Why do you love Snape?

Why do you love Snape? 2005 Entries
From July 27th, 2004 to December 2004	I love him because he seems to be a bad man but he is not. I know that he really want to save Harry Potter, but he pretends to be bad. And if you take a look to the books you'll see that everything he does is just to protect Harry. I love him
	I don't know what it is I LOVE about Snape, not Alan Rickman. Snape had a very bad childhood, I think many women out there like this, they want to love him, to help him, to show him, that not everyone is like the people from his childhood. That is one of many reasons why I LOVE him. He's not exactly one for looks, but they appeal to me I melt at the site of him. I'm not the type who usually goes for the dark kind of guy, but Snape is different. The way he speaks sends shivers all over me, you just know by the way he speaks that he knows how to use his tongue, in more ways then one way. I could imagine what it would be like to be with him. He isn't a fake, he knows what he's talking about, he puts pride in doing things the best he can and excelling to be even better. I can just imagine how much love he must need. These are many reasons I LOVE Snape. Thank you for making this site I didn't realize there were others out there who shared the same feelings I did.
	Where to start, where to start... Let me begin by openly confessing my love for Prof. Severus Snape. Fictitious though he may be, what female doesn't have at least one Fantasy Man to drool over? Ah... If you know such a woman, please, for the moment, let's pretend you don't. Heh. Let's start with looks, shall we? The greasy hair- I feel for Snape. Though I wash my hair EVERY day, 5 hours after said washing, my hair is back to the way it started. G-R-E-A-S-Y. Blame the genes, not the man! (or woman, in my case). Snape is the poster boy for Darkness. Dark hair, dark eyes, dark robes... Don't you just love the way his movements are described? All that swishing and swirling and.. Er... Two words for you: Rawr, baby. Most fans I speak to have one serious problem, however- the hooked nose. In my opinion, I think everyone needs at least one particular feature that stands out. It gives a person a unique appeal/appearance, a sense of character, if you will. Harry has his scar, Hermione has her big teeth, and Snape has the nose. Besides- I bet it looks wonderfully intimidating when he stares down it at you in all his sarcastic glory. ^_~ Now, for some reason, most fans don't understand what 'sallow skin' means. Sallow does NOT mean pale. Snape is not a bloody vampire. Sallow is a yellow-ish, sickly colour. Snape has yellow-y skin, just as he has yellow teeth (if I'm not mistaken). So, perhaps he isn't a Gilderoy Lockhart. When it comes to men, I can't appreciate a physically unflawed person. Perfection isn't all it's cracked up to be, and those who are damn near physically perfect tend to be total prats, and quite full of themselves. Besides, when I consider my undying affection for Snape, it really has little to do with his looks. Don't get me wrong, a guy like him would definitely make me look twice, but it all comes down to two things. Personality and Attitude. Here are some thoughts on the matter. Read. Enjoy. 1) Snape is unquestionably intelligent. Intelligence is a turn on, when it's coming from someone that doesn't feel the need to flaunt his or her knowledge. Snape's dialogue and actions speak for themselves- I don't think I can recall any particular time when he purposely went out of his way to show off how smart he was, and that, to me, is attractive. 2) Snape expects only the best from his students, and becomes sarcastic when they do not measure up to his standards, or when they disobey him. I used to have a professor like that. Through the lectures, you could easily tell the man was a genius. But, if a student wasn't paying attention, or if a student didn't bother learning the material, and couldn't answer a question, he could be cruel with his choice of words. Going to the class made every student afraid to feel his wrath and afraid of being embarrassed. On the other hand, for a few of us, it made it so that we never missed his class. We only wanted to somehow measure up to his standards, to hear him praise us, or, at the very least, accept our answer without a negative response. This instructor was by no means physically attractive. But, myself being a student who works hard in her classes, I seriously adored this man, and developed a terrible.. ah.. Crush on him (that's putting it lightly). I strived to do better, so that when he called on me, he would see that I paid attention, and studied. By no means did I become a Hermione (cough insufferable know-it-all cough) but, someone like that professor, someone like Snape, makes a person either totally unappreciative of his genius, or, fall in love with his brilliance and work hard to earn his respect, even if it is damn near unattainable... Not to mention the fact that Snape has no patience for complete gits- and neither do I. 3) Snape is almost always in control of his emotions. I can't stand emotional outbursts- granted, from time to time, they happen to us all, but I abhor those who can't stop and think before they act/speak. 4) Snape is unappreciated, which only makes me appreciate him all the more. For all his help, for as many times as he's saved Potter's bony arse, Snape yet remains the antagonist in Harry's point of view. Sure, they don't get along. It takes two to tango. and while Snape certainly isn't trying to nurture his relationship with Harry, the latter COULD be a little nicer to the guy (or at least STUDY HARDER for Potions class!). Snape is, after all, a TEACHER, and whether you love him or hate him, he does deserve respect at all times. 5) Snape will only defend his ideas and beliefs if he is 100% sure that he is correct. Given his brilliance, and the fact that he doesn't start random arguments to make himself look good, it would be fairly hard to win a truthful, verbal battle with him. I love debating topics/issues, and would probably enjoy a heated discussion with the man. 6) Snape is brutally honest. He will not 'talk behind your back' or spread malicious rumours about a person. If someone is doing something that bothers him, he tells them quickly and directly. 7) Snape DOES have a sense of honour. He may express it in a less conventional manner, but it's still a favourable trait, in my opinion. Look how he's saved Harry's life throughout the books, because he indebted to James. He obviously hates the boy's dead father, and yet, he's never intentionally done anything to cause physical harm to Harry. Another point I'd like to make is that he does what he knows is right, regardless as to whether or not he really wants to do it. Though he would never outright admit it or say it, he can put aside his own thoughts and feelings to do what needs to be done. 8) Snape is not a 'nice' person. That's refreshing. I'm not the kind of fan who wants to 'heal' him, or 'help' him overcome his 'bad' side or 'flaws'. I love it all for what it is, and I'll take it just as it's presented, thank you. 9) Snape didn't have the best of childhoods or young adult/early adult years. I can relate, though I'll choose not to divulge all the personal, horrible secrets in my own past. 10) Snape's the sort of person who makes everyone take notice when he enters a room, and he's not even trying. He has an aura about him, overbearing to some, captivating to others. Finally, I will address the thing I think makes Snape most attractive. Snape does not shower affection on anyone. If you want this man, you have to work long and hard to have him notice you in a positive sense, and even harder to earn his approval. We all want what we can't have. Unrequited love- it's the best kind. =)
	I have grown to love him because I am constantly called to defend him. To prepare for debate I was given the most despicable characters in books and movies to prepare. Snape was always my favourite to defend because I could relate to him. He is sarcastic, pessimistic, sadistic, and sardonic. No one else seems to realize that his life is hanging by a thread that the wrong word or action, even at Hogwarts, could snip. I don't think that he is necessarily mean; but he worries a lot. He is a bundle of nerves! He has to worry about Harry's recklessness, Voldemort finding out that he's a spy, saying the wrong thing, doing the wrong thing, even getting too close to someone. IF you're wondering about the "getting too close to someone" thing it's because that person could be used to hurt him. Then there is his sheer physical attractiveness. He's confident, mysterious, and alluring. He's successful and demanding of those around him, forcing them to live up to their full potential and his expectations. He won't lower his standards for anyone and he has a strong sense of right and wrong. Morality is a turn on.
