======Professor Severus Snape======
=====Introduction=====
Professor Severus Snape was an exceptionally skilled [[wizard]] who served as the [[Potions]] Master, Head of [[Slytherin House]], [[Defence Against the Dark Arts]] professor, and ultimately Headmaster of [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]]. A character of profound complexity and moral ambiguity, Snape was a former [[Death Eater]] who acted as a crucial double agent for [[Albus Dumbledore]] and the [[Order of the Phoenix]] during the [[First Wizarding War|First]] and [[Second Wizarding War|Second Wizarding Wars]]. His actions were driven by a lifelong, unrequited love for [[Lily Evans]], the mother of [[Harry Potter]]. Throughout the series, he presented a facade of cruelty and bitterness, especially towards Harry, while secretly working to protect him and ensure the downfall of [[Lord Voldemort]].
=====Biography=====
====Early Life====
Severus Snape was born on 9 January to [[Eileen Prince]], a pure-blood witch, and [[Tobias Snape]], a [[Muggle]], making him a [[Half-Blood]] wizard. He grew up in a derelict Muggle street called [[Spinner's End]] in [[Cokeworth]]. His childhood was unhappy, marked by his parents' frequent arguments. As a boy, he met and befriended [[Lily Evans]], a Muggle-born witch living in the same town. He was the one to inform Lily of her magical nature and introduced her to the concept of the [[Wizarding World]], eagerly awaiting their attendance at [[Hogwarts]].
====Hogwarts Years====
At [[Hogwarts]], Snape was sorted into [[Slytherin House]], while Lily was sorted into [[Gryffindor House]]. His prodigious talent in [[Potions]] and the [[Dark Arts]] became immediately apparent. He developed a bitter rivalry with [[James Potter]] and [[Sirius Black]], who frequently bullied him. During his school years, he began referring to himself as "The [[Half-Blood Prince]]", a title derived from his mother's maiden name and his half-blood status. His fascination with the [[Dark Arts]] and his association with aspiring [[Death Eaters]] strained his friendship with Lily. Their friendship ended permanently in their fifth year after Snape, humiliated by [[James Potter]], unthinkingly called Lily a "//Mudblood//".
====First Wizarding War====
After graduating from [[Hogwarts]], Snape joined [[Lord Voldemort]] and became a [[Death Eater]]. In his capacity as a spy for the [[Dark Lord]], he overheard part of a [[Prophecy]] made by [[Sybill Trelawney]] to [[Albus Dumbledore]], which foretold the birth of a child with the power to vanquish [[Voldemort]]. He relayed this information to his master, unaware that [[Voldemort]] would interpret it as referring to the son of Lily and [[James Potter]]. Horrified that he had marked Lily for death, Snape sought out [[Dumbledore]] and begged him to protect the [[Potter Family|Potters]]. In exchange, he agreed to become a spy for [[Dumbledore]] against the [[Death Eaters]].
====Between the Wars====
Following [[Voldemort]]'s first downfall, [[Dumbledore]] vouched for Snape's change of allegiance, allowing him to avoid a sentence in [[Azkaban]]. [[Dumbledore]] appointed him as the [[Potions]] Master at [[Hogwarts]], a position he held for over a decade. Snape was a strict, feared, and deeply biased teacher who showed blatant favoritism towards his own [[Slytherin]] students while frequently penalizing students from other [[Houses]], particularly [[Harry Potter]] and [[Neville Longbottom]] of [[Gryffindor]]. Despite his repeated requests, [[Dumbledore]] consistently denied him the post of [[Defence Against the Dark Arts]] professor.
====Second Wizarding War====
Snape continued his role as a double agent for the [[Order of the Phoenix]] upon [[Voldemort]]'s return. He fed [[Voldemort]] a mixture of true but useless information and carefully constructed falsehoods, all while secretly aiding the [[Order]]. On [[Dumbledore]]'s explicit orders, Snape killed the Headmaster atop the [[Astronomy Tower]] to spare [[Draco Malfoy]] from the task and to cement his own position as [[Voldemort]]'s most trusted servant. Following [[Voldemort]]'s takeover of the [[Ministry of Magic]], Snape was appointed Headmaster of [[Hogwarts]]. In this role, he covertly worked to protect the students from the cruel reign of the [[Carrow|Carrows]], [[Alecto]] and [[Amycus]], who were appointed as teachers by [[Voldemort]]. His final act was to ensure [[Harry Potter]] received his crucial memories, which revealed the entire truth of his allegiance and [[Dumbledore]]'s plan. He was killed in the [[Shrieking Shack]] by [[Voldemort]]'s snake, [[Nagini]], because [[Voldemort]] mistakenly believed Snape was the master of the [[Elder Wand]].
