Petunia Dursley hated the neighbors across the street in Number 5, Privet Drive. She put on an act around them of course, as the whole neighborhood enjoyed the company of the two women (Lesbians! In her neighborhood! Freaks almost worse than wizards, Petunia thought).

Then they had to go and adopt a child - well! She wished she would have known they were looking into it, she thought bitterly as she watched the now ten year old Harry cook breakfast. Petunia would have been gleeful in handing over Harry Potter. Let the lot of them be a family of freaks and her family be normal.

Things never seemed to go her way, however.

Harry and Alex (the name of the orphan ruffian the lesbians had adopted) had grown up friends, despite her efforts to isolate the boy. Rumors about his delinquency didn't unnerve the lesbians (really, she should have known their names after nearly twelve years) the way it did everyone else. They encouraged their tomboy "daughter" to play with the brat. Though she did like the girl a little, Petunia grudgingly admitted to herself. She seemed mostly normal and was eager to help out - even if it was so Harry would have free time to play with her. But the girl did keep the boy out of trouble, so she allowed it.

She scowled into her coffee and snapped at the boy about burning the bacon he set before her. Harry nodded and carefully scraped off the burnt parts - it wouldn't do to cook more and throw this lot in the trash as Vernon would notice and lock him away for wasting food.

Soon enough, Harry and Dudley were off at school, Vernon was at work, and Petunia was left to stew in silence.

Break

Harry plonked down next to Alex Smith on the bus, giving her a grin. "Morning, Al!" he chirped.

Alex glared weakly at him. "You know I'm not a morning person," she groused, brushing some of her long brown bangs out of her eyes. Really need to cut it, she thought idly.

"I am, and you're not gonna get anything other than cheery from me," he informed his best and only friend solemnly.

"Then go be cheery somewhere else," she retorted with a wrinkled nose.

"Hmm." Harry tapped his chin, pretending to think. "Nah."

The girl sighed and slumped against the window. "I'm just glad school is almost over. Two more days and then we're free from that hell."

Harry patted her arm sympathetically. Bullied kids had a tendency to stick together. "Then we're free to make our own fun. And we'll both be eleven soon! You're lucky enough to have your birthday a week after school, mine's right in the middle of summer."

Alex's hazel eyes lit up. "That's right! I can't wait to be eleven! I'm so excited, my mums are gonna get me some new books and, um, some of the other stuff you're sworn to secrecy about! I can do some of that on my own then! And you can join if you like, when you're eleven. Mum and ma said that you're welcome to. You're already practicing anyway. Might as well do the full initiation."

"So much for not being a morning person," he teased lightly. Then he turned thoughtful. "I think I'd like that. It'd be brilliant to really be a part of your family. You know how I feel about mine."

Alex nodded. "Yeah. I understand. You're gonna love it when we celebrate Samhain."

The bus jolted to a stop at the school, ending their conversation for the moment. They filed into class quietly and took their seats, preparing for their tests. The next days would be a joke, and then summer could truly begin.

Break

Alex hummed as she crossed the street to number 4, happy to help Harry complete his chores at the Dursley house so they could go to the park or back to her house to practice their herbs and learn more about the Greek gods and goddesses. She and Harry enjoyed those lores in particular, and she seriously considered picking a couple of those gods to worship. Harry was too, and she often teased him about looking Greek thanks to his tanned skin and dark, messy hair.

Rocking back on her heels after ringing the bell, she thought more about it. Maybe they would do it when they initiated Harry. After that, lessons would surely be easier, she reasoned.

"Hi Mrs. Dursley," she greeted when the door swung open. "I'm here to help, like always! Where's Harry and what needs to be done?"

Petunia sighed and stood aside to let Alex in. "Right now, dear, he's cleaning the bathroom. He should be done soon, and then the two of you can weed the garden. I suggest putting on sunscreen; the weathermen say it's going to be very hot outside. Make sure to drink plenty of water, too."

"Yes ma'am," Alex answered, going straight for the hall closet. She plucked the sunscreen from she shelf and applied to the exposed areas of her skin.

Harry finished halfway through her process and began the same on himself. When Petunia was distracted with something else, he whispered, "Did you do the spell?"

Alex nodded. "Yeah, but it's always good to have backup. I trust in my magick, but I always have a backup. Especially with my crazy pale skin. We should be 100% from the sun today."

Harry grinned, relieved. He hated sunburns. "Thank you."

As they weeded, two owls come out of nowhere and landed in their garden.

"What the?" Alex muttered, watching them strangely. Owls weren't her spirit animal - Harry had an owl for one, she knew, but she didn't. Then they hooted and stuck out their legs.

"Alex? Are they...carrying letters?" Harry asked, confused.

"They appear to be," she replied, just as perplexed. She untied the letter from the owl in front of her and Harry did the same.

"How did they know I lived in the cupboard?" Harry stared at the envelope, alarmed, before he looked to Alex accusingly. "You're playing a prank on me, aren't you?"

"No!" she swore. "I have no idea about any of this."

He looked at her a moment more before nodding. "Okay, I believe you. Let's hurry and read these before Aunt Petunia sees and takes mine away."

"Agreed."

They both began their letters, owls still in the dirt, unaware that their lives were about to change forever.

A/N: This chapter is mostly preliminary, laying background work and foundations for what is to come as Harry and Alex grow into the Wicca religion and go to Hogwarts. I don't pretend to be an expert, I have only been Wicca for a year, but I believe I've learned enough to portray what two eleven year olds might know and learn from Alex's moms. Please don't automatically assume stuff about devil worshiping, I get enough of it for liking Harry Potter in the first place, let alone having a religion that revolves around magick and saving the earth.

Edit: If you received notifications about me reuploading this chapter, I apologize. I was having trouble getting my break lines in and it seems I need to have words, so I have to go with the ugly, flow breaking "Break" instead.