Harry Potter

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Among the characters in the Harry Potter series, Severus Snape, the enigmatic Potions master and Slytherin alumnus, has sparked much debate among fans. Often referred to as Hogwarts’ “dungeon crawler,” Snape is a character who elicits strong feelings – from ardent admirers to fierce critics. His ambiguous nature, neither wholly evil nor purely good, makes him a morally complex figure that fans find deeply divisive.

Regardless of personal feelings towards Snape, it’s tough to dispute the significant role he plays in the success of the Harry Potter collection. His selfless act ultimately paves the way for Harry’s triumph over Voldemort. Moreover, throughout the series, Snape emerges as one of the most captivating characters.

Originally published, but now revised on May 28, 2025 by Andrea Sandoval. In the captivating world of Harry Potter, Severus Snape stands out as a complex character. Although he meets his end as a heroic figure, throughout much of the series, he is one of its most despised characters. Nevertheless, there are numerous instances that reveal Severus Snape to be an honorable wizard and individual. This article has been enhanced to present additional arguments supporting the claim that Snape is the finest character in Harry Potter.

Severus Was Alerted to Screaming & Acted Quickly

At a crucial moment, Harry, unaware of Sectumsempra’s deadly strength, strikes Malfoy with it. Just then, Snape steps in, preventing the conflict from worsening. Given his expertise, Snape manages to heal Malfoy’s wounds, thereby sparing him from a potentially fatal outcome. In a swift and decisive manner, the Potions Master promptly takes Malfoy to the hospital wing, ensuring that no lasting scars would result from the attack.

As a movie buff, I must say, it’s quite surprising that despite the turmoil between Harry and Snape, Harry doesn’t face a severe consequence for his actions. Instead of a heavy punishment, Snape merely tasks Harry with a mundane chore – sorting through files. Compared to almost ending Draco’s life, this seems like a minor task indeed.

However, one might argue that Snape assigning Harry the duty of sifting through the Marauder’s misdeeds could be seen as petty retaliation. But, perhaps there’s more to it than meets the eye. Maybe Snape was trying to teach Harry a lesson – one about the repercussions of attacking and nearly killing fellow students.

Snape Goes Out of his Way To Defend the Order of the Phoenix

In an unusual manner, Severus Snape demonstrates his loyalty, frequently shielding his allies. A clear instance of this is when Snape engages in combat against the Death Eaters during the Battle of the Seven Potters. Despite unintentionally injuring George Weasley, he was aiming at one of Voldemort’s supporters, putting himself in danger of being discovered.

During his tenure as Hogwarts Headmaster, Snape secretly strove to safeguard the students, doing so without drawing the Dark Lord’s attention. Often operating in the shadows, much of Snape’s heroic deeds go unnoticed. Yet, it is clear that he endeavors to save not just Harry’s life, but as many lives as he can.

Snape Was the Only Person Who Truly Challenged Voldemort

In a tense interaction among Bellatrix Lestrange, Narcissa Malfoy, and Snape, Bellatrix expresses doubt about Snape’s allegiance. To counter her suspicion, Snape cleverly challenges Bellatrix by asking if he could deceive someone as intelligent as the Dark Lord. By exploiting the fanaticism of Death Eaters, Snape manages to infiltrate Voldemort’s inner circle and ultimately outsmart the Dark Lord within his own scheme.

For a number of years, Snape concealed his thoughts and even managed to persuade others of his allegiance convincingly. He was so successful in this deception that Voldemort never realized the full extent of Severus’ involvement in his defeat. In the end, Voldemort believed that the Potions Master remained loyal, but Snape had masterfully orchestrated the events that allowed Harry to vanquish Tom Riddle once and for all. It’s a remarkable twist of fate.

Snape Gave His Free Time To Protect Harry from Voldemort’s Influence

As the sinister tones of Voldemort threaten to invade my very thoughts, I find myself under the tutelage of Snape, guided by Dumbledore’s command. Though it may seem that Snape is merely following orders, there’s a depth to his actions – he’s striving to safeguard me. He imparts upon me the art of Occlumency, a skill aimed at fortifying my mind against unwelcome intrusions. Yet, despite his noble intentions, I remain reluctant to fully trust him throughout this arduous process.

Snape cautions Harry against keeping an open mind unguarded. He endeavors to clarify Voldemort’s potent abilities and how they could sway him and induce unusual behavior. Unfortunately, Snape didn’t serve as a positive role model for the Boy Who Lived, but he never deliberately sabotaged Harry’s journey.

Harry Defeats Voldemort with Expelliarmus

In the magical arsenal of Harry Potter’s spells, Expelliarmus takes center stage, having been instructed to him by none other than Professor Snape himself. During their confrontation with Gilderoy Lockhart in “Chamber of Secrets,” Snape employs Expelliarmus against Lockhart – a spell that Harry quickly learns and uses frequently in the years to follow. In this very story, he successfully deploys it against Malfoy and Lockhart, and on multiple occasions, it shields him from harm at the hands of Voldemort.

