39 Amazing Severus Snape Facts: A Popular Harry Potter Character

Sure, many fans despised the Professor at first since he was often harsh to the pupils, and then he garnered even more hatred after it was revealed that he was a Death Eater.

However, as the series progressed, it was clear that Snape had only good motives, and public perception quickly shifted. Snape was born under the sign of Capricorn on January 9, 1960.

He was just 38 years old when he died on May 2, 1998. Severus Snape is known to be one of the most controversial figures in the 'Harry Potter' series.

As he was a double agent, many character elements were hidden away. He was given the nickname 'The Half-Blood Prince' because his father was a Muggle while his mother was a witch.

He was the lecturer you may have despised. Even among the 'Harry Potter' villains, such as Dolores Umbridge, Bellatrix Lestrange, and Lord Voldemort, Hogwarts' Potions Professor was the most loathed for a long time. Then, in the final novel, JK Rowling flipped everything on its head, making Snape the most delicate and tragic protagonist.

Many 'Harry Potter' fans adore him. Snape's death scene is held to be one of the most moving scenes in the series.

Check out these 39 incredible Severus Snape facts!

Severus Snape's Physical Appearance

Snape was a sallow-skinned man with a broad, hooked nose and yellow, irregular teeth. He had chilly black eyes and greasy black shoulder-length hair that framed his face. He was always dressed in black, flowing robes that made him look like 'an enormous bat.' Alan Rickman however, was the ideal performer to portray Snape's behavior, rather than his appearance.

Snape was made to appear as though he was in his 40s while he should've been a generation or two younger.

Snape's outfit was the one that didn't change throughout the 'Harry Potter' films (2001-2011).

The late, great actor, Alan Rickman, significantly impacted how Snape was represented.

Snape's costume was designed by Rickman, who decided on the stiffness of the sleeves, the number of buttons, and other essential details.

Family

Snape was a half-blood, having been raised by Tobias Snape, a Muggle, and Eileen Prince, a witch. Severus is a Latin name that means 'stern' or 'strict,' which appears to fit the Professor's personality rather well.

Snape seems to have grown up with Lily and her sister, Petunia, in the films. Even though both families lived in the imaginary English city of Cokeworth, they were in two separate neighborhoods.

Snape's family history is primarily revealed through flashbacks during the last three books.

Snape spent his childhood in Spinner's End, where he lived in a tiny house with his family.

Snape came from a low-income family. Snape was allegedly neglected as a child, and his parents were frequently at odds.

This lack of attention primarily formed Severus' bitterness and ruthless attitude later in life. Nevertheless, young Snape was ecstatic to leave his family and attend Hogwarts.

Alan Rickman was almost passed over for the role of Severus Snape in the 'Harry Potter' films. Rickman's renowned portrayal of Harry Potter was made possible by the fact that other actors refused the role.

Snape isn't the only antagonist in the series who wields a Patronus. In 'Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows,' Dolores Umbridge also summons a Patronus.

According to Hogwarts students and teachers, Snape aspired to be a Professor of Defence Against the Dark Arts, not Potions.

In the Muggle version of Potions class, Chemistry was JK Rowling's least favorite subject in school, as she stated on Pottermore (currently Wizarding World) in 2015.

Professor Slughorn, the Potions Professor, liked Lily and Snape; therefore, they were probably both members of the Slug Club, his top student group.

Fans debated whether Snape was a villain or a hero after the huge announcement that he was a double agent.

In a 2015 tweet, Rowling characterized him as 'grey,' suggesting that he encapsulated both the good and the bad.

On Twitter, JK Rowling enjoys communicating with readers and addressing their queries about her books.

Character Development

Rowling has stated that she based Snape's persona on a professor she despised in her childhood, and characterized Snape as a dreadful teacher, noting that bullying kids is the cheapest, shabbiest thing you can do as a teacher.

According to JK Rowling, Snape's given name is based on 'Severus Road' at Clapham, while his surname is derived from the title of a town in England.

Severus Snape ended up being the bravest man Harry Potter had ever met, although, while at school, Snape was the teacher Harry despised the most due to Snape's harsh behavior with Harry.

