Snape, Severus: History, Etc.

[Severus Snape]

Character History:
(mostly quoted from HP Lexicon)

Severus Snape was a conundrum to all who know him: cruel to his most vulnerable students, yet respected by his colleagues; Dumbledore's confidant, healer and murderer; the only person known to have been both a Death Eater and a member of the Order of the Phoenix... and believed by both Voldemort and Dumbledore to be completely loyal to either cause.

Severus Snape was the only child of Tobias Snape (a Muggle), and Eileen Prince Snape (a witch). The Snape household on Spinner’s End in an industrial part of northern England was not a happy one. Tobias Snape frequently unleashed his anger on his wife, and Severus, their wizard child, was neglected or worse. When he was about 9 years old, young Severus discovered another magically gifted child at the neighborhood playground, and fell in love with green-eyed Lily Evans’s generous nature and her daring -- and tried to forget that she was a “Mudblood,” a Muggle-born witch.

Severus and Lily attended Hogwarts together from 1971 to 1978, but Severus was sorted into Slytherin andLily was sorted into Gryffindor. Their other classmates included James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, Bertha Jorkins and the children of the Death Eaters Avery and Mulciber. Students in other years included Regulus Black and Lucius Malfoy. This was the decade of Lord Voldemort’s first rise to power, and the student body at Hogwarts reflected the turmoil of the larger world. Blood status was fair game for schoolyard taunts and many young students were fascinated by Voldemort’s power and ideas. Snape, who allegedly arrived at Hogwarts knowing more curses than most upperclassmen, was one of these students. At any rate, Lily grew more and more disturbed as her old friend Severus developed friendships with a group of Muggle-hating Slytherins, especially Avery and Mulciber.

Snape and James Potter quickly developed a loathe/loathe relationship, partly because they were both attracted to Lily Evans, partly because James was so strongly against the Dark Arts. James and his best friend Sirius nicknamed Snape "Snivellus," and taunted him about his unkempt appearance. Both boys rarely lost an opportunity to hex one another.

Over the years. Snape spent a lot of time following James and his friends around, trying to find ways to get them expelled. When Snape became too curious about where Lupin went every month, Sirius Black tricked him into entering the passage under the Whomping Willow to find out. He would have been killed by Lupin as werewolf -- or wound up a werewolf himself -- if James Potter hadn't realized what was happening and pulled him back. Far from being thankful, Snape deeply resented being in debt to James.

Snape’s worst memory was of an incident that happened during his fifth year at Hogwarts. The day everyone took their O.W.L.s, James and Sirius snuck up on Severus and humiliated him in front of all the other students. Lily was nearby and stopped James, but Severus, angry and embarrassed, lashed out at Lily and called her the unforgivable -- a Mudblood. He apologized to her later, but she would have none of it. Severus could not have Lily’s friendship and still have his Muggle-hater friends. Lily severed her ties with her childhood friend and married James Potter three years later, but Snape would always love her.

As they reached majority, Snape and many of his Slytherin cohorts became Death Eaters. It is not known to what extent he participated in Voldemort's reign of terror, although he always remained in good standing with Voldemort. On Voldemort's orders, Snape applied for a Hogwarts professorship in the winter or spring of 1980 and while eavesdropping on her interview, overheard part of Trelawney's prophecy regarding "the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord" and passed the part he heard on to his master.

This small act was to be a turning point for Snape: when Snape learned that based upon the prophecy that Voldemort planned to attack the Potters to destroy James and Lily's infant son, he was terrified. Snape went to Dumbledore to warn him of the pending attack and to ask him to keep Lily safe. After the Potters were betrayed Snape was so full of remorse that he offered his complete allegiance to Dumbledore, on the condition that Dumbledore never reveal it to anyone. Snape was to stay undercover as a Death Eater, provide Dumbledore with inside information, and protect Harry at the same time. This was something Snape was ideally suited for: he was such an accomplished Occlumens that even Voldemort could not see his thoughts. As Dumbledore later told Snape, “To give Voldemort what appears to be valuable information while withholding the essentials is a job I would entrust to nobody but you.” (DH33). The downside for Snape was that he would be open to accusations of cowardice, something he became extremely sensitive to.

However, Dumbledore would not need Snape’s spying skills for many years to come; Voldemort’s physical body was destroyed when the Avada Kedavra curse he aimed at one-year-old Harry Potter rebounded on him. His mother Lily’s self-sacrifice seconds before had unexpectedly protected her son. When the Ministry put the Death Eaters on trial after Voldemort’s fall, Dumbledore vouched for Snape’s loyalty and Snape was never imprisoned.

For the next 16 years Severus Snape was the Potions Master at Hogwarts and head of Slytherin House, a position of considerable authority and respect. His teaching style was based on intimidation and bullying. He favored students of his own house while actively undermining the efforts of students from Gryffindor. The other professors knew that Snape had been a Death Eater, but all seemed to feel that Dumbledore’s trust was sufficient proof that Snape no longer subscribed to Voldemort’s goals.

When Harry started school, Snape took an instant dislike to this child he had promised to protect. Unfortunately for Harry, he looked just like Snape’s rival James Potter -- with the exception of his mother’s green eyes. Snape was also cruel to Neville Longbottom for no discernable reason except perhaps that he could sense that Neville was afraid of him.