This scene showcases an iconic moment for Snape when he employs a protective yet accessible charm against Lockhart, essentially instructing students on Defense Against the Dark Arts in the process. Harry quickly catches onto the spell, making it his trademark. It’s through Snape’s tutelage that Harry learns to counter-attack rather than launching full-on assaults.

In this version, I aimed for a more conversational tone while still maintaining the original meaning and preserving the focus on Snape’s role in teaching Harry defensive strategies.

Snape Protected Harry More Than Any Other Staff Member at Hogwarts

From their initial encounter at Hogwarts, Harry had the impression that Severus Snape was after the Philosopher’s Stone for malicious intentions due to his hostile demeanor towards him. However, it turned out that he was utterly misguided, and the revelation of his true allegiance is delightfully surprising when readers first encounter the story in the book or movie. Throughout the school year, Snape secretly safeguarded Harry from Quirrell’s sinister schemes and challenged the D.A.D.A. professor about his questionable actions.

During class, Snape often criticizes Harry, but in unusual moments – like during a Quidditch match when Professor Quirrell casts a spell – Snape steps in to shield Harry. Moreover, Snape plays a crucial role in safeguarding the Philosopher’s Stone. The intricate nature of Snape’s character captivates us all. It leaves Harry puzzled as he wonders how someone who dislikes him so intensely could support him. However, amidst their evident animosity, Snape consistently protects Harry.

Unfortunately, Not All of Snape’s Jabs Translated from the Books to Movies

Snape is quite serious, yet his words in the books are remarkably humorous. While films have their share of memorable Snape lines, it’s in the books where readers truly appreciate his intriguing nature. For instance, when Bellatrix boasts about spending years in Azkaban for the Dark Lord, Snape responds wittily, “Oh, absolutely, quite impressive. Of course, you weren’t exactly useful to him while incarcerated, but I’m sure your efforts were commendable.

In these instances, Snape’s sharp, dry humor reveals not only his quick temper and skepticism but also his intelligence and intrigue. Despite his challenging past, Snape manages to retain a touch of wit and humor, which may just be his most extraordinary characteristic among all his heroic acts.

Whether He Wanted to, or Not, Snape Grew to Love Harry

In the Harry Potter series, Snape’s moral allegiance was often unclear, with him functioning as a secret agent and having once been an adherent of Voldemort’s cause. This led many to question his loyalty. Yet, even those who thought Snape acted from noble motivations would never have anticipated that he harbored affection for Harry Potter. Even the wise Dumbledore shows surprise when Snape appears distressed over Dumbledore’s final scheme involving Harry.

Regardless of the derogatory remarks, harsh punishments, and chilly disregard, it appears that Snape may have anticipated Harry would resemble his father, as hinted in the initial book installment. Perhaps he even relied on this similarity to alleviate some guilt over his role in Harry’s parents’ demise. However, in the end, it seems that Snape recognizes a part of Lily within Harry. In his final moments, Snape bestows upon Harry all memories that clarify his conduct. He could have simply provided him with the necessary information, but Snape chose to share more. This gesture suggests the affection he held for the Boy Who Lived.

Snape’s Doe Was a Sign of Safety and Trust for Harry

The Patronus Charm, in essence, embodies the good feelings of wizards. It’s their most powerful shield against dark forces and fearsome creatures like Dementors. Most witches and wizards who lean towards darkness tend to dislike the Patronus due to its uplifting and hopeful qualities. Interestingly, Severus Snape, a Death Eater, is known as the only one who can perform the Patronus Charm.

The ability of Snape to perform a corporeal Patronus, one of the most difficult spells in the magical world, demonstrates the extensive depth of his emotions. To summon his Patronus, Snape must recall a joyful and touching memory. Furthermore, the fact that Snape’s Patronus takes the form of a doe is indicative of his profound loyalty towards Lily, revealing his deepest emotional attachment.

The Hogwarts Teacher Even Saved Malfoy’s Life

In the course of the Harry Potter books, readers initially perceive Snape’s partiality towards Malfoy as common bias, given they both belong to the same house and share similar views on dark magic. Moreover, both characters appear to harbor disdain for Harry Potter, leading to a logical assumption that Snape would favor the pure-blood Slytherin boy. Looking back, though, it might be inferred that Snape identified with Draco Malfoy and felt pity for him instead.

In a sense, Draco’s background, his placement in Slytherin, and his pursuit of approval through following his father’s path could have resonated with Snape as a reflection of his own past. Like Snape, he had a Potter as an adversary at school, was often disliked by his peers despite his intellect and magical abilities. Perhaps, Snape felt empathy for Draco, who he knew would ultimately be compelled to become a Death Eater against his true nature. This compassion might have led Snape to support and shield Draco, even going so far as to assassinate Dumbledore on his behalf. To Snape, who had no genuine bond with Draco, he saw a vulnerable boy in need of aid, and he provided it.

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2025-06-02 05:53