Since Harry's dad, James Potter, had harassed Snape when they were both at Hogwarts, Snape was particularly cruel to Harry.

Snape was a heroic and terrible victim of the pitfalls of love during the rule of a power-hungry and uncaring dictator. He was not really an evil, soulless Death Eater.

Rowling started to open up about Snape after the series ended, discussing the difference between his character path and that of Albus Dumbledore.

Magical Skills

Snape's links to Voldemort and his loathing for Harry Potter are crucial to the series, but he also possessed some actual magical abilities. Snape created a nonverbal spell named 'Levicorpus' that could hoist individuals up by their ankles, a counter curse spell for Levicorpus, as well as a fierce spell named 'Sectumsempra' that could lacerate enemies.

He was the only Death Eater capable of summoning a Patronus.

Snape, the child of a troubled and perhaps abusive household and a frequent target of abuse at Hogwarts, had an early interest in the Dark Arts.

However, this interest was a source of conflict with Lily Evans, his closest friend and love interest, who was adamantly opposed to the practice of dark magic.

Nonetheless, as James Potter started vying for Lily's affections, Snape's drive for vengeance and his desire to impress her grew more assertive.

Despite living in the Muggle realm, Snape was already a bright young wizard when he came to Hogwarts.

Sirius Black once said that when young Severus first arrived at the school, he understood more curses than most pupils did during their seven years of instruction.

Professor Severus Snape is depicted in Severus Snape's portrait, which sits in the Headmaster's office in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Snape is shown to be a mighty magician and to have excelled as a student in all seven 'Harry Potter' books. He is an expert in potion brewing and has a strong interest in the Dark Arts.

Snape was very adept at concocting potions, and while still a student, he made significant changes to his Potions textbook.

In addition, Snape demonstrated an unusual ability to learn new charms as a student.

In 'Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows', Lupin characterizes the spell Sectumsempra as Snape's 'specialty.'

Despite Sectumsempra's lethal abilities, Snape could heal the wounds it left behind. Due to his considerable understanding of the Dark Arts, Snape could also reverse or reduce potentially deadly harm from other dark curses, as he did when Dumbledore and, subsequently, Katie Bell, were are afflicted.

Finally, because he was an Occlumens, Snape was smart enough to hide his treason from Voldemort, and was regarded as 'history's greatest Legilimens.'

Snape was a skilled duelist, having held off a team of three Hogwarts teachers, including past dueling champion Filius Flitwick, on his own.

Professor McGonagall subsequently claimed that Snape learned to fly without using a broom, a unique skill previously demonstrated by Voldemort.

For several years, Professor Snape taught Potions at Hogwarts.

Snape was the only Death Eater capable of summoning a Patronus. The doe was Snape's Patronus, which was also Lily Potter's Patronus.

Apart from Severus Snape, it is generally believed that Death Eaters are physiologically incapable of generating a Patronus. In Snape's case, Lily Potter is the reason he was able to produce a Patronus.

Snape cared deeply for Lily and did all in his power to save her. Despite his failures, Severus never stopped loving her.

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If you visit the exhibition, you can explore all of the numerous experiences available in the Wizarding World, from watching filmmaking magic at Warner Brothers Studios to meeting the characters from 'Harry Potter.'

FAQs

What was Severus Snape afraid of?

Snape's darkest nightmare was Lily's demise, and it came true when she was killed by Voldemort. He was lonely and depressed, and he wished to die.

Why was Snape known as the Half-Blood Prince?

Snape was a half-blood wizard raised by Eileen Prince, a witch, and Tobias Snape, a Muggle (thus the term, 'Half-Blood Prince').

What form did Snape's Patronus take?

Snape's Patronus took the form of a doe, which was also Lily Potter's Patronus.

What is Severus Snape's full name?

Severus Snape's full name is Severus Tobias Snape.

What is so special about Snape?

As far as viewers and readers know, Snape has been the only Death Eater to perform a Patronus charm throughout the 'Harry Potter' seven-book series.