Snape

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Severus Snape
Alias(es)	Half-Blood Prince 503
Species/Race	Wizard
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Hogwarts; Dumbledore's anti-Voldemort faction; publicly aligned with Voldemort as a double agent 313 515
Occupation/Role	Hogwarts Potions Professor and Head of Slytherin; later Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor 410 403
First Appearance	Chapter 3

Background / History

School years

Snape attended Hogwarts alongside Lily Evans, James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Kayson Heath. He was isolated enough that Kayson and Lily regularly left their House tables to share lunch with him. His curiosity about Kayson's unusual magic contrasted with Sirius's disdain. 523 531

His rivalry with James and Sirius was violent and longstanding. Sirius later recounted that he, James, and their friends humiliated Snape with the Upside-Down Bell Charm; during the aftermath, Snape called Lily a “Mudblood,” deepening the fracture between them. 202

Snape developed Sectumsempra while still a student. In a secret duel with Sirius, the curse shattered Sirius's Shield Charm and cut his arm; the duel ended only when Lily intervened. 543

Home life

Snape grew up in a neglected, impoverished home. His mother was alcoholic and visibly bruised, while his father Tobias was absent and described as gambling; the house had broken pipes, dirty dishes, mold, and little food. 557 558

He invited Kayson to his home after Christmas at the Evans residence. Kayson repaired the house with magic, an act that deepened their friendship. Snape also displayed an unexpected skill at knitting after Lily's mother offered to teach him. 557

Appearance

Snape is repeatedly identified by his greasy or messy black hair, grey eyes, and old-fashioned black robes likened to a bat's wings. He wears a large cloak, which Kayson links to the muddy conditions around Spider Alley. 3 383 409

• Greasy-haired in his early Hogwarts and teaching years. 3 523
• Grey-eyed. 543
• Often dressed in black, bat-like wizard robes. 383
• His hair visibly improved after using a Christmas gift from Kayson. 53

Personality

Snape is proud, defensive, and habitually sarcastic. He tends to express concern through practicality rather than warmth: he refuses help after being injured, dismisses apologies with cutting remarks, and reacts angrily when Kayson openly translates his feelings for others. 26 210

His hostility is especially pronounced toward Harry Potter, whom he associates with James Potter. He understands the Potters' equipment well enough to recognize Harry's Invisibility Cloak, and he uses that knowledge to provoke Harry indirectly. 194

Despite this hostility, Snape takes student safety seriously when it concerns genuinely dangerous magic. He aggressively investigates Harry's use of Sectumsempra because, without a counter-curse or a highly capable wizard present, the spell could cause fatal blood loss. 482

Snape is capable of change when persuaded. After other Heads of House criticize his verbal abuse and lost classroom time before the OWL examinations, he agrees to reduce his insults and write more on the blackboard—albeit only for that month. 373 374

Abilities & Skills

Potions

Snape is an exceptional potion-maker, described as unmatched in Britain and Europe. His former mentor Slughorn is considered less skilled, and Snape's old school notes are said to be enough to turn a Troll into a Potion Master. 378

• Created Skele-Gro crystals, which gradually heal external injuries not caused by Dark Magic curses. 139
• Keeps and administers Veritaserum, including during Sirius Black's interrogation. 188
• Brews and studies specialized potions, including Polyjuice Potion antidotes; a full antidote for Harriet's gender-bending potion requires more than a month to brew. 297
• Improved the formulas or brewing methods for the Wolfsbane Potion and Liquid Luck. 405
• Harvests rare magical ingredients, including dragon remains and the basilisk's corpse. 123 304

Dark Magic and Dueling

Snape is regarded as one of Hogwarts' foremost Dark Magic specialists. Dumbledore names him the best available candidate to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts because few people equal his knowledge in that field. 403 410

• Sectumsempra — A cutting curse Snape created in his school years. It can break a Shield Charm and inflict continuously bleeding wounds; without a counter-curse, it can be lethal. 543 482
• Silent casting — Used nonverbal spells against Sirius during their school duel. 543
• Black-smoke transformation — Uses a black-smoke form for rapid travel. 260 391
• Telekinesis — Secretly returned Steve's Netherite sword during Steve's battle with Voldemort and the Death Eaters, avoiding conspicuous magic. 383
• Unbreakable Vow ritual — His wand helps bind the magical agreement between Dumbledore and Karkaroff. 206

