DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter. All rights go to J.K. Rowling for writing such a brilliant story.

Chapter 1

Penelope Riddle sighed, running a hand through her sleek black hair. She stood out on the balcony belonging to her French townhouse, watching the traffic stream below her during rush hour. Something about the city made her feel at ease. Easier than being back in Scotland, she thought. Penelope always hated the hills and endless strips of grass. She wrapped her cardigan around her small frame as a gust of wind pushed past her.

"Mommy?" a small voice asked and Penelope whipped her head around, finding her eleven-year old daughter standing in the living room with a blanket in one hand and the other rubbing her eyes. Her heart grew heavy with emotion. Her precious gem was now eleven; the special age when she would be whisked away by magic and sorcery and everything that is related to him.

Penelope checked her clock and saw that it was merely five in the afternoon. She gave a small smile, coming over and stroking her daughter's untamed black hair. She always did have such gorgeous, thick hair, she mused to herself. Just like her father's. "What is it love?" Penelope sighed, crouching down and smoothing the stubborn curls away from the girl's porcelain face.

Olivia Riddle is a pretty little thing. Rose lips, cherub cheeks, pale skin that should be concerning. She was small for her age and very thin even though the doctors insisted she was just as healthy as everyone else. Penelope couldn't help but feel proud looking at the beautiful girl her and Tom produced. The girl yawned and opened her eyes, revealing the same exact pair of eyes that Penelope once fell in love with. Olivia blinked those gray eyes and shivers ran down Penelope's spine, the way Tom's eyes would. The little girl murmured in a small voice, "I want to read a story."

Penelope sighed once more but in melancholy. She used to remember those days when the Slytherin power couple skipped classes for a day. The two of them would sit in his prefect bedroom, reading books side by side on the plush carpets. Tom would always read aloud, Penelope right next to him, listening intently and asking questions only to be answered with a kiss on the temple by Tom. Olivia was an avid reader, well advanced for her age. She scooped Olivia in her arms and nodded, walking towards the library, "Very well darling. A book and then we can go and eat dinner? How about that?"

The eleven-year old simply nodded, wrapping her thin arms around Penelope's neck, "Alright, mommy." Those two words were so simple, so sweet, so innocent. Penelope cradled her daughter to herself and kissed her forehead. She never wanted her only child, her precious gem, her angel to grow up.

But inevitably, tomorrow is September 1st – Olivia's first day at Hogwarts. She remembered Olivia's face when it brightened upon finding her first wand - 11 inches, yew wood, veela hair core. "Perfect." Penelope breathed out, fingering her own oak wood wand with a veela hair core.

Mr. Ollivander nodded in agreement, "Yes Mrs. Riddle, the wand suits someone who is beautiful, independent, and quite brilliant. Her wand contains your core, but as I remember, her father's wood type."

Penelope looked at Mr. Ollivander, letting his words sink in then to Olivia, who hugged the wand to herself, satisfied with her new wand.

She also remembered getting Olivia fitted for new robes at Madame Malkins. She picked normal black ones, two robes in cotton for the hotter season, two in wool for winter and fall. Penelope also bought seven other robes, magically charmed to change the lining of it to whatever house Olivia will be sorted into (Penelope hoped it would be green partly because the green clashed so well with Olivia's dark hair). Olivia grinned and swished her new robes, dressed in a crisp white button down , and pleated black skirt, "I look like a real student now Mommy."

Penelope shook her head, snapping her back to reality and picked out a random book from the shelves, Hogwarts: A History.

A while later, after getting Olivia dressed into a black taffeta dress and herself in a black cocktail dress, the mother-daughter duo sat at the mahogany dining room table, Penelope with her red wine and Olivia with her apple juice. Olivia's nose was buried into a book about Potions, which her mother smiled at. A knock echoed through the air and Penelope wiped her mouth after her sip, careful to not smudge her red lipstick. Penelope smoothed out her dress before walking towards the door, heels clacking. She glanced at Olivia who turned around in her chair, blinking at Penelope with her head titled to the left. Penelope flashed Olivia a smile and opened the double doors. A couple with a little boy stood in front of Penelope and she nodded in greeting, "Come in Narcissa, Lucius."

Lucius nudged the boy, dressed in black robes and black slacks, with his cane and swooped in to kiss Penelope on the cheek, "Lovely as ever, Penelope."

