Как правильно пишется северус снегг

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Северус Снегг (англ. Severus Snape) — самый противоречивый персонаж саги. Преподаватель зельеварения (1981—1996) и защиты от Тёмных искусств (1996—1997), декан факультета Слизерин в 1981—1997, а позже директор Школы Чародейства и Волшебства Хогвартс в 1997—1998.

Биография

Детство

Северус Снегг родился 9 января 1960 года в семье чистокровной волшебницы Эйлин Принц и магла Тобиаса Снегга (впоследствии из-за этого он стал называть себя «Принцем-полукровкой»). Мальчик рос в одиночестве, к которому добавлялись частые ссоры родителей. Небольшие фрагменты в главах «Окклюменция»^[4] и «История принца»^[5] дают основания полагать, что отец Северуса был малоразвитым существом со склонностью к домашнему насилию и, возможно, алкоголизму. Мальчик ещё в детстве замечает, что отец «вообще ничего особенно не любит». А то, что они живут в самом бедном районе города, практически в трущобах, и Северус, похоже, донашивает старые кофты матери, говорит о материальном состоянии этой семьи.

Когда Северусу было около десяти лет, он повстречал соседских девочек Лили и Петунию Эванс и понял, что Лили, как и он, волшебница. Он стал её частым собеседником и много рассказывал о Хогвартсе, где им предстояло вместе учиться. 1 сентября 1971 года они сели в поезд «Хогвартс-экспресс», где повстречали Джеймса Поттера и Сириуса Блэка. В тот же день Лили была распределена в Гриффиндор, а Северус — в Слизерин.

На протяжении всего времени обучения Снегг не имел подходящего круга общения. По ряду обстоятельств он стал членом группы, включавшей Люциуса Малфоя, Эйвери, Мальсибера и других слизеринцев, которые стали потом Пожирателями смерти. Снегг подвергался постоянным нападкам и издевательствам со стороны Джеймса Поттера и его дружков Сириуса Блэка и Питера Петтигрю, которые (совместно с Римусом Люпином) именовали себя «Мародёрами». В конце пятого курса Снегг едва не погиб из-за глупой шутки Блэка — его чуть не загрыз оборотень, которым оказался Люпин, но Поттер спас его (впрочем, Снегг никогда не верил в искренность намерений Джеймса, хотя и понимал свой долг перед ним). Директор школы Альбус Дамблдор замял этот случай.

Долгое время Снегга защищала его подруга Лили Эванс, в которую он был влюблён, но её сильно пугало увлечение Северуса Тёмными искусствами и отношение к другим маглорождённым студентам. В конце концов, она порвала общение с ним, а через некоторое время начала встречаться с Джеймсом Поттером.

Худшее воспоминание Снегга

В конце пятого курса студенты Хогвартса сдают экзамены СОВ. После одного из таких экзаменов ученики, радуясь хорошему июньскому дню, вышли на берег озера. И так уж вышло, что Северус расположился на травке недалеко от четырёх «мародёров». Джеймс играл со снитчем, Питер восхищённо ему аплодировал, Римус читал учебник… А Сириус, поглядев на эту идиллию, пожаловался на скуку. Причём, пожаловался в таких выражениях, что Джеймсу стало понятно: если не отвлечь «Бродягу», он начнёт цапаться с самими «мародёрами». Самым подходящим объектом для развлечения ему показался Снегг. И Джеймс Поттер нападает без всякой видимой причины на Северуса. Привлечённые шумом борьбы Поттера и Блэка со Снеггом, к месту событий начали стягиваться другие студенты. Попытки Снегга защититься или напасть в ответ были отбиты «Экспеллиармусом», его, безоружного и яростно ругающегося, подвергли заклятию «Экскуро» (очищающее заклятие), отчего у него изо рта пошла мыльная пена, и в конце концов Снегга подвесили в воздухе вверх тормашками. При этом мантия его задралась и всем на обозрение предстали грязные подштанники Северуса.

Это — то, что Гарри увидел в Омуте памяти, куда взрослый Снегг сбросил своё худшее воспоминание именно опасаясь, что юный Поттер сможет увидеть его при их занятиях окклюменцией. А теперь — про то, что Гарри увидеть не мог. Точнее, он-то увидел, как его будущая мать потребовала от Джеймса Поттера отпустить Снегга, и услышал, как Снегг заявил, что ему «не нужна помощь паршивой грязнокровки». Но что означали эти слова на самом деле?

На шестом курсе к Гарри Поттеру попадает учебник зельеварения, который, как потом оказалось, принадлежал сначала матери Снегга, а позже и самому Снеггу, где тот на полях записывал уточнения к рецептам и изобретённые им самим (и только им самим) заклинания. Среди прочего там есть и заклинание «Левикорпус» с пометкой «(нврбл)». То есть заклинание надо произнести невербально, не вслух. Заклинание подвешивает жертву в воздухе вверх тормашками, именно так, как был подвешен Снегг. Откуда же его знал Джеймс? Ведь заклинание, произнесённое «про себя» нельзя услышать от кого-то и выучить «с голоса».

На том же шестом курсе профессор Гораций Слизнорт не устаёт восхищаться успехами Гарри в зельеварении, постоянно повторяя, что мальчик унаследовал таланты своей матери. Но юный Поттер унаследовал не таланты, а учебник Снегга, следуя указаниям которого добивался отменных результатов. И возникает вопрос: не этот ли источник успехов был и у Лили Эванс? Ведь Снегг был в неё влюблён. И вполне мог дать ей свой учебник, чтобы похвастать: вот, мол, я какой умный, на год вперёд всю программу знаю. И висящий в воздухе Северус всю эту цепочку быстро просчитывает: изобретённое им невербальное заклинание — запись на полях учебника — учебник отдан любимой Лили Эванс — заклинание применил враг Северуса Джеймс Поттер. Поэтому когда Лили заступается за Снегга, он, ослеплённый яростью и обидой, обзывает её «грязнокровкой».

Потом, из предсмертных воспоминаний Снегга^[6] становится ясно, что это оскорбление было последней каплей в отношениях Лили и Северуса… Блэк говорит потом Гарри, что его мать начала встречаться с Джеймсом аж на седьмом курсе. В любом случае, и Лили, и Северус не смогли забыть унижения одного и оскорбления другой. Особенно Северус. Не умеющий прощать Снегг понимает, что постепенно, но неотвратимо теряет единственного человека, который относился к нему с искренней добротой. Единственную девушку, которую он так сильно любит.

Снегг — Пожиратель смерти. Разглашение Пророчества

В 1977 или 1978 году, сразу после окончания школы или на последнем курсе, Снегг вступил в ряды Пожирателей смерти. В 1980 он в трактире «Кабанья голова» подслушал часть пророчества Сивиллы Трелони о том, что грядёт человек, который сможет победить Тёмного Лорда. Он рассказал об этом Волан-де-Морту, а тот решил, что речь идёт о сыне Джеймса и Лили Поттер. Обезумевший Снегг просил Тёмного Лорда не убивать Лили, но тот не откликнулся на его просьбу. Тогда Снегг пришёл к Дамблдору и попросил его спрятать семью Поттеров. Сам же Снегг перешел на сторону Дамблдора.

Дамблдор убедил Поттеров применить заклинание Фиделиус, но хранитель Тайны, Питер Петтигрю, оказался предателем. Поздней ночью Волан-де-Морт пришёл к дому Поттеров. Он убил Джеймса и хотел пощадить Лили, но та заслонила собой сына. Не думая более о просьбе Снегга, Волан-де-Морт убил женщину, однако, пытаясь убить мальчика, исчез сам.

Узнавший о смерти Лили, Снегг был вне себя от горя, жизнь потеряла для него смысл и краски. Но тут Дамблдор попросил Северуса помочь защитить сына Лили от Волан-де-Морта, чтобы её жертва не оказалась напрасной. Ради Лили тот согласился, взяв с Дамблдора слово о том, что директор никогда никому не раскроет тайны его любви, никому не скажет, что Снегг охраняет сына Джеймса Поттера. Дамблдор публично объявил Снегга своим тайным агентом, спасая его тем самым от судебного преследования, взял в штат Хогвартса преподавателем зельеварения и назначил деканом факультета Слизерин.

Работа в Хогвартсе

С 1981 года Северус Снегг работает в Хогвартсе. Вероятно, он сменил на этой должности профессора Слизнорта. Во всяком случае во время учёбы Гарри Поттера в Хогвартсе (1991—1996) Северус Снегг был деканом Слизерина и профессором зельеварения, а с сентября 1996 преподавал Защиту от Тёмных искусств, продолжая оставаться деканом. Он не скрывал своей нелюбви к студентам других факультетов, особенно к гриффиндорцам, и пользовался любым удобным случаем, чтобы снять с них баллы или назначить дисциплинарное взыскание. (В фильмах «Гарри Поттер и Кубок огня» и «Гарри Поттер и Орден Феникса» — в последнем даже при Амбридж — Снегг даже даёт подзатыльники студентам, которые разговаривают на его уроке, но, по мнению некоторых зрителей, такой образ Снегга не сочетается с описанным в книге). Вполне логично, что Снегг был любим слизеринцами и непопулярен среди студентов других факультетов.

Гарри относился к нему со смесью страха и враждебности, подозревал в причастности ко многим тёмным делам, творившимся в Хогвартсе. Постоянные придирки и колкие замечания Снегга настраивают мальчика против профессора зельеварения. Он почти не замечает, что дела этого человека резко отличаются от его высказываний. Самое большое зло, которое видел Гарри от Снегга, — это снятые баллы и отсидки после уроков. С другой стороны профессор Снегг неоднократно спасал жизнь мальчику (нападения Квиррелла в первой книге), или считал, что спасает её.^[7]

Постепенно выясняется^[8], что профессор Снегг является двойным агентом: и Альбус Дамблдор, и Волан-де-Морт считают Снегга своим человеком. На все намёки членов Ордена Феникса о возможном предательстве Снегга, Дамблдор отвечает, что тот давно и искренне раскаялся. Но в конце шестой книги Снегг на глазах у Гарри убивает Дамблдора заклинанием «Авада Кедавра», а после скрывается вместе с другими Пожирателями смерти. Гарри возненавидел Снегга и поклялся ему отомстить.

Северус Снегг — директор Хогвартса

В конце августа 1997 года году Северус Снегг становится директором Хогвартса. Такое назначение возмущает до глубины души весь старый преподавательский состав, но к власти фактически пришёл Волан-де-Морт, а с ним не поспоришь. Ни один из профессоров школы не подал в отставку: все они решили сделать всё возможное, чтобы уберечь студентов от произвола Снегга и новых преподавателей магловедения и защиты от Тёмных искусств — Пожирателей смерти Алекто и Амикуса Кэрроу. И никто не заметил, что Снегг, как всегда весьма завуалированно, позаботился об учениках. Представляется, что идея не пускать в Хогвартс маглорождённых детей принадлежала именно новому директору. Снегг здраво рассудил, что лучше быть живым неучем, чем мёртвым отличником. А то, что в школе «грязнокровки» будут подвергаться постоянной смертельной опасности, было ясно с самого начала.

Снегг возвращает и некоторые старые правила, введённые в своё время Долорес Амбридж. Например, регистрацию всех организаций и запрет регулярно собираться более чем по три человека. Это тоже помогало новому директору оберегать учеников. Во-первых, он знал, какие именно организации собираются в Хогвартсе, ведь лояльные Волан-де-Морту (и Кэрроу, как его представителям) будут регистрироваться официально, вполне открыто заявляя род своей деятельности. А во-вторых, он пресёк возможность формирования полуподпольных шаек, которые будут нападать на учеников. Ведь если Амикус разрешил применение Непростительных заклятий на уроках, у кого-то возникнет соблазн применить это и во внеурочное время..

Позаботился Снегг и о некоторых учителях. Ни Сивилла Трелони, ни Флоренц не были изгнаны из замка.

Всё это представляется следствием обещания, данного Северусом Снеггом Альбусу Дамблдору за год до смерти старого директора. Обсуждая возможность влияния Волан-де-Морта на Школу, Дамблдор говорит: «Если она и правда окажется в его руках, вы даёте мне слово сделать всё, что в ваших силах, чтобы защитить учеников Хогвартса?» Северус в ответ медленно кивает. Вероятно, уже тогда Снегг подумал о том, что защищать учеников будет удобнее, выпросив себе у Тёмного Лорда кресло директора. А такие просьбы надо готовить заранее…

Как директор школы, Снегг не понравился большинству студентов, которые пыталиcь бунтовать против него и его заместителей. Практически все в Хогвартсе ставили знак равенства между Северусом Снеггом и садистами Кэрроу. Поражает мужество Снегга, продолжавшего осторожно, но действенно защищать студентов, не встречая никакой поддержки ни от своих заместителей, ни от старого профессорского состава Школы.

В недрах Хогвартса зреет бунт учеников. Сначала Невилл Долгопупс, Полумна Лавгуд и Джинни Уизли пытаются возродить Отряд Дамблдора, потом некоторые студенты вынуждены уйти в подполье, скрываясь в Выручай-комнате. Всё заканчивается с возвращением в замок Гарри Поттера, Рона Уизли и Гермионы Грейнджер. Теперь это уже не подполье, а самая настоящая война. Получив известие о том, что Поттер в замке, Снегг пытается его найти. И не потому, что за «Нежелательное лицо №1» назначена немаленькая награда. У Северуса задание поважнее.

Во время своего директорства Северус Снегг продолжает дело, которое Альбус Дамблдор не успел доделать при жизни. Он общается с портретом Дамблдора и прикладывает все усилия, чтобы помочь Гарри Поттеру одолеть Волан-де-Морта. Так, им была проведена хитроумная операция, направленная на передачу Меча Гриффиндора в руки Гарри (подробнее см. статью «Меч Гриффиндора», разделы «Кража меча» и «Передача меча»). А теперь ему надо передать Гарри очень важную информацию. О том, что юноша является последним крестражем Волан-де-Морта. И если он хочет смерти самого страшного мага современности, ему придётся пойти на смерть. Точнее, дать Тёмному Лорду себя убить.

Однако Снегг не успел ничего сказать Поттеру. Ситуация в корне переменилась с возвращением Гарри в замок. Одолев брата и сестру Кэрроу, профессор Макгонагалл вступила с Северусом в поединок. А когда профессора Стебль, Флитвик и Слизнорт присоединились к ней, Снегг был вынужден сбежать из замка. Примечательно, что Снегг использует умение летать без метлы, которое, кроме него, применяет только Волан-де-Морт.

Битва за Хогвартс и смерть

— Предсмертные слова Северуса Снегга, обращённые к Гарри ^[9]

Хотя Лорд Волан-де-Морт получил Бузинную палочку из могилы Дамблдора, она отказывалась его слушаться. Он решил — это из-за того, что Снегг убил Дамблдора и теперь Бузинная палочка фактически принадлежит ему. То есть, Тёмный Лорд правильно рассудил, что «дух» и «тело» палочки разделены, и, владея самой палочкой, он не владеет её силой. Ошибся он только в том, кого палочка посчитала своим истинным хозяином, но об этом Том Реддл узнал позже. А пока он приказал Нагайне убить Северуса, чтобы стать полноправным хозяином Бузинной палочки. Почему Нагайне? Потому что убить Снегга надо магическим образом (обычные магловские штучки вроде ножа или револьвера с магом могут и не подействовать, да и не дело Тёмному Лорду убивать таким простонародным способом), а Бузинная палочка может и ослушаться, если её направить на истинного хозяина. Яд Нагайны быстродейственен и смертелен, не уступает яду василиска. Волан-де-Морт оставляет Северуса умирать в Визжащей хижине, не заметив Гарри, Рона и Гермиону, прячущихся в потайном лазе и наблюдавших как Нагайна наносит смертельные удары. Выждав, пока Тёмный Лорд и его жуткая любимица скроются, Гарри бросается к Снеггу. Увы, он не видит способа помочь ему. С трудом Снегг прохрипел: «Собери», и Гарри видит, что из ран Снегга течёт не только кровь, но и его воспоминания. Подставив наколдованный Гермионой флакон, юноша собирает субстанцию, которую можно будет посмотреть в Омуте памяти. Последним желанием Снегга было увидеть зелёные глаза Гарри, которые так похожи на глаза Лили. После смерти профессора Гарри бежит в кабинет директора и смотрит собранные воспоминания в Омуте памяти. Оказывается, Северус всю жизнь любил Лили Эванс, и до конца был верен Альбусу Дамблдору с тех пор, как Волан-де-Морт решил пойти против Поттеров, а Дамблдор приложил все силы, чтобы спасти Лили и её семью.

Гарри видит различные сцены жизни Снегга: о его детстве и учёбе в Хогвартсе, о том, как он умолял спасти Лили и как чуть не умер от горя, когда она погибла, о его беседах с Дамблдором, и даже о том, как он посетил Площадь Гриммо, 12 уже после смерти директора. Многое из того, что Гарри считал верным, получило новое освещение, его представление о Снегге изменились самым коренным образом. Но самым важным для Гарри оказалось узнать, что он является последним крестражем Волан-де-Морта, и для победы ему надо принять смерть от рук убийцы его родителей.

Гарри принял эту смерть, но по ряду причин смог вернуться к жизни. Во время заключительного поединка между ним и Тёмным Лордом, Гарри раскрыл глаза Тому Реддлу на многие вещи. В том числе — на то, что Снегг всю жизнь любил Лили Поттер и не мог простить Волан-де-Морту её смерти. И на то, что, убив Северуса, Том не стал хозяином Бузинной палочки, потому что Снегг никогда ею не владел. Сила самой непобедимой волшебной палочки перешла к Драко Малфою, обезоружившему Дамблдора за минуту до его смерти от руки Снегга, а от Драко — к Гарри, победившему Малфоя в магической дуэли. Да, и кстати, смерть Дамблдора не была убийством. Снегг просто выполнил давнюю просьбу старого директора, которому от действия проклятия Кольца Марволо жить осталось не более года.

После смерти

Портрет Снегга не был автоматически помещен в кабинет Директора школы, так как он, по существу, оставил свой пост во время Сражения в Хогвартсе. Однако Гарри, пользуясь своим авторитетом, настоял на том, что портрет Северуса должен висеть там. Это будет справедливо.

Альбус Северус Поттер, второй сын Гарри, и единственный из его детей, кто унаследовал глаза Лили, был назван в честь Снегга. Когда Альбус волновался, что может быть распределен в Слизерин, Гарри ответил: «Альбус Северус Поттер, тебя назвали в честь двух директоров Хогвартса. Один из них учился в Слизерине, и он был, пожалуй, самым храбрым человеком, которого я когда-либо знал».

Рита Скитер издала книгу о жизни Снегга, озаглавленной «Северус Снегг: сволочь или святой?», спустя некоторое время после его смерти.

«Гарри Поттер и Проклятое дитя»

В одной из альтернативных реальностей, созданных в результате использования Маховика времени Альбусом Поттером и Скорпиусом Малфоем, магической Британией правит Волан-де-Морт, а Хогвартс под пятой Пожирателей смерти. Оставшийся в одиночестве Скорпиус (в этой реальности Альбус даже не родился) находит диссидентов — Рона, Гермиону и уцелевшего Северуса Снегга — и рассказывает им об ином настоящем. Так Снегг узнаёт, что Гарри Поттер назвал сына в его честь, что наполняет его сердце гордостью, но и горечью, ведь в другой реальности он должен погибнуть. И Северус помогает мальчику вернуть действительность в исходное состояние.

Внешность

Снегг был худым человеком с бледной кожей, крючковатым носом и сальными, до плеч, волосами. Его холодные, черные глаза напоминали «темные туннели»: они были такие же чёрные, как у Хагрида, но в них не было того тепла, которым светились глаза великана. Снегг был среднего роста, с тонкими губами, которые часто кривила насмешливая улыбка. Он говорил мягким, низким голосом, в котором, впрочем, чувствовались стальные нотки. Он мог тихим шепотом заставить замолчать галдящий класс.

Снегг предпочитал носить черную, развевающуюся по ветру мантию, которая придавала ему сходство с летучей мышью. Вообще, Снегг почти не следил за своим внешним видом. Его всегда сальные, немытые волосы были предметом насмешек и шуток. По словам Роулинг, он придавал больше значения своему внутреннему миру, чем тому, как он выглядит.

Магические навыки

Снегга нельзя назвать светлым магом, но он не был тёмным волшебником. Он изобретал заклинания, как минимум одно из которых спокойно могло бы убить человека. Умел вызывать телесного Патронуса.

• Выдающийся зельевар, улучшал составы и способы приготовлений зелий.
• Талантливый и очень сильный окклюменист.
• Выдающийся волшебник, превосходно владеющий магией. В этом отношении он был не хуже Беллатрисы Лестрейндж и Антонина Долохова. Создатель новых заклинаний.
• Волшебник, умевший перемещаться по воздуху безо всякого транспортного средства (кроме Снегга это умение демонстрировал только Волан-де-Морт).
• Владел легилименцией.

Немагические способности

• Человек, имевший чёткое логическое мышление (немногие волшебники могут этим похвастаться^[10]). В книге «Гарри Поттер и Философский камень» Гермиона решает логическую задачу с зельями, составленную именно профессором Снеггом.
• Расчётливый стратег, умелый тактик.
• Человек, способный прекрасно скрывать свои чувства, если это необходимо для дела.
• Неплохой психолог. По крайней мере найти «болевую точку» собеседника для Снегга не представляется особо сложным.

Взаимоотношения

Родители

Маленький Северус не пользовался любовью отца, да и мать, судя по всему не слишком его любила. Или, по крайней мере, свою любовь не особенно показывала. Угрюмая и немногословная Эйлин Принц не привыкла демонстрировать свои чувства. Хотя то, что Снегг называл себя в школе «Принц-полукровка» говорит об уважении к матери с его стороны. Да и Слизерин он, скорее всего, выбрал (да-да, выбрал, Распределяющая шляпа в первую очередь учитывает пожелания учеников) потому, что мать заканчивала этот факультет.

Лили Поттер

Светлая, солнечная Лили привлекла к себе внимание Северуса ещё в детстве. Она была единственной среди окрестной детворы, кто не чурался выходца из соседних трущоб, сына «этих Снеггов», кто не смеялся над ним, одетым в материнские обноски, кто в первую очередь видел в нём человека, а не нищего оборвыша. К тому же Лили, сама того ещё не понимая, была волшебницей, и это делало её в глазах Северуса совсем «своей». Похоже, Снегг относится к редкому типу однолюбов, и Лили стала его единственной любовью на всю жизнь. Более того, отношение Снегга к другим героям романа часто напрямую зависят от того, как те относились к Лили Эванс, или какую роль сыграли в отношениях Лили и Северуса.

Гарри Поттер

— Может, он заболел, — с надеждой в голосе предположил Рон. — А может, совсем ушёл? Из-за того, что место преподавателя защиты от Тёмных искусств снова досталось не ему? — А может, его выгнали? — вдохновенно произнёс Рон. — Его все терпеть не могут… — А может быть, — промолвил сзади чей-то ледяной голос, — он сейчас стоит и ждёт, когда вы двое расскажете ему, почему вы вернулись в школу не поездом.

Гарри и Рон о Снегге

С Гарри Снегга связывают, пожалуй, самые сложные и противоречивые отношения. С одной стороны, защита мальчика — своеобразная дань памяти умершей Лили. И о том, ради кого любимая женщина отдала свою жизнь, Северус не забывает ни на секунду. Но в то же время Гарри — косвенная причина её гибели. Эта двойственность восприятия младшего Поттера усилилась, когда Снегг увидел, насколько похож мальчик на отца, ненавистного Джеймса. На Джеймса, отнявшего Лили у Северуса и не сумевшего её защитить.

На протяжении всех шести лет обучения Снегг получает вполне внятное удовольствие от всяких гадостей и подколок, которые он говорит в адрес Гарри (то, что он не умел или не мог себе позволить в адрес Джеймса). Однако в глубине души профессор постепенно проникается к мальчику всё более тёплыми чувствами. С первого года знакомства с Поттером Снегг, ни на миг не колеблясь, становится на защиту его жизни и здоровья в любых ситуациях. Гарри не замечает разительного противоречия между тем, что говорит профессор Снегг, и что он делает. И чем дальше, тем всё наглее отвечает на выпады Снегга. От «Но мне кажется, что Гермиона это точно знает, почему бы вам не спросить её?» на первом курсе^[11], до вполне хамской фразочки: «Совсем необязательно называть меня «сэр», профессор.» на шестом.^[12]

И, тем не менее, когда Снегг узнаёт, что Альбус Дамблдор готов пожертвовать Гарри в борьбе с Волан-де-Мортом, он искренне потрясён. Оказывается, мальчику сохраняли жизнь лишь до определённого момента, чтобы отдать его «как свинью для убоя»! И когда прозорливый Дамблдор спрашивает, не привязался ли Снегг к мальчику, Северус прикрывается лишь памятью о Лили. Похоже, он пытается скрыть это даже от себя, но он действительно дорожит Гарри.

Джеймс Поттер

Впервые мальчики встречаются 1 сентября 1971 года в вагоне Хогвартс-экспресса. Уверенный в себе, поверхностный Джеймс резко контрастирует с замкнутым Северусом. Высказанная Поттером с ходу критика Слизерина («Кто это тут хочет в Слизерин? Да я бы сразу из школы ушёл!») воспринимается Снеггом, как критика его матери. Она-то — бывшая слизеринка, и рассказывала сыну о своём факультете только хорошее, несомненно, ругая при этом Гриффиндор. А придуманная тут же кличка Северуса «Нюниус» стала вторым кирпичиком в стене между Поттером и Снеггом. Впоследствии эта стена росла и укреплялась обоюдными усилиями. И не рухнула даже после того, как Джеймс спас Северусу жизнь.

Сириус Блэк

1 сентября 1971 года, Хогвартс-экспресс. Маленький избалованный «звёздный мальчик» Сириус, на которого возлагали такие надежды родители, бравирует своим наплевательским отношением к семейным традициям перед Джеймсом. Видно, мать со своими скандалами перегнула палку: мальчишка выбирает не любимый Блэками Слизерин, а ненавистный им Гриффиндор. Более того, всё, что связано со Слизерином напоминает Сириусу родительский дом, в котором он, даже будучи взрослым, чувствует себя, мягко говоря, неуютно. Поэтому он радостно подхватил кличку, которую придумал для Северуса Джеймс, лишний раз доказывая окружающим и самому себе, что он не такой как все Блэки. Сириус совсем не чёрствый и не бессердечный: он способен и на любовь, и на сострадание, но совершенно не способен поставить себя на место другого. Своей бестактностью он может обидеть даже друга («Джеймс, прекрати так мастерски ловить снитч. А то Хвост сейчас описается от восторга»). Что уж говорить о Снегге, которого Блэк чуть ли не с первой встречи записал во враги. И злопамятный Северус платит ему сторицей.

Римус Люпин

Римус всегда умел посмотреть на ситуацию со стороны, отделить эмоции от фактов и оценить человека по его делам. Его коробит от выходок Сириуса и Джеймса, и от щенячьего восторга, в который эти выходки приводят Хвоста, но это — его друзья, люди, которые смогли закрыть глаза на его недостаток. Ведь большинство волшебников чурается оборотней. Поэтому Римус закрывает глаза на все безобразия, которые творятся перед самым его носом. Он слишком дорожит дружбой этих троих… Нет, он никогда не оскорблял и не обижал Северуса. Но уже одно то, что он никогда и не осуждал (по крайней мере, прилюдно) остальных «мародёров», настроило Снегга против него.

Много позже, уже будучи взрослыми, Снегг и Люпин слегка сближаются. До состояния нейтралитета. Что ж, Римус — это не женившийся на Лили Джеймс, не предавший Лили Питер, и не подставивший её Сириус… Поэтому Северус готов примириться с существованием Люпина. А Римус всегда помнил, какую неоценимую услугу оказал ему Снегг своими зельями, которые готовил ему в год работы профессора Люпина в Хогвартсе.

Питер Петтигрю

В школе Северус если и замечал Питера, то не более, чем подпевалу Джеймса и Сириуса. Настоящих каверз Петтигрю, в силу своих слабых магических способностей, не делал… Остаётся открытым вопрос, когда именно Снегг узнал о предательстве Хвоста, но то, что он об этом предательстве знал, не подлежит сомнению. И то, что Волан-де-Морт поселяет Питера в дом к Северусу как бы в качестве помощника, говорит о попытке Тёмного Лорда лишний раз проверить лояльность Снегга. Выше говорилось, как профессор Снегг третировал Невилла Долгопупса только потому, что не его наметил убить Волан-де-Морт. Можно представить, как сильно ненавидел Северус человека, отдавшего Лили на верную смерть. И достойна восхищения выдержка Снегга, выказывавшего по отношению к Петтигрю лишь лёгкую неприязнь.

Альбус Дамблдор

Дамблдор: «Я предпочитаю не складывать все мои тайны в одну корзину ─ тем более в корзину, которая большую часть времени болтается на руке лорда Волан-де-Морта.» Снегг: «Но я делаю это по вашему распоряжению! « Дамблдор: «Да, и делаете непревзойденно. Не думайте, Северус, что я недооцениваю постоянную опасность, которой вы себя подвергаете. Поставлять Волан-де-Морту информацию, которая кажется ему ценной, и при этом скрывать самое главное ─ такую работу я не мог бы поручить никому, кроме вас.»

Отношения Дамблдора и Снегга были не полностью доверительными. Главным образом потому, что Альбус с детства привык утаивать от окружающих информацию. Снегг поначалу тоже не склонен был всё рассказывать директору. Хотя эти двое не особо-то и нуждались в полном озвучивании своих планов и мыслей: оба были достаточно умными людьми, чтобы читать между строк.

После того, как Волан-де-Морт нацелился на сына Лили Поттер, Снегг, косвенно виноватый в этом, просит Дамблдора защитить Поттеров, и, главное, Лили. За защиту Поттеров он охотно соглашается дать взамен Дамболдору всё, что угодно. Это приводит к тому, что Снегг становится членом Ордена Феникса и главным шпионом Дамблдора. В то же время он считается и агентом Волан-де-Морта, сообщая ему информацию прямо из Хогвартса. Но до смерти Снегга никто из Пожирателей не знал, что эта информация строго дозирована Дамблдором и Снеггом в интересах Ордена. То есть, Снегг рассказывает Волан-де-Морту правду, но… не всю правду.

После смерти Лили Дамблдор надеялся, что время вылечит эту рану Северуса, но несколько лет спустя был удивлен и тронут, узнав, как Северус все эти годы продолжает любить эту женщину.

Вообще, Снегг чем дальше, тем глубже любит и уважает Дамблдора. И, кстати, доверяет ему не меньше, чем доверяет директору Гарри. Несмотря на то, что Дамблдор по своей привычке не делится с ним всеми планами. Хотя и полностью верит Снеггу, ни разу не усомнившись в его окончательном «перевоспитании».

Снеггу стоило немалых душевных сил заставить себя нанести Дамблдору последний, смертельный удар. И это несмотря на то, что Северус, как никто, знал, что дни Директора сочтены, и прекрасно видел там, на башне, что Дамблдор уже при смерти^[13].

Волан-де-Морт

Изначально, прислушиваясь к мнению старших товарищей-слизеринцев, Снегг восхищается великим Тёмным Лордом. Недаром он становится Пожирателем смерти буквально сразу после окончания Хогвартса. Но узнавая Волан-де-Морта всё ближе и ближе, понимает, что глубоко ошибся в этом человеке. Для Северуса, способного на большую любовь (как бы он ни пытался этого скрыть), бездушное отношение Тёмного Лорда к остальным людям неприемлемо. А открывшаяся охота Хозяина на Лили Поттер и её семью и вовсе переводит Снегга в лагерь противников Волан-де-Морта. Когда же Тёмный Лорд, несмотря на все усилия Снегга, убивает Лили, он однозначно записывается в смертельные враги Мастера Зелий. Отныне уничтожение Волан-де-Морта становится делом жизни Северуса Снегга. И он стал одним из тех, кто всем сердцем возненавидел Тёмного Лорда. При этом Снегг вполне адекватно оценивает магическую мощь противника, никогда ни на йоту не недооценивая его силу. Всегда будучи настороже, просчитывая наперёд все возможные варианты поведения, он великолепно справляется с ролью двойного агента. Мало того, Волан-де-Морт считает его своим весьма ценным Пожирателем, великолепно информированным, умным и расчётливым. Даже убивая Северуса, Тёмный Лорд не сомневается в его преданности. Он убивает Снегга лишь потому, что считает его препятствием на пути к овладению Бузинной палочкой.

Минерва Макгонагалл

Между Снеггом и Макгонагалл в основном всегда были сопернические взаимоотношения. Северус Снегг декан Слизерина, а Минерва Макгонагалл — Гриффиндора. До обучения в Хогвартсе Гарри Поттера Слизерин выигрывал Кубок Хогвартса шесть лет подряд. Но на седьмом году победа досталась Гриффиндору к радости Макгонагалл, которая всегда во всём поддерживала свой факультет и гордилась им. Снегг же с досадой пожал ей руку и принял поражение. В дальнейшем оба факультета соревновались и в игре в квиддич, и в борьбе за Кубок Хогвартса. До 1997 года отношения деканов не выходили за рамки простого соперничества. Но после смерти Дамблдора, Снегг по приказу Волан-де-Морта занял пост директора и сильно этим разозлил всех профессоров, включая и Макгонагалл. В 1998 году накануне Битвы за Хогвартс она вступает в дуэль со Снеггом и при поддержке других преподавателей обращает его в бегство.

Гермиона Грейнджер

Гермиона Грейнджер с первой встречи оказывается в тройке самых нелюбимых учеников. Ему не нравится, что она пытается помешать третировать Гарри Поттера и помогает подсказками Невиллу Долгопупсу. Он не обращает внимания на её поднятую руку и не принимает её ответы на вопросы, какими правильными они бы ни были. Ещё больше неприязнь Снегга к студентке усиливается после того, как она подожгла на матче по квиддичу его мантию. Гермиона свято верила, что мешает профессору Снеггу заклинать метлу Гарри: взбунтовавшаяся метла грозила сбросить мальчика с приличной высоты. На самом деле Снегг шептал противозаклинание, мешая профессору Квирреллу, который как раз и заколдовал метлу. Думается, не поспособствовало сближению профессора и Гермионы и воровство шкур бумсланга из шкафа на втором курсе. (Неясно, впрочем, установил ли профессор истинную виновницу двух последних эпизодов…)

Интересно, что Гермиона пытается быть к Снеггу объективной, постоянно оправдывая его действия в глазах Гарри и Рона. Ещё более интересно, что на шестом курсе мальчики становятся на сторону Принца-полукровки, не зная, кто скрывается за этим прозвищем, а Гермиона, наоборот, возмущена его «извращённым чувством юмора».

Невилл Долгопупс

С первой встречи очень странно выглядят постоянные нападки Снегга на Невилла. Пожалуй, он занимает второе место в рейтинге его самых нелюбимых учеников. Вечные придирки делают Долгопупса, и без того неуверенного в себе, одним из слабейших в классе на уроках зельеварения. Причина такого отношения профессора к Невиллу становятся понятна только под конец последней книги: Снегг подсознательно недолюбливает Невилла, потому что пророчество могло быть и о нём, выбери Волан-де-Морт своей мишенью семью Долгопупсов (о таком варианте, кстати, думал и сам Гарри Поттер^[8]). Если бы охота велась за Невиллом, а не за Гарри, Лили осталась бы жива…

Люциус Малфой

Когда Снегг поступил в Хогвартс, Люциус учился уже последний год. Он, староста Слизерина, первым пожал руку новичку-первокурснику за факультетским столом в день распределения. И тем надолго расположил его к себе: каждому лестно, когда его ценят старшие товарищи, а выказанное уважение резко контрастировало с тем, как к Северусу относились дома. Наверняка после этого Снегг внимательно присматривался к манерам и поступкам Малфоя-старшего. Можно предположить, что умение Люциуса лавировать между сильными мира сего («Люциус, мой скользкий друг», — говорит годы спустя Волан-де-Морт) восхищали Снегга, любившего всякие трудноразрешимые задачи. Вполне возможно, что некоторые приёмы Малфоя Северус взял на вооружение.

Самый неоднозначный персонаж Поттерианы

Кому на самом деле предан Северус, остаётся загадкой (по крайней мере, для Гарри и его друзей) вплоть до смерти Мастера Зелий во время битвы за Хогвартс. За несколько минут до кончины Снегг успевает отдать свои воспоминания подоспевшему Гарри Поттеру. Просмотрев их, юноша убеждается, что человек, которого он ненавидел и считал убийцей предыдущего директора, на самом деле действовал по приказу самого Дамблдора и вёл опасную игру против Волан-де-Морта. Это он рассказал Дамблдору о планах Тёмного Лорда убить семью Поттеров, это он с самого начала приглядывал за Гарри, оберегая его, это он подсказал Наземникусу Флетчеру идею о семи Поттерах^[14], это он, оставаясь неузнанным, передал Гарри меч Гриффиндора. Даже самое страшное преступление, которое Гарри ставил Снеггу в вину, смерть профессора Дамблдора, не было убийством как таковым. Оказывается, находящийся при смерти директор просил, умолял, настаивал на том, чтобы его убил именно Северус, а не шестнадцатилетний Драко Малфой, душу которого старый профессор постарался уберечь от непоправимого.

Но величие этого бесстрашного человека открылось Гарри Поттеру слишком поздно. Единственное, чем может отплатить юноша своему погибшему учителю — обелить его честное имя в глазах волшебного сообщества. И он этот долг выполнил. Именно Гарри добился, чтобы портрет профессора Снегга висел в кабинете директора Хогвартса, как и портреты остальных умерших директоров школы.

Интересные факты

• Предсмертные слова Альбуса Дамблдора: «Северус, пожалуйста…» — произнесённые в конце шестой книги, Снегг слышит вновь в начале седьмой в качестве последних слов Профессора Бербидж.

Северус Снегг в фанатской субкультуре

Поскольку некоторые фанаты считают Снегга самым неоднозначным и интересным персонажем серии книг о Гарри Поттере, у него возникло множество поклонников. Сами фанаты во многом связывают это с исполнением роли Снегга актёром Аланом Рикманом. Фанаты Снегга пишут фанфики, статьи и исследования о Снегге, обмениваются рисунками и фотографиями, связанными с персонажем. Это явление получило название «снейпомания» — слово, производное от английского варианта звучания фамилии персонажа.

В книге «Гарри Поттер и Принц-полукровка» выяснилось, что Северусу Снеггу одновременно доверяли Волан-де-Морт и Дамблдор. В течение двух лет до выхода последней книги, вопрос о том, на чьей стороне Снегг (фанаты обычно называют его Снейп), был одной из самых обсуждаемых тем среди посетителей форумов и сообществ, посвящённых серии книг о Гарри Поттере. Большинство правильно считало, что Снегг предан Дамблдору и был вынужден убить его по его же приказу. Стали появляться списки аргументов в пользу этой точки зрения^[15][16][17].

Причиной того, что большинство фанатов угадали правду, была фраза Дамблдора «Severus … please …», произнесённая им перед смертью. «For the first time, Dumbledore was pleading» («Северус… пожалуйста…» — впервые Дамблдор умолял). Многие правильно догадались, что это — не просьба о помиловании, а просьба об убийстве. До этого Хагрид рассказывает Поттеру о случайно услышанной им ссоре между Дамблдором и Снеггом. По словам Хагрида, Снегг что-то отказывался сделать для Дамблдора, однако тот настоял на своём. Большинство фанатов правильно поняли, что Дамблдор требовал от Снегга убить его.

Прообраз

Джон Неттлшип — учитель химии в школе Д. Роулинг. Именно от его характера она отталкивалась, когда начинала создавать образ профессора Снегга. В детстве он казался ей несправедливым и излишне строгим, хотя он сам в интервью говорит, что был в меру строг и никогда не был несправедлив. Также он никогда не думал, что она писала с него Снейпа, и даже предполагал, что она делала Дамблдора похожим на него. Также известно, что Неттлшип женат и вполне счастлив в браке.

Перевод фамилии

Переводы
Оригинальное имя:
Severus Snape
РОСМЭН:
Северус Снегг
«народный перевод»:
Северус Снейп
Марии Спивак:
Злотеус Злей
Бялко-Левитова:
Северус Снейп

Различные переводы фамилии Снегга сильно отличаются друг от друга и от оригинального варианта «Snape». Это вызвано тем, что исходная фамилия имеет неявные ассоциации (в частности, со словами snake — змея и snap — щелчок, отрывистая речь, внезапный мороз, ложь, обман, хитрость), и разные варианты перевода продиктованы стремлением сохранить эти ассоциации — либо с исходными английскими словами, либо с какими-то из их русских аналогов. Русские фанаты ассоциируют имя этого героя с природным явлением — снегом. Поскольку по характеру Северус тоже был холоден, по крайней мере, снаружи. По причине невозможности одновременно сохранить все ассоциации и перевести их на русский (извечная проблема перевода художественной литературы) среди поклонников до сих пор не утихают споры о том, какой вариант «лучше». Сама Джоан Роулинг утверждает, что назвала его в честь деревни Snape в Англии.

Перевод имени на различные языки

За кулисами

•  В 520 эпизоде мультсериала «Симпсоны» присуствует Снегг (17 минута 40 секунда).
• Журнал «Мир Фантастики» поставил Снегга на 2 место в списке «10 самых известных предателей в фантастике», заметив, что план предательства Снегга был придуман Дамблдором, а Северус лишь отличный исполнитель.
• Алан Рикман, отвечая на вопрос журналиста:

Джоан Роулинг о Северусе Снегге в своих интервью

(ответы на вопросы читателей):

Laura Trego: В последней сцене в кабинете директора не было портрета Снегга. Это случайно или преднамеренно?

JKR: Намеренно. Снегг фактически покинул директорский пост перед смертью, поэтому не заслужил быть включенным в августейшее общество. Тем не менее, мне нравится думать, что Гарри поспособствует тому, чтобы со временем портрет Снегга там появился.

Анни: Магический мир узнал о том, что Снегг — человек Дамблдора, или они так и считают, что он сбежал?

JKR: Гарри позаботился том, чтобы о героическом поступке Снегга стало известно. Конечно, это не помешало Рите Скитер написать книгу «Снегг: Сволочь или Святой».

Lechicaneuronline: Вы считаете, Снегга можно назвать героем?

JKR: Да, я так считаю. Хотя он герой со множеством недостатков. Возможно, даже антигерой. Его никак не назовешь приятным человеком, он остался злым, жестоким, он любит запугивать, сам страдает от чувства горечи и постоянной опасности. И все же он любит и демонстрирует преданность этой любви. И в конечном счете платит жизнью за эту любовь. По-настоящему героический поступок!

Джаклин: Лили когда-нибудь испытывала ответные чувства к Снеггу?

JKR: Да. Она могла бы даже по-настоящему полюбить его (нет сомнений, что она любила его как друга), если бы он не увлекался Темной Магией, не связался с такими отвратительными людьми и не дал втянуть себя в такие темные дела.

Nithya: Лили ненавидела Мальсибера, Эйвери. Если Снегг действительно ее любил, почему он ради нее не пожертвовал своей компанией?

JKR: В этом-то и трагедия Снегга. Если бы у него была возможность повернуть время вспять, он не стал бы Пожирателем, но, как многие неуверенные, уязвимые люди (типа Хвоста), он очень хотел быть частью чего-то большого, могущественного и впечатляющего.

Он хотел быть с Лили, но в то же время хотел быть с Мальсибером. Он так и не понял до конца отвращения Лили: он был настолько ослеплен своим увлечением Темными Искусствами, что решил, что Лили будет впечатлена, если он станет настоящим Пожирателем Смерти.

Саманта: Правда ли, что Снегг единственный из Пожирателей мог создать патронуса?

JKR: Да, потому что патронус используется против того, что Пожиратели порождают или против их союзников. Патронусы им не нужны.

Дженни: Как удавалось Снеггу держать своего патронуса в секрете от остальных членов Ордена?

JKR: Он был осторожен и не использовал для связи говорящего патронуса. В этом не было ничего сложного, так как его работа внутри Ордена заключалась в шпионаже, и послать кому-либо патронуса означало выдать себя.

Lou: Как Снеггу удалось пробраться на площадь Гриммо за второй половинкой письма, если там были защитные заклинания, установленные специально против него?

JKR: Снегг был там сразу после смерти Дамблдора, еще до того, как Грюм установил дополнительную защиту.^[18]

Появления

Переводы
Оригинальное имя:
Severus Snape
РОСМЭН:
Северус Снегг
Марии Спивак:
Злотеус Злей

• Гарри Поттер и Философский камень (Первое появление)

• Гарри Поттер и Философский камень (фильм)

• Гарри Поттер и Философский камень (игра)

• Гарри Поттер и Тайная комната

• Гарри Поттер и Тайная комната (фильм)

• Гарри Поттер и Тайная комната (игра)

• Гарри Поттер и узник Азкабана

• Гарри Поттер и узник Азкабана (фильм)

• Гарри Поттер и узник Азкабана (игра)

• Гарри Поттер и Кубок Огня

• Гарри Поттер и Кубок огня (фильм)

• Гарри Поттер и Орден Феникса

• Гарри Поттер и Орден Феникса (фильм)

• Гарри Поттер и Орден Феникса (игра)

• Гарри Поттер и Принц-полукровка

• Гарри Поттер и Принц-полукровка (фильм)

• Гарри Поттер и Принц-полукровка (игра)

• Гарри Поттер и Дары Смерти

• Гарри Поттер и Дары Смерти: Часть 1

• Гарри Поттер и Дары Смерти: Часть I (игра)

• Гарри Поттер и Дары Смерти: Часть 2

• Гарри Поттер и Дары Смерти: Часть II (игра)

• Гарри Поттер и проклятое дитя. Части 1 и 2 (В альтернативной реальности)

• Гарри Поттер и Проклятое дитя (пьеса) (В альтернативной реальности)

• Фантастические звери и места их обитания (Только упоминание)

• Гарри Поттер. Рождение легенды

• Гарри Поттер. Мир волшебства. История легенды

• Гарри Поттер. Герои. Маги и маглы

• Гарри Поттер. Фантастические существа (Только упоминание)

• LEGO Гарри Поттер: Персонажи Волшебного Мира

• LEGO Гарри Поттер: Построй свой Волшебный Мир

• LEGO Гарри Поттер: годы 1-4

• LEGO Гарри Поттер: годы 5-7

• LEGO Creator: Гарри Поттер

• LEGO Гарри Поттер (серия)

• Гарри Поттер: Чемпионат мира по квиддичу

• Музей Гарри Поттера

• Wizarding World

• Гарри Поттер: Коллекционная карточная игра

• Гарри Поттер для Kinect

• Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery

• Harry Potter: Wizards Unite

• Harry Potter: Magic Awakened (Только в воспоминаниях)

• Гарри Поттер: магия и загадки

Примечания

	Северус Снегг в иллюстрациях

1. ↑ Так Снегг был назван в данной трансляции на Поттеровском дозоре.
2. ↑ LEGO Гарри Поттер: годы 1-4
3. ↑ «Гарри Поттер и Дары Смерти» — Девятнадцать лет спустя
4. ↑ Гарри Поттер и Орден Феникса
5. ↑ Гарри Поттер и Дары Смерти
6. ↑ Гарри Поттер и Дары Смерти
7. ↑ визит в «Визжащую хижину» в конце третьей книги
8. ↑ ^{8,0 8,1} Гарри Поттер и Орден Феникса
9. ↑ фильм «Гарри Поттер и Дары Смерти: Часть 2»
10. ↑ Об этом говорит Гермиона в конце первой книги
11. ↑ «Гарри Поттер и Философский камень» — Глава 8. Специалист по волшебному зельеварению
12. ↑ «Гарри Поттер и Принц-полукровка» — Глава 9. Принц-полукровка
13. ↑ «Гарри Поттер и Принц-полукровка», нападение на Хогвартс
14. ↑ См. статью «Семь Поттеров»
15. ↑ http://community.livejournal.com/ru_harrypotter/174366.html
16. ↑ http://big-game.livejournal.com/19493.html
17. ↑ http://hpforum.ru/viewtopic.php?t=6789
18. ↑ Полностью это интервью можно увидеть по адресу http://www.harrypotter.com.ua/index.php?showtopic=41360

Ссылки

Навигация

п•о•р Карьера Северуса Снегга
Предшественник	Должность	ㅤПреемникㅤㅤ
Гораций Слизнорт	Профессор зельеварения 1981 — 1996	Гораций Слизнорт
Долорес Амбридж	Профессор защиты от Тёмных искусств 1996 — 1997	Амикус Кэрроу
Гораций Слизнорт	Декан факультета Слизерин 1981 — 1997	Гораций Слизнорт
Альбус Дамблдор	Директор Хогвартса 1997 — 1998	Минерва Макгонагалл

п•о•р Штат Хогвартса
Основатели	Годрик Гриффиндор · Пенелопа Пуффендуй · Кандида Когтевран · Салазар Слизерин
Директора	Евпраксия Моул · Вульпус · Филлида Спора · Декстер Фортескью · Идэсса Сакнденберг · Амброуз Свотт · Эверард · Виндиктус Виридиан Дайлис Дервент · Брайан Гэгвайлд · Квентин Тримбл · Лимеберт · Финеас Найджелус Блэк · Уолтер Арагон · Бэзил Фронсак · Армандо Диппет · Альбус Дамблдор · Долорес Амбридж · Северус Снегг · Минерва Макгонагалл
Заместители директора	Минерва Макгонагалл · Амикус Кэрроу · Алекто Кэрроу
Деканы	Филиус Флитвик · Минерва Макгонагалл · Гораций Слизнорт · Северус Снегг · Помона Стебль
Профессора	Батшеда Бабблинг · Герберт Бири · Катберт Бинс · Чарити Бербидж · Алекто Кэрроу · Амикус Кэрроу · Альбус Дамблдор · Флоренц · Филиус Флитвик · Рубеус Хагрид · Роланда Трюк · Сильванус Кеттлберн · Златопуст Локонс · Невилл Долгопупс · Римус Люпин · Минерва Макгонагалл · Галатея Вилкост · Квиринус Квиррелл · Аврора Синистра Гораций Слизнорт · Северус Снегг · Помона Стебль · Сивилла Трелони · Септима Вектор · Долорес Амбридж · Вильгельмина Граббли-Дёрг
Персонал	Домашние эльфы · Добби · Аргус Филч · Рубеус Хагрид · Роланда Трюк · Кикимер · Огг · Ирма Пинс · Поппи Помфри · Аполлион Прингл · Винки

п•о•р Орден Феникса
Основатель	Альбус Дамблдор
Лидеры организации	Альбус Дамблдор (1980-июнь 1997) Аластор Грюм (июль 1997) Кингсли Бруствер (с конца июля 1997-май 1998)
Только первый состав	Джеймс Поттер · Лили Поттер · Гидеон Пруэтт · Фабиан Пруэтт Фрэнк Долгопупс · Алиса Долгопупс · Марлин МакКиннон Доркас Медоуз · Питер Петтигрю (предатель)
Первый и второй состав	Альбус Дамблдор · Минерва Макгонагалл · Элфиас Дож Дедалус Дингл · Рубеус Хагрид · Сириус Блэк · Римус Люпин · Аластор Грюм · Эммелина Вэнс · Арабелла Фигг · Аберфорт Дамблдор
Только второй состав	Кингсли Бруствер · Нимфадора Тонкс · Северус Снегг · Гестия Джонс · Артур Уизли · Молли Уизли · Билл Уизли · Чарли Уизли · Наземникус Флетчер · Фред Уизли · Джордж Уизли
Сочувствующие и помогавшие	Люди: Олимпия Максим · Флёр Делакур · Тед Тонкс · Андромеда Тонкс · Тётушка Мюриэль · Ли Джордан · Ксенофилиус Лавгуд Волшебные существа: великан Каркус · великан Грохх · гиппогриф Клювокрыл · фестрал Тенебрус · Кикимер · кентавр Флоренц · кентавр Бэйн · кентавр Ронан · кентавр Магориан Организации: Министерство магии (1970-1981 и 1996-1997) Отряд Дамблдора · Радиостанция «Поттеровский дозор» Издательство журнала «Придира» (1995-1998)

п•о•р Пожиратели Смерти
Основатель	Лорд Волан-де-Морт
Пожиратели Смерти	Гойл-старший · Крэбб-старший · Джагсон · Антонин Долохов · Алекто Кэрроу · Амикус Кэрроу · Беллатриса Лестрейндж · Родольфус Лестрейндж · Рабастан Лестрейндж · Уолден Макнейр · Мальсибер · Мальсибер-старший · Трэверс · Эван Розье · Розье старший · Торфин Роули · Яксли · Август Руквуд · Селвин · Нотт-старший · Эйвери · Питер Петтигрю · Барти Крауч-младший · Гиббон · Уилкис
Предатели	Игорь Каркаров · Северус Снегг · Регулус Блэк Люциус Малфой · Драко Малфой
Помогавшие персонажи	Фенрир Сивый · Струпьяр · Нарцисса Малфой · Долорес Амбридж · Квиринус Квиррелл · Голгомаф
Помогавшие организации	Министерство Магии (1997-1998) · Егеря
Помогавшие существа	Великаны · Дементоры · Акромантулы · Оборотни · Инферналы
Под заклятием Империус	Стэн Шанпайк · Пий Толстоватый

п•о•р Защита от Тёмных искусств
Преподаватели	Галатея Вилкост · Квиринус Квиррелл · Златопуст Локонс · Римус Люпин · Аластор Грюм · Долорес Амбридж · Северус Снегг · Амикус Кэрроу
Учебный материал	Тёмные силы: пособие по самозащите · Встречи с вампирами · Духи на дорогах · Каникулы с каргой · Победа над привидением · Тропою троллей · Увеселение с упырями · Йоркширские йети · Основы защиты от Тёмных искусств · Теория защитной магии · Защита от Тёмных сил: основы для начинающих · Лицом к лицу с безликим

п•о•р Зелья
Зелья	Амортенция · Антисглазной лак · Бедовый лосьон · Бодроперцовое зелье · Болтливое зелье · Болтушка для молчунов · Вечно прочные ресницы · Волчье противоядие · Волшебный искристый порошок · Вредящее зелье · Гарантированный десятисекундный прыщевыводитель · Гербицид · Глазная сыворотка «Любовь слепа» · Доксицид · Долголетние эликсиры · Драконий тоник · Дурманящая настойка · Душильный газ · Дыбоволосное зелье · Елейная смазка Григория · Желчь броненосца (зелье) · Животворящий эликсир · Зелье всемогущества · Зелье взрыва · Зелье для излечения фурункулов · Зелье для проявки фотографий · Зелье забывчивости · Зелье красоты · Зелье Мопсуса · Зелье невидимости · Зелье необычайной силы · Зелье от икоты · Зелье от кашля · Зелье пробуждения · Зелье рыгания · Зелье смеха · Зелье собачьего дыхания · Зелье старения · Зелье урчания в животе · Зелье чихания · Икотное зелье · Кводпотное зелье · Костерост · Кость, плоть и кровь · Кристаллы Купидона · Кровевосстанавливающее зелье · Крысиная микстура · Летейский эликсир доктора Летто · Любовные зелья · Мазь для мётел · Микстура Зловредности · Морочащая закваска · Напиток живой смерти · Настойка растопырника · Оборотное зелье · Огнезащитное зелье · Ослабляющее зелье · Охранное зелье · Паста для удаления ушибов · Первый любовный соблазнитель · Подави стыд · Прозрей-зелье · Противодраконья сыворотка · Противоожоговая мазь · Противоядие от истерики · Противоядие от любовных зелий · Противоядие от магических ядов · Противоядие от обычных ядов · Противоядие по Третьему закону Голпалотта · Пятновыводитель Блитзера · Раздувающий раствор · Рябиновый отвар · Сдувающий напиток · Система по уходу за волосами от Златопуста Локонса · Слабительное зелье · Слезинки большого горя · Снадобье «Простоблеск» · Средство от плотоядных слизняков · Сумеречные лунные лучи · Сыворотка правды · Сырные зелья · Тонизирующий глоток мандрагоры · Уидосорос · Укрепляющий раствор · Уменьшающее зелье · Умиротворяющий бальзам · Умострильное зелье · Универсальный волшебный пятновыводитель миссис Чистикс · Усыпляющее зелье · Утончающий эликсир доктора Пингуиса · Феликс Фелицис · Флиртующие фантазии · Целующееся зелье · Эверклена · Эйфорийный эликсир · Экстракт бадьяна · Эликсир жизни · Эликсир из мандрагоры
Ингредиенты	Аконит · Армотенция · Асфодель · Бадьян · Безоар · Белладонна · Болиголов · Бородавочный порошок · Бубонтюбер · Валериана · Вода из реки Лета · Водоросли · Волосы кельпи · Выделения бундимунов · Ганглии ведьмы · Глаза жуков · Глаза рыбы-собаки · Глаза угря · Гной бубонтюбера · Гусеница · Драконий навоз · Дремоносные бобы · Жала веретенницы · Желчь броненосца · Златоглазки · Змеиные зубы · Иглы дикобраза · Имбирь · Калган-трава · Каша проповедника · Китайская жующая капуста · Клещевина · Клыки чизпурфла · Крапива · Кровь дракона · Кровь единорога · Кровь ре-эма · Кровь саламандры · Крылья летучей мыши · Крылья феи · Лаванда · Лирный корень · Ложечница · Лунная роса · Лунный камень · Любисток · Мёд · Мандрагора · Манжетка · Маргаритка · Медовая вода · Мечта нюхлера · Мозг лягушки · Моли · Морской конек · Мурлокомль · Мята · Навоз лунных тельцов · Огненные семена · Омела · Опал · Панцирь чизпурфла · Перо павлина · Перо феникса · Перо филина · Перья болтрушайки · Печень дракона · Пиявка · Полынь · Порошок из когтя дракона · Противоядие от истерики · Прыгающая поганка · Рог взрывопотама · Рог дракона · Рог дромарога · Рог единорога · Рогатый слизень · Роза · Рубин · Селезёнка крысы · Селезёнка летучей мыши · Сердечная жила дракона · Сердце крокодила · Скарабей · Слёзы феникса · Слизь флоббер-червя · Смоква · Сок мурлокомля · Спорыш · Стандартный ингредиент · Стрекозиные грудки · Таракан · Утренняя роса · Хребет рыбы-льва · Цикута · Чемерица · Чихотник · Шерсть единорога · Шкура бумсланга · Шкура тибо · Ягоды омелы · Яд Акромантула · Яд василиска · Яд глизня · Яд крильмара · Яйца докси · Яйца дракона · Яйца огневицы · Яйца рунеспура · Яйца химеры
Зельевары	Зигмунт Бадж · Баруффио · Дамокл Белби · Виндиктус Виридиан · Ганхильда из Горсмура · Григорий Льстивый · Гектор Дагворт-Грейнджер · Златопуст Локонс · Квинтия МакКуойд · Мистер Малпеппер · Лаверна де Монморанси · Регулус Муншайн · Жиг Мышьякофф · Дж. Пиппин · Поппи Помфри · Мадам Примпернель · Свупстикс · Гораций Слизнорт · Северус Снегг · Геспер Старки · Эрика Стейнрайт · Линфред Стинчкомбский · Сахарисса Тагвуд · Тилден Тутс · Гловер Хипворт · Голпалотт
Книги	Азиатские противоядия · Алхимия, древнее искусство · Книга зелий · Магические отвары и зелья · Практика зельеварения · Расширенный курс зельеварения · Сильнодействующие зелья
Остальное	Третий закон Голпалотта · Котёл
Смотрите также: Список зелий

Оригинал	Росмэн	Народные переводы	Мария Спивак	Бялко-Левитова
Severus Snape	Северус Снегг	Северус Снэйп	Злодеус Злей	Северус Снейк

Персонаж мира Гарри Поттера
Алан Рикман в роли Северуса Снегга в фильме «Гарри Поттер и Орден Феникса»
Северус Снегг
Пол	мужской
Цвет волос	чёрные
Цвет глаз	чёрные
Факультет	Слизерин
Чистота крови	Полукровка
Сторона	Орден Феникса, Хогвартс, Лили Эванс, Гарри Поттер
Патронус	безрогая лань
Первое появление	«Гарри Поттер и философский камень»
Роль в фильмах	Алан Рикман

Се́верус Снегг (оригинальное звучание фамилии — Снейп, англ. Severus Snape) (9 января 1960 — 2 мая 1998) — самый противоречивый персонаж. Преподаватель зельеварения (1981—1996) и защиты от тёмных искусств (1996—1997) в школе чародейства и волшебства «Хогвартс», декан факультета Слизерин в 1981—1997, директор Хогвартса в 1997—1998.

