Snape

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Severus Snape (西弗勒斯·斯内普)
Alias(es)	Professor Snape
Species/Race	Wizard
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Hogwarts; Dumbledore's side; operates as a double agent within Voldemort's circle 462 1195
Occupation/Role	Potions professor, Potions Master, private tutor
Status	Active; later leaves Hogwarts and operates from Spinner's End 2026
First Appearance	Chapter 29 29

Background / History

Snape's early pursuit of power was shaped by a violent father and his resentment toward Gryffindor. As a student, he concentrated on Dark Magic rather than defensive magic, seeing power as the means to protect himself, oppose those he hated, and win Lily Evans's affection. Sectumsempra emerged from this worldview. 545

He became a Death Eater and delivered the prophecy that placed Lily and Harry Potter in Voldemort's sights. Snape begged Voldemort to spare Lily, but later admitted that Voldemort's promises were worthless. Lily's death drove him to defect to Dumbledore and eventually master the Patronus Charm. 545 2013

At Hogwarts, Snape works as Potions professor while maintaining his covert role. When Voldemort summons him to Durmstrang, Snape immediately informs Dumbledore, then resumes the identity of a double agent before meeting the Dark Lord. 1195

Appearance

Snape is consistently associated with pitch-black robes, which remain immaculate even amid magical chaos. His robes billow dramatically when he moves through the castle. 899 1855

• Usually wears black robes.
• Often presents a cold, mocking, or unreadable expression.
• Carries himself with the controlled bearing of a duelist when casting magic. 305

Personality

Snape rules his classroom through intimidation, arbitrary point deductions, and harsh punishments. He deliberately raised the difficulty of both written and practical Potions examinations after noticing that students had grown less affected by his presence. 31 637 Gryffindor detentions can involve extracting frog brain pulp, and he frequently directs particular contempt at Gryffindor students. 1684 1825

Behind that cruelty, Snape is highly disciplined and calculating. He can suppress anger, endure torture, conceal selected thoughts from Voldemort, and shape his reactions to preserve his cover. 1195 1197 1198 He is also capable of rare patience with students he respects, particularly Vizet Lovegood. 53 305 1684

His concern for Harry and Vizet repeatedly conflicts with his outward demeanor. He tests Vizet's condition when fearing Voldemort's influence, insists on Patronus practice as protection, and later shields Harry with his own Patronus. 242 247 2011

Abilities & Skills

Potions Mastery

Snape is identified as the youngest Potions Master and possesses practical techniques more efficient and precise than those found in standard books. 53

• Provides highly demanding private instruction in ingredient processing and brewing. 53
• Improved the Wolfsbane Potion formula. 545
• Prepared and processed soul-repairing materials into potions for Voldemort's recovery. 1194
• His expertise is sufficiently feared that Circe dreads being used as a potioneer's experimental subject. 2042

Dark Magic and Dueling

Snape is a powerful duelist with advanced defensive magic and a precise, sword-like casting style. His magical level is stated to have surpassed where it stood more than ten years earlier. 57 305 1194

• Casts Sectumsempra, a cutting curse associated with his pursuit of power and capable of cutting both body and soul. 305 545
• Teaches Sectumsempra through control and precision, reducing its destructive traits to produce clean cuts. 305
• Severely wounds Quirrell with Sectumsempra after defending against his attacks. 57
• Casts the Killing Curse against Voldemort during the All-England Wizard Duelling Competition. 709
• Swiftly disarms and subdues Barty Crouch Jr. after Barty attacks him at Spinner's End. 1192 1194
• Uses Whirlwind Sudden Roll to incapacitate Igor Karkaroff and remove the smoke from the Great Hall. 899

Occlumency and Legilimency

Snape possesses exceptionally strong Occlumency and continually refines it to withstand Voldemort's scrutiny. 247 1195

