Snape

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Severus Snape (斯内普)
Alias(es)	“Snivellus”
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Hogwarts; Slytherin House; later the Death Eater-controlled Hogwarts administration
Occupation/Role	Potions Master; Head of Slytherin House; Defence Against the Dark Arts professor; Headmaster of Hogwarts
First Appearance	Chapter 18

Background / History

Snape was a gifted Potions student under Horace Slughorn, who considered both Snape and Lily among his favorite pupils. He later became a renowned Potions master and Hogwarts’ youngest Head of House. 638

At Hogwarts, Snape initially served as Potions professor and Head of Slytherin. He substituted for Quirrell’s Defence Against the Dark Arts classes and made those lessons more engaging than Quirrell’s, though he continued to single Harry out for humiliation. 32 He also imposed restrictions on Silvan Ollivander’s wandmaking materials after discovering that Silvan had bought Red Cap hearts, confiscating the ingredients and requiring professor approval for future purchases. 33

Snape privately investigated Quirrell’s attempts on Harry’s life. He insisted on refereeing a Quidditch match so he could remain close enough to counter any interference with Harry’s broom. 50

During the Chamber of Secrets crisis, Snape initially doubted that Silvan had truly been attacked by a Basilisk, but changed course after recognizing the shed snakeskin. 105 After the Basilisk’s defeat, he aggressively investigated the disappearance of its fangs, eyes, and gallbladder, treating the missing parts as a major safety concern. 143 145

Appearance

Snape is consistently associated with dark, bat-like imagery and severe features.

• Black robes and a billowing black cloak. 18 50
• Greasy hair parted on either side of a sallow face. 627
• Cold, intimidating eyes and a habit of moving through classrooms “like a giant black bat.” 18
• Often teaches in darkened rooms with curtains drawn against sunlight. 178 627

Personality

Snape is sarcastic, severe, and visibly biased toward Slytherin. He regularly deducts Gryffindor points for trivial or invented reasons, with Harry as his primary target. 18 178 453 His hostility intensifies whenever Sirius Black is involved, reflecting a feud that began during their school years. 453 471

Despite this conduct, Snape is highly conscientious where dangerous magic, potion ingredients, and student safety are concerned. He intervenes when he believes Harry is in danger, restricts students’ access to questionable magical materials, and persistently seeks ways to preserve Dumbledore’s life. 33 50 659

He favors demanding, practical instruction over reassurance. His Apparition training forces Silvan to repeat the spell through repeated failures and Splinching, supported by an improved healing potion that allows immediate recovery. 551

Abilities & Skills

Potions

Snape is an accomplished Potions master with extensive knowledge of rare ingredients, advanced brews, and antidotes.

• Identifies his own Veritaserum by scent and keeps a private potion storeroom. 248
• Teaches students to brew the advanced Wolfsbane Potion using expensive ingredients. 178
• Improved a healing potion so that Apparition-related Splinching could be treated within seconds. 551
• Located and brewed a potion intended to strengthen Dumbledore’s damaged soul. 659 667
• His annotated Advanced Potion-Making textbook contains optimized brewing methods and several original spells. 628 630

Legilimency and Occlumency

Snape uses Legilimency to verify claims and force Harry to defend his memories.

• Probed Harry’s mind to confirm Silvan’s use of Red Cap hearts in wandmaking. 33
• Conducted Harry’s private Occlumency lessons by attacking his memories with Legilimency. 549 564
• Repeatedly failed to penetrate Silvan’s inherited anti-Legilimency protections and suffered backlash when attempting to do so. 296 659

Defence Against the Dark Arts and Dueling

Snape long sought the Defence Against the Dark Arts post and eventually received it after Slughorn returned as Potions professor. 625 627

• Teaches practical, efficient defensive techniques rather than purely theoretical material. 627
• Advocated teaching Protego in the Duelling Club, arguing that it was more immediately useful than the Body-Bind Curse. 492
• Co-led the revived Duelling Club with Sirius Black despite their mutual hostility. 491 493
• Used Serpensortia during his duel with Sirius. 495
• Invented or recorded spells including Sectumsempra, Muffliato, the Toenail-Growing Hex, and the Eyelash-Reversing Hex. 628 630

Apparition Instruction

Snape is an experienced Apparator and personally teaches Silvan Apparition.

