A/N: SURPRISE! I couldn't wait the rest of the week to post another so I decided to post another one. This one is a tad longer also. Something else that I would like to point out: I'm skipping ahead a bit. Doing a chapter for each year will start getting tedious so I'm skipping ahead to when some important events would happen. This chapter focuses on Olivia at age 4 and 5. I'll skip again for the next chapter, too. :) Enjoy!

andpleasedontcry: I honestly love the Malfoy family. I always wondered how they would have been if they had a daughter. I think they would've doted on her just as much as they did Draco. Seeing how Olivia is spending so much time with them, she's sort of like the daughter they never had. I can see Lucius especially being a bit of a tender father with a girl LOL.

Outofthisworldgal: Yes, that is an unfortunate reality of working parents, especially single working parents. I, myself, was extremely lucky to have the ability to stay home the majority of my own daughter's first couple years. You'll get another taste of that in this chapter as well. To answer your question, Olivia will be just one year behind Draco in school, the same year as Ginny and Luna. There is conflicting information out there about the age rules for Hogwarts. Hermione, for example, is almost a full year older than Harry. So, I just stick with the rule of if their birthday is in 1980, then they are in Harry and Draco's year, and Olivia's birth year is 1981.

victora cullen34: I'm glad you're enjoying it :) Yes, I see Severus being much more patient with his own daughter, because she will have grown up around his personality and knowing what makes him tick and what doesn't. Definitely he could be very protective, but he's the type that would have her know how to protect herself, too ;)

TheAlleyKat: Thanks! I'm glad you're enjoying it :)

TheSecretAdmirer: Thank you very much. That means a lot. I really wanted to keep all the characters already established by JKR as close to themselves as I could, but I wanted to show a different side to the Malfoys and Severus as well. Lol, I'm already ahead of you ;) I will be skipping a few years in her childhood since that could be very repetitive.

August 1986 – February 1987 (Ages 4-5)

It had become habit now, dropping Olivia off at Malfoy Manor. Although, Olivia had grown quickly and was able to tell him exactly what she needed and how she felt. Severus made a point of never speaking down, he would talk to her in the same terms he would with anyone else. That fact reflected in her own vocabulary and speech.

Draco was in a hurry to show her some new toy when she started to cry, silent tears forming in her black eyes. Severus knelt down to her level, brushing the long strands of black hair behind her ears and away from her face. She had the same instinct he had of hiding behind the curtain of hair when showing emotion. He turned her to face him and waited for her to speak.

"Can't I come with you?" she asked softly, sniffing through her tears.

"One day, when you're older, you'll come to Hogwarts too. Right now, you'll concentrate on studying here with Draco," he explained calmly.

"But," she started, her bottom lip trembling slightly, "I miss you."

"I know," he whispered, noticing Lucius coming to the door to stand alongside Narcissa and Draco. "I'll see you on Sundays as usual. Practice your writing. You can owl me as often as you like."

Olivia moved to wrap her arms around him tightly, her face pushed into the crook of his neck. "I love you, Daddy," she said, the words muffled against the wool of his robes.

"I love you, too," he whispered into her ear, running a hand over her long hair.

She released him and went over to Lucius, grasping onto his long overcoat. Narcissa comfortingly brushed her hand over the girl's feathery hair. He turned, apparating quickly. Draco shook his shoulder out from underneath Narcissa's hand and went back to his excited rambling.

"Come on, Olivia!" His white-blonde hair fluttered away from his face as he pulled her through the manor and towards the back gardens. "You have to see!"

Olivia had quickly taken to drawing and sent many owls with her work, both drawing and her studies. She was younger than Draco by more than a year, but she seemed to keep up with him as far as writing, reading, and math. Draco had shown his first accidental magic soon after term had started and Narcissa and Lucius were as proud as any parents could be.

Narcissa was well attentive in Olivia's interests as well as her own son's. While Draco had quickly become fascinated with all things Quidditch, flying and brooms, as well as the many darker magical creatures and artifacts, Olivia had taken a more creative route. She drew and took her time in perfecting her writing. Severus also saw his own passion for potions in her for years, now, as she would watch him very closely as he brewed, even though he hadn't let her near enough to a cauldron yet.

Severus received an owl from Narcissa expressing an interest in finding a musical tutor for Olivia, just as he had predicted she would. With her creative nature, they both felt she would likely enjoy the art, but Severus wanted to wait for her to show interest in a particular instrument before pursuing it. He knew the elder witch also took great time and care in nurturing the girl's talents.

