severus snape

SEVERUS SNAPE

Severus Snape is a fictional character in the Harry Potter book series written by J. K. Rowling. As the series progresses, Snape's motivation grows more layered and complex, and Rowling does not fully reveal the details or his true loyalties until the end of the final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Snape appears in all seven novels of the series.

Character development
Rowling said in an interview that she drew inspiration for Snape's character from a disliked teacher from her own childhood.[2]In a 1999 interview,[4] and again in 2004,[5] Rowling singled out Snape as one of her favourite characters to write.
[2][7] Answering a question regarding Snape's love life and the redemptive pattern to his character in 1999, Rowling expressed her surprise at the foresight.[8]
After the completion of the series Rowling began to speak openly about Snape and admitted that she was particularly pleased with the way Snape’s story played throughout the course of the series, contrasting his character arc with that of Albus Dumbledore.[11]Rowling further said in an interview that she wanted redemption and forgiveness for Snape, "Snape is a complicated man... he's a very– he was a flawed human being, like all of us. Harry forgives him– as we know, from the epilogue, Harry– Harry really sees the good in Snape ultimately... there's redemption."[13]
First three books

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








Severus Snape first appears in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, shortly after Harry Potter arrives at Hogwarts. [14] Snape himself confirms the rumour in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.[15]Only the climax of the book reveals that Professor Quirrell, in league with Lord Voldemort, is the real enemy while Snape, suspicious of Quirrell, was looking out for Harry throughout the book. In the final chapter, Dumbledore suggests that because Harry's father James had saved Snape's life when they were both students, even though the two detested each other, Snape felt responsible for Harry in return.[16]Snape's behavior and attitude towards Harry also remain unchanged.
In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Snape demonstrates his expertise with potions by brewing the complex wolfsbane potion for the new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, Remus Lupin.[18][19] Near the climax of the book, Snape attempts to apprehend Black, believing Black is responsible for murdering innocent bystanders and betraying the Potter family's hiding place to Voldemort. When Black escapes, Snape rightly accuses Harry of aiding him, still believing that Black is a mass murderer. After Harry and Lupin escape punishment, Snape retaliates by revealing to the entire school that Lupin is a werewolf, forcing the latter to resign his post.
Prisoner of Azkaban reveals more details about the connection between Snape and James Potter. James realised the danger and stopped Snape, saving his life; this is the incident Dumbledore referred to at the end of the first book. Snape, however, believes James's actions were self-serving, to avoid being expelled.
Fourth and fifth books
Snape's role in the fourth novel, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is not substantially different from that of the previous two books. At one point, Snape is named as a Death Eater by Igor Karkaroff, but Dumbledore comes to Snape's defence, claiming that although Snape had indeed been a Death Eater, he changed sides before Voldemort's downfall and turned spy against him. Later, Dumbledore assures Harry that Snape's reformation is genuine, though he refuses to tell Harry how he knows this, saying the information "is a matter between Professor Snape and myself".[22]
In the fifth novel, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Snape returns to a more prominent role. With Voldemort having returned to a fully corporeal body, Snape continues working as a triple agent for Dumbledore.[23][25] Back at school, Snape's official allegiance to the Order has no effect on his dislike for Harry.
Later in the book, Dumbledore has Snape teach Harry Occlumency, the protection of the mind from outside intrusion or influence.[25]The sessions are made difficult by their mutual hostility and end prematurely when Harry uses Dumbledore's Pensieve to view, without Snape's permission, a childhood memory of Snape being bullied by James Potter and Sirius Black, and of him insulting Lily Evans, Harry's mother.[19]Towards the end of the novel Dolores Umbridge captures Harry and questions him on the whereabouts of Dumbledore, she sends for Snape to provide a truth serum to force Harry to reveal any information he may be hiding. [26] It is later revealed that Snape had in fact supplied Umbridge with fake Veritaserum on the prior attempt. [27] Harry, however, still holds Snape partly responsible for Sirius's death, believing Snape's goading spurred Sirius into joining the battle.
Sixth book
In the opening chapters of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Bellatrix Lestrange and Narcissa Malfoy visit Snape at his home in Spinner's End. Snape claims to have been working for Voldemort (rather than for Dumbledore) ever since Voldemort's return, and explains his actions in the previous books in that light. At the Start-of-term feast at Hogwarts, Dumbledore announces he has finally appointed Snape as Professor of Defence Against the Dark Arts. Horace Slughorn, a retired Hogwarts teacher, replaces Snape as Potions Master. Snape, who maintains that he "never had the impression that [he] had been able to teach Potter anything at all", is suspicious of Harry's newfound Potions success.[29]
Snape rushes to the scene and heals Draco's wounds, and then interrogates Harry about the source of the spell, using Legilimency to extract the source of Harry's knowledge (the Potions textbook) from Harry's mind. As Harry refuses to hand over the Half-Blood Prince's book, Snape puts him in detention during the final Quidditch match of the year.
Gravely weakened by Voldemort's protective potion, Dumbledore asks Harry to fetch Snape. The arrival of Death Eaters and Snape interrupt them, and Snape kills the headmaster himself.[31]Snape easily blocks Harry's attempts to attack him with magic and even jeeringly points out Harry's mistakes, but refuses to strike back. During the confrontation, Snape reveals himself to be the "Half-Blood Prince" (being the son of muggle Tobias Snape and pure-blood Eileen Prince). Harry is unable to stop Snape before the latter passes through the school gates and Disapparates.[32]Rowling mentioned in an interview that at this point in the series the relationship Harry-Snape has become "as personal, if not more so, than Harry-Voldemort."[33]
Final book
In the aerial battle early in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, George Weasley's ear is cursed off by Snape.[34][36] Harry later learns that this was Snape's Patronus, taking the same shape as Harry's mother Lily Potter's Patronus, and that Snape had been tasked by Dumbledore with ensuring that Harry gained possession of the sword.
Towards the end of the school year, Professors McGonagall, Flitwick, and Sprout force Snape to flee the school.[37]Erroneously believing Snape is the master of the Elder Wand, Voldemort betrays Snape and has his pet snake Nagini bite him through the neck and mortally wound him, believing that Snape's death would make him the master of the Wand.[38]Harry observes that Snape befriended Lily Evans, Harry's mother, as a child when they lived near to each other. Upon their arrival at Hogwarts, the Sorting Hat placed Snape and Lily into Slytherin and Gryffindor Houses, respectively. When Snape inadvertently revealed the prophecy made by Sybill Trelawney to Voldemort, Voldemort decided to attack the Potters in an attempt to prevent its fulfilment. Though he asked Voldemort to spare Lily, Snape, still fearing for her safety, went to Dumbledore and begged him to protect the Potters. Even with his efforts to protect her, Snape felt responsible for Lily's death when the Fidelius charm was broken. Despite Harry's strong resemblance to James Potter, the fact that he was Lily's son made Snape protect him throughout the series. Snape demanded of Dumbledore, however, that his love for Lily, his reason for switching sides, be kept a secret. Snape's memories then reveal that Dumbledore had been afflicted by a powerful curse cast on the Peverell 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. Although Snape was reluctant, he agreed to do as Dumbledore requested.[35]In the epilogue to Deathly Hallows, set 19 years after Harry defeated Voldemort, Harry's second born son has received the name Albus Severus, after Dumbledore and Snape.

