In J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, one of the most heartbreaking moments involves Severus Snape revealing to Dumbledore the meaning behind his Patronus taking the form of a doe, a creature that had previously been associated with Harry Potter’s mother Lily. When asked why, after all these years, he still thinks of her, he simply responds with the word “Always”. This brief exchange between the two characters has since been immortalized as one of the most poignant moments in not just the Harry Potter novels, but in all of literature.
The Story of Snape and Lily
Snape and Lily were childhood friends who met on the playground when they were both young children. They quickly formed a strong bond despite coming from very different backgrounds. While Snape was raised in an abusive household and had few friends, Lily came from a supportive family and was well-liked by her classmates.
When they went to Hogwarts, Snape was sorted into Slytherin, the house known for its dark and ambitious students, while Lily was sorted into Gryffindor, the house of the brave and the righteous. Even then, however, their friendship continued.
However, as they grew older, Snape became more involved in the Dark Arts and began to drift away from Lily. Despite her best efforts to bring him back to the light, Snape continued to slip further and further away until he eventually became a Death Eater, a servant of Lord Voldemort.
Lily, on the other hand, became a member of the Order of the Phoenix, a secret society founded to fight against Voldemort and his followers. She eventually married James Potter, one of Snape’s former rivals, and had a son named Harry.
The final straw for Snape and Lily’s friendship came when Snape accidentally revealed to Voldemort that Harry was the one who would be able to defeat him. This revelation led to Voldemort targeting Harry and his parents, ultimately leading to Lily’s death at the hands of the Dark Lord.
The Meaning Behind “Always”
When Snape speaks to Dumbledore about his Patronus taking the shape of a doe, he reveals that Lily’s Patronus was a doe as well. This suggests that Snape’s feelings for Lily were far deeper than just a childhood friendship. In fact, his love for her never faded, even after all these years and despite the fact that she had moved on and married someone else.
When Dumbledore asks Snape if he still loves Lily, Snape responds with the word “Always”. This simple word conveys so much more than just a declaration of love. It suggests that Snape’s love for Lily was not just a passing fancy or an infatuation. It was a deep, abiding love that lasted even after she was gone.
Furthermore, the word “always” suggests that Snape’s love for Lily was unchanging and eternal. It wasn’t something that came and went like the tides. It was a constant force that guided Snape throughout his life and gave him purpose.
Why We Love Snape and Lily’s Story
Despite the fact that Snape and Lily’s story is ultimately tragic, it is also incredibly compelling. There is something deeply moving about Snape’s undying love for Lily, even after everything that had happened between them.
Snape’s journey from a lonely, abused boy to a loyal servant of Dumbledore is also a powerful one. He is a character who, despite his flaws and mistakes, ultimately emerges as a hero in his own right.
Finally, Snape and Lily’s story also serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of extremism and radicalization. Snape’s descent into darkness is a warning about how easy it is to be drawn in by the siren song of power and control, and how difficult it can be to escape once you’re in too deep.
Conclusion
In the end, Snape and Lily’s story is about more than just a tragic love affair. It is a story about loyalty, sacrifice, and redemption. It shows us that even the darkest of characters can find their way back to the light, and that love is a force that can endure even in the darkest of times.
FAQ
What is the significance of Lily and Snape having the same patronus?
In the wizarding world, a patronus is a powerful charm that conjures up a protective figure to ward off negative energy or Dementors, the soul-sucking creatures sent by the Dark Lords. It is a common belief that a person’s patronus reflects their personality and represents something that they deeply value or loved. For instance, Harry Potter’s patronus takes the form of a stag, just like his father’s Animagus form. Similarly, Hermione Granger’s patronus takes the form of an otter, which is a clever and industrious animal.
The significance of Lily and Snape having the same patronus is that it symbolizes the depth of their relationship, friendship, and loyalty. The fact that they both share a patronus of a doe is not a coincidence, but rather a testament to their deep connection. Initially, we learn that Snape hates James Potter and is in love with Lily Evans. However, as the story unfolds, we realize that Snape’s affection and respect for Lily went beyond the traditional boundaries of love and romance, as he had immense respect for her, her intelligence, and her kind heart.
Their shared patronus is not only significant for Snape’s character development but also for Harry’s journey as well. In the Deathly Hallows, when Harry opens the snitch left to him by Dumbledore, he learns about Snape’s life and his dedication to protecting Harry and the wizarding world from Lord Voldemort. It is only in the final moments of his life that Harry comprehends the true meaning of the doe patronus that Snape had conjured.
The shared patronus of Lily and Snape epitomizes their loving relationship, Snape’s deep-rooted loyalty to Lily, and it also serves as a source of guidance and comfort for Harry in his times of need. The significance of the patronus is symbolic and encapsulates the depth of emotions, ideas, and values that the characters represent.
Did Lily know Snape loved her?
Lily Potter was one of the best-known characters in the Harry Potter series. She was a kind-hearted, intelligent, and brave witch who was loved and admired by many. She was also the best friend of Severus Snape, who later turned out to be a teacher at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Snape loved Lily from his childhood and carried those feelings into adulthood, even after Lily married James Potter. The question that often arises in the Harry Potter fandom is whether Lily knew about Snape’s feelings towards her.
To answer this question, we need to look at their relationship closely. Lily and Snape grew up together and became friends when they were young. They shared a love of magic and had a lot in common. However, as they grew older, their friendship became strained because Snape followed a path that took him to the dark arts. Lily, on the other hand, rejected the darkness and chose to be a good witch. This led to a rift between the two friends.
