Snape

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Severus Snape (斯内普) 330
Alias(es)	Half-Blood Prince 215
Species/Race	Wizard 27
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Hogwarts; Head of Slytherin House 27 331
Occupation/Role	Potions professor; temporary Defense Against the Dark Arts professor; private tutor to Lucien Grafton 214 337
Status	Active; later seen brewing potions at Spinner's End 409
First Appearance	Chapter 23 23

Background / History

Snape grew up in Spinner's End, a bleak and impoverished neighborhood. His mother abandoned both magic and her pure-blood surname to remain with a Muggle; Lily Evans's family once lived nearby, and Lily was Snape's childhood neighbor. 409

In his youth, Snape became absorbed in Dark Magic and associated with unreliable people, contributing to his eventual separation from Lily. He later became a Death Eater and worked undercover under Voldemort, who had valued him highly. 99 219 337

By the time Lucien attends Hogwarts, Snape is recognized as the youngest Potions Master. His old annotated copy of Advanced Potion-Making, written under the name “Half-Blood Prince,” reveals that his exceptional ability in the subject began during his school years. 109 215

Appearance

Snape is a tall, thin wizard whose severe, bat-like silhouette reinforces his intimidating reputation among students. 27

• Enormous hooked nose. 27
• Greasy black hair and deep-set, cold eyes. 23 106
• Usually wears flowing black robes and a black cloak. 27 355
• Briefly wore a traditional pointed wizard's hat while recovering from a cauldron explosion that damaged his hair. 348 355 376

Personality

Snape is harsh, impatient, and highly intolerant of incompetence. He opens Potions lessons by warning students against “foolish wand-waving” and expects only a select few to understand the subtleties of his craft. His habit of deducting points from Houses other than Slytherin is well known. 27 331

Despite his cold manner, Snape values diligence, talent, and intellectual curiosity. He gives Lucien technical advice, trades rare materials and books with him fairly, and privately considers him an exemplary student. He is especially satisfied when teaching Lucien because the boy can follow dense, rapidly delivered instruction. 53 99 355

His concern is usually expressed indirectly. He monitors threats to Harry, warns Lucien about the Chamber of Secrets crisis, and shows consideration for innocent people when brewing powerful Veritaserum. However, he habitually disguises concern as criticism, sarcasm, or professional self-interest. 109 192 376

Snape remains emotionally affected by Lily Evans. Harry's green eyes remind him of her, while Harry's resemblance to James Potter fuels much of Snape's hostility toward him. 53 107 329

Abilities & Skills

Potions

Snape is a Potions Master with a large private stock of rare magical ingredients and the ability to assess a brew's effects and flaws almost immediately. 53 99

• Recognized Lucien's improved Sleeping Incense as exceeding classroom standards after observing its preparation. 28
• Identified the ingredients of Lucien's healing pill, including the presence of an unfamiliar rare component. 98
• Brews Dumbledore's anti-cavity potion and a potent Veritaserum capable of extracting deeply buried memories. 109 376
• Negotiated Basilisk materials in exchange for potion formulas, books, and technical knowledge. 214
• Reviewed Lucien's proposals for improving Wolfsbane Potion despite being hospitalized. 349

Defense Against the Dark Arts and Dueling

Snape possesses advanced defensive magic and practical dueling knowledge. While temporarily teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts, he provides clear explanations, precise demonstrations, and combat-oriented instruction. 214

• Maintained a counter-curse against the jinx affecting Harry's broom during the Quidditch match. 106
• Suspected Quirrell's involvement in the attack on Harry and confronted Dumbledore over Harry's safety. 106 109
• Demonstrated Expulso as a tool for repelling projectiles and forcing back opponents at close range. 214
• Wanted the Defense Against the Dark Arts post permanently and believed focusing on one subject would let him teach more effectively. 327 331

Mind and Soul Magic

Snape is skilled in Legilimency, Occlumency, and other magic connected to the mind and soul. Dumbledore considers him especially suited to supervise Lucien's unusually powerful Patronus Charm. 331

• Possesses a corporeal doe Patronus, an exceptionally rare trait for a Death Eater. 337 338
• Understands that a Patronus form can expose its caster's identity and refuses to demonstrate his own. 338
• Teaches Lucien to regulate magical power, willpower, memories, and emotional focus while casting the Patronus Charm. 355
• Recognizes the unprecedented nature of Lucien manifesting more than a dozen distinct Patronuses, including a fleeting humanoid form. 358

