Snape

Biodata

Appearance

Snape has a distinctive hooked nose, a gloomy expression, and a low voice whose rising and falling cadence reminds Brian of an operatic aria 13 17.

• Robes: Flap behind him when he sweeps out of a room 13.
• Limp: A painful leg injury affects his walking and prevents him from fully dodging Myrtle’s water attack 17 31.
• Facial expressions: Often remains expressionless, though Brian notices occasional mouth twitches that he attributes to pain 17.

Personality

Snape is sarcastic, suspicious, and openly abrasive toward Brian. He mocks Gryffindor’s long wait for a House Cup victory, questions Brian’s explanations, and treats his unfamiliar activities around Hogwarts as potentially suspicious 13 18 31.

His handling of student discipline brings him into direct conflict with Brian. Snape dismisses Malfoy’s verbal abuse of Neville as ordinary friction between children and explicitly refuses to deduct points. He acknowledges McGonagall’s fairness but criticizes her habit of ultimately excusing offenders as “only children” 17 18.

He can offer practical help without admitting goodwill: after directing Brian to Professor Kettleburn, he insists that he merely wants Brian to stop unsettling the castle. He strongly objects to Brian’s spontaneous hug and rejects the suggestion that they are friends 31.

Abilities & Skills

Potions Instruction

Snape teaches Potions at Hogwarts. His classes include brewing a Boil-Cure Potion, and Hermione independently practices material from his lessons 41 48.

• Reprimands Neville after a brewing accident destroys Seamus’s cauldron and drenches Neville in unfinished potion 48.
• Frequently deducts points from the Weasley twins, according to Ron 41.

Practical Spellcasting

Snape uses his wand to dry and clean himself after Moaning Myrtle splashes him with toilet water 31.

• Rapidly dries his robes 31.
• Casts several Scourgify spells on himself before leaving 31.

Magical Detection

Snape senses powerful magical fluctuations from the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, but incorrectly attributes Brian’s spellcasting to Quirrell 18.

• Recognizes the spells as skillful and powerful 18.
• Suspects that Quirrell is using the display to conceal something improper 18.

Equipment / Items

• Wand — Used for drying and cleaning spells 31.
• Quidditch Through the Ages — Places a copy on the library counter during an encounter with Brian 48.

Relationships

• Chet Brian — Colleague and frequent adversary. Their disputes concern student welfare, Brian’s activities, and Snape’s suspicion of Quirrell. Brian repeatedly offers help with his injured leg despite their mutual insults 17 18 31 48.
• Minerva McGonagall — Fellow Head of House. Snape needles her over Gryffindor’s Quidditch prospects and House Cup record; he later calls her fair while criticizing her treatment of children’s misconduct 13 18.
• Draco Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle — Students under his authority. He dismisses them after Brian confronts their bullying and refuses Brian’s request to punish Malfoy 17 18 31.
• Neville Longbottom — Student visibly frightened of him. Neville becomes even more distressed when Snape arrives after Malfoy’s bullying; Snape also harshly reprimands him following a Potions accident 17 48.
• Harry Potter — Target of Snape’s sarcasm as the “Chosen One.” Snape later compares Brian’s manners unfavorably to Harry’s 13 48.
• Quirinus Quirrell — Subject of suspicion. Snape questions whether Quirrell’s classroom activity hides something and asks whether Quirrell prompted Brian to inquire about his injury 18.
• Pomona Sprout — Colleague whose herbal tea he praises, noting that Quidditch players from all four houses rely on it during winter 13.
• House-elves — Elicit sharply divided responses: one admires his commanding manner, while another fears assignments involving toad corpses 13.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Hogwarts Staff Introduction

• Shares breakfast supervision duties with McGonagall, Flitwick, and Sprout, ensuring students have a professor available without crowding their morning gatherings 6.
• Meets Brian at staff afternoon tea, then provokes McGonagall with remarks about Gryffindor’s recent Quidditch mishap and upcoming match against Slytherin 13.

Dispute Over Bullying and Quirrell

• Arrives immediately after Brian stops Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle from humiliating Neville. Rather than investigate further, he sends the students away and turns the conversation toward Brian’s visit to Quirrell’s classroom 17.
• Refuses to punish Malfoy and rejects Brian’s claim that the classroom’s magical activity came from Brian himself. Brian directs him to Dumbledore rather than disclose his unusual powers 18.
• Leaves after Brian offers to examine and heal his leg, declaring that he will question Dumbledore’s decision to hire Brian. No healing takes place 19.

Moaning Myrtle Investigation

• Peeves fetches Snape to Myrtle’s bathroom, knowing that he and Brian do not get along. Snape enters without knocking and sarcastically asks whether Brian has found training dummies there too 30.
• Myrtle attacks him with toilet water. His injured leg prevents a complete dodge, but he restrains his anger and knocks after Brian insists 31.
• After learning that Brian is investigating Myrtle’s killer, recommends Kettleburn as a source of information. Brian’s grateful hug prompts an immediate protest 31.

Continuing Encounters

• Receives Brian’s apology for the unwanted hug, responds with a barbed remark, and continues his patrol 44.
• Later appears at the library with his leg seemingly worsened by colder weather. He dismisses Brian’s advice to visit the Hospital Wing and leaves after another exchange of insults. The cause of the injury remains unidentified in the provided passages 48.