Severus Snape Infosite

Harry Potter and Severus Snape. The relationship between this student and this teacher forms one of the most interesting enigmas in the entire Harry Potter series.

Harry’s position towards Snape is simple to read: he hates the man. Ever since his earliest days at Hogwarts where Snape has shown his utmost dislike for the Harry, Harry has held a special place in himself for Snape - that is, as a little, infuriating knot at the back of his brain. but how does Snape feel towards Harry?

That answer is a bit more complex than the books initially let on. At first it seems as though Snape dislikes Harry simply because Harry’s famous. He’s gotten where he is on his name alone and nothing else. He despises Harry’s apparent lack of wizarding skill - in potions, anyway, which is Snape’s forte - and berates the boy more than any other student for messing up.

But it goes deeper than that. As the books progress readers learn that much of Snape’s hatred comes from a hatred of Harry’s father, whom Harry resembles vividly. James Potter spent much of his time at Hogwarts making life miserable for Snape, and Snape never forgave the elder Potter for that. Hence he never gives Harry a chance to make a name for himself.

But it’s even more complicated than that, as Snape holds a brilliant flame inside him for Harry’s mother Lily. He loved her since they were children, and stayed loyal to her memory throughout the years. Hence, he is always ready to defend her child whenever he can - and that loyalty holds true at the end of the final book, where readers learn that Snape is not a traitor but rather one of Harry’s staunchest allies.

There are two big questions in the Harry Potter series.

First, will Harry Potter die in the last book?

And, second, is Severus Snape a friend or a foe?

Both questions have been answered by now. But the topic of Severus Snape’s loyalties were probably of greater concern to a wider audience. Snape is such a deliciously unlikeable character that you can’t help but like him. And Alan Rickman’s portrayal of the grease-headed Hogwarts teacher only deepened his fanbase.

But it’s a good question, and was for a very long time. Is Snape a good guy? Or do his loyalties ultimately lie with Lord Voldemort? There’s a lot of evidence leaning both ways. He helps Potter and his friends quite a few times in the books and does a lot of good.

But he’s also a fairly repulsive person personality-wise, and he has an obvious detestation for all things Potter. Plus he also does something in the sixth book that casts a lot of doubt on his motives.

So which is he?

You’ll have to read to find out.