Equipment / Items

• Private potion stores — Cabinets containing rare and costly materials, including ingredients scarcely seen on the market. 99
• Annotated Advanced Potion-Making — His former textbook, bearing the notes of the Half-Blood Prince. 214 215
• Apparition Amulet — A custom alchemical device made by Lucien as tutoring payment; it automatically triggers Apparition upon detecting lethal magical fluctuations such as Avada Kedavra. It requires expert Apparition control to use safely. 360 377
• Potent Veritaserum — A pale-blue truth potion strong enough that one drop can expose secrets retained since childhood. 376

Relationships

• Lucien Grafton — Initially evaluates Lucien strictly in Potions, but comes to respect his skill, attitude, and resourcefulness. They exchange materials, potion knowledge, books, and alchemical work; Snape later tutors him in the Patronus Charm. 28 99 214 337 377
• Albus Dumbledore — Trusted colleague and frequent source of irritation. Dumbledore relies on Snape for potions, confidential work, and supervision of Lucien, while Snape resents being maneuvered into extra responsibilities. 109 330 331 376
• Harry Potter — Snape's feelings toward Harry are conflicted by Harry's resemblance to James Potter and Lily Evans. He is hostile in ordinary interactions but actively tries to protect Harry from dangerous threats. 53 106 107 109
• Lily Evans — Snape's childhood friend and enduring emotional attachment. His doe Patronus shares Lily's form, and powerful Patronus magic brings memories of her to the surface. 329 338
• Lord Voldemort — Snape formerly served as a Death Eater and knew Voldemort's circle well enough to be considered a valuable source of information about Horcruxes. Voldemort's return remains a source of fear and urgency for him. 109 219 360
• Gilderoy Lockhart — Snape strongly suspects Lockhart during the Chamber of Secrets incidents and openly resents him for holding the Defense Against the Dark Arts position Snape wants. 192 197

Story Role / Major Arcs

Potions Professor

Snape establishes his intimidating classroom reputation in Lucien's first Potions lesson. Although he deducts points for Lucien ignoring instructions, he simultaneously awards more points for Lucien's superior brewing technique. 27 28

He gradually develops professional respect for Lucien, answers his advanced questions, and tells Harry to learn from Lucien's Potions performance. 53 99

Quirrell and Harry's First-Year Crisis

During Harry's Quidditch match, Snape concentrates on countering the curse on Harry's broom and immediately suspects Quirrell when the jinx abruptly stops. 106

He confronts Dumbledore afterward, demanding that the headmaster take Harry's safety more seriously and warning that Voldemort is behind Quirrell. 109

Chamber of Secrets Crisis

Snape suspects the newly appointed Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Lockhart, of involvement in the petrification incidents. Though he refuses to take responsibility for the investigation himself, he warns Lucien to remain careful and explains the legend of the Chamber of Secrets. 192

After the Basilisk's defeat, Snape temporarily teaches Defense Against the Dark Arts, where his practical instruction is received far better than Lockhart's lessons. He then secures Basilisk venom, scales, blood, flesh, bones, brain, and gall through a negotiated exchange with Lucien. 214

Patronus Tutoring

When Lucien's uncontrolled Patronus mist reaches the dungeons and stirs Snape's memories of Lily, Dumbledore asks Snape to teach him control. Snape initially resists but agrees, requesting “tutoring fees.” 329 330 331

Snape wards an unused classroom, trains Lucien in the spell's emotional and technical foundations, and observes Lucien's unprecedented manifestation of multiple Patronuses. He ends the lesson when Lucien becomes visibly drained, giving him a magical-power restorative potion. 337 355 358 359

Defense Against the Dark Arts Curse

While temporarily filling the Defense Against the Dark Arts position, Snape is injured by Seamus Finnigan's cauldron explosion and hospitalized. The incident reinforces Dumbledore's decision not to appoint him permanently to the cursed post. 349 350

Later Activities

Snape assigns Lucien the task of brewing an ordinary Veritaserum, both to meet Dumbledore's needs and to evaluate Lucien's Potions ability. 376

He later appears disguised as Lucien while Dumbledore explains the Deathly Hallows and shows him the Elder Wand. 400

Notable Quotes

“In my class, there will be no foolish wand-waving and no random incantations.” 27

“Dumbledore only pays me as a Potions professor. The school's safety should be the headmaster's concern.” 192

“The essence of the Patronus Charm is not the incantation itself, but the caster's heart.” 355