Биография

Детство

Северус Снегг (русский аналог перевода имени — от «снег», подчеркивающий холодность; исходное английское имя Snape весьма созвучно слову snake — «змея», что соответствует его слизеринской природе) родился 9 января 1960 года в семье чистокровной волшебницы Эйлин Принц и магла Тобиаса Снегга (впоследствии из-за этого он стал называть себя Принцем-полукровкой). Первое воспоминание, сохранённое в Омуте Памяти — отец кричит на мать, а маленький Северус в страхе скорчился в углу. Когда Северусу было около десяти лет, он повстречал соседских девочек Лили и Петунию Эванс и понял, что Лили, как и он, волшебница. Он стал её частым собеседником и много рассказывал о Хогвартсе, где им предстояло вместе учиться. Сестра Петуния завидовала им обоим.

1 сентября 1971 года они сели в поезд «Хогвартс-экспресс», где повстречали Джеймса Поттера и Сириуса Блэка. Узнав, что Северус хочет попасть на Слизерин, Джеймс и Сириус стали дразнить его и дали ему кличку Нюниус (Snivelus) (по другим переводам — Сопливус и Слинявус). В тот же день Лили была распределена в Гриффиндор, а Северус — в Слизерин.

В школе Снегг стал членом группы, включавшей Люциуса Малфоя, Рудольфуса Лестрейнджа, Беллатрису Блэк, Эйвери, Мальсибера и других слизеринцев (все они потом стали Пожирателями смерти). Снегг подвергался постоянным нападкам и издевательствам со стороны Джеймса Поттера и его дружков Сириуса Блэка и Питера Петтигрю, которые (совместно с Римусом Люпином) именовали себя Мародёрами. Причиной нападок была вражда между Гриффиндором и Слизерином, а позднее и соперничество из-за Лили, в которую были влюблены Северус Снегг и Джеймс Поттер. В конце пятого курса Снегг едва не погиб, отправившись в потайной ход под Гремучей ивой, который вел в Визжащую Хижину. Именно там прятался оборотень Римус Люпин во время своих превращений. В тот раз Джеймс Поттер спас Снеггу жизнь. Неизвестно, идёт ли речь о спасении от Гремучей Ивы или от укуса оборотня. Подробностей, описывающих «угрозу» и «спасение» нет ни в одной из 7 книг. Несмотря на благородный поступок Джеймса Снегг не верил в добрые намерения Поттера, и это событие только усилило взаимную ненависть.

Долгое время Снегга защищала его подруга Лили Эванс, в которую он был влюблён, но её сильно пугало отношение Северуса к другим маглорождённым студентам, а также дружба со слизеринцами вроде Эйвери и Мальсибера, увлекавшимися тёмными искусствами и совершавшими жестокие «шутки» над другими студентами. Однажды после экзаменов Мародёры решили пойти к озеру. Джеймс играл с украденным снитчем, Питер восхищался им, Римус читал учебник, а Сириус пожаловался на скуку. И тогда Джеймс выбил у Снегга палочку, заклинанием «Левикорпус» поднял его в воздух и предложил снять штаны. К издевательствам присоединились Питер и Сириус. Лили, увидев это, приказала Мародёрам отпустить Снегга, но нашла его вид очень комичным. Северус в ответ на это обозвал Лили «грязнокровкой». В результате она порвала общение с ним, а через некоторое время начала встречаться с Джеймсом Поттером.

В школе Снегг серьёзно увлекался зельеварением. Кроме того, он изобрёл заклятие Сектумсемпра, наносящее врагам глубокие раны.

Снегг — Пожиратель смерти. Разглашение Пророчества

В 1977 или 1978 году, сразу после окончания школы или на последнем курсе, Снегг вступил в ряды Пожирателей смерти. В 1980 он в одной из комнат гостиницы трактира «Кабанья голова» подслушал часть пророчества Сивиллы Трелони о том, что грядёт человек, который сможет победить Тёмного Лорда. Он рассказал об этом Волан-де-Морту, а тот решил, что речь идёт о сыне Джеймса и Лили Поттер, так как по преданию мальчик, который остановит Тёмного Лорда, родился в конце июля, (помимо Гарри под такое описание подходил еще Невил Долгопупс). Обезумевший Снегг просил Тёмного Лорда не убивать Лили, но тот не откликнулся на его просьбу. Тогда Снегг пришёл к Дамблдору и попросил его спасти Лили. Взамен он пообещал Дамблдору выполнить всё, что тот прикажет. С этого момента Северус Снегг был шпионом Дамблдора и Волан-де-Морта одновременно, но в действительности был на стороне Дамблдора и Ордена Феникса.

Дамблдор не смог защитить Лили и Джеймса. После их убийства Дамблдор убедил Снегга, что единственный способ искупить вину перед Лили Поттер — это спасти её сына Гарри. Снегг согласился. После этого Дамблдор публично объявил Снегга своим тайным агентом, спасая его тем самым от судебного преследования, взял в штат Хогвартса преподавателем зельеварения и назначил деканом факультета Слизерин.

Все что осталось Снеггу — это ждать появления сына Лили в Хогвартсе.

Работа в Хогвартсе

Во время учёбы Гарри Поттера в Хогвартсе (1991—1997) Северус Снегг был деканом Слизерина и профессором зельеварения (а после — Защиты от темных искусств). Он не скрывал своей нелюбви к студентам других факультетов, особенно к гриффиндорцам, и пользовался любым удобным случаем, чтобы снять с них баллы или назначить дисциплинарное взыскание. (В фильме «Гарри Поттер и Кубок Огня» Снегг даже даёт подзатыльники студентам, которые разговаривают на его уроке, но, по мнению некоторых зрителей, такой образ Снегга не сочетается с описанным в книге). Вполне логично, что Снегг был любим слизеринцами и непопулярен среди студентов других факультетов. Гарри относился к нему со смесью страха и враждебности, подозревал в причастии ко многим тёмным делам, творившимся в Хогвартсе.

В 1992 году Гарри Поттер услышал произнесённое Снеггом заклинание Экспеллиармус. Гарри широко использовал это заклинание, в том числе в финальной дуэли с Волан-де-Мортом.

В 1993/4 учебном году (возможно, также ранее и позднее) Снегг, будучи блестящим зельеваром, готовил для Люпина зелье, облегчавшее его страдания и делающее его менее опасным во время превращений. Но после того как Люпин, забыв принять зелье, чуть не убил Гарри Поттера, Снегг разгласил, что Люпин является оборотнем. В результате Римус потерял работу преподавателя защиты от тёмных искусств, а в седьмой книге Волан-де-Морт приказал Беллатрисе Лестранж убить его жену Нимфадору Тонкс за то, что она вышла замуж за оборотня. Беллатриса выполнила приказ в ходе Битвы за Хогвартс. Сам Люпин также был убит в этой битве.

Летом 1995 года, в последний день Турнира трёх волшебников, Волан-де-Морт возродился. После этого Снегг вновь стал двойным агентом, оставаясь верным Дамблдору.

В 1995/6 учебном годах в пятой книге Дамблдор поручил Снеггу учить Гарри Поттера окклюменции. Из-за взаимной неприязни Снегга и Поттера уроки превратились в мучение для обеих сторон. Обучение было безуспешным и прервалось, когда Поттер в отсутствие Снегга подсмотрел его воспоминание об издевательстве над ним Мародёров. Пришедший в ярость Снегг выгнал Поттера.

На 1996/7 учебный год Снегг был переведён преподавать защиту от тёмных искусств — должность, которой он давно добивался. Но ещё летом 1996 года Альбус Дамблдор не смог воспротивиться искушению надеть на руку крестраж в виде кольца (он надеялся воскресить свою сестру, Ариану Дамблдор, которая умерла во время его дуэли с Геллертом Грин де Вальдом) содержащего Воскрешающий Камень, один из трёх Даров смерти. Крестраж поразил его смертельным заклятием. Дамблдор сумел в остатке сил позвать на помощь Северуса. Снегг помог отсрочить смерть Дамблдора. Он запечатал заклятие в руку, но не смог остановить его совсем. Северус Снегг рассказал Альбусу Дамблдору что Волан-де-Морт приказал сыну Люциуса Малфоя — Драко прикончить могущественного волшебника. Тогда Дамблдор в душещипательной беседе с Северусом попросил его убить его, Дамблдора, вместо Драко, чтобы спасти душу последнего.

Незадолго до смерти Дамблдор сообщил Снеггу ещё одну новость: Гарри Поттер, которого Снегг защищал все эти годы, должен пожертвовать собой ради победы над Волан-де-Мортом. Об этом Гарри Поттер должен узнать только когда все крестражи Волан-де-Морта, кроме змеи, будут уничтожены.

Летом 1997 года Снегг, выполняя обещание, убил Дамблдора заклинанием Авада Кедавра. Убийство видел Гарри Поттер, рассказавший о нём другим студентам и преподавателям. В результате Снегг получил клеймо предателя и ненависть Гарри Поттера.

Директор Хогвартса

Убийство Дамблдора действительно позволило Снеггу стать самым доверенным лицом (или самым ценимым сотрудником) Волан-де-Морта. Кроме того, Драко Малфой избежал как убийства (которое бы погубило его душу), так и гнева Волан-де-Морта за проваленное задание. Чтобы ещё больше завоевать доверие Волан-де-Морта, Снегг сообщил ему правильную дату, когда Гарри Поттера будут переправлять из дома Дурслей в другое убежище. Сделал он это по совету портрета Дамблдора. Во время перевозки Гарри, Снегг участвовал в битве и заклинанием Сектумсемпра отрезал Джорджу Уизли часть уха. Как выяснилось впоследствии, он метил в одного из Пожирателей Смерти, но промахнулся.

После того как Волан-де-Морт захватил Министерство Магии, Северус Снегг был назначен директором Хогвартса. Преподавателями Защиты от Тёмных Искусств (переименованных в Тёмные Искусства) и Магловедения были назначены Пожиратели Смерти. Снегг использовал свою должность и влияние, чтобы спасти школьников. Хотя Пожиратели Смерти, ставшие преподавателями, мучили школьников, но ни один школьник не был ими убит.

Кроме того, Снегг послал Гарри Поттеру меч Годрика Гриффиндора и своего Патронуса. Не знавший, что серебристая лань — патронус Снегга, Гарри продолжал его ненавидеть. Преподаватели и студенты Хогвартса по-прежнему считали Снегга предателем и убийцей.

Незадолго до финальной битвы с Волан-де-Мортом Снегг бежал из Хогвартса и присоединился к Тёмному Лорду с целью противодействия его планам.

Смерть

Волан-де-Морт, ошибочно полагая, что Снегг является владельцем Бузинной палочки, убил его при помощи змеи Нагайны, однако перед смертью Снегг успел передать Гарри Поттеру воспоминания, проливающие свет на его истинную роль в деятельности Пожирателей смерти.

После смерти

Гарри узнал истинную подоплёку действий Снегга, посмотрев его воспоминания. Снегг был реабилитирован, и его портрет появился в Хогвартсе наряду с портретами других директоров. В честь Снегга, Гарри назвал своего второго сына Альбус Северус Поттер. Некоторые читатели считают, что в из текста книги нельзя сделать однозначного вывода о смерти Снегга. И что в тексте содержится достаточно намеков на то, что он выжил.

Развитие образа в серии романов

С первого же урока зельеварения Северус Снегг обращается с гриффиндорцами, особенно с Гарри Поттером, резко и несправедливо. На протяжении болшей части первой книги ни читатель, ни Гарри не знают причин его ненависти и постоянных придирок. В результате расследования действий Снегга и обстоятельств, связанных с Тайной комнатой, Гарри, Рон и Гермиона приходят к логичному выводу, что Снегг хочет убить Гарри Поттера и украсть философский камень. Лишь в конце первой книги оказывается, что это пытался сделать не Снегг, а Квиринус Квиррелл. В беседе с Альбусом Дамблдором выясняется, что Снегг противодействовал Квирреллу и защищал Гарри Поттера. Альбус также сообщает Гарри, что в школе Джеймс Поттер был врагом Северуса Снегга, но однажды спас ему жизнь, и теперь Снегг хочет, в свою очередь, спасти жизнь Гарри.

Тем не менее никакого катарсиса или примирения не происходит. Уже в начале второй книги Снегг резко отчитывает Гарри и Рона за несанкционированное использование магии вне школы и советует МакГонагалл отчислить их обоих из Хогвартса. На протяжении книг 2-6 Снегг так же груб и несправедлив с гриффиндорцами, особенно Гарри Поттером, как и в первой книге.

Во второй книге по вине Снегга другие студенты узнают, что Гарри Поттер — змееуст. Это приводит к подозрениям, что Гарри — наследник Салазара Слизерина и занимается тёмными искусствами, в результате на протяжении многих месяцев студенты относятся к Гарри Поттеру со страхом и неприязнью. Но в той же второй книге Гарри Поттер от Снегга узнаёт очень полезное заклинание Экспеллиармус. В третьей книге Снегг разглашает, что Римус Люпин — оборотень, но он же готовит для Люпина зелье, облегчающее его страдания при превращениях. И он же отказывается верить в невиновность Сириуса Блэка.

В пятой книге Гарри Поттер вынужден брать уроки окклюменции у Снегга. На одном из таких уроков Гарри, просматривая воспоминание Снегга в его отсутствие, видит сцену издевательства его отца и других Мародёров над Снеггом. Снегг в ярости выкидывает Гарри из кабинета и прекращает уроки окклюменции. Гарри шокирован поведением своего отца и Сириуса Блэка и гораздо лучше, чем раньше, понимает причины ненависти Снегга к нему.

В начале шестой книги — одна из сцен без участия Гарри Поттера. Беллатриса обвиняет Снегга в том, что он не верен Тёмному Лорду. В ответ Снегг заявляет о своей ему верности, после чего логично и убедительно объясняет свои действия в предыдущие годы. Читатель же остаётся в недоумении: кому на самом деле служит Снегг — Дамблдору или Волан-де-Морту?

После разговора с Беллатрисой, её сестра Нарцисса просит Снегга защитить Драко Малфоя, а также помочь ему выполнить приказ Тёмного Лорда. И Снегг, к изумлению Беллатрисы, соглашается на обе просьбы и скрепляет своё согласие Непреложным Обетом.

В ходе шестой книги подозрения Гарри Поттера против Снегга усиливаются, когда он подслушивает разговор Снегга с Драко Малфоем. В ходе беседы Снегг просит Малфоя открыть ему, в чём заключался приказ Волан-де-Морта, и обещает содействие. Гарри сообщает обо всём Дамблдору, который, однако, заявляет, что по-прежнему доверяет Снеггу.

В финале Гарри становится свидетелем убийства Дамблдора Снеггом. Он рассказывает о происшедшем преподавателям и своим друзьям, и решает отмстить.

С другой стороны, в шестой книге есть два намёка на то, что Дамблдор был убит по его собственному приказу. Один из них — спор между Снеггом и Дамблдором, подслушанный Хагридом. По словам Хагрида, Снегг жаловался на то, что Дамблдор от него требует слишком многое, но Дамблдор настоял на своём. Кроме того, перед смертью Дамблдор умоляет «Северус… прошу тебя..», но не говорит, о чём именно он просит. (Подробнее см. в следующем разделе.)

Книга 7 вновь начинается со сцены с участием Снегга. На собрании Пожирателей Смерти Снегг говорит дату, когда Поттера будут переправлять из дома его дяди и тёти в безопасное место. Он спорит по этому поводу с другим Пожирателем, Яксли, и настаивает на своей точке зрения.

В следующих главах выясняется, что Снегг был прав. Результатом точной информации Снегга становится одновременное нападение многих Пожирателей на Гарри и его друзей. В ходе нападения гибнут Грозный Глаз Грюм (из-за трусости Наземникуса Флетчера) и Букля. Сам Снегг заклятием отрезает ухо Джорджу Уизли.

После захвата власти Волан-де-Мортом Снегг становится директором Хогвартса. Об этом скрывающиеся в зимнем лесу Гарри, Рон и Гермиона узнают из подслушанного разговора.

Перед смертью Снегг, которого Гарри Поттер по-прежнему считает предателем, передаёт ему свои воспоминания. Просмотрев воспоминания, Гарри Поттер (и вместе с ним читатели) узнают истинную подоплёку его действий.

В эпилоге среди прочего сообщается, что Гарри назвал одного из сыновей Альбусом Северусом, а самого Северуса Гарри называет одним из самых храбрых людей, которых он знал.

Северус Снегг в фанатской субкультуре

Поскольку некоторые фанаты считают Снегга самым неоднозначным и интересным персонажем серии книг о Гарри Поттере, у него возникло множество поклонников. Сами фанаты во многом связывают это с исполнением роли Снегга актёром Аланом Рикманом[1]. Фанаты Снегга пишут фанфики, статьи и исследования о Снегге, обмениваются рисунками и фотографиями, связанными с персонажем. Это явление получило название «снейпома́ния» — слово, производное от оригинального звучания фамилии персонажа.

В книге «Гарри Поттер и Принц-полукровка» выяснилось, что Северусу Снеггу одновременно доверяли Волан-де-Морт и Дамблдор. В течение 2 лет до выхода последней книги, вопрос о том, на чьей стороне Снегг (фанаты обычно называют его Снейп), был одной из самых обсуждаемых тем среди посетителей форумов и сообществ, посвящённых серии книг о Гарри Поттере. [2]. Большинство правильно считало, что Снегг предан Дамблдору и был вынужден убить его по его же приказу. Стали появляться списки аргументов в пользу этой точки зрения [3] [4].

Причиной того, что большинство фанатов угадали правду, была фраза Дамблдора «Severus … please …», произнесённая им перед смертью. «For the first time, Dumbledore was pleading». Многие правильно догадались, что это — не просьба о помиловании, а просьба об убийстве, а, возможно, и обманный ход, чтобы всё выглядело правдоподобно. До этого, Хагрид рассказывает Поттеру о случайно услышанной им ссоре между Дамблдором и Снеггом. По словам Хагрида, Снегг что-то отказывался сделать для Дамблдора, однако тот настоял на своём. Большинство фанатов правильно поняли, что Дамблдор требовал от Снегга убить его.

Имя и фамилия

Происхождение имени

Имя происходит от англ. severe (либо непосредственно от лат. severus), что переводится как строгий, суровый, жестокий. Второе значение «severus» — «истина».

Перевод фамилии

Как видно из таблицы в начале статьи, различные переводы фамилии Снегга сильно отличаются друг от друга и от оригинального варианта «Snape». Это вызвано тем, что исходная фамилия имеет неявные ассоциации (в частности, со словами snake — змея и snap — щелчок, отрывистая речь, внезапный мороз, ложь, обман, хитрость), и разные варианты перевода продиктованы стремлением сохранить эти ассоциации — либо с исходными английскими словами, либо с какими-то из их русских аналогов. По причине невозможности одновременно сохранить все ассоциации и перевести их на русский (извечная проблема перевода художественной литературы) среди поклонников до сих пор не утихают споры о том, какой вариант «лучше». Сама Роулинг утверждает, что назвала его в честь деревни Snape в Англии.

Согласно словарю английских фамилий, фамилия Snape — одна из древнейших. Ранее правильным написанием её было «Snaep».

Генеалогическое дерево

Тобиас Снегг

Эйлен Принц

Северус Снегг

Озвучивание в фильмах

• Русский дубляж — Алексей Рязанцев (студия Мосфильм для Каро-Премьер)

Предшественник: Гораций Слизнорт	Декан факультета Слизерин 1981 — 1997	Преемник: Гораций Слизнорт
Предшественник: Гораций Слизнорт	Профессор зельеварения 1981—1996	Преемник: Гораций Слизнорт
Предшественник: Долорес Амбридж	Профессор защиты от тёмных искусств 1996—1997	Преемник: Амикус Кэрроу
Предшественник: Альбус Дамблдор	Директор Хогвартса 1997—1998	Преемник: Минерва МакГонагалл

Волшебный мир «Гарри Поттера»
Книги:	Предыстория • Философский камень • Тайная комната • Узник Азкабана • Кубок Огня • Орден Феникса • Принц-полукровка • Дары Смерти • Фантастические животные: места обитания • Квиддич сквозь века • Сказки барда Бидля
Фильмы:	Философский камень • Тайная комната • Узник Азкабана • Кубок Огня • Орден Феникса • Принц-полукровка • Дары Смерти
Игры:	Философский камень • Тайная комната • Узник Азкабана • Кубок Огня • Орден Феникса • Принц-полукровка • Чемпионат мира по квиддичу • Lego Creator: Гарри Поттер • Lego Creator: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Персонажи:	Основатели школы: Годрик Гриффиндор • Пенелопа Пуффендуй • Кандида Когтевран • Салазар Слизерин Маги: Гарри Поттер • Гермиона Грейнджер • Рон Уизли • Джинни Уизли • Фред и Джордж Уизли • Невилл Долгопупс • Полумна Лавгуд • Драко Малфой • Альбус Дамблдор • Минерва Макгонагалл • Регулус Блэк • Сириус Блэк • Северус Снегг • Волан-де-Морт • Питер Петтигрю • Гораций Слизнорт • Рита Скитер • проф. Квиррелл • Римус Люпин • Аластор Грюм • Сивилла Трелони • Долорес Амбридж • Нимфадора Тонкс • Златопуст Локонс • Винсент Крэбб • Грегори Гойл • Чжоу Чанг • Седрик Диггори • Виктор Крам • Помона Стебль • Геллерт Грин-де-Вальд • Армандо Диппет • Перси Уизли • Руфус Скримджер • Гавейн Робардс • Долиш • Корнелиус Фадж • Пий Толстоватый • Кингсли Бруствер • Чарли Уизли • Молли Уизли • Билл Уизли • Артур Уизли • Мадам Помфри • Люциус Малфой • Нарцисса Малфой • Бартемий Крауч младший • Беллатриса Лестрейндж • Дедалус Диггл• Джеймс Поттер• Лили Поттер• Наземникус Флетчер• Вильгельмина Грабли-Дёрг • Габриель Делакур • Берта Джоркинс • Бартемиус Крауч • Ксенофилиус Лавгуд Маглы: Дурсли • Том Реддл Старший Сквибы: Аргус Филч • Арабелла Фигг Полулюди: Рубеус Хагрид • Олимпия Максим • Филиус Флитвик • Флёр Делакур Домовые эльфы: Добби • Кикимер • Винки Гоблины: Крюкохват • Кровняк Мастера Палочек: Олливандер • Грегорович Студенты факультетов: Гриффиндор • Пуффендуй • Когтевран • Слизерин Семьи волшебников: Дамблдоры • Уизли • Малфои • Реддлы Прочие: Эпизодические персонажи мира Гарри Поттера • Сохатый, Бродяга, Лунатик и Хвост • Волшебные существа мира Гарри Поттера • Волшебные предметы мира Гарри Поттера • Волшебство мира Гарри Поттера • Фоукс
Организации:	Хогвартс (Факультеты) • Министерство магии • Орден Феникса • Пожиратели смерти • Отряд Дамблдора • Ежедневный пророк • Придира • Клуб слизней • Г.А.В.Н.Э. • Инспекционная дружина
Дисциплины Хогвартса:	Защита от тёмных искусств • Зельеварение • Трансфигурация • Заклинания • Уход за магическими существами • Травология • Прорицания • Древние Руны • Арифмантика • Маггловедение • История магии • Астрономия
Локации:	Локации мира Гарри Поттера • Большой Зал
Значимые события:	Турнир Трёх Волшебников • Битва за Хогвартс
Пародии и подражатели:	Порри Гаттер • Таня Гроттер • Ларин Пётр • Барри Троттер • Наука побеждать • АнтиГарриПоттер
Дж. К. Роулинг • Warner Brothers • Bloomsbury • Electronic Arts • Росмэн • Фэндом Портал о Гарри Поттере

Эта статья является частью цикла статей о волшебном мире Гарри Поттера.

Оригинал	Росмэн	Народные переводы	Мария Спивак	Бялко—Левитова
Severus Snape	Северус Снегг	Северус Снэйп	Злодеус Злей	Северус Снейп

Персонаж мира Гарри Поттера
Алан Рикман в роли Северуса Снегга в фильме «Гарри Поттер и Орден Феникса»
Северус Эддар Снегг (Снейп-Хил)
Пол	мужской
Цвет волос	чёрные
Факультет	Слизерин
Чистота крови	Полукровка
Сторона	Орден Феникса, Хогвартс
Патронус	лань
Боггарт	Смерть Лили Поттер
Первое появление	«Гарри Поттер и философский камень»
Роль в фильмах	Алан Рикман

Се́верус Снегг (оригинальное звучание фамилии — Снейп, англ. Severus Snape) — самый противоречивый персонаж. Преподаватель зельеварения (1981—1996) и защиты от тёмных искусств (1996—1997) в школе чародейства и волшебства «Хогвартс», декан факультета Слизерин в 1981—1997, директор Хогвартса в 1997—1998.

Биография[править]

Детство[править]

Северус Снегг родился 9 января 1960 года в семье чистокровной волшебницы Эйлин Принц и магла Тобиаса Снегга (впоследствии из-за этого он стал называть себя Принцем-полукровкой). Мальчик рос в одиночестве, к которому добавлялись частые ссоры родителей. Когда Северусу было около десяти лет, он повстречал соседских девочек Лили и Петунию Эванс и понял, что Лили, как и он, волшебница. Он стал её частым собеседником и много рассказывал о Хогвартсе, где им предстояло вместе учиться. 1 сентября 1971 года они сели в поезд «Хогвартс-экспресс», где повстречали Джеймса Поттера и Сириуса Блэка. В тот же день Лили была распределена на Гриффиндор, а Северус — на Слизерин.

На протяжении всего времени обучения Снегг не имел подходящего круга общения. По ряду обстоятельств он стал членом группы, включавшей Люциуса Малфоя, Рудольфа Лестрейнджа, Беллатрису Блэк, Эйвери, Мальсибера и других слизеринцев (все они потом стали Пожирателями смерти). Снегг подвергался постоянным нападкам и издевательствам со стороны Джеймса Поттера и его дружков Сириуса Блэка и Питера Петтигрю, которые (совместно с Римусом Люпином) именовали себя Мародёрами. В конце пятого курса Снегг едва не погиб из-за глупой шутки Сириуса Блэка — его чуть не загрыз оборотень, которым оказался Римус Люпин, но Джеймс Поттер спас его (впрочем, Снегг никогда не верил в искренность намерений Джеймса, хотя и понимал свой долг перед ним). Директор школы Альбус Дамблдор замял этот случай.

Долгое время Снегга защищала его подруга Лили Эванс, в которую он был влюблён, но её сильно пугало увлечение Северуса Тёмными искусствами и отношение к другим маглорождённым студентам. В конце концов, когда Снегг после очередной ссоры с Джеймсом погорячился и обозвал Лили «грязнокровкой», она порвала общение с ним, а через некоторое время начала встречаться с Джеймсом Поттером.

Снегг — Пожиратель смерти. Разглашение Пророчества[править]

В 1977 или 1978 году, сразу после окончания школы или на последнем курсе, Снегг вступил в ряды Пожирателей смерти. В 1980 он в трактире «Кабанья голова» подслушал часть пророчества Сивиллы Трелони о том, что грядёт человек, который сможет победить Тёмного Лорда. Он рассказал об этом Волан-де-Морту, а тот решил, что речь идёт о сыне Джеймса и Лили Поттер. Обезумевший Снегг просил Тёмного Лорда не убивать Лили, но тот не откликнулся на его просьбу. Тогда Снегг пришёл к Дамблдору и попросил его спрятать Лили с её семьёй. Он согласился помочь Снеггу только с тем условием, если тот выполнит всё, что прикажет Дамблдор. Таким образом, Северус Снегг стал шпионом Дамблдора и Волан-де-Морта одновременно, но, всё же, на стороне Ордена Феникса. Находившийся в смятении Снегг признался Дамблдору во всём, что совершил. Директор Хогвартса приказал Северусу помочь защитить сына Лили от Волан-де-Морта, и тот согласился, взяв с Дамблдора слово о том, что он никому не раскроет его тайны. После этого Дамблдор объявил Снегга своим тайным агентом, спасая его тем самым от судебного преследования, взял в штат Хогвартса преподавателем зельеварения и назначил деканом факультета Слизерин.

Дамблдор убедил Поттеров применить заклинание Фиделиус, но хранитель Тайны, Питер Петтигрю, оказался предателем. Поздней ночью Волан-де-Морт пришёл к дому Поттеров. Он убил Джеймса и хотел пощадить Лили, но та заслонила собой сына. Не думая о просьбе Снегга, Волан-де-Морт убил женщину, однако, пытаясь убить мальчика, исчез сам.

Все что осталось Снеггу — это ждать появления сына Лили в Хогвартсе. По словам Дамблдора, у мальчика были такие же глаза, как и у его матери, возлюбленной Северуса, Лили Эванс.

Работа в Хогвартсе[править]

Во время учёбы Гарри Поттера в Хогвартсе (1991—1997) Северус Снегг был деканом Слизерина и профессором зельеварения (а после — Защиты от Темных искусств). Он не скрывал своей нелюбви к студентам других факультетов, особенно к гриффиндорцам, и пользовался любым удобным случаем, чтобы снять с них баллы или назначить дисциплинарное взыскание. (В фильме «Гарри Поттер и Кубок Огня» Снегг даже даёт подзатыльники студентам, которые разговаривают на его уроке, но, по мнению некоторых зрителей, такой образ Снегга не сочетается с описанным в книге). Вполне логично, что Снегг был любим слизеринцами и непопулярен среди студентов других факультетов. Гарри относился к нему со смесью страха и враждебности, подозревал в причастии ко многим тёмным делам, творившимся в Хогвартсе. С другой стороны, к большому недоумению Гарри, Снегг неоднократно спасал ему жизнь, а все подозрения против него неизменно рассеивались, как дым.

В шестой книге выясняется, что Снегг является двойным агентом: по мнению Дамблдора, Снегг на его стороне, в то время, как Волан-де-Морт считает, что Снегг шпионит за Дамблдором (впрочем, кому из этих двоих он на самом деле предан, остается загадкой). В конце книги Снегг убивает Дамблдора заклинанием Авада Кедавра, а после убийства скрывается. Гарри Поттер, видевший убийство, и преподаватели сочли его предателем. Гарри возненавидел Снегга и решил ему отомстить.

Однако на самом деле, как выясняется в последней книге, Снегг убил Дамблдора по его же приказу. При попытке использования кольца, одного из крестражей, по первоначальному назначению на Дамблдора перешло проклятье: у директора начала чернеть рука, и, по словам Снегга, ему оставалось жить еще максимум год. Решив, что умереть нужно с пользой, Дамблдор заставил Снегга дать ему обещание убить его, когда предоставится подходящий момент, а затем заботиться о Хогвартсе и (как и прежде, скрытно) помогать Гарри Поттеру.

Директор Хогвартса[править]

В седьмой книге «Гарри Поттер и Дары смерти», после того как Волан-де-Морт захватил Министерство Магии, Северус Снегг был назначен директором Хогвартса. Незадолго до финальной битвы с Волан-де-Мортом бежал из Хогвартса и присоединился к Тёмному Лорду с целью противодействия его планам.

Смерть[править]

Волан-де-Морт, ошибочно полагая, что Снегг является владельцем Бузинной палочки, убил его при помощи змеи Нагайны, однако перед смертью Снегг успел передать Гарри Поттеру воспоминания, проливающие свет на его истинную роль в деятельности Пожирателей смерти.

Северус Снегг в фанатской субкультуре[править]

Поскольку некоторые фанаты считают Снегга самым неоднозначным и интересным персонажем серии книг о Гарри Поттере, у него возникло множество поклонников. Сами фанаты во многом связывают это с исполнением роли Снегга актёром Аланом Рикманом[1]. Фанаты Снегга пишут фанфики, статьи и исследования о Снегге, обмениваются рисунками и фотографиями, связанными с персонажем. Это явление получило название «снейпома́ния» — слово, производное от оригинального звучания фамилии персонажа.

В книге «Гарри Поттер и Принц-полукровка» выяснилось, что Северусу Снеггу одновременно доверяли Волан-де-Морт и Дамблдор. В течение двух лет до выхода последней книги, вопрос о том, на чьей стороне Снегг (фанаты обычно называют его Снейп), был одной из самых обсуждаемых тем среди посетителей форумов и сообществ, посвящённых серии книг о Гарри Поттере[2]. Большинство правильно считало, что Снегг предан Дамблдору и был вынужден убить его по его же приказу. Стали появляться списки аргументов в пользу этой точки зрения[3][4].

Причиной того, что большинство фанатов угадали правду, была фраза Дамблдора «Severus… please…», произнесённая им перед смертью. «For the first time, Dumbledore was pleading». Многие правильно догадались, что это — не просьба о помиловании, а просьба об убийстве. До этого, Хагрид рассказывает Поттеру о случайно услышанной им ссоре между Дамблдором и Снеггом. По словам Хагрида, Снегг что-то отказывался сделать для Дамблдора, однако тот настоял на своём. Большинство фанатов правильно поняли, что Дамблдор требовал от Снегга убить его.

Перевод фамилии[править]

Как видно из таблицы в начале статьи, различные переводы фамилии Снегга сильно отличаются друг от друга и от оригинального варианта «Snape». Это вызвано тем, что исходная фамилия имеет неявные ассоциации (в частности, со словами snake — змея и snap — щелчок, отрывистая речь, внезапный мороз, ложь, обман, хитрость), и разные варианты перевода продиктованы стремлением сохранить эти ассоциации — либо с исходными английскими словами, либо с какими-то из их русских аналогов. По причине невозможности одновременно сохранить все ассоциации и перевести их на русский (извечная проблема перевода художественной литературы) среди поклонников до сих пор не утихают споры о том, какой вариант «лучше». Сама Роулинг утверждает, что назвала его в честь деревни Snape в Англии.

Согласно словарю английских фамилий, фамилия Snape — одна из древнейших. Ранее правильным написанием её было «Snaep».

Происхождение имени[править]

Имя происходится от англ. severe (либо непосредственно от лат. severus), что переводится как строгий, суровый, жестокий.

Ссылки[править]

• Самый крупный российский ресурс, посвященный Северусу Снеггу (копия в вебархиве) (На 01.11.2019 источник недоступен)
• Подборка записей о Северусе Снегге в сообществе ru_harrypotter
• Сказки, рассказанные перед сном профессором Зельеварения Северусом Снейпом — крупнейший архив фанфиков с участием Северуса Снейпа (Снегга)

Предшественник: Гораций Слизнорт	Декан факультета Слизерин 1981 — 1997	Преемник: Гораций Слизнорт
Предшественник: Гораций Слизнорт	Профессор зельеварения 1981—1996	Преемник: Гораций Слизнорт
Предшественник: Долорес Амбридж	Профессор защиты от тёмных искусств 1996—1997	Преемник: Амикус Кэрроу
Предшественник: Альбус Дамблдор	Директор Хогвартса 1997—1998	Преемник: Минерва МакГонагалл

Professor Severus Snape (9 January 1960^[1] – 2 May 1998)^[2] was an English half-blood^[3] wizard serving as Potions Master (1981-1996), Head of Slytherin House (1981-1997), Defence Against the Dark Arts professor (1996-1997), and Headmaster (1997-1998) of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as well as a member of the Order of the Phoenix and a Death Eater. His double life played an extremely important role in both of the Wizarding Wars against Voldemort.

The only child of Muggle Tobias Snape and witch Eileen Snape (née Prince), Severus was raised in the Muggle dwelling of Spinner’s End, which was in close proximity to the home of the Evans family, though in a poorer area. He met Lily and Petunia Evans when he was nine. He fell deeply in love with Lily upon their meeting and became a close friend of hers.^[7]

Severus started at Hogwarts with Lily in 1971, where he was sorted into Slytherin House. This put him in the same year as Lily but unfortunately for him she was sorted into Gryffindor House. Severus became the immediate enemy of James Potter and Sirius Black and was a frequent victim of their bullying. This led him to be irritable towards James’s son Harry when he was a professor. Snape, when young, developed a passion for the Dark Arts, which increased as his desire for revenge against his bullies grew stronger.

Snape became involved with the bullies in Slytherin House, many of whom were pure-blood supremacists. This put his friendship with Lily, a Muggle-born, under great strain until it was eventually broken in their fifth year.^[6][7] In a misguided attempt to win back Lily’s affections,^[18] Snape joined the Death Eaters along with a group of his fellow Slytherins.

Severus was made a member of the Slug Club presumably because of his talent in Potion-making. Horace Slughorn even kept a picture of him as a student, clutching his copy of Advanced Potion-Making. However, Horace did not actually have many hopes for Severus’s future, as his photograph was kept behind many others.^[19]

As an active Death Eater, one of Snape’s biggest contributions was letting Lord Voldemort know about the prophecy Sybill Trelawney made to Dumbledore. This part of the prophecy could have applied to either Harry Potter or Neville Longbottom, who was also born at the end of July 1980 to parents who were members of the Order. Once Lord Voldemort decided to target the Potters over the Longbottoms, Snape begged Voldemort to at least spare Lily. Voldemort agreed, then did not follow through on this promise.

Shortly before Lily Evans was murdered by Lord Voldemort, Snape changed sides and became a member of the Order of the Phoenix as well as a double agent during the Second Wizarding War. With tremendous difficulty, Snape prevented Lord Voldemort from learning the truth about his loyalties.

Despite the opinions of most others including Harry during his early life, Albus Dumbledore trusted Snape for reasons that were kept between them both until their deaths. Despite Snape killing Dumbledore, it is learned that they had a special agreement for him to do so. When he died, it was revealed that his deep strong love for Lily Evans caused him to redeem himself, joining Dumbledore’s cause for her protection (and, after her death, that of her son) from Lord Voldemort.^[7]

The relationship between Dumbledore and Snape would be one of unusually strong loyalty, so much so that Snape agreed to kill Dumbledore upon the latter’s own request. Before Dumbledore’s death, Snape promised to protect the students of Hogwarts from the Death Eaters, who would inevitably take control of the Ministry of Magic as well as the school.^[7]

Snape later participated in the Battle of Hogwarts but was murdered by Lord Voldemort who mistakenly believed that Snape was the master of the Elder Wand (an immensely strong and powerful wand that Voldemort deeply desired, as well as one of the Deathly Hallows)^[20] when in reality, Harry Potter was the master of the Elder Wand, because Draco Malfoy had disarmed Dumbledore on the night of Dumbledore’s death on top of the Astronomy Tower, and Harry had disarmed Draco at Malfoy Manor.^[21]

After Snape’s death, Harry Potter ensured that his portrait remained at Hogwarts, honouring him as a hero, despite their significant personal differences.^[21] In addition, Harry later named his second son Albus Severus Potter in honour of Dumbledore and Severus, both of whom were an inspiration in Harry’s life after the Battle of Hogwarts. Harry also was influenced by Severus’ Hogwarts house, and freely admitted that his son Albus could choose Slytherin if he wished.^[22]

Biography

Early life (1960–1971)

Severus Snape was born 9 January 1960 to Tobias Snape, an abusive Muggle, and Eileen Prince, a neglectful pure-blood witch.^[23] He began to identify with his mother’s family and created a secret nickname from his mother’s maiden name, calling himself the «Half-Blood Prince». His unhappy relationship with his father may have been the origin of his disdain for Muggles. It is implied that Severus was friendless and uncared for by his parents. This lack of care largely shaped Severus’s bitter disposition and cruel behaviour later in his life.

Severus grew up at Spinner’s End, a shabby suburb of Cokeworth.^[24] This area of town was near a dirty river and full of dilapidated houses, disused factories and broken down street lamps. Through the rest of his life, Severus continued to return there when he was not at school. The young Severus is depicted as being unwashed and wearing ill-fitting clothes «that were so mismatched that it looked deliberate«. As a child, Severus was neglected and his parents often fought with one another. He could not wait to leave for Hogwarts at the end of the summer.^[7]

Lily Evans and her family lived in the same town, close to Spinner’s End. After watching her for some time, Severus noticed her evident magical abilities and began making friendly overtures. The two bonded quickly and it appears that he was very interested in Lily right from the beginning, though she only regarded him as a good friend. During this time he also developed a contempt towards her older sister, Petunia. This was most likely because she made disparaging comments about his clothes and residence but may also be because she was a Muggle.^[7]

Information from Severus’s own memories of his first interactions with Lily and Petunia suggests that he was an awkward child with poor social skills. Even when it was important to him to make a good impression, he always seemed to have trouble doing so.^[7]

Hogwarts years (1971–1978)

Severus attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as a student from 1971-1978 and was Sorted into Slytherin House, at that time led by Potions master Horace Slughorn. On the way to Hogwarts for his first year, Severus sat with Lily Evans on the train. While on the train they met James Potter and Sirius Black. This encounter between the three of them revolved around a disagreement regarding what Hogwarts house was the best. This hostile first encounter would set the tone for the antagonism between the three of them for the rest of his life.^[7]

Sorted into Slytherin House upon their arrival at the school, classmates would later state that Severus excelled in the Dark Arts from an early age. At the age of eleven, he knew more curses and hexes than most of the seventh year students, according to Sirius Black.^[25] He was credited with creating a good number of popular spells like Levicorpus, Liberacorpus, Muffliato, and curses like Langlock, the Toenail Growth Hex, and his signature curse that he invented himself, Sectumsempra.^[26] He reportedly was friends with a gang of Slytherins who later became Death Eaters, including Avery, Mulciber, Bellatrix Black, Rodolphus Lestrange, Evan Rosier and Wilkes.

Severus also had contact with Lucius Malfoy, who was a prefect during his first year and greeted him kindly when he was Sorted into the Slytherin House.^[7] Most likely the two had good rapport at Hogwarts (which could also be a reason why Narcissa Malfoy trusted Severus to take care of Draco Malfoy and why he seemed to favour Draco during his later teaching years even when Draco refused it in the task to kill Dumbledore).

Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew were also classmates of Severus.^[6] Around the same time, he also got acquainted with another notorious troublemaker; a Fifth year student by the name of Patricia Rakepick who not only was in the same house as his new school rivals, but also actively sought to mentor her younger schoolmates in the art of mischief-making without getting caught: While popular with many of their peers for her, she was, on the other hand, strongly disliked by most of the teachers for her excessive rebellious streak, frequent rule-breaking and the bad influence she was on her younger housemates.^[27]

No less discontent with her behaviour than their professors were, Severus’s mistrust in Rakepick ran deeper still; she was an avid advocate for the existence of the fabled Cursed Vaults of Hogwarts. While her claims were dismissed by the faculty of the day, young Snape, however, was not so certain; seeing her as uncommonly ambitious for a Gryffindor and, he recognised, far from stupid, he eventually came to question her motives and her intentions for the vaults, eventually coming to regard her as a danger to the school and all who resided at the castle.^[28]

James and his group of friends were constantly at war with Severus throughout their school years. Severus’s memories, recorded in the Pensieve, suggest that he was an introverted and studious individual, whereas James was arrogant, popular and athletic. Immediately upon meeting him, James disliked Severus for expressing a desire to be in Slytherin. James’s big crush on Lily, and Severus’s close friendship and unrequited love for her also heightened the tension between the two.^[6][7]

One recorded memory in the Pensieve bore witness to James bullying him, turning him upside-down to reveal his underwear in front of many students, including Lily. This action was proved to be very offensive and it increased the hatred between the two adolescents. In this accident, Lily came to Severus’s defence, but this only made things worse: in a subsequent lashing out at James in an attempt to recover his lost dignity, Severus inadvertently called Lily a Mudblood. Lily refused to forgive him for it, even after his repeated apologies. This would forever be Severus’s worst memory.^[6]

Severus noticed that Remus kept disappearing during the full moon and once followed him past the Whomping Willow (after being tipped off on how to do so by Sirius Black) to confirm his suspicions. This act could have cost Severus his life, as had it not been for James going after him to stop him when he learned of Sirius’ ‘prank’, he might have found himself all on his own and caught off guard by a fully-fledged werewolf. As it was, however, James did reach Severus in time and managed to save him just before he got to the Shrieking Shack while Remus was in his wolf-form. Albus Dumbledore swore Severus to secrecy, but the true nature of Remus was clear to Severus. By their seventh year, James had grown out of his immaturity and arrogance to the point that Lily agreed to start dating him, even though he never grew out of his hatred for Severus — according to Sirius, Severus had always been a «special case» with James. Though it should be noted Snape’s continued friendships with students who were trying to become Death Eaters did not help his relationship with the Marauders or Lily. Lily ended up marrying James, which only strengthened Severus’s bitterness towards him.^[29]

There was also some overlap between his school career and that of a younger student by the name of Jacob, yet another rule-breaker Snape came to severely dislike. During the later part of his magical education, the school was plagued by several dangerous curses unleashed upon the school by Jacob after he tampered with the fabled Cursed Vaults, which resulted in the death and injury of several of his peers, although he suffered no permanent injury himself.

Half-Blood Prince

Severus was a talented wizard even in his childhood. It was apparent through the notes and scribbles in his potions textbook that he made time during classes to invent curses, charms, and clever potion innovations, while simultaneously learning the required textbook lessons.^[30][26]

Severus’s potions textbook contained a few spells and curses which he was credited with inventing: Levicorpus, which grabbed the victim by the ankle and dangled him/her upside-down,^[31] and Sectumsempra, which caused slashing bloody cuts (guided by the wand gestures of the caster, like a blade/sword) which bled extensively.^[32] Levicorpus somehow escaped from Severus’s secrecy, and became very popular around Hogwarts towards the end of his fifth year at school. Some other spells included Muffliato, which filled the ears of anyone nearby with an unidentifiable buzzing sound and another hex that caused toenails to grow at an unnaturally fast rate.^[31]

Severus’s book later fell into the hands of Harry Potter in September 1996. Harry used the Half-Blood Prince’s tips and earned praise with that year’s Potions master, Professor Slughorn. Harry considered the Half-Blood Prince to be a better teacher than Severus, unaware at that point that Severus was the Prince, much to Harry’s later displeasure.^[26]

The potions textbook has an inscription indicating it is Property of the Half-Blood Prince.^[30] Hermione Granger’s research revealed that Prince was the maiden name of Severus’s mother and so the nickname was revealed to be a combination of his mother’s maiden name and his blood status. Harry Potter also pointed out the similarities between Snape’s nickname and the name Voldemort gave himself. This nickname was apparently a secret, as Remus did not remember it ever being used publicly by Severus.

First Wizarding War (1978–1981)

As a Death Eater

Severus Snape eventually joined the ranks of Lord Voldemort’s Death Eaters. His actions as a Death Eater are largely unknown, though he quickly became an important Death Eater in Voldemort’s inner circle. He was the spy responsible for informing Voldemort about the prophecy foretelling his downfall. In early 1980, Snape eavesdropped on an interview for Divination Professor Sybill Trelawney and Albus Dumbledore at the Hog’s Head Inn.

In the course of the interview, Trelawney prophesied that at the end of July, a child would be born who would cause the destruction of Lord Voldemort (which prompted Dumbledore to hire her, partly for her own safety). At that time it was not clear who was meant by the prophecy. Two children of prominent wizarding families were born that year at the end of July: Harry Potter and Neville Longbottom.

Albus reported at the Wizengamot trial of Igor Karkaroff that Severus had come to him and explained that he had been the one to overhear the prophecy, and reported it to Voldemort. However, Snape did not hear the entire prophecy, as the Hog’s Head’s barman and Albus’ brother, Aberforth, caught him eavesdropping and threw him out.

As a double agent

Severus suffered terrible remorse when Voldemort decided that Harry Potter was the subject of the prophecy and that Lily Evans, the woman whom he always loved, was now in danger as a result of his actions. He begged Voldemort to spare her, who agreed. However, knowing that he could not leave Lily’s safety in the hands of someone who could turn back at his word on a mere whim and that Lily would probably defend her child to the last breath, Snape also approached Albus Dumbledore to ask him to save Lily.

Snape pleaded with Dumbledore to hide her, along with her husband and son if he had to. Dumbledore agreed but insisted that Severus serve him as a spy among the Death Eaters. In fact, it was Snape’s request to Voldemort which allowed Lily to let herself die in order for Harry to live when Voldemort attempted to murder him, therefore ensuring that his curse backfired and Voldemort’s body was destroyed in the process.

Despite Dumbledore’s best efforts to protect the Potters, Voldemort was tipped off by Peter Pettigrew, one of James’ best friends, a spy, and he found them anyway. After Lily’s death, Snape was devastated and distraught to the point of wishing himself dead, but Dumbledore urged him to ensure Harry’s safety out of respect for Lily’s memory; Snape initially insisted the danger had been averted with the Dark Lord gone, only for Albus to insist that he would return and everyone, particularly the boy, would be in danger when that happened. So Snape spent the rest of his life protecting her child, Harry Potter, who was often said to strongly resemble James. Distrusted for his past as a Death Eater by those on Albus Dumbledore’s side, and hated by other Death Eaters for living as Dumbledore’s stooge for ten years, Snape continued living on to complete Dumbledore’s plan to protect Harry and defeat Voldemort.

Career at Hogwarts (1981–1995)

When Severus Snape began his teaching career at Hogwarts in 1981, taking up a teaching post around the same time as the threat posed by the rampaging curses that had terrorised the castle’s residents were contained and the subsequent expulsion of his former peer for the rules he had broken in his quest for the Cursed Vaults and the fellow students who had been endangered in the process, he initially applied for the position of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, but was rejected multiple times.^[33]

Many students were under the impression that this was because Dumbledore feared Snape might return to his old ways if allowed to teach his favourite subject, but in reality it was because Dumbledore was aware by that point that the job had been jinxed by Voldemort. Knowing that no Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher would last longer than a year, Dumbledore instead employed Snape in the position of Potions Master and Head of Slytherin House, following the retirement of veteran Potions Master Professor Horace Slughorn. Though it seemed rather uncommon for someone as young as Snape to be named a Head of House at Hogwarts, it is possible that Snape was the only Slytherin teacher left at the school, or that he was placed there to keep a watchful eye on the young Slytherins, who were frequently accused of (but not without reason) joining the Death Eaters.

Following Voldemort’s fall, Snape never attempted to find his old master, having switched sides ever since the Dark Lord had targeted Lily and this allowed him to avoid time in Azkaban as Dumbledore staunchly defended him. He fabricated the fact that he believed Voldemort to be dead as an alibi for still loyal Death Eaters, but in truth, he and Dumbledore had discussed Voldemort and knew he would inevitably return, henceforth the most important reason why he applied as a teacher: to ensure from the shadows the safety of Harry Potter, who Lily had died protecting. This would bring him into conflict with fanatical Death Eaters like Bellatrix Lestrange later in life, but Snape was almost immediately forgiven by the reborn Voldemort, because he could provide him with thirteen years of information on Dumbledore and the Order of the Phoenix.

In the meantime and with Voldemort vanished, he focused on his teaching duties at Hogwarts. As a professor, Snape was a stickler for discipline, with little patience for foolishness, yet extremely effective in his job and well respected by the other professors. His deep understanding of potion brewing, as shown by his expert concoction of Wolfsbane Potion,^[34][29] transformed the knowledge of potions from mere chemistry to an art.

He would accept students into his N.E.W.T. classes only if they had achieved an ‘Outstanding’ mark at their O.W.L. examination. He felt that anyone with a lower mark than that would lack the passion and the devotion to the complex and demanding subjects that would follow in the last two years of school. Though strict, Snape had an obvious bias for Slytherins, giving them undeserved rights over the others, while looking down on the other students somewhat unfairly. His interpersonal relations with students outside his own house were subpar at best. He would, on numerous occasions, bully students without any repercussions. Though, one might dispute if his distain for Neville Longbottom was more about bullying or about the fact Voldemort had chosen to target the Potters over the Longbottoms, and if he’d picked the Longbottoms instead, Lily Potter would perhaps still be alive. He once threatened to poison Neville’s pet toad, Trevor, or tell Neville how stupid he was. Once he even told Hermione Granger that her enlarged teeth were the same size as usual, neither of which were necessary behaviours.

Snape’s role during this entire time was extremely sensitive and required master espionage and image-control skills. As he and Dumbledore anticipated that Voldemort would return eventually, and many of Snape’s actions would be reported on by Death Eater spies or gained through torture and Legilimency, even if Snape’s true mentality and intentions were inaccessible to the Dark Lord, he had to consider every decision and relationship carefully. He treated Harry Potter with maximal coldness and never missed an opportunity to cause him trouble, as any variation from this would have cast suspicion on him in Voldemort’s eyes.

But in reality, he protected Harry on numerous occasions; he was happy enough to cause the boy, who resembled his father, Snape’s hated rival from school days, humiliation and trouble, but never any actual harm or danger as he was still Lily’s son. He also had to avoid becoming too aware of Voldemort’s plans, so as to avoid being held responsible for allowing Harry and his friends to foil them. His actions during this period created no mistrust on the part of Voldemort, which allowed for Voldemort’s ultimate downfall.

1984–1985 school year

Closing in on the first half a decade of his tenure as an instructor at Hogwarts, Professor Snape was present at the Start-of-Term Feast of the 1984–1985 school year, during which he was introduced to the new first-years as the Head of Slytherin House during the Sorting Ceremony. He witnessed the sorting of, among others, the younger sibling of Jacob, who was sorted into the same house as Jacob and of whom he became immediately suspicious.^[35]

During the very first day of teaching the first years, he instructed the newcomers in the correct way in which to brew a Cure for Boils, during which he made no attempt at hiding his dislike for Jacob’s cognate, and openly favoured Merula Snyde,^[36] a student in his own house and whose parents had been among his own comrades during his time as a Death Eater, presumably both due to his bias towards his own house, as well as part of maintaining his cover as a future double agent. Throughout the year, he proceeded to teach this class, among other things, the Wiggenweld Potion,^[37] the Herbicide Potion^[38] and the Sleeping Draught.^[39] Throughout the term, however, Professor Snape found himself reluctantly acknowledging the said student’s talent.

