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Harry Potter Fans Are Sharing Small But Poignant Details They Noticed About Severus Snape (30 Pics)
Severus Snape was one of the most complex characters in the Harry Potter series. He was a half-blood wizard serving as Potions Master, Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, and Headmaster of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as well as a member of the Order of the Phoenix and a Death Eater. His double life played an extremely important role in both of the Wizarding Wars against Lord Voldemort.
But with Harry, Ron, and Hermione taking up most of the spotlight, not everyone is giving Severus the recognition he deserves. So, to shed some light on him and the entire series, potterheads turned to the Internet to cast Lumos on their beloved persona.
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#1
Difference With Other Teachers
This fascination with Severus Snape isn't just a phase. In 2011, he became the (surprise) winner of a poll to find the public's favorite Harry Potter character. With 13,000 votes, Snape, who in the movies is played by Alan Rickman, took 20% of the 70,000 votes cast in the survey from the books' publisher, Bloomsbury. The organizers said he was the clear winner, beating Hermione Granger into second place.
Harry Potter, the hero of one of the most successful book series in history, took fourth place behind Sirius Black but ahead of his pal Ron Weasley, who came in at a measly number five.
#2
He Exhibits Real Emotions
Hermy, a moderator of one of the biggest online Harry Potter communities, r/harrypotter, said she has deeply mixed feelings about Snape. "I was the same age as Harry for most of the book releases, and as a kid, I thought he was evil incarnate!" she told Bored Panda. "Now, I think he is just a profoundly flawed man--and that's what makes him such a compelling character, if not a great person."
Overall, Hermy isn't a big fan of Snape. She thinks he had good moments, like honoring Dumbledore's wishes when Draco was tasked with killing Dumbledore and defecting from the Death Eaters, but for her, his flaws are very difficult to overlook. "What I often hear from other fans is that Snape is ultimately loyal to Lily Potter, but I think loyalty isn't the right word for what he actually does. I think he's obsessive, insecure, and unable to move past a high school crush," Hermy explained.
#3
When Snape And Harry First Meet Eyes, Harry's Scar Hurts. But It's Actually Because Quirrel's Head Is Turned At That Exact Moment, And Lord Voldemort Is Living On The Back Of Quirrel's Head. In Fact, Snape Actually Notices That Harry's Scar Hurts And Turns To Look At Quirrell. He Later Confronts Quirrell Because He's Suspicious Of Him Working With Voldemort
"Lily was very clear about not being interested in him, yet he refused to acknowledge her feelings. When Harry arrives, he becomes a target for all that pent-up frustration despite never having wronged Snape (initially, at least!). At that time, it's been 11 years since Lily died, and probably 15-20 years since he was rejected. Any person we knew in real life who couldn't process a teenage heartbreak would not get the same indulgence that Snape gets from part of the Potterverse. But that certainly doesn't make him evil. Creepy, yes. Not evil. The matching patronus thing still weirds me out."
For her, Snape's bad qualities outweigh the good, but they don't negate the good. "I respect him, but I don't like him."
#4
In Snape's Death Scene, You Can See A Gryffindor Scarf Hanging In The Background. If You've Read The Books, This May Be A Subtle Nod To Dumbledore's Line To Snape, "Sometimes I Think We Sort Too Soon"
In 2017, J.K. Rowling celebrated the anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts by apologizing for killing off arguably the most divisive character in the series. The author obviously agrees that Severus is a polarizing character, saying, "Snape is all grey. You can't make him a saint: he was vindictive & bullying. You can't make him a devil: he died to save the wizarding world."
But what do you think about him? Tell us in the comments.
#5
In The Harry Potter Movies (2001-2011), Snape’s Costume Was The Only One That Never Changed. According To Costume Designer, Jany Temine:"Because, It Was Perfect. When Something Is Perfect You Cannot Change It.” She Joined In Prisoner Of Azkaban And Changed Most Costumes Except Snape’s
Pamela24 4 years ago
And apparently, Alan Rickman himself had a lot to do with the design: "Rickman felt that he needed a lot of buttons, because, in his mind, he saw Snape buttoning up when he developed the character. He also wanted the sleeves to be tight. He realized that the whole look was essential to the character's completeness."
#6
Severus Snape Is Grey
#7
An Interesting Note About Snape Being Unattractive
Dianna Siever 4 years ago
I HATED how adorable/ good looking Harry, Hermione, and Ron were in the movies. They were all described as ugly-ish misfits in the books, with Hermione bearing the brunt of it.
#8
This Harry Potter Detail Is Probably Well Known But Has Always Fascinated Me. An “Asphodel” Is A Flower From The Lily Family Meaning “My Regrets Follow You To The Grave”. And Wormwood Means “Absence”. So Snape Was Literally Saying “I Bitterly Regret Lily’s Death”
#9
Does Snape Even Sleep
Electric Ed 4 years ago
Makes you wonder what sort of potions he was cooking up between classes...
#10
Snape's Patronus
#11
Hermione Actually Respects Snape
Pamela24 4 years ago
Well...Hermione isn't suprassed by Harry in their 6th year because Snape no longer teaches Potions but because Harry has Snape's book. If he didn't have it, she would most likely still be better than Harry because there's no reason to think that Slughorn was that much of a worse teacher than Snape nor that his methods would suit Harry that much better than Hermione.
#12
Snape Had An Unfortunate Life Bringing
#13
He Knew What Was Going To Happen For So Long
#14
Petunia Probably Knew Snape
Maca Fabry 4 years ago
What are you talking about? In the books Lily and Petunia meet Snape at the same time when they were kids. So of course they knew each other. Also Petunia didnt have a crush on him hahaha.