	I love Snape mainly because he turns me on something rotten, I also find his character very seductive intellectually. the whole I'm an evil teacher who wonders the corridors at night really does it 4 me. maybe I'm dirty minded, probably yes but my god he turns me on something rotten. my perfect partner would be someone with long dark hair, an evil ecsteria (?!) and an intellectual mind, even before the books were published. so there for whenever I read one of the books or watch one of the films I get turned on something rotten. his whole character structure is appealing to me, right down to his black leather boots and sad childhood. the fact that the man is what like 30-40 years older than me does hardly deter my sexual drive towards him. why do I love Snape? because he's god damn sexy in every way imaginable. simple as. toddles, squeak x x x
	¿Why? Firstly, because of the way he talks. It is not just Alan Rickman's voice (though it is undoubtingly a big point in favour), but the fact that he speaks slowly, with perfect control of everything he says, and without any excessive chattering. There is nothing excessive in what Snape says or does. Secondly, he is not only mysterious, and thus very interesting, but he emanates power and control. I don´t doubt for a second he is one of the best wizards there are (if not the best). He doesn´t brag. He doesn´t need to. He seems to be very intelligent. Since he doesn´t know Harry's muggle family, he believes that Harry, as a very famous person in the world of wizards, has been spoiled by excessive admiration. He also thinks that Harry will be like his father and friends (who had several defects and didn´t act very gentlemanly towards him). Snape needs to know better Harry and Harry needs to know better Snape (Harry doesn´t trust Snape from the beginning). They could end up as friends. If not, I will undoubtedly be on Snape's side. Always. I thank very much Alan Rickman for having impersonated (or better recreated) such an admirable character. I thank you for having created this page, where I can speak freely about this big platonic love of mine. From a big admirer of Snape.
	Why DO I love Snape?! That is a deep question. So here it goes.... I like Snape because I can identify with several of his personality traits. Like the whole emotional wall thing, after being hurt in the most indescribable way for me I decided that I just wouldn't let it happen again and built a wall, but I kept my friends close. His intelligence and his never ending pursuit for knowledge, I just like to learn and I will never stop and I will always try to prove myself, like him. I can identify with people thinking he is rather weird, people think that I am odd but I really don't care for what they think and neither does Snape. He just goes about his day. He is just an identify-able person. He is the physical manifestation for everything that is loved and hated, to a certain degree. Also there is the fact that he is dark, gothic,powerful, an anti-hero, mysterious, romantic, gentleman like. I'm such a sucker for gentleman. There is the look that he might have vampire blood in him. Snape is such a powerful and dramatic person. If you where to be in his presence, even if you had your back turned, you would know he was there because he just has that air about him that has power written all over it. If you where to see him explode in anger you probably would swear the earth shook, due to all that bottled up emotion! He has that intimidation factor that people with weaker wills will just shrink from but those who can see who he really is or just aren't going to back down are going to be the people who will probably get to know him. I love that about him. He is also so dramatic! The way he moves just has I am going to conquer the world written all over it, it can also express what he is trying to hide. The way his clothing moves and billows out behind him when he walks just gives him the ever perfect entrance and exit and that is just the coolest! Snape's eyes also! They tell what he is thinking, you know what they say; the eyes are often the windows to ones soul. If you where too look into them they could tick you off, make you cry, make you laugh or just clam you. His eyes are the only way he lets himself express emotion, whether he wants it or not it is just going to happen. I guess I am just naturally attracted to guys who are gentleman like, mysterious, dark, brooding, seem like they are bad but are not. If you look at him you would realize that if he had just one, single good friend during his childhood he probably wouldn't be so with-drawn. But I think sometimes just wants to climb up onto a table and yell I am not heartless at the top of his voice but he is not like that so he says it in other ways, like his eyes. All in all he might just be a big tom cat underneath all that pain and darkness. At a glance one could call him the Dark Gothic God of Hogwarts but he is so much more then that and that is why I love him.
	Hi. Well, Snape to me is like a rare treasure. Not many see him when they first look at him. He is quickly dismissed as the greasy-haired bad guy, but I think this is misleading. Before reading Order/Phoenix, I thought he was truly acting on Harry's behalf and put up a mask because he was not as comfortable jumping on the bandwagon with everyone else who fawned over Potter. I believe he recognized more potter's talent than his reputation, but alas, those of us who are similar to Snape in certain ways are rather afraid of appearing vulnerable and even friendly in front of others. Vulnerability to us is a liability and therefore work very hard to ensure that a tough exterior instead is presented. Snape's wit presents no better tough exterior than I can think of. He's prickly so that he gets you before you get him. That's NOT why I love Snape, but I feel that I understand Snape and that makes me care about him as a character more. Back to the point...before reading Order/Phoenix, I really thought that there was some brooding secret about Snape really loving Harry's mother, as they went to school together, and that Harry's father got all the glory, but his passion was real for lily. After reading the book, I was disappointed in him to see that he called her a mudblood and everything and that really, what he was protecting re: his vulnerability was simply the insecurities of a teenage boy, and not the real fruits of a man. So, although he has gone done in my estimation, I am still hopeful that further books will show that I was right in really believing that his motives are pure and he really is a good guy. Traits I love about him....TALENT, irony, sharp mind, complex, mysterious, dramatic, he has emotions brewing beneath his facade just as he teaches other to brew potions in his class...with Alan Rickman as Snape, I LOVE his voice, his demeanour, his total sexiness, his unusual facial movements that keep people guessing how he is really feeling...basically I love the intrigue. In real life, Snape would have to let me in emotionally and show his vulnerability to me in order for me to trust him in a relationship/marriage/whatever. He could hide from the world if he wished, but not from me. I would want to share his beauty with him. And I would hope that he found me every bit as intriguing as I find him. Keeping my fingers crossed that he truly is a good guy
