Snape

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Severus Snape (司南)
Alias(es)	Slytherin's King of the Dungeons; the Half-Blood Prince 168 204
Species/Race	Wizard
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry; Slytherin House; former Death Eater and double agent against Voldemort 107 153
Occupation/Role	Potions Master and professor; Head of Slytherin House; temporary Defence Against the Dark Arts professor 68 154
Status	Alive 223
First Appearance	Chapter 8: Why is Professor Snape like a bat

Background / History

Snape's annotated school-age Potions textbook records both advanced potion methods and Dark Magic notes. The book demonstrates the skill that led him to become the youngest Potions Master, while also containing hostile remarks about Harry Potter's father 204.

He was once a Death Eater, but later became a double agent opposing Voldemort. His past remains secret for much of the story; Muya learns it through Tom Riddle and accepts that Snape's consistent treatment of her matters more than his former allegiance 107 108 153.

Dumbledore arranged for Muya to spend the summer at Snape's Spinner's End home. What begins as an imposed responsibility develops into a close guardian-and-student bond: Snape supervises her studies, teaches her Apparition, and becomes reluctant to let her live elsewhere 23 39 108. He ultimately takes an Unbreakable Vow to protect her from Dark Magic 124.

Appearance

Snape is a thin wizard whose dark, severe silhouette leads Muya to compare him to a large black bat 8.

• Thin build 8
• Hooked nose 42
• Greasy black hair 42
• Flowing black robes 8 42

Personality

Snape is stern, sarcastic, and exacting in the classroom. He is known for cutting remarks, swift point deductions, and conspicuous favoritism toward Slytherin students, while showing little patience for poor preparation or inattentiveness 8 81. He also has a sharp, openly antagonistic rapport with Dumbledore, particularly over money, sweets, and administrative burdens 8 68 115.

Behind that severity, Snape is attentive and protective. He shields students from a potion explosion, repeatedly supplies the Hospital Wing, assists injured students, and quietly acts to protect Harry despite his hostility toward him 7 8 36 223. His care for Muya becomes increasingly overt through tutoring, travel, meals, warnings, and his vow to protect her 37 39 116 124.

Abilities & Skills

Potioncraft and Healing

Snape is an accomplished Potions Master with extensive experience brewing, evaluating, and teaching complex potions.

• Brewed and administered Veritaserum during the interrogations of Peter Pettigrew and Barty Crouch Jr. 22 81 169
• Regularly brewed Wolfsbane Potion for Remus Lupin and mentored Muya in producing a more palatable, high-quality version 91 115
• Prepared a transparent antidote said to neutralize poisons for presentation at the International Potions Symposium 155
• Treated a third-year student's unknown snake venom when Madam Pomfrey could not identify it 181
• Helped Muya brew high-quality Restoration Potions for Neville Longbottom's parents 171
• Supplied the Hospital Wing with fresh potion stocks 7 155

Defensive Magic and Duelling

Snape is a capable defensive wizard with practical combat experience.

• Cast a shield over students during a cauldron explosion, preventing injuries 8
• Countered Quirrell's curse on Harry's broom during the Quidditch match, though observers misinterpreted his actions 223
• Restrained Lupin in werewolf form with the Immobilus charm 115
• Dueled Tom Riddle to a draw while Tom deliberately held back 182
• Was targeted by Nagini during the Hogwarts battle and remained in the fight after Sirius Black intervened 216

Patronus and Mind Magic

Snape can cast a corporeal stag Patronus and possesses Legilimency.

• Demonstrated his stag Patronus while teaching Muya the Patronus Charm 108
• Used the Patronus lesson to begin Muya's training after agreeing to mentor her 107 108
• Threatened to use Legilimency when Muya withheld information about Tom Riddle's diary 108
• Conducted Legilimency during the Defence Against the Dark Arts practical examination 195

Teaching and Mentorship

Snape's demanding instruction produces significant results, especially in Potions.

