Disclaimer: It is all mine! Harry, Draco, Ron, Hermione, and Hogwarts! Oh, sorry, I must've been dreaming. Nope, none of it's mine except for, well the stuff that isn't actually in the books.

Chapter 5

Snape was feeling uncomfortable after seeing a bit of Potter's home life. He almost wanted to throw Potter out of his rooms and never view a second memory. However, Snape knew that to figure out the core of the boy's current problems, he needed to see another memory.

Snape felt…. pity towards Potter. Or maybe, understanding? At least Potter didn't become bitter when faced with ridicule from his family. But, that was a different matter. Snape would refuse to let his past factor into this mess.

Snape pondered the memory he just viewed. Whatever I promised the boy, Albus must be told of the abuse.

He made a mental note to do just that in the future. And then, Potter groaned and sat up, clutching at his head. When he saw Snape, he immediately lowered his hands.

Snape turned back toward Potter and knew he needed to say something. But no words would come.

"Potter, can we view another one?" He kept his voice and tone as even and quiet as possible. It was all he could think to say.

"Probably be best," Harry said.

And with another Legilimens, Snape found himself inside the cupboard. Potter was there, playing with the spiderwebs. He looked to be 16, so it would've been the summer between 5th and 6th year. He looked incredibly bored.

Footsteps could be heard and then a lock being opened. The fat man stood in the doorway, far too fat to enter the cupboard. "BOY! It's all your fault!" Harry had a confused look on his face now.

"What's my fault, sir? I've been in my cupboard the entire time just as you told me." Potter was now looking very scared, and Snape got a sense that Potter knew that he would be blamed no matter what it was. It must've been pretty bad too, because whale-man was looking absolutely livid.

"No you weren't, you lying piece of FILTH! I was inside the nursery, which by the way you are forbidden to enter." A glare that doesn't even rival Snape's was given to Harry, and he actually looked scared.

"I was rocking Delaneykims in the rocker when it suddenly floated up about 2 feet off the ground. The rocker, it just…. floated. That is the work of FREAKINESS right there! So tell me, are you still going to deny that you had anything to do with it?"

Potter was looking positively terrified, but still shook his head. "Sir, I didn't do anything."

Uncle Vernon opened his mouth and said, "Well, then. You won't mind coming up to the nursery and EXPLAINING how it could've happened."

Potter seemed resigned to his fate and followed Uncle Vernon up the stairs and to the nursery. When Vernon opened the door, there was little Delaney. A wide grin on her face and chubby arms outstretched, a teddy bear was floating from the shelf toward her outstretched arms.

Harry's blood ran cold. Time stopped. He knew what this development would mean.

Uncle Vernon was mad with, well, madness. You could almost see smoke come out of his ears. He stuttered, "She she she….. SHE'S A… FREAK?"

Harry thought quickly. "No, Uncle Vernon. I'm sorry. It was me. Punish me as you see fit." He winced as he said these words.

"Oh no, boy. I know you're just trying to save her freakish hide. You freaks gotta stick together, hmm?" Vernon was getting less calm by the minute.

Harry knew that lying couldn't be done now. It was time to resort to pleading.

"Please, sir. She's your flesh and blood. Don't do anything to her."

This made Uncle Vernon even madder. "Don't do anything to her? I'll do to her what I should've done to you the moment you landed on my doorstep!"

Petunia came rushing into the nursery after hearing such noise. "What is going on?" said the shrill voice.

"Well, pet, we have another FREAK in the house! That's what is going on!"

Harry prayed that Petunia's motherly instincts would jump out to protect her child. He was unfortunately denied.

"She WHAT? Do with that freak as you see fit, Vernon. I don't want it in my house." Harry gasped. A mother rejecting her own daughter?

Petunia walked out of the room.

Uncle Vernon picked up Delaney and said, "Come on, freak. How about a nice swim, hmmm? At the bottom of the river!" Harry put his thinking cap on. They couldn't kill her!

As Vernon was walking out the nursery door, Harry said, "Wait!" Vernon turned around. "Oh, what is it, boy?" Harry gulped and knew he would regret what he was about to say, but it was his only hope. "I can make her not have magic. She doesn't have to have her abilities. I can make her …normal..." The last word was said very quietly.

Vernon seemed to consider this. Harry knew that Vernon and Petunia really wanted this baby. If he could play his cards right, everyone could make it out of this situation okay.

"Explain, boy."

Harry gulped again, trying to remember exactly what was written in the Magical Infants book he read in the Hogwarts library.

He had checked it out because he had a feeling the baby was magical. Even before Petunia announced she was pregnant, Harry could feel magic radiating off of her stomach. He had wanted to be prepared for this situation, but it was still difficult to handle.

The Magical Infants book had looked old and unused when Harry stumbled across it in the library, but it seemed to be filled with a lot of interesting theory on the development of magical cores. Harry hadn't known then how useful it would be now.

"Don't you see?" Harry said desperately. "She's just a little child, the magic in her barely developed. I can… for want of a better word… suck the magic out of her." He snorted, disgusted at himself.

"However, you cannot disable a person's magical core without killing them. So, I can suck her current magic out and wait till next summer and suck magic from her again. It's only a temporary solution but please don't kill her."

Vernon just stood there for a good three minutes completely silent.

"Okay, boy. Do it right now. Take all that freakiness out of her." Harry wished he could ask for his wand back (his uncle had confiscated it when he got back from Hogwarts), but supposed that question would not be welcome at this juncture.

"Uncle, the Ministry of Magic will have my hide if you are in here while I do magic."

Vernon snorted. "I don't care if you get in trouble."

"But, they'll send an owl."

That got Vernon's attention.

"No ruddy birds in MY house!"

Uncle Vernon walked out of the room and Harry stood in front of the crib.

"Hi, little one." Harry spoke softly.

He placed his left hand on Delaney's forehead, just as the book said. He muttered, "Capere nova magica."

A blue sphere appeared in her forehead. It traveled up Harry's arm and into his body. She did not wake throughout the whole thing. Harry slipped out of the nursery.

Vernon was standing in the hallway. "Well?" he asked.

Harry spoke. "It was draining for her. She fell asleep, but it was a success." Vernon looked pleased and Harry started to tiptoe toward the door, obviously wishing to leave while Vernon was in a good mood.

"Go to bed, boy."

"Yes sir."

Snape's vision turned black and he was, surprisingly, still in the tunnel.

here is what the internet told me:

Capere nova magica- take/seize new magic