	A womanly opinion. Here we go. As far as I can remember, Snape is a remarkable character. Now, I won't trouble my self with a long list (a.k.a: fan's rambling repetition) of silky voice, enigmatic figure,bla bla, already done well by many others, but I'll just simply say: he's not easy to left unnoticed. Whether in disapproving impression at the very first encounter between.. (you,me,whoever as a reader/movie audience) and Snape, or in developed process by following (observing?) Snape's character. Of course, it would be easier if you already declare yourself as 'one who always has a thing for villains'. Then, irrelevant maybe but.. well, I can't give an assured opinion if this has something to do with age, but I'll give a guess that Snape is considerably interesting only for people already on puberty and above. No offense for children, in fact, the sense of thinking Snape completely as a teacher (a monstrous one at that), and not human, is understandable. At least, imaginable. I WAS a child all right. Okay. So, Snape is different. How? Sirius is. Lucius is. Lupin is. Even Oliver Wood is also different. Hell, dare to contrast me if I'd say Filch is too! But since this place is for them who choose to queue behind Snape's flag, so it's back to personal taste matter. Now, before anyone start to call me Captain Obvious.. or worse, send mentally hex, I think the difference in Snape's difference is, that he's a key player. Sort of. See, there's so much similar pattern in famous stories where's a character appears as a balancing tool. Not so blatantly opposite the heroes, which usually become the same 'classic' popular as the mains (we got Voldy or Draco here), but a role that keep the story going. A bad guy who reliable. Quit the crap. I can't help to (finally) point out his personality anyway, so.... : Severus Snape is a hard-worker, thus the knowledge and experience, discipline, intimidating, etc etc. On looks department, he's.. ugh, pique female's curiosity. Did I already say anything about voice? Right. Then helped by comparison to a bunch of cute teenagers like Potter, Malfoy, Weasleys and co, Snape wins the maturity point. While Sirius, Lupin, or even Lucius (ew), I told you, far too feeble as constant characters. Ah yes, Lockhart is also helpful to sharpen Snape's coolness. Remember the duel part on Chamber of Secret? Keyword: lesser loser always looks better. Now, come to the angsty part, just tell me_especially ladies, what would you think if you see a dark, not happy, tough-like, rigid man with violence background on his childhood? Can you spell: c-r-u-s-h-a-b-l-e? LOL. This rambling's getting interesting. Maybe that's explain why girls easily adopt dumped puppies they met on the street. Yes? Oh, you remind me that he's also a horrible tongued man with colourful vocabulary? A mean and arrogant um, jerk who picks torturing every single cheerfulness and innocence of students as a sport? Unpopular, especially among females (at least on the story)? Hey. THAT'S THE POINT. wink
	I actually can`t figure out why I love Snape. But when I were reading the Harry Potter-series,I found myself reading the same pages over and over again, with a cheeky grin on my face…. I just fell totally for this guy,his sarcasm and darkness. And that he was to proud and stubborn for his own good… And Alan Rickman as Snape in the movies,were just perfect! I were afraid the movies would ruin the picture I had of Snape in my head,but it just added the perfect voice tooI love his intelligence and his bad temper,and his ability to do good,when everybody thinks he`s doing evil. Well,I guess he sometimes would do evil too… He moves himself with grace without being feminine. And he has the most beautiful,expressive eyes. It`s not many of my friends who understands me on this obsession,but the Snape character has to be the perfect man. If anybody find him,please send him to me….
	he just makes me hot. I could give details, but I will spare you.
	I love him toooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo...OOO much because HE IS SEVERUS SNAPE!!!!!!
	Why do I love Snape? The contrasts! Hair and eyes as black as death and skin as pale as a ghost. A voice and body that exude sheer masculinity almost exploding at the seams, and a manner of moving, of holding himself, of speaking, that is supremely elegant and refined. The dark, cold, intimidating exterior and the seed of warmth and goodness that we know is buried somewhere in there under all those layers of blackness! His dismal history of evil and his promising potential for good. The sheer complexity of his character! He is not a "flat" character as most villains are. There is so much depth to him. There are so many layers to penetrate and discover. So many different angles from which to perceive him. So many different shades of black ... And the hands! Those immense, expressive hands, thick and powerful, yet graceful beyond compare--truly the hands of a skilled magician. Notice how they move, his hands and his fingers, the next time you watch him. Watch the movies three times, at the very least: once for his face, once for his body, and once for the hands. There is nothing I wouldn't give to feel those hands in my hair or resting gently on the back of my neck as his velvet voice caresses me (hopefully saying something nice!). The hair! The mouth! The black, form-fitting coat! I love it all! I want it all! The fact that the majority of my attraction is superficial only intensifies my desire! I fear him, yet my fear somehow only intensifies my fascination. Whenever he enters a scene, his dark presence sends quiet shocks through my body. Need I say more?
	I was gone on Snape well before the movies started coming out. It wasn't love at first read, either, but a sort of moment reading GoF, like "wait a minute, I really like this character." Then I was able to go back and re-read again and again for Snape-bits which was most enjoyable. Sarcasm can really get me going, but it has to be the right kind; it has to come from someone who knows the world, not from a sophomoric kid who thinks sarcasm makes him sound sophisticated. Snape has earned the right to his sardonic take on the world. I think the wizarding world needs a leavening of Snappish open-eyed sarcasm to go with all the warm fuzzy love with which HP apparently is stuffed to the gills. That's only the surface part, though. What I really like about Snape is his competence. I love a man who is really good at something, and Snape's good at a lot of things: potions, hexes, occlumency, legilimency, espionage. All of it is about subtlety, intelligence, knowing what others don't know, not laying all your cards on the table. By the way, I am not overfond of Gothic stereotypes. A blond Snape in a tweed suit would be fine with me, as long as the sarcasm, the competence, the whole attitude were there. I do agree with those who find Alan Rickman's performance very gratifying of our expectations of Snape. And I'm glad he's fiftyish rather than thirtyish--fits in much better with my idea of Snape (though not, apparently, JKR's). JKR doesn't like him as much as we do, you know.
	I love Snape so much simply because of his voice. I also think that his constant cruelty towards Harry is simply a retaliation of what Harry's' father did to him while they were at school together. I love the way his voice sounds, especially when he is angry or suspicious of something. The way in which he continually has in for Gryffindor is something that makes me feel good!
	I've always been one to get turned on by men of authority. My teachers, drill sergeants (I'm in the service), etc. Authority and a man being noticeably older than I am are characteristics that draw me. I'm a bit of a cold bitch myself, and I don't take being ordered about very well. I think I'm attracted to Snape because he seems like the kind of man who could tell me what to do, and that would just make me hotter for him. Also, he's so cutting and a bit ruthless. Hard, mean, dominant, intellectually challenging men make me hot. And that is why I fancy Snape (a great deal).