• Initially used Muya's detention as additional instruction after her difficulty understanding Potions lessons 8 124
• Taught Muya Apparition during her first summer at Spinner's End 39 40
• Temporarily assumed the Defence Against the Dark Arts position after Lockhart resigned, while continuing to teach Potions 68
• Taught werewolves outside the assigned syllabus while substituting for Lupin 96
• Privately taught Muya Felix Felicis and later the Patronus Charm 94 108

Protective Vow

Snape swore an Unbreakable Vow to protect Muya from harm caused by Dark Magic.

• The vow is motivated by Voldemort's growing interest in Muya and Snape's own unresolved regrets 124
• He later warns Muya that an unknown enemy has targeted her 116

Equipment / Items

• Veritaserum — used in interrogations of Peter Pettigrew and Barty Crouch Jr. 81 169
• Wolfsbane Potion — regularly brewed for Remus Lupin 91 115
• Tooth-strengthening Potion — supplied to Dumbledore and brought to his office during the Sirius confrontation 8 107
• Jasmine plant — originally planted by Muya in Snape's childhood cauldron; Snape learns plant care from Professor Sprout and keeps the blooming plant in his office 124
• Annotated Potions textbook — his former schoolbook, later identified as belonging to the Half-Blood Prince 204

Relationships

• Muya — Student, summer houseguest, and eventual ward-like responsibility. Snape tutors her, teaches Apparition and the Patronus Charm, worries over her safety, and swears to protect her from Dark Magic 37 39 108 124.
• Albus Dumbledore — Headmaster, employer, and strategic ally. Snape frequently clashes with Dumbledore over schemes, pay, and responsibility, but works with him to protect Hogwarts 38 68 153.
• Harry Potter — Student toward whom Snape is consistently harsh, despite protecting him from Quirrell's broom curse and being connected to Harry's parents' past 36 81 223.
• Remus Lupin — Colleague whose werewolf identity Snape knows. Snape brews Wolfsbane for him, substitutes for his classes, and openly scrutinizes his teaching methods 91 96 101 115.
• Sirius Black — Openly antagonistic acquaintance. Their meetings quickly become hostile, though Snape accepts Sirius's help after Nagini targets him during battle 107 216.
• Tom Riddle — Uneasy ally against Voldemort. Tom identifies Snape as a fellow opponent of Voldemort, while Snape insists their association is only cooperation 153.
• Professor Sprout — Taught Snape how to care for the jasmine plant he keeps in his office 124.

Story Role / Major Arcs

• First-year Potions and Sorcerer's Stone — Introduced as Muya's intimidating Potions professor, assigns her detention, serves as a guardian of the Sorcerer's Stone, and secretly counteracts Quirrell's attack on Harry's broom 8 22 223.
• Muya's Spinner's End guardian — Hosts Muya over the summer, helps carry her belongings, cleans her clothes with magic, supervises her homework, and teaches her Apparition 37 39 40.
• Defence Against the Dark Arts replacement — Takes over Lockhart's abandoned position without requesting additional pay, then teaches practical and dangerous subjects such as werewolves 68 96.
• Double-agent revelation — His former Death Eater status is revealed, but he is confirmed to be working against Voldemort; Muya accepts his past and continues to trust him 107 108 153.
• Anti-Death Eater operations — Cooperates with Dumbledore, Tom, and Muya to expose Barty Crouch Jr., interrogate him with Veritaserum, and respond to threats surrounding Hogwarts 153 169 181.
• Later protection of Hogwarts — Continues teaching, treating students, confronting internal Slytherin conflict, and fighting during the battle against Voldemort's forces 168 181 216.

Notable Quotes

“I only require one salary.” 68

“Can that foolish dog take good care of you?” 108

Trivia

• Snape initially neglects Muya's jasmine plant, then seeks Professor Sprout's advice and becomes diligent in caring for it 124.
• Muya successfully pressures Dumbledore into giving Snape a raise after learning how much work he has taken on 115.
• He dislikes overly sweet food and threatens to withhold Dumbledore's Tooth-strengthening Potion over excessive desserts 8.
• Despite his severe reputation, Snape prepares breakfast for Muya and is quietly pleased when she praises it 132.