Snape

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Severus Snape 16
Alias(es)	Half-Blood Prince 74
Species/Race	Wizard 16
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry; Slytherin House 49 269
Occupation/Role	Potions Master, Potions professor, Head of Slytherin House, and Ian Prince's legal guardian 31 49 101
First Appearance	Chapter 10

Background / History

Snape is Ian Prince's only remaining uncle and eventually becomes his legal guardian. Although he initially resists taking Ian in, Dumbledore urges him not to abandon his sole living kin; Snape later acknowledges that Ian has adapted well to wizarding life in Hogsmeade. 35 74 101

He has a long, distrustful association with Albus Dumbledore. When Snape learns of Ian's natural Legilimency, he fears the child's talent and demands that Dumbledore make an Unbreakable Vow that Ian is not part of any scheme. 16

Snape was formerly associated with the Death Eaters, a past that continues to shape how students and colleagues perceive him. Despite this reputation, he is described as a reformed dark wizard and remains a formidable Hogwarts professor. 83 269

Appearance

Snape is a severe-looking wizard whose appearance reinforces his intimidating classroom presence.

• Long black robes, often compared to bat wings. 49 270
• Greasy black hair. 49 294
• Hooked nose and a gloomy, sallow face. 49 295
• Usually carries a wand and smells of medicinal herbs or potion ingredients. 42

Personality

Snape is cold, sarcastic, and exacting. He habitually uses cutting remarks to discipline students, dismisses excuses, and deliberately pressures rule-breakers into revealing the truth. 11 32 269

His harshness coexists with a guarded sense of responsibility. He funds Ian's schooling, worries about Ian's involvement with Dark Magic, investigates threats against Hogwarts students, and repeatedly places himself in danger while searching for Ian. 12 16 83 273

Snape is deeply suspicious of Dumbledore's secrecy and judgment. He is willing to challenge the headmaster directly when he believes a student may be endangered, including Marcus Flint and Ian. 16 83 86

Abilities & Skills

Potions Mastery

Snape is a renowned Potions Master with extensive knowledge of conventional, advanced, and ancient formulas.

• Brews, evaluates, and corrects potions with exceptional precision. 68 101 159
• Maintains extensive ingredient stores in his office and classroom. 100 114
• Annotated and improved potion recipes in a copy of Advanced Potion-Making, which he gives to Ian. 74 77
• Developed a temporary Squib Revival Potion capable of restoring dormant magic for roughly three to five months, but keeps it secret because of its potential misuse. 104
• Can identify and produce convincing counterfeit potion ingredients; even Ian cannot explain how Snape's fakes match genuine ingredients so closely in appearance. 139
• Knows obscure formulas such as the Nightshade Coagulant and methods for processing Mooncalf tears and Veela hair. 295

Spell Creation

Snape is an inventive spellcaster whose original magic is feared by other wizards.

• Created the original Sectumsempra curse and its counterspell. 80 269
• Taught or recorded Sectumsempra in material later used to frame Ian for murder. 33 80
• His annotated potions text includes self-created spells, including Langlock. 77
• Uses binding magic capable of freezing multiple students in place. 269

Mind Magic

Snape possesses formidable Occlumency and is capable of Legilimency.

• His Occlumency is strong enough that Ian's natural mind-reading talent frightens him when it bypasses his defenses. 16
• Uses Legilimency while investigating Marcus Flint's memories and the Sectumsempra murder plot. 83
• Recognizes the danger of invasive mental magic and treats unrestricted knowledge as potentially corrosive. 288

Combat Magic and Mobility

Snape is a highly capable combat wizard despite being primarily known for Potions.

