References

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone OR Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (U.S.A.)

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Biography

Severus Snape is Harry Potter’s least favourite teacher! From the moment he first sees Snape in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry is certain that Professor Snape has it in for him. Ultimately though, throughout the story, J.K. Rowling has woven a character that, although absolutely infuriating at times, is ultimately sympathetic.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone/ Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

Professor Severus Snape first appears in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and one of the first things we learn about this man with dark, greasy hair, and sallow skin is that he ‘fancies the dark arts’. Although he teaches potions, Percy Weasley tells Harry, Snape knows a great deal about the Dark Arts.

Harry’s first potions lesson with Snape is a disaster. Snape immediately singles Harry out to ask questions to, and when Harry cannot answer, Snape takes a point from Gryffindor. Later when Harry speaks to Hagrid about it, he thinks that Hagrid’s denial that Snape hates him lacks enthusiasm.

Throughout most of the book, Snape is a menace to Harry and as the book is seen from Harry’s point of view, we see that as well. But let’s take a moment to think to step outside of Harry’s view and look at Snape. When Snape pulls Quirrell aside and talks to him, there is a definite air of authority to his tone and it is clear that he suspects Quirrell of something. While one might argue that Snape suspects everyone of something in this case he is quite right to do so.

Again from Harry’s point of view, the injury on Snape’s leg after the troll is clearly a sign that Snape is after the stone, but we later learn that Hagrid was correct about Snape and Snape was not trying to steal the stone, but had helped to protect it and the fact that he went straight to the third floor corridor upon learning of the trolls invasion points out that he knew the danger that the stone might be stolen and immediately suspected the troll for what it was, a diversionary tactic.

When the three must make their way through the tests we also learn from Snape’s test that he is not only brilliant with potions and knowledgeable about the dark arts, but is also logical. ’Brilliant,’ said Hermione. ‘This isn’t magic – it’s logic – a puzzle. A lot of the greatest wizards haven’t got an ounce of logic, they’d be stuck in here forever.’ (p. 207, PS).

So what have learned about Snape’s character from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone?

• He is head of Slytherin House and seems to have a dislike for Harry Potter
• He fancies the dark arts.
• He is brilliant at potions
• He is intuitive. He suspected something wrong with Quirrell very early on.
• He understands logic as well as potions or dark arts
• We have a description of his looks; dark, greasy, hair, sallow skin, etc

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Snape is referenced in the first chapter of Chamber of Secrets as Harry's least favourite teacher, but it is not until later in the book that Snape actually makes his first appearance. As Ron and Harry gaze into the Great Hall following their Womping Willow and flying car incident, Snape appears behind them as they discuss his absense from the professor's table, to enquire why they did not arrive on the train.

It is here that we get the first look at Snape's office. He seems delighted to have caught Harry and Ron in trouble and rakes them both over the coals for their bad choices and lack of forethought, ending with saying he is not in charge of their Hogwarts fate that he will certainly fetch the person who is. Snape returns with McGonagall who, although strict, does not expel either Harry or Ron much to Snape's disappointment (Harry describes Snape as looking as though someone has canceled Christmas). He disappears with Professor Dumbledore and returns to the banquet while McGonagall assigns detentions and conjures up food for Ron and Harry.

The next time we see Snape is several chapters later, after the handwriting on the wall proclaiming that the Chamber of Secrets has been open is found. Snape arrives with Professors Dumbledore, Lockhart, and McGonagall and Snape is among the teachers that question Harry, Ron, and Hermione in Lockhart’s office. At first, it seems he is to defend the trio as he begins with the words ‘Potter and his friends may have simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time’, however he quickly continues to state that the circumstances do look suspicious and asks Harry exactly where he and his friends were.

The three explain about Sir Nicolas’s Death Day party and how they were simply returning to their rooms without eating because they were not hungry. It is here that Ron’s stomach growls and Snape accuses (quite accurately) the three of not being entirely truthful. He suggests Potter’s removal from the Gryffindor Quidditch team, and of course McGonagall jumps in immediately and protests that there is no evidence that Harry in fact caused Mrs Norris to be petrified. Dumbledore remarks that they will brew a mandrake restorative potion for Mrs Norris when the mandrakes are ready to be used. This sparks an amusing interchange between Lockhart who could ‘whip up a Mandrake Restorative Draught in my sleep’, and Snape, who very clearly does not want there to be any mistake about who is in charge of brewing potions at Hogwarts.

So what have learned about Snape’s character from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets?

• His apparent dislike for Harry Potter has not abated at all.
• He is a bit protective of what he views 'his turf'.
• He can duel quite competently.