At that time, there was unfinished business between Jacob’s sibling and Merula Snyde, since Merula tried to attack Rowan Khanna, Ben Copper and Jacob’s sibling; so both of them were trying to be prepared for the inescapable duel; as Jacob’s sibling’s prefect had told them, they needed to learn an offensive spell, an advantage charm, and a healing potion or charm. Both of them were looking forward to the Wiggenweld Potion and Snape’s class. Snape’s favourite student, Merula, asked him to teach the class the potion, though coincidentally Snape had already planned to teach it, as Rowan had notified Jacob’s sibling earlier. When the class brewed their potions, Snape admired Jacob’s sibling’s potion skills, though he admired Merula’s more.^[37]

Sometime later, Snape and the school’s Charms Master Filius Flitwick were made aware of how there were to be an unsanctioned duel between Jacob’s sibling and Merula Snyde in the Clocktower Courtyard, arriving just in time to see the latter successfully deprive their opponent of her wand. Although Professor Filius Flitwick wanted to know who it was that cast the first spell, keeping in mind that Jacob’s sibling had been instructed to only ever use the Disarming Charm defensively, Snape was largely dismissive of who started the fight.^[40]

After subtly criticising his colleague, whom he correctly deduced were the one who had instructed said student in how to cast the Disarming Charm in the first place, he ordered both students to get cleaned up and meet up at the West Tower in order to receive punishment for their transgression.^[40]

Upon reporting the incident to Albus Dumbledore, Snape asked for Jacob’s sibling to be expelled, whom he regarded as a troublemaker just like their brother before them, a request the Headmaster rejected, and which he would soon thereafter lament about in the presence of both Jacob’s sibling and Snyde. Although he docked twenty points from the former’s house, he was interrupted by the caretaker of the day, Argus Filch, before he could do anything else. Upon being informed about an incident that had occurred that demanded his immediate attention that was related to the Cursed Vaults, Snape ordered both students to return to their common rooms.^[40]

Accompanying the caretaker to a corridor on the fifth floor, Mr Filch explained that he and his pet cat, Mrs Norris, had discovered how cursed ice had appeared in one of the rooms there. Immediately recognising this as one of the curses unleashed when someone had tampered with the Cursed Vaults, Snape immediately ordered Filch to lock the door and stand guard to prevent students from getting inside, before he left to inform the Headmaster. In the aftermath of this discovery, the faculty successfully managed to keep it from spreading any further and securely sealed up the room afterwards, although he was unaware the two students he had just left had followed them and overheard portions of his conversation with Filch and resolved to break into the room in order to look for clues regarding the whereabouts of the vaults.^[41]

During the Herbicide Potion lesson, Merula made a mistake, and Jacob’s sibling helped her to fix it. Unbelievably, when Snape understood it, he awarded Jacob’s sibling with 10 points.^[38]

Throughout the rest of the year, he presumably continued to keep a sharp eye on the students, especially Jacob’s sibling, and do everything he could to keep the discovery from the student body, in which he was ultimately unsuccessful.^[42]

Also he wanted to harvest the fairy wings for his potion ingredients. Rubeus Hagrid asked Jacob’s sibling to move fairies to another place, so it happens to be a quest for them to save the fairies’ wings. Jacob’s sibling set out to move the fairies, though a fairy had gone to the Potions Classroom. Penny Haywood went to the classroom in order to help Jacob’s sibling and the fairy as well. They thought of Jacob’s sibling distracting Snape while Penny tried to make the fairy co-operate, while Snape believed she was looking for her favourite quill that her mother had given her. It is possible that Jacob’s sibling distracted him with asking about Bottling Fame, or his hair, or about his well-being.^[43]

At the Hallowe’en feast, Jacob’s sibling needed some Aconite for the Wolfsbane Potion in order to help the werewolf Chiara Lobosca. Rowan Khanna distracted Snape to allow Jacob’s sibling to steal from his store of ingredients.^[44]

1985–1986 school year

Around the beginning of the year, Snape assisted Professor McGonagall with using the Fire-Making Spell to free Ben Copper from the cursed ice. At some other point early on in the year, Snape became livid when a first-year mentioned Harry Potter in class, and hurled a jar of pickled animal parts at him.^[45] During the Teacher Appreciation Celebration that year, Snape was interviewed by Penny Haywood.^[46]

After these events, Snape searched Jacob’s sibling’s dormitory and found some potion ingredients that were useful against the Cursed Vaults, so he asked them in the classroom to explain it in order to defend themselves, though it was revealed that the evidence was a plot carried out by Merula.^[47]

1986–1987 school year

Snape continued his job as Potions Master at Hogwarts, and tried to prevent students’ interference in the Cursed Vaults. He ordered Argus Filch to retrieve Jacob’s note, which was an untransfigured black quill, from Jacob’s sibling.^[48]

Jacob’s sibling stole the black quill, and with the help of Tulip Karasu, became one step closer to the third Cursed Vault. Tulip also helped them find their brother’s corridor at Hogwarts, although it was protected with a two-lock padlock and an Anti-Alohomora Charm. Since Tulip had the key to one of the locks, and the other one was in the possession of her former friend, Merula Snyde, they took the key from her after letting off a Dungbomb. When they opened the door, Jacob’s sibling confronted a Boggart in the form of Lord Voldemort. In time, Severus Snape found them and warned Jacob’s sibling that they had to let go of the Cursed Vaults unless they wanted to share Jacob’s fate — expulsion.^[49]

During Jacob’s sibling’s career advice to William Weasley, they took him to Professor Snape’s classroom, in order to seek advice about potioneering. Professor Snape asked them to brew an original potion, so he’d be able to make his decision according to their performance. It’s unknown what Jacob’s sibling chose to brew, though it was either a Contortion Potion, a Screaming Potion, or a Stamina Potion. After the potion was brewed, at least one of them drank it on Snape’s order, as «drinking the potion is the only way to measure your success» according to Snape. The poorly brewed potion made the drinker sick, thus Snape questioned Bill’s potioneering skills.^[50]

1987–1988 school year

This year began with an old untrustworthy enemy of Severus, and also an old classmate of his, Patricia Rakepick, a Curse-Breaker from Gringotts Wizarding Bank, arriving at Hogwarts, invited by Albus Dumbledore.^[51]

Jacob’s sibling became to suspect Madam Rakepick, therefore they accosted Snape, in one of the Potions study sessions, and asked him about the new Curse-Breaker. After the session, he told them about Rakepick and the fact that she couldn’t be trusted and how dangerous she was. Though he called it unwise to question Dumbledore’s judgement without substantial evidence, as the Headmaster trusted Rakepick.^[27]

A little while later, when Jacob’s sibling was planning to fly to the next Cursed Vault in the Forbidden Forest, Professor Snape broke Jacob’s sibling’s borrowed broomstick and sought an unexpected help from Jacob’s sibling with revealing Rakepick’s true intention.^[52] In addition to Snape’s unexpected request, he revealed an unexpected fact, telling them that Rakepick had been monitoring and spying Jacob’s sibling ever since she arrived at Hogwarts. Thus he asked them to spy on her.^[28]

Jacob’s sibling spied on her many times while taking orders from Snape, although Snape admitted them spying on her was totally useless, since she said whatever she wanted Severus to know and also she knew they were spying. Nevertheless, he warned them not to tell any of this to anyone.^[28]

He also gave Jacob’s sibling a Garrotting Gas^[28] that would later save their and Merula’s life from Rakepick’s Cruciatus Curse in the Buried Vault.^[53]

At the end of the year, Madam Rakepick won the Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor title against Snape.^[54]

1988–1989 school year

This year began while Snape’s hatred of Rakepick was more intense than ever.^[54]

During Jacob’s sibling’s search for the fifth Cursed Vault and the Marauder’s Map, he faced Peeves multiple times. One of these times they were searching for a friend of Jacob’s, Duncan Ashe. Peeves mentioned that he, Duncan Ashe, hated two things, potions and Jacob, though he loathed Jacob more than potions, so Jacob’s sibling went to Snape, in order to gather information about Ashe. Snape revealed to them that he never liked the Marauders and somehow disappointed them.^[55] In addition of their searches, Penny Haywood, one of the victim’s sister, was very concerned about the Cursed Vaults that she would not do what she was gifted in — potioneering. Therefore, Severus, who though she would have a good career in potioneering, although due to what happened to her sister Beatrice, his mind had changed and somehow he was disappointed. A fair warning from him to Jacob’s sibling would make them think about Miss Haywood. And this would help Haywood and Jacob’s sibling control themselves and try to find a way to break the last curse and free both Jacob and Beatrice.^[56]

Though, on Dumbledore’s order, he was willing to help Jacob’s sibling with mastering Legilimency and Occlumency. Thus, Jacob’s sibling was taught by Severus Snape, a decent Legilimens and Occlumens. Severus Snape asked them to defend themselves against him casting Legilimens on Jacob’s sibling, and he also revealed some of their secrets. And he believed that Jacob’s sibling had not even tried to not let Severus get into his thoughts, and thought it settled the fact that Jacob gave them visions from a far distance. He also demanded them, twice, to cast the spell on him, and this proved to Jacob’s sibling the power of Occlumency.^[57]

Later, while inventing the Star Shower Spell, Jacob’s sibling went to Merula and Professor Snape. While Professor Flitwick approved of their spell, it was later revealed that this was not the Star Shower Charm but Star Shimming Charm. Professor Snape perceived the issue and helped Jacob’s sibling fix this.^[58]

Snape was also seen with Poppy Pomfrey and Albus Dumbledore while coming in order to take see what has happened to Merula Snyde after Rakepick’s betrayal in the Buried Vault.^[59]

Madam Rakepick was seen while using Lacarnum Inflamari on Snape’s cloak.^[60]

During Jacob’s sibling’s mental examination on Scabbers for his odd behaviour, Percy Weasley, Charles Weasley, and Jacob’s sibling met each other multiple times at the Great Hall. Because they had Scabbers, Snape warned them that a rat must not be in the Great Hall. The second time, when Jacob’s sibling’s rat was also present, and while there was a fight between Charles and Percy, Snape asked them «kindly» to discuss their «nothing» somewhere else without disturbing anyone; though because of his perfect sense of smell, he smelled some rats, though both of the rats escaped; when Snape left, the students searched for Scabbers and Jacob’s sibling’s rat, and after they found them, they continued their research. Their research ended up with Silvanus Kettleburn suggesting borrowing Rat Tonic from Professor Snape in order to calm the rat from the anxiety he had because of an unknown source of fear. After convincing Snape, he helped Charles and Jacob’s sibling with instructions and ingredients, and they brewed the potion. Percy arrived with Scabbers, and with the presence of Snape, Jacob’s sibling finally understood that what the rat feared was the professor, unbeknownst to them his lifelong enemy.^[61]

1989–1990 school year

This school year began with Snape’s old enemy, Madam Rakepick, being fired after her betrayal.^[62]

This year at Hogwarts was also as dangerous as the other years, or perhaps more so. Not so later from the start of the year, Beatrice Haywood found a Petrified student because of the statue curse. Thus, she notified the Potions Master, Severus Snape, and then they notified Jacob’s sibling and their examination result was that the Petrified student had some texture, the same as the Merpeople Trident that he found in the Buried Vault.^[63] Also Professor Snape was seen while he was talking about the statue curse with Headmaster Dumbledore.^[64]

Madam Rakepick used to store so many dark and cursed items in her classroom, after her betrayal and expulsion, Argus Filch, collected her cursed items and Severus Snape took the items from the caretaker in order to break their curses. While Jacob’s sibling was searching for the items, they and Merula Snyde found Professor Snape while brewing Veritaserum; and he told them that he was unable to break the curses, therefor he gave them to the only one who could break the curses — Headmaster Dumbledore.^[65]

Severus Snape, once had been ordered to retrieve Jacob’s sibling when Madam Poppy Pomfrey was Petrified with the Statue Curse, and unfortunately, it meant that there was no one to take care of the Petrified students or the students that had any kind of illness. So after an announcement taken by the Headmaster, students had to visit Snape or Sprout, if they had any kind of symptom of illness.^[66] He most likely he taught the students the Cough Potion after her Petrification, because of Dumbledore’s announcement.^[67]

Snape was introduced to the Brazilian exchange student Alanza Alves by Jacob’s sibling in his classroom that school year, whom would be joining his sixth-year Potions class. Snape was in the midst of a conversation in his classroom with Argus Filch and Madam Pince, where he informed them that Ashwinder eggs and Occamy eggshells had gone missing from his stores (which Beatrice Haywood had stolen to brew Felix Felicis with). Snape was also rather displeased to be informed by Alanza that her potions had a tendency to explode.^[68]

1990–1991 school year

During this year, Jacob’s sibling requested Snape for some Floo powder, which they needed to enter the British Ministry of Magic via the Floo Network for their work experience programme there. Snape was at the time engaged in a one-sided conversation with Arif Sikander in his classroom, the Muggle Studies professor, who was talking to him about Muggle chemistry, which Snape had no time for. Snape gave them the powder and told them and Sikander to leave, rudely telling them he could stand either of them.^[69]

Snape also taught seventh-years how to brew the Wolfsbane Potion for the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures when no alternative presented itself, as part of their work experience task of helping the Ministry locate a fugitive werewolf.^[70]

Snape examined the hair care potion Xeep’s Luscious Locks Solution when it became clear its users were suffering from memory loss, for Jacob’s sibling and Penny Haywood on their Ministry business. He discovered the potion contained potent memory loss powers, and that it contained the Forgetfulness Potion as its base, with lavender and valerian as its ingredients. He also agreed to help then develop the counter-serum for it, once he had determined all of its ingredients.^[71] He later helped Penny and Jacob’s sibling complete the counter-serum.^[72]

Snape also analysed a pitcher that contained Pumpkin juice for Jacob’s sibling to see if contained remnants of the Alihotsy Draught, which could explain the laughing curse affecting St Mungo’s, but Snape found no traces of the potion, much to their displeasure.^[73]

1991–1992 school year

In 1991, Nicolas Flamel, a famous alchemist and friend of Albus Dumbledore, had the Philosopher’s Stone that was keeping him alive moved from his safe in Gringotts to Hogwarts for safekeeping. Snape contributed to the defences set up around the magical artefact by adding a Potions Riddle as one of the obstacles, and the only obstacle that used logic as a key factor instead of magic.^[74]

At the same time, Harry Potter became a student in Snape’s classes, and the two of them detested each other almost immediately. Harry’s resemblance to his father and his acquired ‘celebrity’ status brought the worst out of Snape from their very first Potions lesson.^[9] Although Snape had pledged an oath to Dumbledore that he would protect Harry, such an oath did not stand in the way of Snape’s bias to Slytherin House, nor did it mean Harry was to get any special treatment in academics.^[7]

Throughout the year as part of his promise to Dumbledore, Snape did everything he could to prevent Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor Quirinus Quirrell from helping Lord Voldemort obtain the Philosopher’s Stone, having seen him as what he was and at least knew he was helping Voldemort, if not also being aware of Voldemort possessing Quirrell. By 31 October, the turbaned Professor, sure enough, made his first move by letting a Mountain troll into Hogwarts Castle as a diversion. Snape took this chance to stop him from sneaking into the restricted third-floor corridor where the Stone was being hidden in the midst of the chaotic event, only to get bitten in the leg by the corridor’s three-headed guard dog, Fluffy.^[75][76]

When Quirrell made his first attempt on Harry’s life by jinxing his new broomstick during the boy’s first Quidditch game, Snape intervened again by performing a counter-curse to prevent Harry from being hurled off. Unfortunately, Hermione Granger observed the crowd through binoculars to figure out who was performing the jinx and caught Snape discreetly uttering the counter-curse incantation, but erroneously thought he was performing the actual curse. So she ran to his stand and set fire to his robes in order to distract him and make him stop, and luckily for Snape, she accidentally knocked Quirrell over during her hurry back to the Gryffindor stands, causing him to break the eye contact necessary for performing his spell correctly.

For the next match, Snape insisted on refereeing to make sure it did not happen again. This did not come across well to the other teachers, who believed that he was just trying to injure the Gryffindor Quidditch team’s chances of winning.^[77]

Snape intensely confronted Quirrell in the Forbidden Forest on the night after the match, demanding to know why he was after the Philosopher’s Stone. Unbeknownst to them both, Harry was watching the entire argument from the treetops, having followed his Potions teacher into the forest on his broomstick after passing him at the school Quidditch shed. But because the boy suspected Snape of plotting to steal the stone and of attempting to kill him, it seemed to him that the Potions professor was trying to intimidate Quirrell into handing over information regarding the artefact.^[78]

Harry, Ron Weasley and Hermione unjustly tried to be supportive and encouraging to Quirrell whenever possible by telling people off for laughing at his stutter, smiling at him encouragingly whenever they passed him or arguing with Snape.^[79]

Snape was present at the End-of-Term Feast that year. He was initially very pleased to see that Slytherin had won the House Cup again, but was forced to shake McGonagall’s hand with a forced smile after Dumbledore’s additional house points to Harry, Ron, Hermione and Neville Longbottom meant that Gryffindor had won instead.^[76]

1992–1993 school year

During the beginning of the school year in 1992, Snape learned from the Evening Prophet that Muggles spotted Harry and Ron travelling to Hogwarts in the Flying Ford Anglia, instead of on the Hogwarts Express. Knowing the severity of their deeds could very well cause them to be expelled, which would put Harry in great danger as he would lose Dumbledore’s protection, Snape took matters into his hand and confronted them when they had landed, where he severely berated them for their breach of one of the most sacred laws of their world and pretended to call upon Professors Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall to make them solve this situation. It was as Snape wanted: Dumbledore ensured they would not be expelled and Minerva punished them instead by giving them a warning and separate detentions.^[80]

Regardless of his desire to uphold Lily’s memory, Snape considered the punishment too lenient and retaliated by allowing the Slytherin Quidditch team to unfairly usurp the Hogwarts Quidditch pitch during the Gryffindor team’s practice time. This was in order for them to train Draco Malfoy as their new Seeker.^[81] Later on in the year, Harry, Ron, and Hermione successfully managed to smuggle Polyjuice Potion ingredients from Snape’s personal cabinets. They did this by creating a spectacle of a diversion in his classroom, which involved a firecracker and the Swelling Solution that was being made in class.

He was utterly furious at the mess and made it clear that he knew it was Harry who had caused it considering the way he looked at him, with Harry referring to having felt Snape read his mind, strongly indicating Snape used Legilimency on him.^[82] However, he was forced to let Harry go again as Dumbledore had made it clear to him that no other punishment but being expelled would be dealt out to Harry if he broke another rule and Snape could not let his anger overpower his desire to see Lily’s son be protected.

During this year, Professor Snape also worked with the new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, Gilderoy Lockhart, in running the Duelling Club. In this period, he quickly visibly showed a large amount of irritation and anger at Professor Lockhart who would remain, evermore, the teacher of the subject he most cherished. Snape took a certain amount of enjoyment in blasting him against a wall with the Disarming Charm and looking ready to murder him on the spot to the point that even Lockhart was intimidated enough to stop annoying Snape.

He ensured that Harry would be engaged with Draco instead, but interfered when Harry and Draco practically checkmated each other, with Harry using the Tickling Charm on Malfoy and was subsequently hit by the Dancing Feet Spell. Although he gave Malfoy the instruction needed to conjure a snake and relished the fact that Harry was alone to face the large angry snake, once Harry showed his Parseltongue ability, Snape quickly interfered to avoid too much of a problem on Harry’s part by vanishing the snake and allowing him to be escorted out of the Great Hall by his friends but looked at him suspiciously before he left.^[82]

Lockhart would only further irritate Professor Snape during Valentine’s Day, where he held a party to celebrate it as Snape looked on particularly dreadfully to the point he looked as if he had been forced to take multiple Skele-Gro and Snape did not hesitate to look utterly infuriated when Lockhart cheerfully asked the students to make Snape brew for them Love Potions to the point he clearly shot a warning look to them that he would force-feed anyone who dared to ask him to poison.^[83] Snape was very likely among the professors who were highly irritated by the Cupids Lockhart unleashed upon Hogwarts as they kept getting in the way of lessons.

This hatred for Lockhart finally reached its apex when Professor Lockhart walked in upon their discovery of Ginny being taken to the Chamber of Secrets, as even Snape was genuinely concerned for her regardless of how he treated Gryffindor, and furiously led the teachers into forcing him out of the way so that students could be escorted to safety, outright not giving Lockhart even a second to rebuke Snape’s claim of having heard Lockhart proclaim that he had found the monster.^[84] Snape was also responsible for the brewing of the Mandrake Restorative Draught in order to cure all those petrified by the Serpent of Slytherin that terrorised the school that year.^[85]

By describing the Polyjuice Potion in Potions class (which Hermione remembered), and demonstrating the Disarming Charm to the Duelling Club, Snape taught Harry two skills that ultimately proved critical to his success.

1993–1994 school year

During this school year, Snape demonstrated his expertise with potions by brewing the complex Wolfsbane Potion for the new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, Remus Lupin. Throughout this year, Snape suspected that Lupin may be helping Sirius Black, an escapee from Azkaban, enter Hogwarts castle. This suspicion stemmed from Lupin’s friendship with Sirius and Harry’s father James Potter when they were all at Hogwarts as students. It is revealed that Sirius once played a joke on Snape, telling him that he could find out where Lupin was going every month if he climbed into the Whomping Willow. James realised the danger and saved Snape’s life by pulling him back.

Near the end of the school year, Snape ambushed Black as he entered the school again and attempted to apprehend him, believing him to have been the one who had betrayed Lily to Voldemort. Snape appeared from under the Invisibility cloak that Harry had left near the Whomping Willow, tied Remus up, and while engaged in a vociferous argument with Harry and Hermione, he attempted to arrange to send Sirius and Remus to Azkaban Prison.

However, before he could give Sirius and Remus to the Dementors, Harry, Ron, and Hermione simultaneously used Expelliarmus on Snape. Snape also said that Harry, Ron, and Hermione faced suspension for being out-of-bounds. Since Harry aided Black’s escape, Snape was beside himself with indignation. On the last day of school, he revealed to his students that Lupin was a werewolf, forcing Lupin to resign his post.

1994–1995 school year

Snape was apoplectic when Harry’s name was unexpectedly chosen from the Goblet of Fire. Despite the fishy circumstances surrounding the incident and the immense dangers that Harry was facing, Snape refused to believe that he did not deliberately enter himself in for the Triwizard Tournament. Indeed, he continued to treat Harry as maliciously as ever, thinking that he had broken into his office to steal ingredients that would aid him in the underwater phase of the tournament.

Harry later discovered that Snape was once a Death Eater but had been vouched for by Dumbledore. Dumbledore told the Wizengamot that although Snape had indeed worked for Voldemort, he changed sides and turned spy against him. Dumbledore reassured Harry that Snape’s loyalties were genuine, though he refused to tell Harry why.^[86]

Harry was not the only one who had expressed scepticism over Snape’s reform. Professor Moody had Snape’s office searched at the beginning of the year, claiming that it was an «Auror’s privilege» and that Dumbledore mentioned being watchful of him. Snape was resentful of Moody’s accusations but could not do anything about it. (In truth, Moody was actually an impostor who had been raiding Snape’s cabinet for ingredients to make Polyjuice Potion.)

Despite Snape’s unawareness of the real reason why Harry was in the tournament, it had not escaped his notice that Lord Voldemort’s mark was becoming increasingly more pronounced throughout the year. Karkaroff, who dreaded retribution from Voldemort, panicked and confided his fears in Snape. Karkaroff attempted to talk to him numerous times throughout the year, but Snape had no sympathy for him and offered no help. Karkaroff consequently fled when the Dark Lord returned, but Snape, who remained in the Dark Lord’s good favour with the information he could provide on Dumbledore, had nothing to fear from him in the term of retribution. In fact, he appeared to have been waiting for Voldemort’s return more than ever this year, as he and Dumbledore were conversing about it.

After the Third Task and the Rebirth of Lord Voldemort, Barty Crouch Jnr took Harry to Moody’s office. Crouch Jnr started to question Harry about what had happened but was shortly rescued by Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Snape. Soon the effects of Crouch Jnr’s Polyjuice Potion wore off; in the excitement, he had neglected to take it at the proper time to maintain his cover. Under the effects of Veritaserum provided by Professor Snape, Crouch described Lord Voldemort’s plan to resurrect himself and Crouch Jnr’s own involvement in getting Harry to the graveyard.

Dumbledore and Snape attempted to convince a disbelieving Cornelius Fudge that Voldemort had returned. Snape was finally told the truth about Sirius’s innocence and was forced by Dumbledore to shake hands. He was subsequently sent on a secret mission by Dumbledore to rejoin the Death Eaters and spy on the Dark Lord as a double agent.

Second Wizarding War (1995–1998)

1995–1996 school year

During the 1995–1996 school year, with Voldemort having returned to his body, Snape carried on with his work as a double agent for Dumbledore. During the summer, he was seen at 12 Grimmauld Place giving reports to the Order of the Phoenix. Snape frequently taunted Sirius about the latter not being able to take an active role in the Order’s missions due to his fugitive status.

Back at school, Snape’s allegiance to the Order had no effect on his dislike for Harry. When Harry began having visions about Lord Voldemort, Dumbledore asked Snape to teach Harry Occlumency in order to shut down the telepathic connection.^[87] However, mutual hostility made it difficult for them to work productively during the sessions. Indeed, Snape had to be very careful in the ways that he helped Harry, should Voldemort read Harry’s mind and discover his servant working against him.

At one point, Harry peeked into the Pensieve when Snape was out of his office and witnessed a private memory of Snape being viciously bullied and harassed by Harry’s father. Upon returning, Snape grabbed him roughly by the arm and threw him out of the office and forbade him from ever coming back again. For all the rest of that semester, he treated Harry with redoubled contempt and fury and ignored him in class whenever possible.

Towards the end of the school year, Dolores Umbridge captured Harry and questioned him on the whereabouts of Dumbledore. She sent for Snape to provide Veritaserum to force Harry to reveal any information he may be hiding. Snape claimed that his supplies of Veritaserum were exhausted earlier, when she had attempted to use the drug surreptitiously to force information from Harry (however, it is highly likely that he lied). As a result, Snape withheld further assistance.

It is later revealed that Snape had actually given Umbridge a fake potion during her prior attempts. Upon hearing Harry’s cryptic warning about Sirius’s capture, he swiftly carried the message back to the other Order members, and helped come up with a plan for them to come to the rescue in the Department of Mysteries while he searched the Forbidden Forest for Harry. But since Umbridge was near, he pretended to ignore it. However, despite the fact that Snape came to his aid multiple times throughout the year, Harry hated him as much as ever, due to believing that Snape’s goading spurred Sirius into joining the battle.

1996–1997 school year

In July 1996 Dumbledore had been afflicted by a powerful curse cast on Marvolo Gaunt’s ring, one of Voldemort’s Horcruxes, prior to the start of Harry’s sixth year at Hogwarts. Although Snape’s knowledge of the Dark Arts enabled him to slow the spread of the curse, the curse would have ultimately killed Dumbledore within a year. Dumbledore, aware that Voldemort had ordered Draco to kill him, asked Snape to kill him instead as a way of sparing the boy’s soul and of preventing his own otherwise slow, painful death.

Although Snape was reluctant, even asking about the impact of such an action on his own soul, Dumbledore implied that this kind of coup de grâce would not damage a human’s soul in the same way murder would. Furthermore, once Snape had done the deed, he would gain Voldemort’s complete trust and learn more of his plans. Snape agreed to do as the Headmaster requested.^[7]

Shortly after that, Snape was visited by Bellatrix Lestrange and Narcissa Malfoy at his home in Spinner’s End. Narcissa’s son Draco had been given a difficult task by Voldemort, and Narcissa swore Snape to an Unbreakable Vow, on pain of death should he break it, that he would protect Draco, help him complete Voldemort’s task, and finish the task himself if Draco failed. When questioned by Bellatrix about his loyalties, Snape claimed to have been working for Voldemort (rather than for Dumbledore) ever since Voldemort’s return, and explained his actions in the previous years in that light. In addition, he pointed out that Dumbledore’s protection had kept him out of Azkaban and free to operate on Voldemort’s behalf.^[88]

At the start-of-term feast at Hogwarts, Dumbledore announced he had finally appointed Snape as Professor of Defence Against the Dark Arts, much to Harry’s shock and displeasure.^[16] Snape was no less severe in teaching Defence than he had been with Potions, although he did allow students who achieved below ‘Outstanding’ at O.W.L. level to enter his N.E.W.T. classes. Having finally acquired the position he desired for so long, Snape taught the lessons with a tone of passion for the Dark Arts he sought to undo, something he did not do for Potions.^[30] He also became less biased, as he allowed Hermione to answer his question^[30] (as opposed to three years ago, he insulted her for being «an insufferable know-it-all»),^[89] and sentenced Crabbe and Goyle to detention for dissatisfying progress in their repeated fifth year.^[90]

Horace Slughorn, a retired Hogwarts teacher, replaced Snape as Potions Master. Slughorn loaned Harry an old Potions textbook, in which Harry found marginalia including helpful tips on how to make potions better,^[30] and a variety of curious spells seemingly invented by an unknown student.^[31] The book was inscribed «This Book is the Property of the Half-Blood Prince«.^[30] With the help of the notes, Harry quickly became the best potion-maker in the class and Slughorn’s favourite student. Snape, however, was suspicious when he heard about Harry’s newfound success, maintaining that he «never had the impression that [he] had been able to teach Potter anything at all«.^[90]

In the spring, Snape met with Dumbledore on the outskirts of the Forbidden Forest and wanted to know more about the private lessons between Albus and Harry. Not knowing that they were overheard by Hagrid, Snape burst into resentment that Dumbledore trusts Harry more than him. Dumbledore only ordered Severus to look after Draco even more, after Ron Weasley has been poisoned. Albus also invited him for an evening visit in his office. When Snape arrived and learned that Harry had to die, he showed outrage and ultimately showed that he still after all these years loved Lily by revealing his Patronus to be a doe, the same as Lily’s.^[7]

Later, in a fight with Draco, Harry cast one of the Prince’s spells marked «For Enemies» (Sectumsempra) and was horrified when it caused devastating wounds to Draco’s face and chest. Snape rushed to the scene and healed Draco’s wounds, and then interrogated Harry about the source of the spell. When Harry refused to tell him anything, Snape demanded that he bring him all of his books. Harry hid the Prince’s book and gave Ron Weasley’s copy of the book to Snape instead.

Snape punished Harry by giving him a detention every Saturday for the rest of the year, including during the final Quidditch match of the season. Fearing of exposing himself as the inventor of the curse that injured Draco, Snape did not outright expose Harry’s cheating in Potions to Slughorn or the rest of the staff, thus resulting in a punishment much more lenient than usual, which Professor McGonagall saw as something very lucky for Harry.^[32]

Before leaving with Dumbledore to find a Horcrux, Harry discovered from Professor Sybill Trelawney that it had been Severus who overheard the Prophecy and told it to Voldemort, thus causing Voldemort to hunt Harry and his parents. Despite this and Harry’s angry questions, Dumbledore maintained that he trusted Snape. After returning to Hogwarts with the Slytherin Locket, Harry and Dumbledore flew to the school’s Astronomy Tower.

Gravely weakened by Voldemort’s potion, and the school being under attack by Death Eaters, Dumbledore asked Harry to fetch Snape for him. Before Harry could leave, Draco arrived and disarmed Dumbledore, intending to carry out Voldemort’s ordered assassination. Draco was unable to bring himself to commit the murder, however, and Snape killed the headmaster himself.^[91]

An enraged Harry (who had been immobilised by Dumbledore for his own protection and had witnessed the killing while under his Invisibility cloak) chased Snape, Draco, and the Death Eaters as they fled the castle. The two of them engaged in a fierce duel, which became increasingly one-sided. Snape easily blocked Harry’s attempts to attack him and jeeringly pointed out Harry’s mistakes, but refused to strike back. However, he became enraged when Harry called him a coward and began using his own spells against him, resulting in him blasting Harry back against the ground.^[26]

During the confrontation, Snape also revealed himself to be the «Half-Blood Prince» (being the son of Tobias Snape, a Muggle, and Eileen Prince, a pure-blood). Harry was unable to stop Snape before the latter passed through the school gates and Disapparated.^[26]

On the run

After killing Albus Dumbledore and fleeing the school, Snape once more rejoined the ranks of the Death Eaters. In the summer of 1997, Snape informed Lord Voldemort that Harry was to depart from his relatives’ house four days before his birthday. On Dumbledore’s orders, Snape told the Death Eaters the correct date so as to continue Voldemort’s trust in him.^[92]

Snape then fed Mundungus Fletcher the idea of using seven decoys of Harry Potter during his movement to a place of safety so that when the Death Eaters arrived, they would not know who the real one was. In order to be consistent in his own role as a Death Eater, Snape confunded Fletcher so that he would not remember who told him.^[92]

Because of Severus’s information, when the Order of the Phoenix moved Harry from Privet Drive they were ambushed by Death Eaters, and the Battle of the Seven Potters ensued. During the battle, Snape accidentally sliced George Weasley’s ear off with Sectumsempra while aiming at another Death Eater.^[93][7]

Shortly after the battle, Severus visited 12 Grimmauld Place where, in Sirius Black’ bedroom, he found Lily Potter’s letter. Snape had cut off the letter and took the page, which contained Lily’s signature and love. He also cut off the picture of Potter family and took the page, which contained Lily, for himself.^[7]

As Headmaster

During the 1997–1998 school year, Snape was named Headmaster of Hogwarts, while Death Eaters Alecto and Amycus Carrow were appointed Deputy Heads. Snape used his position as Headmaster to discreetly protect the students and to contain the Carrows. It is later understood that, during his time as Headmaster, Snape consulted with the portraits of the previous Headmasters, and continued to receive instructions from Dumbledore’s portrait.

Before the beginning of the first term, Rufus Scrimgeour removed the Sword of Gryffindor from its glass case in the headmaster’s office for examination, along with the other items Dumbledore left in his will. However, this sword was a fake. The real sword had been hidden in a hole in the wall behind Dumbledore’s portrait.

When its counterfeit had been returned to Dumbledore’s office, another attempt to seize the sword was made by Luna Lovegood, Neville Longbottom, and Ginny Weasley. After pretending to punish them by sending them into the Forbidden Forest with Rubeus Hagrid, Snape passed the fake sword along to Bellatrix Lestrange, who kept it in her vault at Gringotts, thinking that it was real.

Upon being informed by the portrait of Phineas Nigellus Black of Harry Potter’s whereabouts, Dumbledore’s portrait instructed Snape to give Harry the real sword without the latter knowing it. Not only would Harry not have taken kindly to Snape’s appearance after his attack on George Weasley, and also for the murder of Dumbledore of which Harry was an eye-witness, it would have been dangerous if Voldemort were to read his mind and see Snape helping him.

Snape then took the real sword, hid it in a frozen pool of water near Harry’s camping spot, and used his Patronus to guide Harry to it. After having rescued Harry from drowning, Ron claimed to have supposedly seen someone watching from the shadows. Though not stated, it is extremely likely to have been Snape keeping an eye on Harry and only departing once he knew the latter was safe.

As a headmaster, Snape was thoroughly disliked by many of his students. The old members of Dumbledore’s Army reformed the organisation after Lord Voldemort gained control over the school and started up a revolt against Snape and the Carrows. Neville Longbottom, Luna Lovegood, and Ginny Weasley were at the forefront of the rebellion. Snape, following up on his promise to Dumbledore to keep the students safe, subtly undermined the violent, sadistic attempts of the Carrows to keep control by doing things such as sending students to help Hagrid as punishments rather than the Carrows’ more dangerous alternatives.

Neville stated that Snape was hardly ever seen whilst headmaster. This could be because Snape remained in the headmaster’s office most of the time or was searching for/following the trio to make sure they were safe and/or making progress. Also, during his tenure, the Educational Decree Number Twenty-Four was re-enacted and students had taken to (most likely under Snape’s orders) marching from point A to point B together like they were in military school.

Dismissal as Headmaster

Harry, Ron, and Hermione returned to Hogwarts Castle in search of one of the last of Voldemort’s Horcruxes, which they believed to have something to do with Rowena Ravenclaw. The only idea they could come up with was Ravenclaw’s lost diadem, and so Harry and Luna Lovegood went to the Ravenclaw Common Room to get an idea of what the diadem looked like. Here they were met by Alecto Carrow, who pressed her finger to the Dark Mark and summoned Voldemort.^[94] Amycus Carrow arrived, but so did Minerva McGonagall.

The two began fighting, and while Snape put up a good defence, McGonagall’s attack was beginning to overwhelm him, for he was forced to take refuge behind a suit of armour when McGonagall gained the upper hand with daggers. She was soon helped by the arrival of the other Heads of House: Sprout, Flitwick, and Slughorn. Outnumbered, Snape fled the castle, jumping out the window of a classroom and using the ability to fly without a broom, which he presumably learned from Voldemort.^[95]

Battle of Hogwarts and death

Later in the evening, Snape was summoned by Voldemort to the Shrieking Shack. Voldemort explained that he believed that Snape was the master of the Elder Wand from killing Dumbledore and that Snape must die so that the Elder Wand can be his. Snape tried to explain the situation but Voldemort ordered Nagini to kill Snape by biting into his neck, injecting him with her extremely poisonous venom, before he could finish speaking. Before dying, Snape released a cloud of memories and told Harry, who had watched the entire scene from a hidden spot, to take them.^[20]

Harry later took the memories to the Pensieve in Dumbledore’s office. From these memories, Harry learned everything about Snape’s past. In the first scene, Harry discovered that Snape had befriended Lily as a nine-year-old child when they lived near each other in the industrial town of Cokeworth.^[7]

Upon their arrival at Hogwarts, the Sorting Hat placed Snape and Lily into Slytherin and Gryffindor Houses, respectively. They remained close friends for the next few years until they were driven apart by Snape’s interest in the Dark Arts and by Lily’s interest in James Potter. The friendship finally ended following the incident that Harry had briefly witnessed in his fifth year, in which Snape accidentally insulted Lily. Despite this separation, and Snape’s enmity toward Lily’s eventual husband James Potter, Snape continued to love Lily on a much deeper and stronger romantic level for the rest of his life.^[7]

Snape was next seen going to Dumbledore and desperately begging him to hide the Potters from Lord Voldemort, who was planning on targeting Lily’s son to prevent a prophecy from being fulfilled. Snape had been the one who previously revealed said prophecy to Voldemort, not knowing at first that it was referring to Lily and her family. Though he asked Voldemort to spare Lily, Snape still feared for her safety, as he knew that Voldemort could not be relied on to grant this small favour. Snape became a double agent for the Order of the Phoenix so that Dumbledore could ensure Lily’s protection, employing Occlumency to hide his duplicity from his master.^[7]

Snape felt devastating pain and remorse when Lily was found and murdered. From that point on, he agreed to help Dumbledore protect her son and fight against Lord Voldemort. Snape demanded, however, that his feelings about Lily be kept a secret. Dumbledore complied and never told anyone the real reason why Snape switched sides.^[7]

Snape’s memories then revealed that Severus slowed the spread of the curse afflicted on Dumbledore, after he put Marvolo Gaunt’s ring. However, the curse would have ultimately killed Albus within a year. Dumbledore, knowing that Draco Malfoy was ordered by Voldemort to kill him, and expecting the boy will fail, asked Snape to kill himself instead of Draco in order to gain Voldemort’s complete trust and learn more of his plans.^[7]

At the end Snape’s memories showed Snape’s outrage after learning that Harry had to die. Snape ultimately revealed his Patronus, a doe, the same as Lily’s, showing he still, after all these years, loved her.^[7]

Because of the memories, Harry finally understood where Snape’s true allegiances always were. The memories provided Harry with the information he needed to ensure Voldemort’s final defeat. He also showed Harry the memory where Albus Dumbledore had told him about Harry himself being a Horcrux (although he did not understand it) because Dumbledore had asked him to pass that along to Harry when the time was right.^[7]

Post-mortem

During the final duel between Harry and Voldemort, Harry finally told him that Snape had been, in fact, Dumbledore’s man. Harry also revealed that Snape was never the true master of the Elder Wand, because Snape never defeated Dumbledore; the two had arranged his death as he would have died either way. Before Snape killed Dumbledore, Draco Malfoy disarmed Dumbledore. Therefore, Draco was the true master of the Elder Wand, not Snape.

However, Harry had overpowered Draco at Malfoy Manor and taken his wand. Because of the subtleties governing wand ownership discussed by Garrick Ollivander, Harry was the current master of the Elder Wand. Snape’s true loyalties remained hidden due to his skills as an Occlumens and the fact his actions were motivated by love, which completely eluded Voldemort. Successfully defeating both Voldemort and Nagini, Harry and Neville avenged Snape’s death.^[21]

Snape’s portrait was not automatically put into the Headmaster’s office since he had essentially abandoned his post during the Battle of Hogwarts. However, Harry, in one of his acts of showing reconciliation towards Snape, made sure that his portrait was placed there.^[96] It is possible that Harry gave his corpse a proper burial after the war ended. Rita Skeeter also published a book about Snape’s life, entitled Snape: Scoundrel or Saint?, sometime after his death.^[97] If it is consistent with Skeeter’s other works, it is probably riddled with inaccuracies designed to tarnish Snape’s reputation.

Albus Severus Potter, the second son of Harry, and the only one of Harry’s children to have inherited Lily’s bright green almond-shaped eyes, is named after Snape. When Albus was worried that he may be Sorted into Slytherin, Harry responded that Albus was named after two headmasters, one of whom was a Slytherin and «probably the bravest man I ever knew«.^[22]

Alternate timeline

By his fourth year at Hogwarts, Scorpius Malfoy had learned all about Snape’s history and motivations, allowing him to convince an alternate version of Snape — in a timeline where Voldemort won the Battle of Hogwarts and thus ruled wizarding Britain — that he came from a different timeline so that Snape could help Scorpius meet the local resistance and undo what he had unwittingly done to the past.

This version of Snape correctly guessed that he had died in the struggle against Voldemort in Scorpius’ timeline, on account that the boy was evidently surprised to see him alive in the altered timeline, but proceeded to aid him nonetheless; if anything, Severus merely expressed annoyance that he apparently met his end at the Dark Lord’s hands in the original timeline. After knocking down Dolores Umbridge to allow Scorpius Malfoy to escape, he was attacked by the Dementors, leaving his fate unknown.^[98]

Physical appearance

Severus Snape was a thin man with sallow skin, a large, hooked nose and yellow, uneven teeth. He usually dressed in flowing black robes which made him resemble «an overgrown bat«. He had shoulder-length, greasy black hair which framed his face in curtains, curling lips and dark, penetrating eyes that resembled tunnels. As a Death Eater, he bore the Dark Mark on his left inner forearm.

The younger Snape had a «stringy, pallid look«, being «round-shouldered yet angular» and with a «twitchy walk that recalled a spider«, as well as «long oily hair that jumped about his face«.

Snape had a strong, authoritative presence. He spoke in a soft, contained voice most of the time, except during the occasional instances when he lost his temper.

Personality and traits

A complicated, withdrawn person, Severus Snape’s life was overwhelmed with many complex emotions that he never fully disclosed. At times, Snape could appear cold, cynical, malicious, bitter, and sarcastic. He had a commanding presence that exuded gravitas, authority and control; like Professor McGonagall, he had the ability to keep a class quiet without effort. He tended to hold grudges and was extremely spiteful toward those whom he disliked. In particular, he disdained Gryffindor students, considering them to be arrogant and attention-seeking. Descriptions of his social interactions as a child suggest that he had poor interpersonal skills and that he may have suffered from depression.

Snape was a repressed, solitary man with no friends. In his early life, he was insecure, vulnerable, and yearned to be part of something better. As a child, the bleak normality of working-class suburbia compounded with his neglectful Muggle father inspired in him a contempt for ordinariness. This urgent desire to be a part of something powerful and important was what drew him to Lord Voldemort’s inner circle. Snape’s bitterness and resentment towards the world was exacerbated even more by the relentless bullying he endured in school, causing him to shut himself in even more.

Snape was not a prejudiced individual despite the Death Eater beliefs of pure-blood superiority, but was rather against Muggles, presumably because of his sour experience with both his father and Petunia Evans, but held no ill-will towards Muggle-borns. The foundation of him scolding Lily Evans by calling her Mudblood was to not appear weak in front of his fellow Death Eater students than actual supremacist views. He also deeply regretted this as it was what ended his friendship with Lily and defended Hermione Granger when Phineas Nigellus Black called her Mudblood, his manner of speaking in this instance being uncharacteristically explosive and filled with more emotion than he normally displayed.

He was an intensely private individual who viewed emotional displays as a sign of shameful weakness. As an Occlumens, Snape had superb emotional control and was adept at concealing his thoughts and feelings, which allowed him to maintain his cold, collected demeanour. However, he had his limits, and was not incapable of losing his temper, particularly when it came to dealing with Harry Potter. Inevitably, he also became furious when he thought he was being pitied or accused of cowardice.

Snape was a formidable sorcerer, displaying consummate skill in many different branches of magic. His extensive knowledge and abilities were rivalled by very few, if any other witches and wizards of his age. Snape was also unusually cerebral for a wizard, possessing a subtle and keenly analytical mind. As a result, Snape was extremely intelligent and calculative, with a mind for strategy and deduction. He was also a profound misanthrope who appeared to have a prominent hatred of almost every child under his tutelage, except of course for Slytherins. He valued logic and cunning above magical power.

As a professor, Snape was known for his cavalier and harshly authoritarian attitude towards his teaching. His standards for his classes were much higher than that of the other professors, as he only allowed students with the very best grades to continue into advanced study. As Potions Master, he described it as an art and an exact science, and dismissed the use of incantations and wand waving as «silly and foolish». He developed a loving passion for Dark Arts, originally in the hopes to cover the shame of his heritage, and his interest in it led him to repeatedly apply for the Defence Against the Dark Arts professor post every year, despite being rejected for sixteen years.

Snape knew full well why Dumbledore never granted him the position, as it may be a trigger to bring out his worst side, something he denied to Umbridge’s questioning but let in to those of Bellatrix’s. When he finally got his wish, Snape taught the course with a loving caress in his voice, far beyond simply respecting the Dark Arts as a dangerous foe, something he did not show in his post as the Potions Master. He also taught this class slightly fairer than he did in Potions, such as lowering his entrance standards and biases for N.E.W.T. level classes, allowing more students to enter the advanced studies of his favourite class, and placed students from his own house, such as Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle, in detention for failing to do acceptable work the second time around after failing their O.W.L. the previous year.

Ultimately, it was Snape’s past and his love for Lily Evans that defined his inner being. His love for Lily Evans became most noticeable by his Patronus; a Doe, just like Lily’s. Upon overhearing the Prophecy, he immediately informed his then-master of its contents, unaware that this would endanger Lily and her family. It was only after Lily’s death that Snape realised the full extent of his actions. He suffered terrible remorse for what he had done and spent the rest of his life in constant danger in order to protect Lily’s son.

In spite of his vindictive demeanour, Severus Snape was an immensely brave man who possessed a deep capacity for love. Everything that he did in the latter part of his life was motivated by his devotion to Lily Evans, whom he loved unconditionally. He was one of Dumbledore’s most reliable allies and in his role as a double agent, took great personal risk in ensuring Harry’s safety from Lord Voldemort. Despite his years of him and Harry barely getting along, if at all, Snape openly criticised Dumbledore after learning he protected Harry all these years just so he could die at the right time due to being a Horcrux, showing he didn’t agree with Harry’s death even though, at first, he only protected him because of his relationship to Lily. When he informed Dumbledore that he informed Voldemort of the prophecy, Snape begged Dumbledore to hide Harry, Lily, and even James too. This clearly showed that Snape prioritised Lily’s happiness above all else, even if it meant her being with a man he hated for most of his life.

Despite his coldness towards all but Lily, Snape nevertheless proved capable of genuinely caring for others apart from Lily and Harry. He showed that despite his mistreatment of them, he cared considerably for the students of Hogwarts, risking his façade for them by secretly doing everything he can to make sure they stayed out of harm’s way and at one point being genuinely concerned when a student was taken to the Chamber of Secrets. Additionally, Snape was also genuinely saddened by the death of Rowan Khanna, his face just as mournful as the rest of the other House Heads, and if Rowan were in Slytherin, Snape even went as far as to plead with Merula to stop being angry and comfort them with the prospect of standing together in the face of crisis.

While he initially resented Dumbledore for his lack of intervention on his torturous bullying by the Marauders, it seemed the time he spent allying with Dumbledore had made him grow to genuinely as well as greatly respect and even care for him, as shown by how he was clearly shocked into being silent for a long time after Dumbledore asked Snape to kill him, clearly indicated that killing Dumbledore was hard for him to do and tried to make him have Draco kill him instead of having Snape do it. Even after learning of how Dumbledore had wanted Harry to die so Voldemort can be defeated, when preparing to kill Dumbledore, his face was described as being genuinely hateful and disgusted of what he was about to do.

Despite Snape’s normally calm and controlled exterior and guarded body language, he was in possession of an extraordinarily explosive and almost psychotic temper. This was rarely seen, but an extreme display of rage was most prominently witnessed after Snape killed Dumbledore and was confronted outside of Hagrid’s burning house near the edge of the school grounds. The event that triggered this unhinged manifestation of Snape’s unrestrained wrath was Harry’s accusation of Snape being a coward for killing Dumbledore.

Due to the many years of being bullied by Harry’s father, and with a need to both vent his immense stress and maintain his cover as a loyal Death Eater, Snape unleashed a terrifying mix of both his emotions and magic in his duel with Harry, taking great pleasure in torturing and punishing the son of his enemy. Unlike in the past where he spoke quietly in his anger, Snape in this instance was screaming and letting so much out, as well as confessing his identity of the Half-Blood Prince to Harry who had attempted to use one of Snape’s own invented spells against him. This battle showed Snape’s repressed rage in its horrific glory and power. Suffice it to say, Severus Snape was not a man who it was wise to provoke, lest one incur his almost elemental wrath and magical power.

Magical abilities and skills

Severus Snape was an extremely powerful and skilled wizard, showing proficient talent and great knowledge in many different areas of magic. He had an encyclopaedic knowledge and proficiency in potions, was incredibly talented in Legilimency and Occlumency, and was also the only Death Eater capable of producing a Patronus.

• Magical mastery: Even at a young age, Severus was a gifted wizard, having knowledge of deep secrets of the wizarding world that he would usually relay to his crush, Lily Potter. In addition, Sirius Black, a known rival of his, claimed that Severus knew more about the Dark Arts than half of the seventh year’s at Hogwarts, which speaks for his seemingly encyclopaedic knowledge of magic. He was proficient in creating many useful spells used by the Death Eaters and even his rivals. He was also proficient in altering the formula for potions, resulting in an easier and more efficient way to produce them, which enhanced Harry Potter’s proficiency in Potions to the point of easily surpassing even the results of Hermione Granger. His magical prowess was so great as a teenager that his bully and rival, James Potter would never have taken him on in a one on one fight unless he was backed up by his three other talented friends. As an adult, Snape had became an incredibly powerful and skilled wizard and acknowledged by his fellow professors and Lord Voldemort for his great prowess. He proved capable of effortlessly defeating the likes of Harry Potter and also holding his own against the extremely powerful witch Minerva McGonagall, who was capable of surviving a duel with Voldemort himself.
• Love: Severus was one of the only people in Voldemort’s inner circle who was capable of feeling unconditional love. He fell deeply in love with Lily Evans as a child and maintained his devotion to her until his death. Despite their differences in beliefs about many things, Severus felt nothing but absolute love for Lily even though she never extended her reciprocity beyond friendship. Snape was devastated by Lily’s death and expressed suicidal desires. However, so great was his love, he forced his way past them and spent seventeen years in constant danger in order to protect Lily’s son and ensure that her sacrifice was not in vain. Indeed, Snape’s Patronus was a doe, just like Lily’s, showing that his love for her was far stronger than his loyalty to Lord Voldemort. Due to this, Snape was the only Death Eater who was able to cast a Patronus. Furthermore, his insight into the nature of love was evident when teaching Love Potions, as he was able to distinguish between the obsessive love caused by love potions and the genuine, unconditional love that most people felt for each other.^[99]

• Potions: Severus was extremely adept in the art of potion-making and worked as the Potions Master at Hogwarts for about fifteen years. His prowess at potion-making extended beyond simple execution from formally documented recipes accepted and followed by the general public. When he was still only a student, he would alter official instructions with his own variations, which usually resulted in quicker and more efficient results. He was capable of brewing highly complicated potions such as Veritaserum, Wolfsbane Potion and the Mandrake Restorative Draught. In 1996, Professor Slughorn mentioned that in all his years of teaching, only one student had ever managed to brew an acceptable Draught of Living Death and claim the Felix Felicis being offered as a prize. It is implied, though not confirmed, that Snape was this student. Snape was also able to identify Polyjuice Potion by smell and produce fake Veritaserum that seemed real enough to fool Dolores Umbridge (though Umbridge was not portrayed as being particularly intelligent with practicality). In addition, Snape used an unidentified golden potion to help slow a curse that was slowly killing Dumbledore.

• Dark Arts: Severus had a passion for the Dark Arts from a young age, and was especially talented with curses, or so some believed. According to Sirius Black, Snape was «up to his eyeballs in the Dark Arts» when he was at school. However, they had an age-old rivalry which could have influenced Sirius’s words. When he was still a student, Snape was already talented enough that he was capable of creating new dark spells, as most of the spells he created were curses, hexes, and jinxes. As an adult at least, Snape was capable of performing the Killing Curse, one of the Unforgivable Curses that required a considerable level of magical skill, using the curse to kill Dumbledore on his orders.

• Defence Against the Dark Arts: Though Snape had a zest for dark magic, he possessed outstanding knowledge and abilities in protecting from it. His encyclopaedic understanding of the dark arts may have contributed to this. Snape taught the class at N.E.W.T level to such an effect that even Harry Potter could not help but be enchanted by his knowledge. Snape effectively «assisted» the 1992 duelling club, and understood the need for students handling pragmatism as well as theory in the subject. Snape’s speciality in DADA was particularly in the area of counter-curses. In fact, his abilities in countering curses were so great that he was able to temporarily save Dumbledore (himself an expert on the subject) with wand enhanced incantations and a potion simultaneously from a «curse of extraordinary power«, Dumbledore noted that he was only able to (temporarily) survive due to Snape’s expertise. He was also able to prevent the curse that Katie Bell was inflicted with when she touched the necklace on Borgin and Burkes from spreading any further, saving her life. Snape had also developed effective counter curses for his own dark charms, such as the magic he used to heal Draco from the effects of Sectumsempra.

• Occlumency and Legilimency: Snape’s unerring ability to conceal his thoughts and feelings from external penetration proved to be crucial for him. His skills in Occlumency was so great that for seventeen years, he managed to hide facts from Lord Voldemort such as his remorse for Lily Evans’s death and his secret alliance with Albus Dumbledore; it was his mastery of hiding his mind that made both sides distrust him. Snape was also very skilled at Legilimency; Harry Potter often felt as if Snape had the ability to read minds even before learning what the art was. Snape used Legilimency on Harry constantly, while attempting to teach him Occlumency in their private lessons and later used it to effortlessly deflect Harry’s spells and curses. Despite his skill in Legilimency he was may have been unable to read Draco Malfoy’s thoughts when the latter was a relatively inexperienced Occlumens (though Draco may have only believed that he was able to block Snape). Since Voldemort was considered history’s greatest legilimens and was unable to ever read Snape’s mind, despite being in the same room with him on many occasions, Snape could be history’s greatest occlumens, with the possible exception of Albus Dumbledore and Gellert Grindelwald, both of whom proved able to also deflect Voldemort’s Legilimency. Considering how Voldemort would have detected Snape resisting penetration, Snape would’ve had to be careful only to block certain thoughts from him while allowing Voldemort to only see what would reinforce his belief in Snape’s loyalty. Indeed, during Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort’s final duel, Voldemort was at first dismissive of Harry’s claims that Severus Snape betrayed him after he didn’t spare Lily’s life and how Snape’s patronus was the same as Lily’s as he had loved Lily since they were children, showing Snape’s great skills in Occlumency.

• Transfiguration: Severus was highly accomplished with transfiguration, given his proficiency with Conjuration and Vanishment, two very difficult and advanced branches of this field. He was talented with the vanishing of physical matter, as shown when he vanished Harry Potter’s failed Draught of Peace potion in 1995 with the Vanishing Spell^[100] and when he vanished the snake that Draco Malfoy summoned in 1992 with the Snake-Vanishing Spell.^[82] He also successfully conjured ropes with the Incarcerous Spell to bind Sirius Black and Remus Lupin in the Shrieking Shack in 1994.^[101] He also transfigured the whirlwind-shaped fire that McGonagall launched at him shortly before the Battle of Hogwarts into a great black snake.^[95]

• Charms: Snape was highly talented in charms as he not only could use basic to advanced charms without fail, such as levitation, disarming, summoning, banishing, locking doors, repairing, illuminating, igniting, creating water, shielding and stunning, but he was even able to cast the incredibly difficult Patronus Charm, conjuring a corporeal doe Patronus. He was also able to write instructions on a blackboard with a single flick of his wand.

• Flying: Snape was a very capable flyer on a broomstick, as during the Battle of the Seven Potters, he was not blasted off his broom and knowledgeable enough in the rules of Quidditch to take over the position of referee at least once. However, in one of Snape’s memories, Lily was laughing as he attempted to mount a bucking broomstick, so perhaps he was not always a good flyer. Later on, Severus was also capable of Unsupported flight. The only other known wizard that was able to do this was Lord Voldemort himself (who is likely to have passed down this skill to Snape personally). In 1997, he used this skill to escape from Hogwarts after his duel with Minerva McGonagall.

• Teaching skills: Despite his unpleasant nature and strained relationship with many of the Hogwarts students outside Slytherin, Snape was nevertheless a relatively effective teacher as the Potions Master and was one of the few teachers at Hogwarts who could keep a class quiet with minimal effort, with some students like Percy Weasley and Hermione Granger able to achieve O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s under his teaching, despite Snape only allowing students with top grades to do Potions in the NEWT level. In addition to being the Potions Master at Hogwarts for most of his teaching career, Snape’s teaching skills allowed him to eventually became the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, the teaching post he sought after the most at Hogwarts. It was also effective enough for him to be respected by most of the other professors until he killed Dumbledore, pass Dolores Umbridge’s inspection of him and for Voldemort to make him Headmaster of Hogwarts following the Fall of the Ministry of Magic. Even while he was still the Potions Master, he served as a substitute teacher for Remus Lupin’s Defence Against the Dart Arts lessons during Lupin’s Werewolf transformations and prior to that, assisted Gilderoy Lockhart in a duelling demonstration for the short-lived Duelling Club at Hogwarts, and indirectly taught Harry Potter the Disarming Charm during that demonstration which proved enough for it to become Harry’s signature spell. Additionally, while Harry did not learn much from Snape due to their mutual dislike of each other, the instructions Snape wrote in his copy of Advanced Potion-Making were effective enough to make Harry improve his own performance in Potions in his sixth year. However, Snape’s teaching skills were not flawless, as his unpleasant nature meant that he was not as liked or respected as other professors in the school by most students excluding Slytherin, he demonstrated bias towards Slytherin students over students from other houses and bullied some students like Harry and Neville Longbottom while teaching, resulting in him becoming the latter’s worst fear during his earlier years at Hogwarts. He was also unable to effectively teach Harry Occlumency, mostly due to their mutual dislike of each other not allowing him to teach Harry in a more encouraging manner, which most likely would have made Harry focus more in learning Occlumency and control his emotions better. It is possible that Snape would have been more respected as a teacher by other students if he was less unpleasant, less biased towards Slytherin students and if he incorporated the instructions in his copy of Advanced Potion-Making into his teaching more often.
• Acting skills: Snape was an extremely adept actor, as he flawlessly succeeded in hiding his true allegiance to Albus Dumbledore from the Death Eaters, even able to fool Voldemort himself completely to the point of the latter having complete trust in him to such an extent that after he killed Dumbledore, Voldemort was fully willing to make him Hogwarts’ Headmaster. Snape’s skill in acting allowed him to keep his motives dubious in the eyes of both friend and ally alike. This makes Snape likely the most accomplished actor and spy in wizarding history.
• Indomitable willpower: Snape, despite his personal demons, possessed immense willpower and bravery, being a respected hero of the Second Wizarding War and having great respect from both Albus Dumbledore and Harry Potter (the latter of whom would go so far as to declare Snape to be «the bravest man [he] ever knew»). Hence, despite his great love for Lily Potter and being aware of her intense disapproval for the Dark Arts, Snape refused to relinquish his interest for the practice nor abandon the approval of his Slytherin friends for her. Later, while guilt-ridden and devastated, feeling personally responsible for Lily’s death, Snape refused to succumb to despair and instead dedicated himself to honouring Lily in death by working closely with Dumbledore to protect Harry and ensure that her sacrifice was not in vain. As such, despite the extremely dangerous and seemingly impossible task of bringing down the most powerful Dark wizard of all time, Lord Voldemort, Snape refused to back down from it and resolved to faithfully execute Dumbledore’s many complex and intricate plans to bring down the Dark Lord, with him valiantly working as an undercover agent for the Order of the Phoenix for sixteen years and steadfastly spying on the Death Eaters, with this ultimately ensuring Voldemort’s defeat at the hands of Harry. Snape’s willpower and determination also allowed him to persistently apply for the Defence Against the Dark Arts post for fifteen years (despite Dumbledore repeatedly refusing him the job) and to completely master the notably difficult skills of Occlumency and non-verbal magic, both of which required high amounts of mental strength. Moreover, in an alternate timeline, Snape was willing to sacrifice himself to defeat Voldemort and save the world once again, by distracting a swarm of Dementors, thereby giving Scorpius Malfoy the necessary opening to restore the timeline again.

