A/N So this is an idea that's been floating around in my head for the past year or so, but I've never actually gotten around to doing anything with it till now. This is my first foray into actually writing fanfic, so a bit of constructive criticism would be helpful!

Be warned, this is definitely going to be A/U, so don't come crying to me later on about canon being messed with. Don't like, don't read!

Petunia Evans was conflicted. There on her desk was a rather large brown paper package from her little sister who was currently off gallivanting about in her precious magic school. Petunia couldn't figure out what to do with the package. Burn it? Toss it in the closet and forget it ever existed? Open it?

On one hand, it was from her perfect, pretty, talented, magical little sister. Lily was everything that Petunia wasn't. Ugly, scrawny, grouchy, untalented Petunia Evans. There was so much jealousy-fueled anger that always simmered right under the surface in Petunia, and just the sight of that package brought that simmer all the way up to a raging boil. It reminded Petunia of that pesky sense of inferiority that she'd been trying to ignore and forget. Why would she want to open that package if it was from the very individual that all of Petunia's jealousy and anger stemmed from?

On the other hand, it was from her little sister. Despite all of the jealousy Petunia felt for her, Petunia truly did love Lily. She was family, her own flesh and blood, her little sister! Sometimes, Petunia longed for the simpler times when she and Lily were younger, back when they actually got along with each other. The thought of opening that package from her little sister brought a pinprick of hope that maybe, just maybe, they could reconcile and actually be sisters again.

After another moment of indecision, Petunia chose to at least see what her sister had sent her. Unwrapping the package, she found a couple books, another box labeled A Beginner's Potions Kit, and a letter from Lily. Opening the letter, she read:

Hi Tuney! I hope you're doing well there at home. I know that you told me that you don't want anything to do with magic and my… freakishness. But please, don't shut me out! You're my big sister and I love you! I know that I'll be gone for most of the year and I can't make things better between us face to face, but… I want to at least try!

I asked my professors if any magic can be done by umm… normal people. Their answer was no. But don't worry! There are people in the magical world called "Squibs" who are born to magical parents, but can't do any magic. I learned that squibs can't cast spells, but they can still make some potions and do a bit of runework! I figured that since I've got magic and you're my sister, you've got to at least have some magic! I bet you can make potions and use runes!

Please! At least try to make a beginner's potion! It's just like following a recipe while cooking, and an easy potion won't take more than an hour!

Please, Tuney! I don't want to come home for Christmas and not be able to talk to my big sister! Maybe if this works out for you, we'll have something in common!

I know you don't have an owl or anything, so you don't have to worry about sending a letter back. But I'll see you on Christmas break, and I really hope that we can be real sisters again!

Love, Lily

Petunia was conflicted again. She didn't want Lily's pity, and the letter only reinforced the fact that Lily yet again had something that Petunia didn't. But it also gave her a bit of hope. Maybe, just maybe, she could do something different, something to make her parents praise her, something special. So Petunia picked up Magical Drafts and Potions and started reading about the Boil Cure potion.

Success! Sweet success! After reading up on the Boil Cure potion, Petunia decided to listen to Lily, and at least try to make the potion. Using an old pot and the camping stove found in the garage, Petunia carefully followed the instructions spelled out in the book. After almost an hour, Petunia took the pot off the stove and was the proud owner of a fine red paste that could allegedly cure any boil-like affliction that one may have. At this point, Petunia was tentatively hopeful. Yes, the potion had turned out to look like it was supposed to. But would it work?

Taking her pot of boil cure with her, Petunia walked to her bathroom and looked in the mirror. Petunia was thirteen at the moment, and had just entered the dreaded "acne stage" of teenage life. And there, right on her nose, was a bright red pimple. So with trembling hands, she dabbed a bit of her Boil Cure on her nose, right on the pimple. Then she waited. For several seconds, nothing happened, and Petunia felt her hope start slipping away. Then, she felt the aching pressure on her nose ease up a bit. Did she imagine it? No! There again! Faster now! Before her wide eyes, Petunia watched her reflection as her pimple slowly vanished as if it were magic. "Actually," Petunia thought with a widening smile, "It really is magic, isn't it?"

A/N Though it's rather short, I hope you enjoyed this little tidbit! And if you're worried about the fact that Petunia hasn't done anything with runes yet when the title of the story is "Runemistress," chillax. I'll get to it. This is, after all, only the first chapter.

Review please! I won't know if you like or don't like my story if you don't!