#15
Snape Is Actually The One To Teach Harry The Spell Expelliarmus, Which Becomes His Signature
Jaded Queen 4 years ago
Everyone: HARRY!! use anything other than expelliarmus. Harry: LOL!!! NO, Expelliarmus.
#16
After Harry Screams At Snape For Killing Dumbledore And Bellatrix Knocks Him To The Ground, Snape Makes Sure The Others Go On Without Him And That Harry Is Safe Before He Leaves
Pseudo Puppy 4 years ago
the slightest moment of hesitation as he looked back. you could see all the conflicting thoughts run through his head. Alan Rickman was a genius.
#17
In Order Of The Phoenix, Snape Teaches Harry Occlumency And Says A Bunch Of Mean (And Likely True) Stuff About His Dad. It Quickly Becomes Clear He's Provoking Harry In Order To Prove A Point About How He's Vulnerable To Voldemort
Pseudo Puppy 4 years ago
love this scene. Could write a thesis on the multiple levels of selflessness and sacrifice on behalf of Snape in this scene, in order to help protect the son of a woman he loved & lost. He intentionally chose to play the role of the 'bad guy', directly accepting Harry's hatred, in order to help Harry learn how to protect himself.
#18
Harry Refuses To Call Snape “Professor.” In Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011), Harry Refers To Him As “Professor Snape” Once He Has Learned The Truth From The Pensieve
#19
When Snape Kills Dumbledore, You Can See The Hesitation Very Clearly On His Face. He Only Obliges When Dumbledores Says "Please," And Even Then His Voice Shakes
Pseudo Puppy 4 years ago
This scene always breaks my heart - knowing the choice that Snape had to make: to kill his only ally, and to accept the hatred of the entire school / his own friends, in order to try and save them. That moment, he was sacrificing everything within himself, for the better of everyone else, knowing that he would be despised for it. :(
#20
Trusts Them With His Life
#21
In Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Pt. 2, Snape Is Still Helping The Order Of The Phoenix When He Re-Directs Mcgonagall’s Spells To The Death Eaters Behind Him
#22
He Is Not Fazed By Insults
#23
When Snape Snapped Right Back At Umbridge
Leo Domitrix 4 years ago
Seven godkids. All in the Harry Potter age range for books and/or movies. You have no idea how much I h ate Umbridge...
#24
He's Just Altogether Real
𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓹𝓵𝓪𝓷𝓽𝓲𝓼𝔀𝓱𝓪𝓽𝓘𝓷𝓮𝓮𝓭 4 years ago (edited)
To me Harry Ron a hermione was really unrealistic . every character was either in: bad mood: murderous mood: a death eater: prayed to Harry: normal
#25
Dude Had Some Sweet Curls
OffBrandSweetTea 4 years ago (edited)
Oh my god, I never noticed that! It's kinda.....cute....in a way
#26
Can Barely Contain Their Laughter
#27
After Mcgonagall Reveals That Ginny Weasley Has Been Taken To The Chamber Of Secrets, Snape Looks Genuinely Concerned
Aimee Simmons 4 years ago
Snape was emotionally stunted and scarred, and he was an a*****e, but he was still an adult that did value the life of his students and the students of the whole school. He knew what was happening, and it probably hurt a lot to think about because he was walking the line between dark and light. Lily was his light, and his desire for acceptance pushed him to the dark.
#28
A Matter Of Perspective
Panda Loki 4 years ago
Except they skip the part where they try to tell him that he's not the murderer. Severus didn't do it because he was trying to protect anyone. Don't forget that because he was mad about not getting the accolaids of capturing Sirius Black he told people about Remus Lupin being a werewolf thus getting him fired, and the fact that he basically set up Harry's whole class to look into all the signs of a werewolf in hopes that someone would figure it out.
#29
When Mcgonagall Steps In Front Of Harry To Duel Snape, He Lowers His Wand
XxInstantKarmaxX 4 years ago
Because he Dumbledore and McGonagall where best friends it's even proven in an earlier post.
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What do you think ?
Hooked 4 years ago
Reading all this and taking my own thoughts about Snape into account, I only feel even more adoration for the character and for the actor who played him in the films. Snape was a hero (a tragic one but a hero nonetheless) and Alan Rickman brought him to life like no one else could have.
Bill 4 years ago
Alan Rickman did the best version of the Sheriff of Nottingham too in that early 90s Robinhood movie
Lauren Caswell 4 years ago
And galaxy quest was an unexpected gem! By grapthars hammer you shall be avenged XD
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Pamela24 4 years ago
On the spectrum from "love Snape" to "hate Snape" I tend to lean towords the latter. Yet I understand that his character is complex. And if this list proves anything it's that Alan Rickman was a genius who managed to put all those little details in all the performance in the films and that's why Snape keeps being the most controversial of all HP characters. If he was played a bit worse we would have never believed the complexity.
Hooked 4 years ago
Reading all this and taking my own thoughts about Snape into account, I only feel even more adoration for the character and for the actor who played him in the films. Snape was a hero (a tragic one but a hero nonetheless) and Alan Rickman brought him to life like no one else could have.
Bill 4 years ago
Alan Rickman did the best version of the Sheriff of Nottingham too in that early 90s Robinhood movie
Lauren Caswell 4 years ago
And galaxy quest was an unexpected gem! By grapthars hammer you shall be avenged XD
Load More Replies... Pamela24 4 years ago
On the spectrum from "love Snape" to "hate Snape" I tend to lean towords the latter. Yet I understand that his character is complex. And if this list proves anything it's that Alan Rickman was a genius who managed to put all those little details in all the performance in the films and that's why Snape keeps being the most controversial of all HP characters. If he was played a bit worse we would have never believed the complexity.
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