Snape

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Severus Snape 56
Alias(es)	Half-Blood Prince 203
Species/Race	Wizard 16
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Hogwarts; Order of the Phoenix; Death Eaters (as an Order mole) 1 112
Occupation/Role	Potions Professor; Head of Slytherin House; later Defense Against the Dark Arts professor and instructor for Special Training for Dark Wizards 1 122 200
Status	Alive 303
First Appearance	Chapter 1 (setting introduction); Chapter 11 (first narrative appearance) 1 11

Background

During his Hogwarts years, Snape was initially hostile toward James Potter and his friends. After James saved him from Lupin during a werewolf transformation, Snape, James, Lily Evans, and their companions reconciled; they agreed to protect Lily and compete fairly. After graduation, Snape and the others joined the Order of the Phoenix. At Dumbledore's request, Snape infiltrated the Death Eaters as the Order's mole. 1

Snape attempted to warn Lily and James after Barty Crouch Jr. relayed part of the prophecy to Voldemort, but failed to prevent Lily's death. He maintained his undercover identity by presenting his grief as hatred born from love, while secretly protecting Harry at Hogwarts. 1 56

He believed that openly treating Harry as family would compromise his position as a spy and distract from eliminating Voldemort. Bing Huan's intervention eventually brought Harry and Snape into an honest conversation; Harry formally accepted Snape as his sworn godfather. 56 60

Following his exposure before Voldemort, Snape no longer concealed his allegiance to the Order. He later received the Defense Against the Dark Arts position and began teaching students a cultivation method that combines magic with spiritual energy. 112 122

Appearance

Snape is usually seen in black robes and is known for his cold expression and severe presence. 112

• Black robes that billow dramatically during confrontations. 112
• Often wears a stern, displeased, or expressionless look. 31 56
• His intimidating demeanor contrasts with his increasingly open concern for Harry. 22 69

Personality

Snape is strict, sarcastic, and easily irritated by recklessness, especially from Gryffindors. He rarely expresses approval plainly; even praise is usually delivered in restrained or cutting language. 56 202

Beneath this severity, he is deeply protective of Harry and remains devoted to Lily's memory. His protectiveness is often awkward or indirect, such as countering attacks on Harry, checking on him after incidents, and preserving every successful potion Harry brews. 21 69 202

He is relentless when given an opportunity to strike Voldemort. His desire for revenge and justice drove him to create an array of debilitating potions despite going three days without sleep. 214

Abilities & Skills

Potion-Making

Snape is a renowned potion master whose knowledge ranges from advanced restorative brews to highly specialized combat and curse-related concoctions. 16 202

• Brews Wolfsbane Potion for Remus Lupin, one of the few wizards capable of making it. 52
• Provides Harry and Cedric with Gillweed after testing their underwater endurance. 82
• Creates mental-energy recovery potions for Harry's Occlumency training. 107
• Developed a fast-acting sensory amplification potion intended to torment Voldemort; even a five-times diluted trial caused severe effects in Draco. 214 215
• Keeps and values each successful potion Harry brews. 202

Legilimency and Occlumency

Snape is proficient in mental magic and becomes Harry's instructor when Voldemort's connection to Harry becomes a direct threat. 37 107

• Uses Legilimency during the investigation into Justin Finch-Fletchley's petrification to help establish Harry's innocence. 37
• Explains the danger of Voldemort exploiting his mental link with Harry. 107
• Trains Harry through repeated Legilimency sessions until Harry can briefly resist intrusion. 107

Dueling and Defensive Magic

Snape is an accomplished combat wizard whose spells are precise, fast, and forceful. 16 35

• Counter-curses Quirrell's jinx on Harry's broom during Harry's first Quidditch match. 16 21
• Defeats Gilderoy Lockhart in a Dueling Club demonstration with a swift Disarming Charm. 35
• Uses a powerful Stunning Spell to immediately incapacitate the possessed Sirius Black. 276
• Demonstrates exceptional accuracy as a sniper during a training exercise, destroying Draco's grenade before it could be thrown. 147

Magical and Cultivation Instruction

After becoming Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Snape teaches a method that integrates magic and spiritual energy. 122

• Takes over Defense Against the Dark Arts after Slughorn becomes Potions Master. 122
• Later teaches the replacement course, Special Training for Dark Wizards, after Defense Against the Dark Arts is closed. 200
• Personally mentors Harry in potion-making, combat preparation, and career subject selection. 107 200 202