When he arrived for her fifth birthday, he noticed, as he walked out onto the patio, four other children were present. One was quickly identified as Theodore Nott Jr., being an almost identical match to his father with his chocolate colored hair and olive skin tone. The other two he knew to be Castius Mulciber's sons, Magnus and Hayden. The other child, a girl, he did not recognize, but noted that she must not have gotten along with the others because she sat on a stone bench simply watching as Draco, Olivia, and the other boys ran around apparently pretending to be creatures of some sort.

"There you are, Severus," came a voice from the side. Narcissa sat at the table with two other witches, one of which he did not know and assumed she was the mother of the other girl. "I'm afraid Lucius and Mr. Nott had some unexpected business at the Ministry, but they should be returning soon."

"Daddy!" Severus was quickly noticed by his daughter who stopped immediately to run to him. The unknown witch at the table cringed at the girl's display, but he didn't stop her when she threw her arms around his middle. He knelt down to wish her a happy birthday; however, she stopped him by leaning to his ear and whispering only for him to hear. "I don't like this other girl, Pansy...she's snobby."

He pulled away and the corners of his mouth quirked a bit at her comment. "Keep it to yourself for now. Go on," he said, nudging her back to her play.

Turning his attention back to the circle of witches, he observed the unknown once again. Her mouth was pinched, her appearance preened to a perfection without a single hair out of place. Severus quickly realized the nature of this witch and what was probably the nature of her daughter as well.

It wasn't frowned upon, but certainly wasn't encouraged among pureblood society for children to use such common titles for their elders. Society would have children address their family as 'father,' 'mother,' 'grandfather,' etc. Also, Olivia's open excitement and affection was something normally forced into submission, especially for young girls.

However, Severus couldn't bring himself to correct her. When she was older, starting school, he would address it, but no sooner. Part of him enjoyed that she called him such a familial and affectionate title. Who was he to stamp out something that came so natural to her? Something that was also very much like her mother?

"Severus, you already know Lavinya Mulciber," Narcissa motioned to the familiar witch next to her, though he hadn't seen her in years. He nodded his head in greeting, which she returned happily. "This is Mrs. Parkinson," she said introducing the witch. Severus nodded a bit deeper in silent greeting before taking his place at the table.

"Your daughter is quite the beautiful young witch, Severus," Lavinya said in compliment.

"Thank you, Lavinya. How is Castius?"

"Very well," she smiled. "He's currently in Belgium searching for some rare tome. You know I don't understand a bit of that runic lore he goes on about," she laughed.

"I'm well aware of the fact, yes," he joked dryly and she laughed again.

"Olivia seems quite comfortable amongst the boys even as young as she is," Mrs. Parkinson noted in an annoying tone. Severus took the insult as any Slytherin would. "Though, I imagine growing up without a mother has that effect on a child."

He saw Narcissa tense up, taking the comment to heart considering she was the motherly figure in Olivia's life. Parkinson certainly wouldn't find any civility in her company after that. He took the opportunity, however.

"I disagree, Mrs. Parkinson. One might think that her apparent comfort level with the boys around her merely reflects upon the well-behaved nature of said boys. I, for one, am pleased to see them interacting so well together," he replied, both chiding her and praising the other two witches at the table. Her obvious offense was noted.

"Aunt Cissa?" Olivia said, catching her breath as she strode up to the table.

"Yes, dear?"

"Might we have cake while we wait for Uncle Lucius?" she asked with a pleading smile.

"Please, Mother?" Draco appeared next to her, his hair slightly damp at his temples.

"Alright," she conceded, "but we'll have tea and sandwiches first."

With a variety of sandwiches appearing on the two patio tables along with tea, the children sat at one and helped themselves to the light lunch. It was obvious that the boys and Olivia got along far better than with the other girl. She was almost copying the same mannerisms as her mother while the other children talked and laughed among themselves.

Once they had their fill of lunch, a cake appeared at the children's table and Olivia lit up. The light purple and silver swirled icing covered what should be a dark and decadent chocolate cake underneath. It was her favorite. Topping the cake, several sparkling candles spat sparks of silver and gold. Just as they were about to sing 'Happy Birthday,' Lucius and a much older wizard walked through the patio doors.

"Uncle Lucius!" Olivia cried along with two other boys shouting, "Father!"

"I see we made it just in time," Lucius said, taking a spot next to Narcissa. Nott Sr. sat down next to Severus after nodding in greeting to the group.

