- Bonnie Wright Bio - July 19, 2022
- The Best Harry Potter Sweatshirts Guide for Fans of the Franchise - June 17, 2022
- Ultimate Guide to Ravenclaw: The House of Knowledge - June 11, 2022
Harry Potter is a fantasy novel series written by British author J.K. Rowling. The story revolves around the struggle of Harry Potter, a student at The Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, against Lord Voldemort. Lord Voldemort wanted to become immortal and take over the Ministry of Magic. The only threat he faced was Harry Potter, born to James and Lily Potter. This novel series was also adapted into eight phenomenal movies due to its success.
“Well, it may have escaped your notice, but life isn’t fair.”
One of the precursors of Harry Potter’s success was its characters. One of such iconic characters is Professor Severus Snape, whose words are written above. Nicknamed Half-blood Prince, Severus Snape was an English half-blood wizard. He was the Potion Master (1981-96), Head of Slytherin House (1996-7), Defence Against the Dark Arts professor (1996-7), and Headmaster (1997-8) of the Hogwarts School of the Witchcraft and Wizardry. Living a double life, he was also a member of the Order of Phoenix and a Death Eater. This characteristic made him a key player in Wizarding Wars against Voldemort.
This guide will take you on a journey to get to know Severus Snape in a better way.
Professor Severus Snape’s Bio: Quick Facts
- Full Name: Severus Snape
- Date of Birth: 9th January 1960
- Birthplace: Spinner’s End
- Alias: Half-Blood Prince, Professor Snape, Slytherus, Professor Severus Piton, Professor Piton
- Date of Death: 2nd May 1998
- Death Place: Boathouse
- Zodiac Sign: Capricorn
- Siblings: None
- Children: None
- Partner/Spouse: None
- Magical Heritage: Half-Blood
- Hogwarts House: Slytherin House
- Patronus: Doe
- Actors who played: Alan Rickman, Benedict Clarke, Alec Hopkins, Joe Moses
Birthplace
Severus Snape grew up in a shabby, poverty-stricken suburb of Cokeworth called Spinner’s End. It was one of the streets lined up with deserted brick houses and broken streetlights. It was also marked by a dirty river and the tall chimney of an abandoned mill.
Snape never described Spinner’s End as his home and always kept his association with the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He neglected the house in the same way his parents ignored him. In the series, he only visited that house during summers on a break from Hogwarts to remind Lily as it was the same neighborhood where they met for the first time.
Parents Pf The Half-Blood Prince
Severus Snape was born on 9th January 1960 to a Muggle, Tobia Snape, and a pure-blood witch, Eileen Prince. Snape and Prince had a dysfunctional and abusive relationship. Due to this dysfunctional relationship, Severus faced neglect as a child leading to loneliness. Severus’s loneliness as a child accounted for his demeanor, depression, sadness, bouts of rage, and bitterness as a person. As Tobia was an abusive father and hated magic, he was usually angry and paid no attention to his son. An account from Lily and Severus’s discussion about his father shows that Tobia hated pretty much everything in his life:
Lily Evans: “Doesn’t your dad like magic?”
Snape: “He doesn’t like anything, much.”
Adding to Snape’s misery, Eileen was also a neglectful mother. Still, despite her husband’s hate for magic, she taught curses to Severus. By the time Severus was at Hogwarts, he knew more curses than any other student. In this way, Severus had a better relationship with his mother than his father. As a child, Severus started to identify himself with his mother’s family and drew a secret nickname from his mother’s maiden name, calling himself the Half-blood Prince.
Physical Appearance
As a child, Snape had a pale, round yet angular face. He had very oily and long hair that would jump around his face. He had a twitchy walk that resembled the walk of a spider.
As an adult, Snape had a round face that would usually have a look of anger on it. He had a large nose and yellow and uneven teeth. Snape wore a black robe that flowed him back, making him look like an overgrown bat. He had long black hair falling on both sides of his face. His eyes were embedded deep into his face, giving him an angry look.
Early Life
Snape spent most of his time alone as a child with neglectful parents. This loneliness and lack of affection made him a socially awkward child; therefore, he did not have any friends. There was only one thing in the entire neighborhood that brought joy to his life: his friendship with Lily Evans.
