'You know you can't Snape. It is simply not advisable. Mum would want Dad's portrait to be activated at once, not to mention she and Dad would ask me how I could access the vault and how I knew the password. I could not tell them, my Dad would tell Sirius and Remus and that's not on. I did not want you to know, remember. Only you found out by a stroke of luck. I don't need their lectures and advices, not to mention the arguments Snape. We are coming on nicely and let me get Voldemort, then I'll unlock Mum's portrait for you and you could chat with her for as long as you like. But not now, please.'
Snape was quiet a long moment. 'There is something you are not telling me Potter. What is it?' he asked conversationally, seating himself opposite Harry.
Harry snorted inelegantly. 'Of course I'm not telling you stuff, Snape. I'm not telling you a lot of things. As it is I have changed too much, I feel at times. I only hope all this will not change the original timeline and create so many unknowns that I flounder and fail in my task. Please understand Snape. I'll tell you everything slowly. As it is only you know so much, not even Sirius and Remus know. Please don't kick up a fuss.'
Snape was silent, thinking over Harry's words and Harry continued. 'You never guessed did you. You staggered Snape, staggered and looked sooo unSnape, it was shocking, truly.'
Snape sneered at Harry grin. 'No, I did not guess Potter. I don't think of your mother as a relation like this.' He stopped abruptly realizing what he had said and stood up. 'Time to go to Dumbledore's office and speak to him. I will tell him I've told you and back me there. Alright? Then come on.' And Snape turned and walked away, hiding his face that had become quite flushed and embarrassed. Harry was taken aback. Snape had almost revealed his true feelings regarding his mother and Harry himself flushed with embarrassment for a minute, not knowing how to react to something like this from Snape of all people. Fortunately for him, Snape went away embarrassed himself, if his flushed face was anything to go by.
Harry smiled and stood up and followed Snape quietly and soon flooed along with Snape to Dumbledore's office and met a visibly relieved Dumbledore who beamed at Harry's accomplishment to come back with a personal meeting with Severus Snape in one shape and good cheer as a bonus as well.
'Well Harry, has Severus told you about who the Prince family are?' Dumbledore asked him.
'Yes Sir. I am related to the brilliant Professor Sir.' Harry told Dumbledore wide eyed and smiled as Dumbledore chucked. 'Brilliant is correct Harry. Severus is one of the best Potions Master in all of Wizarding Britain and indeed in the entire Wizarding World.'
'Yes Sir.' Harry said smartly and stole a glance at a Snape who was pressing his lips together trying to seal his lips from uttering profanities that would only get him a reproachful look and a few well chosen words from Dumbledore and one more thing for that blasted boy to snigger over.
Harry grinned widely and Snape went blue in the face. 'Sir Professor Snape's not breathing, look.' Harry told Dumbledore innocently and grinned at Snape when Dumbledore turned to Snape in alarm.
'Will you shut up Potter? Dumbledore I am fine and I have told Potter about my family. I think he may have understood.' Snape finished with a sneer at Harry, who nodded and smiled back at Snape. The sneer vanished abruptly and a scowl replaced that.
Dumbledore looked at Harry's smiling face and Snape's scowling one and suddenly wanted to laugh very badly. He sent both of them away asking Snape to come and see him later and let out a huge guffaw the moment the doors closed behind Harry and Snape. Dumbledore was truly amused. Even if Harry was not his relative, he had the very best guardian there was; Snape may be rude and short with Harry, but Dumbledore knew he would die to protect Harry and that was all that mattered and who knew, he may even come to care for the child. After all he, Dumbledore already did.
Harry and Snape left his office and walked down. Harry cast a privacy bubble. 'What should I tell everyone? I never asked you in between all the laughing.'
Snape rolled his eyes, actually rolled his eyes. Such human emotions from him, Harry thought in wonder before he shook himself and listened to Snape who was saying something. 'You may tell them the truth. I will not be able to conceal this from Lucius and others and I will pretend to dislike you more from now on, because if the Dark Lord comes and I have to go back, I would need to stay as far as I can from you. Otherwise, he will just ask me to bring you to him.'
Harry nodded. 'Don't be too mean. Give me detentions when I need to talk to you or you need to tell me something. I am going to write to Sirius and Remus right now and then I'll go and talk to Hermione. Speak to Dumbledore and arrange to be in his office when Sirius and Remus will come. This is your chance to get a Patronus moment.'
Snape did not answer, but his eyes glittered and Harry knew wild horses and blast ended skewts would not keep Snape away from that meeting. 'Go write to them now; they will come by breakfast tomorrow.' Was all he said, before he turned towards the dungeons and Harry went to the library to seek out Hermione and Neville and tell them whom he was related to?
They were not in the library, and Harry took out his map and saw they were by the lake along with Draco, Pansy and Blaise. He put his map away and ran to the lake and hugged Hermione as she threw herself on him.
'Oh, Harry I have been so afraid. Whom have you been related to?' she asked him.
'Welcome to the family Hermione.' Harry told her smiling broadly. 'You are also related to Draco's mother. She is Sirius's cousin.' Draco looked a bit green at this information. 'Who are you related to? Us?' he asked hopefully. He did not mind Hermione, but he really did not want anyone to be related to him and if anyone must be related to a Malfoy, Draco felt Harry was best.
'No I am related to Snape. He was blue in the face Draco. I think he was fighting with Dumbledore that he made the potion wrong.' Harry rolled his eyes. 'Snape?' Hermione was sufficiently impressed and horrified, while Draco looked jealous. Harry had to be related to Snape of all people. Why not the Malfoys, he thought unreasonably. Malfoys were so much better and look whom he was to acknowledge as family apart from Hermione.
'Perhaps he did get the potion wrong. I think so too.' Draco told him sulkily.
'Hey! You are not feeling bad because Hermione's vaguely related to you are you?'
Draco shook his head, but turned a bit pink. Hermione giggled and laughed outright when Draco's face turned red from pink. 'Oh, Harry, Draco and Mr. Malfoy are related to the Creevys. You know Colin Creevy, the photo mad boy. That's who and Draco almost fainted when he heard that.'
Harry bit his lips to stop joining in Hermione's laughter. 'And you guys?'
'The Parkinson family is related to some dull 6th year girl and Zabini are related to two boys in 7th year.' she recited sadly, while Blaise shrugged unconcernedly. He was really not bothered like Draco and Pansy, really. What did it matter? It was not as if they would come and live with them. Not the end of the world, surely.
'Did he scold you badly?' Neville asked him. He had no relatives in the School and he was watching all this around him, rather impassively, only coming to life, when Harry told them, he was related to Snape.
Harry shook his head. 'Not really. He was shocked and he surely did not like it much I think. I am glad I have Sirius and Remus for me.' Harry told there and changed the topic. 'I will be writing to Sirius about Snape being related to me and also about you and Colin. Want to add anything?' he asked her as she shook her head, her eyes wide.
'No, just say I'm happy I'm related to him. That's all.'