Snape

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Severus Snape (斯内普)
Alias(es)	Half-Blood Prince 891
Species/Race	Wizard
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Hogwarts; Slytherin House; Dumbledore's side as a double agent; formerly associated with the Death Eaters 2 851
Occupation/Role	Potions Master; Head of Slytherin; later Defense Against the Dark Arts professor 65 712
Status	Alive; later appears before Dumbledore and Harry after Darren saves him 862
First Appearance	Chapter 2

Background / History

Snape met Lily Evans as a child, identified her as a witch, and practiced magic with her before they attended Hogwarts. He was sorted into Slytherin while Lily entered Gryffindor; their friendship deteriorated as Snape associated with aspiring Dark wizards and became increasingly consumed by jealousy of James Potter. After calling Lily a “Mudblood,” he failed to repair their relationship. 849 850

After overhearing part of Trelawney's prophecy, Snape passed it to Voldemort, leading Voldemort to target Lily and the Potters. He begged Dumbledore to protect them, offering “everything” in return. Lily's death left him guilt-ridden, and Dumbledore redirected him into protecting Harry. 851

Snape became Hogwarts' Potions Master and Slytherin's Head of House. Though he resented Harry's resemblance to James, he repeatedly intervened against threats to him, including Quirrell's attempt to curse Harry's broom. 65 151

Darren Potter's resemblance to Lily immediately unsettled Snape. He treated Darren with a mixture of sarcasm, protectiveness, and admiration for his exceptional potion-making talent. Following Darren's injury during a cauldron explosion, Snape secretly compared their blood and confirmed that Darren was his biological son. 65 218 892

Appearance

Snape is usually seen in black robes that billow dramatically when he moves. His severe appearance is reinforced by greasy hair, a hooked nose, and a sallow, thin face. 48 663 849

• Wears distinctive black robes. 48 148
• Has greasy hair and a hooked nose. 663 849
• His younger self was described as sallow and thin. 850
• Carries and uses a wand with considerable precision in class and combat. 2 218

Personality

Snape is sharp-tongued, impatient, and exacting. He regularly humiliates students he considers careless or untalented, particularly Harry, and uses point deductions and detentions as deliberate pressure. 58 380 544 607

His hostility toward Harry is rooted in James Potter's bullying, the Whomping Willow incident, and Harry's resemblance to James. At the same time, Lily's eyes and Snape's guilt over her death make him unable to sever his protective attachment to her son. 423 851 889

Darren exposes a gentler but equally conflicted side of Snape. He worries over Darren's injuries, talent, friendships, and safety, yet often conceals those feelings through insults, distance, and strict discipline. After learning Darren is his son, his protectiveness becomes explicitly paternal. 76 156 892 894

Abilities & Skills

Potion-Making

Snape is a highly accomplished Potion Master with expertise in antidotes, restorative brews, truth serums, poisons, and dangerous specialty potions.

• Brewed healing potions enhanced with Moonpetal Grass for Darren's injuries. 10
• Prepared an antidote that saved Darren after the Hungarian Horntail task. 511
• Regularly brews Wolfsbane Potion for Remus Lupin. 423
• Possesses and administers Veritaserum during investigations. 221 545
• Developed a potent sleeping potion later used by Barty Crouch Jr. against Darren and Viktor Krum. 554
• Formulated poisons intended to incapacitate Darren as part of his cover before Voldemort. 765

Legilimency Instruction

Snape teaches Harry Legilimency to shield his mind from Voldemort, though the lessons are harsh and frequently hostile.

• Conducts private night sessions with Harry. 651 663
• Presses Harry to reveal visions and criticizes his failure to resist Voldemort's influence. 663
• Uses his Pensieve to protect or manage memories during the lessons. 663 671

Wandwork and Counter-Curses

Snape is a dangerous duelist and highly capable defensive caster.

• Cast a doe Patronus to summon help for injured Muggles. 2
• Stopped a falling cauldron with Impedimenta and shielded Darren from its impact. 218
• Defeated and humiliated Gilderoy Lockhart during the Dueling Club. 225 927
• Intervened to save Harry from Quirrell's broom curse despite initially considering allowing the attempt to continue. 151 885
• Healed Draco Malfoy's Sectumsempra wounds and stopped the bleeding immediately. 746
• Invented Sectumsempra and recognizes it when Harry uses it against him. 758

Patronus

Snape's Patronus takes the form of a silver doe, reflecting his enduring attachment to Lily.

