Hagrid, gamekeeper at Hogwarts." Hagrid Explained
"What's Hogwarts?" Alex had heard of it before; she was still curious.
"Yeh don' know?! No wonder both yeh an' Harry aren' gettin' yeh letters."
"What does Harry have to do with this?"
"Oh, yeh met Harry. Tha' saves me a lot o' trouble." He started mumbling inaudibly.
"Well, I'm not goin' ter beat around the bush, Alex. Yeh are a witch. An' a bloody good one at tha'!" He paused. "Have yeh seen any letters from somewhere called Hogwarts?"
"No. Harry has."
"Well, here yeh go" Hagrid handed Alex a letter. She opened and read it silently.
Dear Miss Alexandrina Degust
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
"It's real?!"
"O' course 's real, I wouldn' knock down yeh doors if it wasn'" Alex continued reading.
First-year students will require:
1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)
2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
4. One winter cloak (black, with silver fastenings)
Please note that all pupil's clothes should carry name tags.
All students should have a copy of each of the following:
The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk
A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling
A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore
Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Other equipment:
1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 set glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set brass scales
Students may also bring, if they desire, an owl or a cat or a toad.
Parents are reminded that first years are not allowed their own broomstick
Yours sincerely,
Lucinda Thomsonicle-Pocus
Chief Attendant of Witchcraft Provisions
"So do you know where Harry is or do we have to track him down?"