2005 answers - Preceding HBP
From January 6th, 2005 to July 10th, 2005	Snape intrigues me for a number of reasons, but mainly because I can identify with him. (Or, identify with the character as I interpret him to be.) Except I m female. First, there is his serious, controlled nature, even while his mind is fast at work. I was actually born with a scowl. Even in my first baby picture, my little brows are furrowed with a piercing glare. I still have those furrowed brows, just more creased by the years. It s my natural look and suits my serious, contemplative, brooding nature. My annoyed glare has been described by others as venomous . Others have also described me as cool and calm on the surface but working like crazy underneath. Next, I have been a loner since I can remember. For example: As a child, I preferred to play alone, using my imagination, doing my own thing, without anyone else interrupting or annoying me. This continued through my school years. I had one friend during elementary school, one during middle school, and one more my first two years of high school. My mother was so worried by my lack of friends , she actually tried to set me up with friends . That did not work, of course. They were all too hmm flighty is perhaps the word I m looking for wrapped up in trivial things, playing silly head games with each other, etc. My family moved when I was 16. By that time I had my driver s license and was quite content to be independent and do my own thing. I did some dating, but didn t have friends as such. During the past 20 years I ve had many acquaintances, but only two people that I would be willing to call friends . I also do not like attending parties or various social events where people are mainly fluttering around sharing small talk and gossip. I will occasionally go to such things grudgingly if it suits my purposes (like if I have to do some networking with people to reach a goal). Like Snape, my childhood had an unpleasant side. My mother had major issues. My earliest memories include things like standing in a doorway watching while she screamed at my dad, furiously beating him on the back with a heavy glass pitcher, and then clawing his back with her nails. He would just sit and take it. My mother took some of her fury out on me as well... paint sticks spatulas belts her claws whatever . And it was usually over something small, like the floor not being vacuumed to her expectations. When I started defending myself during my teens, that really ticked her off. Anyway (My parents eventually divorced.) Snape and I have both done more than our share of damage. I enjoy talking about it probably as much as Snape would enjoy talking about his Death Eater days. It suffices to say that in my younger years - while I was searching for some meaning and purpose in life - I made some choices that were very wrong. I did things that hurt other people. I have tried to make things right again as much as I can, and will continue to do so. But, I expect to live with the consequences, in one form or another, for the rest of my life. To avoid writing a book... Other similarities include: teaching adolescents, being a perfectionist (which pushed me to be a top student), being teased by childhood peers (usually because of my light complexion and being different from them), having an independent streak and a dislike for feeling indebted to anyone, having a dislike for fame that s based on things I consider to be trivial or nothing (and people who promote and/or support that kind of fame), harbouring some (controlled) bitterness and anger, use of sarcasm (although he is more skilled at it), and age range. Other reasons Snape intrigues me include his cleverness and the air of mystery about him.
	Well... that's a good question :o) At first I need to say that I'm not "in love" with Snape. I also hadn't a crush on him. Severus reminds me in some ways of my husband. He can be hard to people who deserve it or he don't like. And he only forgives but never forget. But he's still a lovely person with good qualities. Not quiet sure of whom I'm talking ;o) - I stop joking now, I promise! Severus is used to play the role of the bad guy (yes, bad not evil) but if you read how close he is to Dumbledore and the way of conversation they have... well, I think it's clear to everyone who's not "Harry eager" that Snape isn't that bad as he seems to be. He's such a complex character, it's impossible to tell each part of why I like him. Intelligence is one part of it. I adore him for his repartee, something I miss myself badly. His formality for making a cup of tea (it seems to me as a little celebration). He's a bookworm (like me, that's why I also love Hermione). His look at the pupils if they brake the back of a book... And his interest in plants (also if it's only for his potions) makes him so smart for me. Severus way to teach the pupils isn't the common way but it's very effective. My English teacher in school was the same. I was a little afraid of him, but due to this fear I was always prepared for this lessons. So I learned a lot. If you're best friend with a teacher you learn little till nothing because you always laughing, making jokes or stuff like that. That's my opinion, that's my experience and nobody needs to share :o) Last but not least Severus has a mystical aura around himself. You can't love only a part of him. You have to decide if you love or hate him. There's no way between... He's a class of it's own if you understand what I mean. And I like him for the sentence "fame isn't everything". Harry should be reminded like that more often, especially after book 5 (I found him so ... boyish...he was a fool not learning occlumency and trusting Voldemort). After all... please, please Mrs. Rowling, don't kill our dear Severus Snape, Potion Master (yes, I'm begging for it if that would help).
	I like him 'cause he is... vicious, ill-mannered, unfair, bossy, and disrespectful? Tough and sarcastic? "Cool" characteristics on a fictional character but in real life I'd probably hate him. And yet, here I am... I know why I adore him in movies: that's because of Alan! He looks AND SOUNDS great! It's much more difficult to give reasons for adoring him in books as well! Especially if you adored him before seeing any HP movie like I did... Well, I don't think he's evil inside. Actually I feel pity for him. He has obviously had an unhappy childhood and some nasty schoolmates, and having been close to Voldemort must feel unpleasant to anyone. There has not been much glory in his past life, I guess. He's great in Occlumency - had to learn that to be able to protect himself? Poor thing! He has built a wall around him and is desperate for love, I'm sure! I have weakness for (at least fictional) bad boys. I like Snape 'cause he's dark and gloomy. 'Cause I like his sarcasm. 'Cause he's basically on "bright side", I'm sure, and loyal to people he thinks are right. Okay, he treats Harry badly but knowing his background I understand him. You try growing up better in circumstances like his. In fact, he's succeeded quite well. He's good in what he does, superior in some respect. He has cheated Voldemort (or Dumbledore...) successfully so far. Can't wait to see what he's going to next! (Just pray that JKR doesn't get him killed!)
	oh where do I start? I had a crush on Professor Snape when I read the books, but then when I saw the movies, I really think Alan Rickman was perfect for the part, he IS Snape! and to see him right in front of me...I just fell madly in love with him! le sigh I like his swishy cape, and his pretty hair, and I have this thing about bad teeth XD also, I believe he is really a good person inside, and he is just bitter because he is sad and alone. Obviously he is good, he is on the good guy's side, and is actually quite protective of the students though he would rather deny that fact XD (it's so cute when he is shielding the kids in Prisoner of Azkaban XD ) he just needs a great big hug, ;_; and someone who can see past his hard exterior. ^^ points to self ahem......
	Why do I love Snape? Well, he defines definition. He could be both good or bad or gray and I would still think he is the great character. The mystery of him is a big part of it. What I personally feel about him is that he is a person who was capable to do many horrible things but who also is honourable deep inside. I think honourable does not necessarily mean good. And not nice. He will never be in danger of being called nice. I think that person has to have the strength to pull themselves from the pit of evil where they've been (like Snape apparently has, because Dumbledore trusts him) to be honourable. And if I'm wrong and he is a Voldemort spy I would love him because he would have to be terribly smart to fool Dumbledore and the guts to try. And I feel that he is a tragic character a bit, because he could be good or bad but he will always be a traitor to someone. I also like his looks and speech. And his legendary control. If I remember anything more, maybe I'll send another e-mail to you. :-) Great site, by the way.
	I have read all of the Harry Potter books. It wasn’t until they made the first movie and I found out that Alan Rickman would be playing Snape that I became even more interested or should I say obsessed with Snape. I have adored and lusted after Alan Rickman since I was a teenager (I am 31 now). He is an amazing actor and is perfect for the part of Snape. They just seem to go hand in hand.