• Duelling: Although he rarely engaged in duels, Snape was shown to be a highly capable duellist. During his days as a Death Eater he likely had to fight against aurors and members of the Order of the Phoenix. He was able to hold his own against the extremely powerful Minerva McGonagall (who was capable of duelling Voldemort along with Kingsley and Slughorn) during their brief duel, before she forced him to hide behind a shield of armour. He then fled when Pomona Sprout and Filius Flitwick arrived to assist. He assisted in a duelling club in 1992 with Gilderoy Lockhart, effortlessly defeating him with a single spell, though, as Lockhart was an unskilled wizard, this was not such a great achievement. Snape also easily overwhelmed Harry Potter during his escape from the Battle of the Astronomy Tower and defeated him without much effort, using Legilimency to read Harry’s attempted moves and countered them all before they could be cast. Severus participated in the Battle of the Seven Potters, joining the Death Eaters’s side (though secretly attempted to protect the Order), and survived unharmed. Contrary to the vicious duelling styles of other Death Eaters, Snape preferred using defensive spells and only used aggressive magic when facing a weak opponent, such as Lockhart, or when his foe grew frustrated and started making mistakes. Snape was never known to battle a Death Eater or ally to Voldemort (which would’ve blown his cover) but no Death Eater ever dared raise a wand against him (even the notoriously powerful Bellatrix Lestrange) and showed fear towards him, indicating they must have seen him display remarkable duelling skills.

• Spell creation: As a student at Hogwarts, Severus was very inventive with new spells. Some of the spells he created were Sectumsempra, Langlock, Muffliato, Levicorpus and its counter-jinx Liberacorpus.^[26] The last two somehow became common knowledge around the school. It is unknown what thoughts and techniques Snape put into his creations.

• Wandless and nonverbal magic: Snape was highly skilled at using non-verbal spells, from the most basic uses (such as instruction-writing on blackboards and cleanups) to the most advanced (such as combat curses). Snape was also skilled at performing wandless magic, such as rope conjuring, counter-jinxing and memory extraction. (Although memory extraction does not require explicitly the use of a wand, relying instead on direct eye contact, conjuring and counter-jinxing are more often depicted to take place with the help of a wand.)

• Healing magic: Snape was also very skilled with healing magic, as he reduced the effects of the Curse on Marvolo Gaunt’s ring on Albus Dumbledore which allowed him to survive for at least a year and saved Katie Bell’s life by preventing any further spread of the cursed necklace in her body.^[7] He also healed Draco Malfoy’s wounds with Vulnera Sanentur, a healing spell and counter-curse, after Harry Potter recklessly used the Sectumsempra curse on him and seriously injured him.^[32] His knowledge in healing was such that Dumbledore once quoted to Harry that Snape was more experienced in healing against Dark magic than Poppy Pomfrey was. He also successfully brewed the Mandrake Restorative Draught in the 1992–1993 school year, which cured all the victims of petrification that year.^[85]
• Apparition: Like most accomplished adult wizards, Snape could apparate successfully at will. He disapparated away from Hogwarts after the Battle of the Astronomy Tower in 1997 from beyond the Hogwarts gates.^[26]
• Intellectual giftedness: Snape’s logic and deductive reasoning skills were such that he helped protect the Philosopher’s Stone by creating an obstacle, which was based on logic rather than magical skill. According to Hermione Granger, many powerful wizards have a blind spot in regards to logic.^[74]
• Poetry: A skill that Snape possessed but did not make very much mention or display of, Snape was capable of fluidly crafting his words in a way that could often befuddle the reader. His only known composition was the logic puzzle that he used as part of his defences of the Philosopher’s Stone. Since this poem showed Snape’s logical thinking, it was obviously one of his own creations. Snape’s other possible works, if they exist, remain unknown.
• Alchemy: Intimately connected with Potion-making among other things, Snape had great respect for the field of alchemy, believing it was as much about gaining intellectual wealth as the physical one. Deeming it more advanced than his usual lessons, to the point where he initially asked Jacob’s sibling if the latter was joking when they asked whether he would be willing to teach alchemy to themselves and the visiting Beauxbatons student, insisting that he would only ever consider giving lessons on the subject to a select few of his very best students, such as Penny Haywood. Displaying a fair amount of knowledge on the topic, he was able to host a private lesson and give Jacob’s sibling, Penny Haywood and Aurélie Dumont a lecture on the philosophy, history and teachings of the subject, as well as its objectives.^[102]

Relationships

Parents

Snape never regarded the place where he grew up as a home. Rather like Voldemort and Harry, Hogwarts was his real home. It is likely that he suffered neglect as a child. His parents seem to have had a dysfunctional, even abusive relationship. This troubled, lonely childhood is strongly suggested to have accounted for his severe demeanour, depression, sadness, bitterness, and bouts of rage, as seen later in his life.

Despite having a father who disliked the wizarding community, Snape was quite skilled with magic before he even received his Hogwarts letter. Sirius Black would later remark that, when they first arrived at school, Snape knew more curses than many of the seventh-year students. It does seem that he had a slightly better relationship with his witch mother. During his school years, he nicknamed himself the «Half Blood Prince». In addition, it is quite likely Eileen gave her son most, if not all of his school things. His sixth-year Potions book was, according to Harry, at least fifty years old.

Since at least 1996, Snape was staying in his family’s home during the summers between school years. It is unknown what happened to his parents. As he was only thirty-six years old in 1996, his parents may well have been alive, but moved away and left the house to him. His salary as a Hogwarts professor probably made it possible for him to afford other lodging during summers, but his childhood memories of Lily may have stopped him from abandoning the house.

Lily Evans

Snape’s friendship with Lily Evans was probably the only thing that truly brought joy to his life. He first met Lily at a very young age, recognising her as a witch one day as she and her sister Petunia played in the park near his house; she had flown off the swings and made a flower grow from a sprout. Longing to escape his humiliating home life, Snape immediately sought to make her his friend. Despite the fact that Lily came from a Muggle family, he never truly saw her as being one of them because he was so smitten with her.

They spend time talking about magic and the wizarding world. Lily even asked if being Muggle-born mattered in the Wizarding world. Snape responded that it did not matter at all. In 1971, the two of them were accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and continued a close friendship up until around their fifth year, despite being sorted into different houses. Snape was very disappointed that they were not in the same house and forlorn because of it.

During this time, Snape began hanging out with people who embraced Dark Magic and pure-blood supremacy, which put a huge strain on their friendship. Lily was offended by many of the views that Snape was beginning to adopt and disliked the qualities that his new classmates were bringing out in him. Given time over again, Snape would never have done many of the things he did, but at the time he did not truly understand her aversion. He was so insecure and blinded by his attraction to the Dark side that he imagined she would find it impressive if he became a real Death Eater. Ironically, Lily might have grown to love Snape romantically (she certainly loved him as a friend) if he had not loved Dark Magic so much, and been drawn to such loathsome people and acts. When Snape called Lily a «Mudblood» in a moment of humiliation, it was the last straw for Lily. When she later asked him if he still intended to become a Death Eater and he did not deny it, she severed all ties with him, despite Snape’s profuse apologies.

When Snape overheard the Prophecy, he immediately relayed its contents to the Dark Lord, not knowing that it would have anything to do with Lily. Upon discovering that Lord Voldemort was planning on targeting the Potter family, Snape pleaded with him to spare Lily in exchange for her husband and son. He later appealed to Albus Dumbledore, asking him to do everything in his power to protect Lily and the rest of her family, if he had to.

Snape was devastated by Lily’s death, to the point of sinking into a depression that seemingly lasted the rest of his life. However, at Dumbledore’s behest, he became committed to protecting her son Harry and assisting him in defeating the Dark Lord. Snape never spoke of Lily to anyone again, except for Dumbledore. This was likely due to heartbreak and worry that mention of her might make others suspicious. Even though he constantly slandered James to Lily’s son’s face, he alienated Lily from these attacks entirely, possibly due to his inability to ever insult her again. Indeed, Snape’s Patronus was a doe, just like Lily’s, because he loved her throughout his entire life. As Snape died, he asked Harry to look into his eyes; his last wish in his final moments was to die looking into the same green eyes that reminded him so much of Lily.

As a result of Snape’s sacrifice of his own life, Lily’s son Harry would name her second grandson after Snape. Coincidentally, that grandson would inherit Lily’s green eyes.

The Marauders

The Marauders were a group of four Gryffindor boys, with whom Severus began a relationship of enmity and hatred throughout their school years. The group consisted of James Potter, Sirius Black, Peter Pettigrew, and Remus Lupin. Severus and the first two Marauders detested each other almost instantly upon meeting for the first time in a compartment on the Hogwarts Express. Throughout their times at Hogwarts, James and his friends (except for Lupin) bullied Snape ceaselessly, Pettigrew only did it though because James and Sirius did it. Lupin did not encourage the harassment, but he did not try to stop them, either. Snape, in turn, never lost an opportunity to get one up on them whenever possible.

However, James Potter ended up saving his life when Sirius told Snape how to get into the Shrieking Shack. Snape caught a glimpse of Lupin transforming into a werewolf before James pulled him back through the tunnel. Snape did not think James was acting nobly. Rather, he saw it as being more of a self-serving act in order to avoid him and the rest of the Marauders being expelled from Hogwarts, and the incident only made him resent James more than ever. He also came to resent Lupin, believing that he had been in on Sirius’s prank.

During their seventh year at Hogwarts, Lily and James began dating, which probably fuelled Snape’s hatred of him even more. James always suspected that Snape had deeper feelings for Lily, which factored strongly into his behaviour towards him. Snape’s continued bitterness toward the Marauders, even into adulthood, became apparent in 1993, when Remus Lupin was given the position of Defence Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts, despite Snape and Dumbledore both knowing that he was a werewolf.

During the time that Harry Potter attended the school, Snape delighted in comparing Harry to his father and telling him that he was not the great man he liked to believe he was. Although Snape’s descriptions of James’ teenage self were accurate, Snape purposefully omitted even vague descriptions of the noble person James became. Snape mostly felt bitterness and resentment towards Remus Lupin and took to dropping hints about his being a werewolf in the hopes that the students would catch on. However, it should be noted that, despite Snape’s strained relationship with the Marauders, he dutifully concocted potions for Remus Lupin during his tenure at Hogwarts and attempted to save his life during the Flight From Little Whinging. Lupin was the only one of the Marauders who could interact with Snape at least on a perfunctory level when they were adults. Lupin, like everyone, believed Snape an evil, cowardly servant of Voldemort’s after Snape killed Albus Dumbledore, and died before learning the truth.

Snape held an especially strong enmity towards Sirius. Although Snape’s hatred towards Sirius for the humiliation he put him under alongside James in their Hogwarts years was already great, the fact that Sirius apparently was the Marauder who betrayed Lily to Voldemort made him hate Sirius even more than he did with James. He was eager to be the one to hand Sirius over to receive the Dementor’s Kiss after he broke out of Azkaban and was furious when he managed to escape yet again. After Sirius’s innocence was proven, however, Dumbledore insisted that the two of them shake hands and ally together against Voldemort.

Nevertheless, they remained barely capable of civilly conversing, as both of them still resented each other and Snape, in particular, taunted him about his uselessness to the Order while confined to his mother’s house, which escalated in Sirius nearly challenging Snape to a duel, which Snape was eager to and would have gladly accepted had the Weasleys not barged in. However, Sirius himself admitted he felt ashamed of his previous treatment and did not at all enjoy the reminder of the reason for Snape being humiliated due to Sirius being bored in their fifth year. Snape also, even if begrudgingly, accepted that they were fighting for the same side and was quick to check if Sirius was in fact safe after Harry reported to him he saw Sirius tortured by Voldemort and in the Ministry to be forced to retrieve the object.

Although Snape’s relationship with Pettigrew in their school years was already hostile, upon knowing he was the Marauder who truly betrayed Lily, he most likely became the Marauder Snape resented the most. Although forced to keep his dislike as best as he could due to his job as a double-agent for Dumbledore, Snape seized his chance to torment Pettigrew when the Dark Lord later assigned Pettigrew to work as his assistant, treating him like a slave, forcing him to clean his house and serve food to his guests, clearly intent on making sure that Pettigrew would not experience any comfortableness while under his command. Snape also seemed to enjoy threatening Pettigrew by telling Voldemort that he desired more dangerous assignments whenever he would protest his position as Snape’s servant.

In an ironic twist, despite their mutual antipathy, James’s second grandson would be named after Snape years after the deaths of Snape and the Marauders.

Harry Potter

From the day Harry set foot in Hogwarts, he and Snape loathed each other. Despite the fact that Snape was committed to honouring Lily’s sacrifice, he could not bring himself to judge the boy objectively because of his connection to James Potter, who bullied him in his school days. Indeed, Snape was filled with nothing but contempt and bitterness towards Harry, who simultaneously reminded him of both Lily and James. Harry served as living proof of the fact that Lily had given her love to someone else, and Snape wasted no time in comparing him continually with his father.

During Harry’s time at Hogwarts, Snape treated Harry viciously, both in class and out. He frequently derided the boy’s abilities, bullied him in class, and punished him whenever possible. He was also resentful and even somewhat envious of Harry’s popularity, which he also equated with Harry’s father. Although Snape threatened to have Harry expelled more than once, he never attempted to follow through — presumably because it would have led to Harry losing the protection surrounding him. However, never did he forget that Harry was also Lily’s child, and much beyond bureaucratic rules, this led him to put the boy’s safety in the most critical situation. When he learned that Dumbledore had intended for Harry to die all along, Severus remained horrified, seeing it as a calculated betrayal to Lily’s memory.

When Harry helped Sirius Black escape, their relationship went under further strain, since Snape believed at that time that Sirius betrayed Lily to Voldemort whereas Harry had learned of his innocence, although Snape continued to put Harry’s safety first. During the brief period in which Snape gave private Occlumency lessons, Snape relished in forcing Harry to relive his worst memories. During the early years, Harry associated Snape with his abusive and bullying ways but when Sirius died, Harry took a savage pleasure in blaming Snape for having taunted Sirius about being useless, causing him to leave his hiding place and join the battle.

Though Snape came to the aid of the Order as swiftly as possible, Harry blamed Snape mainly to ease his own guilty conscience about the entire incident. However, this was nothing in comparison to the retroactive rage Harry felt upon finding out that Snape was the one who relayed the Prophecy to Lord Voldemort, causing him to hunt down Harry and his family. When he later killed Dumbledore, the hatred between them was sealed almost as personally as between Harry and Voldemort.

As he lay dying, Snape told Harry to look at him and died looking into Lily’s eyes. Following this, Harry was given access to all of Snape’s concealed memories, which brought the former teacher’s true intentions and more human side to light. When Harry discovered the love Snape had for his mother and the constant danger he put himself in to ensure his safety, he forgave him despite Snape’s often cruel treatment of him.^[103]

By adulthood, all of Harry’s hatred of Snape seemed to have vanished and it looked as though he had never harboured it at all. This could be seen through his request that a portrait of Snape be hung in the Headmaster’s office at Hogwarts, which was not done immediately after Snape’s death since he had abandoned his post. Furthermore, Harry gave his youngest son the name «Albus Severus», and told him that his Slytherin namesake was «the bravest man I ever knew.»

Another aspect of Snape’s highly visible, almost cartoonish mistreatment of Harry is that he knew all his actions might one day be reported to Voldemort by Death Eater spies. He did nothing that would create the image of real sympathy or loyalty to Potter or any of Voldemort’s former adversaries, only curt professionalism towards his colleagues, obedience but not true loyalty to Dumbledore, and utter hatred for Harry. His need to behave this way was redoubled when it became clear Voldemort could use legilimency to read Harry’s mind, and in doing so view any action by Snape in view of Harry.

Ironically, the two shared many similarities that neither of them was aware of. Both were black-haired, half-blood wizards who grew up among Muggles. Both of their Muggle caretakers were cruel to them (Snape’s father was implied to be abusive to Snape and his mother, while the Dursleys were neglectful towards Harry). Both Snape and Harry’s childhoods involved Petunia Evans (Snape was friends with Petunia’s sister Lily, while Harry was Petunia’s nephew and was raised (albeit reluctantly and abusively) by her). Both grew up wearing secondhand clothes (however, Snape was likely forced to wear them due to his family’s poverty, while Harry’s relatives simply refused to afford any major expenses on him). In addition, the two grew up virtually friendless until attending Hogwarts (Snape due to his unstable family life and secondhand clothes, Harry due to his relatives isolating him).

Upon entering Hogwarts, Snape and Harry were bullied, in Snape’s case, by the Marauders (who were led by James Potter), and Harry by (ironically) Snape himself, and by Draco Malfoy, among others. Furthermore, both had at least one near-death experience during their Hogwarts: Snape was nearly killed in an abortive prank by the Marauders, while Harry repeatedly had Voldemort attempting to kill him. However, both Snape and Harry had at least one silver gleaming: their genuinely intense and close romantic attraction to a redheaded teenager (Lily Evans and Ginny Weasley, respectively). Of course, while Snape did not marry Lily (who had married James and mothered Harry), Harry himself did marry Ginny (with whom he had a son named Albus Severus).

In the second alternate timeline created by Scorpius Malfoy and Albus Potter, Scorpius revealed to Snape the predicament he had caused among other things. It is founded that Snape was extremely saddened and disappointed in his failure to protect Harry from Voldemort in the final battle, and was also engaged in assisting Scorpius in fixing the timeline so Harry was alive and Voldemort defeated. One of the details he revealed after convincing Snape of his tale was that in his timeline, Harry had named his second son after him. This deeply touched Severus, who later told Scorpius to convey to Albus in the original timeline that he is proud that the boy carries his name and legacy, feeling a part of time he will never experience for the greater good of the world. He died without hesitation for the better world that Scorpius sought to restore, knowing his purpose could finally be served. Snape once again died for the legacy of his love, showing the kind of man he was at heart.

After the original timeline was restored, Harry visited Cedric Diggory’s grave with Albus, describing his son’s two namesakes — Dumbledore and Snape — as very much alike, despite their sorting into different houses: «great men, with huge flaws, and you know what — those flaws almost made them greater.»

Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger

Snape criticised Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger whenever possible, most likely because of the fact that they were friends of Harry as well as being Gryffindors. Although Snape seldom found anything wrong with Hermione’s work and marked her grades accordingly, he never awarded her house points and sometimes accused her of being an «insufferable know-it-all«. Despite this, Snape saved their lives in 1993 when Professor Lupin had transformed into a werewolf at the full moon, and even after they had stopped being his students, continued to assist the three of them in their quest to destroy the seven Horcruxes (without them being any the wiser, of course).

It is unknown how Ron and Hermione reacted to the revelation of Snape’s loyalty though as Harry recounted Snape’s memories they were described as shocked. There’s also no mention of them protesting Harry and Ginny naming their (Ron & Hermione) nephew after Snape, which might indicate they came to forgive and admire him.

Albus Dumbledore

Snape’s relationship with Dumbledore was one of close, but not indefinite trust. Dumbledore was Snape’s headmaster whilst at Hogwarts and was presumably impressed with Snape’s academia and abilities. Snape likely felt no real loyalty to Dumbledore as a student and may have resented the latter’s failure for stopping the torturous bullying Snape received at the hands of the Marauders. Despite this, he agreed to keep Remus Lupin’s lycanthropy a secret when the headmaster ordered him (though likely out of self-serving reasons). Before allying himself with Snape, Dumbledore viewed him with, in his own words, disgust, for the latter’s selfishness.

After having accidentally put Lily’s life in jeopardy by delivering a prophecy to Lord Voldemort (without knowing at the time that it was referring to her son), Snape turned to Dumbledore to keep her safe. Dumbledore chose to capitalise on Snape’s remorse and initiated him into the Order of the Phoenix as a double agent. He also gave Snape the job of Potions Master and Head of Slytherin at Hogwarts at the tender age of 21.

As a spy for the Order, Snape silently kept his place within the ranks of the Death Eaters, while informing Dumbledore about their movements. He also adopted the role of secret agent for Voldemort and supplied him with strategic scraps of information about the Order. The content of these reports was often dictated by Dumbledore. It is implied that Snape withheld little, if any, information from Dumbledore that was relevant to the Order’s success, while Snape deliberately did the opposite for Voldemort.

Snape resented Dumbledore’s secrecy and was offended by this perceived lack of faith in his abilities. However, when Snape discovered that Dumbledore had intended for Harry to die all along, he was horrified, seeing it as a calculated betrayal of Lily’s memory. Dumbledore clearly underestimated the depth of Snape’s feelings, and, years later, was very surprised to learn that he still maintained his devotion.

In 1996, Dumbledore became aware of Voldemort’s plan to kill him. Knowing Voldemort expected Draco Malfoy to fail, and assuming Snape to be Draco’s successor, Dumbledore assigned Snape the task of killing him when the situation arose. Snape was genuinely reluctant to do this and even stated when Dumbledore stated that it was necessary to protect Draco’s soul that his soul may very well be damaged from such an act. Even with the revelation of Dumbledore’s true plans for Harry, Snape hesitated for a time before carrying out his mission, his face being described as holding disgust and hatred for himself for what he was about to do, showing Snape had grown to genuinely care for the Headmaster. Dumbledore also entrusted Snape with protecting the students once Hogwarts fell into Voldemort’s control.

In spite of their mutual trust in each other, Dumbledore never allowed Snape his coveted position as Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. It was claimed that he did it so that Snape wouldn’t experience a resurgence of «old habits». The truth may in fact be that Dumbledore believed the post to be jinxed by Lord Voldemort after he failed to attain the post, and this jinx had prevented any teacher from lasting beyond a year. To place Snape in such a position might have risked his safety, and Dumbledore would not have permitted such a risk, in case he required Snape’s aid against Voldemort again. When Dumbledore was infected by the curse on Marvolo Gaunt’s ring, he asked Snape to kill him. Knowing that such an act would vilify Snape beyond any doubt in the mind of the Wizarding public, Dumbledore allowed Snape the position because he would have to leave immediately anyway.

Petunia Evans

Snape first met Petunia Evans during their childhood. She was the sister of Lily Evans, but Petunia was a Muggle, unlike her sister. Snape and Petunia strongly disliked each other, from the first moment they met. Petunia, who was contemptuous of anything out of the ordinary, viewed him with disdain because of his poor economic status and because he was such an oddball. Snape, on the other hand, regarded her balefully because she was a Muggle, and because she made disparaging comments about his clothes. It is unknown how Petunia reacted to (or if she even ever knew about) Snape calling Lily a Mudblood, but it can be assumed that this incident caused Petunia to hate him even more.

Ironically, Petunia and Snape’s negative encounters with each other as children and adolescents helped lay the foundations for their respective adult personalities. It is possible that Petunia’s interactions with Snape exacerbated her already growing disdain for the Wizarding world and eventual estrangement with Lily. Likewise, Snape’s antipathy towards Petunia helped fuel his dislike towards Muggles in general, causing him to experiment with Pure-blood supremacy and the Dark Arts, culminating in his recruitment in the Death Eaters. Even more tragically, Snape’s actions as a Death Eater caused the death of Petunia’s sister Lily to be murdered by Voldemort, which in turn caused Petunia to grudgingly adopt (and abuse and neglect) her nephew Harry Potter.

Years after Snape’s death, one of Petunia’s great-nephews would be named after Snape. It is unknown if she had known about this, given how she likely severed contact with Harry after he left her house.

Lord Voldemort

In his days as a Death Eater, Snape was one of Lord Voldemort’s most trusted and devoted servants. In 1980, Snape overheard part of a prophecy foretelling Voldemort’s downfall. After being caught, Snape hurried to tell Voldemort what he had heard, unaware that his information was incomplete. However, he turned against the Dark Lord the moment he decided to target Lily Potter.

When Voldemort returned to physical form in 1995, Snape ostensibly returned to him as a spy for the Order. Using Occlumency, Snape was able to close his mind, hide his true allegiance and maintain his cover as a faithful Death Eater. Snape was one of the only Death Eaters to have the Dark Lord’s complete trust and, after he murdered Albus Dumbledore, he became Voldemort’s most trusted adviser. He was held in such high regard that Voldemort accepted making him Headmaster of Hogwarts after seizing power.

However, Voldemort coldly had his snake, Nagini, kill Snape in 1998, believing it would make him the true master of the Elder Wand. Although he claimed he regretted its necessity, he felt no remorse over murdering one of his most faithful advisors. After Snape’s death, Harry Potter revealed to Voldemort that Snape had managed to deceive him for years because he acted entirely out of love for Lily Evans — something Voldemort neither understood or cared about. Indeed, at the time Snape asked Voldemort to spare Lily’s life, he erroneously believed that Snape’s interest in her was merely physical, and callously stated that there were other women «of purer blood, worthier of him» after her death. Voldemort also reacted with indifference to Snape’s true loyalties, as Voldemort mistakenly believed that Snape’s death made Voldemort the master of the Elder Wand. This error soon cost Voldemort his own life while ensuring that Snape’s sacrifice was not in vain.

It is possible that part of the reason Voldemort put so much trust in Snape was because he identified with his background. Both were the only children of Muggle fathers and pure-blood mothers (Voldemort: Tom Riddle Snr and Merope Gaunt; Snape: Tobias Snape and Eileen Prince). Both Muggle men had nothing but hatred for their sons and wives and neglected their sons and as a consequence both Riddle and Snape yearned to shed their unhappy beginnings. Voldemort’s father had abandoned his wife when she was pregnant with their son, while Snape’s father was abusive towards his wife and their young son. Both Riddle and Snape claimed greater identification with their maternal lineage than their paternal ancestry —the Gaunt family and Prince family, respectively. Both men grew up in poverty — Voldemort grew up in an orphanage, while Snape lived in Spinner’s End.

In addition, both Riddle and Snape were Sorted into Slytherin, and were known for their intelligence. Both men had a passion for the Dark Arts and blood purity as childhood, and bestowed grandiose titles onto themselves (Riddle was known as Lord Voldemort, while Snape adopted the name the Half-Blood Prince). Both saw Hogwarts as sort of a real home as opposed to their default home. In addition, both men kept a book related to the Dark Arts in their sixteenth years — Voldemort had the diary that he converted into a Horcrux, while Snape had a Potions textbook that he used to write original magic. Lastly both were part of a gang of future Death Eaters who bullied their fellow students. Voldemort may have seen him as a trusted Death Eater who shared the same hatred for his father as he had for his own. The only major thing that differs between Voldemort and Snape’s relationships with their fathers is murder; Voldemort had murdered his own father while Snape did not murder his. Voldemort must have also recognised Snape as a powerful and intelligent wizard, traits which would manifest as usefulness to his ideology.

However, there were other differences between Snape and Voldemort. Snape had a secret love for Lily Evans for most of his life, which motivated him to defect from the Death Eaters and protect her son after her death at Voldemort’s hands. Voldemort, on the other hand, disregarded love as a weakness that was beyond his comprehension, and had allegiance to only himself. This had coincidentally led to his own undoing. In addition, unlike Voldemort, Snape had known about the existence of the wizarding world before he was eleven years old (likely due to the fact that Snape’s mother was actually present in his childhood).

Snape possessed the ability of independent flight, which was presumably taught to him by Lord Voldemort as he displayed the same ability during the Battle of the Seven Potters. This shows that Lord Voldemort had a great deal of trust in Snape as he taught him a very unique ability, something he might not have done with any other Death Eater.

Weasley family

The Weasleys had a neutral if not unkind relationship with Snape. The Weasleys were blood-traitors, supporters of Muggles and Muggle-borns and opposed to the Dark Arts, all things Snape held opposite views towards as a Death Eater. Snape had relinquished most prejudices after switching sides though. It is unknown if Snape was still loyal to the Death Eaters when Fabian and Gideon Prewett were killed or if he had defected before their deaths. Both events occurred in 1981.

The Weasleys, like Snape in his youth, were profusely financially strained. Molly and Arthur had left Hogwarts before Snape started but knew him through their membership in the Order. They seemed to, like most, trust him because Dumbledore did. Little is known about their relationship, although Molly, at least, did not let Snape’s maltreatment of her children staunch her respect for him as a teacher. Given Molly was a good potioneer, this could have helped her find some common ground with him.

Snape taught seven Weasleys at Hogwarts. Bill and Percy, despite being Gryffindors, earned many O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s, showing Snape did not forsake his professionalism for his bias. Despite this, Ginny mentioned once that Bill and Snape did not get along when Bill was a student. There was, in fact, only a decade separating Snape and Bill. Fred and George irked Snape profusely with their pranks and disinterest in school work. Interestingly, they were their generation’s Marauders, map and all, and as such Snape may have viewed them as a reincarnation of his childhood bullies. It is mentioned the twins got many detentions and house point losses which were likely Snape’s doing.

Ginny was the final Weasley to attend Hogwarts before Snape’s death and she bore a remarkable resemblance to Lily. She was also the only remaining Weasley at Hogwarts during Snape’s time as headmaster and co-lead the reformed Dumbledore’s Army, unknowingly allying herself with Snape. Notably Snape seemed as worried as the other teachers when Ginny was taken into the Chamber of Secrets.

Ron knew of Snape’s treatment of students before attending his classes, likely hearing it from an older sibling indicating a long string of antagonism between Snape and the Weasley children. Snape’s murder of Dumbledore in close conjunction of Bill being maimed by Greyback and accidently maiming George gave birth to the family’s hatred of him. However, when the war was over, the Weasley’s learned of Snape’s true loyalties and likely grew to respect & admire him. A new member of the family was eventually named for him.

Malfoy family

Snape appeared to be on good terms with the Malfoy family. Lucius Malfoy was a Slytherin prefect when Snape began attending Hogwarts, and the two ran in the same social circles, which included other future Death Eaters. Snape and Lucius likely worked together as Death Eaters during the First Wizarding War. It’s unknown if Lucius was suspicious of Snape’s true allegiance, though he most likely believed Snape to be truly loyal to Voldemort. Lucius continued to think and speak well of Snape later in life. Perhaps because of this, Snape also favoured Lucius’s son Draco. Draco seemed to look up to Snape, once sycophantically saying that he would make a far better Headmaster than Albus Dumbledore.

However, after his father’s imprisonment in Azkaban following the Battle of the Department of Mysteries, Draco came to resent and mistrust Snape, suspecting that he was trying to usurp his father’s place in the Death Eater ranks. He refused Snape’s repeated offers of help with the task Lord Voldemort assigned him in his sixth year. Narcissa Malfoy, on the other hand, begged Snape to assist Draco in his task to assassinate Dumbledore, fearing that her son was being set up to fail. She ignored the warnings of her sister, Bellatrix Lestrange, who did not trust Snape, and had him make an Unbreakable Vow to help Draco and take over the task should he fail. This speaks highly as to the trust and respect the Malfoys had for Snape.

It’s unknown how the Malfoys reacted upon learning of Snape’s death and true loyalties. They were possibly saddened due to their longtime friendship. It’s possible that they were also sympathetic due to their own disillusionment from Voldemort.

Bellatrix Lestrange

Unlike her Malfoy relatives, Bellatrix Lestrange invested none of her faith in Snape. It’s possible that the two got along better during the First Wizarding War as Sirius once described the two as old acquaintances; however, later in life, she showed nothing but distrust toward him. She saw right through his triple agent charade, even though Lord Voldemort could not. Part of the reason for this may have been Snape’s half-blood status and his avoidance of imprisonment in Azkaban, while she was incarcerated there for years. Given Bellatrix’s obsessive, slavish love for Voldemort, she may have envied the trust the Dark Lord put in Snape, whom she considered her inferior in both blood and service.

She was suspicious when Snape did not immediately return to Voldemort after his rebirth nor come to the Dark Lord’s aide before that, and why he never took an opportunity to kill Harry Potter when, as one of the boy’s professors, he had easy access to him. When Snape easily backhanded all of her accusations, bringing up that Lord Voldemort himself interrogated him of those lines, Bellatrix was lost for words; Snape was cunning enough to use the power of mere words to render Bella such, for he knew that to further her doubt of Severus would, by extension, mean that she would also be doubting the Dark Lord.

And she was too fanatical to let such disparity in opinion between herself and her master go too far. With her logical reasons for distrusting Snape were gone, her irrational jealousy was all she had left to give her a reason to hate him. For that reason it perhaps grew stronger. Bellatrix was uneasy speaking openly about things around Snape, and tried to discourage her younger sister from asking him for help with Draco’s task. Although Bellatrix did not fear or respect Snape like most others did, she seemed to only avoid his bad side so as to avoid Voldemort’s bad side by extension.

Snape, on the other hand, seemed to regard Bellatrix coldly. He had very little patience for her dramatics and tendency towards hysteria. He even took the opportunity to mock her for her struggle against the six teenagers from Dumbledore’s Army during the Battle of the Department of Mysteries, and that she was losing her status in Voldemort’s eyes. Snape and Bellatrix were Voldemort’s most powerful and trusted servants (or so Voldemort thought as far as Snape was concerned) and as such they never picked a real fight with one another. They were also the Death Eaters that the Order of the Phoenix and its associates hated the most and the ones the other Death Eaters feared and respected the most. Bellatrix never managed to convince anyone of Snape’s true loyalty and died moments before it was revealed to everyone that she had been right all along.

Igor Karkaroff

Snape and Karkaroff had a little bit of history with each other from the First Wizarding War. Karkaroff was captured by Alastor Moody and during his trial, in a desperate attempt to avoid going to prison he gave to the Ministry many names of Death Eaters, including Snape. However, at the time he was not aware that Snape was a double agent. He desperately tried to convince the court that Snape remained guilty despite the judge telling him Snape was cleared.

During the Triwizard Tournament, when Karkaroff’s and Snape’s Dark Marks were burning stronger, Karkaroff told his worries to Snape, who expressed little concern to him. As the year progressed, Karkaroff continued to pursue Snape over the issue, to which Snape became increasingly annoyed, and even started to evade him. Snape described Karkaroff as cowardly and had no intention of joining him in hiding once Voldemort returned. Karkaroff’s death did not seem to surprise Snape.

Death Eaters

Severus became a member of the Death Eaters after Hogwarts. During his time at school, he was a member of a «gang of Slytherins that would later become Death Eaters». This gang included Bellatrix Black, Rodolphus Lestrange, Avery, Mulciber, Evan Rosier and Wilkes. Lily Evans could not understand how he could be friends with them, as they had an «evil sense of humour».

It’s unknown how close he really was with the members of this gang, however he did seem somewhat defensive when Lily spoke ill of Mulciber and Avery implying a possible level of intimacy with them at least. Rosier and Wilkes were killed by Aurors after the First Wizarding War; Rodolphus, Bellatrix, and Mulciber were captured (but later escaped), while Avery managed to defect. Besides Bellatrix, it’s unknown what kind of relationship he had with his old school friends as an adult.

Other Death Eaters Snape knew were Amycus and Alecto Carrow, two siblings. Judging by Amycus’s reaction upon seeing Snape at the Astronomy Tower it seems that he (and possibly Alecto) truly believed that Snape was on their side. Amycus and Alecto were Deputy Headmasters at Hogwarts, at the time Snape was Headmaster. They were both sadistic, and they liked to torture the students who opposed them. They also ordered the students to practise the Cruciatus Curse on punished students. Death Eater Corban Yaxley appeared to be friendly with Snape too however he seemed resentful when Voldemort valued Snape’s information and accomplishments over his own. Along with Fenrir Greyback, they seemed to fear Snape’s abilities, as they instantly stood down when he approached to kill Dumbledore, despite Draco being tasked with the job.

Furthermore, Snape knew the extremely loyal Death Eater Barty Crouch Jnr. during the First Wizarding War. For many years, it was believed that Barty Crouch was dead. However, he escaped from Azkaban and planned to send Harry Potter to Voldemort, who would be reborn. Snape, along with Dumbledore and McGonagall, saved Harry from Crouch while he was trying to kill Harry. Snape was surprised that Crouch was still alive. Later, the Death Eater was given the Dementor’s Kiss though no reaction from Snape is noted.

Other known Death Eaters were Antonin Dolohov, Augustus Rookwood, Nott, Crabbe, Goyle, Walden Macnair, Jugson, Thorfinn Rowle, Gibbon, Rosier, Avery, Mulciber, Lestrange, Travers, Selwyn, and Rabastan Lestrange. Rodolphus and Rabastan were the only ones who tried to search for Lord Voldemort after the first defeat, along with Bellatrix and Barty Crouch Jnr During the Second Wizarding War. All those Death Eaters were either killed or imprisoned after Voldemort’s final defeat. Although not shown interacting much with Snape, they all presumably held him in the same respect and fear that Yaxley & Greyback did and, considering Snape’s rank, had to answer to him. According to Snape some of them believed that he was not truly loyal to their cause, however none of them (save Bellatrix) openly confronted him about it.

It is unknown how the surviving Death Eaters reacted — either as a group or as individuals — to reveal of Snape’s demise (if they found out) or the revelations of his true loyalties.

Neville Longbottom

Neville Longbottom was perhaps one of the worst Potions students Snape ever taught. As such, Snape was especially cruel to him and often made a point of ridiculing his failures in class.^[9][82] On one occasion, Snape threatened to test Neville’s Shrinking Solution on his pet toad, despite the fact that the potion would be poisonous if not brewed correctly. Even outside of his own classroom, Snape did not hesitate from offering harsh opinions of Neville.^[104]

This treatment made Neville extremely nervous to be around Snape, and further contributed to his poor performance in Potions. Neville admitted in 1993 that Snape was his greatest fear, and, predictably, Snape was the form Neville’s Boggart took at that time.^[104]

Snape soon heard about Neville’s boggart and treated him, if possible, even worse than he usually did.^[104] However, in 1996, Snape alerted members of the Order of the Phoenix, in order to save Neville, Harry and their friends from Death Eaters, and although Snape helped save Neville’s life, he continued to treat him poorly in school. Neville was surprised that Snape killed Dumbledore but did learn the truth later.

Snape chose to do a subtle favour for Neville when he was caught along with Ginny Weasley and Luna Lovegood attempting to steal the Sword of Gryffindor. Snape chose to send Neville, Luna and Ginny to detention with their friend Hagrid rather than subject them to the sadistic forms of discipline practised by the Carrows. When Neville killed Nagini, he inadvertently avenged Snape’s murder.

It is unknown why Snape resented Neville so much, though it is possible that from Sybill Trelawney’s first prophecy that it was either Neville or Harry who was to threaten Voldemort, that as a result with Voldemort going for the Potters, that Neville represented his guilt from revealing the prophecy to Voldemort and the potential alternative for what could’ve happened. As a result, from Snape’s point of view, Neville embodied all of this and that made him detest and bully him.

Minerva McGonagall

Minerva McGonagall was generally on good professional terms with Snape. However, seeing as Snape was the Head of Slytherin House, while McGonagall was the Head of Gryffindor House, there was some antagonism between them, as Snape usually teased McGonagall when Slytherin had more points than Gryffindor. McGonagall was also wary of the fact that Snape was once a Death Eater. However, she trusted him because she knew that Dumbledore trusted him, too. She also did not hesitate to call him out when she believed he was being too cruel. McGonagall, like Snape, was very strict, but much more fair, as noted by Harry Potter. McGonagall was Snape’s Transfiguration professor when he was a student and likely admired his brilliance.

Her trust of Snape evaporated after Dumbledore’s murder. Furthermore, when Snape became Headmaster of Hogwarts, McGonagall tried to oppose him and the Carrows, without knowing that Snape was trying to protect the students from the Carrows, too. When the war was coming to a head, she personally attacked Snape and violently called him a coward, a trait she, as Head Of Gryffindor, loathed. It is unknown how she reacted when she learned about his true loyalties, but it is likely that she forgave him. She permitted his portrait to be hung in the Headmaster’s office, at Harry’s request.

Hogwarts staff

Snape was respected professionally among his colleagues at Hogwarts. Though many of them exhibited some wariness towards him due to his status as a former Death Eater, they opted to trust him because Dumbledore did. When Snape killed Dumbledore, however, the entire staff was shocked. In 1998, Flitwick and Sprout, like many other teachers, tried to oppose Snape and the Carrows, and they were among the ones who chased Snape out of Hogwarts before the battle. Flitwick and Sprout were Snape’s Charms and Herbology teachers respectively in the latter’s youth.

Rubeus Hagrid was no friend of Snape’s but trusted him, mainly because Dumbledore trusted him and would always defend him whenever Harry or Ron would express their distrust for him. Both Hagrid and Snape became members of the first and second Order of the Phoenix and they both fought against Voldemort. When Snape killed Dumbledore, Hagrid initially disbelieved the fact and told Harry he must be mistaken but was later furious to learn that Snape had indeed killed the late Headmaster.

Hagrid openly opposed Snape when he became the Headmaster of Hogwarts by holding a Support Harry Potter party (unaware Snape was secretly still on their side), an act which almost resulted in his arrest and forced him to go into hiding until the final battle. Before Hagrid fled, Snape put students in detention with Hagrid, ensuring that they were protected from the harsher and torturous punishments from the Carrows. However, Hagrid eventually learned of Snape’s true loyalties during the final confrontation of the Battle of Hogwarts.

Snape disliked most of the Defence Against the Dark Arts instructors, such as Quirinus Quirrell, Gilderoy Lockhart, Remus Lupin, and Dolores Umbridge. Though this was at least partially out of his own desire to teach the subject, he had legitimate reasons to dislike them, as Quirrell was an agent of Lord Voldemort, Lockhart was a narcissistic fraud, Lupin had acted as a bystander to, if not directly participating in, much of the bullying Snape faced in his school days, and Umbridge was a corrupt woman who wanted the entire school under her thumb.

The only Defence Against the Dark Arts professor Snape refrained from displaying disrespect to was Bartemius Crouch Jnr impersonating Alastor Moody, the toughest Dark wizard hunter the Ministry ever had. Harry surmised this was out of fear, but it was more likely due to allegiance. It should be noted that Moody had been the one to kill Evan Rosier, an old friend of Snape’s, and possibly others.

Horace Slughorn had been Snape’s Potions master and head of house. Snape was made a member of the Slug Club as he was a brilliant student and even then his potion abilities were almost as good if not equal to Slughorn’s. Snape might have been the student to whom Slughorn once awarded a vial of Liquid Luck. It is highly unlikely that Slughorn was aware of Snape’s self-altered textbook and was flabbergasted when Snape murdered Dumbledore. Snape seemed on good terms with Argus Filch, the caretaker, who respected Snape, and like him, disliked most students at Hogwarts. Snape often had Filch report directly to him if he found anything suspicious during his nighttime patrols. It’s possible that after Voldemort took over Filch was only able to remain at Hogwarts because of his loyalty towards Snape. It is unknown how Filch reacted when he learned that Snape killed Dumbledore, or when Snape himself died.

Hogwarts students

Snape was not popular among the majority of the students at Hogwarts. He was quite strict and had high standards. He refused to allow any students into his N.E.W.T.-level Potions classes unless they achieved an «O» grade on their O.W.L. exam for the subject (many other Hogwarts teachers would still accept the next-best grade, «E», for their advanced classes). Despite N.E.W.T.s not beginning until the sixth-year, it was Snape’s policy to grade his fifth-year students by the N.E.W.T. scale. At the beginning of the 1995-1996 school year, he warned his fifth-year students that he expected everyone to make some sort of passing grade on their O.W.L. exams, even if they were not intending to try for his N.E.W.T. class. Anyone who made a poor grade would deal with his «displeasure».

In addition to being strict, he was also not always fair. His having been bullied so much as a child may have fuelled his oppressiveness as a teacher. During Harry Potter’s years at the school, Snape particularly enjoyed taking points from Harry’s House, Gryffindor. He generally favoured the students in his own House, Slytherin, including Draco Malfoy. However, he was still irritated if they did not live up to his expectations and would punish them too. On at least one occasion, he gave Crabbe and Goyle detention because they had failed their O.W.L. exam for Defence Against the Dark Arts.

He also had no qualms punishing Merula Snyde for attempting to frame Jacob’s sibling despite her being a Slytherin and seems to dislike her for being perhaps the most atrocious liar and blamer among Slytherins. The students of his house generally regarded him with respect and pride, even cheering loudly when he effortlessly defeated Lockhart with one spell. However, becoming the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher made Snape fairer (if only slightly) as he lowered his standards to allow more students to enter advanced studies, and he taught the lectures with more passion that intrigued his students’ interests.

Although he disliked most students, a feeling that is quite mutual, he was not truly evil and did feel quite a lot of concern for their safety and well-being. After Rowan Khanna’s tragic murder at the hands of Patricia Rakepick rendered the student body devastated and mournful during the 1989–1990 school year, Snape proceeded to teach his sixth years how to concoct the Dreamless Sleep Potion in Potions class, due in part to many of his students suffering from sleep-deprived nights following Khanna’s death. He was also noted to be particularly patient by Jacob’s sibling during that specific Potions class, sympathising with the grief his class felt and patiently urging them to focus on his lesson.^[105]

In 1993, when Professor McGonagall informed the staff that a student had been captured by the monster from the Chamber of Secrets, Snape displayed a hint of genuine concern by gripping the back of a chair very hard.^[84] He also did everything he could to protect the students from Voldemort’s control of Hogwarts, while Alecto and Amycus Carrow were appointed at the school, further showing he did care for his students even if he rarely showed it.^[7]

Order of the Phoenix members

Snape’s relationships with some members of the Order of the Phoenix have already been established: Lily Evans, the Marauders, Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, and Minerva McGonagall.

Snape was not particularly gracious towards Nymphadora Tonks, probably because she was so close to Remus Lupin. When they met at school in 1996, he maliciously said «I was interested to see your new Patronus. I think you were better off with the old one… the new one looks weak.» Snape did, however, respect Tonks’ abilities as he was her Potions master whilst she was a Hogwarts student and she earned an O in her O.W.L. This is evident as he never let one with a lesser grade take the N.E.W.T which was a requirement to be an auror. Tonks was shocked when Snape killed Dumbledore and never learned that Snape was on their side, as she was killed by Bellatrix Lestrange during the Battle of Hogwarts.

Snape had a mixed relationship with the Weasley family. While he disliked their children, he seemed to be on civil terms with Arthur and Molly. However, when he murdered Dumbledore, the Weasley family obviously turned against him. Snape also accidentally cursed off George’s ear, during the Battle of the Seven Potters, while he was trying to hit another Death Eater. The Weasley family learned that Snape was on their side in 1998, except Fred, who was killed in the Battle of Hogwarts.

He also did not much care for a fellow member of the Order Mundungus Fletcher, who was also a thief. In 1996 he was arrested for impersonating an Inferius. When Seamus Finnigan asked Snape about it, he answered that the «Inferius» was, in fact, a smelly sneak thief named Mundungus Fletcher. It is most likely that Mundungus learned that Snape was on their side after the Second Wizarding War.

It is likely that the members of the Order who survived the Battle of Hogwarts were told by Harry of Snape’s true loyalties.

Jacob’s sibling

Much like for Harry Potter, Snape seemed to harbour a particular dislike for Jacob’s sibling. He first met the student when they were having a quarrel with the imperious Slytherin Merula Snyde outside his dungeon, and callously dismissed their reason for arguing with her in defence of their best friend Rowan Khanna. Due to the sordid reputation of their brother casting much apprehension over both the staff and student body, Snape was initially mistrustful of them and made no attempt to hide his contempt for Jacob’s sibling during their first-ever Potions class. When their potion was egregiously sabotaged by Merula, Snape’s disdain for them was exacerbated, with him unfairly deducting ten House points from them as punishment for their supposed incompetence.^[36]

He continued to mistreat them even further after their unsanctioned duel with Merula, being largely dismissive of who instigated the fight but unreasonably assuming that Jacob’s sibling was the one who started it. His dislike for them was great enough that he unsuccessful appealed to Dumbledore for their immediate expulsion from Hogwarts, and, disregarding the fact that his aforementioned Slytherin student also had her own part to play in the duel, cruelly subtracted an additional twenty House points from Jacob’s sibling soon after.^[40]

He continued to dislike them in whatever situation they were. This hatred didn’t prevent him from saving their life against Rakepick, though.

The student in question, however, was always courteous and civil towards Snape, going so far as to openly acknowledge the latter as being an exceptional teacher on the infrequent occasions that he wasn’t berating them, with Snape gradually finding himself to begrudgingly acknowledge said student’s flair for potion-making. Indeed, Jacob’s sibling only ever betrayed signs of impatience or anger whenever Snape became particularly derisive and scornful, with them thus forming a semi-antagonistic relationship with the Potions Master over the years.

Patricia Rakepick

Five years his senior at Hogwarts, Severus Snape met Patricia Rakepick for the first time while they were both still students, and took an immediate dislike to her: Bold as brass and with little regards for school rules, and a member of Gryffindor House to boot, Patricia Rakepick was someone whom Severus would one day compare to his arch-rival during his schooldays, James Potter, another trouble-making Gryffindor. Whilst it is uncertain what he thought of Rakepick’s initial claims about the existence of the fabled Cursed Vaults as a student, he did acknowledge that she was remarkably ambitious for a Gryffindor, and by no means stupid.

By the time he had replaced Horace Slughorn as the school’s Potions Master, Rakepick was already a notable curse-breaker and building her career on eliminating her competition. Wary of her true intentions, when Albus Dumbledore invited her back to help break the curses plaguing the school and its denizens, their old rivalry immediately reignited, and Snape immediately went about trying to uncover whatever ulterior motives she might have, suspecting that she wanted to use the vaults to take control of Hogwarts.

From that moment on, it is known that Snape and Rakepick were engaging in a subtle battle of wits, and even used students to spy on one another. Recognising that Rakepick regarded one of the pupils as a potential rival in her quest to find the vaults, and aware of how Rakepick dealt with rivals, Snape cleverly had said student serving as his spy to shift her attention over on him to protect the student as a supposed mastermind of the youngster’s actions, while also using the ploy as a tool to try and learn what Rakepick was up to and expose her to Dumbledore, the one person whom they knew for a certainty would be able to put a stop to her plot, whatever it might be.

When Snape learned of how Rakepick had tortured Merula Snyde with the Cruciatus Curse in the Buried Vault, he swore vegenace against her for her appalling crime, promising he would find her.^[59]

Media

Etymology

Severus means «stern» in Latin, and is the root of the English word «severe».^[106] It was a Roman cognomen, common to members of the Severan dynasty of Emperors, including one notorious for his harsh persecution of the early Christians.

Septimius Severus, also known as Severus, was Roman Emperor from 193 to 211. As a young man, he advanced through the customary succession of offices under the reigns of Marcus Aurelius and Commodus. Severus seized power after the death of Emperor Pertinax in 193 during the Year of the Five Emperors. After deposing and killing the incumbent emperor Didius Julianus, Severus fought his rival claimants, the generals Pescennius Niger (possibly Phineas Nigellus Black) and Clodius Albinus (Albus Dumbledore). Niger was defeated in 194 at the Battle of Issus in Cilicia. Later that year Severus waged a short punitive campaign beyond the eastern frontier, annexing the Kingdom of Osroene as a new province. Severus defeated Albinus three years later at the Battle of Lugdunum in Gaul.

J. K. Rowling has said that she took the surname Snape from an English village^[107] in Suffolk. There is also a village called «Snape» in Yorkshire, which was rebuilt by the aforementioned emperor, Septimus Severus. Snape is also an English verb meaning «to be hard upon, rebuke, snub», derived from the Old Norse «sneypa», «to outrage, dishonour, disgrace».^[108]

Interestingly J.K. Rowling used to live in Clapham Junction at the time of her starting to write the first book. Opposite Clapham Junction station is a road named Severus Road, though it is unknown if this is simply a coincidence.

