Disclaimer: I don't own WOWP but if I did I doubt they would allow it on Disney channel.

Chapter Three: Mine

Alex tried popping in. She tried every possible spell she could think of to get into that room and a few she made up. Then enlisting her father's help she tried spell after spell that he listed off from memory even going as far as to go through several different spell books looking for a way in. Nothing worked; he was locked up tight and solid in his bedroom. Finally she popped herself out on the ledge outside his room so she could look into his window. She almost stepped back off the ledge in shock when she saw him. He was lying on the floor in convulsions, white foam dripping out of his mouth. She wanted to scream out to him but thought better of it. She didn't want people to see her and think she was about to jump or something. Instead she wrapped the edge of her shirt sleeve around her fist and pounded it into the window hard enough to crack the glass but it didn't give. She tried a few more times with no luck and finally popped back inside.

Nearly in tears now she pulled out her wand and used it to call Professor Crumbs. She did her best not to sound hysterical but she was pretty sure she failed considering the whiny quality to her voice and the tears pouring down her face. It only took a moment for Crumbs to appear and she sucked up her sniffles, scrubbed the tears from her face, and set a fierce glare on him. She was intensely displeased with Professor Crumbs. Today had not just been a bad day for Justin although it was going exceedingly down hill for him.

She had been extremely nervous all morning because she had known she was going to lose. Despite being dropped to the bottom in the ranks Justin had only grown more and more powerful and she knew she couldn't compete with him. She was the last in the running, even behind Max and although she knew she could still slip ahead of him Justin was a whole other obstacle. He was like a brick wall and she had fully expected to lose her powers today. Instead she was losing Justin and the knowledge made her sick to her stomach. How she wished she had merely lost her powers today.

There wasn't really anyone to blame for it so she decided it was best to blame Crumbs. He was the one who had announced Justin was not her brother. He was the one that was tearing her family apart. He was the one who was taking Justin away from her. People might say it was wrong to kill the messenger but didn't the messenger deserve it sometimes? If the stupid messenger wanted to stay alive anyway maybe he should just keep his big fat mouth shut.

Professor Crumbs looked around the room with boredom before opening his mouth to make comment. "Well the world doesn't seem to be at it's end… so I guess the question is why someone managed to call me at my private number and screech so horribly at me?" he said with condescension.

Alex balled up her fists and stood stiffly holding back the strong urge to fling herself at the old man, yank his beard off, and stuff it down his throat to shut him up. "Justin's locked himself in his room. No spell can get it open and he's lying on the floor having a seizure. We need to get him out of there." Alex said stiffly trying to control her anger and anxiety.

Crumbs stroked his beard thoughtfully. "This is a good sign. I think perhaps we should just let him be." He said decisively before turning his back on Alex as if to leave.

"What!" Alex cried out in panic and disbelief ready to launch herself forward and tackle the old wizard. She would sit on him until he agreed to let her in Justin's room she decided about to step forward.

Her father and Max stepped forward each grabbing one of her arms to prevent her from moving. Maybe they had read her mind or maybe they had just seen the crazy expression on her face and knew she was about to attack the wizard but either way they had ruined her plan. Truthfully, she had completely forgotten the rest of the family was there. To her the world had narrowed to only include Crumbs, Justin, and herself.

Jerry spoke to Crumbs' retreating figure. "What do you mean? It's a good sign how?" he asked.

Professor Crumbs turned back around to address the Russos. "It means the reversal spell has worked to some extent. Sickness is to be expected. I did not think it would be this harsh but I guess I underestimated his power. You see partially the sickness is due as punishment for using a restricted spell but it is also his power returning to him as the spell dissolves." he told them.

Jerry looked at him in confusion. "I don't understand." he said looking to the elder wizard for explanation.

Crumbs sighed. "Justin is an extremely powerful wizard. Once he reaches his full powers he could be the most powerful wizard ever born. The wizard council first learned of his developing powers when he was five but we know they came even sooner than that. His father just neglected to inform anyone of the matter. You know as well as any other wizard, Jerry, that most wizards don't start developing powers until puberty. Reports say that at five magic was practically seeping from his pores. He had nearly as much power as an adult but it was completely unpredictable and unmanageable. You know a thirteen year old wizard should not be able to cast a spell that bends the world around him to his liking and even if they could manage it there is no way it could hold. Well, Justin's spell held for nine years and would have kept until the end of time but it leached at his powers… and now those powers are returning to him. That is why you could not get inside his room. His magic is too strong for you to break" he explained calmly.

All four of the Russo's mouths hung open in shock that their mild mannered goofy Justin was quite possibly the most powerful wizard ever born.

Crumbs interrupted their shock to announce his departure. "Jerry… Theresa," he nodded to them both. "You two have done a very good job of raising and guiding Justin. We are all very lucky that by some twist of fate you became his parents. He will be okay and once he regains his powers he will be a good and responsible wizard thanks to you both. Now I must go. I'm afraid I'm late for a very important appointment." he told them turning once again to make his exit.

"Wait!" Alex shouted out to him. "Could you… could you please open his room. I just have to be able to see him! I need to see him, know that he's there, know that he is okay." she pleaded the whiny quality returning to her voice, fresh tears rolling down her cheeks.

Crumbs smiled at her as he reached into his robe pulling out a black spherical object with a long fuse. It looked exactly like a cartoon bomb. "This is an undo bomb. A very concentrated and explosive form of undo dust" he explained. "It's used when you can find no other way to get past a spell. If this does not work, I'm sorry but I can't help you. Stick it to his door and light the fuse with your wand." he instructed her before handing it over and finally leaving the apartment.