	Okay, I have to weigh in here with a minority opinion. Alan Rickman is a wonderful actor and he does a fantastic job in the films, but I would NEVER have chosen him for the role. In fact, I'm a bit surprised Rowling was quite so enthusiastic about his casting. Personally, I think Tim Roth would have hit the mark much closer in terms of age & appearance, and I'm confident he would have turned in fine performances as well. My choice for an ideal Snape, however, would be Julian Richings, a very fine British-born actor working largely in Canada. He's a very scrawny fellow with lank, dark hair and a thin, bony face with a prominent nose; he almost has a medieval cast to his features. It's very important to me that Snape be unattractive (sorry Julian, I love you, honest), partly because I'm personally attracted to homely scrawny bony-faced men, and partly because I think it's a contributing element to his character & disposition: -- We know Snape was unpopular as a kid and pretty much still is. I think a big reason for this is his appearance. You can bet Lucius Malfoy wasn't treated like that at Hogwarts, no matter how much other kids may have hated him. Unattractive, poorly socialized oddballs attract hostility regardless of their own capacity for aggression. Though he seems to have gained more social grace, dignity of bearing, and self-control as an adult, I still can't see him as elegant or gentlemanly, as others have remarked. -- Snape is a bitter, bitter man. I believe bitterness like that comes from a conflict in self-esteem. I don't think Snape is either dominant or self-assured. I think he has a realistic and rational belief in his superior intelligence and abilities, but at the same time I think he's doubtful of his self-worth, and that his doubt stems in part from sexual insecurity. -- As for being dominant, I see Snape as having a strong desire for power, but largely a frustrated one. Sarcasm is a weapon of the weak (and I should know), and his hostility seems largely defensive to me, even when picking on poor defenseless Neville. He doesn't expect to be liked or even respected, so he'll settle for feared; that's probably one of the reasons he became a Death Eater, and though he may have rejected their ideology, his emotional responses & coping mechanisms haven't evolved all that much. Compare that to the easy superiority of the Malfoys (not that they don't have their own issues, I'm sure...). Okay, so why do I love Snape? Apart from my previously mentioned weakness for the off-puttingly homely, I'm a SUCKER for the emotionally damaged, repressed, frustrated and sexually unfulfilled, "unlovable" type. It's interesting to me that I've seen several references to Leroux's Phantom of the Opera in these posts, as I fell for the Phantom completely when I read it; I've also had little obsessions with Svengali in the novel Trilby and Soames Forsyte in the Forsyte Saga. That's the common thread with all these characters as well as Snape. As I've noticed a few others have mentioned, it's very intoxicating to imagine that you are the only one who could love and be loved by a character like that. It makes you feel both special and SAFE, as your ideal lover would be too damned grateful to finally be getting love, sex & attention from fabulous, marvelous you to be tempted to ever look elsewhere.
	Like a lot of other ladies,I,too,think Snape is totally hot. I like his voice,hair,the way he moves and everything about him. I must admit,I have a HUGE crush on him. Too bad he doesn't really exist. Mr. Rickman has done a lot for the ladies of the world, and I wonder,Is he even aware of his effect on women?
	I have liked Snape since I first read the books, before the movies. I really admire teachers like Snape. No BS in class, no back talking. I always did well in classes with very strict teachers. Also he is quite intelligent, and smart folks are always very interesting to talk to if you want to learn wonderful things. I can also relate to being an underdog and so I see him as kind of a kindred spirit in that way. Now, the man they picked to portray him in the movies made him very desirable in a physical manner as well. So now we are gifted with a picture of him that is handsome, intelligent, strong willed, a survivor, and puts up with no crap. I find this all quite desirable in a man.
	A disclaimer: I am not obsessed with Snape the way I know some people are. But but I do read a great deal, and think about what I read, and have a drive to understand... I have always been draw to the dark knight, over the one in shining armor. They are often more the better-drawn characters, for a start--more complex, for all they often stay outside the starring role; deeper, for all they are more hidden. Snape has a past. He has seen much, and done much, and suffered much. His experiences have deepened his understanding, even while they have made him incredibly bitter. As for me personally, I think I see much of what I am--or could become--in him. Most of these come with classic INTJ syndrome. The drive to excellence (later, perfectionism) is one. We both prize our intelligence, our skill so very highly. I admire his wit even while my own eyebrow raises at his choice of targets. Much as I sometimes long to give him a good sound shake, I have enough self-knowledge to recognize his most serious flaws as those I am most prone to. The sarcasm that launches itself at any mark, whether or not it is capable of defending itself; the bitterness (our type's version of self-pity) that binds him into old pattern and keeps out the possibility of healing or progress; the arrogance that prohibits the admission of error; that renowned tendency to hold grudges... Snape seems a very human character to me. His redemption gives hope to us all, and his often-ambiguous mix of traits forces us to examine ourselves more closely. What is good, as opposed to kind? While Snape's possession of the first trait makes us aware of how very essential it is, his lack of the second shows us its importance as well. Deep thoughts aside... Rickman's voice is just awesome.
	well, I don't really know why. I do love his perfect appearance,perfect meaning I wouldn’t have him any other way, but that isn’t the only reason I love him. like, really love him. I feel a connection from his heart to mine, like I really know who he is, even if he doesn't show it. his heart is wrapped in black ice that no one can see through, but I can. that doesn’t make much sense. he does something for me. my life has improved ever since I realised how beautiful he is. he's a guy id like to run up to and hug away all of his sadness.
	It all began when I was in sixth grade, right after GoF came out. I was still in elementary school and we'd been separated into different tracks. I was in track A, otherwise known as the "HP Track" since everyone loved Harry Potter. Except me. I'd never read any of the books and refused to do so, since it was "popular" and I hated "popular" people/things. You see, I was overweight, had fuzzy hair, extremely poor, and had divorced parents. Not to mention I was weird. I don't really know why, but I've always been teased horribly--throughout elementary anyway. Since I had been teased so badly--people cutting my hair as the walked by me, pants-ing me, beating me up after school etc--I absolutely hated everyone. When I mean everyone, I mean I disliked everyone except my family (who I kept in the dark about what was going on at school--I didn't want to worry my mother) so my only escape was grades and learning. I was always doing homework. I've always been an exceptionally intelligent student (in first grade I had a college level of reading). I was also competitive and would do anything for money and/or power. Yes, I was a bitch. A blunt bitch who would insult anybody who looked at me wrong. Well, one day in sixth grade, a girl wanted to hold four quizzes--one quiz for each HP book. The winner of each quiz would get five dollars, so if you won all four quizzes you could get twenty bucks. So I went to the library and rented SS-PoS (GoF was rented out) and read them over the weekend, writing notes and studying them as well. Suffice to say ,I won SS-PoS quiz, but she didn't like me and gave the money to the runner-up anyway. Well, anyway, onto the whole point. On the weekend that I had read the first three HP books, I had practically fallen for Snape. Just reading the way he talked and his fascination with the colour black reminded me of myself. I'm not kidding. I acted EXACTLY like Snape. I was lonely, extremely rude, judgemental--well, you get the picture. So to answer question, I liked Snape because I found him similar to me. Not because I was rebelling or because Alan Rickman plays him in the movies (who, by the way, does Snape perfectly) but because I realized how much we had I'm common. So that's why I like Snape--because I felt like he was the only one who understood me (though he wasn't really a main character and was fictional).
	I'm not sure why I love Snape.... I think it's something about he's difficult to understand, and to see through... he's been through a lot, and he keeps his feelings inside of him (except perhaps hate and sometimes anger), and the books has showed many times that he actually do care about people, even though it doesn't show. He is a bit hard do understand, and that makes me interested in him. He's also a bit older than me, and that (as weird as I am) kind of turns me on. When I saw some of the things that had happened to him through his life (in OotP), I felt so sorry for him, and I wanted him even more. He's so mysterious, and that's something I don't want him to loose, it's HIS personality. When I read that the Trio STILL don't trust him, I get a bit annoyed, and I hope they'll see it differently at the end. I hope he'll always stay in the HP books and that, in the end, he'll have it just a little bit better. Fan of 16years
	Because I love his glossy shiny black hair!
