Severus Snape

Template:Current fiction Template:HP character Severus Snape is a fictional character in the Harry Potter book series written by J. K. Rowling. In the first novel, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, he is one of the primary antagonists. As the series continues, his true status as protagonist or antagonist becomes an issue of paramount importance, and his true allegiance is not revealed until the final instalment, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Snape appears in all seven novels of the series.

Over the course of the series, as more is revealed about him, Snape evolves from a malicious teacher who issues detentions or insults to Harry Potter and other students he dislikes into a pivotal character of considerable complexity and moral ambiguity. Rowling has described him as "a gift of a character". The author has said that he is based on a sadistic teacher she had and that he is supposed to demonstrate that some teachers abuse their power. Rowling has also said that she is "appalled" at how many readers like Snape, she said "I do not understand this".

Creation and portrayal

Rowling stated in an interview that she drew inspiration for Snape's character from a disliked teacher in her own childhood. For Snape's surname, Rowling has stated that she borrowed the name from the village of Snape in the English county of Suffolk. (In the real world, the surname is drawn from the Suffolk village, from another place named Snape in North Yorkshire, or from the Old English word snæpp, meaning "pasture." )

As of 2007, Severus Snape has appeared in all five Harry Potter films, portrayed by British actor Alan Rickman. Rickman is one of the few Harry Potter actors that Rowling spoke to prior to the completion of the series about the future direction of his character. In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the teenaged Snape, who makes a brief appearance in a flashback to Snape’s youth, is played by Alec Hopkins.

Character biography

The boy

Snape was born to Tobias Snape, a Muggle, and Eileen Prince, a witch, making him a half-blood wizard. Snape was neglected during his childhood by his parents, who fought constantly, and did not have a loving relationship with his father. Being a half-blood wizard, Snape lived in a dwelling called Spinner's End with his parents. Snape befriended his neighbor Lily Evans after discovering, and revealing to her, that she was a witch^[HP7]. While on the train to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Snape met his rivals James Potter and Sirius Black. Upon arriving at Hogwarts, Snape and Lily were sorted into Slytherin and Gryffindor Houses, respectively. He remained a close friend of Lily's for the next few years until his interest in the Dark Arts and the anti-Muggle views of his Slytherin friends drove them apart.

The Hogwarts student

Snape was bullied by James Potter and Sirius Black during their time at Hogwarts, and was given the unpleasant nickname of "Snivellus". Several years later, Snape still holds a grudge against James and Sirius, often pointing out that Harry behaves "just like his father". During Snape's time as a student at Hogwarts, Sirius coaxed him into going to the Shrieking Shack during one of Remus Lupin's transformations into a werewolf. James intervened upon discovering the prank, concerned for Snape's safety, though the latter believes that Potter's intervention is to simply to save himself from expulsion,

File:Severus-snape-protecting.jpg

Severus Snape in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

During his time at Hogwarts, Snape invented a number of spells, one or more of which James learned and used to bully him during their fifth year. On one occasion, they hung Snape upside down in mid-air by his invented spell and humiliated while other students watched. While Lily defended Snape from the teasing, the angered Snape called her a "Mudblood". A shocked Lily broke off all contact with Snape from then on.

Rowling revealed in an interview that Lily might have grown to love Severus romantically had he not been been drawn to the Dark Arts or the Death Eaters, and

Given his time over again he would not have become a Death Eater, but like many insecure, vulnerable people (like Wormtail) he craved membership of something big and powerful, something impressive. He wanted Lily and he wanted Mulciber too. He never really understood Lily’s aversion; he was so blinded by his attraction to the dark side he thought she would find him impressive if he became a real Death Eater.