Lily lived with her family in the same town close to the Spinner’s End. She and Snape would spend hours talking about magic, curses, spells, and discussing life at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The time Snape spent with Lily was his only escape from his misery. Snape fell in love with Lily in their childhood, whereas he was only a good friend in her eyes. Little did he know of this love’s impact on his life.
Hogwarts Years
Becoming A Student
Lily and Snape got admitted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry together. They were students of the 1971-78 batch at Hogwarts, and they accompanied each other on the train to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Snape was sorted into Slytherin House, whereas Lily was sorted into Gryffindor House. Snape’s classmates admitted his excellence in Dark Art at a very early stage of his career. By the time he was eleven, he knew more curses than any final-year student. He was famous for his spells like Libracorpus and Muffliato and his curses such as Langlock.
In Slytherin, he started making new friends like Avery, Mulciber, Bellatrix Black, Rodolphus Lestrange, Evan Rosier, and Wilkes, who would eventually become Death eaters. He was also friends with Patricia Rackepick, infamous for in-house troublemaking. Snape became more and more pure-blood supremacist due to this company of associates.
Lily started to have differences with Snape due to his company of friends. On one faithful day, James Potter, out of his arrogance, turned Snape upside down, hanging in the air so that his underpants were visible in front of everyone. Lily came to Snape’s resort, but Snape pointed Lily, out of his humiliation, as a Mudd-blood. Lily never forgave him for what he said, even after many apologies from Snape.
Lily became the head girl in their seventh year and started dating James. James was also a mature man by that time and had given up his arrogance. Snape’s attitude towards James became much more bitter because of his relationship with Lily.
An Influential Death Eater
Snape eventually joined Lord Voldemort and became a Death Eater and became one of the most influential Death Eaters. It is largely unknown what actions Snape took as a Death Eater. One known thing about his career as a Death Eater is that he spied for Lord Voldemort. He was credited for informing Lord Voldemort about the prophecy of his downfall.
In 1980, he eavesdropped on a conversation between Sybil Trelawney and Albus Dumbledore. In that conversation, Trelawney prophesied the downfall of Lord Voldemort by a child who would be born at the end of July:
“The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches… Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month die….”
Aberforth caught him eavesdropping on the conversation and threw him out. However, it was uncertain who was meant by that prophecy as there were two children born at the end of the seventh month to two prominent families. One was Harry Potter, and the other was Neville Longbottom.
Stuck In A Limbo
After it was revealed that Lily’s son, Harry Potter, was to defeat Lord Voldemort, Voldemort decided to kill James and Lily Potter. This put Snape in a terrible situation as he was the one who informed Lord Voldemort of the prophecy. And now, the love of his life was in danger due to his action. Snape pleaded to Lord Voldemort to spare Lily, to which he agreed, but Snape knew that Lord Voldemort’s words could not be trusted.
Snape, therefore, went to Dumbledore and asked for his help to save Lily. Snape requested Dumbledore to hide James and Lily. However, Dumbledore agreed to help on one condition that Snape would spy for him, to which he agreed. As a result, Dumbledore hid James and Lily, but despite all their efforts, Lord Voldemort found them. Lily killed herself to save her son’s life, which also backfired Lord Voldemort’s curse, making him lose his body.
Snape was devastated by that event and wanted to end his life. But, Dumbledore convinced him that if he loved Lily, he should help Dumbledore protect Harry Potter in the memory of Lily. Snape agreed to that but pleaded to Dumbledore that it must be kept a secret at all costs:
“Very well. But never- never tell, Dumbledore! This must be between us! Swear it! I cannot bear… especially Potter’s son….”
And this was the beginning of Snape’s life as a double agent.
Professor Severus Snape
Severus Snape started teaching at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in 1981. He wanted to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts, but Dumbledore refused him. Many students and colleagues of Snape thought this was because Dumbledore feared that Snape might use that position to turn back to his old habits. However, it was because Dumbledore knew that the job was jinxed by Lord Voldemort, and no one could survive more than a year in that position.