	Snape is all that is sexy. He is so mysteriously alluring that I want to delve into his secrets. Wander through his emotions. Find out everything that he hides from the world, or hides from himself. His detachment from everything makes me want to be his connection to the world of emotion and feeling. Plus, again, he's just so damn sexy. The long dark hair, with dark eyes, pale skin, and very dark clothe's/features. He embodies every guy I have ever fallen for, and more. His power and dark charm surpass that of normal men and his confidence draw me to him. If I were a student at Hogwarts I would most surely be breaking school codes as much as possible with him ;)
	For a long time,I thought I was the only one who loved Snape. My friends always thought I was crazy for it....but then I stumbled across your site and realized I'm not insane. I’ve always been drawn to the dark guys,the ones nobody likes,who are evil or just plain scary...For example,the Green Goblin in Spider Man,the overweight drug dealer in Without a Paddle,and so many others that I cant remember them...I’ve also always been drawn to the older men. I'm 13 years old,and I know you might find me sick for saying this,but I'm attracted to 30-40 year old men. The dark and creepy ones. Yeah,I know,I'm a freak... When I started reading the books,as soon as Snape was mentioned I had this funny feeling...I would watch the movies over and over again,and then fast forward to the Snape parts,watch them,rewind and watch it over and over again. In fact,I'm watching The Philosopher's Stone again right now. I love how sarcastic he is. I’ve always been sarcastic,and I see a bit of me in him. He is sexy,in a weird sort of way,and I love how he wears all black and isn’t concerned about his greasy hair or gross teeth. I wear black all the time,and I have trouble expressing feelings other than hate and anger,like him....and after what I've read about him,I figure, we've both had hard childhoods...I just feel like he's a part of me,somehow...Like his sarcastic,angry attitude,his cold and hateful attitude,is just a mirror of my personality.. I love his long black hear,his vampire look...I’ve always loved vampires...I love Rickman's sexy voice and the way he walks...The way he isn’t very social is like me...the way most people don't like I'm in the book is like me also...His loneliness,his bitterness towards people,the way he doesn’t expect kindness or friends...its all like me. The way he is a mirror of me,makes me wish he were real...someone like him would actually understand why I am this way,instead of hating me for it.
	I guess I'm not really truly sure why I love him, I think its because he has been a tortured soul in the past, and because of this, he feels it necessary to torture himself in the present. My impression of him is that he longs for companionship and love, but is afraid of being hurt or swayed and so keeps up his scowling, grumpy persona as protection. (to be perfectly honest, I think he needs a good seeing to, if you catch my drift! I would be more than happy to oblige if he were a real person!!)
	Well,it's Snape's personality,cunning,sarcasm,dark eyes,and his deep voice that makes Severus Snape my favourite Harry Potter character. I also pity him,because I've read rumours that he was abused as a child, he was picked on at school,and his parents disliked him greatly,especially his father. I'm really happy that he's on the good side and I know he's a double-agent and he's risking his life for the safety of Harry Potter and the rest of Hogwarts. I hope Professor Severus Snape,Potions Master of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry,is remembered as a hero, and that's what I think of him as,a hero.
	Why Do I Love Snape? First of all, his appearance. (Most people may start with this part. So do I) He's kinda "ugly", we'll say he isn’t beautiful. I don't like beautiful people. You need to have something ugly to be charming. Well Snape's nose & hair are ugly, and so I love them. I like his small black eyes, and the (I don't know if it's the right word) wrinkles when he's angry between his eyebrows. How Charming! Then, he's dressed in black, and so can I imagine whatever I want under his clothe's. Like some kind of perfect body (hum. well yes, I thought about him Without his clothe's. Kinda weird.). Anyway! I really like when he has some wig problems (flowing or falling hair in his face). Second part: His Attitude. Oohh I love when he seems embarrassed (just like when Dumbledore tells him to stand quiet), angry, or when he's replying to Hermione ("Mrs Know it all"). Everything he replied to Mrs Umbridge was great, too. (By great, I mean "as if he was a really powerful person who didn’t care about anything, and especially not about Mrs Umbridge reaction.) I like when he limps because of his wound (after the troll event, HP 1), I'd like to see him trip, I'd like to.. Anyway, something made me sad and I had some pity for him when Harry sees his father ridiculing him when they were in Hogwarts.
2005 answers - Following HBP publication
	I feel affection towards the character because he is both pitiable and admirable - someone who has come from a miserable background and been brainwashed into following an evil cultist father-substitute (Voldemort), but who has had the intelligence and basic decency to break away from the cult and become an agent of light. At the same time, the tension between him and Harry is irritating and makes me want to bang both their heads together. Although it's understandable that the mere sight of Harry, so like his father, gives Snape the heebies it's immature of him to inflict his own negative feelings on someone he must know isn't responsible for his heredity. And why on earth or off it doesn't Harry just write Snape a letter saying "I'm really sorry I looked in the Pensieve, I think my father behaved abominably and on behalf of the family I'd like to apologize" which would resolve the problem in a few hours? - except, of course, that if either of them behaved with a modicum of common sense it would spoil the plot. Alan Rickman plays Snape very well and has a certain sinister attractiveness, but to some extent this casting does Snape a disservice. It's clear from the books that Snape is no older than Harry's father and Lupin, and may indeed be a year or two younger. He must be about 32 in the first book - rather young for a professorship - and his tendency to throw his weight around is probably partly because he feels a bit out of his depth. But Rickman is, or is made up to look, a lot older than the character he is playing, and makes Snape come across as a middle-aged grouch who ought already to know better, rather than as a nervy young man who is trying to learn better. It is ironic that Snape, the victim of bullying, appears to condone the behaviour of the would-be bully Draco Malfoy. Much of how one interprets Snape's character depends, I think, on how you read the relationship between Snape and Malfoy. Is he really so blinded by hatred of Harry and Harry's dad that he is prepared to side with anyone who will persecute Harry, even though Malfoy is probably more like Harry's dad than Harry is? Is he, in fact, the sort of moral idiot who thinks "I suffered, so I'm going to make other people suffer even if they aren't the ones who hurt me"? Or is he, as I tend to assume, simply smarming around Draco for political reasons, in order to keep at least half in with the Death Eater crowd, in order to infiltrate them in his role as Dumbledore's agent?
	Good question. There’s just something about him at I like. Maybe he’s so mysterious, or maybe because he’s the underdog.