Behind the scenes

• Snape is the only known Death Eater who could conjure a Patronus.
• Snape attended Hogwarts exactly twenty years before Harry Potter.
• Snape came very close to receiving Order of Merlin, First Class for subduing Sirius Black.^[109]
• It was because of Snape that Harry Potter became aware and practical of the Disarming Charm (Expelliarmus). Snape used it in the introduction of the Duelling Club while duelling with Gilderoy Lockhart. He said that students should learn to disarm their opponents.
• Severus and Lily were also close in age. They were born in the same month and year. He was only 21 days older than her.
• Rowling said that if Snape didn’t love Lily he wouldn’t have protected or even have been remotely interested in what happened to Harry.^[110]
• Severus Snape is portrayed by the late British actor Alan Rickman in all of the film adaptations, making him one of the 14 characters to appear in all eight film adaptations.
  • Rickman was Rowling’s first choice for the role. Actor Tim Roth was initially offered the role but turned it down to work in Tim Burton’s 2001 film Planet of the Apes. Rickman was cast later on.^[111]
  • In the film adaptations, Severus appears to be rather older than he is in the original books, being in his early thirties at the time of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Alan Rickman was fifty-four when he was first cast for the role.
    • Due to the age difference between Rickman and Snape, as he is portrayed in the book, make-up was used on Rickman to make him look younger.
  • It appears that he also played his part very well. Rupert Grint admitted to being afraid of him in an interview.
  • Alec Hopkins plays a young Snape in Order of the Phoenix^[112] and Benedict Clarke plays an even younger Snape in Deathly Hallows: Part 2.^[113]
  • Rickman died of cancer on 14 January, 2016 — only five days after what would have been Snape’s 56th birthday.
  • Rickman’s voice clip of the famous sentence «There will be no foolish wand waving in this class» is later used in Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery.
• Rickman had conversations with Rowling about his character and is one of the few Harry Potter actors that she spoke to prior to the completion of the book series about the future direction of the character. «He knew very early on that he’d been in love with Lily,» said Rowling. «He needed to understand […] where this bitterness towards this boy who’s the living example of her preference for another man came from.» Rickman used this knowledge of Snape’s ultimate loyalties throughout the films by deciding how to play certain scenes, deliver specific lines, or using body language to convey specific emotions. When the directors of the films would ask him why he was doing a scene a certain way or delivering a line in a specific manner, Rickman would simply reply that he knew something they did not.
• Much like Gilderoy Lockhart, Snape’s character is altered to appear more likeable in the films than in the books. He does not openly insult or harass his students, with the exception of shoving or whacking Harry and Ron on the head to make them focus on their studies, and once when Ron sniggered when Umbridge was embarrassing him. He is notably less cruel to Harry than in the books, such as wishing him good luck on his first Quidditch match and even flashing him a slight smile, along with a sarcastic compliment on Harry’s defeat of the mountain troll earlier that year.^[114] He initially defended him, Ron, and Hermione in the second film from Filch’s accusations when Mrs Norris was petrified, though he did note that there was a set of suspicious circumstances. Additionally, in the final film, when he talks with Dumbledore after revealing the Prophecy to Voldemort, he asks him to protect the entire Potter family, rather than only Lily, without Dumbledore having to prompt him to do so. Snape is also slightly more laid back and less antisocial in the films. An example is when, in the third film, he gestured Harry out of the Shrieking Shack with his head rather than verbally instructing him to leave.
• Despite his status as a Death Eater as well as implications that he had some form of status among them before Voldemort’s attack on the Potters, Snape did not seem to be aware of Peter Pettigrew’s role in the Death Eaters nor was he aware that Peter was actually the one who betrayed Lily to Voldemort as he seemed sure that Sirius Black was the culprit.
• It’s likely however that he learned the truth following Voldemort’s rebirth as he showed much less hostility towards Sirius than before (while still a significant amount) and he was made aware that Peter was alive and on the side of the Death Eaters. This would likely explain his hostility towards Peter in The Half-Blood Prince.
• It is unclear why Snape is still alive in the alternate reality where Voldemort won the wizarding war, given that Voldemort should have still killed him as he believed that Snape was the master of the Elder Wand and still desired to become the wand’s master.
• During one of the sneak missions in the PS1 version of Philosopher’s Stone, Snape actually says «There is something very special in the Forbidden Corridor that I’ve had my eye on for some time. We can’t let anyone interfere with my plans. Can we, Mr Filch?» as to confuse the player about who is looking for the Stone, although the line ultimately does not make much sense. However, one can interpret it as a way of bullying Argus Filch into aiding him to protect the Stone from Quirrell.
• In the books, Snape is one of the youngest teachers to be recruited at Hogwarts school. Having taught at Hogwarts for fourteen years in Harry’s fifth year, Snape has been teaching Potions since he was twenty-one (it should be noted that when Tom Riddle applied for the Defence Against the Dark Arts post when he was eighteen, Armando Dippet, then the Headmaster, rejected him on the basis that he was too young, although he invited him to reapply in a few years’ time).
• The chapter illustrations by Mary GrandPré in the American editions depict Snape with a thin goatee.
• In the book, Nagini kills Snape by sinking her fangs into his neck after being released from her protective bubble. In the film adaptation, Lord Voldemort slashes Snape’s throat, then orders Nagini to finish him off. Surprisingly, less blood is shown than in the book. This was likely due to the film’s PG-13 rating.
• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, a scene with Snape was added when Lupin turned into a werewolf: instead of being unconscious as he was in the book, Snape regains his consciousness and goes to look for Harry with the intent of punishing him for his attack on him. When he hears Lupin roaring behind him and turns to find him transformed into a werewolf, Snape proves his great courage by shielding Harry, Ron and Hermione with his own body, taking a vicious slash from Lupin as a result.
• In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 2 (A Peck of Owls), J.K. Rowling includes a bit of misdirection. After Petunia has revealed her knowledge of Dementors, she explains that she «heard — that awful boy —telling her about them — years ago.» Both Harry and the reader assume that «that awful boy» is referring to James Potter. However, Snape’s memories later reveal that it was a conversation between him and Lily Evans that Petunia overheard, and Snape was, in fact, «that awful boy.» This is the first mention in the books of a relationship between Snape and Lily, but the reader has no way of knowing that until later.
• Amongst Severus Snape’s possessions that he kept at his home was a curious object called a Dark Curio, though the object was only ever named such in the original script for the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.^[115]
• Phineas Nigellus Black was cut from the film adaptations of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Hence, it is unclear how Snape located Harry and Hermione in the Forest of Dean. However, in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, as Neville is leading Harry, Ron, and Hermione in the secret passage Neville states that they «hardly see him,» so in that time he could have searched over Britain to find them and give them the sword.
• In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2:
  • Snape’s death takes place in the school’s Boathouse rather than the Shrieking Shack. The art director of the series, Andrew Ackland-Snow, said in an interview with Cine Premier Mexico: «We wanted to change a bit where Snape dies. In the book, he dies in the Shrieking Shack, and we wanted to get him out from, not a conventional interior, but from that kind of box, to do it in a more dramatic atmosphere. We asked [Rowling] if she agreed for that to happen in there and she loved it … Snape dies in an extremely good way, I gotta say.»^[116]
  • While Harry is facing Voldemort, he calls Snape «Professor Snape». This is the first time that he addresses him with the title other than in his presence which shows that he has forgiven and even come to respect Snape for his courage and his sacrifices. One notable factor of the books was when Harry was speaking about Snape with Dumbledore, the latter would always ask Harry to address him as «Professor Snape».
  • Steve Kloves added a new scene to Snape’s memories in which Snape visits Godric’s Hollow shortly after Voldemort’s arrival and collapses when he finds Lily’s lifeless body among the wreckage in the house.
• When Jany Temime took over the role of costume designer for the films, many of the characters’ wardrobes were re-designed, but Snape’s costume remained unchanged throughout all eight films, as Temime thought the existing costume, consisting of a black robe, worked well with Snape’s character.
• Snape is the catalyst for the entire series, since it was he who told Voldemort of the prophecy and begged Voldemort to spare Lily, enabling her to sacrifice her life for Harry, thus enabling the protection that protected Harry for so long and ultimately led to Voldemort’s death.
• Snape’s character was loosely inspired by an unpleasant chemistry teacher J.K. Rowling had in secondary school, John Lawrence Nettleship.^[117]
• When asked what Snape smelled like, J. K. Rowling answered: «Bitterness and old shoes.«^[118]
• According to Rowling, Dumbledore never did anything about Snape’s behaviour in class because «Dumbledore believes there are all sorts of lessons in life… and horrible teachers are one of them.«^[119]
• J. K. Rowling, when asked if she considers Snape a hero, she said she thinks of him as an extremely flawed anti-hero, stating that though he was quite cold and spiteful and a bit of a bully, he was capable of love and was immensely brave.^[103]
• J.K. Rowling stated that Lily Evans may have grown to love Snape romantically if he was not so drawn to the Dark Arts.^[120]
• Snape’s actor Alan Rickman’s first and middle initials — Alan Sidney Patrick — spell the word «asp», a type of snake, the emblem of Slytherin. Those initials are also shared with Albus Severus Potter, whose middle name is Harry Potter’s tribute to one of the «bravest men he ever knew.»
• Snape and James Potter’s respective actors — Alan Rickman and Adrian Rawlins — shared the same first and last initials.
• On twitlonger Rowling said that when Snape went to meet with Dumbledore on the windy hilltop he was still a subscriber to the inhuman philosophy of Voldemort.^[121][122]

• Snape once made an appearance in an episode of the TV show The Simpsons, in which he was voiced by actor Benedict Cumberbatch.
• A new species of crab has been named after Snape, Harryplax Severus. The name was chosen because the crab had managed to elude rediscovery for two decades after its initial discovery, like how Snape was able to hide the most important part of the story for years.^[123]

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (First appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (film)
• Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game) (Not in the PC version)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Appears in an alternate reality)
• Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (play) (Appears in an alternate reality)
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (Mentioned only)
• Pottermore
• Wizarding World
• The Making of Harry Potter
• Harry Potter: The Character Vault
• Harry Potter: The Creature Vault (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter Trading Card Game
• LEGO Harry Potter
• LEGO Harry Potter: Building the Magical World
• LEGO Harry Potter
• LEGO Creator: Harry Potter
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7
• LEGO Dimensions
• Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup
• Harry Potter for Kinect
• Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
• Harry Potter: Wizards Unite
• Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells
• Harry Potter: Magic Awakened (Appears in flashback(s)) (Appears as an echo)

Notes and references

Hogwarts faculty
Founders	Godric Gryffindor · Helga Hufflepuff · Rowena Ravenclaw · Salazar Slytherin
Headteachers	Giffard Abbott · Walter Aragon · Bearded man holding a book · Phineas Nigellus Black · Elizabeth Burke · Antonia Creaseworthy · Dilys Derwent · Armando Dippet · Albus Dumbledore · Mordicus Egg · Everard · First Headmaster · Niamh Fitzgerald · Dexter Fortescue · Basil Fronsac · Brian Gagwilde · Limebert · Minerva McGonagall · Eupraxia Mole · Pink-faced Headmaster · Resting Headmaster · Edessa Sakndenberg · Brutus Scrimgeour · Phyllida Spore · Severus Snape · Amrose Swott · Quentin Trimble · Dolores Umbridge · Fytherley Undercliffe · Vindictus Viridian · Vulpus · Heliotrope Wilkins · Gimlet-eyed Headmistress · Headmaster (1568) · Headteacher (1792) · Headmaster in blue · Headmaster with book · Headmaster in gold · Headmaster with apple · Headmaster with astrolabe · Headmaster with castle sketch · Headmaster with paper · Headmaster with rings · Headmaster with scroll · Headmaster with sphere · Headmaster with starmap · Headmaster with wand
Deputy Heads	Alecto Carrow · Amycus Carrow · Minerva McGonagall · Matilda Weasley
Heads of House	Muldoon Cragg · Filius Flitwick · Godric Gryffindor · Gryffindor lady · Gryffindor man (II) · Gryffindor man (III) · Gryffindor man (IV) · Gryffindor Seeker · Helga Hufflepuff · Neville Longbottom · Minerva McGonagall · Valeria Myriadd · Uric Oapley · Podric Piles · Prendergast · Rowena Ravenclaw · Horace Slughorn · Salazar Slytherin · Severus Snape · Pomona Sprout · Tobias Stump
Teaching staff	Bartholomew · Bathsheda Babbling · San Bakar · Herbert Beery · Cuthbert Binns · Brindlemore · Charity Burbage · Herodiana Byrne · Camelia · Alecto Carrow · Amycus Carrow · Bartemius Crouch Junior (disguised as Alastor Moody) · Clodagh Dromgoole · Albus Dumbledore · Eleazar Fig · Firenze · Filius Flitwick · Fortinbras · Mirabel Garlick · Mirabel Garlick’s predecessor · Jakub Gorski · Olivia Green · Rubeus Hagrid · Dinah Hecat · Rolanda Hooch · Bai Howin · Ernesto Jags · Arsenius Jigger · Igor Karkaroff’s Yule Ball partner · Silvanus Kettleburn · Chiyo Kogawa · Gilderoy Lockhart · Neville Longbottom · Remus Lupin · Elspeth MacGillony · Mazoni · Minerva McGonagall · Galatea Merrythought · Isidora Morganach · Mudiwa Onai · Prendergast · Quirinus Quirrell · Percival Rackham · Patricia Rakepick · Abraham Ronen · Charles Rookwood · Concordia Rowle · Sallow siblings’ parents · Luna Scamander · Satyavati Shah · Aesop Sharp · Arif Sikander · Aurora Sinistra · Horace Slughorn · Severus Snape · Pomona Sprout · Swoopstikes · Sybill Trelawney · Trocar · Dolores Umbridge · Septima Vector · Matilda Weasley · Unidentified professor · Potions professor (16th century) · DADA professor (1984–1985) · DADA professor (1985–1986) · DADA professor (1986–1987) · DADA professor (1987–1988) · DADA professor (1989–1990) · DADA professor (1990–1991) · Muggle Studies professor (1990s) · DADA professor (1998–?) · Potions professor (21st century) · Charms professor (?th century)
Hogwarts house-elves	Bilm · Boil-ridden house-elf · Deek · Dobby · Feenky · Filk · Gimkey · Krafty · Kreacher · Nonsuch · Pitts · Retch · Rooky · Scrope · Vekey · Wigby · Winky · Unidentified house-elf
Support staff	Phineas Nigellus Black’s secretaries · Noreen Blainey · Rancorous Carpe · Argus Filch · Wilhelmina Grubbly-Plank · Rubeus Hagrid · Rolanda Hooch · Hankerton Humble · Gladwin Moon · Ogg · Irma Pince · Poppy Pomfrey · Apollyon Pringle · Lucinda Thomsonicle-Pocus · Agnes Scribner · Wainscott · Unidentified Healers · Librarian (?th century) · Librarian (21st century)

Death Eaters
Leader: Lord Voldemort
Death Eaters Avery (II) · Alecto Carrow · Amycus Carrow · Crabbe · Bartemius Crouch Junior † · Antonin Dolohov · Gibbon † · Goyle · Gareth Greengrass’s brother · Jugson · Barnaby Lee’s father · Barnaby Lee’s mother · Bellatrix Lestrange † · Rabastan Lestrange · Rodolphus Lestrange · Walden Macnair · Mulciber (I) · Mulciber (II) · Nott · Pyrites (possibly) · Augustus Rookwood · Rosier · Evan Rosier † · Thorfinn Rowle · Selwyn · Merula Snyde’s father · Merula Snyde’s mother · Travers · Wilkes † · Corban Yaxley · Unidentified Death Eaters
Death Eater defectors Regulus Black † · Igor Karkaroff † · Draco Malfoy · Lucius Malfoy · Peter Pettigrew † · Severus Snape †
Death Eater allies Borgin · Vincent Crabbe · John Dawlish · Delphini · Golgomath · Gregory Goyle · Fenrir Greyback · Mafalda Hopkirk · Narcissa Malfoy (defected) · Ismelda Murk (unofficially, supposedly) · Nagini · Mr Padgett · Mrs Padgett · Pansy Parkinson · Quirinus Quirrell · Albert Runcorn · Stanley Shunpike (Imperiused) · Scabior · Serpent of Slytherin · Pius Thicknesse (Imperiused) · Dolores Umbridge
Other affiliations British Ministry of Magic (under Voldemort’s control) · Daily Prophet (under Voldemort’s control) · Dementors · Draco Malfoy’s gang · Kreacher (formerly) · Tom Riddle’s gang · Gang of Slytherins · Giants (Golgomath’s control) · Inferi · Charmed skeletons · Muggle-Born Registration Commission · Theodore Nott (possibly) · Snatchers · Werewolf army · The Unforgivable
Death Eater establishments Abandoned nuclear power plant · Borgin and Burkes · British Ministry of Magic Headquarters (under Voldemort’s control) · The Cave · Chamber of Secrets · Forbidden Forest · Gaunt Shack · Lee family house · Lestrange Vault · Little Hangleton graveyard · Malfoy Manor · Misty Dell · Riddle House · Snatcher Camp · Spinner’s End · The Abandoned Substation · The Ruins · The Quarry

Order of the Phoenix
Founder: Albus Dumbledore
Leaders: Albus Dumbledore | Alastor Moody | Kingsley Shacklebolt
Original Order of of the Phoenix: Aberforth Dumbledore | Alastor Moody | Alice Longbottom | Arabella Figg | Benjy Fenwick | Caradoc Dearborn | Dedalus Diggle | Dorcas Meadowes | Edgar Bones | Elphias Doge | Emmeline Vance | Fabian Prewett | Frank Longbottom | Gideon Prewett | James Potter | Lily Potter | Marlene McKinnon | Mundungus Fletcher | Peter Pettigrew (defected) | Remus Lupin | Rubeus Hagrid | Severus Snape | Sirius Black | Sturgis Podmore
Reconstituted Order of the Phoenix: Aberforth Dumbledore | Alastor Moody | Arabella Figg | Arthur Weasley | Bill Weasley | Charlie Weasley | Dedalus Diggle | Elphias Doge | Emmeline Vance | Fleur Delacour | Fred Weasley | George Weasley | Harry Potter | Hermione Granger | Hestia Jones | Kingsley Shacklebolt | Minerva McGonagall | Molly Weasley | Mundungus Fletcher | Nymphadora Tonks | Remus Lupin | Ron Weasley | Rubeus Hagrid | Severus Snape | Sirius Black | Sturgis Podmore
Order of the Phoenix allies: Andromeda Tonks | Augusta Longbottom | Buckbeak | Dobby | Fawkes | Filius Flitwick | Firenze | Garrick Ollivander | Ginny Weasley | Grawp | Helena Ravenclaw | Horace Slughorn | Karkus | Karkus’s wife | Kreacher | Lee Jordan | Luna Lovegood | McKinnon family | Mr Westenberg | Mrs Westenberg | Muriel | Nearly-Headless Nick | Neville Longbottom | Oliver Wood | Olympe Maxime | Rita Skeeter | Peeves | Percy Weasley | Pomona Sprout | Poppy Pomfrey | Sybill Trelawney | Ted Tonks | The Fallen Fifty | Westenberg family | Winky | Xenophilius Lovegood
Other affiliations: Dumbledore’s Army | Forbidden Forest Centaur colony | Headless Hunt | Hogwarts Hippogriff herd | Hogwarts house-elves | Hogwarts Ghosts | Hogwarts Staff | Hogwarts students | Hogwarts Thestral herd | Ministry of Magic | Giant colony (Karkus’s control)

Potions (class)
Potioneers
Arsenius Jigger · Bilius Finbok · Blossom Degrasse · Dai Ryusaki · Damocles Belby · Erica Stainwright · Fatimah Lawang · Fleamont Potter · Gethsemane Prickle · Gilderoy Lockhart · Glossy · Glover Hipworth · Golpalott · Gregory the Smarmy · Gunhilda de Gorsemoor · Hector Dagworth-Granger · Hesper Starkey · J. Pippin · Laverne de Montmorency · Libatius Borage · Linfred of Stinchcombe · Mulpepper · Mundungus Fletcher · Nicolas Flamel · Phineas Bourne · Quintia McQuoid · Regulus Moonshine · Rogue alchemist · Rubens Winikus · Sacharissa Tugwood · Skower · Tilden Toots · Dr Ubbly · Vindictus Viridian · Zenith Xeep · Zygmunt Budge
Potions at Hogwarts
Cauldron cupboard · Dungeon Five · Potions basement · Potions Classroom · Potions Club · Potions Staircase · Potion Master’s office · Potions Storeroom
Professors	Bartholomew · Horace Slughorn · Severus Snape · Swoopstikes · Unnamed Professor (16th century) · Aesop Sharp (19th century) · Unnamed Professor (2021)
Textbooks	A Collection of Above Three Hundred Receipts in Cookery, Physick, and Surgery · Advanced Potion-Making · Ingredient Encyclopedia · Magical Drafts and Potions · One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi
Potions studied at Hogwarts
Ageing Potion · Amortentia · Antidotes · Antidote to Common Poisons · Antidote to garish pink blended poison · Antidote to Uncommon Poisons · Antidote to Veritaserum · Babbling Beverage · Befuddlement Draught · Calming Draught · Cheese-Based Potions · Confusing Concoction · Cough Potion · Cure for Boils · Deflating Draught · Doxycide · Draught of Living Death · Draught of Peace · Elixir to Induce Euphoria · Erumpent Potion · Essence of Insanity · Everlasting Elixirs · Felix Felicis · Fire Protection Potion · Forgetfulness Potion · The Famous French Method for the Bite of a Mad Dog · Garish pink blended poison · Garrotting Gas · Girding Potion · Hair-Raising Potion · Herbicide Potion · Hiccoughing Solution · Invigoration Draught · Laughing Potion · Mandrake Restorative Draught · Memory Potion · Pepperup Potion · Polyjuice Potion · Pompion Potion · Potion for Dreamless Sleep · Rat Tonic · Regerminating Potion · Scintillation Solution · Shrinking Solution · Skele-Gro · Strength Potion · Strengthening Solution · Swelling Solution · Undetectable Poisons · Veritaserum · Weedosoros · Wideye Potion · Wiggenweld Potion · Wit-Sharpening Potion · Wolfsbane Potion · Wound-Cleaning Potion

Defence Against the Dark Arts (D.A.D.A.)
D.A.D.A. at Hogwarts
Classroom 3C · Classroom 3C backrooms · Temporary Classroom · Hogwarts Turris Magnus · Teacher’s Office · Storeroom · Staircase · Storage room · Lesson Cup · Race Cup · Duelling Club · Dumbledore’s Army
Professors
Isidora Morganach · Dinah Hecat · Arsenius Jigger · Albus Dumbledore · Galatea Merrythought · 1984–1985 professor · 1985–1986 professor · 1986–1987 professor · 1987–1988 professor · Patricia Rakepick · 1989–1990 professor · First 1990–1991 professor · Olivia Green · Quirinus Quirrell · Gilderoy Lockhart · Remus Lupin · Bartemius Crouch Junior (as Alastor Moody) · Dolores Umbridge · Severus Snape · Amycus Carrow (as Dark Arts teacher) · Unidentified professor · Brindlemore
Textbooks
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection · Advanced Defence Against the Dark Arts · Break with a Banshee · Gadding with Ghouls · Holidays with Hags · Travels with Trolls · Voyages with Vampires · Wanderings with Werewolves · Year with the Yeti · The Essential Defence Against the Dark Arts · Defensive Magical Theory · Dark Arts Defence – Basics for Beginners · Confronting the Faceless · Defence Against the Dark Arts
Spells studied at Hogwarts under D.A.D.A.
Aqua Eructo · Boggart-Banishing Spell (Riddikulus) · Bombarda Maxima · Cave inimicum · Concealment Charms · Counter-curses · Counter-jinxes · Cruciatus Curse (Crucio) · Curse of the Bogies (Mucus ad Nauseam) · Cursed barrier spell · Densaugeo · Deprimo Spell (Deprimo) · Disarming Charm (Expelliarmus) · Ear-Shrivelling Curse · Everte Statum · Freezing Spell (Glacius) · Full Body-Bind Curse (Petrificus Totalus) · Fumos Duo · Green Sparks · Hex-Breaker· Hex-deflection · Hex Zapper · Homorphus Charm · Human-presence-revealing Spell (Homenum Revelio) · Impediment Jinx (Impedimenta) · Imperius Curse (Imperio) · Imperturbable Charm · Killing Curse (Avada Kedavra) · Knockback Jinx (Flipendo) · Lacarnum Inflamari · Langlock · Limbo Mist anticharm · Nonverbal spells · Patronus Charm (Expecto Patronum) · Pimple Jinx (Furnunculus) · Protective enchantments · Red Sparks (Vermillious) · Reductor Curse (Reducto) · Salvio hexia · Sea Urchin Jinx · Seize and pull charm (Carpe Retractum) · Shield Charm (Protego) · Smokescreen Spell (Fumos) · Snake-Vanishing Spell (Vipera Evanesca) · Softening Charm (Spongify) · Stretching Jinx · Tickling Charm (Rictusempra) · Tongue-Tying Curse (Mimblewimble) · Trip Jinx · Twitchy-Ears Hex · Verdimillious Charm (Verdimillious) · Verdimillious Duo Spell (Verdimillious) · Verdimillious Tria · Vermillious Duo · Vermillious Tria · Wand-Lighting Charm (Lumos)
Creatures studied at Hogwarts under D.A.D.A.
Banshee · Boggart · Chameleon Ghoul · Charmed skeleton · Cornish Pixie · Dementor · Dugbog · Erkling · Flesh-Eating Slug · Ghost · Ghoul · Gnome · Grindylow · Gytrash · Hag · Hinkypunk · Iguana · Imp · Inferius · Kappa · Manticore · Nocturnal beasts · Nogtail · Poltergeist · Red Cap · Snake · Troll · Vampire · Vampire bat · Werewolf · Yeti · Zombie

Hogwarts Duelling Club
Duelling Club Captains
Hogwarts: Gilderoy Lockhart · Severus Snape
Gryffindor: Angus Matlock
Hufflepuff: Duelling Club Captain
Ravenclaw: Alannis
Slytherin: Duelling Club Captain
Duelling Club Members
Gryffindor: Edward · Emily · Harry Potter · Hermione Granger · Neil Randall · Neville Longbottom · Romilda Vane · Ronald Weasley · Seamus Finnigan · Stewart
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Professor Severus Snape (9 January 1960^[1] – 2 May 1998)^[2] was an English half-blood^[3] wizard serving as Potions Master (1981-1996), Head of Slytherin House (1981-1997), Defence Against the Dark Arts professor (1996-1997), and Headmaster (1997-1998) of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as well as a member of the Order of the Phoenix and a Death Eater. His double life played an extremely important role in both of the Wizarding Wars against Voldemort.

The only child of Muggle Tobias Snape and witch Eileen Snape (née Prince), Severus was raised in the Muggle dwelling of Spinner’s End, which was in close proximity to the home of the Evans family, though in a poorer area. He met Lily and Petunia Evans when he was nine. He fell deeply in love with Lily upon their meeting and became a close friend of hers.^[7]

Severus started at Hogwarts with Lily in 1971, where he was sorted into Slytherin House. This put him in the same year as Lily but unfortunately for him she was sorted into Gryffindor House. Severus became the immediate enemy of James Potter and Sirius Black and was a frequent victim of their bullying. This led him to be irritable towards James’s son Harry when he was a professor. Snape, when young, developed a passion for the Dark Arts, which increased as his desire for revenge against his bullies grew stronger.

Snape became involved with the bullies in Slytherin House, many of whom were pure-blood supremacists. This put his friendship with Lily, a Muggle-born, under great strain until it was eventually broken in their fifth year.^[6][7] In a misguided attempt to win back Lily’s affections,^[18] Snape joined the Death Eaters along with a group of his fellow Slytherins.

Severus was made a member of the Slug Club presumably because of his talent in Potion-making. Horace Slughorn even kept a picture of him as a student, clutching his copy of Advanced Potion-Making. However, Horace did not actually have many hopes for Severus’s future, as his photograph was kept behind many others.^[19]

As an active Death Eater, one of Snape’s biggest contributions was letting Lord Voldemort know about the prophecy Sybill Trelawney made to Dumbledore. This part of the prophecy could have applied to either Harry Potter or Neville Longbottom, who was also born at the end of July 1980 to parents who were members of the Order. Once Lord Voldemort decided to target the Potters over the Longbottoms, Snape begged Voldemort to at least spare Lily. Voldemort agreed, then did not follow through on this promise.

Shortly before Lily Evans was murdered by Lord Voldemort, Snape changed sides and became a member of the Order of the Phoenix as well as a double agent during the Second Wizarding War. With tremendous difficulty, Snape prevented Lord Voldemort from learning the truth about his loyalties.

Despite the opinions of most others including Harry during his early life, Albus Dumbledore trusted Snape for reasons that were kept between them both until their deaths. Despite Snape killing Dumbledore, it is learned that they had a special agreement for him to do so. When he died, it was revealed that his deep strong love for Lily Evans caused him to redeem himself, joining Dumbledore’s cause for her protection (and, after her death, that of her son) from Lord Voldemort.^[7]

The relationship between Dumbledore and Snape would be one of unusually strong loyalty, so much so that Snape agreed to kill Dumbledore upon the latter’s own request. Before Dumbledore’s death, Snape promised to protect the students of Hogwarts from the Death Eaters, who would inevitably take control of the Ministry of Magic as well as the school.^[7]

Snape later participated in the Battle of Hogwarts but was murdered by Lord Voldemort who mistakenly believed that Snape was the master of the Elder Wand (an immensely strong and powerful wand that Voldemort deeply desired, as well as one of the Deathly Hallows)^[20] when in reality, Harry Potter was the master of the Elder Wand, because Draco Malfoy had disarmed Dumbledore on the night of Dumbledore’s death on top of the Astronomy Tower, and Harry had disarmed Draco at Malfoy Manor.^[21]

After Snape’s death, Harry Potter ensured that his portrait remained at Hogwarts, honouring him as a hero, despite their significant personal differences.^[21] In addition, Harry later named his second son Albus Severus Potter in honour of Dumbledore and Severus, both of whom were an inspiration in Harry’s life after the Battle of Hogwarts. Harry also was influenced by Severus’ Hogwarts house, and freely admitted that his son Albus could choose Slytherin if he wished.^[22]

Biography

Early life (1960–1971)

Severus Snape was born 9 January 1960 to Tobias Snape, an abusive Muggle, and Eileen Prince, a neglectful pure-blood witch.^[23] He began to identify with his mother’s family and created a secret nickname from his mother’s maiden name, calling himself the «Half-Blood Prince». His unhappy relationship with his father may have been the origin of his disdain for Muggles. It is implied that Severus was friendless and uncared for by his parents. This lack of care largely shaped Severus’s bitter disposition and cruel behaviour later in his life.

Severus grew up at Spinner’s End, a shabby suburb of Cokeworth.^[24] This area of town was near a dirty river and full of dilapidated houses, disused factories and broken down street lamps. Through the rest of his life, Severus continued to return there when he was not at school. The young Severus is depicted as being unwashed and wearing ill-fitting clothes «that were so mismatched that it looked deliberate«. As a child, Severus was neglected and his parents often fought with one another. He could not wait to leave for Hogwarts at the end of the summer.^[7]

Lily Evans and her family lived in the same town, close to Spinner’s End. After watching her for some time, Severus noticed her evident magical abilities and began making friendly overtures. The two bonded quickly and it appears that he was very interested in Lily right from the beginning, though she only regarded him as a good friend. During this time he also developed a contempt towards her older sister, Petunia. This was most likely because she made disparaging comments about his clothes and residence but may also be because she was a Muggle.^[7]

Information from Severus’s own memories of his first interactions with Lily and Petunia suggests that he was an awkward child with poor social skills. Even when it was important to him to make a good impression, he always seemed to have trouble doing so.^[7]

Hogwarts years (1971–1978)

Severus attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as a student from 1971-1978 and was Sorted into Slytherin House, at that time led by Potions master Horace Slughorn. On the way to Hogwarts for his first year, Severus sat with Lily Evans on the train. While on the train they met James Potter and Sirius Black. This encounter between the three of them revolved around a disagreement regarding what Hogwarts house was the best. This hostile first encounter would set the tone for the antagonism between the three of them for the rest of his life.^[7]

Sorted into Slytherin House upon their arrival at the school, classmates would later state that Severus excelled in the Dark Arts from an early age. At the age of eleven, he knew more curses and hexes than most of the seventh year students, according to Sirius Black.^[25] He was credited with creating a good number of popular spells like Levicorpus, Liberacorpus, Muffliato, and curses like Langlock, the Toenail Growth Hex, and his signature curse that he invented himself, Sectumsempra.^[26] He reportedly was friends with a gang of Slytherins who later became Death Eaters, including Avery, Mulciber, Bellatrix Black, Rodolphus Lestrange, Evan Rosier and Wilkes.

Severus also had contact with Lucius Malfoy, who was a prefect during his first year and greeted him kindly when he was Sorted into the Slytherin House.^[7] Most likely the two had good rapport at Hogwarts (which could also be a reason why Narcissa Malfoy trusted Severus to take care of Draco Malfoy and why he seemed to favour Draco during his later teaching years even when Draco refused it in the task to kill Dumbledore).

Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew were also classmates of Severus.^[6] Around the same time, he also got acquainted with another notorious troublemaker; a Fifth year student by the name of Patricia Rakepick who not only was in the same house as his new school rivals, but also actively sought to mentor her younger schoolmates in the art of mischief-making without getting caught: While popular with many of their peers for her, she was, on the other hand, strongly disliked by most of the teachers for her excessive rebellious streak, frequent rule-breaking and the bad influence she was on her younger housemates.^[27]

No less discontent with her behaviour than their professors were, Severus’s mistrust in Rakepick ran deeper still; she was an avid advocate for the existence of the fabled Cursed Vaults of Hogwarts. While her claims were dismissed by the faculty of the day, young Snape, however, was not so certain; seeing her as uncommonly ambitious for a Gryffindor and, he recognised, far from stupid, he eventually came to question her motives and her intentions for the vaults, eventually coming to regard her as a danger to the school and all who resided at the castle.^[28]

James and his group of friends were constantly at war with Severus throughout their school years. Severus’s memories, recorded in the Pensieve, suggest that he was an introverted and studious individual, whereas James was arrogant, popular and athletic. Immediately upon meeting him, James disliked Severus for expressing a desire to be in Slytherin. James’s big crush on Lily, and Severus’s close friendship and unrequited love for her also heightened the tension between the two.^[6][7]

One recorded memory in the Pensieve bore witness to James bullying him, turning him upside-down to reveal his underwear in front of many students, including Lily. This action was proved to be very offensive and it increased the hatred between the two adolescents. In this accident, Lily came to Severus’s defence, but this only made things worse: in a subsequent lashing out at James in an attempt to recover his lost dignity, Severus inadvertently called Lily a Mudblood. Lily refused to forgive him for it, even after his repeated apologies. This would forever be Severus’s worst memory.^[6]

Severus noticed that Remus kept disappearing during the full moon and once followed him past the Whomping Willow (after being tipped off on how to do so by Sirius Black) to confirm his suspicions. This act could have cost Severus his life, as had it not been for James going after him to stop him when he learned of Sirius’ ‘prank’, he might have found himself all on his own and caught off guard by a fully-fledged werewolf. As it was, however, James did reach Severus in time and managed to save him just before he got to the Shrieking Shack while Remus was in his wolf-form. Albus Dumbledore swore Severus to secrecy, but the true nature of Remus was clear to Severus. By their seventh year, James had grown out of his immaturity and arrogance to the point that Lily agreed to start dating him, even though he never grew out of his hatred for Severus — according to Sirius, Severus had always been a «special case» with James. Though it should be noted Snape’s continued friendships with students who were trying to become Death Eaters did not help his relationship with the Marauders or Lily. Lily ended up marrying James, which only strengthened Severus’s bitterness towards him.^[29]

There was also some overlap between his school career and that of a younger student by the name of Jacob, yet another rule-breaker Snape came to severely dislike. During the later part of his magical education, the school was plagued by several dangerous curses unleashed upon the school by Jacob after he tampered with the fabled Cursed Vaults, which resulted in the death and injury of several of his peers, although he suffered no permanent injury himself.

Half-Blood Prince

Severus was a talented wizard even in his childhood. It was apparent through the notes and scribbles in his potions textbook that he made time during classes to invent curses, charms, and clever potion innovations, while simultaneously learning the required textbook lessons.^[30][26]

Severus’s potions textbook contained a few spells and curses which he was credited with inventing: Levicorpus, which grabbed the victim by the ankle and dangled him/her upside-down,^[31] and Sectumsempra, which caused slashing bloody cuts (guided by the wand gestures of the caster, like a blade/sword) which bled extensively.^[32] Levicorpus somehow escaped from Severus’s secrecy, and became very popular around Hogwarts towards the end of his fifth year at school. Some other spells included Muffliato, which filled the ears of anyone nearby with an unidentifiable buzzing sound and another hex that caused toenails to grow at an unnaturally fast rate.^[31]

Severus’s book later fell into the hands of Harry Potter in September 1996. Harry used the Half-Blood Prince’s tips and earned praise with that year’s Potions master, Professor Slughorn. Harry considered the Half-Blood Prince to be a better teacher than Severus, unaware at that point that Severus was the Prince, much to Harry’s later displeasure.^[26]

The potions textbook has an inscription indicating it is Property of the Half-Blood Prince.^[30] Hermione Granger’s research revealed that Prince was the maiden name of Severus’s mother and so the nickname was revealed to be a combination of his mother’s maiden name and his blood status. Harry Potter also pointed out the similarities between Snape’s nickname and the name Voldemort gave himself. This nickname was apparently a secret, as Remus did not remember it ever being used publicly by Severus.

First Wizarding War (1978–1981)

As a Death Eater

Severus Snape eventually joined the ranks of Lord Voldemort’s Death Eaters. His actions as a Death Eater are largely unknown, though he quickly became an important Death Eater in Voldemort’s inner circle. He was the spy responsible for informing Voldemort about the prophecy foretelling his downfall. In early 1980, Snape eavesdropped on an interview for Divination Professor Sybill Trelawney and Albus Dumbledore at the Hog’s Head Inn.

In the course of the interview, Trelawney prophesied that at the end of July, a child would be born who would cause the destruction of Lord Voldemort (which prompted Dumbledore to hire her, partly for her own safety). At that time it was not clear who was meant by the prophecy. Two children of prominent wizarding families were born that year at the end of July: Harry Potter and Neville Longbottom.

Albus reported at the Wizengamot trial of Igor Karkaroff that Severus had come to him and explained that he had been the one to overhear the prophecy, and reported it to Voldemort. However, Snape did not hear the entire prophecy, as the Hog’s Head’s barman and Albus’ brother, Aberforth, caught him eavesdropping and threw him out.

As a double agent

Severus suffered terrible remorse when Voldemort decided that Harry Potter was the subject of the prophecy and that Lily Evans, the woman whom he always loved, was now in danger as a result of his actions. He begged Voldemort to spare her, who agreed. However, knowing that he could not leave Lily’s safety in the hands of someone who could turn back at his word on a mere whim and that Lily would probably defend her child to the last breath, Snape also approached Albus Dumbledore to ask him to save Lily.

Snape pleaded with Dumbledore to hide her, along with her husband and son if he had to. Dumbledore agreed but insisted that Severus serve him as a spy among the Death Eaters. In fact, it was Snape’s request to Voldemort which allowed Lily to let herself die in order for Harry to live when Voldemort attempted to murder him, therefore ensuring that his curse backfired and Voldemort’s body was destroyed in the process.

Despite Dumbledore’s best efforts to protect the Potters, Voldemort was tipped off by Peter Pettigrew, one of James’ best friends, a spy, and he found them anyway. After Lily’s death, Snape was devastated and distraught to the point of wishing himself dead, but Dumbledore urged him to ensure Harry’s safety out of respect for Lily’s memory; Snape initially insisted the danger had been averted with the Dark Lord gone, only for Albus to insist that he would return and everyone, particularly the boy, would be in danger when that happened. So Snape spent the rest of his life protecting her child, Harry Potter, who was often said to strongly resemble James. Distrusted for his past as a Death Eater by those on Albus Dumbledore’s side, and hated by other Death Eaters for living as Dumbledore’s stooge for ten years, Snape continued living on to complete Dumbledore’s plan to protect Harry and defeat Voldemort.

Career at Hogwarts (1981–1995)

When Severus Snape began his teaching career at Hogwarts in 1981, taking up a teaching post around the same time as the threat posed by the rampaging curses that had terrorised the castle’s residents were contained and the subsequent expulsion of his former peer for the rules he had broken in his quest for the Cursed Vaults and the fellow students who had been endangered in the process, he initially applied for the position of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, but was rejected multiple times.^[33]

Many students were under the impression that this was because Dumbledore feared Snape might return to his old ways if allowed to teach his favourite subject, but in reality it was because Dumbledore was aware by that point that the job had been jinxed by Voldemort. Knowing that no Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher would last longer than a year, Dumbledore instead employed Snape in the position of Potions Master and Head of Slytherin House, following the retirement of veteran Potions Master Professor Horace Slughorn. Though it seemed rather uncommon for someone as young as Snape to be named a Head of House at Hogwarts, it is possible that Snape was the only Slytherin teacher left at the school, or that he was placed there to keep a watchful eye on the young Slytherins, who were frequently accused of (but not without reason) joining the Death Eaters.

Following Voldemort’s fall, Snape never attempted to find his old master, having switched sides ever since the Dark Lord had targeted Lily and this allowed him to avoid time in Azkaban as Dumbledore staunchly defended him. He fabricated the fact that he believed Voldemort to be dead as an alibi for still loyal Death Eaters, but in truth, he and Dumbledore had discussed Voldemort and knew he would inevitably return, henceforth the most important reason why he applied as a teacher: to ensure from the shadows the safety of Harry Potter, who Lily had died protecting. This would bring him into conflict with fanatical Death Eaters like Bellatrix Lestrange later in life, but Snape was almost immediately forgiven by the reborn Voldemort, because he could provide him with thirteen years of information on Dumbledore and the Order of the Phoenix.

In the meantime and with Voldemort vanished, he focused on his teaching duties at Hogwarts. As a professor, Snape was a stickler for discipline, with little patience for foolishness, yet extremely effective in his job and well respected by the other professors. His deep understanding of potion brewing, as shown by his expert concoction of Wolfsbane Potion,^[34][29] transformed the knowledge of potions from mere chemistry to an art.

He would accept students into his N.E.W.T. classes only if they had achieved an ‘Outstanding’ mark at their O.W.L. examination. He felt that anyone with a lower mark than that would lack the passion and the devotion to the complex and demanding subjects that would follow in the last two years of school. Though strict, Snape had an obvious bias for Slytherins, giving them undeserved rights over the others, while looking down on the other students somewhat unfairly. His interpersonal relations with students outside his own house were subpar at best. He would, on numerous occasions, bully students without any repercussions. Though, one might dispute if his distain for Neville Longbottom was more about bullying or about the fact Voldemort had chosen to target the Potters over the Longbottoms, and if he’d picked the Longbottoms instead, Lily Potter would perhaps still be alive. He once threatened to poison Neville’s pet toad, Trevor, or tell Neville how stupid he was. Once he even told Hermione Granger that her enlarged teeth were the same size as usual, neither of which were necessary behaviours.

Snape’s role during this entire time was extremely sensitive and required master espionage and image-control skills. As he and Dumbledore anticipated that Voldemort would return eventually, and many of Snape’s actions would be reported on by Death Eater spies or gained through torture and Legilimency, even if Snape’s true mentality and intentions were inaccessible to the Dark Lord, he had to consider every decision and relationship carefully. He treated Harry Potter with maximal coldness and never missed an opportunity to cause him trouble, as any variation from this would have cast suspicion on him in Voldemort’s eyes.

But in reality, he protected Harry on numerous occasions; he was happy enough to cause the boy, who resembled his father, Snape’s hated rival from school days, humiliation and trouble, but never any actual harm or danger as he was still Lily’s son. He also had to avoid becoming too aware of Voldemort’s plans, so as to avoid being held responsible for allowing Harry and his friends to foil them. His actions during this period created no mistrust on the part of Voldemort, which allowed for Voldemort’s ultimate downfall.

1984–1985 school year

Closing in on the first half a decade of his tenure as an instructor at Hogwarts, Professor Snape was present at the Start-of-Term Feast of the 1984–1985 school year, during which he was introduced to the new first-years as the Head of Slytherin House during the Sorting Ceremony. He witnessed the sorting of, among others, the younger sibling of Jacob, who was sorted into the same house as Jacob and of whom he became immediately suspicious.^[35]

During the very first day of teaching the first years, he instructed the newcomers in the correct way in which to brew a Cure for Boils, during which he made no attempt at hiding his dislike for Jacob’s cognate, and openly favoured Merula Snyde,^[36] a student in his own house and whose parents had been among his own comrades during his time as a Death Eater, presumably both due to his bias towards his own house, as well as part of maintaining his cover as a future double agent. Throughout the year, he proceeded to teach this class, among other things, the Wiggenweld Potion,^[37] the Herbicide Potion^[38] and the Sleeping Draught.^[39] Throughout the term, however, Professor Snape found himself reluctantly acknowledging the said student’s talent.

At that time, there was unfinished business between Jacob’s sibling and Merula Snyde, since Merula tried to attack Rowan Khanna, Ben Copper and Jacob’s sibling; so both of them were trying to be prepared for the inescapable duel; as Jacob’s sibling’s prefect had told them, they needed to learn an offensive spell, an advantage charm, and a healing potion or charm. Both of them were looking forward to the Wiggenweld Potion and Snape’s class. Snape’s favourite student, Merula, asked him to teach the class the potion, though coincidentally Snape had already planned to teach it, as Rowan had notified Jacob’s sibling earlier. When the class brewed their potions, Snape admired Jacob’s sibling’s potion skills, though he admired Merula’s more.^[37]

Sometime later, Snape and the school’s Charms Master Filius Flitwick were made aware of how there were to be an unsanctioned duel between Jacob’s sibling and Merula Snyde in the Clocktower Courtyard, arriving just in time to see the latter successfully deprive their opponent of her wand. Although Professor Filius Flitwick wanted to know who it was that cast the first spell, keeping in mind that Jacob’s sibling had been instructed to only ever use the Disarming Charm defensively, Snape was largely dismissive of who started the fight.^[40]

After subtly criticising his colleague, whom he correctly deduced were the one who had instructed said student in how to cast the Disarming Charm in the first place, he ordered both students to get cleaned up and meet up at the West Tower in order to receive punishment for their transgression.^[40]

Upon reporting the incident to Albus Dumbledore, Snape asked for Jacob’s sibling to be expelled, whom he regarded as a troublemaker just like their brother before them, a request the Headmaster rejected, and which he would soon thereafter lament about in the presence of both Jacob’s sibling and Snyde. Although he docked twenty points from the former’s house, he was interrupted by the caretaker of the day, Argus Filch, before he could do anything else. Upon being informed about an incident that had occurred that demanded his immediate attention that was related to the Cursed Vaults, Snape ordered both students to return to their common rooms.^[40]

Accompanying the caretaker to a corridor on the fifth floor, Mr Filch explained that he and his pet cat, Mrs Norris, had discovered how cursed ice had appeared in one of the rooms there. Immediately recognising this as one of the curses unleashed when someone had tampered with the Cursed Vaults, Snape immediately ordered Filch to lock the door and stand guard to prevent students from getting inside, before he left to inform the Headmaster. In the aftermath of this discovery, the faculty successfully managed to keep it from spreading any further and securely sealed up the room afterwards, although he was unaware the two students he had just left had followed them and overheard portions of his conversation with Filch and resolved to break into the room in order to look for clues regarding the whereabouts of the vaults.^[41]

During the Herbicide Potion lesson, Merula made a mistake, and Jacob’s sibling helped her to fix it. Unbelievably, when Snape understood it, he awarded Jacob’s sibling with 10 points.^[38]

Throughout the rest of the year, he presumably continued to keep a sharp eye on the students, especially Jacob’s sibling, and do everything he could to keep the discovery from the student body, in which he was ultimately unsuccessful.^[42]

Also he wanted to harvest the fairy wings for his potion ingredients. Rubeus Hagrid asked Jacob’s sibling to move fairies to another place, so it happens to be a quest for them to save the fairies’ wings. Jacob’s sibling set out to move the fairies, though a fairy had gone to the Potions Classroom. Penny Haywood went to the classroom in order to help Jacob’s sibling and the fairy as well. They thought of Jacob’s sibling distracting Snape while Penny tried to make the fairy co-operate, while Snape believed she was looking for her favourite quill that her mother had given her. It is possible that Jacob’s sibling distracted him with asking about Bottling Fame, or his hair, or about his well-being.^[43]

At the Hallowe’en feast, Jacob’s sibling needed some Aconite for the Wolfsbane Potion in order to help the werewolf Chiara Lobosca. Rowan Khanna distracted Snape to allow Jacob’s sibling to steal from his store of ingredients.^[44]

1985–1986 school year

Around the beginning of the year, Snape assisted Professor McGonagall with using the Fire-Making Spell to free Ben Copper from the cursed ice. At some other point early on in the year, Snape became livid when a first-year mentioned Harry Potter in class, and hurled a jar of pickled animal parts at him.^[45] During the Teacher Appreciation Celebration that year, Snape was interviewed by Penny Haywood.^[46]

After these events, Snape searched Jacob’s sibling’s dormitory and found some potion ingredients that were useful against the Cursed Vaults, so he asked them in the classroom to explain it in order to defend themselves, though it was revealed that the evidence was a plot carried out by Merula.^[47]

1986–1987 school year

Snape continued his job as Potions Master at Hogwarts, and tried to prevent students’ interference in the Cursed Vaults. He ordered Argus Filch to retrieve Jacob’s note, which was an untransfigured black quill, from Jacob’s sibling.^[48]

Jacob’s sibling stole the black quill, and with the help of Tulip Karasu, became one step closer to the third Cursed Vault. Tulip also helped them find their brother’s corridor at Hogwarts, although it was protected with a two-lock padlock and an Anti-Alohomora Charm. Since Tulip had the key to one of the locks, and the other one was in the possession of her former friend, Merula Snyde, they took the key from her after letting off a Dungbomb. When they opened the door, Jacob’s sibling confronted a Boggart in the form of Lord Voldemort. In time, Severus Snape found them and warned Jacob’s sibling that they had to let go of the Cursed Vaults unless they wanted to share Jacob’s fate — expulsion.^[49]

During Jacob’s sibling’s career advice to William Weasley, they took him to Professor Snape’s classroom, in order to seek advice about potioneering. Professor Snape asked them to brew an original potion, so he’d be able to make his decision according to their performance. It’s unknown what Jacob’s sibling chose to brew, though it was either a Contortion Potion, a Screaming Potion, or a Stamina Potion. After the potion was brewed, at least one of them drank it on Snape’s order, as «drinking the potion is the only way to measure your success» according to Snape. The poorly brewed potion made the drinker sick, thus Snape questioned Bill’s potioneering skills.^[50]

1987–1988 school year

This year began with an old untrustworthy enemy of Severus, and also an old classmate of his, Patricia Rakepick, a Curse-Breaker from Gringotts Wizarding Bank, arriving at Hogwarts, invited by Albus Dumbledore.^[51]

Jacob’s sibling became to suspect Madam Rakepick, therefore they accosted Snape, in one of the Potions study sessions, and asked him about the new Curse-Breaker. After the session, he told them about Rakepick and the fact that she couldn’t be trusted and how dangerous she was. Though he called it unwise to question Dumbledore’s judgement without substantial evidence, as the Headmaster trusted Rakepick.^[27]

A little while later, when Jacob’s sibling was planning to fly to the next Cursed Vault in the Forbidden Forest, Professor Snape broke Jacob’s sibling’s borrowed broomstick and sought an unexpected help from Jacob’s sibling with revealing Rakepick’s true intention.^[52] In addition to Snape’s unexpected request, he revealed an unexpected fact, telling them that Rakepick had been monitoring and spying Jacob’s sibling ever since she arrived at Hogwarts. Thus he asked them to spy on her.^[28]

Jacob’s sibling spied on her many times while taking orders from Snape, although Snape admitted them spying on her was totally useless, since she said whatever she wanted Severus to know and also she knew they were spying. Nevertheless, he warned them not to tell any of this to anyone.^[28]

He also gave Jacob’s sibling a Garrotting Gas^[28] that would later save their and Merula’s life from Rakepick’s Cruciatus Curse in the Buried Vault.^[53]

At the end of the year, Madam Rakepick won the Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor title against Snape.^[54]

1988–1989 school year

This year began while Snape’s hatred of Rakepick was more intense than ever.^[54]

During Jacob’s sibling’s search for the fifth Cursed Vault and the Marauder’s Map, he faced Peeves multiple times. One of these times they were searching for a friend of Jacob’s, Duncan Ashe. Peeves mentioned that he, Duncan Ashe, hated two things, potions and Jacob, though he loathed Jacob more than potions, so Jacob’s sibling went to Snape, in order to gather information about Ashe. Snape revealed to them that he never liked the Marauders and somehow disappointed them.^[55] In addition of their searches, Penny Haywood, one of the victim’s sister, was very concerned about the Cursed Vaults that she would not do what she was gifted in — potioneering. Therefore, Severus, who though she would have a good career in potioneering, although due to what happened to her sister Beatrice, his mind had changed and somehow he was disappointed. A fair warning from him to Jacob’s sibling would make them think about Miss Haywood. And this would help Haywood and Jacob’s sibling control themselves and try to find a way to break the last curse and free both Jacob and Beatrice.^[56]

Though, on Dumbledore’s order, he was willing to help Jacob’s sibling with mastering Legilimency and Occlumency. Thus, Jacob’s sibling was taught by Severus Snape, a decent Legilimens and Occlumens. Severus Snape asked them to defend themselves against him casting Legilimens on Jacob’s sibling, and he also revealed some of their secrets. And he believed that Jacob’s sibling had not even tried to not let Severus get into his thoughts, and thought it settled the fact that Jacob gave them visions from a far distance. He also demanded them, twice, to cast the spell on him, and this proved to Jacob’s sibling the power of Occlumency.^[57]

Later, while inventing the Star Shower Spell, Jacob’s sibling went to Merula and Professor Snape. While Professor Flitwick approved of their spell, it was later revealed that this was not the Star Shower Charm but Star Shimming Charm. Professor Snape perceived the issue and helped Jacob’s sibling fix this.^[58]

Snape was also seen with Poppy Pomfrey and Albus Dumbledore while coming in order to take see what has happened to Merula Snyde after Rakepick’s betrayal in the Buried Vault.^[59]

Madam Rakepick was seen while using Lacarnum Inflamari on Snape’s cloak.^[60]

During Jacob’s sibling’s mental examination on Scabbers for his odd behaviour, Percy Weasley, Charles Weasley, and Jacob’s sibling met each other multiple times at the Great Hall. Because they had Scabbers, Snape warned them that a rat must not be in the Great Hall. The second time, when Jacob’s sibling’s rat was also present, and while there was a fight between Charles and Percy, Snape asked them «kindly» to discuss their «nothing» somewhere else without disturbing anyone; though because of his perfect sense of smell, he smelled some rats, though both of the rats escaped; when Snape left, the students searched for Scabbers and Jacob’s sibling’s rat, and after they found them, they continued their research. Their research ended up with Silvanus Kettleburn suggesting borrowing Rat Tonic from Professor Snape in order to calm the rat from the anxiety he had because of an unknown source of fear. After convincing Snape, he helped Charles and Jacob’s sibling with instructions and ingredients, and they brewed the potion. Percy arrived with Scabbers, and with the presence of Snape, Jacob’s sibling finally understood that what the rat feared was the professor, unbeknownst to them his lifelong enemy.^[61]

1989–1990 school year

This school year began with Snape’s old enemy, Madam Rakepick, being fired after her betrayal.^[62]

This year at Hogwarts was also as dangerous as the other years, or perhaps more so. Not so later from the start of the year, Beatrice Haywood found a Petrified student because of the statue curse. Thus, she notified the Potions Master, Severus Snape, and then they notified Jacob’s sibling and their examination result was that the Petrified student had some texture, the same as the Merpeople Trident that he found in the Buried Vault.^[63] Also Professor Snape was seen while he was talking about the statue curse with Headmaster Dumbledore.^[64]

Madam Rakepick used to store so many dark and cursed items in her classroom, after her betrayal and expulsion, Argus Filch, collected her cursed items and Severus Snape took the items from the caretaker in order to break their curses. While Jacob’s sibling was searching for the items, they and Merula Snyde found Professor Snape while brewing Veritaserum; and he told them that he was unable to break the curses, therefor he gave them to the only one who could break the curses — Headmaster Dumbledore.^[65]

Severus Snape, once had been ordered to retrieve Jacob’s sibling when Madam Poppy Pomfrey was Petrified with the Statue Curse, and unfortunately, it meant that there was no one to take care of the Petrified students or the students that had any kind of illness. So after an announcement taken by the Headmaster, students had to visit Snape or Sprout, if they had any kind of symptom of illness.^[66] He most likely he taught the students the Cough Potion after her Petrification, because of Dumbledore’s announcement.^[67]

Snape was introduced to the Brazilian exchange student Alanza Alves by Jacob’s sibling in his classroom that school year, whom would be joining his sixth-year Potions class. Snape was in the midst of a conversation in his classroom with Argus Filch and Madam Pince, where he informed them that Ashwinder eggs and Occamy eggshells had gone missing from his stores (which Beatrice Haywood had stolen to brew Felix Felicis with). Snape was also rather displeased to be informed by Alanza that her potions had a tendency to explode.^[68]

1990–1991 school year

During this year, Jacob’s sibling requested Snape for some Floo powder, which they needed to enter the British Ministry of Magic via the Floo Network for their work experience programme there. Snape was at the time engaged in a one-sided conversation with Arif Sikander in his classroom, the Muggle Studies professor, who was talking to him about Muggle chemistry, which Snape had no time for. Snape gave them the powder and told them and Sikander to leave, rudely telling them he could stand either of them.^[69]

Snape also taught seventh-years how to brew the Wolfsbane Potion for the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures when no alternative presented itself, as part of their work experience task of helping the Ministry locate a fugitive werewolf.^[70]

Snape examined the hair care potion Xeep’s Luscious Locks Solution when it became clear its users were suffering from memory loss, for Jacob’s sibling and Penny Haywood on their Ministry business. He discovered the potion contained potent memory loss powers, and that it contained the Forgetfulness Potion as its base, with lavender and valerian as its ingredients. He also agreed to help then develop the counter-serum for it, once he had determined all of its ingredients.^[71] He later helped Penny and Jacob’s sibling complete the counter-serum.^[72]

Snape also analysed a pitcher that contained Pumpkin juice for Jacob’s sibling to see if contained remnants of the Alihotsy Draught, which could explain the laughing curse affecting St Mungo’s, but Snape found no traces of the potion, much to their displeasure.^[73]

1991–1992 school year

In 1991, Nicolas Flamel, a famous alchemist and friend of Albus Dumbledore, had the Philosopher’s Stone that was keeping him alive moved from his safe in Gringotts to Hogwarts for safekeeping. Snape contributed to the defences set up around the magical artefact by adding a Potions Riddle as one of the obstacles, and the only obstacle that used logic as a key factor instead of magic.^[74]

At the same time, Harry Potter became a student in Snape’s classes, and the two of them detested each other almost immediately. Harry’s resemblance to his father and his acquired ‘celebrity’ status brought the worst out of Snape from their very first Potions lesson.^[9] Although Snape had pledged an oath to Dumbledore that he would protect Harry, such an oath did not stand in the way of Snape’s bias to Slytherin House, nor did it mean Harry was to get any special treatment in academics.^[7]

Throughout the year as part of his promise to Dumbledore, Snape did everything he could to prevent Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor Quirinus Quirrell from helping Lord Voldemort obtain the Philosopher’s Stone, having seen him as what he was and at least knew he was helping Voldemort, if not also being aware of Voldemort possessing Quirrell. By 31 October, the turbaned Professor, sure enough, made his first move by letting a Mountain troll into Hogwarts Castle as a diversion. Snape took this chance to stop him from sneaking into the restricted third-floor corridor where the Stone was being hidden in the midst of the chaotic event, only to get bitten in the leg by the corridor’s three-headed guard dog, Fluffy.^[75][76]

When Quirrell made his first attempt on Harry’s life by jinxing his new broomstick during the boy’s first Quidditch game, Snape intervened again by performing a counter-curse to prevent Harry from being hurled off. Unfortunately, Hermione Granger observed the crowd through binoculars to figure out who was performing the jinx and caught Snape discreetly uttering the counter-curse incantation, but erroneously thought he was performing the actual curse. So she ran to his stand and set fire to his robes in order to distract him and make him stop, and luckily for Snape, she accidentally knocked Quirrell over during her hurry back to the Gryffindor stands, causing him to break the eye contact necessary for performing his spell correctly.

For the next match, Snape insisted on refereeing to make sure it did not happen again. This did not come across well to the other teachers, who believed that he was just trying to injure the Gryffindor Quidditch team’s chances of winning.^[77]

Snape intensely confronted Quirrell in the Forbidden Forest on the night after the match, demanding to know why he was after the Philosopher’s Stone. Unbeknownst to them both, Harry was watching the entire argument from the treetops, having followed his Potions teacher into the forest on his broomstick after passing him at the school Quidditch shed. But because the boy suspected Snape of plotting to steal the stone and of attempting to kill him, it seemed to him that the Potions professor was trying to intimidate Quirrell into handing over information regarding the artefact.^[78]

Harry, Ron Weasley and Hermione unjustly tried to be supportive and encouraging to Quirrell whenever possible by telling people off for laughing at his stutter, smiling at him encouragingly whenever they passed him or arguing with Snape.^[79]

Snape was present at the End-of-Term Feast that year. He was initially very pleased to see that Slytherin had won the House Cup again, but was forced to shake McGonagall’s hand with a forced smile after Dumbledore’s additional house points to Harry, Ron, Hermione and Neville Longbottom meant that Gryffindor had won instead.^[76]

1992–1993 school year

During the beginning of the school year in 1992, Snape learned from the Evening Prophet that Muggles spotted Harry and Ron travelling to Hogwarts in the Flying Ford Anglia, instead of on the Hogwarts Express. Knowing the severity of their deeds could very well cause them to be expelled, which would put Harry in great danger as he would lose Dumbledore’s protection, Snape took matters into his hand and confronted them when they had landed, where he severely berated them for their breach of one of the most sacred laws of their world and pretended to call upon Professors Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall to make them solve this situation. It was as Snape wanted: Dumbledore ensured they would not be expelled and Minerva punished them instead by giving them a warning and separate detentions.^[80]

Regardless of his desire to uphold Lily’s memory, Snape considered the punishment too lenient and retaliated by allowing the Slytherin Quidditch team to unfairly usurp the Hogwarts Quidditch pitch during the Gryffindor team’s practice time. This was in order for them to train Draco Malfoy as their new Seeker.^[81] Later on in the year, Harry, Ron, and Hermione successfully managed to smuggle Polyjuice Potion ingredients from Snape’s personal cabinets. They did this by creating a spectacle of a diversion in his classroom, which involved a firecracker and the Swelling Solution that was being made in class.

He was utterly furious at the mess and made it clear that he knew it was Harry who had caused it considering the way he looked at him, with Harry referring to having felt Snape read his mind, strongly indicating Snape used Legilimency on him.^[82] However, he was forced to let Harry go again as Dumbledore had made it clear to him that no other punishment but being expelled would be dealt out to Harry if he broke another rule and Snape could not let his anger overpower his desire to see Lily’s son be protected.

During this year, Professor Snape also worked with the new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, Gilderoy Lockhart, in running the Duelling Club. In this period, he quickly visibly showed a large amount of irritation and anger at Professor Lockhart who would remain, evermore, the teacher of the subject he most cherished. Snape took a certain amount of enjoyment in blasting him against a wall with the Disarming Charm and looking ready to murder him on the spot to the point that even Lockhart was intimidated enough to stop annoying Snape.

He ensured that Harry would be engaged with Draco instead, but interfered when Harry and Draco practically checkmated each other, with Harry using the Tickling Charm on Malfoy and was subsequently hit by the Dancing Feet Spell. Although he gave Malfoy the instruction needed to conjure a snake and relished the fact that Harry was alone to face the large angry snake, once Harry showed his Parseltongue ability, Snape quickly interfered to avoid too much of a problem on Harry’s part by vanishing the snake and allowing him to be escorted out of the Great Hall by his friends but looked at him suspiciously before he left.^[82]

Lockhart would only further irritate Professor Snape during Valentine’s Day, where he held a party to celebrate it as Snape looked on particularly dreadfully to the point he looked as if he had been forced to take multiple Skele-Gro and Snape did not hesitate to look utterly infuriated when Lockhart cheerfully asked the students to make Snape brew for them Love Potions to the point he clearly shot a warning look to them that he would force-feed anyone who dared to ask him to poison.^[83] Snape was very likely among the professors who were highly irritated by the Cupids Lockhart unleashed upon Hogwarts as they kept getting in the way of lessons.

This hatred for Lockhart finally reached its apex when Professor Lockhart walked in upon their discovery of Ginny being taken to the Chamber of Secrets, as even Snape was genuinely concerned for her regardless of how he treated Gryffindor, and furiously led the teachers into forcing him out of the way so that students could be escorted to safety, outright not giving Lockhart even a second to rebuke Snape’s claim of having heard Lockhart proclaim that he had found the monster.^[84] Snape was also responsible for the brewing of the Mandrake Restorative Draught in order to cure all those petrified by the Serpent of Slytherin that terrorised the school that year.^[85]

By describing the Polyjuice Potion in Potions class (which Hermione remembered), and demonstrating the Disarming Charm to the Duelling Club, Snape taught Harry two skills that ultimately proved critical to his success.

1993–1994 school year

During this school year, Snape demonstrated his expertise with potions by brewing the complex Wolfsbane Potion for the new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, Remus Lupin. Throughout this year, Snape suspected that Lupin may be helping Sirius Black, an escapee from Azkaban, enter Hogwarts castle. This suspicion stemmed from Lupin’s friendship with Sirius and Harry’s father James Potter when they were all at Hogwarts as students. It is revealed that Sirius once played a joke on Snape, telling him that he could find out where Lupin was going every month if he climbed into the Whomping Willow. James realised the danger and saved Snape’s life by pulling him back.