• Can cast lethal or disabling spells nonverbally and react instantly to threats in the Forbidden Forest. 273
• Stuns dangerous creatures without killing protected specimens when possible. 273
• Transforms into black mist to travel rapidly while carrying Hermione through the Forbidden Forest. 274
• Unleashes destructive magic powerful enough to destroy dozens of trees and carve a scorched gully through the ground. 275
• Maintains protective barriers while confronting unknown magical entities. 289

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Wand — used for potion work, dueling, binding magic, and nonverbal spellcasting. 269 273
• Potion stores — extensive supplies kept in his office and Potions classroom. 100 114
• Advanced Potion-Making — an annotated volume from his collection, later entrusted to Ian. 74 77
• Knockturn Alley shop — a business Snape offers as an alternative to Ian dealing with Grindelwald's followers. 139

Relationships

• Ian Prince — nephew and legal ward. Snape pays for Ian's supplies, leaves him 150 Galleons, provides a home in Hogsmeade, and tries to restrain his dangerous magical experimentation. 12 16 31 101
• Albus Dumbledore — headmaster and long-standing associate. Snape respects Dumbledore's power but distrusts his plans, especially where Ian and student safety are concerned. 16 83 289
• Hermione Granger — initially a frightened student, later a temporary assistant. Snape guides her through potion brewing during his confinement and entrusts her with his predicament. 65 273 291
• Marcus Flint — Slytherin student interrogated by Snape after framing Ian with Sectumsempra. Snape uses Veritaserum and other potions to uncover Flint's manipulation. 80 83
• Gilderoy Lockhart — professional rival whom Snape openly dislikes. Lockhart seeks his help with rare potion formulas despite Snape's cold reception. 295

Story Role / Major Arcs

Ian Prince's Guardian

Snape escorts Ian through Diagon Alley, purchases luxury-quality school supplies, and gives him a substantial allowance despite Ian's discomfort with the expense. 12 16

After discovering Ian's aptitude for Dark Magic, Snape confronts him in Hogsmeade and forces him to demonstrate whether he could truly learn magic from a supposedly discarded note. Ian responds by successfully casting Sectumsempra. 32 33

Snape later gives Ian Advanced Potion-Making, revealing both his connection to the Prince family and his resentment toward Ian's father. 74

The Sectumsempra Murder Investigation

When Ian is framed for Professor Ronny Erich's murder, Snape recognizes the killing curse as his original Sectumsempra. He restrains Marcus Flint, interrogates him with Veritaserum and other potions, and concludes that Flint was influenced by the Imperius Curse. 80 81 83

Snape's investigation intensifies his distrust of Dumbledore after the headmaster proposes using Flint as bait to expose the murderer within Hogwarts. 83

Ashwinder Attack and Fiendfyre Incident

During the Ashwinder attack on Hogwarts, Snape feigns unconsciousness to secretly direct Ian toward Afrison Carrow. He arrives after Ian uses Fiendfyre to destroy the attacking creatures and kill Carrow. 85 86

Snape is alarmed by Ian's ability to control Fiendfyre, fears Dumbledore's response, and attempts to conceal or mitigate the consequences of Ian's actions. 86

Forbidden Forest and the Bronze Gate

When Ian enters the Forbidden Forest to challenge a dragon, Snape immediately goes after him with Hermione. He protects Hermione, identifies residual Fiendfyre, and becomes increasingly alarmed by the unnatural roar and lifeless forest. 270 273 274

At the Bronze Gate, Snape witnesses a duplicate of Dumbledore emerge from the portal. He remains behind when Dumbledore enters the gate to rescue Ian, trusting the headmaster despite his fears. 279 289

Levicorpus Humiliation

Snape attacks the suspicious Lirium with Levicorpus, only for the spell to be reflected and strengthened against him. Unable to break the enchantment, he is left hanging upside down and relies on Hermione to move him back to his office. 289 290

While trapped, he teaches Hermione potions and deceives McGonagall into believing he is ill rather than admit his humiliating condition. 291

Notable Quotes

“I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even... stop death!” 68

“Prince, he is no savior; he is a conqueror!” 86

“Some knowledge is like poison. Simply knowing it is enough to corrode a wizard's soul.” 288

Trivia

• Snape's intimidating reputation is so strong that Ron Weasley briefly believes Snape may kill students caught breaking rules at night. 269
• He is unusually knowledgeable about the Muggle world despite leading Slytherin House. 274
• Snape is especially humiliated by Levicorpus because it recalls the public humiliation he suffered during his own school years. 290