=====Physical Appearance and Personality=====
Snape is consistently described as a thin man with sallow skin, a large, hooked nose, and greasy, shoulder-length black hair. His most prominent features were his cold, black eyes, which were described as empty tunnels. He typically dressed in sweeping black robes, which made him resemble an "overgrown bat."
His personality was severe, sarcastic, and cruel. He was a man defined by deep-seated bitterness and a capacity for holding lifelong grudges, most notably against [[Harry Potter]] for his resemblance to his father, [[James Potter]]. However, beneath this intimidating exterior, Snape was a person of immense, albeit reluctant, courage and was capable of profound and enduring love. His actions demonstrate a sharp, analytical mind and an unparalleled ability for deception and subterfuge.
=====Magical Abilities and Skills=====
  * **[[Potions]]**: Snape was a [[Potions]] master of genius level. He was capable of brewing highly complex potions such as the [[Wolfsbane Potion]] and made significant improvements to standard recipes, as documented in his copy of //[[Advanced Potion-Making]]//.
  * **[[Dark Arts]]**: He possessed a vast and profound knowledge of the [[Dark Arts]]. He was skilled enough to create his own dark spells, such as the dangerous [[Sectumsempra]] curse.
  * **[[Occlumency]] and [[Legilimency]]**: Snape was a supremely accomplished [[Occlumens]], able to completely shield his thoughts and true allegiance from [[Lord Voldemort]], the most powerful [[Legilimens]] known. He was also a skilled [[Legilimens]] himself.
  * **Spell Creation**: As a student, Snape invented numerous [[spells]] and [[jinxes]], including //[[Levicorpus]]//, //[[Liberacorpus]]//, //[[Muffliato]]//, and the aforementioned //[[Sectumsempra]]//.
  * **Dueling**: He was a formidable and highly skilled duelist, capable of single-handedly holding his ground against multiple opponents, including Professor [[Minerva McGonagall]].
  * **[[Patronus Charm|Patronus]]**: His [[Patronus]] took the form of a **doe**, the same as [[Lily Evans]]', symbolizing his unending love for her.
  * **Non-verbal magic**: Snape was highly proficient at casting spells non-verbally, a sign of a powerful and disciplined [[wizard]].
=====Possessions=====
  * **[[Wand]]**: The wood, core, and length of Snape's personal [[wand]] are unknown in the canonical books.
  * **//[[Advanced Potion-Making]]//**: His old [[Hogwarts]] textbook, which he filled with his own handwritten annotations, potion-making shortcuts, and invented [[spells]]. Harry Potter used this book in his sixth year, believing its creator was a mysterious figure known as "The [[Half-Blood Prince]]".
=====Relationships=====
  * **[[Lily Evans]]**: The central figure in Snape's life. His deep, unrequited love for her was the motivation for his entire life's path after her death, from turning spy for [[Dumbledore]] to his final sacrifice.
  * **[[Albus Dumbledore]]**: Snape's handler and the only person who knew his true allegiance for many years. Their relationship was one of tense, calculated trust. While Snape resented [[Dumbledore]] for his ultimate plan for Harry, he carried it out faithfully.
  * **[[Harry Potter]]**: A deeply complex and antagonistic relationship. Snape outwardly despised Harry, seeing in him the arrogance of his father, [[James]]. Yet, he was bound by his love for Lily to protect him, often in secret. Harry's perception of Snape changed completely after viewing his memories, leading him to name his second son [[Albus Severus Potter]] in his honor.
  * **[[Lord Voldemort]]**: The [[Dark Lord]] Snape served and ultimately betrayed. Snape successfully deceived [[Voldemort]] for years, a testament to his incredible skill in [[Occlumency]] and his unwavering nerve.
  * **[[James Potter]]**: His schoolyard rival and tormentor. Snape's hatred for James was lifelong and was transferred to his son, Harry.
=====Etymology=====
  * **Severus**: A Latin name meaning "stern," "strict," or "severe," which perfectly describes his demeanor as a professor. It is also the name of a Roman Emperor, Lucius Septimius Severus.
  * **Snape**: The name of a real village in Suffolk, England. J.K. Rowling has confirmed she took the name from this location (J.K. Rowling interview). The word "snape" can also mean to rebuke or snub, fitting his personality.
=====Behind the Scenes=====
  * J.K. Rowling has stated that she planned Snape's true loyalties and backstory from very early in the writing process. She famously shared the secret of Snape's love for Lily with actor Alan Rickman before it was revealed in the books to inform his portrayal in the film series (J.K. Rowling interview).
  * In the films, Snape is portrayed by the late Alan Rickman. While Rickman was significantly older than the character's age in the books (Snape died at 38), his performance is considered iconic and definitive by many fans.
  * It is stated in a J.K. Rowling interview, but not in the novels, that Snape was the godfather of [[Draco Malfoy]] (J.K. Rowling interview).