If you've read any of my books, which if you haven't you really should, I talk a lot about my mother Severina, my father Tom, my uncle Severus and my “adopted” families.

The overall picture is true but there are many things that I've made up. I decided to deal with them. All the lies and misgivings. Ok so I'll be brief...

1)

LIE: My grandmother Snape was a magical elf, making my mother Severina, my uncle Severus and therefore myself part woodland elf.

TRUTH: My Grandad was a muggle, my grandma was a witch. I made this up because when I was little, living on my own I wanted to make them sound more interesting and I loved the trees and forest.

2)

LIE: We used to visit my grandparents a few times when I was little for special occasions.

TRUTH: I've never met them. I found out that my grandfather was a hater of magic and a bully, that my grandmother almost let it happen. Everyone else had such great families that they did stuff with so I wanted to believe I had something like that.

3)

LIE: My uncle couldn't look after me because he was a professor at Hogwarts

TRUTH: It's partly true but not for a few years because soon after I went to live with him and Voldemort was “killed” he was … in trouble with the law … an because I love him so much I decided to forget this.

4)

LIE: Professor Dumbledore allowed me to stay because my uncle/guardian worked there.

TRUTH: In reality Dumbledore wanted me where he could keep an eye on me. After everything that had happened with my father being in a children's home I think he feared that I would be the same. That there was something wrong in my blood. (there isn't by the way)

5)

LIE: I was like a double agent during the war.

TRUTH: This isn't a complete lie because really I did end up doing this but it wasn't in the same way my uncle did it. He was a great Death Eater and a member of the Order. Maybe I feel like I should have been more like him but the truth is I wasn't. I was a Death Eater because he was my father and you feel that you want to be with your family and I wanted to impress him. What he was probably doing was making me his “apprentice second” making it a “family business”. I stayed with the order because I felt safe and loved and gave them info if I could. Perhaps I was just a coward but it was confusing.

6)

LIE: I ran away because I had lost my father and uncle.

TRUTH: I ran away because I had lost my father and uncle AND the ministry were hunting down former Death Eaters... more of something I just leave out than a lie.

7)

LIE: I took Delphi in because she was my sister and my uncle did the same with me.

TRUTH: This is where I understand Dumbledore. I wanted Delphi with me in a positive environment. Not in a sinister former Death Eater prime location. I still believe it was the right thing to do.

8)

LIE: I never took the train to Hogwarts.

TRUTH: I never wanted to be seen on the train. I wasn't used to people to start with so I was on my own the first time watching the other students. Then I was with my friends. I was never waved off.

9)

LIE: People had no idea who my parents were when I was at Hogwarts.

TRUTH: As soon as kids found out I was a “Snape” people told their parents. Most Slytherins had ex-death eaters as parents who were either confused or put 2 and 2 together. Whether they told their children or not I don't know. History lessons were hell and I'd become as faint as Prof Binns. Even when you tell your friends it feels weird.

10)

LIE: I knew what was going on with Potter.

TRUTH: I had no clue until word got around the school, which to be fair was very quickly, and I had no interest in his antics. I was friends with Fred and George and we had our own mayhem to create. We are traditionally English in my family. We don't brag and we don't put our noses in other people's business. Or at that's what we are taught, practise may be different.

So maybe you think I'm a liar or delusional but what kid doesn't make up stories about their family to make the reality a bit more bearable? Sometimes you even start to believe it.

The truth, and what I will never deny is that I love and am proud of my mother, father and uncle. I miss them all xxx