Snape

 

Snape is my friend Marie’s favourite character and it is not hard to deduce as to why. His unrequited love for Lily Potter (nee Evans) which was revealed in my favourite chapter of ‘The Deathly Hallows’ (chapter 33, I believe) is what ultimately saved the wizarding world. The reader learns that Snape had been in love with Lily since they had met as eleven-year-old children. Although she never knew of this love and rejected his friendship after he regretfully called her a ‘Mudblood’, it was his love that had ultimately saved Harry. This was as a result of the fact that upon learning that Voldemort had planned to track the Potters down and murder them all, he went to Voldemort and begged him to save Lily. This what caused Voldemort to ask Lily to step aside; however, for her son, she refused to, choosing death to save the life of her son. The love that Lily had left Harry was so powerful that it overcame the killing curse that Voldemort tried to put on Harry and instead backfired on Voldemort, rendering him powerless, and only through his Horcruxes he was able to survive. Snape ultimately helps the Order win the Battle of Hogwarts by giving Harry his flask of memories by revealing that he had to face death and Voldemort in order for Voldemort to be finally vanquished. In later years Harry overlooks Snape’s nastier side (such as relentlessly bullying him and Neville) and names his second son after one of the bravest men he ever knew.

For me, Snape is neither good nor bad; he is a flawed hero. He was a bully and he did meddle with the Dark Arts. However, he made the ultimate sacrifice for the woman he loved. He may not evoke our approval but he does evoke our sympathy.