Severus Snape protecting Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger and Harry Potter, in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
As of 2007 Severus Snape has appeared in all five Harry Potter films, portrayed by British actor Alan Rickman. Rickman's performance as Severus Snape is popular with viewers and is appreciated among critics. In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the teenaged Snape (portrayed by Alec Hopkins) makes a brief appearance in a flashback to Snape’s youth.
Snape’s family background is mostly shown in flashbacks during the course of the last three novels. Snape was born to Eileen Prince, a witch, and Tobias Snape, a muggle, making him a half-blood. Snape spent his early childhood living with his parents in a small house in Spinner's End. As a child, Snape was apparently neglected and his parents often fought each other. Snape was then eager to leave his home to go to Hogwarts.[35]Snape is described as hook-nosed, with sallow skin, black eyes, uneven yellow teeth, and greasy, shoulder-length black hair. Snape is generally depicted as dour, sarcastic, and bitter. In the classroom Snape is capricious and impatient. Rowling described Snape as a horrible teacher [48] but does suggest in the books that he is a generally effective one.[49]
Snape displays a particularly strong dislike of Harry and often insults him by insulting his father, James Potter. As the series progresses, it is revealed that his treatment of Harry stems from Snape's bitter rivalry with James when they were in school together. [43] Director David Yates said Snape is a character with gravitas, authority and power.[10]Like some other prominent members of Slytherin house, Snape is shown a clever and cunning wizard.[51]All seven novels show Snape to be a very powerful wizard and to have been talented while a student. [51] Particularly gifted in potion making, Snape added major improvements to his Potions textbook while still a student. Remus Lupin describes Sectumsempra as Snape's “specialty" in Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows.[34]Despite Sectumsempra's deadly power, Snape can also heal the wounds it causes.[30][28] Snape is the only Death Eater able to produce a full Patronus, which, like Lily Potter's, is a doe.[50]
Loyalties
Snape's true loyalty was one of the most significant questions in the series up until the end of the final instalment, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Although the first five novels depict him as unfair, and vindictive, Snape invariably comes through and helps and protects Harry. The sixth novel, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, departs from that model. In an early chapter, Snape claims to have been working for Voldemort ever since the latter's return, and only pretending to help Dumbledore.[28][35] Snape's loyalty to Dumbledore stems from his fierce devotion to and love of his childhood friend, Lily Evans, Harry's mother.
After Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Snape’s loyalty was a matter of intense debate among the fans. "Is Snape Good or Evil?" was one of the question in Scholastic Inc. [53] As part of the Waldenbooks marketing campaign, two free stickers, one that said "Trust Snape" and another that stated "Snape Is A Very Bad Man" were available with the book. The final revelation of Snape's loyalty in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was viewed positively by fans and critics alike.
The much-maligned loner Snape does not come onstage until the latter part of "Deathly Hallows," but when he does the book becomes his: Snape's fate, more than Voldemort's, perhaps more even than Harry's, is the most heartbreaking, surprising and satisfying of all of Rowling's achievements.

The character of Snape appears in different media in various Harry Potter parodies including Harry Potter vs. Pubertis episode of Emmy award-winning television series Robot Chicken, voiced by Seth Green,[58] and Neil Cicierega's online Potter Puppet Pals parodies. Potter Puppet Pals video “The Mysterious Ticking Noise” with the chorus "Snape, Snape, Severus Snape" is the seventeenth most viewed video of all time as of 2008 and the winner for “Best Comedy” of the year 2007 at YouTube.