Near the end of the school year, Snape ambushed Black as he entered the school again and attempted to apprehend him, believing him to have been the one who had betrayed Lily to Voldemort. Snape appeared from under the Invisibility cloak that Harry had left near the Whomping Willow, tied Remus up, and while engaged in a vociferous argument with Harry and Hermione, he attempted to arrange to send Sirius and Remus to Azkaban Prison.

However, before he could give Sirius and Remus to the Dementors, Harry, Ron, and Hermione simultaneously used Expelliarmus on Snape. Snape also said that Harry, Ron, and Hermione faced suspension for being out-of-bounds. Since Harry aided Black’s escape, Snape was beside himself with indignation. On the last day of school, he revealed to his students that Lupin was a werewolf, forcing Lupin to resign his post.

1994–1995 school year

Snape was apoplectic when Harry’s name was unexpectedly chosen from the Goblet of Fire. Despite the fishy circumstances surrounding the incident and the immense dangers that Harry was facing, Snape refused to believe that he did not deliberately enter himself in for the Triwizard Tournament. Indeed, he continued to treat Harry as maliciously as ever, thinking that he had broken into his office to steal ingredients that would aid him in the underwater phase of the tournament.

Harry later discovered that Snape was once a Death Eater but had been vouched for by Dumbledore. Dumbledore told the Wizengamot that although Snape had indeed worked for Voldemort, he changed sides and turned spy against him. Dumbledore reassured Harry that Snape’s loyalties were genuine, though he refused to tell Harry why.^[86]

Harry was not the only one who had expressed scepticism over Snape’s reform. Professor Moody had Snape’s office searched at the beginning of the year, claiming that it was an «Auror’s privilege» and that Dumbledore mentioned being watchful of him. Snape was resentful of Moody’s accusations but could not do anything about it. (In truth, Moody was actually an impostor who had been raiding Snape’s cabinet for ingredients to make Polyjuice Potion.)

Despite Snape’s unawareness of the real reason why Harry was in the tournament, it had not escaped his notice that Lord Voldemort’s mark was becoming increasingly more pronounced throughout the year. Karkaroff, who dreaded retribution from Voldemort, panicked and confided his fears in Snape. Karkaroff attempted to talk to him numerous times throughout the year, but Snape had no sympathy for him and offered no help. Karkaroff consequently fled when the Dark Lord returned, but Snape, who remained in the Dark Lord’s good favour with the information he could provide on Dumbledore, had nothing to fear from him in the term of retribution. In fact, he appeared to have been waiting for Voldemort’s return more than ever this year, as he and Dumbledore were conversing about it.

After the Third Task and the Rebirth of Lord Voldemort, Barty Crouch Jnr took Harry to Moody’s office. Crouch Jnr started to question Harry about what had happened but was shortly rescued by Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Snape. Soon the effects of Crouch Jnr’s Polyjuice Potion wore off; in the excitement, he had neglected to take it at the proper time to maintain his cover. Under the effects of Veritaserum provided by Professor Snape, Crouch described Lord Voldemort’s plan to resurrect himself and Crouch Jnr’s own involvement in getting Harry to the graveyard.

Dumbledore and Snape attempted to convince a disbelieving Cornelius Fudge that Voldemort had returned. Snape was finally told the truth about Sirius’s innocence and was forced by Dumbledore to shake hands. He was subsequently sent on a secret mission by Dumbledore to rejoin the Death Eaters and spy on the Dark Lord as a double agent.

Second Wizarding War (1995–1998)

1995–1996 school year

During the 1995–1996 school year, with Voldemort having returned to his body, Snape carried on with his work as a double agent for Dumbledore. During the summer, he was seen at 12 Grimmauld Place giving reports to the Order of the Phoenix. Snape frequently taunted Sirius about the latter not being able to take an active role in the Order’s missions due to his fugitive status.

Back at school, Snape’s allegiance to the Order had no effect on his dislike for Harry. When Harry began having visions about Lord Voldemort, Dumbledore asked Snape to teach Harry Occlumency in order to shut down the telepathic connection.^[87] However, mutual hostility made it difficult for them to work productively during the sessions. Indeed, Snape had to be very careful in the ways that he helped Harry, should Voldemort read Harry’s mind and discover his servant working against him.

At one point, Harry peeked into the Pensieve when Snape was out of his office and witnessed a private memory of Snape being viciously bullied and harassed by Harry’s father. Upon returning, Snape grabbed him roughly by the arm and threw him out of the office and forbade him from ever coming back again. For all the rest of that semester, he treated Harry with redoubled contempt and fury and ignored him in class whenever possible.

Towards the end of the school year, Dolores Umbridge captured Harry and questioned him on the whereabouts of Dumbledore. She sent for Snape to provide Veritaserum to force Harry to reveal any information he may be hiding. Snape claimed that his supplies of Veritaserum were exhausted earlier, when she had attempted to use the drug surreptitiously to force information from Harry (however, it is highly likely that he lied). As a result, Snape withheld further assistance.

It is later revealed that Snape had actually given Umbridge a fake potion during her prior attempts. Upon hearing Harry’s cryptic warning about Sirius’s capture, he swiftly carried the message back to the other Order members, and helped come up with a plan for them to come to the rescue in the Department of Mysteries while he searched the Forbidden Forest for Harry. But since Umbridge was near, he pretended to ignore it. However, despite the fact that Snape came to his aid multiple times throughout the year, Harry hated him as much as ever, due to believing that Snape’s goading spurred Sirius into joining the battle.

1996–1997 school year

In July 1996 Dumbledore had been afflicted by a powerful curse cast on Marvolo Gaunt’s ring, one of Voldemort’s Horcruxes, prior to the start of Harry’s sixth year at Hogwarts. Although Snape’s knowledge of the Dark Arts enabled him to slow the spread of the curse, the curse would have ultimately killed Dumbledore within a year. Dumbledore, aware that Voldemort had ordered Draco to kill him, asked Snape to kill him instead as a way of sparing the boy’s soul and of preventing his own otherwise slow, painful death.

Although Snape was reluctant, even asking about the impact of such an action on his own soul, Dumbledore implied that this kind of coup de grâce would not damage a human’s soul in the same way murder would. Furthermore, once Snape had done the deed, he would gain Voldemort’s complete trust and learn more of his plans. Snape agreed to do as the Headmaster requested.^[7]

Shortly after that, Snape was visited by Bellatrix Lestrange and Narcissa Malfoy at his home in Spinner’s End. Narcissa’s son Draco had been given a difficult task by Voldemort, and Narcissa swore Snape to an Unbreakable Vow, on pain of death should he break it, that he would protect Draco, help him complete Voldemort’s task, and finish the task himself if Draco failed. When questioned by Bellatrix about his loyalties, Snape claimed to have been working for Voldemort (rather than for Dumbledore) ever since Voldemort’s return, and explained his actions in the previous years in that light. In addition, he pointed out that Dumbledore’s protection had kept him out of Azkaban and free to operate on Voldemort’s behalf.^[88]

At the start-of-term feast at Hogwarts, Dumbledore announced he had finally appointed Snape as Professor of Defence Against the Dark Arts, much to Harry’s shock and displeasure.^[16] Snape was no less severe in teaching Defence than he had been with Potions, although he did allow students who achieved below ‘Outstanding’ at O.W.L. level to enter his N.E.W.T. classes. Having finally acquired the position he desired for so long, Snape taught the lessons with a tone of passion for the Dark Arts he sought to undo, something he did not do for Potions.^[30] He also became less biased, as he allowed Hermione to answer his question^[30] (as opposed to three years ago, he insulted her for being «an insufferable know-it-all»),^[89] and sentenced Crabbe and Goyle to detention for dissatisfying progress in their repeated fifth year.^[90]

Horace Slughorn, a retired Hogwarts teacher, replaced Snape as Potions Master. Slughorn loaned Harry an old Potions textbook, in which Harry found marginalia including helpful tips on how to make potions better,^[30] and a variety of curious spells seemingly invented by an unknown student.^[31] The book was inscribed «This Book is the Property of the Half-Blood Prince«.^[30] With the help of the notes, Harry quickly became the best potion-maker in the class and Slughorn’s favourite student. Snape, however, was suspicious when he heard about Harry’s newfound success, maintaining that he «never had the impression that [he] had been able to teach Potter anything at all«.^[90]

In the spring, Snape met with Dumbledore on the outskirts of the Forbidden Forest and wanted to know more about the private lessons between Albus and Harry. Not knowing that they were overheard by Hagrid, Snape burst into resentment that Dumbledore trusts Harry more than him. Dumbledore only ordered Severus to look after Draco even more, after Ron Weasley has been poisoned. Albus also invited him for an evening visit in his office. When Snape arrived and learned that Harry had to die, he showed outrage and ultimately showed that he still after all these years loved Lily by revealing his Patronus to be a doe, the same as Lily’s.^[7]

Later, in a fight with Draco, Harry cast one of the Prince’s spells marked «For Enemies» (Sectumsempra) and was horrified when it caused devastating wounds to Draco’s face and chest. Snape rushed to the scene and healed Draco’s wounds, and then interrogated Harry about the source of the spell. When Harry refused to tell him anything, Snape demanded that he bring him all of his books. Harry hid the Prince’s book and gave Ron Weasley’s copy of the book to Snape instead.

Snape punished Harry by giving him a detention every Saturday for the rest of the year, including during the final Quidditch match of the season. Fearing of exposing himself as the inventor of the curse that injured Draco, Snape did not outright expose Harry’s cheating in Potions to Slughorn or the rest of the staff, thus resulting in a punishment much more lenient than usual, which Professor McGonagall saw as something very lucky for Harry.^[32]

Before leaving with Dumbledore to find a Horcrux, Harry discovered from Professor Sybill Trelawney that it had been Severus who overheard the Prophecy and told it to Voldemort, thus causing Voldemort to hunt Harry and his parents. Despite this and Harry’s angry questions, Dumbledore maintained that he trusted Snape. After returning to Hogwarts with the Slytherin Locket, Harry and Dumbledore flew to the school’s Astronomy Tower.

Gravely weakened by Voldemort’s potion, and the school being under attack by Death Eaters, Dumbledore asked Harry to fetch Snape for him. Before Harry could leave, Draco arrived and disarmed Dumbledore, intending to carry out Voldemort’s ordered assassination. Draco was unable to bring himself to commit the murder, however, and Snape killed the headmaster himself.^[91]

An enraged Harry (who had been immobilised by Dumbledore for his own protection and had witnessed the killing while under his Invisibility cloak) chased Snape, Draco, and the Death Eaters as they fled the castle. The two of them engaged in a fierce duel, which became increasingly one-sided. Snape easily blocked Harry’s attempts to attack him and jeeringly pointed out Harry’s mistakes, but refused to strike back. However, he became enraged when Harry called him a coward and began using his own spells against him, resulting in him blasting Harry back against the ground.^[26]

During the confrontation, Snape also revealed himself to be the «Half-Blood Prince» (being the son of Tobias Snape, a Muggle, and Eileen Prince, a pure-blood). Harry was unable to stop Snape before the latter passed through the school gates and Disapparated.^[26]

On the run

After killing Albus Dumbledore and fleeing the school, Snape once more rejoined the ranks of the Death Eaters. In the summer of 1997, Snape informed Lord Voldemort that Harry was to depart from his relatives’ house four days before his birthday. On Dumbledore’s orders, Snape told the Death Eaters the correct date so as to continue Voldemort’s trust in him.^[92]

Snape then fed Mundungus Fletcher the idea of using seven decoys of Harry Potter during his movement to a place of safety so that when the Death Eaters arrived, they would not know who the real one was. In order to be consistent in his own role as a Death Eater, Snape confunded Fletcher so that he would not remember who told him.^[92]

Because of Severus’s information, when the Order of the Phoenix moved Harry from Privet Drive they were ambushed by Death Eaters, and the Battle of the Seven Potters ensued. During the battle, Snape accidentally sliced George Weasley’s ear off with Sectumsempra while aiming at another Death Eater.^[93][7]

Shortly after the battle, Severus visited 12 Grimmauld Place where, in Sirius Black’ bedroom, he found Lily Potter’s letter. Snape had cut off the letter and took the page, which contained Lily’s signature and love. He also cut off the picture of Potter family and took the page, which contained Lily, for himself.^[7]

As Headmaster

During the 1997–1998 school year, Snape was named Headmaster of Hogwarts, while Death Eaters Alecto and Amycus Carrow were appointed Deputy Heads. Snape used his position as Headmaster to discreetly protect the students and to contain the Carrows. It is later understood that, during his time as Headmaster, Snape consulted with the portraits of the previous Headmasters, and continued to receive instructions from Dumbledore’s portrait.

Before the beginning of the first term, Rufus Scrimgeour removed the Sword of Gryffindor from its glass case in the headmaster’s office for examination, along with the other items Dumbledore left in his will. However, this sword was a fake. The real sword had been hidden in a hole in the wall behind Dumbledore’s portrait.

When its counterfeit had been returned to Dumbledore’s office, another attempt to seize the sword was made by Luna Lovegood, Neville Longbottom, and Ginny Weasley. After pretending to punish them by sending them into the Forbidden Forest with Rubeus Hagrid, Snape passed the fake sword along to Bellatrix Lestrange, who kept it in her vault at Gringotts, thinking that it was real.

Upon being informed by the portrait of Phineas Nigellus Black of Harry Potter’s whereabouts, Dumbledore’s portrait instructed Snape to give Harry the real sword without the latter knowing it. Not only would Harry not have taken kindly to Snape’s appearance after his attack on George Weasley, and also for the murder of Dumbledore of which Harry was an eye-witness, it would have been dangerous if Voldemort were to read his mind and see Snape helping him.

Snape then took the real sword, hid it in a frozen pool of water near Harry’s camping spot, and used his Patronus to guide Harry to it. After having rescued Harry from drowning, Ron claimed to have supposedly seen someone watching from the shadows. Though not stated, it is extremely likely to have been Snape keeping an eye on Harry and only departing once he knew the latter was safe.

As a headmaster, Snape was thoroughly disliked by many of his students. The old members of Dumbledore’s Army reformed the organisation after Lord Voldemort gained control over the school and started up a revolt against Snape and the Carrows. Neville Longbottom, Luna Lovegood, and Ginny Weasley were at the forefront of the rebellion. Snape, following up on his promise to Dumbledore to keep the students safe, subtly undermined the violent, sadistic attempts of the Carrows to keep control by doing things such as sending students to help Hagrid as punishments rather than the Carrows’ more dangerous alternatives.

Neville stated that Snape was hardly ever seen whilst headmaster. This could be because Snape remained in the headmaster’s office most of the time or was searching for/following the trio to make sure they were safe and/or making progress. Also, during his tenure, the Educational Decree Number Twenty-Four was re-enacted and students had taken to (most likely under Snape’s orders) marching from point A to point B together like they were in military school.

Dismissal as Headmaster

Harry, Ron, and Hermione returned to Hogwarts Castle in search of one of the last of Voldemort’s Horcruxes, which they believed to have something to do with Rowena Ravenclaw. The only idea they could come up with was Ravenclaw’s lost diadem, and so Harry and Luna Lovegood went to the Ravenclaw Common Room to get an idea of what the diadem looked like. Here they were met by Alecto Carrow, who pressed her finger to the Dark Mark and summoned Voldemort.^[94] Amycus Carrow arrived, but so did Minerva McGonagall.

The two began fighting, and while Snape put up a good defence, McGonagall’s attack was beginning to overwhelm him, for he was forced to take refuge behind a suit of armour when McGonagall gained the upper hand with daggers. She was soon helped by the arrival of the other Heads of House: Sprout, Flitwick, and Slughorn. Outnumbered, Snape fled the castle, jumping out the window of a classroom and using the ability to fly without a broom, which he presumably learned from Voldemort.^[95]

Battle of Hogwarts and death

Later in the evening, Snape was summoned by Voldemort to the Shrieking Shack. Voldemort explained that he believed that Snape was the master of the Elder Wand from killing Dumbledore and that Snape must die so that the Elder Wand can be his. Snape tried to explain the situation but Voldemort ordered Nagini to kill Snape by biting into his neck, injecting him with her extremely poisonous venom, before he could finish speaking. Before dying, Snape released a cloud of memories and told Harry, who had watched the entire scene from a hidden spot, to take them.^[20]

Harry later took the memories to the Pensieve in Dumbledore’s office. From these memories, Harry learned everything about Snape’s past. In the first scene, Harry discovered that Snape had befriended Lily as a nine-year-old child when they lived near each other in the industrial town of Cokeworth.^[7]

Upon their arrival at Hogwarts, the Sorting Hat placed Snape and Lily into Slytherin and Gryffindor Houses, respectively. They remained close friends for the next few years until they were driven apart by Snape’s interest in the Dark Arts and by Lily’s interest in James Potter. The friendship finally ended following the incident that Harry had briefly witnessed in his fifth year, in which Snape accidentally insulted Lily. Despite this separation, and Snape’s enmity toward Lily’s eventual husband James Potter, Snape continued to love Lily on a much deeper and stronger romantic level for the rest of his life.^[7]

Snape was next seen going to Dumbledore and desperately begging him to hide the Potters from Lord Voldemort, who was planning on targeting Lily’s son to prevent a prophecy from being fulfilled. Snape had been the one who previously revealed said prophecy to Voldemort, not knowing at first that it was referring to Lily and her family. Though he asked Voldemort to spare Lily, Snape still feared for her safety, as he knew that Voldemort could not be relied on to grant this small favour. Snape became a double agent for the Order of the Phoenix so that Dumbledore could ensure Lily’s protection, employing Occlumency to hide his duplicity from his master.^[7]

Snape felt devastating pain and remorse when Lily was found and murdered. From that point on, he agreed to help Dumbledore protect her son and fight against Lord Voldemort. Snape demanded, however, that his feelings about Lily be kept a secret. Dumbledore complied and never told anyone the real reason why Snape switched sides.^[7]

Snape’s memories then revealed that Severus slowed the spread of the curse afflicted on Dumbledore, after he put Marvolo Gaunt’s ring. However, the curse would have ultimately killed Albus within a year. Dumbledore, knowing that Draco Malfoy was ordered by Voldemort to kill him, and expecting the boy will fail, asked Snape to kill himself instead of Draco in order to gain Voldemort’s complete trust and learn more of his plans.^[7]

At the end Snape’s memories showed Snape’s outrage after learning that Harry had to die. Snape ultimately revealed his Patronus, a doe, the same as Lily’s, showing he still, after all these years, loved her.^[7]

Because of the memories, Harry finally understood where Snape’s true allegiances always were. The memories provided Harry with the information he needed to ensure Voldemort’s final defeat. He also showed Harry the memory where Albus Dumbledore had told him about Harry himself being a Horcrux (although he did not understand it) because Dumbledore had asked him to pass that along to Harry when the time was right.^[7]

Post-mortem

During the final duel between Harry and Voldemort, Harry finally told him that Snape had been, in fact, Dumbledore’s man. Harry also revealed that Snape was never the true master of the Elder Wand, because Snape never defeated Dumbledore; the two had arranged his death as he would have died either way. Before Snape killed Dumbledore, Draco Malfoy disarmed Dumbledore. Therefore, Draco was the true master of the Elder Wand, not Snape.

However, Harry had overpowered Draco at Malfoy Manor and taken his wand. Because of the subtleties governing wand ownership discussed by Garrick Ollivander, Harry was the current master of the Elder Wand. Snape’s true loyalties remained hidden due to his skills as an Occlumens and the fact his actions were motivated by love, which completely eluded Voldemort. Successfully defeating both Voldemort and Nagini, Harry and Neville avenged Snape’s death.^[21]

Snape’s portrait was not automatically put into the Headmaster’s office since he had essentially abandoned his post during the Battle of Hogwarts. However, Harry, in one of his acts of showing reconciliation towards Snape, made sure that his portrait was placed there.^[96] It is possible that Harry gave his corpse a proper burial after the war ended. Rita Skeeter also published a book about Snape’s life, entitled Snape: Scoundrel or Saint?, sometime after his death.^[97] If it is consistent with Skeeter’s other works, it is probably riddled with inaccuracies designed to tarnish Snape’s reputation.

Albus Severus Potter, the second son of Harry, and the only one of Harry’s children to have inherited Lily’s bright green almond-shaped eyes, is named after Snape. When Albus was worried that he may be Sorted into Slytherin, Harry responded that Albus was named after two headmasters, one of whom was a Slytherin and «probably the bravest man I ever knew«.^[22]

Alternate timeline

By his fourth year at Hogwarts, Scorpius Malfoy had learned all about Snape’s history and motivations, allowing him to convince an alternate version of Snape — in a timeline where Voldemort won the Battle of Hogwarts and thus ruled wizarding Britain — that he came from a different timeline so that Snape could help Scorpius meet the local resistance and undo what he had unwittingly done to the past.

This version of Snape correctly guessed that he had died in the struggle against Voldemort in Scorpius’ timeline, on account that the boy was evidently surprised to see him alive in the altered timeline, but proceeded to aid him nonetheless; if anything, Severus merely expressed annoyance that he apparently met his end at the Dark Lord’s hands in the original timeline. After knocking down Dolores Umbridge to allow Scorpius Malfoy to escape, he was attacked by the Dementors, leaving his fate unknown.^[98]

Physical appearance

Severus Snape was a thin man with sallow skin, a large, hooked nose and yellow, uneven teeth. He usually dressed in flowing black robes which made him resemble «an overgrown bat«. He had shoulder-length, greasy black hair which framed his face in curtains, curling lips and dark, penetrating eyes that resembled tunnels. As a Death Eater, he bore the Dark Mark on his left inner forearm.

The younger Snape had a «stringy, pallid look«, being «round-shouldered yet angular» and with a «twitchy walk that recalled a spider«, as well as «long oily hair that jumped about his face«.

Snape had a strong, authoritative presence. He spoke in a soft, contained voice most of the time, except during the occasional instances when he lost his temper.

Personality and traits

A complicated, withdrawn person, Severus Snape’s life was overwhelmed with many complex emotions that he never fully disclosed. At times, Snape could appear cold, cynical, malicious, bitter, and sarcastic. He had a commanding presence that exuded gravitas, authority and control; like Professor McGonagall, he had the ability to keep a class quiet without effort. He tended to hold grudges and was extremely spiteful toward those whom he disliked. In particular, he disdained Gryffindor students, considering them to be arrogant and attention-seeking. Descriptions of his social interactions as a child suggest that he had poor interpersonal skills and that he may have suffered from depression.

Snape was a repressed, solitary man with no friends. In his early life, he was insecure, vulnerable, and yearned to be part of something better. As a child, the bleak normality of working-class suburbia compounded with his neglectful Muggle father inspired in him a contempt for ordinariness. This urgent desire to be a part of something powerful and important was what drew him to Lord Voldemort’s inner circle. Snape’s bitterness and resentment towards the world was exacerbated even more by the relentless bullying he endured in school, causing him to shut himself in even more.

Snape was not a prejudiced individual despite the Death Eater beliefs of pure-blood superiority, but was rather against Muggles, presumably because of his sour experience with both his father and Petunia Evans, but held no ill-will towards Muggle-borns. The foundation of him scolding Lily Evans by calling her Mudblood was to not appear weak in front of his fellow Death Eater students than actual supremacist views. He also deeply regretted this as it was what ended his friendship with Lily and defended Hermione Granger when Phineas Nigellus Black called her Mudblood, his manner of speaking in this instance being uncharacteristically explosive and filled with more emotion than he normally displayed.

He was an intensely private individual who viewed emotional displays as a sign of shameful weakness. As an Occlumens, Snape had superb emotional control and was adept at concealing his thoughts and feelings, which allowed him to maintain his cold, collected demeanour. However, he had his limits, and was not incapable of losing his temper, particularly when it came to dealing with Harry Potter. Inevitably, he also became furious when he thought he was being pitied or accused of cowardice.

Snape was a formidable sorcerer, displaying consummate skill in many different branches of magic. His extensive knowledge and abilities were rivalled by very few, if any other witches and wizards of his age. Snape was also unusually cerebral for a wizard, possessing a subtle and keenly analytical mind. As a result, Snape was extremely intelligent and calculative, with a mind for strategy and deduction. He was also a profound misanthrope who appeared to have a prominent hatred of almost every child under his tutelage, except of course for Slytherins. He valued logic and cunning above magical power.

As a professor, Snape was known for his cavalier and harshly authoritarian attitude towards his teaching. His standards for his classes were much higher than that of the other professors, as he only allowed students with the very best grades to continue into advanced study. As Potions Master, he described it as an art and an exact science, and dismissed the use of incantations and wand waving as «silly and foolish». He developed a loving passion for Dark Arts, originally in the hopes to cover the shame of his heritage, and his interest in it led him to repeatedly apply for the Defence Against the Dark Arts professor post every year, despite being rejected for sixteen years.

Snape knew full well why Dumbledore never granted him the position, as it may be a trigger to bring out his worst side, something he denied to Umbridge’s questioning but let in to those of Bellatrix’s. When he finally got his wish, Snape taught the course with a loving caress in his voice, far beyond simply respecting the Dark Arts as a dangerous foe, something he did not show in his post as the Potions Master. He also taught this class slightly fairer than he did in Potions, such as lowering his entrance standards and biases for N.E.W.T. level classes, allowing more students to enter the advanced studies of his favourite class, and placed students from his own house, such as Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle, in detention for failing to do acceptable work the second time around after failing their O.W.L. the previous year.

Ultimately, it was Snape’s past and his love for Lily Evans that defined his inner being. His love for Lily Evans became most noticeable by his Patronus; a Doe, just like Lily’s. Upon overhearing the Prophecy, he immediately informed his then-master of its contents, unaware that this would endanger Lily and her family. It was only after Lily’s death that Snape realised the full extent of his actions. He suffered terrible remorse for what he had done and spent the rest of his life in constant danger in order to protect Lily’s son.

In spite of his vindictive demeanour, Severus Snape was an immensely brave man who possessed a deep capacity for love. Everything that he did in the latter part of his life was motivated by his devotion to Lily Evans, whom he loved unconditionally. He was one of Dumbledore’s most reliable allies and in his role as a double agent, took great personal risk in ensuring Harry’s safety from Lord Voldemort. Despite his years of him and Harry barely getting along, if at all, Snape openly criticised Dumbledore after learning he protected Harry all these years just so he could die at the right time due to being a Horcrux, showing he didn’t agree with Harry’s death even though, at first, he only protected him because of his relationship to Lily. When he informed Dumbledore that he informed Voldemort of the prophecy, Snape begged Dumbledore to hide Harry, Lily, and even James too. This clearly showed that Snape prioritised Lily’s happiness above all else, even if it meant her being with a man he hated for most of his life.

Despite his coldness towards all but Lily, Snape nevertheless proved capable of genuinely caring for others apart from Lily and Harry. He showed that despite his mistreatment of them, he cared considerably for the students of Hogwarts, risking his façade for them by secretly doing everything he can to make sure they stayed out of harm’s way and at one point being genuinely concerned when a student was taken to the Chamber of Secrets. Additionally, Snape was also genuinely saddened by the death of Rowan Khanna, his face just as mournful as the rest of the other House Heads, and if Rowan were in Slytherin, Snape even went as far as to plead with Merula to stop being angry and comfort them with the prospect of standing together in the face of crisis.

While he initially resented Dumbledore for his lack of intervention on his torturous bullying by the Marauders, it seemed the time he spent allying with Dumbledore had made him grow to genuinely as well as greatly respect and even care for him, as shown by how he was clearly shocked into being silent for a long time after Dumbledore asked Snape to kill him, clearly indicated that killing Dumbledore was hard for him to do and tried to make him have Draco kill him instead of having Snape do it. Even after learning of how Dumbledore had wanted Harry to die so Voldemort can be defeated, when preparing to kill Dumbledore, his face was described as being genuinely hateful and disgusted of what he was about to do.

Despite Snape’s normally calm and controlled exterior and guarded body language, he was in possession of an extraordinarily explosive and almost psychotic temper. This was rarely seen, but an extreme display of rage was most prominently witnessed after Snape killed Dumbledore and was confronted outside of Hagrid’s burning house near the edge of the school grounds. The event that triggered this unhinged manifestation of Snape’s unrestrained wrath was Harry’s accusation of Snape being a coward for killing Dumbledore.

Due to the many years of being bullied by Harry’s father, and with a need to both vent his immense stress and maintain his cover as a loyal Death Eater, Snape unleashed a terrifying mix of both his emotions and magic in his duel with Harry, taking great pleasure in torturing and punishing the son of his enemy. Unlike in the past where he spoke quietly in his anger, Snape in this instance was screaming and letting so much out, as well as confessing his identity of the Half-Blood Prince to Harry who had attempted to use one of Snape’s own invented spells against him. This battle showed Snape’s repressed rage in its horrific glory and power. Suffice it to say, Severus Snape was not a man who it was wise to provoke, lest one incur his almost elemental wrath and magical power.

Magical abilities and skills

Severus Snape was an extremely powerful and skilled wizard, showing proficient talent and great knowledge in many different areas of magic. He had an encyclopaedic knowledge and proficiency in potions, was incredibly talented in Legilimency and Occlumency, and was also the only Death Eater capable of producing a Patronus.

• Magical mastery: Even at a young age, Severus was a gifted wizard, having knowledge of deep secrets of the wizarding world that he would usually relay to his crush, Lily Potter. In addition, Sirius Black, a known rival of his, claimed that Severus knew more about the Dark Arts than half of the seventh year’s at Hogwarts, which speaks for his seemingly encyclopaedic knowledge of magic. He was proficient in creating many useful spells used by the Death Eaters and even his rivals. He was also proficient in altering the formula for potions, resulting in an easier and more efficient way to produce them, which enhanced Harry Potter’s proficiency in Potions to the point of easily surpassing even the results of Hermione Granger. His magical prowess was so great as a teenager that his bully and rival, James Potter would never have taken him on in a one on one fight unless he was backed up by his three other talented friends. As an adult, Snape had became an incredibly powerful and skilled wizard and acknowledged by his fellow professors and Lord Voldemort for his great prowess. He proved capable of effortlessly defeating the likes of Harry Potter and also holding his own against the extremely powerful witch Minerva McGonagall, who was capable of surviving a duel with Voldemort himself.
• Love: Severus was one of the only people in Voldemort’s inner circle who was capable of feeling unconditional love. He fell deeply in love with Lily Evans as a child and maintained his devotion to her until his death. Despite their differences in beliefs about many things, Severus felt nothing but absolute love for Lily even though she never extended her reciprocity beyond friendship. Snape was devastated by Lily’s death and expressed suicidal desires. However, so great was his love, he forced his way past them and spent seventeen years in constant danger in order to protect Lily’s son and ensure that her sacrifice was not in vain. Indeed, Snape’s Patronus was a doe, just like Lily’s, showing that his love for her was far stronger than his loyalty to Lord Voldemort. Due to this, Snape was the only Death Eater who was able to cast a Patronus. Furthermore, his insight into the nature of love was evident when teaching Love Potions, as he was able to distinguish between the obsessive love caused by love potions and the genuine, unconditional love that most people felt for each other.^[99]

• Potions: Severus was extremely adept in the art of potion-making and worked as the Potions Master at Hogwarts for about fifteen years. His prowess at potion-making extended beyond simple execution from formally documented recipes accepted and followed by the general public. When he was still only a student, he would alter official instructions with his own variations, which usually resulted in quicker and more efficient results. He was capable of brewing highly complicated potions such as Veritaserum, Wolfsbane Potion and the Mandrake Restorative Draught. In 1996, Professor Slughorn mentioned that in all his years of teaching, only one student had ever managed to brew an acceptable Draught of Living Death and claim the Felix Felicis being offered as a prize. It is implied, though not confirmed, that Snape was this student. Snape was also able to identify Polyjuice Potion by smell and produce fake Veritaserum that seemed real enough to fool Dolores Umbridge (though Umbridge was not portrayed as being particularly intelligent with practicality). In addition, Snape used an unidentified golden potion to help slow a curse that was slowly killing Dumbledore.

• Dark Arts: Severus had a passion for the Dark Arts from a young age, and was especially talented with curses, or so some believed. According to Sirius Black, Snape was «up to his eyeballs in the Dark Arts» when he was at school. However, they had an age-old rivalry which could have influenced Sirius’s words. When he was still a student, Snape was already talented enough that he was capable of creating new dark spells, as most of the spells he created were curses, hexes, and jinxes. As an adult at least, Snape was capable of performing the Killing Curse, one of the Unforgivable Curses that required a considerable level of magical skill, using the curse to kill Dumbledore on his orders.

• Defence Against the Dark Arts: Though Snape had a zest for dark magic, he possessed outstanding knowledge and abilities in protecting from it. His encyclopaedic understanding of the dark arts may have contributed to this. Snape taught the class at N.E.W.T level to such an effect that even Harry Potter could not help but be enchanted by his knowledge. Snape effectively «assisted» the 1992 duelling club, and understood the need for students handling pragmatism as well as theory in the subject. Snape’s speciality in DADA was particularly in the area of counter-curses. In fact, his abilities in countering curses were so great that he was able to temporarily save Dumbledore (himself an expert on the subject) with wand enhanced incantations and a potion simultaneously from a «curse of extraordinary power«, Dumbledore noted that he was only able to (temporarily) survive due to Snape’s expertise. He was also able to prevent the curse that Katie Bell was inflicted with when she touched the necklace on Borgin and Burkes from spreading any further, saving her life. Snape had also developed effective counter curses for his own dark charms, such as the magic he used to heal Draco from the effects of Sectumsempra.

• Occlumency and Legilimency: Snape’s unerring ability to conceal his thoughts and feelings from external penetration proved to be crucial for him. His skills in Occlumency was so great that for seventeen years, he managed to hide facts from Lord Voldemort such as his remorse for Lily Evans’s death and his secret alliance with Albus Dumbledore; it was his mastery of hiding his mind that made both sides distrust him. Snape was also very skilled at Legilimency; Harry Potter often felt as if Snape had the ability to read minds even before learning what the art was. Snape used Legilimency on Harry constantly, while attempting to teach him Occlumency in their private lessons and later used it to effortlessly deflect Harry’s spells and curses. Despite his skill in Legilimency he was may have been unable to read Draco Malfoy’s thoughts when the latter was a relatively inexperienced Occlumens (though Draco may have only believed that he was able to block Snape). Since Voldemort was considered history’s greatest legilimens and was unable to ever read Snape’s mind, despite being in the same room with him on many occasions, Snape could be history’s greatest occlumens, with the possible exception of Albus Dumbledore and Gellert Grindelwald, both of whom proved able to also deflect Voldemort’s Legilimency. Considering how Voldemort would have detected Snape resisting penetration, Snape would’ve had to be careful only to block certain thoughts from him while allowing Voldemort to only see what would reinforce his belief in Snape’s loyalty. Indeed, during Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort’s final duel, Voldemort was at first dismissive of Harry’s claims that Severus Snape betrayed him after he didn’t spare Lily’s life and how Snape’s patronus was the same as Lily’s as he had loved Lily since they were children, showing Snape’s great skills in Occlumency.

• Transfiguration: Severus was highly accomplished with transfiguration, given his proficiency with Conjuration and Vanishment, two very difficult and advanced branches of this field. He was talented with the vanishing of physical matter, as shown when he vanished Harry Potter’s failed Draught of Peace potion in 1995 with the Vanishing Spell^[100] and when he vanished the snake that Draco Malfoy summoned in 1992 with the Snake-Vanishing Spell.^[82] He also successfully conjured ropes with the Incarcerous Spell to bind Sirius Black and Remus Lupin in the Shrieking Shack in 1994.^[101] He also transfigured the whirlwind-shaped fire that McGonagall launched at him shortly before the Battle of Hogwarts into a great black snake.^[95]

• Charms: Snape was highly talented in charms as he not only could use basic to advanced charms without fail, such as levitation, disarming, summoning, banishing, locking doors, repairing, illuminating, igniting, creating water, shielding and stunning, but he was even able to cast the incredibly difficult Patronus Charm, conjuring a corporeal doe Patronus. He was also able to write instructions on a blackboard with a single flick of his wand.

• Flying: Snape was a very capable flyer on a broomstick, as during the Battle of the Seven Potters, he was not blasted off his broom and knowledgeable enough in the rules of Quidditch to take over the position of referee at least once. However, in one of Snape’s memories, Lily was laughing as he attempted to mount a bucking broomstick, so perhaps he was not always a good flyer. Later on, Severus was also capable of Unsupported flight. The only other known wizard that was able to do this was Lord Voldemort himself (who is likely to have passed down this skill to Snape personally). In 1997, he used this skill to escape from Hogwarts after his duel with Minerva McGonagall.

• Teaching skills: Despite his unpleasant nature and strained relationship with many of the Hogwarts students outside Slytherin, Snape was nevertheless a relatively effective teacher as the Potions Master and was one of the few teachers at Hogwarts who could keep a class quiet with minimal effort, with some students like Percy Weasley and Hermione Granger able to achieve O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s under his teaching, despite Snape only allowing students with top grades to do Potions in the NEWT level. In addition to being the Potions Master at Hogwarts for most of his teaching career, Snape’s teaching skills allowed him to eventually became the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, the teaching post he sought after the most at Hogwarts. It was also effective enough for him to be respected by most of the other professors until he killed Dumbledore, pass Dolores Umbridge’s inspection of him and for Voldemort to make him Headmaster of Hogwarts following the Fall of the Ministry of Magic. Even while he was still the Potions Master, he served as a substitute teacher for Remus Lupin’s Defence Against the Dart Arts lessons during Lupin’s Werewolf transformations and prior to that, assisted Gilderoy Lockhart in a duelling demonstration for the short-lived Duelling Club at Hogwarts, and indirectly taught Harry Potter the Disarming Charm during that demonstration which proved enough for it to become Harry’s signature spell. Additionally, while Harry did not learn much from Snape due to their mutual dislike of each other, the instructions Snape wrote in his copy of Advanced Potion-Making were effective enough to make Harry improve his own performance in Potions in his sixth year. However, Snape’s teaching skills were not flawless, as his unpleasant nature meant that he was not as liked or respected as other professors in the school by most students excluding Slytherin, he demonstrated bias towards Slytherin students over students from other houses and bullied some students like Harry and Neville Longbottom while teaching, resulting in him becoming the latter’s worst fear during his earlier years at Hogwarts. He was also unable to effectively teach Harry Occlumency, mostly due to their mutual dislike of each other not allowing him to teach Harry in a more encouraging manner, which most likely would have made Harry focus more in learning Occlumency and control his emotions better. It is possible that Snape would have been more respected as a teacher by other students if he was less unpleasant, less biased towards Slytherin students and if he incorporated the instructions in his copy of Advanced Potion-Making into his teaching more often.
• Acting skills: Snape was an extremely adept actor, as he flawlessly succeeded in hiding his true allegiance to Albus Dumbledore from the Death Eaters, even able to fool Voldemort himself completely to the point of the latter having complete trust in him to such an extent that after he killed Dumbledore, Voldemort was fully willing to make him Hogwarts’ Headmaster. Snape’s skill in acting allowed him to keep his motives dubious in the eyes of both friend and ally alike. This makes Snape likely the most accomplished actor and spy in wizarding history.
• Indomitable willpower: Snape, despite his personal demons, possessed immense willpower and bravery, being a respected hero of the Second Wizarding War and having great respect from both Albus Dumbledore and Harry Potter (the latter of whom would go so far as to declare Snape to be «the bravest man [he] ever knew»). Hence, despite his great love for Lily Potter and being aware of her intense disapproval for the Dark Arts, Snape refused to relinquish his interest for the practice nor abandon the approval of his Slytherin friends for her. Later, while guilt-ridden and devastated, feeling personally responsible for Lily’s death, Snape refused to succumb to despair and instead dedicated himself to honouring Lily in death by working closely with Dumbledore to protect Harry and ensure that her sacrifice was not in vain. As such, despite the extremely dangerous and seemingly impossible task of bringing down the most powerful Dark wizard of all time, Lord Voldemort, Snape refused to back down from it and resolved to faithfully execute Dumbledore’s many complex and intricate plans to bring down the Dark Lord, with him valiantly working as an undercover agent for the Order of the Phoenix for sixteen years and steadfastly spying on the Death Eaters, with this ultimately ensuring Voldemort’s defeat at the hands of Harry. Snape’s willpower and determination also allowed him to persistently apply for the Defence Against the Dark Arts post for fifteen years (despite Dumbledore repeatedly refusing him the job) and to completely master the notably difficult skills of Occlumency and non-verbal magic, both of which required high amounts of mental strength. Moreover, in an alternate timeline, Snape was willing to sacrifice himself to defeat Voldemort and save the world once again, by distracting a swarm of Dementors, thereby giving Scorpius Malfoy the necessary opening to restore the timeline again.

• Duelling: Although he rarely engaged in duels, Snape was shown to be a highly capable duellist. During his days as a Death Eater he likely had to fight against aurors and members of the Order of the Phoenix. He was able to hold his own against the extremely powerful Minerva McGonagall (who was capable of duelling Voldemort along with Kingsley and Slughorn) during their brief duel, before she forced him to hide behind a shield of armour. He then fled when Pomona Sprout and Filius Flitwick arrived to assist. He assisted in a duelling club in 1992 with Gilderoy Lockhart, effortlessly defeating him with a single spell, though, as Lockhart was an unskilled wizard, this was not such a great achievement. Snape also easily overwhelmed Harry Potter during his escape from the Battle of the Astronomy Tower and defeated him without much effort, using Legilimency to read Harry’s attempted moves and countered them all before they could be cast. Severus participated in the Battle of the Seven Potters, joining the Death Eaters’s side (though secretly attempted to protect the Order), and survived unharmed. Contrary to the vicious duelling styles of other Death Eaters, Snape preferred using defensive spells and only used aggressive magic when facing a weak opponent, such as Lockhart, or when his foe grew frustrated and started making mistakes. Snape was never known to battle a Death Eater or ally to Voldemort (which would’ve blown his cover) but no Death Eater ever dared raise a wand against him (even the notoriously powerful Bellatrix Lestrange) and showed fear towards him, indicating they must have seen him display remarkable duelling skills.

• Spell creation: As a student at Hogwarts, Severus was very inventive with new spells. Some of the spells he created were Sectumsempra, Langlock, Muffliato, Levicorpus and its counter-jinx Liberacorpus.^[26] The last two somehow became common knowledge around the school. It is unknown what thoughts and techniques Snape put into his creations.

• Wandless and nonverbal magic: Snape was highly skilled at using non-verbal spells, from the most basic uses (such as instruction-writing on blackboards and cleanups) to the most advanced (such as combat curses). Snape was also skilled at performing wandless magic, such as rope conjuring, counter-jinxing and memory extraction. (Although memory extraction does not require explicitly the use of a wand, relying instead on direct eye contact, conjuring and counter-jinxing are more often depicted to take place with the help of a wand.)

• Healing magic: Snape was also very skilled with healing magic, as he reduced the effects of the Curse on Marvolo Gaunt’s ring on Albus Dumbledore which allowed him to survive for at least a year and saved Katie Bell’s life by preventing any further spread of the cursed necklace in her body.^[7] He also healed Draco Malfoy’s wounds with Vulnera Sanentur, a healing spell and counter-curse, after Harry Potter recklessly used the Sectumsempra curse on him and seriously injured him.^[32] His knowledge in healing was such that Dumbledore once quoted to Harry that Snape was more experienced in healing against Dark magic than Poppy Pomfrey was. He also successfully brewed the Mandrake Restorative Draught in the 1992–1993 school year, which cured all the victims of petrification that year.^[85]
• Apparition: Like most accomplished adult wizards, Snape could apparate successfully at will. He disapparated away from Hogwarts after the Battle of the Astronomy Tower in 1997 from beyond the Hogwarts gates.^[26]
• Intellectual giftedness: Snape’s logic and deductive reasoning skills were such that he helped protect the Philosopher’s Stone by creating an obstacle, which was based on logic rather than magical skill. According to Hermione Granger, many powerful wizards have a blind spot in regards to logic.^[74]
• Poetry: A skill that Snape possessed but did not make very much mention or display of, Snape was capable of fluidly crafting his words in a way that could often befuddle the reader. His only known composition was the logic puzzle that he used as part of his defences of the Philosopher’s Stone. Since this poem showed Snape’s logical thinking, it was obviously one of his own creations. Snape’s other possible works, if they exist, remain unknown.
• Alchemy: Intimately connected with Potion-making among other things, Snape had great respect for the field of alchemy, believing it was as much about gaining intellectual wealth as the physical one. Deeming it more advanced than his usual lessons, to the point where he initially asked Jacob’s sibling if the latter was joking when they asked whether he would be willing to teach alchemy to themselves and the visiting Beauxbatons student, insisting that he would only ever consider giving lessons on the subject to a select few of his very best students, such as Penny Haywood. Displaying a fair amount of knowledge on the topic, he was able to host a private lesson and give Jacob’s sibling, Penny Haywood and Aurélie Dumont a lecture on the philosophy, history and teachings of the subject, as well as its objectives.^[102]

Relationships

Parents

Snape never regarded the place where he grew up as a home. Rather like Voldemort and Harry, Hogwarts was his real home. It is likely that he suffered neglect as a child. His parents seem to have had a dysfunctional, even abusive relationship. This troubled, lonely childhood is strongly suggested to have accounted for his severe demeanour, depression, sadness, bitterness, and bouts of rage, as seen later in his life.

Despite having a father who disliked the wizarding community, Snape was quite skilled with magic before he even received his Hogwarts letter. Sirius Black would later remark that, when they first arrived at school, Snape knew more curses than many of the seventh-year students. It does seem that he had a slightly better relationship with his witch mother. During his school years, he nicknamed himself the «Half Blood Prince». In addition, it is quite likely Eileen gave her son most, if not all of his school things. His sixth-year Potions book was, according to Harry, at least fifty years old.

Since at least 1996, Snape was staying in his family’s home during the summers between school years. It is unknown what happened to his parents. As he was only thirty-six years old in 1996, his parents may well have been alive, but moved away and left the house to him. His salary as a Hogwarts professor probably made it possible for him to afford other lodging during summers, but his childhood memories of Lily may have stopped him from abandoning the house.

Lily Evans

Snape’s friendship with Lily Evans was probably the only thing that truly brought joy to his life. He first met Lily at a very young age, recognising her as a witch one day as she and her sister Petunia played in the park near his house; she had flown off the swings and made a flower grow from a sprout. Longing to escape his humiliating home life, Snape immediately sought to make her his friend. Despite the fact that Lily came from a Muggle family, he never truly saw her as being one of them because he was so smitten with her.

They spend time talking about magic and the wizarding world. Lily even asked if being Muggle-born mattered in the Wizarding world. Snape responded that it did not matter at all. In 1971, the two of them were accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and continued a close friendship up until around their fifth year, despite being sorted into different houses. Snape was very disappointed that they were not in the same house and forlorn because of it.

During this time, Snape began hanging out with people who embraced Dark Magic and pure-blood supremacy, which put a huge strain on their friendship. Lily was offended by many of the views that Snape was beginning to adopt and disliked the qualities that his new classmates were bringing out in him. Given time over again, Snape would never have done many of the things he did, but at the time he did not truly understand her aversion. He was so insecure and blinded by his attraction to the Dark side that he imagined she would find it impressive if he became a real Death Eater. Ironically, Lily might have grown to love Snape romantically (she certainly loved him as a friend) if he had not loved Dark Magic so much, and been drawn to such loathsome people and acts. When Snape called Lily a «Mudblood» in a moment of humiliation, it was the last straw for Lily. When she later asked him if he still intended to become a Death Eater and he did not deny it, she severed all ties with him, despite Snape’s profuse apologies.

When Snape overheard the Prophecy, he immediately relayed its contents to the Dark Lord, not knowing that it would have anything to do with Lily. Upon discovering that Lord Voldemort was planning on targeting the Potter family, Snape pleaded with him to spare Lily in exchange for her husband and son. He later appealed to Albus Dumbledore, asking him to do everything in his power to protect Lily and the rest of her family, if he had to.

Snape was devastated by Lily’s death, to the point of sinking into a depression that seemingly lasted the rest of his life. However, at Dumbledore’s behest, he became committed to protecting her son Harry and assisting him in defeating the Dark Lord. Snape never spoke of Lily to anyone again, except for Dumbledore. This was likely due to heartbreak and worry that mention of her might make others suspicious. Even though he constantly slandered James to Lily’s son’s face, he alienated Lily from these attacks entirely, possibly due to his inability to ever insult her again. Indeed, Snape’s Patronus was a doe, just like Lily’s, because he loved her throughout his entire life. As Snape died, he asked Harry to look into his eyes; his last wish in his final moments was to die looking into the same green eyes that reminded him so much of Lily.

As a result of Snape’s sacrifice of his own life, Lily’s son Harry would name her second grandson after Snape. Coincidentally, that grandson would inherit Lily’s green eyes.

The Marauders

The Marauders were a group of four Gryffindor boys, with whom Severus began a relationship of enmity and hatred throughout their school years. The group consisted of James Potter, Sirius Black, Peter Pettigrew, and Remus Lupin. Severus and the first two Marauders detested each other almost instantly upon meeting for the first time in a compartment on the Hogwarts Express. Throughout their times at Hogwarts, James and his friends (except for Lupin) bullied Snape ceaselessly, Pettigrew only did it though because James and Sirius did it. Lupin did not encourage the harassment, but he did not try to stop them, either. Snape, in turn, never lost an opportunity to get one up on them whenever possible.

However, James Potter ended up saving his life when Sirius told Snape how to get into the Shrieking Shack. Snape caught a glimpse of Lupin transforming into a werewolf before James pulled him back through the tunnel. Snape did not think James was acting nobly. Rather, he saw it as being more of a self-serving act in order to avoid him and the rest of the Marauders being expelled from Hogwarts, and the incident only made him resent James more than ever. He also came to resent Lupin, believing that he had been in on Sirius’s prank.

During their seventh year at Hogwarts, Lily and James began dating, which probably fuelled Snape’s hatred of him even more. James always suspected that Snape had deeper feelings for Lily, which factored strongly into his behaviour towards him. Snape’s continued bitterness toward the Marauders, even into adulthood, became apparent in 1993, when Remus Lupin was given the position of Defence Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts, despite Snape and Dumbledore both knowing that he was a werewolf.

During the time that Harry Potter attended the school, Snape delighted in comparing Harry to his father and telling him that he was not the great man he liked to believe he was. Although Snape’s descriptions of James’ teenage self were accurate, Snape purposefully omitted even vague descriptions of the noble person James became. Snape mostly felt bitterness and resentment towards Remus Lupin and took to dropping hints about his being a werewolf in the hopes that the students would catch on. However, it should be noted that, despite Snape’s strained relationship with the Marauders, he dutifully concocted potions for Remus Lupin during his tenure at Hogwarts and attempted to save his life during the Flight From Little Whinging. Lupin was the only one of the Marauders who could interact with Snape at least on a perfunctory level when they were adults. Lupin, like everyone, believed Snape an evil, cowardly servant of Voldemort’s after Snape killed Albus Dumbledore, and died before learning the truth.

Snape held an especially strong enmity towards Sirius. Although Snape’s hatred towards Sirius for the humiliation he put him under alongside James in their Hogwarts years was already great, the fact that Sirius apparently was the Marauder who betrayed Lily to Voldemort made him hate Sirius even more than he did with James. He was eager to be the one to hand Sirius over to receive the Dementor’s Kiss after he broke out of Azkaban and was furious when he managed to escape yet again. After Sirius’s innocence was proven, however, Dumbledore insisted that the two of them shake hands and ally together against Voldemort.

Nevertheless, they remained barely capable of civilly conversing, as both of them still resented each other and Snape, in particular, taunted him about his uselessness to the Order while confined to his mother’s house, which escalated in Sirius nearly challenging Snape to a duel, which Snape was eager to and would have gladly accepted had the Weasleys not barged in. However, Sirius himself admitted he felt ashamed of his previous treatment and did not at all enjoy the reminder of the reason for Snape being humiliated due to Sirius being bored in their fifth year. Snape also, even if begrudgingly, accepted that they were fighting for the same side and was quick to check if Sirius was in fact safe after Harry reported to him he saw Sirius tortured by Voldemort and in the Ministry to be forced to retrieve the object.

Although Snape’s relationship with Pettigrew in their school years was already hostile, upon knowing he was the Marauder who truly betrayed Lily, he most likely became the Marauder Snape resented the most. Although forced to keep his dislike as best as he could due to his job as a double-agent for Dumbledore, Snape seized his chance to torment Pettigrew when the Dark Lord later assigned Pettigrew to work as his assistant, treating him like a slave, forcing him to clean his house and serve food to his guests, clearly intent on making sure that Pettigrew would not experience any comfortableness while under his command. Snape also seemed to enjoy threatening Pettigrew by telling Voldemort that he desired more dangerous assignments whenever he would protest his position as Snape’s servant.

In an ironic twist, despite their mutual antipathy, James’s second grandson would be named after Snape years after the deaths of Snape and the Marauders.

Harry Potter

From the day Harry set foot in Hogwarts, he and Snape loathed each other. Despite the fact that Snape was committed to honouring Lily’s sacrifice, he could not bring himself to judge the boy objectively because of his connection to James Potter, who bullied him in his school days. Indeed, Snape was filled with nothing but contempt and bitterness towards Harry, who simultaneously reminded him of both Lily and James. Harry served as living proof of the fact that Lily had given her love to someone else, and Snape wasted no time in comparing him continually with his father.

During Harry’s time at Hogwarts, Snape treated Harry viciously, both in class and out. He frequently derided the boy’s abilities, bullied him in class, and punished him whenever possible. He was also resentful and even somewhat envious of Harry’s popularity, which he also equated with Harry’s father. Although Snape threatened to have Harry expelled more than once, he never attempted to follow through — presumably because it would have led to Harry losing the protection surrounding him. However, never did he forget that Harry was also Lily’s child, and much beyond bureaucratic rules, this led him to put the boy’s safety in the most critical situation. When he learned that Dumbledore had intended for Harry to die all along, Severus remained horrified, seeing it as a calculated betrayal to Lily’s memory.

When Harry helped Sirius Black escape, their relationship went under further strain, since Snape believed at that time that Sirius betrayed Lily to Voldemort whereas Harry had learned of his innocence, although Snape continued to put Harry’s safety first. During the brief period in which Snape gave private Occlumency lessons, Snape relished in forcing Harry to relive his worst memories. During the early years, Harry associated Snape with his abusive and bullying ways but when Sirius died, Harry took a savage pleasure in blaming Snape for having taunted Sirius about being useless, causing him to leave his hiding place and join the battle.

Though Snape came to the aid of the Order as swiftly as possible, Harry blamed Snape mainly to ease his own guilty conscience about the entire incident. However, this was nothing in comparison to the retroactive rage Harry felt upon finding out that Snape was the one who relayed the Prophecy to Lord Voldemort, causing him to hunt down Harry and his family. When he later killed Dumbledore, the hatred between them was sealed almost as personally as between Harry and Voldemort.

As he lay dying, Snape told Harry to look at him and died looking into Lily’s eyes. Following this, Harry was given access to all of Snape’s concealed memories, which brought the former teacher’s true intentions and more human side to light. When Harry discovered the love Snape had for his mother and the constant danger he put himself in to ensure his safety, he forgave him despite Snape’s often cruel treatment of him.^[103]

By adulthood, all of Harry’s hatred of Snape seemed to have vanished and it looked as though he had never harboured it at all. This could be seen through his request that a portrait of Snape be hung in the Headmaster’s office at Hogwarts, which was not done immediately after Snape’s death since he had abandoned his post. Furthermore, Harry gave his youngest son the name «Albus Severus», and told him that his Slytherin namesake was «the bravest man I ever knew.»

Another aspect of Snape’s highly visible, almost cartoonish mistreatment of Harry is that he knew all his actions might one day be reported to Voldemort by Death Eater spies. He did nothing that would create the image of real sympathy or loyalty to Potter or any of Voldemort’s former adversaries, only curt professionalism towards his colleagues, obedience but not true loyalty to Dumbledore, and utter hatred for Harry. His need to behave this way was redoubled when it became clear Voldemort could use legilimency to read Harry’s mind, and in doing so view any action by Snape in view of Harry.

Ironically, the two shared many similarities that neither of them was aware of. Both were black-haired, half-blood wizards who grew up among Muggles. Both of their Muggle caretakers were cruel to them (Snape’s father was implied to be abusive to Snape and his mother, while the Dursleys were neglectful towards Harry). Both Snape and Harry’s childhoods involved Petunia Evans (Snape was friends with Petunia’s sister Lily, while Harry was Petunia’s nephew and was raised (albeit reluctantly and abusively) by her). Both grew up wearing secondhand clothes (however, Snape was likely forced to wear them due to his family’s poverty, while Harry’s relatives simply refused to afford any major expenses on him). In addition, the two grew up virtually friendless until attending Hogwarts (Snape due to his unstable family life and secondhand clothes, Harry due to his relatives isolating him).

Upon entering Hogwarts, Snape and Harry were bullied, in Snape’s case, by the Marauders (who were led by James Potter), and Harry by (ironically) Snape himself, and by Draco Malfoy, among others. Furthermore, both had at least one near-death experience during their Hogwarts: Snape was nearly killed in an abortive prank by the Marauders, while Harry repeatedly had Voldemort attempting to kill him. However, both Snape and Harry had at least one silver gleaming: their genuinely intense and close romantic attraction to a redheaded teenager (Lily Evans and Ginny Weasley, respectively). Of course, while Snape did not marry Lily (who had married James and mothered Harry), Harry himself did marry Ginny (with whom he had a son named Albus Severus).

In the second alternate timeline created by Scorpius Malfoy and Albus Potter, Scorpius revealed to Snape the predicament he had caused among other things. It is founded that Snape was extremely saddened and disappointed in his failure to protect Harry from Voldemort in the final battle, and was also engaged in assisting Scorpius in fixing the timeline so Harry was alive and Voldemort defeated. One of the details he revealed after convincing Snape of his tale was that in his timeline, Harry had named his second son after him. This deeply touched Severus, who later told Scorpius to convey to Albus in the original timeline that he is proud that the boy carries his name and legacy, feeling a part of time he will never experience for the greater good of the world. He died without hesitation for the better world that Scorpius sought to restore, knowing his purpose could finally be served. Snape once again died for the legacy of his love, showing the kind of man he was at heart.

After the original timeline was restored, Harry visited Cedric Diggory’s grave with Albus, describing his son’s two namesakes — Dumbledore and Snape — as very much alike, despite their sorting into different houses: «great men, with huge flaws, and you know what — those flaws almost made them greater.»

Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger

Snape criticised Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger whenever possible, most likely because of the fact that they were friends of Harry as well as being Gryffindors. Although Snape seldom found anything wrong with Hermione’s work and marked her grades accordingly, he never awarded her house points and sometimes accused her of being an «insufferable know-it-all«. Despite this, Snape saved their lives in 1993 when Professor Lupin had transformed into a werewolf at the full moon, and even after they had stopped being his students, continued to assist the three of them in their quest to destroy the seven Horcruxes (without them being any the wiser, of course).

It is unknown how Ron and Hermione reacted to the revelation of Snape’s loyalty though as Harry recounted Snape’s memories they were described as shocked. There’s also no mention of them protesting Harry and Ginny naming their (Ron & Hermione) nephew after Snape, which might indicate they came to forgive and admire him.

Albus Dumbledore

Snape’s relationship with Dumbledore was one of close, but not indefinite trust. Dumbledore was Snape’s headmaster whilst at Hogwarts and was presumably impressed with Snape’s academia and abilities. Snape likely felt no real loyalty to Dumbledore as a student and may have resented the latter’s failure for stopping the torturous bullying Snape received at the hands of the Marauders. Despite this, he agreed to keep Remus Lupin’s lycanthropy a secret when the headmaster ordered him (though likely out of self-serving reasons). Before allying himself with Snape, Dumbledore viewed him with, in his own words, disgust, for the latter’s selfishness.

After having accidentally put Lily’s life in jeopardy by delivering a prophecy to Lord Voldemort (without knowing at the time that it was referring to her son), Snape turned to Dumbledore to keep her safe. Dumbledore chose to capitalise on Snape’s remorse and initiated him into the Order of the Phoenix as a double agent. He also gave Snape the job of Potions Master and Head of Slytherin at Hogwarts at the tender age of 21.

As a spy for the Order, Snape silently kept his place within the ranks of the Death Eaters, while informing Dumbledore about their movements. He also adopted the role of secret agent for Voldemort and supplied him with strategic scraps of information about the Order. The content of these reports was often dictated by Dumbledore. It is implied that Snape withheld little, if any, information from Dumbledore that was relevant to the Order’s success, while Snape deliberately did the opposite for Voldemort.

Snape resented Dumbledore’s secrecy and was offended by this perceived lack of faith in his abilities. However, when Snape discovered that Dumbledore had intended for Harry to die all along, he was horrified, seeing it as a calculated betrayal of Lily’s memory. Dumbledore clearly underestimated the depth of Snape’s feelings, and, years later, was very surprised to learn that he still maintained his devotion.

In 1996, Dumbledore became aware of Voldemort’s plan to kill him. Knowing Voldemort expected Draco Malfoy to fail, and assuming Snape to be Draco’s successor, Dumbledore assigned Snape the task of killing him when the situation arose. Snape was genuinely reluctant to do this and even stated when Dumbledore stated that it was necessary to protect Draco’s soul that his soul may very well be damaged from such an act. Even with the revelation of Dumbledore’s true plans for Harry, Snape hesitated for a time before carrying out his mission, his face being described as holding disgust and hatred for himself for what he was about to do, showing Snape had grown to genuinely care for the Headmaster. Dumbledore also entrusted Snape with protecting the students once Hogwarts fell into Voldemort’s control.

In spite of their mutual trust in each other, Dumbledore never allowed Snape his coveted position as Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. It was claimed that he did it so that Snape wouldn’t experience a resurgence of «old habits». The truth may in fact be that Dumbledore believed the post to be jinxed by Lord Voldemort after he failed to attain the post, and this jinx had prevented any teacher from lasting beyond a year. To place Snape in such a position might have risked his safety, and Dumbledore would not have permitted such a risk, in case he required Snape’s aid against Voldemort again. When Dumbledore was infected by the curse on Marvolo Gaunt’s ring, he asked Snape to kill him. Knowing that such an act would vilify Snape beyond any doubt in the mind of the Wizarding public, Dumbledore allowed Snape the position because he would have to leave immediately anyway.

Petunia Evans

Snape first met Petunia Evans during their childhood. She was the sister of Lily Evans, but Petunia was a Muggle, unlike her sister. Snape and Petunia strongly disliked each other, from the first moment they met. Petunia, who was contemptuous of anything out of the ordinary, viewed him with disdain because of his poor economic status and because he was such an oddball. Snape, on the other hand, regarded her balefully because she was a Muggle, and because she made disparaging comments about his clothes. It is unknown how Petunia reacted to (or if she even ever knew about) Snape calling Lily a Mudblood, but it can be assumed that this incident caused Petunia to hate him even more.

Ironically, Petunia and Snape’s negative encounters with each other as children and adolescents helped lay the foundations for their respective adult personalities. It is possible that Petunia’s interactions with Snape exacerbated her already growing disdain for the Wizarding world and eventual estrangement with Lily. Likewise, Snape’s antipathy towards Petunia helped fuel his dislike towards Muggles in general, causing him to experiment with Pure-blood supremacy and the Dark Arts, culminating in his recruitment in the Death Eaters. Even more tragically, Snape’s actions as a Death Eater caused the death of Petunia’s sister Lily to be murdered by Voldemort, which in turn caused Petunia to grudgingly adopt (and abuse and neglect) her nephew Harry Potter.

Years after Snape’s death, one of Petunia’s great-nephews would be named after Snape. It is unknown if she had known about this, given how she likely severed contact with Harry after he left her house.

Lord Voldemort

In his days as a Death Eater, Snape was one of Lord Voldemort’s most trusted and devoted servants. In 1980, Snape overheard part of a prophecy foretelling Voldemort’s downfall. After being caught, Snape hurried to tell Voldemort what he had heard, unaware that his information was incomplete. However, he turned against the Dark Lord the moment he decided to target Lily Potter.

When Voldemort returned to physical form in 1995, Snape ostensibly returned to him as a spy for the Order. Using Occlumency, Snape was able to close his mind, hide his true allegiance and maintain his cover as a faithful Death Eater. Snape was one of the only Death Eaters to have the Dark Lord’s complete trust and, after he murdered Albus Dumbledore, he became Voldemort’s most trusted adviser. He was held in such high regard that Voldemort accepted making him Headmaster of Hogwarts after seizing power.

However, Voldemort coldly had his snake, Nagini, kill Snape in 1998, believing it would make him the true master of the Elder Wand. Although he claimed he regretted its necessity, he felt no remorse over murdering one of his most faithful advisors. After Snape’s death, Harry Potter revealed to Voldemort that Snape had managed to deceive him for years because he acted entirely out of love for Lily Evans — something Voldemort neither understood or cared about. Indeed, at the time Snape asked Voldemort to spare Lily’s life, he erroneously believed that Snape’s interest in her was merely physical, and callously stated that there were other women «of purer blood, worthier of him» after her death. Voldemort also reacted with indifference to Snape’s true loyalties, as Voldemort mistakenly believed that Snape’s death made Voldemort the master of the Elder Wand. This error soon cost Voldemort his own life while ensuring that Snape’s sacrifice was not in vain.

It is possible that part of the reason Voldemort put so much trust in Snape was because he identified with his background. Both were the only children of Muggle fathers and pure-blood mothers (Voldemort: Tom Riddle Snr and Merope Gaunt; Snape: Tobias Snape and Eileen Prince). Both Muggle men had nothing but hatred for their sons and wives and neglected their sons and as a consequence both Riddle and Snape yearned to shed their unhappy beginnings. Voldemort’s father had abandoned his wife when she was pregnant with their son, while Snape’s father was abusive towards his wife and their young son. Both Riddle and Snape claimed greater identification with their maternal lineage than their paternal ancestry —the Gaunt family and Prince family, respectively. Both men grew up in poverty — Voldemort grew up in an orphanage, while Snape lived in Spinner’s End.

In addition, both Riddle and Snape were Sorted into Slytherin, and were known for their intelligence. Both men had a passion for the Dark Arts and blood purity as childhood, and bestowed grandiose titles onto themselves (Riddle was known as Lord Voldemort, while Snape adopted the name the Half-Blood Prince). Both saw Hogwarts as sort of a real home as opposed to their default home. In addition, both men kept a book related to the Dark Arts in their sixteenth years — Voldemort had the diary that he converted into a Horcrux, while Snape had a Potions textbook that he used to write original magic. Lastly both were part of a gang of future Death Eaters who bullied their fellow students. Voldemort may have seen him as a trusted Death Eater who shared the same hatred for his father as he had for his own. The only major thing that differs between Voldemort and Snape’s relationships with their fathers is murder; Voldemort had murdered his own father while Snape did not murder his. Voldemort must have also recognised Snape as a powerful and intelligent wizard, traits which would manifest as usefulness to his ideology.

However, there were other differences between Snape and Voldemort. Snape had a secret love for Lily Evans for most of his life, which motivated him to defect from the Death Eaters and protect her son after her death at Voldemort’s hands. Voldemort, on the other hand, disregarded love as a weakness that was beyond his comprehension, and had allegiance to only himself. This had coincidentally led to his own undoing. In addition, unlike Voldemort, Snape had known about the existence of the wizarding world before he was eleven years old (likely due to the fact that Snape’s mother was actually present in his childhood).

Snape possessed the ability of independent flight, which was presumably taught to him by Lord Voldemort as he displayed the same ability during the Battle of the Seven Potters. This shows that Lord Voldemort had a great deal of trust in Snape as he taught him a very unique ability, something he might not have done with any other Death Eater.

Weasley family

The Weasleys had a neutral if not unkind relationship with Snape. The Weasleys were blood-traitors, supporters of Muggles and Muggle-borns and opposed to the Dark Arts, all things Snape held opposite views towards as a Death Eater. Snape had relinquished most prejudices after switching sides though. It is unknown if Snape was still loyal to the Death Eaters when Fabian and Gideon Prewett were killed or if he had defected before their deaths. Both events occurred in 1981.

The Weasleys, like Snape in his youth, were profusely financially strained. Molly and Arthur had left Hogwarts before Snape started but knew him through their membership in the Order. They seemed to, like most, trust him because Dumbledore did. Little is known about their relationship, although Molly, at least, did not let Snape’s maltreatment of her children staunch her respect for him as a teacher. Given Molly was a good potioneer, this could have helped her find some common ground with him.

Snape taught seven Weasleys at Hogwarts. Bill and Percy, despite being Gryffindors, earned many O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s, showing Snape did not forsake his professionalism for his bias. Despite this, Ginny mentioned once that Bill and Snape did not get along when Bill was a student. There was, in fact, only a decade separating Snape and Bill. Fred and George irked Snape profusely with their pranks and disinterest in school work. Interestingly, they were their generation’s Marauders, map and all, and as such Snape may have viewed them as a reincarnation of his childhood bullies. It is mentioned the twins got many detentions and house point losses which were likely Snape’s doing.

Ginny was the final Weasley to attend Hogwarts before Snape’s death and she bore a remarkable resemblance to Lily. She was also the only remaining Weasley at Hogwarts during Snape’s time as headmaster and co-lead the reformed Dumbledore’s Army, unknowingly allying herself with Snape. Notably Snape seemed as worried as the other teachers when Ginny was taken into the Chamber of Secrets.

Ron knew of Snape’s treatment of students before attending his classes, likely hearing it from an older sibling indicating a long string of antagonism between Snape and the Weasley children. Snape’s murder of Dumbledore in close conjunction of Bill being maimed by Greyback and accidently maiming George gave birth to the family’s hatred of him. However, when the war was over, the Weasley’s learned of Snape’s true loyalties and likely grew to respect & admire him. A new member of the family was eventually named for him.

Malfoy family

Snape appeared to be on good terms with the Malfoy family. Lucius Malfoy was a Slytherin prefect when Snape began attending Hogwarts, and the two ran in the same social circles, which included other future Death Eaters. Snape and Lucius likely worked together as Death Eaters during the First Wizarding War. It’s unknown if Lucius was suspicious of Snape’s true allegiance, though he most likely believed Snape to be truly loyal to Voldemort. Lucius continued to think and speak well of Snape later in life. Perhaps because of this, Snape also favoured Lucius’s son Draco. Draco seemed to look up to Snape, once sycophantically saying that he would make a far better Headmaster than Albus Dumbledore.

However, after his father’s imprisonment in Azkaban following the Battle of the Department of Mysteries, Draco came to resent and mistrust Snape, suspecting that he was trying to usurp his father’s place in the Death Eater ranks. He refused Snape’s repeated offers of help with the task Lord Voldemort assigned him in his sixth year. Narcissa Malfoy, on the other hand, begged Snape to assist Draco in his task to assassinate Dumbledore, fearing that her son was being set up to fail. She ignored the warnings of her sister, Bellatrix Lestrange, who did not trust Snape, and had him make an Unbreakable Vow to help Draco and take over the task should he fail. This speaks highly as to the trust and respect the Malfoys had for Snape.

It’s unknown how the Malfoys reacted upon learning of Snape’s death and true loyalties. They were possibly saddened due to their longtime friendship. It’s possible that they were also sympathetic due to their own disillusionment from Voldemort.

Bellatrix Lestrange

Unlike her Malfoy relatives, Bellatrix Lestrange invested none of her faith in Snape. It’s possible that the two got along better during the First Wizarding War as Sirius once described the two as old acquaintances; however, later in life, she showed nothing but distrust toward him. She saw right through his triple agent charade, even though Lord Voldemort could not. Part of the reason for this may have been Snape’s half-blood status and his avoidance of imprisonment in Azkaban, while she was incarcerated there for years. Given Bellatrix’s obsessive, slavish love for Voldemort, she may have envied the trust the Dark Lord put in Snape, whom she considered her inferior in both blood and service.

She was suspicious when Snape did not immediately return to Voldemort after his rebirth nor come to the Dark Lord’s aide before that, and why he never took an opportunity to kill Harry Potter when, as one of the boy’s professors, he had easy access to him. When Snape easily backhanded all of her accusations, bringing up that Lord Voldemort himself interrogated him of those lines, Bellatrix was lost for words; Snape was cunning enough to use the power of mere words to render Bella such, for he knew that to further her doubt of Severus would, by extension, mean that she would also be doubting the Dark Lord.

And she was too fanatical to let such disparity in opinion between herself and her master go too far. With her logical reasons for distrusting Snape were gone, her irrational jealousy was all she had left to give her a reason to hate him. For that reason it perhaps grew stronger. Bellatrix was uneasy speaking openly about things around Snape, and tried to discourage her younger sister from asking him for help with Draco’s task. Although Bellatrix did not fear or respect Snape like most others did, she seemed to only avoid his bad side so as to avoid Voldemort’s bad side by extension.

Snape, on the other hand, seemed to regard Bellatrix coldly. He had very little patience for her dramatics and tendency towards hysteria. He even took the opportunity to mock her for her struggle against the six teenagers from Dumbledore’s Army during the Battle of the Department of Mysteries, and that she was losing her status in Voldemort’s eyes. Snape and Bellatrix were Voldemort’s most powerful and trusted servants (or so Voldemort thought as far as Snape was concerned) and as such they never picked a real fight with one another. They were also the Death Eaters that the Order of the Phoenix and its associates hated the most and the ones the other Death Eaters feared and respected the most. Bellatrix never managed to convince anyone of Snape’s true loyalty and died moments before it was revealed to everyone that she had been right all along.

Igor Karkaroff

Snape and Karkaroff had a little bit of history with each other from the First Wizarding War. Karkaroff was captured by Alastor Moody and during his trial, in a desperate attempt to avoid going to prison he gave to the Ministry many names of Death Eaters, including Snape. However, at the time he was not aware that Snape was a double agent. He desperately tried to convince the court that Snape remained guilty despite the judge telling him Snape was cleared.

During the Triwizard Tournament, when Karkaroff’s and Snape’s Dark Marks were burning stronger, Karkaroff told his worries to Snape, who expressed little concern to him. As the year progressed, Karkaroff continued to pursue Snape over the issue, to which Snape became increasingly annoyed, and even started to evade him. Snape described Karkaroff as cowardly and had no intention of joining him in hiding once Voldemort returned. Karkaroff’s death did not seem to surprise Snape.

Death Eaters

Severus became a member of the Death Eaters after Hogwarts. During his time at school, he was a member of a «gang of Slytherins that would later become Death Eaters». This gang included Bellatrix Black, Rodolphus Lestrange, Avery, Mulciber, Evan Rosier and Wilkes. Lily Evans could not understand how he could be friends with them, as they had an «evil sense of humour».

It’s unknown how close he really was with the members of this gang, however he did seem somewhat defensive when Lily spoke ill of Mulciber and Avery implying a possible level of intimacy with them at least. Rosier and Wilkes were killed by Aurors after the First Wizarding War; Rodolphus, Bellatrix, and Mulciber were captured (but later escaped), while Avery managed to defect. Besides Bellatrix, it’s unknown what kind of relationship he had with his old school friends as an adult.

Other Death Eaters Snape knew were Amycus and Alecto Carrow, two siblings. Judging by Amycus’s reaction upon seeing Snape at the Astronomy Tower it seems that he (and possibly Alecto) truly believed that Snape was on their side. Amycus and Alecto were Deputy Headmasters at Hogwarts, at the time Snape was Headmaster. They were both sadistic, and they liked to torture the students who opposed them. They also ordered the students to practise the Cruciatus Curse on punished students. Death Eater Corban Yaxley appeared to be friendly with Snape too however he seemed resentful when Voldemort valued Snape’s information and accomplishments over his own. Along with Fenrir Greyback, they seemed to fear Snape’s abilities, as they instantly stood down when he approached to kill Dumbledore, despite Draco being tasked with the job.

Furthermore, Snape knew the extremely loyal Death Eater Barty Crouch Jnr. during the First Wizarding War. For many years, it was believed that Barty Crouch was dead. However, he escaped from Azkaban and planned to send Harry Potter to Voldemort, who would be reborn. Snape, along with Dumbledore and McGonagall, saved Harry from Crouch while he was trying to kill Harry. Snape was surprised that Crouch was still alive. Later, the Death Eater was given the Dementor’s Kiss though no reaction from Snape is noted.

Other known Death Eaters were Antonin Dolohov, Augustus Rookwood, Nott, Crabbe, Goyle, Walden Macnair, Jugson, Thorfinn Rowle, Gibbon, Rosier, Avery, Mulciber, Lestrange, Travers, Selwyn, and Rabastan Lestrange. Rodolphus and Rabastan were the only ones who tried to search for Lord Voldemort after the first defeat, along with Bellatrix and Barty Crouch Jnr During the Second Wizarding War. All those Death Eaters were either killed or imprisoned after Voldemort’s final defeat. Although not shown interacting much with Snape, they all presumably held him in the same respect and fear that Yaxley & Greyback did and, considering Snape’s rank, had to answer to him. According to Snape some of them believed that he was not truly loyal to their cause, however none of them (save Bellatrix) openly confronted him about it.

It is unknown how the surviving Death Eaters reacted — either as a group or as individuals — to reveal of Snape’s demise (if they found out) or the revelations of his true loyalties.

Neville Longbottom

Neville Longbottom was perhaps one of the worst Potions students Snape ever taught. As such, Snape was especially cruel to him and often made a point of ridiculing his failures in class.^[9][82] On one occasion, Snape threatened to test Neville’s Shrinking Solution on his pet toad, despite the fact that the potion would be poisonous if not brewed correctly. Even outside of his own classroom, Snape did not hesitate from offering harsh opinions of Neville.^[104]

This treatment made Neville extremely nervous to be around Snape, and further contributed to his poor performance in Potions. Neville admitted in 1993 that Snape was his greatest fear, and, predictably, Snape was the form Neville’s Boggart took at that time.^[104]

Snape soon heard about Neville’s boggart and treated him, if possible, even worse than he usually did.^[104] However, in 1996, Snape alerted members of the Order of the Phoenix, in order to save Neville, Harry and their friends from Death Eaters, and although Snape helped save Neville’s life, he continued to treat him poorly in school. Neville was surprised that Snape killed Dumbledore but did learn the truth later.

Snape chose to do a subtle favour for Neville when he was caught along with Ginny Weasley and Luna Lovegood attempting to steal the Sword of Gryffindor. Snape chose to send Neville, Luna and Ginny to detention with their friend Hagrid rather than subject them to the sadistic forms of discipline practised by the Carrows. When Neville killed Nagini, he inadvertently avenged Snape’s murder.

It is unknown why Snape resented Neville so much, though it is possible that from Sybill Trelawney’s first prophecy that it was either Neville or Harry who was to threaten Voldemort, that as a result with Voldemort going for the Potters, that Neville represented his guilt from revealing the prophecy to Voldemort and the potential alternative for what could’ve happened. As a result, from Snape’s point of view, Neville embodied all of this and that made him detest and bully him.

Minerva McGonagall

Minerva McGonagall was generally on good professional terms with Snape. However, seeing as Snape was the Head of Slytherin House, while McGonagall was the Head of Gryffindor House, there was some antagonism between them, as Snape usually teased McGonagall when Slytherin had more points than Gryffindor. McGonagall was also wary of the fact that Snape was once a Death Eater. However, she trusted him because she knew that Dumbledore trusted him, too. She also did not hesitate to call him out when she believed he was being too cruel. McGonagall, like Snape, was very strict, but much more fair, as noted by Harry Potter. McGonagall was Snape’s Transfiguration professor when he was a student and likely admired his brilliance.

Her trust of Snape evaporated after Dumbledore’s murder. Furthermore, when Snape became Headmaster of Hogwarts, McGonagall tried to oppose him and the Carrows, without knowing that Snape was trying to protect the students from the Carrows, too. When the war was coming to a head, she personally attacked Snape and violently called him a coward, a trait she, as Head Of Gryffindor, loathed. It is unknown how she reacted when she learned about his true loyalties, but it is likely that she forgave him. She permitted his portrait to be hung in the Headmaster’s office, at Harry’s request.

Hogwarts staff

Snape was respected professionally among his colleagues at Hogwarts. Though many of them exhibited some wariness towards him due to his status as a former Death Eater, they opted to trust him because Dumbledore did. When Snape killed Dumbledore, however, the entire staff was shocked. In 1998, Flitwick and Sprout, like many other teachers, tried to oppose Snape and the Carrows, and they were among the ones who chased Snape out of Hogwarts before the battle. Flitwick and Sprout were Snape’s Charms and Herbology teachers respectively in the latter’s youth.

Rubeus Hagrid was no friend of Snape’s but trusted him, mainly because Dumbledore trusted him and would always defend him whenever Harry or Ron would express their distrust for him. Both Hagrid and Snape became members of the first and second Order of the Phoenix and they both fought against Voldemort. When Snape killed Dumbledore, Hagrid initially disbelieved the fact and told Harry he must be mistaken but was later furious to learn that Snape had indeed killed the late Headmaster.

Hagrid openly opposed Snape when he became the Headmaster of Hogwarts by holding a Support Harry Potter party (unaware Snape was secretly still on their side), an act which almost resulted in his arrest and forced him to go into hiding until the final battle. Before Hagrid fled, Snape put students in detention with Hagrid, ensuring that they were protected from the harsher and torturous punishments from the Carrows. However, Hagrid eventually learned of Snape’s true loyalties during the final confrontation of the Battle of Hogwarts.

Snape disliked most of the Defence Against the Dark Arts instructors, such as Quirinus Quirrell, Gilderoy Lockhart, Remus Lupin, and Dolores Umbridge. Though this was at least partially out of his own desire to teach the subject, he had legitimate reasons to dislike them, as Quirrell was an agent of Lord Voldemort, Lockhart was a narcissistic fraud, Lupin had acted as a bystander to, if not directly participating in, much of the bullying Snape faced in his school days, and Umbridge was a corrupt woman who wanted the entire school under her thumb.

The only Defence Against the Dark Arts professor Snape refrained from displaying disrespect to was Bartemius Crouch Jnr impersonating Alastor Moody, the toughest Dark wizard hunter the Ministry ever had. Harry surmised this was out of fear, but it was more likely due to allegiance. It should be noted that Moody had been the one to kill Evan Rosier, an old friend of Snape’s, and possibly others.

Horace Slughorn had been Snape’s Potions master and head of house. Snape was made a member of the Slug Club as he was a brilliant student and even then his potion abilities were almost as good if not equal to Slughorn’s. Snape might have been the student to whom Slughorn once awarded a vial of Liquid Luck. It is highly unlikely that Slughorn was aware of Snape’s self-altered textbook and was flabbergasted when Snape murdered Dumbledore. Snape seemed on good terms with Argus Filch, the caretaker, who respected Snape, and like him, disliked most students at Hogwarts. Snape often had Filch report directly to him if he found anything suspicious during his nighttime patrols. It’s possible that after Voldemort took over Filch was only able to remain at Hogwarts because of his loyalty towards Snape. It is unknown how Filch reacted when he learned that Snape killed Dumbledore, or when Snape himself died.

Hogwarts students

Snape was not popular among the majority of the students at Hogwarts. He was quite strict and had high standards. He refused to allow any students into his N.E.W.T.-level Potions classes unless they achieved an «O» grade on their O.W.L. exam for the subject (many other Hogwarts teachers would still accept the next-best grade, «E», for their advanced classes). Despite N.E.W.T.s not beginning until the sixth-year, it was Snape’s policy to grade his fifth-year students by the N.E.W.T. scale. At the beginning of the 1995-1996 school year, he warned his fifth-year students that he expected everyone to make some sort of passing grade on their O.W.L. exams, even if they were not intending to try for his N.E.W.T. class. Anyone who made a poor grade would deal with his «displeasure».

In addition to being strict, he was also not always fair. His having been bullied so much as a child may have fuelled his oppressiveness as a teacher. During Harry Potter’s years at the school, Snape particularly enjoyed taking points from Harry’s House, Gryffindor. He generally favoured the students in his own House, Slytherin, including Draco Malfoy. However, he was still irritated if they did not live up to his expectations and would punish them too. On at least one occasion, he gave Crabbe and Goyle detention because they had failed their O.W.L. exam for Defence Against the Dark Arts.

He also had no qualms punishing Merula Snyde for attempting to frame Jacob’s sibling despite her being a Slytherin and seems to dislike her for being perhaps the most atrocious liar and blamer among Slytherins. The students of his house generally regarded him with respect and pride, even cheering loudly when he effortlessly defeated Lockhart with one spell. However, becoming the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher made Snape fairer (if only slightly) as he lowered his standards to allow more students to enter advanced studies, and he taught the lectures with more passion that intrigued his students’ interests.

Although he disliked most students, a feeling that is quite mutual, he was not truly evil and did feel quite a lot of concern for their safety and well-being. After Rowan Khanna’s tragic murder at the hands of Patricia Rakepick rendered the student body devastated and mournful during the 1989–1990 school year, Snape proceeded to teach his sixth years how to concoct the Dreamless Sleep Potion in Potions class, due in part to many of his students suffering from sleep-deprived nights following Khanna’s death. He was also noted to be particularly patient by Jacob’s sibling during that specific Potions class, sympathising with the grief his class felt and patiently urging them to focus on his lesson.^[105]

In 1993, when Professor McGonagall informed the staff that a student had been captured by the monster from the Chamber of Secrets, Snape displayed a hint of genuine concern by gripping the back of a chair very hard.^[84] He also did everything he could to protect the students from Voldemort’s control of Hogwarts, while Alecto and Amycus Carrow were appointed at the school, further showing he did care for his students even if he rarely showed it.^[7]

Order of the Phoenix members

Snape’s relationships with some members of the Order of the Phoenix have already been established: Lily Evans, the Marauders, Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, and Minerva McGonagall.

Snape was not particularly gracious towards Nymphadora Tonks, probably because she was so close to Remus Lupin. When they met at school in 1996, he maliciously said «I was interested to see your new Patronus. I think you were better off with the old one… the new one looks weak.» Snape did, however, respect Tonks’ abilities as he was her Potions master whilst she was a Hogwarts student and she earned an O in her O.W.L. This is evident as he never let one with a lesser grade take the N.E.W.T which was a requirement to be an auror. Tonks was shocked when Snape killed Dumbledore and never learned that Snape was on their side, as she was killed by Bellatrix Lestrange during the Battle of Hogwarts.

Snape had a mixed relationship with the Weasley family. While he disliked their children, he seemed to be on civil terms with Arthur and Molly. However, when he murdered Dumbledore, the Weasley family obviously turned against him. Snape also accidentally cursed off George’s ear, during the Battle of the Seven Potters, while he was trying to hit another Death Eater. The Weasley family learned that Snape was on their side in 1998, except Fred, who was killed in the Battle of Hogwarts.

He also did not much care for a fellow member of the Order Mundungus Fletcher, who was also a thief. In 1996 he was arrested for impersonating an Inferius. When Seamus Finnigan asked Snape about it, he answered that the «Inferius» was, in fact, a smelly sneak thief named Mundungus Fletcher. It is most likely that Mundungus learned that Snape was on their side after the Second Wizarding War.

It is likely that the members of the Order who survived the Battle of Hogwarts were told by Harry of Snape’s true loyalties.

Jacob’s sibling

Much like for Harry Potter, Snape seemed to harbour a particular dislike for Jacob’s sibling. He first met the student when they were having a quarrel with the imperious Slytherin Merula Snyde outside his dungeon, and callously dismissed their reason for arguing with her in defence of their best friend Rowan Khanna. Due to the sordid reputation of their brother casting much apprehension over both the staff and student body, Snape was initially mistrustful of them and made no attempt to hide his contempt for Jacob’s sibling during their first-ever Potions class. When their potion was egregiously sabotaged by Merula, Snape’s disdain for them was exacerbated, with him unfairly deducting ten House points from them as punishment for their supposed incompetence.^[36]

He continued to mistreat them even further after their unsanctioned duel with Merula, being largely dismissive of who instigated the fight but unreasonably assuming that Jacob’s sibling was the one who started it. His dislike for them was great enough that he unsuccessful appealed to Dumbledore for their immediate expulsion from Hogwarts, and, disregarding the fact that his aforementioned Slytherin student also had her own part to play in the duel, cruelly subtracted an additional twenty House points from Jacob’s sibling soon after.^[40]

He continued to dislike them in whatever situation they were. This hatred didn’t prevent him from saving their life against Rakepick, though.

The student in question, however, was always courteous and civil towards Snape, going so far as to openly acknowledge the latter as being an exceptional teacher on the infrequent occasions that he wasn’t berating them, with Snape gradually finding himself to begrudgingly acknowledge said student’s flair for potion-making. Indeed, Jacob’s sibling only ever betrayed signs of impatience or anger whenever Snape became particularly derisive and scornful, with them thus forming a semi-antagonistic relationship with the Potions Master over the years.

Patricia Rakepick

Five years his senior at Hogwarts, Severus Snape met Patricia Rakepick for the first time while they were both still students, and took an immediate dislike to her: Bold as brass and with little regards for school rules, and a member of Gryffindor House to boot, Patricia Rakepick was someone whom Severus would one day compare to his arch-rival during his schooldays, James Potter, another trouble-making Gryffindor. Whilst it is uncertain what he thought of Rakepick’s initial claims about the existence of the fabled Cursed Vaults as a student, he did acknowledge that she was remarkably ambitious for a Gryffindor, and by no means stupid.

By the time he had replaced Horace Slughorn as the school’s Potions Master, Rakepick was already a notable curse-breaker and building her career on eliminating her competition. Wary of her true intentions, when Albus Dumbledore invited her back to help break the curses plaguing the school and its denizens, their old rivalry immediately reignited, and Snape immediately went about trying to uncover whatever ulterior motives she might have, suspecting that she wanted to use the vaults to take control of Hogwarts.

From that moment on, it is known that Snape and Rakepick were engaging in a subtle battle of wits, and even used students to spy on one another. Recognising that Rakepick regarded one of the pupils as a potential rival in her quest to find the vaults, and aware of how Rakepick dealt with rivals, Snape cleverly had said student serving as his spy to shift her attention over on him to protect the student as a supposed mastermind of the youngster’s actions, while also using the ploy as a tool to try and learn what Rakepick was up to and expose her to Dumbledore, the one person whom they knew for a certainty would be able to put a stop to her plot, whatever it might be.

When Snape learned of how Rakepick had tortured Merula Snyde with the Cruciatus Curse in the Buried Vault, he swore vegenace against her for her appalling crime, promising he would find her.^[59]

Media

Etymology

Severus means «stern» in Latin, and is the root of the English word «severe».^[106] It was a Roman cognomen, common to members of the Severan dynasty of Emperors, including one notorious for his harsh persecution of the early Christians.

Septimius Severus, also known as Severus, was Roman Emperor from 193 to 211. As a young man, he advanced through the customary succession of offices under the reigns of Marcus Aurelius and Commodus. Severus seized power after the death of Emperor Pertinax in 193 during the Year of the Five Emperors. After deposing and killing the incumbent emperor Didius Julianus, Severus fought his rival claimants, the generals Pescennius Niger (possibly Phineas Nigellus Black) and Clodius Albinus (Albus Dumbledore). Niger was defeated in 194 at the Battle of Issus in Cilicia. Later that year Severus waged a short punitive campaign beyond the eastern frontier, annexing the Kingdom of Osroene as a new province. Severus defeated Albinus three years later at the Battle of Lugdunum in Gaul.

J. K. Rowling has said that she took the surname Snape from an English village^[107] in Suffolk. There is also a village called «Snape» in Yorkshire, which was rebuilt by the aforementioned emperor, Septimus Severus. Snape is also an English verb meaning «to be hard upon, rebuke, snub», derived from the Old Norse «sneypa», «to outrage, dishonour, disgrace».^[108]

Interestingly J.K. Rowling used to live in Clapham Junction at the time of her starting to write the first book. Opposite Clapham Junction station is a road named Severus Road, though it is unknown if this is simply a coincidence.

Behind the scenes

• Snape is the only known Death Eater who could conjure a Patronus.
• Snape attended Hogwarts exactly twenty years before Harry Potter.
• Snape came very close to receiving Order of Merlin, First Class for subduing Sirius Black.^[109]
• It was because of Snape that Harry Potter became aware and practical of the Disarming Charm (Expelliarmus). Snape used it in the introduction of the Duelling Club while duelling with Gilderoy Lockhart. He said that students should learn to disarm their opponents.
• Severus and Lily were also close in age. They were born in the same month and year. He was only 21 days older than her.
• Rowling said that if Snape didn’t love Lily he wouldn’t have protected or even have been remotely interested in what happened to Harry.^[110]
• Severus Snape is portrayed by the late British actor Alan Rickman in all of the film adaptations, making him one of the 14 characters to appear in all eight film adaptations.
  • Rickman was Rowling’s first choice for the role. Actor Tim Roth was initially offered the role but turned it down to work in Tim Burton’s 2001 film Planet of the Apes. Rickman was cast later on.^[111]
  • In the film adaptations, Severus appears to be rather older than he is in the original books, being in his early thirties at the time of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Alan Rickman was fifty-four when he was first cast for the role.
    • Due to the age difference between Rickman and Snape, as he is portrayed in the book, make-up was used on Rickman to make him look younger.
  • It appears that he also played his part very well. Rupert Grint admitted to being afraid of him in an interview.
  • Alec Hopkins plays a young Snape in Order of the Phoenix^[112] and Benedict Clarke plays an even younger Snape in Deathly Hallows: Part 2.^[113]
  • Rickman died of cancer on 14 January, 2016 — only five days after what would have been Snape’s 56th birthday.
  • Rickman’s voice clip of the famous sentence «There will be no foolish wand waving in this class» is later used in Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery.
• Rickman had conversations with Rowling about his character and is one of the few Harry Potter actors that she spoke to prior to the completion of the book series about the future direction of the character. «He knew very early on that he’d been in love with Lily,» said Rowling. «He needed to understand […] where this bitterness towards this boy who’s the living example of her preference for another man came from.» Rickman used this knowledge of Snape’s ultimate loyalties throughout the films by deciding how to play certain scenes, deliver specific lines, or using body language to convey specific emotions. When the directors of the films would ask him why he was doing a scene a certain way or delivering a line in a specific manner, Rickman would simply reply that he knew something they did not.
• Much like Gilderoy Lockhart, Snape’s character is altered to appear more likeable in the films than in the books. He does not openly insult or harass his students, with the exception of shoving or whacking Harry and Ron on the head to make them focus on their studies, and once when Ron sniggered when Umbridge was embarrassing him. He is notably less cruel to Harry than in the books, such as wishing him good luck on his first Quidditch match and even flashing him a slight smile, along with a sarcastic compliment on Harry’s defeat of the mountain troll earlier that year.^[114] He initially defended him, Ron, and Hermione in the second film from Filch’s accusations when Mrs Norris was petrified, though he did note that there was a set of suspicious circumstances. Additionally, in the final film, when he talks with Dumbledore after revealing the Prophecy to Voldemort, he asks him to protect the entire Potter family, rather than only Lily, without Dumbledore having to prompt him to do so. Snape is also slightly more laid back and less antisocial in the films. An example is when, in the third film, he gestured Harry out of the Shrieking Shack with his head rather than verbally instructing him to leave.
• Despite his status as a Death Eater as well as implications that he had some form of status among them before Voldemort’s attack on the Potters, Snape did not seem to be aware of Peter Pettigrew’s role in the Death Eaters nor was he aware that Peter was actually the one who betrayed Lily to Voldemort as he seemed sure that Sirius Black was the culprit.
• It’s likely however that he learned the truth following Voldemort’s rebirth as he showed much less hostility towards Sirius than before (while still a significant amount) and he was made aware that Peter was alive and on the side of the Death Eaters. This would likely explain his hostility towards Peter in The Half-Blood Prince.
• It is unclear why Snape is still alive in the alternate reality where Voldemort won the wizarding war, given that Voldemort should have still killed him as he believed that Snape was the master of the Elder Wand and still desired to become the wand’s master.
• During one of the sneak missions in the PS1 version of Philosopher’s Stone, Snape actually says «There is something very special in the Forbidden Corridor that I’ve had my eye on for some time. We can’t let anyone interfere with my plans. Can we, Mr Filch?» as to confuse the player about who is looking for the Stone, although the line ultimately does not make much sense. However, one can interpret it as a way of bullying Argus Filch into aiding him to protect the Stone from Quirrell.
• In the books, Snape is one of the youngest teachers to be recruited at Hogwarts school. Having taught at Hogwarts for fourteen years in Harry’s fifth year, Snape has been teaching Potions since he was twenty-one (it should be noted that when Tom Riddle applied for the Defence Against the Dark Arts post when he was eighteen, Armando Dippet, then the Headmaster, rejected him on the basis that he was too young, although he invited him to reapply in a few years’ time).
• The chapter illustrations by Mary GrandPré in the American editions depict Snape with a thin goatee.
• In the book, Nagini kills Snape by sinking her fangs into his neck after being released from her protective bubble. In the film adaptation, Lord Voldemort slashes Snape’s throat, then orders Nagini to finish him off. Surprisingly, less blood is shown than in the book. This was likely due to the film’s PG-13 rating.
• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, a scene with Snape was added when Lupin turned into a werewolf: instead of being unconscious as he was in the book, Snape regains his consciousness and goes to look for Harry with the intent of punishing him for his attack on him. When he hears Lupin roaring behind him and turns to find him transformed into a werewolf, Snape proves his great courage by shielding Harry, Ron and Hermione with his own body, taking a vicious slash from Lupin as a result.
• In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 2 (A Peck of Owls), J.K. Rowling includes a bit of misdirection. After Petunia has revealed her knowledge of Dementors, she explains that she «heard — that awful boy —telling her about them — years ago.» Both Harry and the reader assume that «that awful boy» is referring to James Potter. However, Snape’s memories later reveal that it was a conversation between him and Lily Evans that Petunia overheard, and Snape was, in fact, «that awful boy.» This is the first mention in the books of a relationship between Snape and Lily, but the reader has no way of knowing that until later.
• Amongst Severus Snape’s possessions that he kept at his home was a curious object called a Dark Curio, though the object was only ever named such in the original script for the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.^[115]
• Phineas Nigellus Black was cut from the film adaptations of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Hence, it is unclear how Snape located Harry and Hermione in the Forest of Dean. However, in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, as Neville is leading Harry, Ron, and Hermione in the secret passage Neville states that they «hardly see him,» so in that time he could have searched over Britain to find them and give them the sword.
• In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2:
  • Snape’s death takes place in the school’s Boathouse rather than the Shrieking Shack. The art director of the series, Andrew Ackland-Snow, said in an interview with Cine Premier Mexico: «We wanted to change a bit where Snape dies. In the book, he dies in the Shrieking Shack, and we wanted to get him out from, not a conventional interior, but from that kind of box, to do it in a more dramatic atmosphere. We asked [Rowling] if she agreed for that to happen in there and she loved it … Snape dies in an extremely good way, I gotta say.»^[116]
  • While Harry is facing Voldemort, he calls Snape «Professor Snape». This is the first time that he addresses him with the title other than in his presence which shows that he has forgiven and even come to respect Snape for his courage and his sacrifices. One notable factor of the books was when Harry was speaking about Snape with Dumbledore, the latter would always ask Harry to address him as «Professor Snape».
  • Steve Kloves added a new scene to Snape’s memories in which Snape visits Godric’s Hollow shortly after Voldemort’s arrival and collapses when he finds Lily’s lifeless body among the wreckage in the house.
• When Jany Temime took over the role of costume designer for the films, many of the characters’ wardrobes were re-designed, but Snape’s costume remained unchanged throughout all eight films, as Temime thought the existing costume, consisting of a black robe, worked well with Snape’s character.
• Snape is the catalyst for the entire series, since it was he who told Voldemort of the prophecy and begged Voldemort to spare Lily, enabling her to sacrifice her life for Harry, thus enabling the protection that protected Harry for so long and ultimately led to Voldemort’s death.
• Snape’s character was loosely inspired by an unpleasant chemistry teacher J.K. Rowling had in secondary school, John Lawrence Nettleship.^[117]
• When asked what Snape smelled like, J. K. Rowling answered: «Bitterness and old shoes.«^[118]
• According to Rowling, Dumbledore never did anything about Snape’s behaviour in class because «Dumbledore believes there are all sorts of lessons in life… and horrible teachers are one of them.«^[119]
• J. K. Rowling, when asked if she considers Snape a hero, she said she thinks of him as an extremely flawed anti-hero, stating that though he was quite cold and spiteful and a bit of a bully, he was capable of love and was immensely brave.^[103]
• J.K. Rowling stated that Lily Evans may have grown to love Snape romantically if he was not so drawn to the Dark Arts.^[120]
• Snape’s actor Alan Rickman’s first and middle initials — Alan Sidney Patrick — spell the word «asp», a type of snake, the emblem of Slytherin. Those initials are also shared with Albus Severus Potter, whose middle name is Harry Potter’s tribute to one of the «bravest men he ever knew.»
• Snape and James Potter’s respective actors — Alan Rickman and Adrian Rawlins — shared the same first and last initials.
• On twitlonger Rowling said that when Snape went to meet with Dumbledore on the windy hilltop he was still a subscriber to the inhuman philosophy of Voldemort.^[121][122]

• Snape once made an appearance in an episode of the TV show The Simpsons, in which he was voiced by actor Benedict Cumberbatch.
• A new species of crab has been named after Snape, Harryplax Severus. The name was chosen because the crab had managed to elude rediscovery for two decades after its initial discovery, like how Snape was able to hide the most important part of the story for years.^[123]

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (First appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (film)
• Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game) (Not in the PC version)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Appears in an alternate reality)
• Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (play) (Appears in an alternate reality)
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (Mentioned only)
• Pottermore
• Wizarding World
• The Making of Harry Potter
• Harry Potter: The Character Vault
• Harry Potter: The Creature Vault (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter Trading Card Game
• LEGO Harry Potter
• LEGO Harry Potter: Building the Magical World
• LEGO Harry Potter
• LEGO Creator: Harry Potter
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7
• LEGO Dimensions
• Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup
• Harry Potter for Kinect
• Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
• Harry Potter: Wizards Unite
• Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells
• Harry Potter: Magic Awakened (Appears in flashback(s)) (Appears as an echo)

Notes and references

Hogwarts faculty
Founders	Godric Gryffindor · Helga Hufflepuff · Rowena Ravenclaw · Salazar Slytherin
Headteachers	Giffard Abbott · Walter Aragon · Bearded man holding a book · Phineas Nigellus Black · Elizabeth Burke · Antonia Creaseworthy · Dilys Derwent · Armando Dippet · Albus Dumbledore · Mordicus Egg · Everard · First Headmaster · Niamh Fitzgerald · Dexter Fortescue · Basil Fronsac · Brian Gagwilde · Limebert · Minerva McGonagall · Eupraxia Mole · Pink-faced Headmaster · Resting Headmaster · Edessa Sakndenberg · Brutus Scrimgeour · Phyllida Spore · Severus Snape · Amrose Swott · Quentin Trimble · Dolores Umbridge · Fytherley Undercliffe · Vindictus Viridian · Vulpus · Heliotrope Wilkins · Gimlet-eyed Headmistress · Headmaster (1568) · Headteacher (1792) · Headmaster in blue · Headmaster with book · Headmaster in gold · Headmaster with apple · Headmaster with astrolabe · Headmaster with castle sketch · Headmaster with paper · Headmaster with rings · Headmaster with scroll · Headmaster with sphere · Headmaster with starmap · Headmaster with wand
Deputy Heads	Alecto Carrow · Amycus Carrow · Minerva McGonagall · Matilda Weasley
Heads of House	Muldoon Cragg · Filius Flitwick · Godric Gryffindor · Gryffindor lady · Gryffindor man (II) · Gryffindor man (III) · Gryffindor man (IV) · Gryffindor Seeker · Helga Hufflepuff · Neville Longbottom · Minerva McGonagall · Valeria Myriadd · Uric Oapley · Podric Piles · Prendergast · Rowena Ravenclaw · Horace Slughorn · Salazar Slytherin · Severus Snape · Pomona Sprout · Tobias Stump
Teaching staff	Bartholomew · Bathsheda Babbling · San Bakar · Herbert Beery · Cuthbert Binns · Brindlemore · Charity Burbage · Herodiana Byrne · Camelia · Alecto Carrow · Amycus Carrow · Bartemius Crouch Junior (disguised as Alastor Moody) · Clodagh Dromgoole · Albus Dumbledore · Eleazar Fig · Firenze · Filius Flitwick · Fortinbras · Mirabel Garlick · Mirabel Garlick’s predecessor · Jakub Gorski · Olivia Green · Rubeus Hagrid · Dinah Hecat · Rolanda Hooch · Bai Howin · Ernesto Jags · Arsenius Jigger · Igor Karkaroff’s Yule Ball partner · Silvanus Kettleburn · Chiyo Kogawa · Gilderoy Lockhart · Neville Longbottom · Remus Lupin · Elspeth MacGillony · Mazoni · Minerva McGonagall · Galatea Merrythought · Isidora Morganach · Mudiwa Onai · Prendergast · Quirinus Quirrell · Percival Rackham · Patricia Rakepick · Abraham Ronen · Charles Rookwood · Concordia Rowle · Sallow siblings’ parents · Luna Scamander · Satyavati Shah · Aesop Sharp · Arif Sikander · Aurora Sinistra · Horace Slughorn · Severus Snape · Pomona Sprout · Swoopstikes · Sybill Trelawney · Trocar · Dolores Umbridge · Septima Vector · Matilda Weasley · Unidentified professor · Potions professor (16th century) · DADA professor (1984–1985) · DADA professor (1985–1986) · DADA professor (1986–1987) · DADA professor (1987–1988) · DADA professor (1989–1990) · DADA professor (1990–1991) · Muggle Studies professor (1990s) · DADA professor (1998–?) · Potions professor (21st century) · Charms professor (?th century)
Hogwarts house-elves	Bilm · Boil-ridden house-elf · Deek · Dobby · Feenky · Filk · Gimkey · Krafty · Kreacher · Nonsuch · Pitts · Retch · Rooky · Scrope · Vekey · Wigby · Winky · Unidentified house-elf
Support staff	Phineas Nigellus Black’s secretaries · Noreen Blainey · Rancorous Carpe · Argus Filch · Wilhelmina Grubbly-Plank · Rubeus Hagrid · Rolanda Hooch · Hankerton Humble · Gladwin Moon · Ogg · Irma Pince · Poppy Pomfrey · Apollyon Pringle · Lucinda Thomsonicle-Pocus · Agnes Scribner · Wainscott · Unidentified Healers · Librarian (?th century) · Librarian (21st century)

Death Eaters
Leader: Lord Voldemort
Death Eaters Avery (II) · Alecto Carrow · Amycus Carrow · Crabbe · Bartemius Crouch Junior † · Antonin Dolohov · Gibbon † · Goyle · Gareth Greengrass’s brother · Jugson · Barnaby Lee’s father · Barnaby Lee’s mother · Bellatrix Lestrange † · Rabastan Lestrange · Rodolphus Lestrange · Walden Macnair · Mulciber (I) · Mulciber (II) · Nott · Pyrites (possibly) · Augustus Rookwood · Rosier · Evan Rosier † · Thorfinn Rowle · Selwyn · Merula Snyde’s father · Merula Snyde’s mother · Travers · Wilkes † · Corban Yaxley · Unidentified Death Eaters
Death Eater defectors Regulus Black † · Igor Karkaroff † · Draco Malfoy · Lucius Malfoy · Peter Pettigrew † · Severus Snape †
Death Eater allies Borgin · Vincent Crabbe · John Dawlish · Delphini · Golgomath · Gregory Goyle · Fenrir Greyback · Mafalda Hopkirk · Narcissa Malfoy (defected) · Ismelda Murk (unofficially, supposedly) · Nagini · Mr Padgett · Mrs Padgett · Pansy Parkinson · Quirinus Quirrell · Albert Runcorn · Stanley Shunpike (Imperiused) · Scabior · Serpent of Slytherin · Pius Thicknesse (Imperiused) · Dolores Umbridge
Other affiliations British Ministry of Magic (under Voldemort’s control) · Daily Prophet (under Voldemort’s control) · Dementors · Draco Malfoy’s gang · Kreacher (formerly) · Tom Riddle’s gang · Gang of Slytherins · Giants (Golgomath’s control) · Inferi · Charmed skeletons · Muggle-Born Registration Commission · Theodore Nott (possibly) · Snatchers · Werewolf army · The Unforgivable
Death Eater establishments Abandoned nuclear power plant · Borgin and Burkes · British Ministry of Magic Headquarters (under Voldemort’s control) · The Cave · Chamber of Secrets · Forbidden Forest · Gaunt Shack · Lee family house · Lestrange Vault · Little Hangleton graveyard · Malfoy Manor · Misty Dell · Riddle House · Snatcher Camp · Spinner’s End · The Abandoned Substation · The Ruins · The Quarry

Order of the Phoenix
Founder: Albus Dumbledore
Leaders: Albus Dumbledore | Alastor Moody | Kingsley Shacklebolt
Original Order of of the Phoenix: Aberforth Dumbledore | Alastor Moody | Alice Longbottom | Arabella Figg | Benjy Fenwick | Caradoc Dearborn | Dedalus Diggle | Dorcas Meadowes | Edgar Bones | Elphias Doge | Emmeline Vance | Fabian Prewett | Frank Longbottom | Gideon Prewett | James Potter | Lily Potter | Marlene McKinnon | Mundungus Fletcher | Peter Pettigrew (defected) | Remus Lupin | Rubeus Hagrid | Severus Snape | Sirius Black | Sturgis Podmore
Reconstituted Order of the Phoenix: Aberforth Dumbledore | Alastor Moody | Arabella Figg | Arthur Weasley | Bill Weasley | Charlie Weasley | Dedalus Diggle | Elphias Doge | Emmeline Vance | Fleur Delacour | Fred Weasley | George Weasley | Harry Potter | Hermione Granger | Hestia Jones | Kingsley Shacklebolt | Minerva McGonagall | Molly Weasley | Mundungus Fletcher | Nymphadora Tonks | Remus Lupin | Ron Weasley | Rubeus Hagrid | Severus Snape | Sirius Black | Sturgis Podmore
Order of the Phoenix allies: Andromeda Tonks | Augusta Longbottom | Buckbeak | Dobby | Fawkes | Filius Flitwick | Firenze | Garrick Ollivander | Ginny Weasley | Grawp | Helena Ravenclaw | Horace Slughorn | Karkus | Karkus’s wife | Kreacher | Lee Jordan | Luna Lovegood | McKinnon family | Mr Westenberg | Mrs Westenberg | Muriel | Nearly-Headless Nick | Neville Longbottom | Oliver Wood | Olympe Maxime | Rita Skeeter | Peeves | Percy Weasley | Pomona Sprout | Poppy Pomfrey | Sybill Trelawney | Ted Tonks | The Fallen Fifty | Westenberg family | Winky | Xenophilius Lovegood
Other affiliations: Dumbledore’s Army | Forbidden Forest Centaur colony | Headless Hunt | Hogwarts Hippogriff herd | Hogwarts house-elves | Hogwarts Ghosts | Hogwarts Staff | Hogwarts students | Hogwarts Thestral herd | Ministry of Magic | Giant colony (Karkus’s control)

Potions (class)
Potioneers
Arsenius Jigger · Bilius Finbok · Blossom Degrasse · Dai Ryusaki · Damocles Belby · Erica Stainwright · Fatimah Lawang · Fleamont Potter · Gethsemane Prickle · Gilderoy Lockhart · Glossy · Glover Hipworth · Golpalott · Gregory the Smarmy · Gunhilda de Gorsemoor · Hector Dagworth-Granger · Hesper Starkey · J. Pippin · Laverne de Montmorency · Libatius Borage · Linfred of Stinchcombe · Mulpepper · Mundungus Fletcher · Nicolas Flamel · Phineas Bourne · Quintia McQuoid · Regulus Moonshine · Rogue alchemist · Rubens Winikus · Sacharissa Tugwood · Skower · Tilden Toots · Dr Ubbly · Vindictus Viridian · Zenith Xeep · Zygmunt Budge
Potions at Hogwarts
Cauldron cupboard · Dungeon Five · Potions basement · Potions Classroom · Potions Club · Potions Staircase · Potion Master’s office · Potions Storeroom
Professors	Bartholomew · Horace Slughorn · Severus Snape · Swoopstikes · Unnamed Professor (16th century) · Aesop Sharp (19th century) · Unnamed Professor (2021)
Textbooks	A Collection of Above Three Hundred Receipts in Cookery, Physick, and Surgery · Advanced Potion-Making · Ingredient Encyclopedia · Magical Drafts and Potions · One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi
Potions studied at Hogwarts
Ageing Potion · Amortentia · Antidotes · Antidote to Common Poisons · Antidote to garish pink blended poison · Antidote to Uncommon Poisons · Antidote to Veritaserum · Babbling Beverage · Befuddlement Draught · Calming Draught · Cheese-Based Potions · Confusing Concoction · Cough Potion · Cure for Boils · Deflating Draught · Doxycide · Draught of Living Death · Draught of Peace · Elixir to Induce Euphoria · Erumpent Potion · Essence of Insanity · Everlasting Elixirs · Felix Felicis · Fire Protection Potion · Forgetfulness Potion · The Famous French Method for the Bite of a Mad Dog · Garish pink blended poison · Garrotting Gas · Girding Potion · Hair-Raising Potion · Herbicide Potion · Hiccoughing Solution · Invigoration Draught · Laughing Potion · Mandrake Restorative Draught · Memory Potion · Pepperup Potion · Polyjuice Potion · Pompion Potion · Potion for Dreamless Sleep · Rat Tonic · Regerminating Potion · Scintillation Solution · Shrinking Solution · Skele-Gro · Strength Potion · Strengthening Solution · Swelling Solution · Undetectable Poisons · Veritaserum · Weedosoros · Wideye Potion · Wiggenweld Potion · Wit-Sharpening Potion · Wolfsbane Potion · Wound-Cleaning Potion

Defence Against the Dark Arts (D.A.D.A.)
D.A.D.A. at Hogwarts
Classroom 3C · Classroom 3C backrooms · Temporary Classroom · Hogwarts Turris Magnus · Teacher’s Office · Storeroom · Staircase · Storage room · Lesson Cup · Race Cup · Duelling Club · Dumbledore’s Army
Professors
Isidora Morganach · Dinah Hecat · Arsenius Jigger · Albus Dumbledore · Galatea Merrythought · 1984–1985 professor · 1985–1986 professor · 1986–1987 professor · 1987–1988 professor · Patricia Rakepick · 1989–1990 professor · First 1990–1991 professor · Olivia Green · Quirinus Quirrell · Gilderoy Lockhart · Remus Lupin · Bartemius Crouch Junior (as Alastor Moody) · Dolores Umbridge · Severus Snape · Amycus Carrow (as Dark Arts teacher) · Unidentified professor · Brindlemore
Textbooks
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection · Advanced Defence Against the Dark Arts · Break with a Banshee · Gadding with Ghouls · Holidays with Hags · Travels with Trolls · Voyages with Vampires · Wanderings with Werewolves · Year with the Yeti · The Essential Defence Against the Dark Arts · Defensive Magical Theory · Dark Arts Defence – Basics for Beginners · Confronting the Faceless · Defence Against the Dark Arts
Spells studied at Hogwarts under D.A.D.A.
Aqua Eructo · Boggart-Banishing Spell (Riddikulus) · Bombarda Maxima · Cave inimicum · Concealment Charms · Counter-curses · Counter-jinxes · Cruciatus Curse (Crucio) · Curse of the Bogies (Mucus ad Nauseam) · Cursed barrier spell · Densaugeo · Deprimo Spell (Deprimo) · Disarming Charm (Expelliarmus) · Ear-Shrivelling Curse · Everte Statum · Freezing Spell (Glacius) · Full Body-Bind Curse (Petrificus Totalus) · Fumos Duo · Green Sparks · Hex-Breaker· Hex-deflection · Hex Zapper · Homorphus Charm · Human-presence-revealing Spell (Homenum Revelio) · Impediment Jinx (Impedimenta) · Imperius Curse (Imperio) · Imperturbable Charm · Killing Curse (Avada Kedavra) · Knockback Jinx (Flipendo) · Lacarnum Inflamari · Langlock · Limbo Mist anticharm · Nonverbal spells · Patronus Charm (Expecto Patronum) · Pimple Jinx (Furnunculus) · Protective enchantments · Red Sparks (Vermillious) · Reductor Curse (Reducto) · Salvio hexia · Sea Urchin Jinx · Seize and pull charm (Carpe Retractum) · Shield Charm (Protego) · Smokescreen Spell (Fumos) · Snake-Vanishing Spell (Vipera Evanesca) · Softening Charm (Spongify) · Stretching Jinx · Tickling Charm (Rictusempra) · Tongue-Tying Curse (Mimblewimble) · Trip Jinx · Twitchy-Ears Hex · Verdimillious Charm (Verdimillious) · Verdimillious Duo Spell (Verdimillious) · Verdimillious Tria · Vermillious Duo · Vermillious Tria · Wand-Lighting Charm (Lumos)
Creatures studied at Hogwarts under D.A.D.A.
Banshee · Boggart · Chameleon Ghoul · Charmed skeleton · Cornish Pixie · Dementor · Dugbog · Erkling · Flesh-Eating Slug · Ghost · Ghoul · Gnome · Grindylow · Gytrash · Hag · Hinkypunk · Iguana · Imp · Inferius · Kappa · Manticore · Nocturnal beasts · Nogtail · Poltergeist · Red Cap · Snake · Troll · Vampire · Vampire bat · Werewolf · Yeti · Zombie

Hogwarts Duelling Club
Duelling Club Captains
Hogwarts: Gilderoy Lockhart · Severus Snape
Gryffindor: Angus Matlock
Hufflepuff: Duelling Club Captain
Ravenclaw: Alannis
Slytherin: Duelling Club Captain
Duelling Club Members
Gryffindor: Edward · Emily · Harry Potter · Hermione Granger · Neil Randall · Neville Longbottom · Romilda Vane · Ronald Weasley · Seamus Finnigan · Stewart
Hufflepuff: Anthony Otterburn · Heather · Justin Finch-Fletchley · Karl Limpley · Kouta Ohnishi · Rhonda Fladbury
Ravenclaw: Andrew · Helen Dawlish · Fawcett · Rebecca · Shoma Ichikawa · Terry Boot · Trevor Birch
Slytherin: Bridget · Draco Malfoy · Fergus Cowley · Irfan Mustaq · Maynard Hatton · Millicent Bulstrode · Peter · Rachel · Roy
Badges
Crossfire Badge · Defender Badge · Duelling Beginner’s Luck Badge · Duelling Club Champion Badge · Duelling Veteran Badge · Keen Duellist Badge · Master Duellist Badge · Nine Lives Badge · Persistence Badge · Reflex Badge
Duelling Club locations
Great Hall · Middle Courtyard · The Quad · Training Grounds

Severus Snape was an English half-blood wizard serving as Potions Master, later Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, and Headmaster of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as well as a member of the Order of the Phoenix and a Death Eater. His double life played an extremely important role in both of the Wizarding Wars against Voldemort. He is one of the major characters from the Harry Potter film series and was portrayed by the late Alan Rickman.