The Death Eater

During his Hogwarts years, Snape belonged to what Sirius called a "gang" of Slytherins that included Bellatrix Black (Later Lestrange), Rodolphus Lestrange, Avery, and Lucius Malfoy. This group with their involvement in the Dark Arts would later become the core group of Death Eaters.^[GF Ch.27]

Near the end of Voldemort's first reign of terror, Snape overheard part of Sybill Trelawney's recitation of the prophecy about a child born in late July who would have power to challenge Voldemort. Relating this to Voldemort, he was shocked to discover that his revelation led Voldemort to conclude that the prophecy pointed to Lily Potter's son Harry. When the Dark Lord denied his request to spare Lily, Snape secretly met with Dumbledore and pled with him to protect her, offering anything asked of him in return. Upon the Potters' deaths, Dumbledore convinced Snape to protect Harry out of his love for Lily. Barty Crouch, Sr. wanted to imprison Snape in Azkaban for being a Death Eater, but Dumbledore's testimony on Snape's reformation protected Snape from the authorities.

The Potions Master

Snape accepted a position as Potions master at Hogwarts after his request to teach Defence Against the Dark Arts was denied. Snape later become Head of Slytherin House.

There is mutual enmity between Snape and Harry almost from their first meeting. Despite this, and unbeknownst to Harry, Snape diligently keeps his promise to Dumbledore to protect Harry. In one instance, during a Quidditch game, Snape appears to be muttering a jinx which makes Harry's broom shake wildly when in actuality, Professor Quirrell, in league with Voldemort, is the one working the jinx on Harry while Snape is muttering a counter-jinx. Harry believes that Snape was trying to steal the Philosopher's Stone and retains lingering feelings of suspicion even after Quirrell is revealed as the real culprit, and their relationship remains tense.

Snape relentlessly antagonises Harry, at one point calling him "a nasty little boy who considers rules to be beneath him".^[HP4] He taunts Harry during lessons, ridiculing his work and giving him frequent and, from Harry's perspective, often unjustified detentions and other penalties. Snape's harsh treatment often extends to Harry's friends and House, while Slytherin students are treated more favourably. Even though Snape repeatedly tries to have Harry expelled, he also saves Harry's life on several occasions.

Snape's expertise with potions is utilised in the third novel, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, to brew Wolfsbane Potion for Remus Lupin. That same year, Snape attempts to apprehend Sirius Black, whom he believes responsible for betraying James and Lily's hiding place to Voldemort, and acts to defend Harry from the dangerous fugitive. When Black escapes, Snape rightly accuses Harry of aiding him, still believing that Black is a mass murderer.

At the end of the fourth novel, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Dumbledore attempts to convince a disbelieving Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge that Lord Voldemort has returned. As proof, Snape willingly shows Fudge the renewed Dark Mark on his arm. He is subsequently sent on a secret mission. This mission, as implied in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and revealed in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, was to rejoin the Death Eaters and spy on Voldemort as a triple agent.

In the fifth novel, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, with Voldemort having returned to a fully corporeal body, Snape continues working as a triple agent for Dumbledore.^[HBP Ch.25] Dumbledore has Snape teach Harry Occlumency, the protection of one's mind from outside intrusion or influence. Snape is extremely skilled in both Occlumency and its companion art of Legilimency, the discerning of thoughts and feelings from another's mind; both proficiencies undoubtedly useful in his work as a spy. The sessions are made difficult by their mutual hostility and end when Harry views in the Pensieve, without Snape's permission, Snape's memory of the bullying incident that led to the break with Lily.

The Half-Blood Prince

Before the opening of the sixth novel, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Dumbledore, searching for Voldemort's Horcruxes, succeeds in finding the Peverell ring. Recognizing that it is also the Resurrection Stone, Dumbledore succumbs to temptation and puts on the ring, thereby being inflicted with a powerful curse. Snape can do naught but slow the curse which will kill Dumbledore within a year. Dumbledore, aware the Voldemort has ordered Draco Malfoy to kill him, decides that Snape should kill him instead. Although Snape is initially reluctant, Dumbledore points out the act will prevent a more unfortunate demise for the Headmaster from the curse or at the hands of others, and will save Draco's soul. Dumbledore points out to Snape that the act will not harm Snape's own soul, because it will not be murder at all, since he will just be helping an old man die.^[HP7]

Shortly thereafter,^[HP6] Bellatrix Lestrange and Narcissa Malfoy visit Snape at his home in Spinner's End, and swear him to an Unbreakable Vow that he will protect Draco, help him complete Voldemort's task, and finish the task himself if Draco fails. Snape is also finally appointed Professor of Defence Against the Dark Arts.

