Severus Snape

Severus Snape (born January 9, 1959) is a fictional character in the Harry Potter series of novels by J. K. Rowling. He was appointed Potions teacher at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry shortly after graduating from the school, and became Head of Slytherin house.

Role in the stories

The enmity between Snape and Harry begins in Harry's first year, from the moment that they first set eyes on each other. During his first year at Hogwarts Harry mistakenly suspects Snape of trying to steal the philosopher's stone; even after it emerges that Professor Quirrell is the real culprit, Harry retains lingering suspicions of Snape and their relationship is fraught at best.

Related Topics:
Harry's first year - Philosopher's stone - Professor Quirrell

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In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry learns that Sirius Black, one of James's best friends and later Harry's godfather, lured Severus to the Shrieking Shack where he could have been killed or seriously injured by Remus Lupin in his werewolf form. James acted to save Severus's life, but Severus has believed ever since that James was involved in the plot and only intervened out of fear of expulsion from Hogwarts. Later, it emerges that Snape suffered teasing and bullying at the hands of James and Sirius during their fifth year at the school.

Related Topics:
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - Sirius Black - Shrieking Shack - Remus Lupin - Werewolf - Later

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Snape repeatedly antagonizes Harry, labelling 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 unjustified, detentions and other penalties. On several occasions Snape tries to have Harry, and sometimes his best friend Ron, expelled from the school. Nevertheless, in spite of these attempts to sabotage Harry's school career, Snape saves Harry's life on more than one occasion.

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At the end of the fourth book, Snape tries to convince the Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge, that Voldemort has returned by showing him the Dark Mark on his arm, which reappeared at the Dark Lord's revival. Dumbledore subsequently sends Snape on a secretive mission, which is later revealed to have been to visit Voldemort.

Related Topics:
Fourth book - Cornelius Fudge - Dark Mark

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For a time during the course of the fifth book, Dumbledore assigns Snape the task of giving Harry lessons in Occlumency, the protection of one's mind from outside intrusion or influence. Snape is chosen because he is extremely skilled in both Occlumency and its companion art Legilimency, the reading of minds, both proficiencies undoubtedly useful in his undercover work among the Death Eaters. The classes are cut short, however, after Harry uses Dumbledore's Pensieve, borrowed by Snape in order to sequester private memories during Harry's Occlumency lessons, to observe Snape's worst memory. Viewing this proves to be an unpleasant shock for Harry, who discovers that his father and Sirius had been arrogant bullies who persecuted Severus much as Dudley Dursley and Draco Malfoy persecute Harry.

Related Topics:
The fifth book - Occlumency - Legilimency - Death Eaters - Pensieve - Dudley Dursley - Draco Malfoy

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In the sixth book, while at his home at Spinner's End, Snape swears an Unbreakable Vow to Draco Malfoy's mother Narcissa, that he will protect her son and help him complete whatever task Voldemort has required of him, or be killed by the Vow. He is at long last appointed to his coveted post of Defence against the Dark Arts teacher. He is seen by Hagrid arguing about an important task which Dumbledore has asked of him. At the end of the book, during the skirmish between Death Eaters and the Order of the Phoenix on the battlements of Hogwarts, Dumbledore asks Harry to seek Snape's aid - but when Snape arrives, he kills Dumbedore using the Avada Kedavra, the 'killing curse'.

Related Topics:
Sixth book - Spinner's End - Draco Malfoy - Narcissa - Defence against the Dark Arts - Hagrid - Skirmish between Death Eaters and the Order of the Phoenix - Dumbledore - Avada Kedavra

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