	Why do I love Snape? Oh, dear! Where to begin? Well, let's start at the beginning. I never liked Snape at first. When the books started out, JKR wrote as a young person would write (to show Harry's point of view) - the characters were somewhat flat, and they seemed almost stereotypical. Snape was just a big old meanie! However, as Harry grew, JK wrote with more depth - therefore giving characters more depth. Now, this is when I began to see Snape in another light. The third book alerted me to this new side of Snape - he was the butt of the Marauder's practical joke. The fourth book reminded me that Snape had once been quite a shady person (Voldemort mentioned him at his Re-Birthday Party). But then, the fifth book came out - and low and behold, I was enamoured with this fascinating man! Those glimpses Harry had into Snape's Pensieve and Harry's momentary peeks at Snape's thoughts during the Occlumency lessons proved that this was a man with a difficult and dark past. Problems at home, peers torturing him at school... these were only a few of Snape's memories, and yet they told us so much! It's easy to see how this man could've turned to the Dark Side. He seemed to get very little love as a child and teenager. Most people who lack love compensate for it with a thirst for power - The Dark Lord had much power, and Snape could've been lured to this. But, he turned back! Oh, how I love a redeemed man! There's something so special about a redeemed character - a person who went bad, but then found part of their soul again, part of their heart again, and turned back. It shows us Severus has some humane part to him, underneath all that (sexy) snarkiness and sarcasm. He realized the evilness of Voldemort's ways, and saw that the path of the good side appealed to him more, even though he was surrounded by sheep who blindly followed the Dark Lord's orders (aka Death Eaters). The difference between an evil character and a character that has been redeemed is that an evil character will hurt almost anything, without giving much thought or self-restraint. But a redeemed character who has bad traits (like Snape) will still be mean - of course. One cannot be part of the Dark Lord's army and end up being Ghandi. However, a redeemed character will know how far to go with his meanness. A redeemed character will show mercy, if he is truly good. Maybe that's why I love Snape so much - I guess I'm a good girl, many will even call me innocent although I do not totally appreciate it. But maybe that's why I love Snape - could he possibly be merciful to me, if I were to ever meet him in a fictional world? Ha - I know it's a fantasy, but who doesn't fantasize? Physically, every time JK describes a man with a hooked nose, greasy black hair, sallow skin, and black eyes, my heart skips a beat. I noticed for a while that I've had a thing for men with big noses. Tom Cruise, Adrien Brody, etc... I've heard it's because women are attracted to bony, protruding facial features (men, on the other hand, find soft features attractive). And in general, black hair and dark eyes are mysterious - perfect for Snape, no? I even like the greasiness of Snape's hair and the coldness of his eyes! His yellow teeth are attractive to me as well (although I'll admit, not as much). Perhaps I find these things attractive because they are imperfect - shows us he's human. And, oh, my - I do love the way Snape talks! He talks "softly" and "silkily" - that sounds so incredibly sensuous, it's hardly even funny. If Snape talked to me like that - oh, boy. Again, casting Alan Rickman for the part of Snape did not hurt at all, since many women find his voice as sensuous as I do. And as for The Half-Blood Prince and Dumbledore's death, I have to say that I am a believer of the theory that Dumbledore and Snape made an agreement. I have a very hard time trying to understand why Snape would turn to the Dark Side again, and killing the only person who showed him love - I know that it is not impossible, but I find it highly unlikely. Perhaps Snape didn't know what he was going into when Narcissa made him make the Vow - or perhaps he used his Legilimency skills to know enough that Draco was sent to do a mission of some sort, but what sort of a mission, he didn't know. Then, later (after finding out the mission), he told Dumbledore about his promise, and together they made an Unbreakable Vow - to help Harry and Harry's mission. At the tower, they communicated telepathically, and Dumbledore told Snape to kill him in order to save himself, so that Harry would have Snape at least for a spy... Well, it's a very long theory, but it comes down to this - I don't think Snape would kill one of the only people on this earth who loved him, and Dumbledore always said, "There are worse things than death, Harry," so why, oh why, would he plead for his life?
	I am going to split my observations about Snape into two categories: objective and subjective, so that you all might understand why the objective affects the subjective. Obviously, if I'm responding to such a question, it goes without saying that I adore this character. SPOILERS! Objective: According to the Rowling canon and the movies, Snape is portrayed as something of a genius. He is extremely intelligent, and Dumbledore needs his knowledge in ways that other professors can't even touch. He is also a perfectionist. Subjective: He is extremely intelligent, and he knows it, which is why he tends to be snobbish to the students he teaches. In fact, Snape shouldn't be teaching young children at all; he would be a good professor, teaching young adults and graduate students (too bad we don't see any colleges for wizards in HP). His talents are wasted teaching secondary school aged kids who are too inexperienced to appreciate his talents and his wisdom. I would feel much the same way if I had to teach children all the time. As an English professor, I am very much like Snape in many respects: he is unappreciated and he is way overqualified for his job, which probably makes him bitter: students never see themselves as being abusive to their teachers, but they often are, because they often expect too much from their teachers. Years and years of teaching students who don't appreciate one's talents tends to make one defensive, jaded, and pessimistic about why students are even there. Snape's unrequited love of Lily says a lot, and the added disgrace of enduring the torments of James and Sirius seems to have led him to becoming a bitter man who cannot separate his own grief from his job as a teacher--after all, how many people teach in the same school where they matriculated as children? We all know teachers like Snape, but very few students ever stop to ask why their teacher may be like that. I also love Snape because he is an overachiever--his attention to originality and detail is revealed in HBP in the creativity that he puts into his potions and hexes. On the other hand, Harry is revealed as careless and overly critical of Snape himself, especially when Harry uses the hex on Malfoy before understanding who made that hex or what its consequences would be--Harry had been cheating all year by using the Half-Blood Prince's old text, and he never once stopped to really investigate its origins--that is not true of Hermione, though! Objective: Snape is a complex anti-hero. I read somewhere that somebody commented that Snape is not an anti-hero--that is incorrect. An anti-hero is often a villainous or inept character who solicits empathy and sympathy from an audience, oftentimes because of they are not perfect. "Sympathy for the devil" demonstrates that audience members can relate to a character like Snape: for example, Milton's Satan is the perfect example of an anti-hero, as are Dracula, Frankenstein, and Hannibal Lector. The anti-hero's complexities make him/her interesting--black/white characters are really flat and undefined, and therefore not realistic. Even Harry Potter is complex because he has many of the same qualities as Voldemort, but Snape is more interesting as a character than either Harry or Voldemort because Snape is mysterious. He also straddles the line between good and evil, and it's no wonder that people wonder which way he will seesaw! In the Aristotelian heuristic of introduction/rising action/crisis/climax/denouement, the moment of truth for an anti-hero is the turning point of the narrative, in which he/she recognizes his/her error/hubris, whereby he/she may either correct the error or bring it to a logical, tragic conclusion. So far, Snape is a tragic character, and that's why I sympathize with him. Characteristic of Hamartia, the errors leading to a character's downfall: Hubris:Overweening Pride (leading to the downfall of the hero or anti-hero): Snape is very secure in his own knowledge, so he is snobbish and overly critical of