"Thank you Lucius," she said, her voice small. She turned towards Narcissa and smiled, "Cissa, I've miss you."

Narcissa, looking elegant in her emerald cocktail dress and her blond hair up, embraced Penelope in a fierce hug, "You never owl me anymore, Pen."

"I've been busy." Penelope answered. She finally noticed the little boy and bent down, "And you must be Draco."

Narcissa put a hand on Draco's shoulder and he looked up at his mother, "Mother who is this?"

"A very close family friend Draco, be polite." Lucius chided, walking towards the dining room where Olivia still sat, watching.

"Draco, pet, this is Penelope, my dearest friend. You can call her Aunty Penny." Narcissa said.

Draco nodded, "Nice to meet you Aunty Penny."

Penelope smiled affectionately at the youngest member of the Malfoy family. "Very nice to meet you Draco."

Stiff, polite and inquisitive – Malfoy traits that Lucius and Narcissa should be proud of. The grooming that boy must have gone through, Penelope thought, looking at her own child. Olivia has always been well-mannered. Penelope raised her like a lady; always act poised, be smarter than witches her age, and to always be confident. Olivia walked up to Penelope and whispered behind her mother, "Mommy, who're these people?"

"Penelope darling," Penelope started, grabbing Olivia by the shoulders, "This is Lucius Malfoy, his wife Narcissa, and their son Draco Malfoy. He will be attending Hogwarts with you."

Olivia nodded and watched as Narcissa push her son forward gently, "Say hi Draco."

Draco's cheek tinged a slight pink as he cleared his throat, "Hello."

Olivia did the same, curled her hair behind one ear and smiled shyly, "Hi."

Lucius and Narcissa looked at Penelope, smiles forming on their faces. Penelope knew this was the best thing to do; introduce the pair while they are still young. Maybe they'll grow up to hate each other or better yet, to love each other. Opposites attract, Penelope mused, leading the Malfoys to the dinner table.

Dinner went by smoothly, Lucius and Narcissa making small talk with Penelope while Draco and Olivia ate silently, sneaking curious glances at each other. Penelope took the last bite of her seasoned asparagus and patted Olivia on the head, making the girl look up from her plate. "Livia, why don't you and Draco head towards the play room? Mommy has to talk to the Malfoys for just a couple minutes."

Olivia nodded, sliding off the chair and walking towards the play room. She paused, looking behind her looking at Draco. Draco looked to his father and got the nod of approval, catching up with the little girl.

In the play room, Olivia sat at her painting bench, absentmindedly drawing a tree. Draco sat on a purple bean bag, looking bored to tears. Olivia sighed, putting the crayon down and pulling out a board game, Chutes and Ladders. Olivia would play this game for hours, beating her mother every time. She looked at Draco and asked, "Wanna play?"

Draco turned his nose at the game with a sneer, "Is that a Muggle game?"

Olivia nodded, raking a hand through her hair as she set up the board, "It's fun, I promise."

Draco reluctantly kneeled down next to Olivia, staring at the little girl as she explained the rules animatedly, happy that she found a friend to play with other than the house elves and her mother.

Penelope crossed her legs on the armchair, looking at the regal couple, "So, what do you plan we do?"

Narcissa shrugged, leaning in closer to her husband, "I don't know darling. I suppose we wait it out till he comes back. We can drop both of them off at the station and let them do their own work."

Lucius nodded in agreement, "We cannot really force them upon each other, they are young. We do not want them hating us either. We will see what the Dark Lord says when he comes."

Penelope shivered subtly at the fact that she would see him again after eleven years. "Yes, I suppose."

After the Malfoys were shown out, Penelope sighed as she shut the door behind her. She leaned against it, drained. The Malfoys were good people, excellent people. Lucius and Narcissa were her very best friends all throughout her years at Hogwarts and still are. But will Olivia go through the plans like she expected her to? She looked at a sleeping Olivia, sprawled out on one of the leather couches in the lavish living room.

Tired from all the games she played with Draco, Olivia must have fallen asleep when Penelope was talking to the Malfoys. She took off her black stilettos and crept over to her angel. She gently picked up the child, smiling softly when Olivia snuggled into Penelope's embrace.

Penelope walked over to the very last door of the hallway, a black door with gold leaves embroidering the edges. She opened it gently and tucked in the little girl on the champagne colored bed, lifting an arm to place a pillow. Penelope leaned down, kissing Olivia on the forehead and whispered, "Good night, gem."