Ron and Harry looked at Snape during the inspection. Hermonie's nose was in a book.
Snape walked over to the students, specifically Harry and Ron. “As you are aware, inspections will begin soon. Due to a rather unfortunate conflict Dolores will not be able to observe me today.” The class groaned. They all wanted Snape fired.
His lips curled, “But rest assured she made alternate arrangements. I will be observed. Longbottom, kindly refrain from melting your cauldron." Neville squeaked at his professor's sudden attention.
A petite woman softly entered the room. If Snape didn't look her way when she entered, he doubted anyone would notice.
“Severus, let us begin.” Severus did class like usual except he was very aware of Neville's movements.
After class, Harry opted to stay behind. How dare Snape get special treatment?
Hermonie and Ron gave Harry a sad sigh. They may not see him alive ever again.
Harry walked to Snape's desk pounding his fists on it, “How dare you avoid Umbridge? What makes you so special?”
“To her. I have no idea. I'm just glad she has feelings for me.” And Snape looked like Christmas came every day for the last year.
“What!?” Snape didn't mean.
“Potter, she is my wife.”
Harry opened then closed his mouth.
“It is about time you shut up.” Snape smirked.
“Dolores didn't take my name because I am a marked death eater. That brings shame on the Snape name.
And a Death Eater taking a ministry official's name is unfortunately outlawed despite my dozens of appeals. Albus has even tried on my behalf after complaining about how I pick the worst sorts of people.”
“Well I suppose you are perfect for each other.”
“Thank you, we have many things in common.”
“Including your hatred of me.” Harry mumbled.
Snape lost his composure as he stood up, hitting his knees on his desk. Snape ignored the pain and yelled, “We do not hate you. Sit.” Snape pointed to the desk. Harry sat down.
“Potter, this is going to be a lot to take in.” Snape pulled a stack of paper out of his desk while carrying on in a worryingly gentle voice.
Harry fidgeted, how bad is the news if Snape was being gentle.
“I am your magical guardian so by proxy Dolores is too.”
“I don't-” Snape put his hand up as Harry wanted to cry. The two people who he hated the most were responsible for his well being.
“Wait until I finish. You will have a million questions and I would like to answer them all at once.
I considered raising you with my wife in our home. But the ministry was suspicious of my motives at the time and you know how having a celebrity can make a ministry official be accused of special treatment due to a celebrity in her home. Being married to a death eater, no matter how down low we keep our relationship already stains her reputation.
So Albus came up with the blood ward plan. I must admit I could have done a better job putting your mum's wretched sister in her place.”
“You don't care about me, don't lie!”
“I don't? I fought a Cerberus because I thought you were like your brain dead father and rushed after danger. You did, just not when I assumed so.
The next year, you flew a car over a dozen muggles nearly costing us the statue of secrecy. Do you know why we have that?”
“So muggles will leave us alone.”
“I am responsible for you and I regret it everyday. No idiot boy, we mingled with muggles before then witches who displayed impressive accidental magic got burnt to death. No guardian can be with their child 24/7.
Their skin was turned into ash and that's if they were lucky. They took us and experimented on us, can magic run out?
Magical exhaustion was found out through that. Our school starting at 11 is because those experiments show when a core is fully developed. Some are later, but that is rare and beyond my abilities to explain.”
“What happens if a core isn't-”
“Death if you're lucky. If not, you explode. Muggles wiped our guts off the ceiling Harry.” It was a testament to how much Snape dreaded and hated this conversation while trying to be gentle since he was using Harry's name. “Harry, I paid the price for that so you and your stupid friend wouldn't go to Azkaban.
Then what? You go on to kill a Basilisk? That was an adult's responsibility and Albus is brain dead for rewarding you.
The next year you go into Hogsmade multiple times and maybe you were lured by that map, compulsion charm or whatever, but you could have died. What if Sirius was using Weasley as a trap? Did you think of that?
Then enter this stupid tournament, I know now you didn't enter your name, but after all your stupid episodes, how can I not believe my idiot ward didn't put his name in!”
Harry looked at his hand.
“I must not tell lies.” Snape drawled. “The scar will fade. But the message won't. Harry start coming to me if you need an adult.
And shut up about the Dark Lord. Dolores knows he's back and if you and your friends are smart as I know you are, you can learn a lot from those textbooks in a dorm room. Not in the hallways after curfew. Questions?”
“You are essentially my father and Umbridge my mother, adoptive?”
“Yes, and you can stay with me for the summer if you like. But it Is safer for you to be with your blood family in this climate.”
“Uh. I'm gonna-” And like that Harry threw up on Snape's desk.
Snape vanished the vomit with his wand, “You're getting weak Potter, I expected a violent outburst. Go see the nurse.” And Harry happily did.
Too bad Madam Pomfrey can't heal psychological tramua.