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 9

After a few hours of playing, Delaney fell asleep and Harry had nothing to do but wonder the important questions. Do we all see the same colors? Is there a difference between a possum and an opossum?

He heard a door creak open and an extremely sweaty Potions Master emerged.

"It's done, Potter. I haven't had an intellectual pursuit like that in years. But I can remove your pain for good."

Harry almost skipped over to Snape and grabbed a vial from his hands.

"So I just down this, then?"

"Yes, but you have to be thinking of the secret while you drink it. It will counteract what happened the first time with your uncle."

Harry thought that sounded too easy, but Snape was the master in all things potiony and dark. So he drank it.

It was the difference between night and day. Harry had almost forgotten what it was like to not live in pain. He could think again. He could twist his head without arrows of agony shooting through. He didn't even think before he put his arms around the Professor's waist and held on tight.

"And here comes the chyme."

Harry didn't know what chyme was, but assumed it was disrespectful and gross. But he didn't care.

"Okay, Potter. Enough of that. Go hug your cousin, she will appreciate it far more than I."

And sure enough, Harry looked over to see Delaney wide awake and smiling. Harry went to the crib and lifted her into a hug. She smiled and gurgled, and peered over Harry's shoulder to look at Snape.

Harry turned around and saw Snape with eyes wider than ever before, just staring at the child. Harry almost thought it looked like, dare he say it, love.

Snape then looked at Harry, and seemed to shock himself out of whatever he was thinking. A smirk appeared on his face.

"Well, Potter. You know what that means. It's Headmaster time."

"But Delaney knocked over all your floo powder."

"Then it seems I will have to use my two legs and fetch him myself."

Snape left the room and Harry gulped. He didn't know how this conversation with the Headmaster would go, but he was not looking forward to it.

BREAKBREAKBREAK

Snape knocked on the Headmaster's door.

"You may enter, Severus."

How did he know?

No matter, Snape thought.

He pushed open the door to see Albus, in his brightest yellow robes, sitting by his desk.

"Severus, my boy!" Albus' voice was chuckling, as though Snape visiting today was the highlight of the man's 100+ year life.

"It has been far too long. How is Harry's Occlumency coming?"

Snape avoided the question. He was not here to chitchat.

"Headmaster, I have many things to tell you. Potter is his usual self and now we are in a pickle."

Snape proceeded to tell the Headmaster everything that had happened over the past week.

Albus' face became more somber the more Snape spoke. Finally, he said, "I have failed Harry just as I failed you, Severus. To think that the Dursley's would resort to killing their own daughter is troubling indeed. Of course, Harry can never go back there."

Snape breathed a sigh of relief that he didn't know he was holding in. There was a part of him that had thought Albus either wouldn't believe him or wouldn't care.

"The matter of the child though is a bit more complicated. There will need to be a transfer of guardianship, and I am sure I can persuade the Dursley's to sign."

Snape smirked at the thought of Dumbledore's persuasion.

"The problem is who will become the guardian of Delaney afterwards. We cannot let a child with a link to Harry, and by extension, you and Voldemort to wander free in the world. But, I feel there is a better place to discuss this. Shall we go down to your quarters?"

BREAKBREAKBREAK

Harry felt himself awaken from his nap as two people entered Snape's quarters. Delaney was just waking up beside him. He hadn't meant to fall asleep, but his lack of headache was so wonderful that his body just wanted to enjoy some blissful rest.

Snape and the Headmaster both seemed to be in a good mood, which Harry supposed meant things were going alright and that the Headmaster wasn't horribly mad at him for keeping secrets.

"Harry, my boy! And who is this?"

The Headmaster peered over his half moon spectacles and repositioned his robes as he plopped himself on the ground. Delaney seemed enthralled with his yellow robes and wanted a closer look. She left Harry's side and crawled over to Dumbledore. The man picked her up and placed her in his lap with pure joy shining in his eyes.

"You are a very special girl, Delaney, and people who love you. Never forget that."

Delaney gurgled back at him in affirmation.

Dumbledore turned his attention back to Harry.

"Harry, Severus has gotten me up to date on this entire situation, and I for one think it could not have gone better."

Harry was shocked at this. So many things were wrong, how could the Headmaster say that?

Harry looked over at Snape, and the man seemed as confused as Harry as to why this situation was in any way okay.