The candles were quickly extinguished and the cake distributed amongst everyone. When it was time for gifts, Narcissa summoned them from the house and onto the table while Severus enlarged the ones he withdrew from his pocket. Draco took the liberty of finding the one from him, handing it to her first.

Ripping the green paper, she gasped when she saw the high quality set of watercolors. Draco smirked, obviously proud of his selection. Olivia chose another package, a thick herbology book, which had been from Pomona. Lucius and Narcissa gifted her a new deep purple cloak, which she thanked them excitedly for.

Among the rest of the gifts was a scarf from Albus, a stationary set from Minerva, a charmed mirror from Pansy, which she just barely smiled about before setting it aside. Three packages remained. Olivia picked a rather large one, standing up in order to open the top.

"That one's from us!" exclaimed one of the Mulciber boys. Draco leaned over as she opened it and they all cried out in awe and laughed. The boys had compiled a variety of Zonko's products: Fanged Flyers, trick wands, a screaming yo-yo, sneakoscope, Uphill Spring Sprongs, snap-works, and more.

Olivia quickly pulled another package to her so they could get to playing with them soon. This gift must be from the Notts since Severus knew the one from himself was saved for last. She opened it to find a bunch of chocolates and other sweets, which she quickly snatched a pack of pepper imps from and let the other kids pick something, too.

The last gift was wrapped simply and she tore it open gently. The top part was a knew raven feather quill and ink, but the bottom part was an intricately tooled leather book. She gasped as she saw the silver lettering at the bottom, her name elegantly scrawled there against the dark leather. Opening it, she found blank parchment pages, plenty for her to draw and write.

She ran to him, wrapping her arms around him. "Thank you, Daddy."

Christmas came quickly and with it, a blizzard. Olivia loved the snow no matter how furiously it fell. She stood at the window and watched the snow almost completely white out the view. Severus found her as he was come up from the dungeons.

"Olivia, you'll freeze if you stay in the corridor without any robes," he said.

She looked down at her long sleeved green dress and tights. "I'm not cold, Daddy."

"Come on, we better get to the Great Hall before Minerva comes looking for you."

As they came into the Hall, Minerva stood and wrapped the girl in her arms when she ran to her. "Happy Christmas, Professor."

"Happy Christmas, Olivia," Minerva laughed. "My, you've grown so much! Look at that long beautiful hair!" Olivia beamed at the witch's compliments.

"Come sit down, Olivia," Albus motioned to the seat between Minerva and Pomona. "How are you enjoying your holiday?" he asked the girl, his eyes twinkling.

"Very much. I love the cold and the snow," she said. "Everything is so pretty in the winter."

"Ah, well, I'm sure when it's as much as it is tonight, I imagine even you would rather stay inside where it is warm."

"Yes," she laughed, "but I do like watching it."

Dinner was extravagant as usual and Olivia ate plenty, including her fair helping of pudding. She said her 'goodnights' and 'happy Christmases' before leaving at Severus's side. As they reached the stairs leading down towards the dungeons, she started thinking.

"Daddy, are you brewing tonight?"

"I had not planned to. Why?"

"Will you before I leave?"

"Possibly."

"Can I help when you do? You've never let me help before."

"I suppose," he said slowly, "but you will have to listen to me very carefully. It can be very dangerous. That's why I haven't allowed it before."

"I will!" she promised.

As they entered his quarters, she went immediately to her book and watercolors while he picked up his book again, sitting down before the fire with tea waiting on them both. It was a quiet Christmas Eve. So deep into the dungeons, they couldn't hear the wind from the blizzard going on above ground.

He looked up from his book some time later to realize she had fallen asleep in the middle of painting a cluster of trees. With a few spells, he vanished the bit of extra watery paint and cleaned up. Severus got up and gently picked her up from the sofa and moved her to the small extra room Albus had added to his quarters a couple years before.

Transforming her dress into a clean and comfortable night gown hadn't been difficult. He tucked her beneath the covers and pulled them up and over her shoulders. Pulling the door just to, he set things back with a wave of his wand in the sitting room before retiring to his own room.

"Daddy," she whispered as she gently shook his shoulder. He grunted, letting her know he was awake, which caused her to giggle. "Daddy, wake up...there's presents." When he didn't move, she continued, "and coffee."

"Alright," he groaned, "I'm coming. You go ahead." Severus waved her off so he could finish waking up. Olivia laughed and took off to the sitting room to start on her presents.