Espionage

Snape operates as a double agent under extreme pressure. He gives Voldemort false intelligence while concealing his loyalty to Dumbledore, accepting that a successful spy may need to appear completely loyal even unto death. 313

• Proposes feeding Voldemort misinformation to protect Harry's secret. 313
• Informs Voldemort of Dumbledore's supposed terminal illness as part of the plan to lure him into a trap. 509
• Provides Dumbledore and Kayson with Voldemort's possible hiding place after Voldemort's defeat. 517
• His cover deteriorates after Voldemort questions the false illness report and Harry's appearance on his escape route. 515 516

Relationships

• Kayson Heath — Colleague, friend, and frequent partner in dangerous work. Snape commissions a temperature-control device from Kayson, accepts help after the three-headed dog's bite, and later trusts Kayson with his contingency regarding Harriet. 5 26 313
• Albus Dumbledore — Headmaster and handler of Snape's double-agent role. Snape accepts Dumbledore's orders, shares intelligence, and is appointed Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor with Dumbledore's backing. 313 403 517
• Voldemort — Snape publicly serves Voldemort while secretly working against him. Voldemort increasingly suspects Snape, attacks him, and demands proof of his loyalty. 515 516
• Harry Potter — Their relationship is defined by Snape's resentment toward James Potter and Harry's distrust of Snape. Snape nevertheless investigates Harry's dangerous use of Sectumsempra and agrees to look after him when returning to Hogwarts. 194 482 391
• Lily Evans — Snape's school friend and early companion alongside Kayson. Their relationship was damaged when Snape used a blood-purity slur against her after Sirius and James humiliated him. 523 531 202
• Sirius Black — School rival and enemy. Their duel over Sectumsempra ended in a draw, and Snape later condemns Sirius for choosing Peter Pettigrew as Secret-Keeper. 543 188
• Remus Lupin — Another former school adversary. Snape accepts Lupin's apology in substance but insists they are strangers rather than friends. 210
• Horace Slughorn — Snape's former teacher and predecessor as Head of Slytherin. Snape accepts Slughorn's return as Potions Professor after hearing his name. 410

Story Role / Major Arcs

Hogwarts staff and the Philosopher's Stone

Snape works with Kayson to prepare potions and obstacles around Hagrid's three-headed dog. He is bitten by the dog while carrying out this work, but refuses assistance despite the Dark Magic in the wound. 26

He knows about Quirrell's suspicious conduct and explains that Dumbledore has authorized him to give Quirrell a “push” if necessary, as part of the larger plan surrounding Voldemort's presence at Hogwarts. 25

Basilisk aftermath and Sirius Black

After the Basilisk is killed, Snape claims its corpse for potion work but agrees to preserve it so the Ministry can verify Hagrid's innocence in Myrtle's death. 123 136

He confronts Sirius after Sirius is captured, provides Veritaserum for the interrogation, and learns that Peter Pettigrew—not Sirius—betrayed the Potters. 188

Double-agent operation

Snape formally commits to deceiving Voldemort with false information and protecting Harry's secret. He states that if he dies, he must die appearing to be a loyal spy; surviving would expose all the misinformation he had supplied. 313

When Steve confronts Voldemort's group in the Great Hall, Snape covertly aids Steve by returning his sword through telekinesis. 383

Voldemort later uses Snape as bait to lure Kayson from Hogwarts, suspecting Snape's true allegiance. Kayson chooses to attempt a rescue at Malfoy Manor despite the trap. 390

Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor

After Grindelwald leaves teaching for expanded security duties, Dumbledore selects Snape as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor. Slughorn returns from retirement to replace him in Potions. 403 410

Snape's appointment alarms Harry, but Dumbledore argues that no better Dark Magic instructor is available. 403

Final exposure and Voldemort's suspicion

Snape helps identify Nagini as Voldemort's final Horcrux through serpent's blood. 515

After Voldemort's clone is killed, Snape is summoned to Riddle Manor and pressed to explain Dumbledore's survival and Harry's movements. He tries to protect his cover by revealing Kayson's magical abilities, but Voldemort attacks him and destroys half of the manor. A protective device made by Kayson teleports Snape back to Hogwarts. 515 516

Notable Quotes

“As a spy, one must die as a loyal spy.” 313

“That was no ordinary cutting curse. Theoretically, without a counter-curse, that spell could cause someone to bleed to death!” 482