Background

Personality

At times, Snape could appear cold, cynical, malicious, bitter, and sarcastic. He had a commanding presence that exuded gravitas, authority and control; like Professor McGonagall, he had the ability to keep a class quiet without effort. He tended to hold grudges and was extremely spiteful toward those whom he disliked. In particular, he disdained Gryffindor students, considering them to be arrogant and attention-seeking. Descriptions of his social interactions as a child suggest that he had poor interpersonal skills.

Snape was a repressed, solitary man with no friends. In his early life, he was insecure, vulnerable, and yearned to be part of something better. As a child, the bleak normality of working-class suburbia compounded with his neglectful Muggle father inspired in him a contempt for ordinariness. This urgent desire to be a part of something powerful and important was what drew him to Lord Voldemort’s inner circle. Snape’s bitterness and resentment towards the world was exacerbated even more by the relentless bullying he endured in school, causing him to shut himself in even more. Snape was not a prejudiced individual despite the Death Eater beliefs of pure-blood superiority, but was rather against towards Muggles, presumably because of his sour experience with both his father and Petunia Evans, but held no ill-will towards Muggle-borns. The foundation of him scolding Lily Evans by calling her Mudblood was to not appear weak in front of his fellow Death Eater students than actual supremacist views. He also deeply regretted this as it was what ended his friendship with Lily and defended Hermione Granger when Phineas Nigellus Black called her Mudblood, his manner of speaking in this instance being uncharacteristically explosive and filled with more emotion than he normally displayed.

He was an intensely private individual who viewed emotional displays as a sign of shameful weakness. As an Occlumens, Snape had superb emotional control and was adept at concealing his thoughts and feelings, which allowed him to maintain his cold, collected demeanour. However, he had his limits, and was not incapable of losing his temper, particularly when it came to dealing with Harry Potter. Inevitably, he also became furious when he thought he was being pitied or accused of cowardice.

Snape was a formidable sorcerer, displaying consummate skill in many different branches of magic. His extensive knowledge and abilities were rivalled by very few, if any other witches and wizards of his age. Snape was also unusually cerebral for a wizard, possessing a subtle and keenly analytical mind. As a result, Snape was extremely intelligent and calculative, with a mind for strategy and deduction. He was also a profound misanthrope who appeared to have a prominent hatred of almost every child under his tutelage, except of course for Slytherins. He valued logic and cunning above magical power.

As a professor, Snape was known for his cavalier and harshly authoritarian attitude towards his teaching. His standards for his classes were much higher than that of the other professors, as he only allowed students with the very best grades to continue into advanced study. He developed a loving passion for Dark Arts, originally in the hopes to cover the shame of his heritage, and his interest in it led him to repeatedly apply for the Defence Against the Dark Arts professor post every year, despite being rejected for sixteen years. When he finally got his wish, Snape taught the course with a loving caress in his voice, far beyond simply respecting the Dark Arts as a dangerous foe, something he did not show in his post as the Potions Master. He also taught this class slightly fairer than he did in Potions, such as lowering his entrance standards and biassed for the N.E.W.T. level, allowing more students to enter the advanced studies of his favourite class, and placed students from his own house, such as Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle, in detention for failing to do acceptable work the second time around after failing their O.W.L. the previous year.

Ultimately, it was Snape’s past and his love for Lily Evans that defined his inner being. His love for Lily Evans became most noticeable by his patronus, a Doe, just like Lily’s. Upon overhearing the Prophecy, he immediately informed his then-master of its contents, unaware that this would endanger Lily and her family. It was only after Lily’s death that Snape realised the full extent of his actions. He suffered terrible remorse for what he had done and spent the rest of his life in constant danger in order to protect Lily’s son.

In spite of his vindictive demeanour, Severus Snape was an immensely brave man who possessed a deep capacity for love. Everything that he did in the latter part of his life was motivated by his devotion to Lily Evans, whom he loved unconditionally. He was one of Dumbledore’s most reliable allies and in his role as a double agent, took great personal risk in ensuring Harry’s safety from Lord Voldemort. Despite his years of him and Harry barely getting along, if at all, Snape openly criticised Dumbledore after learning he protected Harry all these years just so he could die at the right time due to being a Horcrux, showing he’s grown to genuinely care for Harry, even though at first, he only protected him because of his relationship to Lily. When he informed Dumbledore that he informed Voldemort of the prophecy, Snape begged Dumbledore to hide Harry, Lily, and even James too. This clearly showed Snape prioritised Lily’s happiness above all else, even if it meant her being with a man he hated for most of his life.

Despite Snape’s normally calm and controlled exterior and guarded body language, he was in possession of an extraordinarily explosive and almost psychotic temper. This was rarely seen, but extreme display of rage was most prominently witnessed after Snape killed Dumbledore and was confronted outside of Hagrid’s burning house near the edge of the school grounds. The event that triggered this unhinged manifestation of Snape’s unrestrained wrath was Harry’s accusation of Snape being a coward for killing Dumbledore. Due to the many years of being bullied by Harry’s father, and with a need to both vent his immense stress and maintain his cover, Snape unleashed a terrifying mix of both his emotions and magic, taking great pleasure in torturing and punishing the son of his enemy. Unlike in the past where he spoke quietly in his anger, Snape in this instance was screaming and letting so much out, and confessing his identity of the Half-Blood Prince to Harry who had attempted to use one of Snape’s own invented spells against him. This battle showed Snape’s repressed rage in its horrific glory and power. Suffice it to say, Severus Snape was not a man who it was wise to provoke, lest one incur his almost elemental wrath and magical power.

Physical appearance

Severus Snape was a slender, thin man with sallow fair skin, a large, hooked nose and yellow, uneven teeth. He had shoulder-length, greasy black hair, curling lips and brown eyes. As a Death Eater, he bears the Dark Mark on his left inner forearm.

He always dons his black robes consisting a buttoned shirt, with matching trousers, shoes and a floor length cloak. He carries his own wand.

Powers and abilities

Magical abilities and skills

Appearances

Wizarding World

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

Snape is first seen in the Great Hall, giving Harry particular looks. It is hinted by Percy Weasley that Snape’s been after the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts for years.

Snape appears into his classroom, where he gives a lecture to his class about potion making and draws his attention to Harry Potter who is writing down his information. Snape asks Harry the questions that relate to Potion making — despite Hermione knows the answers and Harry doesn’t know. In response to Harry’s angry remark that he didn’t ask Hermione for the answers, Snape reveals the information to Harry before instructing the class to write them all down. He returns to his desk and deducts five points from Gryffindor for Harry’s «cheek».

When Snape arrives with McGonagall and Quirrell after Harry and Ron saved Hermione by knocking out a mountain troll, Harry notices a wound on Snape’s leg which he quickly covers up. The following day, Snape, in a deadpan manner, congratulates Harry for proving himself against a mountain troll and wishes him luck on his first Quidditch Match, before he limps away, making Harry, Ron and Hermione suspicious of Snape attempt to steal the stolen object in the forbidden corridor.

During the Quidditch Match, when Harry’s broom is suddenly jinxed, Ron and Hermione suspect Snape is behind this, because they saw him muttering. Hermione reaches the basements of the stands where Snape is sitting, she secretly sets his cloak on fire with her wand. Snape soon notices this and extinguishes the fire, knocking over Quirrell in his haste.

After Harry has left the Restricted Section in his invisibility cloak after a noise from the book has alerted Filch, Snape corners Quirrell and confronts him. But Snape seemingly hears something and then feels nothing, he and Quirrell are notified by Filch about a student out of bed.

On the day after the final exams are finished, Snape notices the trio talking to each other, and advises them to be careful that people may think they are up to something. Snape leaves after that.

However, it turns out that the true suspect of planning to steal the Philosopher’s stone was actually Professor Quirrell who reveals that Snape was actually protecting Harry all year and intervened with his plans: Snape cut Quirrell off from the forbidden corridor and Snape muttered his counter curse in attempt to block the jinx from Harry’s broom.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Snape is seen in his office, furious that the Flying Ford Anglia — where Harry and Ron are in, has been spotted by none other than seven muggles. He reprimands Harry and Ron for nearly exposing the wizarding world and the damage caused on the Whomping Willow, before stating that they are about to be on their train home. Dumbledore and McGonagall intervene, and Snape requests Dumbledore to expel the boys, but Dumbledore hands the decision to McGonagall who thankfully keeps them in the school, but gives them detention.

He is next seen when Filch’s cat, Mrs Norris has been petrified, and that the heir of Slytherin left a message on the wall with blood.

Much later, Snape volunteers himself to duel with Gilderoy Lockhart in the dueling club, and they duel as demonstration. Lockhart volunteers Harry and Ron to duel, but Snape points out that Ron’s damaged wand could injure Harry during the duel and suggests that Malfoy should duel Harry instead. During the duel, Malfoy creates a snake, and Harry is revealed to be a parseltongue when he speaks to snakes; Snape then disintegrates the snake shortly afterwards.

He is next seen with McGonagall, Madame Pomferry and Lockhart, discussing that the heir of Slytherin left another message on the wall and the monster has taken Ginny Weasley into the Chamber of Secrets.

He is last seen in the Great Hall, as Dumbledore announces that the final exams are cancelled and welcomes back Hagrid from Azkaban.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Snape appears with Dumbledore with news of him searching the Astronomy Tower and the Owlery for Sirius — due to the incident of the prisoner slashing the Fat Lady’s portrait out of anger, but Snape concludes that Sirius isn’t found anywhere and amazed that he managed to get past the Dementors without being detected. Dumbledore plans to warn the students, and on Snape’s request of Harry to be informed, Dumbledore requires that they should let Harry sleep.

The following day, Snape appears in Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson, covering for Lupin, who Snape claims to be absent in the present-time. Snape instructs the students to turn to page 394, and lectures them about werewolves, and even belittles Hermione of «speaking out of term» before deducting five points for that. On Harry’s comment that Quidditch is tomorrow, Snape coldly suggests that he should take extra care and his injuries won’t excuse him.

Much later in winter with Harry (under the invisibly cloak) is making a illegal visit to Hogsemade, Snape has a meeting with McGonagall and Fudge on James and Lily Potters’ deaths, all because Sirius Black betrayed them to Voldemort.

Later on, that night, Snape catches Harry in the corridors with the marauder’s map. Harry reads the map, but rewords the information which insults him. As Lupin arrives, Snape confiscates the map from Harry and hands it over to Lupin, who takes Harry away to explain to him about the map. After they left, Snape is left alone in the corridor and is forced to dim out his wand on one of the paintings’ requests.

Much later on, Snape corners Lupin and Sirius in the Shrieking Shack, planning to hand them both over to the Dementors, but Harry knocks him out with the Expelliarmus spell, allowing Lupin and Sirius to find the real culprit who betray James and Lily to Voldemort. After they left the Shrieking Shack, Snape regain conscious and tracks them outside the Whomping Willow. Before he can reprimand Harry, he notices Lupin transforming into a werewolf, prompting Snape to stand in front of the trio to protect them from harm. As Sirius runs off with the werewolf giving chase, Harry went after them, ignoring Snape’s orders to get back here. However, it is mentioned that Snape found the unconscious Harry and Sirius near the Back Lake, and has Harry sent to the Hospital wing and Sirius to the Topmost tower to receive the Dementor’s kiss. Thankfully, Harry and Hermione went back in time, and save Sirius from the Dementor’s kiss.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Snape can be seen in the Great Hall with the teachers, as Dumbledore welcomes the Durmstrang Institute and Beauxbatons Academy of Magic. He is also seen where the Goblet of Fire picks out the names for the tournament. After Harry was unexpectedly chosen by the Goblet of Fire, Snape gave Harry a dirty look as he joins the competitors. He along with McGonagall discuss with Dumbledore about Harry being in the tournament. Snape suggest that Potter should compete, which Dumbledore agrees.

Snape is seen in the Great Hall, observing the students when they are doing their studying. He often hits Ron and Harry on the head with a book to remind to remain silent. After Hermione leaves and hands her book to Snape, he notices Harry and Ron discussing, prompting Snape to grab their heads and pushes them down in order to shut them up.

Snape is next discussing with Igor Karkaroff about his Death Eater tattoo, and catches a Hufflepuff and a Ravenclaw making out in a carriage. He deducts ten points from their houses for that.

Snape is next seen after a conversation with Igor in his storeroom. He finds Harry and congratulates him for his efforts on the second task. Snape guess that Harry used Gillyweed and finds a potion in the storeroom, asking him if he knows Veritaserum, a truth-telling potion. Snape knows it is forbidden to use it on a student, and accuses him of stealing him from his storeroom, before he continues accusing him and his friends of making Polyjuice Potion and vows to find out why.

Much later in the climax, Snape takes the Veritaserum and arrives with Dumbledore and McGonagall to restrain Moody and force him to drink the potion. The result has Moody revealed to be Barty Crouch Jr. and the real Moody was imprisoned in a magical trunk. Snape finally realizes that Barty Crouch, Jr. has been stealing from his store. He holds Barty Crouch, Jr. hostage at the wand-point, waiting for him to sent back to Azkaban.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Snape is first seen as a member of the Order of the Phoenix having a meeting.

Snape is next seen in the great hall as Dumbledore welcomes Umbridge as the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. Much later, in his classroom with Umbridge questioning him of his desire of teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts. After she leaves and as Ron quietly snickers, Snape hits him over the head with his book.

As Harry explains to Dumbledore (with his back turned) about seeing a vision of Mr. Weasley being attacked, Snape arrives and Dumbledore instructs him to serve Occlumency lessons with Harry to block his mind from Voldemort.

Much later in the film after Dumbledore fled into hiding, Snape continued the Occlumency lesson with Harry. During the lesson, Harry accidentally sees Snape’s memories on him being bullied by James Potter and Sirius Black. Calmly angered by this, Snape calls off the lessons and dismisses Harry from his classroom.

Snape is informed by Umbridge to get the Veritaserum on Harry, but he claims to be out of stock after using it on Cho Chang. Harry informs Snape that Voldemort’s got Sirius Black hostage, Snape answers to Umbridge that he has no idea what Padfoot means before leaving.

However, it is mentioned that Snape informed the Order of the Phoenix of Harry and his friends didn’t return from the Forbidden Forest, and sent them to the Department of Mysteries at the Ministry of Magic to save them from the Death Eaters.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Snape is first seen meeting up with Bellatrix Lestrange and Narcissa Malfoy, he claims that he has been actually acting as a mole within the Order of the Phoenix. Snape swears a Unbreakable vow with Narcissa to protect Draco and fulfill his mission if he fails.

He is next seen defending Draco Malfoy from Mr. Filch who is examining his father’s cane, before Snape and Draco walk off.

He is later seen examining the cursed necklace that has cursed Katie Bell in Hogsmeade. Snape along with McGonagall falsely believes that Harry is accusing Draco of being a death eater, before the second former dismisses Harry, Ron and Hermione to their dormitories.

Snape is later seen at Slughorn’s party, finding Harry and Cormac McLaggen behind the curtains. McLaggen, being tricked into thinking that he has eaten «dragon balls» by Harry, vomits on Snape’s shoes, prompting him to sentence McLaggen to a month’s detention. Snape also informs Harry that Dumbledore is travelling. When Filch catches Draco in a corridor, Snape volunteers to escort him back to his dormitory. On the way back, Snape corners Draco, revealing his unbreakable vow to him unaware that Harry is overhearing Snape’s conversation to Draco.

Much later in the film, after Harry have severely injured Draco with the Sectumsepra spell, Snape arrives and heals Draco back to his health with the Vulnera Senatur spell. Later on, he questions Dumbledore about his life before leaving.

When Harry and Dumbledore return from the cave, Dumbledore asks Harry to get Snape, but quickly tells him to hide at the last minute when Draco and some of the Death Eaters arrive. Harry watches Draco refusing to kill Dumbledore, and is about to quickly disarm Draco, but Snape silently intervenes and gestures Harry to remain silent. Snape arrives to save Draco from temptation, and casts the killing curse on Dumbledore instead.

Snape leaves with Draco and the Death eaters, trashing the Great Hall and setting Hagrid’s hut ablaze. Harry furiously tries to use the Half-Blood Prince’s spells against Snape, but he overpowers Harry. Snape questions Harry of using his own spells, revealing himself to be the Half-Blood Prince, before he leaves with the Death Eaters.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1

Snape travels to Malfoy Manor to attend a meeting with Voldemort and the Death Eaters. He informs Voldemort of Harry’s impending departure from Privet Drive.

After that, he is only mentioned throughout the film. It is also mentioned that he now became Headmaster of Hogwarts.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2

Snape is first seen, standing in the top of the Quad Battlements and watches the students with a blank expression, as dementors are patrolling the grounds.

Much later on, Snape orders everyone to the Great Hall to ask anyone who may hold information regarding Harry’s location to tell him immediately or face punishment. Harry then reveals himself after hiding within the crowd as a student and rebukes Snape for standing where Dumbledore once stood as Headmaster, ordering him to tell the students the truth of how he betrayed and killed Dumbledore as Order of the Phoenix members enter the Great Hall. Snape draws his wand in fury, but Minerva McGonagall steps in to defend Harry. Snape and McGonagall face each other off for a moment, ending with Snape, completed outnumbered, to flee from the school.

He went into hiding, until he was called by Voldemort into the Boathouse, where Voldemort and Nagini are waiting. Voldemort explains to him that the Elder Wand couldn’t serve Voldemort, unless Snape is killed. Voldemort uses one of Snape’s invented spells «Sectumsepra» to slit his throat, and Nagini finishes him off by brutally wounding him. After Voldemort bid farewell to Snape before he and Nagini left, Harry, Ron and Hermione arrive to nurse his wounds. Snape sheds his tears and Harry collects them with a phial. Snape instructs him to take them to the Pensieve and respectfully comments to Harry that he has his mother’s eyes, before he passes on.

After Harry poured Snape’s memories into the Pensieve, he learns that Snape fell for Lily Evans during his childhood. At Hogwarts, Snape is sorted into Slytherin, whilst Lily is sorted into Gryffindor where she meets James Potter and Sirius Black. Snape and Lily remained friends, but as much of Snape’s time in Hogwarts goes on, he is ridiculed and bullied by James and Sirius. Snape’s hatred towards James worsened when Lily soon falls in love with him. With Snape as a young adult Death Eater, he told Voldemort all he has heard of the Prophecy about who will destroy him, not knowing Voldemort will target Harry and hence, Lily.

When Voldemort planning to kill the Potters, Snape informs Dumbledore of this and begged him to hide them after telling Voldemort about the Prophecy. Dumbledore agrees as Snape willingly defects from the Death Eaters. However, the Potters have wrongfully trusted Wormtail who gave away their location to Voldemort, resulting him to kill only Harry’s parents, but failed to kill Harry himself. As Snape visits Godric’s Hollow that night, he finds Lily dead, leaving Snape heart-broken and breaks down crying in depression, cradling Lily’s dead body in his arms.

Dumbledore convinces a devastated and distraught Snape to help him protect Harry should Voldemort return so that Lily will not have died in vain, which Snape agrees to only if Dumbledore never tells anyone his true feelings for her. Over the years, Snape remained at Hogwarts and used Occlumency to hide his loyalty to Dumbledore from Voldemort and everyone else, yet he personally despises Harry, who served as a constant physical reminder that Lily had loved the man who bullied him.

Eventually, Snape grew to hold Harry in some respect and come to care a great deal for Dumbledore as both a friend and mentor. It is revealed that Snape saved Dumbledore’s life temporarily from the curse contained in Marvolo Gaunt’s Ring by containing it in his hand. Despite his efforts to save him, the curse will take effect in about a year. Dumbledore tells Snape that he knows of Draco’s orders to kill him, and to both spare Draco and gain Voldemort’s complete trust, Snape has to be the one to kill Dumbledore while giving him a merciful and painless death.

Dumbledore informs Snape that when the Killing Curse rebounded off of Harry as an infant, a part of Voldemort’s soul broke away and latched itself into Harry. This makes Harry a Horcrux, but it was a horcrux that Voldemort never meant to make. Harry had to die in order to kill Voldemort, and Snape was supposed to tell Harry this only when all the other Horcruxes are destroyed, but Snape was too reluctant.

Snape became shocked and insulted that Dumbledore kept Harry alive all this time just so that he can die at the proper moment. Dumbledore had underestimated Snape’s devotion to Lily, but this changed when Snape cast his own Patronus, the silver doe (same as Lily’s), proving to Dumbledore how much he still loved her and to Harry that it had been Snape who had lead him to the sword in the Forest of Dean using his Patronus.

After Harry saw his memories, he now realized that Snape was always on Dumbledore’s side and a large part in fighting against Voldemort all along, now understands Snape’s actions and willingly surrenders himself to Voldemort so that the Horcrux inside him can be destroyed.

After the battle at Hogwarts, Harry names his son Albus Severus Potter, after Dumbledore and Snape respectively, because they were two headmasters and one of them was the bravest man he knows.

Live Show

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Video games

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2

Lego Harry Potter: Years 1–4

Lego Harry Potter: Years 5–7

Lego Creator: Harry Potter

Harry Potter for Kinect

Lego Dimensions

Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery

Harry Potter: Wizards Unite

Merchandise

Lego Harry Potter

Printed Media

Lego Harry Potter: Building the Magical World

Lego Harry Potter: Characters of the Magical World

Harry Potter: The Character Vault

Harry Potter: The Creature Vault

Relationships

Parents

Lily Evans

The Marauders

Harry Potter

Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger

Albus Dumbledore

Petunia Evans

Lord Voldemort

Weasley family

Malfoy family

Bellatrix Lestrange

Igor Karkaroff

Death Eaters

Neville Longbottom

Minerva McGonagall

Hogwarts staff

Hogwarts students

Order of the Phoenix members

Patricia Rakepick

Quotes

Gallery

Trivia

• Snape is similar to Anakin Skywalker from the Star Wars franchise.
  • Both fall for their love interests of the main protagonists (Padmé for Anakin, Lily Evans for Snape)
  • Both turn to their side to serve the dark lords (Emperor Palpatine and Lord Voldemort)
  • Both became deeply guilt-ridden and depressed over the loss of their love interests.
  • Both happen to have the main protagonists as their enemies.
  • Both are killed by the dark lords (Anakin — as Darth Vader, dies after electrocuting himself whilst throwing Palpatine to his death, Snape was brutally wounded by Voldemort and Nagini — Voldemort’s snake, and dies after shedding his tears for Harry to collect.)
• Snape is portrayed by Alan Rickman in the Harry Potter films. Rickman also portrayed Judge Turpin in Tim Burton’s film adaptation of Sweeney Todd.
  • Actor Tim Roth was in talks to play the villain, but turned down the role to play General Thade in Planet of the Apes (2001).
  • Alan Rickman was proved to be a remarkable actor to play the character since he managed his performance pretty well, so much that Rupert Grint admitted to being afraid of him in an interview.
• An aspect of him of being an anti-hero is due to him being an extremely biased teacher, who blatantly favored students of Slytherin, in which he was the head of the house; while unfairly punishing and verbally abusing every other student, especially Harry, Ron, Hermione and Neville.
  • In film series however, Snape’s characterization is changed to appear more likable as with Gilderoy Lockhart; he is more laid back and less anti social, does not openly insult or harass his students (with the exception of shoving or whacking Harry and Ron on the head to make them focus on their studies) and once when Ron sniggered when Umbridge was embarrassing him. While his enmity with Harry still evident, he is less cruel towards him, such as wishing him good luck on his first Quidditch match and even flashing him a slight smile, along with a sarcastic compliment on Harry’s defeat of the mountain troll earlier that year. He also initially defended him, Ron, and Hermione in the second movie from Filch’s accusations when Mrs Norris was petrified (though he did note that there was a set of suspicious circumstances) and when talking with Dumbledore after revealing the Prophecy to Voldemort, he asked him to protect the entire Potter family (including his rival James) rather than Lily alone, without Dumbledore having to prompt him to do so.
• In honor of Alan Rickman’s 2016 death, Snape appears in a 2016 episode of The Simpsons.
• According to J. K. Rowling, Snape’s character was loosely inspired by an unpleasant chemistry teacher she met in secondary school.

Differences from the source material

External Links

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Media Films: Philosopher’s Stone | Chamber of Secrets | Prisoner of Azkaban | Goblet of Fire | Order of the Phoenix | Half-Blood Prince | Deathly Hallows (Part 1 / Part 2) Spin-off films: Video games: Philosopher’s Stone | Chamber of Secrets | Prisoner of Azkaban | Goblet of Fire | Order of the Phoenix | Half-Blood Prince | Deathly Hallows (Part 1 / Part 2) | Quidditch World Cup Lego Video games: Lego Creator: Harry Potter | Lego Creator: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets | Lego Harry Potter: Years 1–4 / Years 5–7 Soundtracks: Home video: Video Characters Original characters:Harry Potter | Ron Weasley | Hermione Granger | Albus Dumbledore | Rubeus Hagrid | Fred Weasley | George Weasley | Angelina Johnson | Alicia Spinnet | Gilderoy Lockhart | Remus Lupin | Alastor Moody | Quirinus Quirrell | Horace Slughorn | Percy Weasley | Cho Chang | Colin Creevey | Cedric Diggory | Ginny Weasley | Neville Longbottom | Luna Lovegood | Sirius Black | Vernon Dursley | Dudley Dursley | Petunia Dursley | Lord Voldemort | Draco Malfoy | Lucius Malfoy | Cornelius Fudge | Dolores Umbridge | Alecto Carrow | the Dementors of Azkaban | Amycus Carrow | Vincent Crabbe | Gregory Goyle | Argus Filch | Severus Snape | Bellatrix Lestrange | Bartemius Crouch Jr | Regulus Black | Pius Thicknesse | Salazar Slytherin Spin-off characters: Newt Scamander | Tina Goldstein | Jacob Kowalski | Queenie Goldstein | Percival Graves | Seraphina Picquery | Credence Barebone | Mary Lou Barebon | Gnarlack | Henry Shaw Sr. | Langdon Shaw | Henry Shaw Jr. | Modesty Barebone | Chastity Barebone | Gellert Grindelwald | Leta Lestrange Creatures The Basilisk | The Mountain Troll | The Hungarian Horntail Mascots/Pets Crookshanks | Nagini | Hedwig | Fawkes | Buckbeak Mystical Animals Locations Hogwarts Castle: | Grand Staircase Tower | Great Hall | Gryffindor Tower | Hogwarts Quidditch Pitch | The Forbidden Forest | Forbidden Third Floor Corridor | Underground Chambers | Hospital Wing | Slytherin Dungeon | The Chamber of Secrets | Topmost Tower | Platform 9¾ Diagon Alley: | Gringotts Wizarding Bank | Ollivander’s Residences: 4 Privet Drive | The Burrow | Godric’s Hallow | Potter’s Cottage Other Locations: Limbo | England | Azkaban | British Ministry of Magic | Department of Mysteries Objects Weapons: Godric Gryffindor’s Sword Brooms/Nimbus: Nimbus 2000 | Nimbus 2001 | The Firebolt Wands: Harry’s Wand | Ron’s Wand | Hermione’s Wand | Voldemort’s Wand | Elder Wand Others: The Remembrall | The Invisibility Cloak | The Philosopher’s Stone | Mirror of Erised | The Sorting Hat | The Basilisk Fang | Tom Riddle’s Diary | The Marauder’s Map | The Goblet of Fire | Deluminator Transports Powders: Floo Powder | Floo Network Vehicles: Flying Ford Anglia | Flying Motorcycle | Hogwarts Express Organizations/Groups Order of the Phoenix | Dumbledore’s Army | Death Eaters People Directors: Chris Columbus (1–2) | Alfonso Cuarón (3) | Mike Newell (4) | David Yates (5–8) Producers: David Heyman | Chris Columbus (3) | Mark Radcliffe (3) | David Barron (5–8) | J. K. Rowling (7–8) Screenwriters: Steve Kloves (1–4, 6–8) | Michael Goldenberg (5) Cast Members: Daniel Radcliffe | Rupert Grint | Emma Watson | Maggie Smith | Robbie Coltrane | Alan Rickman | Tom Felton | Richard Harris (2001-2002) | Michael Gambon (2004-present) | Helena Bonham Carter | Warwick Davies | Ralph Fiennes | Brendan Gleeson | Richard Griffiths | Jason Isaacs | Gary Oldman | Fiona Shaw | Mark Williams | Julie Walters | Emma Thompson | Timothy Spall | David Thewlis | Miranda Richardson | Ian Hart Novelist: J.K. Rowling See also J.K. Rowling | Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Severus Snape was an English half-blood wizard serving as Potions Master, later Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, and Headmaster of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as well as a member of the Order of the Phoenix and a Death Eater. His double life played an extremely important role in both of the Wizarding Wars against Voldemort. He is one of the major characters from the Harry Potter film series and was portrayed by the late Alan Rickman.

Background

Personality

At times, Snape could appear cold, cynical, malicious, bitter, and sarcastic. He had a commanding presence that exuded gravitas, authority and control; like Professor McGonagall, he had the ability to keep a class quiet without effort. He tended to hold grudges and was extremely spiteful toward those whom he disliked. In particular, he disdained Gryffindor students, considering them to be arrogant and attention-seeking. Descriptions of his social interactions as a child suggest that he had poor interpersonal skills.

Snape was a repressed, solitary man with no friends. In his early life, he was insecure, vulnerable, and yearned to be part of something better. As a child, the bleak normality of working-class suburbia compounded with his neglectful Muggle father inspired in him a contempt for ordinariness. This urgent desire to be a part of something powerful and important was what drew him to Lord Voldemort’s inner circle. Snape’s bitterness and resentment towards the world was exacerbated even more by the relentless bullying he endured in school, causing him to shut himself in even more. Snape was not a prejudiced individual despite the Death Eater beliefs of pure-blood superiority, but was rather against towards Muggles, presumably because of his sour experience with both his father and Petunia Evans, but held no ill-will towards Muggle-borns. The foundation of him scolding Lily Evans by calling her Mudblood was to not appear weak in front of his fellow Death Eater students than actual supremacist views. He also deeply regretted this as it was what ended his friendship with Lily and defended Hermione Granger when Phineas Nigellus Black called her Mudblood, his manner of speaking in this instance being uncharacteristically explosive and filled with more emotion than he normally displayed.

He was an intensely private individual who viewed emotional displays as a sign of shameful weakness. As an Occlumens, Snape had superb emotional control and was adept at concealing his thoughts and feelings, which allowed him to maintain his cold, collected demeanour. However, he had his limits, and was not incapable of losing his temper, particularly when it came to dealing with Harry Potter. Inevitably, he also became furious when he thought he was being pitied or accused of cowardice.

Snape was a formidable sorcerer, displaying consummate skill in many different branches of magic. His extensive knowledge and abilities were rivalled by very few, if any other witches and wizards of his age. Snape was also unusually cerebral for a wizard, possessing a subtle and keenly analytical mind. As a result, Snape was extremely intelligent and calculative, with a mind for strategy and deduction. He was also a profound misanthrope who appeared to have a prominent hatred of almost every child under his tutelage, except of course for Slytherins. He valued logic and cunning above magical power.

As a professor, Snape was known for his cavalier and harshly authoritarian attitude towards his teaching. His standards for his classes were much higher than that of the other professors, as he only allowed students with the very best grades to continue into advanced study. He developed a loving passion for Dark Arts, originally in the hopes to cover the shame of his heritage, and his interest in it led him to repeatedly apply for the Defence Against the Dark Arts professor post every year, despite being rejected for sixteen years. When he finally got his wish, Snape taught the course with a loving caress in his voice, far beyond simply respecting the Dark Arts as a dangerous foe, something he did not show in his post as the Potions Master. He also taught this class slightly fairer than he did in Potions, such as lowering his entrance standards and biassed for the N.E.W.T. level, allowing more students to enter the advanced studies of his favourite class, and placed students from his own house, such as Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle, in detention for failing to do acceptable work the second time around after failing their O.W.L. the previous year.

Ultimately, it was Snape’s past and his love for Lily Evans that defined his inner being. His love for Lily Evans became most noticeable by his patronus, a Doe, just like Lily’s. Upon overhearing the Prophecy, he immediately informed his then-master of its contents, unaware that this would endanger Lily and her family. It was only after Lily’s death that Snape realised the full extent of his actions. He suffered terrible remorse for what he had done and spent the rest of his life in constant danger in order to protect Lily’s son.

In spite of his vindictive demeanour, Severus Snape was an immensely brave man who possessed a deep capacity for love. Everything that he did in the latter part of his life was motivated by his devotion to Lily Evans, whom he loved unconditionally. He was one of Dumbledore’s most reliable allies and in his role as a double agent, took great personal risk in ensuring Harry’s safety from Lord Voldemort. Despite his years of him and Harry barely getting along, if at all, Snape openly criticised Dumbledore after learning he protected Harry all these years just so he could die at the right time due to being a Horcrux, showing he’s grown to genuinely care for Harry, even though at first, he only protected him because of his relationship to Lily. When he informed Dumbledore that he informed Voldemort of the prophecy, Snape begged Dumbledore to hide Harry, Lily, and even James too. This clearly showed Snape prioritised Lily’s happiness above all else, even if it meant her being with a man he hated for most of his life.

Despite Snape’s normally calm and controlled exterior and guarded body language, he was in possession of an extraordinarily explosive and almost psychotic temper. This was rarely seen, but extreme display of rage was most prominently witnessed after Snape killed Dumbledore and was confronted outside of Hagrid’s burning house near the edge of the school grounds. The event that triggered this unhinged manifestation of Snape’s unrestrained wrath was Harry’s accusation of Snape being a coward for killing Dumbledore. Due to the many years of being bullied by Harry’s father, and with a need to both vent his immense stress and maintain his cover, Snape unleashed a terrifying mix of both his emotions and magic, taking great pleasure in torturing and punishing the son of his enemy. Unlike in the past where he spoke quietly in his anger, Snape in this instance was screaming and letting so much out, and confessing his identity of the Half-Blood Prince to Harry who had attempted to use one of Snape’s own invented spells against him. This battle showed Snape’s repressed rage in its horrific glory and power. Suffice it to say, Severus Snape was not a man who it was wise to provoke, lest one incur his almost elemental wrath and magical power.

Physical appearance

Severus Snape was a slender, thin man with sallow fair skin, a large, hooked nose and yellow, uneven teeth. He had shoulder-length, greasy black hair, curling lips and brown eyes. As a Death Eater, he bears the Dark Mark on his left inner forearm.

He always dons his black robes consisting a buttoned shirt, with matching trousers, shoes and a floor length cloak. He carries his own wand.

Powers and abilities

Magical abilities and skills

Appearances

Wizarding World

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

Snape is first seen in the Great Hall, giving Harry particular looks. It is hinted by Percy Weasley that Snape’s been after the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts for years.

Snape appears into his classroom, where he gives a lecture to his class about potion making and draws his attention to Harry Potter who is writing down his information. Snape asks Harry the questions that relate to Potion making — despite Hermione knows the answers and Harry doesn’t know. In response to Harry’s angry remark that he didn’t ask Hermione for the answers, Snape reveals the information to Harry before instructing the class to write them all down. He returns to his desk and deducts five points from Gryffindor for Harry’s «cheek».

When Snape arrives with McGonagall and Quirrell after Harry and Ron saved Hermione by knocking out a mountain troll, Harry notices a wound on Snape’s leg which he quickly covers up. The following day, Snape, in a deadpan manner, congratulates Harry for proving himself against a mountain troll and wishes him luck on his first Quidditch Match, before he limps away, making Harry, Ron and Hermione suspicious of Snape attempt to steal the stolen object in the forbidden corridor.

During the Quidditch Match, when Harry’s broom is suddenly jinxed, Ron and Hermione suspect Snape is behind this, because they saw him muttering. Hermione reaches the basements of the stands where Snape is sitting, she secretly sets his cloak on fire with her wand. Snape soon notices this and extinguishes the fire, knocking over Quirrell in his haste.

After Harry has left the Restricted Section in his invisibility cloak after a noise from the book has alerted Filch, Snape corners Quirrell and confronts him. But Snape seemingly hears something and then feels nothing, he and Quirrell are notified by Filch about a student out of bed.

On the day after the final exams are finished, Snape notices the trio talking to each other, and advises them to be careful that people may think they are up to something. Snape leaves after that.

However, it turns out that the true suspect of planning to steal the Philosopher’s stone was actually Professor Quirrell who reveals that Snape was actually protecting Harry all year and intervened with his plans: Snape cut Quirrell off from the forbidden corridor and Snape muttered his counter curse in attempt to block the jinx from Harry’s broom.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Snape is seen in his office, furious that the Flying Ford Anglia — where Harry and Ron are in, has been spotted by none other than seven muggles. He reprimands Harry and Ron for nearly exposing the wizarding world and the damage caused on the Whomping Willow, before stating that they are about to be on their train home. Dumbledore and McGonagall intervene, and Snape requests Dumbledore to expel the boys, but Dumbledore hands the decision to McGonagall who thankfully keeps them in the school, but gives them detention.

He is next seen when Filch’s cat, Mrs Norris has been petrified, and that the heir of Slytherin left a message on the wall with blood.

Much later, Snape volunteers himself to duel with Gilderoy Lockhart in the dueling club, and they duel as demonstration. Lockhart volunteers Harry and Ron to duel, but Snape points out that Ron’s damaged wand could injure Harry during the duel and suggests that Malfoy should duel Harry instead. During the duel, Malfoy creates a snake, and Harry is revealed to be a parseltongue when he speaks to snakes; Snape then disintegrates the snake shortly afterwards.

He is next seen with McGonagall, Madame Pomferry and Lockhart, discussing that the heir of Slytherin left another message on the wall and the monster has taken Ginny Weasley into the Chamber of Secrets.

He is last seen in the Great Hall, as Dumbledore announces that the final exams are cancelled and welcomes back Hagrid from Azkaban.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Snape appears with Dumbledore with news of him searching the Astronomy Tower and the Owlery for Sirius — due to the incident of the prisoner slashing the Fat Lady’s portrait out of anger, but Snape concludes that Sirius isn’t found anywhere and amazed that he managed to get past the Dementors without being detected. Dumbledore plans to warn the students, and on Snape’s request of Harry to be informed, Dumbledore requires that they should let Harry sleep.

The following day, Snape appears in Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson, covering for Lupin, who Snape claims to be absent in the present-time. Snape instructs the students to turn to page 394, and lectures them about werewolves, and even belittles Hermione of «speaking out of term» before deducting five points for that. On Harry’s comment that Quidditch is tomorrow, Snape coldly suggests that he should take extra care and his injuries won’t excuse him.

Much later in winter with Harry (under the invisibly cloak) is making a illegal visit to Hogsemade, Snape has a meeting with McGonagall and Fudge on James and Lily Potters’ deaths, all because Sirius Black betrayed them to Voldemort.

Later on, that night, Snape catches Harry in the corridors with the marauder’s map. Harry reads the map, but rewords the information which insults him. As Lupin arrives, Snape confiscates the map from Harry and hands it over to Lupin, who takes Harry away to explain to him about the map. After they left, Snape is left alone in the corridor and is forced to dim out his wand on one of the paintings’ requests.

Much later on, Snape corners Lupin and Sirius in the Shrieking Shack, planning to hand them both over to the Dementors, but Harry knocks him out with the Expelliarmus spell, allowing Lupin and Sirius to find the real culprit who betray James and Lily to Voldemort. After they left the Shrieking Shack, Snape regain conscious and tracks them outside the Whomping Willow. Before he can reprimand Harry, he notices Lupin transforming into a werewolf, prompting Snape to stand in front of the trio to protect them from harm. As Sirius runs off with the werewolf giving chase, Harry went after them, ignoring Snape’s orders to get back here. However, it is mentioned that Snape found the unconscious Harry and Sirius near the Back Lake, and has Harry sent to the Hospital wing and Sirius to the Topmost tower to receive the Dementor’s kiss. Thankfully, Harry and Hermione went back in time, and save Sirius from the Dementor’s kiss.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Snape can be seen in the Great Hall with the teachers, as Dumbledore welcomes the Durmstrang Institute and Beauxbatons Academy of Magic. He is also seen where the Goblet of Fire picks out the names for the tournament. After Harry was unexpectedly chosen by the Goblet of Fire, Snape gave Harry a dirty look as he joins the competitors. He along with McGonagall discuss with Dumbledore about Harry being in the tournament. Snape suggest that Potter should compete, which Dumbledore agrees.

Snape is seen in the Great Hall, observing the students when they are doing their studying. He often hits Ron and Harry on the head with a book to remind to remain silent. After Hermione leaves and hands her book to Snape, he notices Harry and Ron discussing, prompting Snape to grab their heads and pushes them down in order to shut them up.

Snape is next discussing with Igor Karkaroff about his Death Eater tattoo, and catches a Hufflepuff and a Ravenclaw making out in a carriage. He deducts ten points from their houses for that.

Snape is next seen after a conversation with Igor in his storeroom. He finds Harry and congratulates him for his efforts on the second task. Snape guess that Harry used Gillyweed and finds a potion in the storeroom, asking him if he knows Veritaserum, a truth-telling potion. Snape knows it is forbidden to use it on a student, and accuses him of stealing him from his storeroom, before he continues accusing him and his friends of making Polyjuice Potion and vows to find out why.

Much later in the climax, Snape takes the Veritaserum and arrives with Dumbledore and McGonagall to restrain Moody and force him to drink the potion. The result has Moody revealed to be Barty Crouch Jr. and the real Moody was imprisoned in a magical trunk. Snape finally realizes that Barty Crouch, Jr. has been stealing from his store. He holds Barty Crouch, Jr. hostage at the wand-point, waiting for him to sent back to Azkaban.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Snape is first seen as a member of the Order of the Phoenix having a meeting.

Snape is next seen in the great hall as Dumbledore welcomes Umbridge as the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. Much later, in his classroom with Umbridge questioning him of his desire of teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts. After she leaves and as Ron quietly snickers, Snape hits him over the head with his book.

As Harry explains to Dumbledore (with his back turned) about seeing a vision of Mr. Weasley being attacked, Snape arrives and Dumbledore instructs him to serve Occlumency lessons with Harry to block his mind from Voldemort.

Much later in the film after Dumbledore fled into hiding, Snape continued the Occlumency lesson with Harry. During the lesson, Harry accidentally sees Snape’s memories on him being bullied by James Potter and Sirius Black. Calmly angered by this, Snape calls off the lessons and dismisses Harry from his classroom.

Snape is informed by Umbridge to get the Veritaserum on Harry, but he claims to be out of stock after using it on Cho Chang. Harry informs Snape that Voldemort’s got Sirius Black hostage, Snape answers to Umbridge that he has no idea what Padfoot means before leaving.

However, it is mentioned that Snape informed the Order of the Phoenix of Harry and his friends didn’t return from the Forbidden Forest, and sent them to the Department of Mysteries at the Ministry of Magic to save them from the Death Eaters.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Snape is first seen meeting up with Bellatrix Lestrange and Narcissa Malfoy, he claims that he has been actually acting as a mole within the Order of the Phoenix. Snape swears a Unbreakable vow with Narcissa to protect Draco and fulfill his mission if he fails.

He is next seen defending Draco Malfoy from Mr. Filch who is examining his father’s cane, before Snape and Draco walk off.

He is later seen examining the cursed necklace that has cursed Katie Bell in Hogsmeade. Snape along with McGonagall falsely believes that Harry is accusing Draco of being a death eater, before the second former dismisses Harry, Ron and Hermione to their dormitories.

Snape is later seen at Slughorn’s party, finding Harry and Cormac McLaggen behind the curtains. McLaggen, being tricked into thinking that he has eaten «dragon balls» by Harry, vomits on Snape’s shoes, prompting him to sentence McLaggen to a month’s detention. Snape also informs Harry that Dumbledore is travelling. When Filch catches Draco in a corridor, Snape volunteers to escort him back to his dormitory. On the way back, Snape corners Draco, revealing his unbreakable vow to him unaware that Harry is overhearing Snape’s conversation to Draco.

Much later in the film, after Harry have severely injured Draco with the Sectumsepra spell, Snape arrives and heals Draco back to his health with the Vulnera Senatur spell. Later on, he questions Dumbledore about his life before leaving.

When Harry and Dumbledore return from the cave, Dumbledore asks Harry to get Snape, but quickly tells him to hide at the last minute when Draco and some of the Death Eaters arrive. Harry watches Draco refusing to kill Dumbledore, and is about to quickly disarm Draco, but Snape silently intervenes and gestures Harry to remain silent. Snape arrives to save Draco from temptation, and casts the killing curse on Dumbledore instead.

Snape leaves with Draco and the Death eaters, trashing the Great Hall and setting Hagrid’s hut ablaze. Harry furiously tries to use the Half-Blood Prince’s spells against Snape, but he overpowers Harry. Snape questions Harry of using his own spells, revealing himself to be the Half-Blood Prince, before he leaves with the Death Eaters.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1

Snape travels to Malfoy Manor to attend a meeting with Voldemort and the Death Eaters. He informs Voldemort of Harry’s impending departure from Privet Drive.

After that, he is only mentioned throughout the film. It is also mentioned that he now became Headmaster of Hogwarts.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2

Snape is first seen, standing in the top of the Quad Battlements and watches the students with a blank expression, as dementors are patrolling the grounds.

Much later on, Snape orders everyone to the Great Hall to ask anyone who may hold information regarding Harry’s location to tell him immediately or face punishment. Harry then reveals himself after hiding within the crowd as a student and rebukes Snape for standing where Dumbledore once stood as Headmaster, ordering him to tell the students the truth of how he betrayed and killed Dumbledore as Order of the Phoenix members enter the Great Hall. Snape draws his wand in fury, but Minerva McGonagall steps in to defend Harry. Snape and McGonagall face each other off for a moment, ending with Snape, completed outnumbered, to flee from the school.

He went into hiding, until he was called by Voldemort into the Boathouse, where Voldemort and Nagini are waiting. Voldemort explains to him that the Elder Wand couldn’t serve Voldemort, unless Snape is killed. Voldemort uses one of Snape’s invented spells «Sectumsepra» to slit his throat, and Nagini finishes him off by brutally wounding him. After Voldemort bid farewell to Snape before he and Nagini left, Harry, Ron and Hermione arrive to nurse his wounds. Snape sheds his tears and Harry collects them with a phial. Snape instructs him to take them to the Pensieve and respectfully comments to Harry that he has his mother’s eyes, before he passes on.

After Harry poured Snape’s memories into the Pensieve, he learns that Snape fell for Lily Evans during his childhood. At Hogwarts, Snape is sorted into Slytherin, whilst Lily is sorted into Gryffindor where she meets James Potter and Sirius Black. Snape and Lily remained friends, but as much of Snape’s time in Hogwarts goes on, he is ridiculed and bullied by James and Sirius. Snape’s hatred towards James worsened when Lily soon falls in love with him. With Snape as a young adult Death Eater, he told Voldemort all he has heard of the Prophecy about who will destroy him, not knowing Voldemort will target Harry and hence, Lily.

When Voldemort planning to kill the Potters, Snape informs Dumbledore of this and begged him to hide them after telling Voldemort about the Prophecy. Dumbledore agrees as Snape willingly defects from the Death Eaters. However, the Potters have wrongfully trusted Wormtail who gave away their location to Voldemort, resulting him to kill only Harry’s parents, but failed to kill Harry himself. As Snape visits Godric’s Hollow that night, he finds Lily dead, leaving Snape heart-broken and breaks down crying in depression, cradling Lily’s dead body in his arms.

Dumbledore convinces a devastated and distraught Snape to help him protect Harry should Voldemort return so that Lily will not have died in vain, which Snape agrees to only if Dumbledore never tells anyone his true feelings for her. Over the years, Snape remained at Hogwarts and used Occlumency to hide his loyalty to Dumbledore from Voldemort and everyone else, yet he personally despises Harry, who served as a constant physical reminder that Lily had loved the man who bullied him.

Eventually, Snape grew to hold Harry in some respect and come to care a great deal for Dumbledore as both a friend and mentor. It is revealed that Snape saved Dumbledore’s life temporarily from the curse contained in Marvolo Gaunt’s Ring by containing it in his hand. Despite his efforts to save him, the curse will take effect in about a year. Dumbledore tells Snape that he knows of Draco’s orders to kill him, and to both spare Draco and gain Voldemort’s complete trust, Snape has to be the one to kill Dumbledore while giving him a merciful and painless death.

Dumbledore informs Snape that when the Killing Curse rebounded off of Harry as an infant, a part of Voldemort’s soul broke away and latched itself into Harry. This makes Harry a Horcrux, but it was a horcrux that Voldemort never meant to make. Harry had to die in order to kill Voldemort, and Snape was supposed to tell Harry this only when all the other Horcruxes are destroyed, but Snape was too reluctant.

Snape became shocked and insulted that Dumbledore kept Harry alive all this time just so that he can die at the proper moment. Dumbledore had underestimated Snape’s devotion to Lily, but this changed when Snape cast his own Patronus, the silver doe (same as Lily’s), proving to Dumbledore how much he still loved her and to Harry that it had been Snape who had lead him to the sword in the Forest of Dean using his Patronus.

After Harry saw his memories, he now realized that Snape was always on Dumbledore’s side and a large part in fighting against Voldemort all along, now understands Snape’s actions and willingly surrenders himself to Voldemort so that the Horcrux inside him can be destroyed.

After the battle at Hogwarts, Harry names his son Albus Severus Potter, after Dumbledore and Snape respectively, because they were two headmasters and one of them was the bravest man he knows.

Live Show

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Video games

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2

Lego Harry Potter: Years 1–4

Lego Harry Potter: Years 5–7

Lego Creator: Harry Potter

Harry Potter for Kinect

Lego Dimensions

Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery

Harry Potter: Wizards Unite

Merchandise

Lego Harry Potter

Printed Media

Lego Harry Potter: Building the Magical World

Lego Harry Potter: Characters of the Magical World

Harry Potter: The Character Vault

Harry Potter: The Creature Vault

Relationships

Parents

Lily Evans

The Marauders

Harry Potter

Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger

Albus Dumbledore

Petunia Evans

Lord Voldemort

Weasley family

Malfoy family

Bellatrix Lestrange

Igor Karkaroff

Death Eaters

Neville Longbottom

Minerva McGonagall

Hogwarts staff

Hogwarts students

Order of the Phoenix members

Patricia Rakepick

Quotes

Gallery

Trivia

• Snape is similar to Anakin Skywalker from the Star Wars franchise.
  • Both fall for their love interests of the main protagonists (Padmé for Anakin, Lily Evans for Snape)
  • Both turn to their side to serve the dark lords (Emperor Palpatine and Lord Voldemort)
  • Both became deeply guilt-ridden and depressed over the loss of their love interests.
  • Both happen to have the main protagonists as their enemies.
  • Both are killed by the dark lords (Anakin — as Darth Vader, dies after electrocuting himself whilst throwing Palpatine to his death, Snape was brutally wounded by Voldemort and Nagini — Voldemort’s snake, and dies after shedding his tears for Harry to collect.)
• Snape is portrayed by Alan Rickman in the Harry Potter films. Rickman also portrayed Judge Turpin in Tim Burton’s film adaptation of Sweeney Todd.
  • Actor Tim Roth was in talks to play the villain, but turned down the role to play General Thade in Planet of the Apes (2001).
  • Alan Rickman was proved to be a remarkable actor to play the character since he managed his performance pretty well, so much that Rupert Grint admitted to being afraid of him in an interview.
• An aspect of him of being an anti-hero is due to him being an extremely biased teacher, who blatantly favored students of Slytherin, in which he was the head of the house; while unfairly punishing and verbally abusing every other student, especially Harry, Ron, Hermione and Neville.
  • In film series however, Snape’s characterization is changed to appear more likable as with Gilderoy Lockhart; he is more laid back and less anti social, does not openly insult or harass his students (with the exception of shoving or whacking Harry and Ron on the head to make them focus on their studies) and once when Ron sniggered when Umbridge was embarrassing him. While his enmity with Harry still evident, he is less cruel towards him, such as wishing him good luck on his first Quidditch match and even flashing him a slight smile, along with a sarcastic compliment on Harry’s defeat of the mountain troll earlier that year. He also initially defended him, Ron, and Hermione in the second movie from Filch’s accusations when Mrs Norris was petrified (though he did note that there was a set of suspicious circumstances) and when talking with Dumbledore after revealing the Prophecy to Voldemort, he asked him to protect the entire Potter family (including his rival James) rather than Lily alone, without Dumbledore having to prompt him to do so.
• In honor of Alan Rickman’s 2016 death, Snape appears in a 2016 episode of The Simpsons.
• According to J. K. Rowling, Snape’s character was loosely inspired by an unpleasant chemistry teacher she met in secondary school.

Differences from the source material

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Media Films: Philosopher’s Stone | Chamber of Secrets | Prisoner of Azkaban | Goblet of Fire | Order of the Phoenix | Half-Blood Prince | Deathly Hallows (Part 1 / Part 2) Spin-off films: Video games: Philosopher’s Stone | Chamber of Secrets | Prisoner of Azkaban | Goblet of Fire | Order of the Phoenix | Half-Blood Prince | Deathly Hallows (Part 1 / Part 2) | Quidditch World Cup Lego Video games: Lego Creator: Harry Potter | Lego Creator: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets | Lego Harry Potter: Years 1–4 / Years 5–7 Soundtracks: Home video: Video Characters Original characters:Harry Potter | Ron Weasley | Hermione Granger | Albus Dumbledore | Rubeus Hagrid | Fred Weasley | George Weasley | Angelina Johnson | Alicia Spinnet | Gilderoy Lockhart | Remus Lupin | Alastor Moody | Quirinus Quirrell | Horace Slughorn | Percy Weasley | Cho Chang | Colin Creevey | Cedric Diggory | Ginny Weasley | Neville Longbottom | Luna Lovegood | Sirius Black | Vernon Dursley | Dudley Dursley | Petunia Dursley | Lord Voldemort | Draco Malfoy | Lucius Malfoy | Cornelius Fudge | Dolores Umbridge | Alecto Carrow | the Dementors of Azkaban | Amycus Carrow | Vincent Crabbe | Gregory Goyle | Argus Filch | Severus Snape | Bellatrix Lestrange | Bartemius Crouch Jr | Regulus Black | Pius Thicknesse | Salazar Slytherin Spin-off characters: Newt Scamander | Tina Goldstein | Jacob Kowalski | Queenie Goldstein | Percival Graves | Seraphina Picquery | Credence Barebone | Mary Lou Barebon | Gnarlack | Henry Shaw Sr. | Langdon Shaw | Henry Shaw Jr. | Modesty Barebone | Chastity Barebone | Gellert Grindelwald | Leta Lestrange Creatures The Basilisk | The Mountain Troll | The Hungarian Horntail Mascots/Pets Crookshanks | Nagini | Hedwig | Fawkes | Buckbeak Mystical Animals Locations Hogwarts Castle: | Grand Staircase Tower | Great Hall | Gryffindor Tower | Hogwarts Quidditch Pitch | The Forbidden Forest | Forbidden Third Floor Corridor | Underground Chambers | Hospital Wing | Slytherin Dungeon | The Chamber of Secrets | Topmost Tower | Platform 9¾ Diagon Alley: | Gringotts Wizarding Bank | Ollivander’s Residences: 4 Privet Drive | The Burrow | Godric’s Hallow | Potter’s Cottage Other Locations: Limbo | England | Azkaban | British Ministry of Magic | Department of Mysteries Objects Weapons: Godric Gryffindor’s Sword Brooms/Nimbus: Nimbus 2000 | Nimbus 2001 | The Firebolt Wands: Harry’s Wand | Ron’s Wand | Hermione’s Wand | Voldemort’s Wand | Elder Wand Others: The Remembrall | The Invisibility Cloak | The Philosopher’s Stone | Mirror of Erised | The Sorting Hat | The Basilisk Fang | Tom Riddle’s Diary | The Marauder’s Map | The Goblet of Fire | Deluminator Transports Powders: Floo Powder | Floo Network Vehicles: Flying Ford Anglia | Flying Motorcycle | Hogwarts Express Organizations/Groups Order of the Phoenix | Dumbledore’s Army | Death Eaters People Directors: Chris Columbus (1–2) | Alfonso Cuarón (3) | Mike Newell (4) | David Yates (5–8) Producers: David Heyman | Chris Columbus (3) | Mark Radcliffe (3) | David Barron (5–8) | J. K. Rowling (7–8) Screenwriters: Steve Kloves (1–4, 6–8) | Michael Goldenberg (5) Cast Members: Daniel Radcliffe | Rupert Grint | Emma Watson | Maggie Smith | Robbie Coltrane | Alan Rickman | Tom Felton | Richard Harris (2001-2002) | Michael Gambon (2004-present) | Helena Bonham Carter | Warwick Davies | Ralph Fiennes | Brendan Gleeson | Richard Griffiths | Jason Isaacs | Gary Oldman | Fiona Shaw | Mark Williams | Julie Walters | Emma Thompson | Timothy Spall | David Thewlis | Miranda Richardson | Ian Hart Novelist: J.K. Rowling See also J.K. Rowling | Harry Potter and the Cursed Child