Replacing Snape as Potions instructor is Horace Slughorn, a retired Hogwarts teacher who previously taught the subject. Slughorn lends Harry an old Potions textbook that is filled with the scribbled notes of a highly talented former student. The notes include a variety of hexes and jinxes seemingly invented by the student, as well as substantial improvements to the book's standard potion-making instructions. It is signed, "Property of the Half-Blood Prince". The notes greatly bolster Harry's performance and impresses Slughorn, who declares he has inherited Lily's outstanding Potions ability. Whoever the Prince might be, Harry considers him a better teacher than either Snape or Slughorn.

Outraged by Harry's easy but fraudulent success in the subject, Hermione investigates the possible identity of the Half-Blood Prince and suspects it may be former Hogwarts student Eileen Prince. Harry is ambivalent about the Prince's identity, although he is convinced that the student is male and notes that he or she has an unfortunately dark sense of humour. In a fight with Draco Malfoy, he uses the Prince's spell marked "For Enemies" and is horrified when it causes slashing wounds. Snape arrives and heals Draco's wounds and then interrogates Harry about the source of the spell.

Harry knows that at least two of the spells were used by Snape and his father during their fifth year, as Remus Lupin later confirms. Because the handwritten spells have numerous corrections, Harry is convinced the writer invented them.

Dumbledore keeps Snape in the dark about the tasks he has entrusted to Harry, while at the same time keeping Harry from knowing about Snape's role in the overall strategy. Dumbledore does tell Snape that when Voldemort stops sending Nagini on errands and instead keeps the snake close by and protected, that will be time to reveal to Harry both his and Snape's role, and the final task required of them.

Snape objects to the fact that, according to Dumbledore's plan, Harry, as the last Horcrux, would have to die at Voldemort's hands. When asked by Dumbledore if he cared for Harry, Snape replies "For him?" and conjures his Patronus: a doe, the same as Lily Potter's. Snape's actions and loyalty to Dumbledore have all been in the service of his undying love for Lily.

Returning to Hogwarts after a search for one of Voldemort's Horcruxes, Harry and Dumbledore see the Dark Mark in the sky over the astronomy tower. Dumbledore asks Harry to fetch Snape when Draco Malfoy suddenly arrives, intending to carry out Voldemort's ordered assassination of Dumbledore, Dumbledore, however, manages to dissuade the boy. They are interrupted again by the arrival of the Death Eaters and Snape. When it is clear that Malfoy will not kill Dumbledore, Snape kills Dumbledore himself. Snape, Malfoy, and the Death Eaters are chased from the castle by an enraged Harry (who witnessed the "murder"). Snape easily blocks Harry's attempts to attack him with magic and even points out Harry's mistakes. During this confrontation, Snape reveals to Harry that he is the "Half-Blood Prince". Snape is injured by Buckbeak before disappearing into the Forbidden Forest with Draco and the Death Eaters.

As Hermione later surmises, the nickname "Half-Blood Prince" was derived from Snape's mother's maiden name of "Prince" and from his father having been a Muggle, making Snape a "half-blood". Some in the wizarding world, especially those among Voldemort's followers and in Snape's own Slytherin House, consider this to be a defect or inferiority. Harry suggests Snape chose this title to "play up the pure-blood side". Snape's classmate, Remus Lupin, tells Harry that he knows nothing about the name; it seems that it, like Tom Riddle's diary was to Voldemort, was Snape's own private joke.

Immediately following Dumbledore's death and before Mad-Eye Moody puts in place a series of jinxes on it, Snape returns to Grimmauld Place, where he finds Lily Potter's old letter and photograph.

Snape revealed

Just before what would have been Harry's final year at Hogwarts, Harry successfully escapes from an ambush while leaving his aunt and uncle's house for the last time, but George Weasley's ear is sliced off by a curse from Snape, later revealed to have been the result of a misfire that had been aimed at a Death Eater's wand hand. When the Ministry of Magic falls to the Death Eaters just prior to the school year, Snape is appointed Headmaster of Hogwarts, and he uses this position to protect the students within from Death Eaters Amycus and Alecto Carrow, who are assigned to patrol the school. Snape also devises a plan to lead Harry to the Sword of Gryffindor without revealing his own involvement, a feat he manages by controlled use of his Patronus.