Alex didn't waste any time. She immediately ran up the stairs straight to Justin's bedroom. She smacked the bomb up against Justin's door and it stuck on easily even though it was not sticky. Pulling her wand out of her boot she raised it to the fuse and sang out a verse. "Come on baby light my fire." The sparks flew, the fuse lit, and the entire building shook. She could see the invisible barrier around his room flicker and then die out. She smiled in relief when she reached out to turn the knob and the door easily opened.

Again she had forgotten she wasn't alone but the feeling fell away when Mom, Dad, and Max rushed forward. Dad and Max lifted Justin up onto the bed and Mom pulled a handkerchief from her pocket wiping the foamy liquid from his chin. Alex stood back in annoyance watching them all hover over Justin. Part of her understood. He wasn't just her brother. He was also Max's brother, he was Jerry's son, and he was Theresa's son also but another part of her screamed inside of her brain. 'He's mine! Go away! He's mine!'

She didn't know why but she had kind of always felt like she owned Justin and he was solely hers. He was always there for her, always protecting her, always cleaning up her messes. It wasn't really hard for her to think of him as hers. So she stood back and waited until they all left. They slowly drifted out one after another until finally she was alone. She stepped forward and stared down at him. He seemed to be sleeping peacefully now. Reaching out she stroked his hair and touched his face reassured by the warmness of his skin. Then for whatever reason she felt the need to crawl into bed with him and set her ear against his chest so she could hear the beat of his heart. The long emotion wrenching day took it toll on her. Finally finding herself in a resting position her eyes drifted shut and she fell into sleep and dreams. Dreams of her past.

Alex Russo took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She blew out a steady stream of air moving her head back and forth so that her breath would encompass all five of her birthday candles. As the last puff of air left her lungs she made her wish. She wanted a friend. A friend that would completely be hers and hers alone. She was tired of sharing with her little brother Max. As her eyes opened she looked around the substation searching for her new friend. Hoping he had already miraculously appeared but no one was there except for her family. She frowned disappointedly and huffed out her annoyance that her parents had lied to her about birthday wishes coming true. Her mother was quick to explain that sometimes wishes took a little time to come true but Alex only rolled her eyes at this. Wishes were magic and magic was obviously just a lie she was only sad that she wasn't going to get her friend.

The day went on and the sub shop filled with customers who came and went. Alex sat at the bar eating her birthday cake and coloring in one of her new coloring books she got for her birthday. She wore her pink princess birthday hat all day because her parents insisted on it even though she hated it. Then the shop closed and her parents were busy cleaning up. She hopped down from her stool and was just about to tug on he mom's pants to tell her she wanted to go upstairs to watch cartoons when the shop door opened. In walked an old man in a weird bathrobe and a little boy that looked like he was the same age as her.

Alex ran to her dad hiding behind him shyly as he wrapped her arms around his leg peeking out to look at the little boy. The old man had a grim look on his face and the usual cheery look on her dad's face dimmed.

"Jerry, I've come to you because I need a favor. I need you to train this boy in magic." The man said as Alex listened wide eyed.

Her dad frowned before answering. "But this boy can't be much older than my little Alex. He can't possibly need training yet."

"Yes, he is only five but the magic is already inside of him. It's very strong and out of control. He desperately needs training." The man said urgently.

Her dad questioned the old man. "What about his own father… or mother. Why can't he be trained by them?" he asked.

The old man answered simply. " His mother is mortal. Very fragile and his father… His father is Russell Denalli."

Her father's frown turned into a deep scowl and he rubbed the skin over his chest as if it pained him. "Denalli… No! I can't." he said fervently.

The man grabbed his father's hand pulling it away from his chest. "We are not asking. We are telling. Justin needs guidance. He needs a teacher that will instill responsibility and accountability in him. We believe you to be the correct choice. You will teach him." he said with determination.

Her father sighed with defeat. "And where will I train him. I'm sure that you are aware that I lost my powers when I married." he said hoping that detail would get him out of the commitment.

The old man walked back to the vegetable crisper. He pulled out a stick and waved it around. When he opened the refrigerator door a den of sorts appeared with all sorts of crazy and interesting objects crammed into it.

Alex gasped out and ran into the room finally pulling herself away from her father's leg. Her father was about to follow her when the man stopped him. He guided the boy into the room and shut the door leaving her alone with the boy. Alex took a few minutes to wander around the room touching everything. Once she had explored to her satisfaction, for now at least, she turned to look at the boy. He was cute with sad gray eyes and shaggy dark hair.

She walked up to him smiling. "Hi! My name is Alex! And you're Justin right! Today is my birthday!" she spat it all out with amazing speed and excitement.

Justin just stood silent staring at her.

Alex took a step closer to him lowering her voice secretively. "Are you really magic?" she asked. "Because I kinda thought magic wasn't real."

No answer.

The vegetable crisper door reopened and the weird old man reappeared. Justin ran out the door leaving her standing there looking after him and before she knew it they both disappeared.

Where he had been standing was a green shiny box. She grabbed it and looked inside. She found a candy bracelet with a little heart on it that said 'friends'. A smile lit up her face and her heart warmed. Her wish had come true because she got her friend, he was all hers, and amazingly he was magic.

Author's Note: Alex and Justin are the same age in this story. I will probably explain it later in the story but just in case I forget... When Justin cast the spell it made his birth date a year earlier because Alex and Justin are only a few months apart in age and if they kept their birth dates the same it would be a dead give away something was not right. So this kind of explains why Justin is always portrayed as weakling. In this story he is actually a year or more younger than he thinks which explains why he always seems to be a bit behind physically. Thanks for reading and have an awesome day!