When he finally managed to drag himself into the sitting room, she had opened most of her gifts. She showed him the socks from Albus and the hat from Minerva. Pomona had gifted her another herbology book, which she really seemed to like. The Malfoy's sent her some charcoal and pastels, which she was very excited about.

Grabbing the last package, which she'd purposefully saved, she opened it as he took a long drink of his coffee. Olivia noticed the cover of the book had a cauldron and she smiled as she read the title. An Introduction to the Art of Potionry.

"You already planned on me learning?" she asked him as she sat on the sofa.

"I knew you would ask, whether it was during the holiday or in the summer. You should have a good start on the subject if you are going to be helping me." Severus put his coffee on the table knowing what her response would be.

As he thought, she threw her arms around him, book still in her hand. "Thanks, Daddy. I'm going to start reading right now!" Olivia jumped down and picked up her gifts, putting them away as he vanished the wrappings.

The burner was on, the ingredients laid out along with tools, and the cauldron ready. He had the book open to a very simple potion, a basic warming salve used to sooth sore muscles and joints. Olivia walked in, having done as he asked, wearing a short sleeved shirt with her skirt and tights.

He motioned to the stool he had transfigured for her and she jumped up on it excited to begin. They had already read the potion recipe thrice for retention purposes. He pointed out each ingredient and tool to her before they got started.

"What is the first step?" he asked her.

"You mean after organizing the station and getting the burner going?" she smirked. He did too, noting her cheek. "The peppers should be stewed to draw out the capsaicin, preferably in an oil since it is to be applied to the skin."

"Very good. Why have we chosen coconut oil?"

"Because it melts very easily with heat and readily forms back into a solid. It also absorbs nicely into skin and has it's own moisturizing properties."

"The easiest way to extract the correct amount of oil from the jar is to melt it first." Severus took the cauldron, placing it over the burner, and set the glass jar inside. "It will take a few minutes for that to heat. Meanwhile, we can prepare the peppers."

He withdrew three equally sized deep red peppers from the next jar. Showing her the proper way to hold the knife, he helped her cut the first one open, but let her do the next by herself while he cut the last. She followed his direction and removed every last seed, placing them into the mortar.

"Why should we break the seeds open before stewing them?"

"Well, breaking them open will release the most capsaicin. The hottest part of a pepper is in the seeds."

"Correct," he said handing her the pestle. He put on a heat-proof glove and removed the jar from the cauldron. "See how it's completely translucent? It went from a waxy solid to an oily liquid. How much does the recipe say to measure out?"

She paused in breaking the seeds open to glance at the book. "16 ounces." Olivia watched him steadily pour the liquid into the measuring beaker, precisely noting the 16 ounce mark. He transferred that into the cauldron.

"Now, we're going to change something in the book here. You already know the heat of the pepper lies mostly in the seeds. We will be stewing those for 3 hours at the least. For a smooth salve, it will have to be run through a sieve. What could we do to make the potency of the salve higher?"

Olivia thought for a moment. "Could we stew the whole pepper? Some heat still lies in the actual meat and skin of it, right?"

"Very good. The seeds should always be broken, but adding the entire pepper will increase the amount of capsaicin we are able to extract."

Severus was impressed at her reasoning ability at such a young age. After the peppers had stewed, they added the precise amount of beeswax and he gave her a choice of lavender or rosemary oil. He added the drops of rosemary oil as she grated in a sufficient amount of ginger root.

"The ginger root and rosemary oil have their own medicinal properties, but the amount of them doesn't overly effect the salve so it's really up to the brewer's tastes. Now, we will let this sit on a low heat for a couple hours."

They cleaned up before going back to the brew, which looked like an oily pepper soup. Olivia held the sieve over a bowl as he scooped out every bit of the mixture. Taking the sieve, he put it to the side with the cauldron and turned off the burner.

"You can very slowly pour in the rain water while I stir. Watch the change in the consistency," he said and she followed his direction carefully. The mixture went from an oily soup to a creamy salve and she got excited the more it seemed to look like a salve should. "The oil and wax, when cooled by the water and with time, turned back into solid, but since we stirred in the water it became like this. You could make it as thick or thin as you like with more or less water," he explained. Severus grabbed an empty jar and scooped some of the salve into it before handing it to her. "Only one way to see if it works."

Olivia could smell the rosemary and she lifted it up to inhale the scent deeper before taking a finger to spread some onto her arm. Her eyes widened with awe. "It's warm! It works!"

