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Two Sides of Severus Snape
For most of his life, Severus Snape was forced to keep a secret.
It was one Snape—who died in 1998—thought would be kept forever, but now, the acclaimed former Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry professor is being honoured posthumously for his efforts in the Second Wizarding War.
Snape, who began his teaching career at Hogwarts in 1981 as the school’s incumbent Potions Master, is considered a hero by many for shortening the war by serving as a double-agent, secretly passing critical intelligence to the Ministry of Magic and Order of the Phoenix, while posing as a servant within the ranks of the Dark Lord. To the public, Snape was a bright young man who was entrusted with the minds of young magical wizards at Hogwarts. To others, he was the man rumoured to have killed Dumbledore, acting on the orders of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.
Born in Spinner’s End in 1960, Snape attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where he flourished under the tutelage and professional guidance of Professor Slughorn—then serving as head of Slytherin—proving to be a brilliant Potions student. After achieving his Potions Mastery, Snape was then appointed to the position of Potions Master at Hogwarts at the age of 21, becoming Hogwarts’ youngest staff member.
Snape was raised by his mother Eileen Snape in a house he did not consider as home. As an unwanted child in a dysfunctional family, Severus was often neglected while his parents frequently fought with one another, with his father often abusing his mother both mentally and emotionally. Friendless and uncared for by his parents, he developed a profoundly jaded worldview that caused the young Snape to quickly grow and mature beyond his years. Snape’s adult life would be shaped by his early experiences, where his reclusive nature and individuality was a byproduct of the comforts he associated from being alone.
This troubled, lonely childhood was compounded on by the political landscape of the Muggle world at the time, which would ultimately shatter any delusions that Snape had remaining that the humans were inherently good. Tensions were high in Muggle-Britain, with the public clearly divided between the desire to fight in a war against Communism and the reunification of Vietnam. In 1966, Snape, at the tender age of 6, having overheard the stories of the ongoing political struggle, could not understand why war seemed to be the de-facto solution for everything. And when Prime Minister Harold Wilson’s attempts at starting peace negotiations after flying to Moscow failed, and the government began covertly supporting the war efforts overseas, Snape lost all respect he had for authoritative figures, and this is perhaps where he first began to express his distaste for Muggles and their seemingly irrational stupidity.
In his first year at Hogwarts, it was well-known that he excelled in the Dark Arts, understanding more curses and hexes than even the seventh year students. Compared to the other students, Snape was more isolated and much more introverted, he did however have a friend: Lily Evans, a childhood friend who lived in the same town.
Their close friendship began to wane as they were sorted into different houses. In his fifth year, Lily came to Snape’s defence after he was being bullied, but this only heightened Snape’s embarrassment and anger. In anger, Snape called Lily a mudblood—something Lily never forgave Snape for, and ultimately marked the beginning of the end of their friendship. Coupled with his predisposition for the Dark Arts, Snape began associating with his housemates who upheld pureblood ideals, causing the already fractured relationship between Lily and Snape to worsen. After seemingly lost everything and faced with the prospect of unrequited love, Snape resolved to join the Death Eaters.
However, Snape’s greatest regret would come perhaps during his time serving the Dark Lord. Severus overheard a prophecy from Sybill Trelawney, and immediately informed his master, triggering Voldemort’s pursual of “the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord.” Snape pleaded for Lily’s life to be spared, knowing full-well that Lily would defend Harry until the very end. Ultimately, his worst fears were confirmed.
The remainder of his life would be lived as a self-imposed atonement for his sins, serving as a double agent for Dumbledore, agreeing to protect Lily’s son, and honouring her memory. Snape was different from the other Death Eaters, in the sense that he could love and be loved in return. Snape truly loved Lily, which ultimately allowed him to pose as an undercover agent, ensuring he could follow Dumbledore’s plans to guarantee Harry’s overall safety and win the war-effort.
Moreover, during the Siege of Hogwarts, Snape used his position as Headmaster to discreetly protect the students and to contain the Carrows. Before Dumbledore’s death, Snape had promised to protect the Hogwarts students from the Death Eaters—a promise which he did his utmost to kept. Countless lives of children were saved as a result of his actions.
This year, Snape was finally acknowledged for his efforts as a war hero with the unveiling of a new memorial. His portrait remains hanging in the Headmaster's office of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. “It was a wonderful thing to be part of,” Headmistress McGonagall said. “The fact that [Severus] was recognized in this way would have been important and gratifying for him. He wasn’t a hero that people would buy posters of, but his heroic actions surely spoke for themselves.”