Despite their differences, Snape loved Lily deeply. This was evident when he overheard a conversation between Lily and James Potter, where James bullied Snape. Lily stood up for Snape, and this small act of kindness helped to make Snape’s feelings for Lily even stronger.
It is unlikely that Lily ever found out about Snape’s love for her because she decided to cut ties with him once he became involved with the Death Eaters. Even after he changed his ways and became a spy for the Order of Phoenix, she chose not to renew their friendship. It is possible that Snape never told her how he felt, as he knew that she was in love with James Potter.
While it is clear that Snape loved Lily deeply, it is unlikely that Lily ever knew about his feelings. Their friendship came to an end before Snape ever had a chance to confess his love. He carried her memory with him for the rest of his life, and it was his love for her that ultimately led him to help Harry Potter defeat Voldemort.
Did Snape send his Patronus to Harry?
Yes, Snape did in fact send his Patronus to Harry. In the seventh and final book of the Harry Potter series, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” Snape’s loyalty to Dumbledore and his love for Lily Evans are revealed. Snape had been tasked by Dumbledore to protect Harry, and despite the danger of his mission and the hatred he faced from many in the wizarding world, Snape remained dedicated to this task.
Towards the end of the book, Harry and his friends Ron and Hermione are searching for the remaining Horcruxes, objects that contain a piece of Voldemort’s soul. One of these objects is the sword of Gryffindor, which they believe is located at the bottom of a lake. While trying to retrieve the sword, Harry is attacked by a group of Inferi, reanimated corpses that serve Voldemort. In this dangerous situation, Harry is saved by a Patronus Charm, a spell that creates a protective, animal-shaped guardian. The Patronus takes the form of a doe, which Harry had previously seen in a memory of his mother’s.
It is later revealed that this Patronus was summoned by Snape, as a way to guide Harry to the sword. Snape had chosen the form of the doe for his Patronus because it was the same form that Lily Evans’ Patronus had taken. This shows that Snape was not only protecting Harry out of a sense of duty, but also out of his love for Lily.
Snape did send his Patronus to Harry in order to help him find the sword of Gryffindor, which was needed to destroy one of Voldemort’s Horcruxes. This act of bravery and loyalty demonstrated Snape’s true character, and his love for Lily Evans continued to drive him even after her death.
Why did the Elder Wand not belong to Snape?
The Elder Wand is one of the three Deathly Hallows, and is said to be the most powerful wand in existence. It grants the wielder unbeatable power in duels, and it is highly sought after by many powerful wizards. In the Harry Potter series, the ownership of the Elder Wand plays a crucial role in the story’s plot.
During the events of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Severus Snape had the reputation of being a powerful wizard who was loyal to Lord Voldemort. Dumbledore had given Snape the task of killing him, but it was revealed to Harry and the other main characters that Snape was actually a double agent for the Order of the Phoenix. However, in the end, Snape did end up killing Dumbledore.
The ownership of the Elder Wand is determined by defeating its current owner in a duel. So, when Dumbledore was killed, Snape was presumed to be the new owner of the Elder Wand. However, this presumption was incorrect. In reality, Draco Malfoy had disarmed Dumbledore before Snape arrived on the scene, which meant that the wand’s true new owner was Malfoy.
It is revealed later in the story that Voldemort had been trying to gain control of the Elder Wand. However, since he did not understand the true nature of the wand’s ownership, he believed that Snape was the true owner and, in turn, Voldemort killed Snape in hopes of obtaining ownership of the Elder Wand. In doing so, Voldemort broke the chain of ownership of the Elder Wand, and it ultimately led to his downfall.
The Elder Wand did not belong to Snape because he did not win it in a duel with the previous owner. It was actually Draco Malfoy who had become the true owner of the wand after he had disarmed Dumbledore. Despite Voldemort’s belief that Snape held the wand and the power it possessed, it was actually Malfoy’s possession of the Elder Wand that played a critical role in the series’ plot.
Is Snape Harry’s real father?
The idea that Professor Snape might be Harry Potter’s real father has been a popular fan theory perpetuated over the years. However, it is important to clarify that this theory is entirely unfounded and has no support in canon.
Throughout the seven books, there are multiple references to Harry’s real father, and it is no secret that his parents were Lily and James Potter. Furthermore, the possibility of Snape being Harry’s father is never suggested or hinted at in the books.
From what we know, Snape and Lily Potter were childhood friends who grew apart as they got older. Snape joined the Death Eaters and later became a spy for Dumbledore, while Lily married James and had a son, Harry. While Snape and Lily had a complicated relationship, their interactions make it clear that there was no romantic involvement between them after Lily started dating James.
Moreover, in “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”, Rowling explicitly confirms that Snape is not Harry’s father. When Harry is using the Pensieve to look at Snape’s memories, he sees a conversation between Snape and Dumbledore where Snape says, “You have kept him alive so that he can die at the right moment?… You have used me…I have spied for you and lied for you, put myself in mortal danger for you. Everything was supposed to be to keep Lily Potter’s son safe. Now you tell me you have been raising him like a pig for slaughter.”
Here, Snape is referring to Harry being the “Chosen One” and the mission to defeat Voldemort. He views Harry as Lily’s son, not his own. This quote confirms that Snape did not consider Harry to be his own child.
While the theory of Snape being Harry’s real father might be an entertaining idea for some fans, it is erroneous. The books are clear that James Potter is Harry’s father, and J.K. Rowling herself has debunked this theory. Therefore, we can confidently say that Snape is not Harry Potter’s real father.