• Uses Occlumency to make protective measures against the Dark Mark. 247
• Withholds selected information and thoughts so Voldemort's Legilimency produces conclusions Snape wants him to reach. 1198
• Performs Legilimency without a wand, exposing Circe's disguise and intentions. 2026
• Deduces the bloodline-based nature of Circe's Metamorphmagus magic from her fragmented explanation. 2043

Patronus Charm and Healing Magic

Snape's Corporeal Patronus is a silver Doe, reflecting his lasting connection to Lily. 545

• Uses the Doe Patronus to intercept Voldemort's attack on Harry. 2011
• Applies a Patronus-based healing technique combined with Sectumsempra, producing a fine thread of silver healing light. 544
• Assists in saving Bertha Jorkins by using Patronus magic to connect her scattered memory fragments while Vizet performs Soul Blade Healing. 709
• Uses Patronus casting as a test of whether Vizet has been influenced by Voldemort. 247

Dark Mark

Snape bears the Dark Mark on his left arm, which serves as both a link to Voldemort and a vulnerability.

• The Mark burns when Voldemort's presence or influence becomes active. 247
• Voldemort can sense and locate Snape through it. 247
• Snape cannot summon the Mark voluntarily. 247

Relationships

• Albus Dumbledore — Headmaster, handler, and trusted ally. Dumbledore states that Snape stands on his side, while Snape reports Voldemort's summons and maintains his double-agent role. 462 1195
• Voldemort — Former master and current target of Snape's deception. Voldemort values Snape's potions, magical ability, and apparent loyalty, unaware of the full extent of Snape's allegiance to Dumbledore. 1194 1196 1198
• Lily Evans — Snape's attachment to Lily shaped his defection, Patronus, and protection of Harry. Circe characterizes his love as an obsession centered on an idealized image of Lily. 545 1825 2014
• Harry Potter — Snape treats Harry harshly in public but protects him from Voldemort and explains that Harry's eyes are all that remain of Lily to him. 242 2011 2014
• Vizet Lovegood — Private student and trusted mentee. Snape teaches him Potions and Sectumsempra, tests his Patronus, and shows growing concern for his safety and future. 53 242 305 1804
• Barty Crouch Jr. — Rival Death Eater whom Snape humiliates, disarms, and manipulates for intelligence; both remain suspicious of the other's loyalty. 1192 1193 1820
• Circe / Nyctelia — Captive assistant. Snape exposes her through Legilimency, forces her into his service, and negotiates a stag form with black fur and white spectacle-like markings. 2026 2043

Story Role / Major Arcs

• First-year Potions and Quirrell investigation — Establishes his feared classroom presence, questions Vizet about Quirrell, and later confronts Quirrell directly. 31 50 57
• Vizet's private tutoring — Gives Vizet harsh but comprehensive Potions instruction, later teaches him the controlled use of Sectumsempra. 53 304 305
• Patronus safeguards — Becomes alarmed by changes in Vizet's Obscurus, demands a Patronus demonstration, and uses continued Patronus casting as a safeguard against Voldemort's influence. 242 247
• Return of Voldemort — Re-establishes contact with Voldemort at Durmstrang while secretly reporting to Dumbledore and refining his Occlumency. 1195 1196
• Protection of Harry — Reveals his role in delivering the prophecy and saving what he can of Lily's legacy, then openly shields Harry from Voldemort. 2011 2013 2014
• Circe's capture — Identifies Circe's disguise, takes her to Spinner's End, and compels her to serve as his potioneer's assistant. 2026 2043

Notable Quotes

“Use ‘control’ and ‘precision’ to unbalance this balanced magic and bring out only the trait of ‘sharpness.’” 305

“Don't think I am so noble! And don't pity me! I am merely a despicable, shameless man!” 2014

Trivia

• Ollivander reportedly had difficulty finding a wand suited to Snape. 183
• Gryffindor students turned surviving Snape's pressure into an informal challenge called “Face Snape” while practicing the Charm to Repel Weapons. 1749