It was one Snape—who died in 1998—thought would be kept forever, but now, the acclaimed former Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry professor is being honoured posthumously for his efforts in the Second Wizarding War.
Snape, who began his teaching career at Hogwarts in 1981 as the school’s incumbent Potions Master, is considered a hero by many for shortening the war by serving as a double-agent, secretly passing critical intelligence to the Ministry of Magic and Order of the Phoenix, while posing as a servant within the ranks of the Dark Lord. To the public, Snape was a bright young man who was entrusted with the minds of young magical wizards at Hogwarts. To others, he was the man rumoured to have killed Dumbledore, acting on the orders of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.
Born in Spinner’s End in 1960, Snape attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where he flourished under the tutelage and professional guidance of Professor Slughorn—then serving as head of Slytherin—proving to be a brilliant Potions student. After achieving his Potions Mastery, Snape was then appointed to the position of Potions Master at Hogwarts at the age of 21, becoming Hogwarts’ youngest staff member.
Snape was raised by his mother Eileen Snape in a house he did not consider as home. As an unwanted child in a dysfunctional family, Severus was often neglected while his parents frequently fought with one another, with his father often abusing his mother both mentally and emotionally. Friendless and uncared for by his parents, he developed a profoundly jaded worldview that caused the young Snape to quickly grow and mature beyond his years. Snape’s adult life would be shaped by his early experiences, where his reclusive nature and individuality was a byproduct of the comforts he associated from being alone.
This troubled, lonely childhood was compounded on by the political landscape of the Muggle world at the time, which would ultimately shatter any delusions that Snape had remaining that the humans were inherently good. Tensions were high in Muggle-Britain, with the public clearly divided between the desire to fight in a war against Communism and the reunification of Vietnam. In 1966, Snape, at the tender age of 6, having overheard the stories of the ongoing political struggle, could not understand why war seemed to be the de-facto solution for everything. And when Prime Minister Harold Wilson’s attempts at starting peace negotiations after flying to Moscow failed, and the government began covertly supporting the war efforts overseas, Snape lost all respect he had for authoritative figures, and this is perhaps where he first began to express his distaste for Muggles and their seemingly irrational stupidity.
In his first year at Hogwarts, it was well-known that he excelled in the Dark Arts, understanding more curses and hexes than even the seventh year students. Compared to the other students, Snape was more isolated and much more introverted, he did however have a friend: Lily Evans, a childhood friend who lived in the same town.
Their close friendship began to wane as they were sorted into different houses. In his fifth year, Lily came to Snape’s defence after he was being bullied, but this only heightened Snape’s embarrassment and anger. In anger, Snape called Lily a mudblood—something Lily never forgave Snape for, and ultimately marked the beginning of the end of their friendship. Coupled with his predisposition for the Dark Arts, Snape began associating with his housemates who upheld pureblood ideals, causing the already fractured relationship between Lily and Snape to worsen. After seemingly lost everything and faced with the prospect of unrequited love, Snape resolved to join the Death Eaters.
However, Snape’s greatest regret would come perhaps during his time serving the Dark Lord. Severus overheard a prophecy from Sybill Trelawney, and immediately informed his master, triggering Voldemort’s pursual of “the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord.” Snape pleaded for Lily’s life to be spared, knowing full-well that Lily would defend Harry until the very end. Ultimately, his worst fears were confirmed.
The remainder of his life would be lived as a self-imposed atonement for his sins, serving as a double agent for Dumbledore, agreeing to protect Lily’s son, and honouring her memory. Snape was different from the other Death Eaters, in the sense that he could love and be loved in return. Snape truly loved Lily, which ultimately allowed him to pose as an undercover agent, ensuring he could follow Dumbledore’s plans to guarantee Harry’s overall safety and win the war-effort.
Moreover, during the Siege of Hogwarts, Snape used his position as Headmaster to discreetly protect the students and to contain the Carrows. Before Dumbledore’s death, Snape had promised to protect the Hogwarts students from the Death Eaters—a promise which he did his utmost to kept. Countless lives of children were saved as a result of his actions.
This year, Snape was finally acknowledged for his efforts as a war hero with the unveiling of a new memorial. His portrait remains hanging in the Headmaster's office of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. “It was a wonderful thing to be part of,” Headmistress McGonagall said. “The fact that [Severus] was recognized in this way would have been important and gratifying for him. He wasn’t a hero that people would buy posters of, but his heroic actions surely spoke for themselves.”