• Instructs Silvan to visualize the destination clearly and persist through repeated failures. 551
• Uses rapid treatment for Splinching so training can continue without recovery breaks. 551
• His method ultimately enables Silvan to Apparate a short distance without Splinching. 551

Relationships

• Albus Dumbledore — Colleague and headmaster. Dumbledore trusts Snape’s ability to referee fairly and later grants him the Defence Against the Dark Arts position. Snape becomes deeply invested in treating Dumbledore’s curse and damaged soul. 50 625 659
• Harry Potter — Student and frequent target of Snape’s hostility. Snape humiliates Harry in class and makes his Occlumency lessons unpleasant, yet also acts to protect him from Quirrell. 18 50 549
• Silvan Ollivander — Student with whom Snape has a tense, suspicious relationship. Snape regulates Silvan’s wandmaking materials, investigates him over the missing Basilisk parts, and later teaches him Apparition. 33 145 551
• Sirius Black — Long-standing enemy and fellow professor. Their conflict escalates into public duels, though they temporarily co-lead the Duelling Club. 471 492 493
• Draco Malfoy — Slytherin student whom Snape tries to protect under an Unbreakable Vow made to Draco’s mother. Draco distrusts him and refuses to disclose his plan. 678 711
• Narcissa Malfoy — Snape’s promise to protect her son motivates his attempts to stop Draco’s plan. 678 711
• Horace Slughorn — Former Potions teacher and Head of Slytherin. Slughorn regarded Snape as one of his most talented students. 638
• Minerva McGonagall — Fellow professor who challenges Snape’s proposed use of unauthorized Veritaserum and repeatedly restrains disputes involving him. 248 458
• Barty Crouch Jr. — Distrustful rival within Voldemort’s ranks. Crouch resents Voldemort’s trust in Snape and threatens him over possible disloyalty. 772

Story Role / Major Arcs

Early Hogwarts Years

• Serves as Potions professor and Head of Slytherin while openly favoring his own House and antagonizing Gryffindor. 18 96 178
• Temporarily substitutes for Quirrell in Defence Against the Dark Arts. 32
• Investigates and restricts Silvan’s acquisition of Red Cap hearts for wandmaking. 33
• Protects Harry during the Quidditch season by taking over refereeing duties to counter Quirrell. 50

Chamber of Secrets Investigation

• Doubts Silvan’s claim of a Basilisk attack before physical evidence convinces him that the threat is real. 104 105
• Pursues the missing Basilisk fangs, eyes, and gallbladder after the creature’s defeat. 143 145

Sirius Black and the Duelling Club

• Identifies Veritaserum in Peter Pettigrew’s system and argues for questioning Sirius under the potion as well. 248
• Clashes repeatedly with Sirius after Sirius becomes Defence Against the Dark Arts professor. 453 477
• Duels Sirius in the Great Hall, then co-supervises the Duelling Club with him and pushes for instruction in Protego. 471 492 493

Private Tutoring

• Begins private Occlumency lessons with Harry, using aggressive Legilimency that Harry perceives as an attempt to settle personal grudges. 549
• Privately trains Silvan in Apparition through intensive repetition and immediate treatment of Splinching. 551

Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor

• Finally receives the Defence Against the Dark Arts position after Slughorn takes over Potions. 625
• Runs a demanding, practical course centered on useful combat knowledge, while still penalizing Harry for insubordination. 627

Dumbledore’s Curse and Draco’s Plan

• Brews potions to keep Dumbledore alive and seeks a potion capable of strengthening his soul after the curse-cleansing process damages it further. 656 659
• Attempts to stop Draco Malfoy’s secret plan, citing an Unbreakable Vow to Narcissa and concern that Draco will be killed. 678 711
• Remains tense and reluctant while Dumbledore proceeds with the final removal of his soul curse. 712 713

Headmaster of Hogwarts

• Is accused of leaking the Order’s plan to Voldemort, leading Sirius and others to identify him as a traitor. 754
• Later serves as Hogwarts headmaster under Voldemort’s regime. 772
• Vetoes Alecto Carrow’s proposal to teach “Dark Arts Appreciation,” choosing to retain McGonagall, Flitwick, and Sprout rather than provoke their resignation. 772

Notable Quotes

“I can teach you how to improve your reputation, brew glory, and even stop death—but only if you are not the usual bunch of blithering idiots I have to put up with.” 18

“I’m trying to save your life!” 711

Trivia

• Students commonly compare Snape’s mannerisms and cloak to those of a bat. 18 50
• “Snivellus” spreads through Hogwarts as a nickname after his public duel with Sirius. 471
• Fred and George construct a snowman strongly resembling Snape, complete with a black cloak and greasy-looking hair. 508