Equipment / Items

• Annotated Potions textbook — Snape's old school textbook, marked with the alias “Half-Blood Prince” and detailed brewing notes. 203
• Updated annotated textbook — A later version of his notes given to Harry after the original book is identified. 203
• Potion stores — Includes numerous rare, long-lasting debilitating concoctions and ingredients for antidotes. 214
• Modified Firebolt — Snape helps Harry modify one of three purchased Firebolts, focusing on comfort rather than competitive performance. 220

Relationships

• Harry Potter — Initially protects Harry from a distance due to his undercover role. After their reconciliation, Harry recognizes him as his sworn godfather; Snape becomes his mentor in potions and Occlumency. 56 60 107
• Lily Evans — Snape loved Lily and never forgave himself for failing to save her. His loyalty to her memory shapes his protection of Harry and hatred of Voldemort. 1 56
• James Potter — Began as Snape's school rival, but reconciled with him after James saved him from Lupin. They later joined the Order together. 1
• Sirius Black — Harry's other godfather and Snape's enduring rival. They compete over their influence on Harry, though both consistently protect him. 60 257
• Remus Lupin — Former schoolmate and colleague. Snape regularly brews Wolfsbane Potion for Lupin despite their strained history. 52 57
• Albus Dumbledore — Recruited Snape as an undercover operative within the Death Eaters and later entrusts him with major Hogwarts teaching roles. 1 122
• Bing Huan — Initially clashes with Snape, then works with him to investigate the Basilisk attacks. Bing Huan also facilitates Snape and Harry's reconciliation. 34 56 57
• Draco Malfoy — Snape acknowledges Draco's actions against Quirrell and later uses him as a trial subject for a diluted sensory-amplification potion. 22 214

Story Role / Major Arcs

Hogwarts First Year

Snape's limp and secretive actions make Harry suspect him of trying to steal the Philosopher's Stone. In reality, Snape is countering Quirrell's curse and attempting to protect Harry during the Quidditch match. 16 21

After Harry's confrontation with Voldemort, Snape visits him in the hospital wing but asks Bing Huan not to reveal his concern. 22

Chamber of Secrets Investigation

Snape works with Bing Huan to identify the creature causing the petrifications. Their deductions—Harry hearing a voice no one else hears, sounds in the pipes, and Slytherin's connection to serpents—lead them to suspect a Basilisk. 34

He also assists the Dueling Club and humiliates Lockhart in their demonstration duel. 35

Reconciliation with Harry

Bing Huan discovers Snape's Wolfsbane deliveries and confronts him over his hidden feelings for Lily and Harry. Harry overhears Snape's confession, then chooses to accept him as family in a ceremony arranged by Bing Huan. 56

Snape subsequently joins Harry, Sirius, Lupin, and the others during the capture of Peter Pettigrew and the Dementor attack. 57 60

Exposure as the Order's Mole

When Voldemort confronts the Order in the Ministry, Snape arrives openly on Harry's side. He tells Voldemort that he has always belonged with the opposing side, ending decades of infiltration. 112

Later Mentorship and War Preparations

Snape becomes Harry's Occlumency instructor after Voldemort begins exploiting their mental connection. 107

He later helps Harry prepare for advanced studies and covertly approach Slughorn, endorsing Harry's potion-making ability and advising him on becoming an Auror. 200 202

When the group plans revenge against Voldemort, Snape immediately supplies nearly twenty carefully selected debilitating potions, then develops an even stronger sensory-amplification formula. 214 215

Notable Quotes

“Always...” — upon seeing Harry's resemblance to Lily. 11

“Always.” — when Voldemort asks when he became aligned with the Order. 112

“Although the progress isn't very fast, your mental energy is already trying to resist. This is a good sign.” 107

Trivia

• Snape's old school alias, “Half-Blood Prince,” is accidentally discovered by Harry through an annotated Potions textbook. 203
• Harry is the only Hogwarts student stated to be able to enter Snape's office freely. 203
• Sirius's reaction to discovering the Half-Blood Prince alias is uncontrollable laughter; Snape responds by magically sealing Sirius's mouth. 203
• Snape visits his mother's grave after encouragement from Lily, but refuses to visit his father's grave due to the abuse his father inflicted on him and his mother. 269