"Olivia! Hurry up!" Draco yelled as he ran out the door and into the snow covered garden.

She was still trying to button her coat as she grabbed the scarf she received from Albus before running after him. "Draco, wait!"

Catching up with him at the big oak tree near the hill, she chased after him. Her cheeks were already pink from the cold. Draco kicked some snow in her direction before taking off to the other side of the tree, outrunning her easily. Olivia got tired of chasing him and stopped to pick up a handful of snow, compacting it in her hands.

"What do you think you're doing?" Draco asked even though the answer was obvious.

"Making a snowball so I can get you," she giggled.

"You can't throw that," he scoffed.

"Mmhmm," she grinned, taking careful aim.

"You can't hit me! You're a girl!"

The comment easily made her mad. She aimed again and threw it hard, hitting him in the shoulder as he turned to avoid it. When he faced her again, his anger was apparent. Draco bent down to gather his own snowball to throw.

Olivia felt an overwhelming surge of magic within her burst out. The wave of it send Draco face first into the snow. He pushed himself up and immediately began yelling at her, but was quickly sent down again forcefully. She turned and stormed off, leaving him to pull himself from the snow and scramble after her.

She reached the patio doors first. Walking inside, she felt the cold recede, the mat on the floor vanishing all snow and moisture from her shoes. Throwing the door closed, she tossed her scarf and coat onto the bench just in the hallway before stomping into the sitting room and throwing herself into a chair by the fire.

Narcissa glanced up from her book, eying the angry young girl. "Olivia, dear, what's wrong?" she asked carefully.

"Draco said I couldn't do something just because I'm a girl," she muttered, still seething.

She faintly heard banging at the back door. As she stood and walked towards the patio, she found the door magically locked from the inside. Narcissa turned, seeing Olivia standing just in the hallway, her arms cross over her chest.

Unlocking the door, she opened it and Draco stumbled in, but not before his mother saw his hair covered in snow, face red from the cold as well as his temper. He tried to catch his breath.

"Mother! Olivia, pushed me into the snow! Twice!" he said pointedly.

"Olivia, is this true?" Narcissa asked the girl. She had quickly gathered what had happened, but she held her amusement to herself for the time being.

"I didn't touch him," the girl said, but Narcissa knew that she was avoiding the truth.

"Did you cause Draco to be pushed into the snow?" she rephrased.

Olivia frowned, seeing that she might be in trouble, and looked down. "Yes, Ma'am," she answered quietly.

Draco openly looked smug, but was quickly reprimanded. "Draco. Did you insult Olivia?" He didn't answer, but instead looked back at Olivia still mad. "Draco..."

"Yes, Ma'am," he forced himself to say.

Narcissa sighed before speaking. "Olivia, while I praise your first use of magic, you should not have punished him in such a way driven by anger. Draco, I believe you got what you deserved for your baseless insult. Now, you both will remain inside for the rest of the day. You can focus on your studies today." She directed them both to the sitting room where they sat in silence amidst their books. Taking up a quill and parchment, she began her letter...smiling.

Severus,

I thought I should write to you immediately to tell you of what has just transpired. As I am still trying not to laugh, I suspect this letter will be short and to the point. Olivia has just had her first bout of accidental magic, Draco being the obvious victim, though well deserved, I must admit.

From what I have managed to gather from the two of them, Draco insulted Olivia – something about not being able to do something because she's a girl – and she proceeded to have him shoved into the snow. When she came inside so angry, I wondered what had happened, but I heard Draco at the patio door. I went to find that it had been magically locked from the inside, obviously to keep him outside in the cold.

What happened next, I am sure you will find most amusing. I questioned them both about what happened. When I asked Olivia if she had pushed Draco into the snow, her response was, "I didn't touch him." In short, I had to rephrase the question. That response and they way she said it, Severus, I swear I saw a young you standing there!

Both have been forced to remain inside for the day, Draco for his baseless insult, and Olivia for acting out of anger so openly. I should get back to them before I can't keep myself from laughing anymore. We shall see you on Sunday.

Hope you are well,

Narcissa

He chuckled as he read the letter. Severus was sorry he had missed it, but, honestly, he hadn't expected accidental magic until much closer to her sixth birthday. His own had began on the Halloween before his sixth. He could remember when Lily's had started, but he knew it was earlier, but not by much. It was surprising at eight months before, but not unheard of.