Snape

Severus Snape is a fictional character in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. He is introduced as the Potions Master at Hogwarts and is later appointed Head of Slytherin House; in the final books he becomes Headmaster of Hogwarts. In the films he is portrayed by actor Alan Rickman.

Snape was born to Tobias Snape and Eileen Prince; he is a half-blood wizard who attended Hogwarts from 1971 to 1978 and was sorted into Slytherin. He is academically gifted, especially in potion-making, and harbors a deep, lifelong infatuation with Lily Evans, which fuels his antagonistic relationship with Lily's husband, James Potter.

During Voldemort's rise, Snape joins the Death Eaters as a teenager but switches sides after Voldemort targets Lily. He then acts as a double agent for Dumbledore, providing information about Voldemort's plans while maintaining an outward allegiance to Voldemort's faction. His role is morally ambiguous and central to the series' exploration of loyalty, love, and sacrifice.

In the final book, Snape's memories reveal that his actions were driven by love for Lily and his commitment to Dumbledore's cause, portraying him as far more than a one-dimensional antagonist. He dies in 1998, killed by Voldemort with Avada Kedavra, during the events surrounding the Battle of Hogwarts.

Snape remains one of the series' most discussed and debated characters, frequently cited for his moral complexity and the strength of his backstory, as well as for Alan Rickman's nuanced portrayal.