• Used the doe Patronus to alert Dumbledore about Kenli and Darren's emergency. 2
• His Patronus later manifests with an Azure Dragon-like tail. 853

Equipment / Items

• Wand — Used for teaching, dueling, defensive magic, and potion-related work. 2 218
• Potions stock — Includes Veritaserum, Wolfsbane Potion, restorative brews, antidotes, sleeping draughts, and poisons. 10 423 545 554
• Pensieve — Stores memories, including memories of his childhood, Lily, James, Dumbledore, and his covert work. 671 849
• Invisibility Cloak — Purchased a cloak similar to Harry's, hoping Darren and Harry would exchange them. 151 886

Relationships

• Lily Evans — Childhood friend and the person Snape loved; her death drives his guilt, service to Dumbledore, and protection of Harry. 849 851
• Harry Potter — Lily's son. Snape resents Harry's resemblance to James but repeatedly protects him; their relationship remains openly antagonistic. 65 151 851
• Darren Potter — Snape's biological son, confirmed through a blood test. Snape becomes intensely protective, proud, jealous of Darren's other attachments, and anxious for his future. 892 894
• Albus Dumbledore — Headmaster, handler, and uneasy confidant. Dumbledore recruits Snape after Lily's death and entrusts him with plans that test his loyalty. 851 852 853
• James Potter — School rival and Lily's eventual husband. Snape's resentment stems from James's bullying and the Whomping Willow prank. 423 671
• Remus Lupin — Former schoolmate whom Snape distrusts over the Whomping Willow incident; nevertheless, Snape brews Wolfsbane for him. 376 423
• Sirius Black — Long-standing enemy. Snape believes Sirius abandoned Darren and seeks revenge for Sirius's role in the school prank. 423 438
• Draco Malfoy — Slytherin student under Snape's protection. Snape makes an Unbreakable Vow with Narcissa to assist Draco with Voldemort's mission. 696
• Lucius Malfoy — Former associate and frequent source of irritation; Snape openly criticizes Lucius's ambitions for Draco. 155 156
• Gilderoy Lockhart — Professional rival whom Snape considers incompetent; Snape uses the Dueling Club to protect Darren and undermine Lockhart. 227 892

Story Role / Major Arcs

Protection of the Potter Brothers

Snape first encounters Darren during the attack on Kenli, summons aid through his Patronus, and later brews additional healing potions for Darren. Darren's resemblance to Lily makes Snape unable to maintain his usual emotional distance. 2 3 10

At Hogwarts, Snape targets Harry academically while recognizing Darren's exceptional Potions talent. He protects Darren from Quirrell, worries over Darren's reckless kindness, and saves Harry from Quirrell's Quidditch sabotage. 65 76 151

Philosopher's Stone Incident

Snape investigates Quirrell's activities and remains concerned that Dumbledore is allowing Harry and Darren into danger. After Quirrell's attack leaves both boys injured, Snape tends to Darren and angrily confronts Dumbledore for placing children in harm's way. 149 152 154

Darren's Parentage

Darren shields Snape from a potion-cauldron explosion, prompting Snape to notice a resonance between their blood. Snape later confirms through a blood test that Darren is his son, changing his protectiveness from conflicted affection into acknowledged paternal responsibility. 218 892

Double-Agent Deception

As Voldemort tests Snape's loyalty, Snape, Dumbledore, and Darren coordinate a staged falling-out. Snape trains Darren to act hostile toward him, gives him detention, and publicly presents Darren as a student who attacked him under suspicious circumstances. 595 607 611 659

Harry later sees manipulated memories suggesting that Snape tortured Darren and poisoned him. Snape intentionally allows Harry and Voldemort to believe that he harbors malicious intentions toward Darren, strengthening his cover. 663 671

Dumbledore's Death and Aftermath

Dumbledore orders Snape to kill him at the appropriate moment and to protect Draco from Voldemort's intended punishment. Snape is devastated by the plan but ultimately agrees. 852 853

Snape kills Dumbledore with the Killing Curse atop the Astronomy Tower, appearing to betray him. 756 Later revelations establish that Dumbledore had planned the act, though Snape's subsequent potion schemes, treatment of Darren, and claimed loyalties leave Harry and Darren deeply distrustful of him. 758 765 761

Notable Quotes

“I am not a coward!” 851

“Slytherin yearns for power and doesn't care where it comes from.” 63

“Potter, you actually used a spell I invented against me, you're just like your father, a thief!” 758

Trivia

• Snape dislikes flying because it reminds him of James Potter's natural talent for it. 152 883
• He secretly passes by Privet Drive during the summer to observe Harry and Darren from afar. 155 889
• Snape reported Darren's orphanage for embezzling donations and cured Kenli's gigantism. 155
• He bought Darren an Invisibility Cloak partly in the hope that Darren and Harry would fight and exchange cloaks. 151
• Snape is visibly disturbed by Darren's fabricated Divination homework about death because he assumes Darren would not lie to him. 611