Okay so you guys are going to get a lot of updates in the coming weeks, because I got some time off (i.e. I quit my job) my husband/boyfriend thing figured since we have a baby teaching wasn't the most important thing for me right now, and I get that he doesn't feel comfortable with our infant with strangers. Oh and If anyone is curious I changed my pen name, because my legal name change came through.

Oh and cookie for your thoughts? Love ya, thank ya, mean it!

The weeks after Lucius' graduation were long to Olivia, but it seemed as though they flew by. She discovered she and Abraxas were a lot more alike than everyone had originally led her to believe. The two spent hours discussing books, politics, and even herbology. She even taught the grumpy old man to cook instead of relying solely on house elves for his meals.

The two spent so much time together the older man grew to love her as his son had. He hadn't spent much time out of his bedroom or library since his wife had died, but now he'd had a reason to come out of his self-imposed purgatory. He watched the small girl become a more vibrant woman, and smiled for the first time in almost eighteen years. She'd given him more hope than the average person had a right to deserve.

Lucius watched his father and sister become closer as the weeks went on, and it made him happy to see the two bonding so well. They'd even had Severus over several times for dinner, and Abraxas had sized up the boy before approving of him. Unbeknownst to both Abraxas and Livy though Lucius had placed not only himself, but was thinking of approaching Severus in the task of being a spy amongst the dark lord's forces…

Olivia sat with Abraxas in the library at Malfoy manor as the two sat reading in the library. It was at that moment that the man began coughing in a violent fit. She jumped from her spot across the fire from him and sat on the arm of his couch rubbing his back sloftly.

"Do you need me to get you anything?" she asked him once the coughs had subsided.

"No dear girl, no thank you," was his gentle response patting her hand. "I'm alright, just an old man with my ailment."

"You're not old, I've seen older looking men at Hogwarts after testing is done and over with," was her laughing reply.

The old man smiled, and stood up before dipping into a deep bow before her.

"Care to dance milady?" He asked her suavely.

"I'm afraid I don't know how..." she trailed off timidly.

"Then I'll teach you! Every woman should know how to dance." He said before pulling her up and sweeping her away.

In an impressive display of wandless, nonverbal magic he charmed the piano in the room to begin playing as he swept her across the floor. Her steps started out as clumsy, which never failed to make the older man laugh boisterously. Each time his bellowing laughter echoed across the large room she erupted into fits of giggles that made his smile spread.

From elsewhere in the house Lucius and Severus flooed in and the sound that met them caused both their eye brows to lift in question. The two followed the sound until the finally found the source of the giggles and merriment. Severus watched as the odd couple in the library dance beautifully across the room, and if either one made a mistake or misstep it would cause the two to erupt into a fit of laughter. As he shifted his gaze to his friend he notice the small smile trying to grace his features. The two left the dancing couple in the library undisturbed before heading up to Lucius' office.

As Severus seated himself across from his friend at the large oak desk he couldn't help but smile as he thought about the girl dancing and smiling as she dance with his best friend's father. He took heed as Lucius began to speak in that low business like voice he'd heard him use when watching him at the ministry.

"Severus with your parents dead the ministry has awarded your case to the closet family member to you as you are not of age. We know that Elieen left you the house and the possessions within, but you're not of age, and it will not be in your physical possession until you are. Of course you know that already."

"Yes, Lucius I do. I want to know who my closest relatives are now though; Muggle or wizard?" he asked wary of each with different reasons.

"The Department of Family Council contacted your mother's parents, and they've agreed to take you in. Although I'm not sure of the reception you'll receive I know they tried to reconnect with Elieen after her brother died, and they realized she was their only child left."

"What happened with that?"

"We both know your mother was a prideful woman, and wouldn't accept help or handouts if it would save her life." Lucius said sadly.

"I almost wish she'd let someone help her."

"I know…" The two trailed off as they noticed a figure in the doorway listening intently.

"Well don't let me stop you!" was all Liv had to say before she sat down in Severus' lap and snuggled into his warm body. This made the man smile and hold her closer to him as he stroked her arm with his thumb gently in a barely perceptible movement.

Lucius nodded and continued, "The two are on a holiday, and it was decided that you should stay here until they return under my father's supervision."

This news made Olivia smile and nuzzle closer to her boyfriend, and she thanked her lucky stars Abe was the head of the department. She'd been concerned about the fate of Sev when Lucius had told her that they'd been attacked by a group of angry muggles and neither Elieen nor Tobias had lived. Her heart had broken for the lost lives, but real sorrow wasn't felt. Olivia firmly believed that anyone who mistreats a child was the worst person that could possibly exist. Perhaps that was why she'd loathed Voldemort so much.

The rest of the summer was a whirlwind of activity. So much happened Livy could hardly keep it straight in her head. Sev had move into the Prince's estate, which while on the outside was a cold and opulent building the inside was warm and homey. She'd met both Tiberius and Andréa several times. Tiberius was a grey haired man with a tall imposing figure, much like Severus, and Andréa was a kind motherly figure. Both seemed truly repentant for the terrible thing they'd done to their daughter, which left her in the arms of the brute that was Tobias Snape.

While Andréa taught Livy household spells and charms Tiberius taught Severus about his heritage, and potions. Soon Tiberius learned that Severus was well adept at potions, and after viewing his Hogwarts class scores, had him brew several complex potions. Once these were deemed good enough Tiberius decided that Severus was wasting his time with Slughorn's incompetence at Hogwarts and had him take his NEWTS before the week was done. He then got Sev enrolled in multiple potions mastery classes.

It was upon the discovery that Cissa too would not be returning to Hogwarts, and the fear that she would be unsafe in Slytherin on her own that Abraxas and Lucius agreed to her being privately tutored, this also gave an excuse for Livy to begin her training in magical cataloging.

I'm going to hide in fear at the response to this chapter. I'd like you to know though that I have a very good reason for doing so! I want to move the plot along, and I felt the introduction of these characters warrented a drastic change of scenery. Besides enough of he story will take place at Hogwarts without them being in there for another twelve chapters!