"Ah, perhaps I should explain myself. Harry, we all know that you are the one that will need to defeat Voldemort. It is unfortunate, but true. Now, Voldemort cannot be killed by normal means. It will take an extraordinary wizard to defeat him."

If the Headmaster was trying to make him feel better, Harry thought, he was doing an awful job.

"I have been thinking for a long time now as to what makes you extraordinary, Harry. Of course, your complete compassion and ability to love is important. I knew that tied into it somehow. And now Severus has told me that you formed a magical bond with not only Delaney, but him as well."

"This bond is made up of magic and love, and it ties the three of you together in ways I can only imagine."

Harry felt his blood run cold as he looked at Snape. They were both thinking the same thing. It was Snape who spoke up.

"But Headmaster, the Dark Lord has a bond with Potter as well. It is actually all four of us bound together."

"Ah yes, I remember you mentioned that. I forgot to clear up that faulty logic of yours. Harry and Voldemort share a purely mental link. It has nothing to do with magic, and certainly nothing to do with love. Don't you think if Voldemort could have sucked out all of Harry's magic, he would have done so by now? No, Voldemort has no part in this. Except for the fact that it will be his downfall."

Harry's head shot up at this. What did the Headmaster mean? He knew the way to defeat Voldemort?

"When the final confrontation arises, whenever that may be, Voldemort will be unaware that Harry has more weapons than meets the eye. 3 people's worth of magic, and more love than Voldemort could ever imagine. He will stand no chance, I am sure of this."

Harry grinned at this and even Snape seemed to be happier than usual. They have it! They finally know that Voldemort will die. Harry knew it would still be messy, and complicated, and many good people could die, but now it will not be for nothing. Voldemort has met his match. And it's all thanks to…

"So, Professor, you never told me how my uncle got that book."

Snape seemed to take much glee as he said, "It was the ultimate book-giver, Potter. Lucius Malfoy. Not only did he give away a book that ended up being stabbed with a basilisk fang and destroyed a large part of Voldemort's immortality, but he has now given away the book that means the end for his beloved master."

Harry grinned even wider. "That man should really stop his book club."

He didn't think it was that funny, but out of Snape's mouth burst a barking laugh that Harry had never heard before.

Even the Headmaster seemed amused at Snape's mirth.

"Now, the last matter is who will look after Delaney. We are rather limited in our options but I think the Weasley's…"

Harry held up a hand and stopped the Headmaster midsentence, something he had never done before.

"Professor, I know exactly who will watch over Delaney. And I promise they are absolutely perfect."

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. Harry wondered if the Headmaster was waiting the entire time for him to suggest it.

"Who could that possibly be, Harry?"

Harry turned toward Snape and locked eyes. The Potions Master looked hopeful for a split second, and then Harry could see him lock up his emotions behind a wall, leaving behind a blank stare.

"Professor Snape."

Snape did not speak for a few moments. He opened his mouth twice, but then closed it again. Finally he said, "Potter, while I appreciate the gesture, I have no idea how to take care of a child."

"But you love her though, don't you sir?"

Snape's eyes narrowed and it seemed that he was filtering through all of the nasty things that were so habitual for him to spit out.

"Yes, yes I do. I don't know why, but I am sure that even without our mental connection that I will love this child until the day I die."

Harry was taken aback by this declaration, and Dumbledore seemed surprised as well.

"Interesting thought, Harry. Yes, I think that will do nicely. You can show Severus how to take of her, can't you?"

"Of course, Headmaster. It would be my pleasure."

As Dumbledore turned around the leave the room, Snape caught his arm.

"Albus, what about my spying? I cannot be a good caretaker when I have to leave at all hours of the night."

"Severus, even if you hadn't agreed to take care of Delaney, I still would have you never go back to that man. Now that you are connected to Harry, it is much too dangerous to send you back there. I have a feeling that Voldemort would be able to find out the truth if he saw that line in your mind. You've deserved retirement from that type of work I think. Yes."

With that, Dumbledore swept out of Snape's chambers, leaving Harry, Snape and Delaney alone.

"Sir, I meant what I said. I will teach you everything you need to know about taking care of her."

"Yes, I know you meant it, Potter."

Snape gulped and met Harry's eyes.

"Thank you, Potter. This is the greatest gift that you could have given me. I promise I will raise her well."

"I never doubted that, Professor."

THE END

Thanks to everyone who reviewed and read this! It took too many years, but here it is!