Towards the end of the school year, Snape is forced to flee the school when he is confronted by the other teachers, led by Professor McGonagall. Summoned by Voldemort, who believes that the powerful Elder Wand that he coveted from Dumbledore had been won by Snape, and would only work well for one who killed the former owner, Voldemort kills Snape by having his pet snake, Nagini, attack the new Hogwarts Headmaster. Snape, dying from his wounds, provides critical information to Harry by extracting his memories, which Harry collects in a flask and then views in the pensieve; Harry thus learns of Snape's true loyalties and Dumbledore's involvement throughout.

J.K. Rowling noted in an online interview that because Snape abandoned his post before dying, a portrait of his does not immediately appear in the Headmaster's office following his death. She adds, however, that she imagines Harry makes Snape's true loyalty and heroism known in the Wizarding world, and that he lobbies to ensure that a portrait be installed in the office.

"The bravest man I ever knew"

Years after Harry defeated Voldemort, Harry's second born son receives the name Albus Severus Potter. Nineteen years after Voldemort's death, Albus Severus is about to enter his first year at Hogwarts and is worried that he will be sorted into Slytherin. Harry reassures him and tells him that he was "named for two headmasters of Hogwarts. One of them was a Slytherin and he was probably the bravest man I ever knew."

Character description

Snape is described as being hook-nosed, with pale skin, black eyes, and greasy, shoulder-length black hair. His build is described as small and thin, adorning black-robes; appearing "like an overgrown bat".^[HP1] In the chapter illustrations by Mary GrandPré in the American translation of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix , Snape is also depicted as balding with a goatee, but in the next novel, Half-Blood Prince, he is depicted with long black hair. The youthful Snape is described as having a "stringy, pallid look", being "round-shouldered yet angular", having a "twitchy" walk "like a spider" and "long oily hair that jumped about his face".

Snape is generally depicted as thoroughly cruel, unpleasant, sarcastic, and bitter. Though usually calm and collected, his temper is sometimes short where Harry Potter and his friends are concerned, displaying a particularly strong dislike of him, often insulting him by attacking the memory of his father, James Potter. It is suggested that his treatment of Harry stems from Snape's bitter rivalry with James when they were in school together.

Snape is shown to be a very powerful wizard, and to have been talented even while a student. He specialises in potion-making and has a talent and passion for the Dark Arts. As Head of Slytherin house, he is an icon for his own students; most of the others, however, strongly dislike him. Skilful in the arts of Occlumency and Legilimency, Snape is able to both access the minds of others, and protect his own thoughts — indeed, though he does not care for the term himself, Harry forms the uncomfortable impression quite early on in the series that Snape is able to "read minds." He is also gifted in non-verbal spell casting and spell invention. In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Snape is shown to have the ability to fly without support.

File:Snapejinxingbroom.jpg

Snape performing a counter-jinx on Harry's broom while Quirrell (back, right) jinxes it in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

Snape's true loyalty was one of the most significant issues in the series up until the end of the final instalment of the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Because Snape left Harry his dying thoughts (to be viewed in the Pensieve), Snape ultimately revealed to Harry that he was always loyal to Albus Dumbledore, even though he had killed Dumbledore in the previous book (at Dumbledore's request). This depiction is later confirmed by the Dumbledore Harry meets in a limbo-like King's Cross station after being nearly killed by Voldemort. It was also revealed that Snape's loyalty to Dumbledore stemmed from his fierce devotion to his childhood friend, Lily Evans, who later had become his one true love. Snape ended his allegiance to Voldemort when he realised that it was her that Lord Voldemort was going to kill after overhearing a prophecy that predicted Voldemort's defeat. As a result, Snape vowed to assist Dumbledore in protecting Lily's surviving son, Harry.

External links

• Severus Snape on Harry Potter Wiki, an external wiki
• Snape Character profile from the Harry Potter Lexicon
• Interviews in which Rowling has given information about Snape from accio-quote.org