anybody who doesn't have an equal intellectual grounding, and this probably includes other members of the Hogwarts staff. Snape has the characteristics of two conflicting personalities: Dicken's Master M'Choakumchild, the unfeeling fact-oriented teacher whose methods "grind" out students, eradicating all emotion and imagination; Dracula/Heathcliff, the Byronic hero, dark, mysterious underdog who is misunderstood and mistreated, and in turn, mistreats others. In the case of Snape, he of the black frock coats, both characteristics come from Nineteenth century stereotypes, one generated by Romantic sensibilities, the other generated by Victorian manners and culture of boarding school teachers. Example: Snape's first speech in Sorcerer's Stone reveals that he is very passionate about the subject of potions, what they can do and why students should be interested in potions as a subject. Snape misunderstands what seems to him to be Harry's lack of attention because Harry is taking notes: Snape's anger can be seen as the result of being egotistically wounded by his students' lack of interest. He wants his students to be eager, but at the same time, he cannot abide students who are too eager (Hermione), sycophantic (Malfoy), inept (Ron), or whose popularity (Harry) win them friends and allies they probably haven't earned. On the other hand, his criticism is frequently too heavy-handed and inconsiderate of students' feelings. Subjective: People love to hate anti-heroes because they mirror their own true failures, whether that be bloodthirstiness, ineptitude, malice, greediness, etc. They are really the forte of the character actor, because even though they usually are not the central heroes of stories, they generate the most heat. In the Aristotelian heuristic of introduction/rising action/crisis/climax/denouement, the moment of truth for an anti-hero is the turning point of the narrative: I don't believe that Snape is evil, and I predict that since Dumbledore steadfastly stood by Snape to the end, that we will discover in the 7th book (the magical number, even by Voldemort's reckoning) that Snape was under orders from Dumbledore to kill him if the potion does too much damage. Snape could very easily have said that he was under no obligation to keep saving Harry (especially when Harry tried to hex him--Snape merely parries Harry's hexes and explains that he is the Half-Blood Prince). Harry has never once acknowledged that he is indebted to Snape for his own life--so Harry ain’t so perfect, and Snape is not as evil as Harry seems to think. Objective: Alan Rickman is the perfect choice for Snape. Snape's "snakiness" needs a smooth, slippery treatment, and in my view, he is really the only adult character in the entire series. Rickman plays Snape as an anti-hero who is obviously misunderstood and complex, not at all the boring Snidely Whiplash. Rickman has a wonderful baritone voice, the quality of which is both hypnotic and sexy, never grating or harsh, even if his dialogue is intimidating and sometimes overbearing. Rickman rocks because his performance is controlled, aware, and always concerned with the small details of the significance of overall feeling and tone of a scene. Like Anthony Hopkins, Rickman's stagecraft allows him to make an impact on the audience, and he can do more with one glance or twitch of an eyebrow than many actors can with a script full of dialogue or action, and that is the mark of a truly gifted actor. Subjective: Those eyes, that voice, that face, that body...what can I say but that however Snape is portrayed in the books, Rickman's presence breathe's life into Snape in ways that Rowling probably didn't intend, but that makes the character better. Rickman is simply irresistible! Being easy on the eyes sure doesn't hurt Snape's complex appeal! He makes Snape into a Gothic love-god, and since I was Goth before Goth was cool, I can honestly say that Snape is the only character in this series who evokes that kind of emotion from me! By the way, is anybody else irritated at JKR for naming her book so, with so little narrative and action from Snape himself, until the very end? Sheesh! 652 pages, and all from HP's POV! Take a lesson from Conrad and really explore some other POVs, and I'm not talking about characters like Fudge, as you did in HBP!
	Because he is totally in control. All the time. And don't you all really want to find out just what is under those robes?
	I think that if I was in Hogwarts I would love Snape. I saw the 2 films, and then I read the books. so I knew first the character by Alan Rickman than Rowling. I fall in love with him in the first film. he was dark, powerful and brilliant. I love irony, too! In the second film I was exciting with seeing him another time. And then I read the books. When he appeared I laugh a lot with him. I like his black humour. I love his defects because he is human. He is not just evil or good, he is complex, a difficult person. And I like that. I don´t like a hero, or just an anti-hero. I want a complex character, with his own personality. And Snape is all this. He is not beauty, but he is sexy. Handsome. But it´s his way of being what attracts me. I think that love can change people, so I think that if Snape was in love (with me, better) he will be less alone, less sad, less in pain. Because he is always in pain, he suffers. I think that this is the key of his horrible way of being. And one of the reason that I like him. I believe in redemption, and this is what Severus need. PD: Severus is similar in some aspects with Sherlock Holmes. D2: I prefer a bad Snape. But I don´t mind if he is good or evil, because I LOVE HIM whatever he is. PD3: sorry for my English. I expect your correction PD4:The better thing of Snape, is that every fan of him have her own idea of Snape. I think that this is great. :)
	I am not particularly attracted to Snape as a character, either romantically or sexually, nor would I ever want to meet him. He is, however, my favourite character in the Harry Potter series. In many ways, it is a mystery to me how passionate some fans have become about him, though I do not begrudge them this, for in something so ephemeral as a character in a book, we can essentially project whatever image of Snape we like. If we want to read "moon-pale" instead of "sallow", "august" instead of "hook-nosed", "glossy" instead of "greasy" then we will. If we want to read his intentions as honourable or vile, we can do either. It's amazing how many people choose to accept the former, despite knowing Snape's character to be vindictive, bitter, angry, hurtful, spiteful, hateful, cruel, nasty, and self-possessed. But there's still the great mystery of Snape as a character. He is one of the few, if not the only, character in the series who remains (even through the sixth book) mysterious. Despite whatever clues we choose to accept or what we WANT to find, the truth is we cannot for certain know Snape's motivations, intentions, loyalties, or personal insights. (many may disagree with me; you are welcome to. But the facts remain, when tallied up: we still do not know who's side Snape is on, if any.) Harry, Hagrid, Voldemort, Sirius, Wormtail: they are dynamic characters, yes, but we know what drives them and we know their intents. Neither Snape nor J.K.R. has let slip a single truth about the beloved potions master. My own infatuation with the character comes mostly from book 5: I identify with Snape. I am not pretty or popular. I was not well-liked at school. I was the butt of many jokes, for both my obsession with reading and my unfailingly good grades. And the more we learn about Snape the more fascinating he becomes. In book 6 we learn that, as a student, he was making his own spells and correcting textbooks. This is not something we have evidence of any other student doing, excepting the Weasley twins. Not Harry, who has great need, nor Hermione with her wit has ever come close to making up their own spells, but this -- for a young Snape -- was a hobby. It is possible that he's practically invented the Wolfsbane potion on his own. Perhaps so genius is he that he has no tolerance whatever for pupils like Neville and Hermione, who, perhaps, have different breeds of genius. And though there are, I believe, few who accept that Snape is still undefined, that is in the end what draws fans to him. Good or bad? There are still arguments (with supportive evidence) either way. Does lost love cause bitterness? What made him to turn from one side to another, if that is in fact what he did? Do appearances matter? How much? Family is rarely mentioned, but how alone is he really? Does passionate anger belie another sort of passion altogether? Who is Snape? These are the sorts of questions inspired by the character, for it's a sure thing that he doesn't give us many answers.