"Can I please take the Hogwarts Express to Hogwarts? I want to arrive at school just like all the other kids!" Olivia pulled at her father's robes as they walked through Diagon Alley.

Tomorrow Olivia will be starting her first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. As soon as she got her letter on 3 April 1991, exactly nine days before her eleventh birthday, she couldn't stop dreaming about her first day and all the things she would be learning throughout her seven years there. She even had the letter memorized:

Dear Ms. Snape,

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

"I'd rather you arrive with me, Olivia," her father said without looking down at her, speaking in his normal, deep, and monotone voice. Olivia Snape is the daughter of Severus Snape, Potions master at Hogwarts and has been for twenty years.

Although Olivia has never been to Hogwarts, it already felt like a second home to her. Not only because her father was a professor there and she got to hear all the stories about what went on there from him, but because it's where her father and mother met. Her mother, Honoria Bloxam, was a year below her father. She was a fourth year and he was a fifth year when they met. She dropped out of school before her seventh year when her father asked her mother to marry him; they had Olivia two years later. When Olivia was only one year old, her mother died. Her father said that her mother was sick for a long time and he knew she didn't have long after Olivia was born. Her mother's death happened only a month before the end of the First Wizarding War and the death of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Olivia grew up hearing the stories and rumors about He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and the awful things he has done along with the Death Eaters. Awful, Awful people they were. If it weren't for Harry Potter, also known as The Boy Who Lived, who knows what would have happened to their world.

Oh yes, Olivia knew all about Harry Potter. Who didn't? He was the only wizard to ever survive The Killing Curse. He was only a baby too! Only a year old to be exact. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was defeated by a one year old. Olivia always found that rather amusing. Unfortunately, the poor boy lost both his parents to The Killing Curse right before He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named performed it on him, and failed. No one knows why he survived. Olivia has asked her father numerous times in hopes to find an answer, but he always had the same response, "I don't know Olivia. No one does. Now stop asking." No one really knows what happened to him after that night either. His home was destroyed and he hasn't been spotted growing up anywhere close. Olivia had always assumed he just disappeared and would eventually come back when he was older.

"Please Dad! I promise I'll behave! I want to meet my classmates before arriving at the school. Besides, do you know how bad it'll look arriving at Hogwarts with a professor? Honestly Dad, that won't help me make friends," Olivia pleaded with her father as they arrived at Ollivanders Wand Shop to get her very first wand.

"We'll discuss this later, Olivia," he said opening the door, motioning for her to go inside.

Getting a wand was one of the many things on the list that first years need to bring with them. Others included:

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)

Course Books:

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

Other Equipment:

1 wand

1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)

1 set glass or crystal phials

1 telescope

1 set brass scales

Olivia has never actually been into Ollivanders. She's looked into the shop through it's window when her and her father would go into Diagon Alley from time to time, but this was the first time she was ever stepping foot into the shop in order to get her first wand. She scanned the place up and down, looking at all the dusty boxes and clutter. It was dark in the shop too. It gave the whole place a creepy feel.

"Why hello there Severus. Good to see you. Ah, this must be Olivia." Olivia jumped when the man spoke. She didn't see where he could have come from.

"Hello Ollivander. Yes, this is my daughter Olivia — she'll be starting her first year at Hogwarts this year," her father put his hand on top of Olivia's head as he spoke. He stood rather tall, like usual when he spoke to people. She's been told her father's intimidating and scary, especially if you're a student of his. It may be because of his black hair that falls just above his shoulders or his eyes, black like tunnels, or the way he's able to sometimes speak while barely moving his mouth. She's not too sure. She's hoping it's not his looks since she has the same black hair and eyes, although her hair is longer. She was used to his ways of course, but since she's never had him as a professor she wonders what he'll be like.

"Very exciting, eh?" Mr. Ollivander turned to Olivia.

"Yes, sir," she smiled.

"I remember your mother's wand like it was yesterday. 10 ½ inches, Elm Wood, Unicorn Tail Hair." Olivia knew about Mr. Ollivander and his gift of being able to remember practically every wand he has ever sold, no matter how long ago it was.

Mr. Ollivander started roaming the shop. Picking up some boxes, examining them, and putting them back. He did this six times before smiling and bringing a box to Olivia. "Why don't you give this a try? 9 ½ inches, Willow Wood, Unicorn Tail Hair," He handed her a short, grayish wand. She studied it for a moment before waving it. It dropped to the floor without doing a thing.

"Hmm, no, no," Mr. Ollivander went back to searching through boxes and boxes of wands before coming back with a different one. "This — 10 inches, Alder Wood, Dragon Heartstring," It was longer than the last one and was light brown. She took the wand from his hand and noticed the connection to it right away. She gave it a wave and sparks flew out of the end of it, creating a string of light as she moved it.

"A perfect fit!" Mr. Ollivander exclaimed, "As you know Ms. Snape, the wand chooses the Wizard…or Witch in your case of course — and this wand seems very fond of you." Olivia looked to her father and then back at Mr. Ollivander.

"Er, thank you Mr. Ollivander," Olivia half-smiled to Mr. Ollivander as he took the wand back to wrap it up. She looked to her father, wanting to say "He's a bit of a weird bloke, isn't he?" but decided against it.

After getting everything she needed they went home. Olivia and her father live in her father's childhood home in Spinner's End. It's not known as a neighborhood for the rich. Her father grew up poor. She doesn't know much about her grandparents and the way her father was raised. She only knew that they hadn't had much money, but since her father's a professor he makes a bit more money than he grew up with. Olivia had asked once why they never moved, but her father said there was no point in moving since he spends most of the year at Hogwarts. While he lives at Hogwarts during the school year, Olivia stays at home, usually watched by neighbors. This only started a year or two ago. Before that, when she was little, her father lived at home, going back and forth to Hogwarts during the day to teach and coming home at night. It was a long trip, but her father didn't mind it because he wanted to be around for her. This year will be the first year they're both under the same roof for a long period of time.

"Go upstairs and pack your trunk. We're going to have to be up early if we're going to get there on time — and don't forget Athena," her father told her as they both walked upstairs. Athena is her pet owl that her father got her for her eleventh birthday. She had been begging him for an owl for ages. Actually, any type of pet really, so her father surprised her with Athena.

"So about how we're getting to Hogwarts tomorrow…" Olivia stopped at the top of the staircase, blocking her father from moving forward.

"Oh alright Olivia! You can take the Hogwarts Express, but just this once. Next year you are coming with me, understand?"

"Yes, sir," Olivia was too busy smiling from ear to ear to care that her father said next year she has to go with him. "Thank you!" She wrapped her arms around her father and squeezed him tight.

"You're welcome — now go pack," He patted her head and she ran off towards her room.