Snape was offered to teach as a Potion Master, the position he accepted. Slytherin House was very infamous at Hogwarts because its students kept on joining the Death Eaters. Being a former student of Slytherin House, Snape was the best option to keep an eye on those vulnerable students. Therefore, he was also made the Head of Slytherin House.
When Harry Potter got enrolled in Hogwarts, Snape kept an eye on him from the very start. There were many times when Snape saved Harry’s life, for example, when Quirrell attempted on Harry’s life by jinxing his broomstick during his first quidditch match.
A Righteous Murderer
After Lord Voldemort got his body back in 1995, he cast a Horcruxe on Marvolo Gaunt’s ring afflicting Albus Dumbledore. Snape had become the Professor of Defense against Dark Arts by that time. Snape did his best to defend Dumbledore against the curse, but all he could do was slow down the process. Dumbledore knew that he was dying and requested Snape to kill him instead to save him from a slow and painful death.
Snape declined the request, but Dumbledore insisted. Snape argued that this murder would have an impact on his soul. Dumbledore told him that the result of this killing would be different from murder, and Snape would enjoy much more confidence from Dumbledore because of this. He also told Snape that Snape would get to know more about Dumbledore’s plans after his demise. Snape eventually agreed to it.
Meanwhile, Bellatrix Lestrange and Narcissa Malfoy came to Snape’s home at Spinner’s End. Narcissa told Snape under an unbreakable vow that her son, Draco, was chosen by Lord Voldemort for the difficult task of killing Dumbledore. Narcissa pleaded to Snape to help her son get the job done even if her son failed. Snape assured Narcissa of his loyalty to Lord Voldemort and agreed to help her son.
When Draco attempted Dumbledore’s life, he was resisted by Harry, who cast one of Prince’s spells on Draco. Snape quickly healed Draco’s wound to protect Harry from coming into the limelight. He then got the job done, killed Dumbledore, and proved his loyalty to Voldemort.
Fugitive
After killing Dumbledore, Snape rejoined the ranks with Death Eaters to seek protection. Snape assured Lord Voldemort of his loyalty. He told the Death Eaters that Harry would leave his relatives-house four days before his birthday, a plan devised by Snape and Dumbledore.
On the other hand, Snape fed Mundungus Fletcher the idea of incorporating seven decoys of Harry so that when the Death Eaters arrive, they would not be able to decide which one is real.
From A Murderer To The Headmaster
In 1997, significant changes were made to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry faculty. Severus Snape was named to be the new Headmaster. Snape was to be assisted by the Death Easters Alecto and Amycus Carrow, working in the capacity of Deputy Headmaster. Snape used his position to secretly protect students from Carrows.
During his career as the Headmaster, Snape regularly consulted the portraits of previous headmasters to seek guidance. Snape was constantly in touch with Dumbledore’s portrait, which told him about the secret location of the Sword of Gryffindor.
When the portrait of Phineas Nigellus Black informed Snape about Harry Potter’s whereabouts, Dumbledore’s portrait advised Snape to give the sword to Harry. The problem was that Harry would not believe Snape because of all that had happened.
Snape, therefore, hid the sword in a frozen pool near Harry’s camping spot and used his Patronus to guide Harry to the pool. He kept an eye on Harry until he got the sword and was in a safe place.
Dismissal
Snape faced bitter criticism from his contemporaries and students and Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Snape somehow managed to subdue all efforts to bring him down. However, with the arrival of Minerva McGonagall, things got out of hand, and they got into a faceoff.
Snape gave a good defense against her spells but eventually lost grip on the situation. He had to take cover behind the suit of armor to protect himself from her daggers. Snape waited for an opportunity, jumped from a classroom window, and fled the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He learned the trick of flying without his broom from Lord Voldemort. This marked the end of his career as a Headmaster.
Death
In the evening after Snape fled the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, he was summoned by Lord Voldemort at Shrieking Shack to meet him. Voldemort asked Snape for the Elder Wand, believing that Snape was the master of that wand after killing Albus Dumbledore.
Snape tried to explain, but Voldemort ordered Nagini to kill him before he could say anything. Nagini bit Snape on the neck, injecting him with highly poisonous venom. However, before dying, Snape released a cloud of his memories so that Harry could have them.
Relationship And Family Life
Always!
Snape was a neglectful child, and he did not get the attention a child was supposed to have. The only person that brought a smile over Snape’s face was Lily. Snape had been in love with her since their childhood, and Lily was the only one who brought pleasant memories to Snape. With Lily started dating James, Snape was left alone with the memories of their time together.
The fact that Lily died of what Snape did keeps on repressing him, and he never had any relationship after that. When Dumbledore revealed to Snape that Harry must die, Snape disclosed his memories with Lily. Dumbledore asked him if he was still haunted by her memories after all this time, and Snape replied: Always!
Magical Abilities And Special Skills
Severus Snape was a highly skilled and able personality of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The best and most valuable ability of Snape was his ability to love someone unconditionally. Snape loved Lily without wanting anything in return. He was the only person at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry who possessed this quality.
Snape held a great magical mastery over his spells and curses. He was one of the brightest students of his time and one of the best teachers at Hogwarts. Moreover, Snape had a lot of charms that he could use anytime to his advantage.
Since student life, Snape has been into Dark magic and Dark Art. By the time Snape graduated from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, he was a master of Dark magic. Snape had to spy on Death Eaters when Lily was killed, so he mastered the Defense against Dark Arts.
Besides Lord Voldemort, Snape was the only person at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry who could fly without his broomstick. Snape also possessed excellent acting skills; these skills helped him live his life as a double agent.
Wand
Severus Snape bought his wand from Olivander’s Wand Shop before his first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Snape killed Albus Dumbledore with this wand, and it was with this very wand Snape fought Harry when Harry resisted him. It is not sure what happened to this power source after the demise of the legendary Severus Snape. It would probably have been buried along with Snape as a common burial practice of the Wizarding World.
Trivial And Fun Facts About Severus Snape
Snape Loathed Harry’s Father, James Potter!
Snape and James met for the first time on the train to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. From the time they first met, they hated each other. James hated Snape for his obsession with Slytherin House, whereas Snape hated James for being arrogant and overconfident. After Lily and James started dating in their final year, Snape’s hatred for James became more significant.
Why Did Snape Become A Teacher At Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft And Wizardry?
After Lily’s death, Albus Dumbledore used Severus Snape’s guilt to bring him back from the Dark Magical world. Dumbledore suggested to Snape that he must join the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry if he loved Lily. He asked Snape to start working as a spy for him to save Lily’s child, Harry Potter.
Why Harry Named His Son After Severus Snape?
Harry acknowledged the services of Severus Snape for the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He admitted that Snape truly loved his mother, and he also built a portrait of Snape at Hogwarts in his honor. Out of respect for the two most influential teachers at Hogwarts, Severus Snape and Albus Dumbledore, Harry named his son Albus Severus Potter.
Appearances in Books
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
- Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Appearances in Movies
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s stone
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
- Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
Frequently Asked Questions
Answer: Obscurial is a young wizard who faces psychological or physical abuse and develops a dark parasitical magical force. Snape did have an abusive father, but Snape harnessed his magical abilities despite his father’s hatred for magic. When a child doesn’t suppress his magical abilities, he doesn’t become an Obscurial.
Answer: Snape hated his father, just like Lord Voldemort, also a half-blood wizard, and wanted to enjoy the power to get out of Lily’s memories. However, this did not work out in the long run.
Answer: There were many reasons for this behavior: Snape had very neglectful parents; his father was even abusive; he spent most of his childhood in loneliness; most importantly, he lost Lily to James Potter, acting as the last nail in the coffin.
After losing Lily, Snape spent his life in regret and filled with anger, making him a cold man.
Answer: Snape and Dumbledore had a secret agreement under which Snape was bound to kill Dumbledore to save him from a long and painful death. Apparently, Snape killed Dumbledore to prove his loyalty to Voldemort.
Answer: Horcruxes was an obscure topic in the wizarding world. Snape didn’t know of its existence because he had stopped studying Dark Art after he started spying for Dumbledore. Another reason would be Dumbledore’s removal of all books on this topic from the library.