From Harry’s point of view, Snape’s words were often at odds with his behavior. Despite petty harassment, points taken, and detentions given, Snape repeatedly protected Harry from Quirrell, stymied Umbridge's attempt to force Harry to drink Veritaserum, and never took advantage of his innumerable chances to kill him. When Voldemort regained his powers at the end of Harry’s fourth year, Snape was able to satisfy the Dark Lord of his loyalty and reestablish his position among the Death Eaters. His role, as far as Voldemort was concerned, was to use his position at Hogwarts and his membership in the Order of the Phoenix to bring information on Harry and Dumbledore to Voldemort. Only Bellatrix, Voldemort’s most fanatical follower, harbored any doubts that Snape was a true Death Eater.

During Harry's fifth year, Snape tutored Harry in Occlumency at Dumbledore's request, under cover of "Remedial Potions." The lessons went badly and ended abruptly when Snape caught Harry peaking at the memories he had stored in the Pensieve for safekeeping. Harry did not learn close his mind to Voldemort in time, and despite the fact that both of them glimpsed bits of each other's deprived childhoods, neither one seems to have gained any empathy for the other. Harry certainly wasn't the "pampered little prince" that Snape thought him.

Disaster struck in the summer of 1996 when Dumbledore began hunting for Voldemort’s Horcruxes and couldn’t resist trying on the cursed Peverell ring. Snape rushed to his aid, but could not permanently contain the damage. Snape estimated that Dumbledore had less than a year to live, but was shocked by the Headmaster’s response. Since Voldemort had plans to kill Dumbledore anyway (using young Draco Malfoy), Dumbledore told Snape to kill him before anyone else could, and thus spare Draco and maintain his cover. Snape saw the necessity and grimly agreed. About that time, a frantic Narcissa and a snarling Bellatrix trapped him into making an Unbreakable Vow to protect Draco and "carry out the deed that the Dark Lord ... ordered Draco to perform." (HBP2). Snape’s role was inescapable. It is Snape who murders Albus Dumbledore, the most powerful wizard of his age, the Headmaster who trusted him and hired him, and Harry's last remaining father figure. Snape escaped with Draco and fled to safety.

Snape had other instructions from Dumbledore, including a double cross that would hopefully protect Harry once he reached his majority and had to leave Privet Drive. It worked, but ‘Mad Eye’ Moody was killed and Snape (flying with the attacking Death Eaters), missed a shot and cursed George’s ear off.

Dumbledore also instructed Snape protect the children at Hogwarts as much as he could once Voldemort took control. Even though Snape was made Headmaster, his was no simple task because Voldemort had placed the Carrows at Hogwarts too. Alecto replaced the murdered Charity Burbage and turned Muggle Studies into a class where Muggle-haters were indoctrinated in Voldemort’s propaganda. Amycus became the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor and used it to teach the Dark Arts instead.

Once Snape was ensconced in the Headmaster’s office, he could communicate with Dumbledore in a limited way via his portrait. This was how Snape knew when to get Gryffindor’s sword to Harry in the forest. Snape was told that “it must be taken under conditions of need and valor—and he must not know that you give it!” so he hid the sword in an icy pond and used his doe Patronus to draw Harry to its hiding place. Snape’s tenure as Headmaster ended just before the final battle when McGonagall and Flitwick confronted Snape, and rather than fight them, he escaped by flying out an open window.

At the Battle of Hogwarts, when the tide could have been turned in Hogwarts' favor had he only returned to fight by their side against the Dark Lord, Snape appeared to have chosen his true loyalty at last.

As he is an accomplished Occlumens as well as a Legilimens, no one can ever be 100% certain, but it seems sound that he was given up on at last by any Order Members who'd held on to a shred of hope that he was still a triple agent for Dumbledore and the Muggleborn/Halfblood cause. Severus seems to exist to do the Dark Lord's bidding and sneer at those whom he deems less than equal to himself, which is pretty much everyone except for the Dark Lord.

»»A LITTLE INSIGHT[/color]

Likes:

• Insults, quips and giving looks of purest loathing
  
• Improvising and/or improving spells, potions, hexes and charms.
  
• Being important; it's a stark contrast from his childhood.
  
• Being the abuser, not the abused; again, stark contrast from his youth.
  
• Anything to do with the Dark Arts. He relishes the power it gives him.
  

Dislikes:

• Anything to do with that idiot, the late James Potter, and his toerag friends.
  
• Young witches and wizards who think they know everything.
  
• Ignorance; it tries his patience, even if it does provide limitless fodder for his insult cannon.
  
• Death Eaters, actually. Half of them are mindless fanatical idiots, a quarter are uneducated dunderheads and the remaining 25% just aren't worth his time to criticize.
  
• Order of the Phoenix members, for much the same reasons.
  

Fears:

• The Dark Lord deciding that he is dispensable; for obvious reasons.
  
• Having a dose of veritaserum slipped into his evening pumpkin juice, as it were.
  
• Having to meet Lily and Dumbledore in the afterlife.
  
• Failing to achieve his ultimate goal (which I'll happily discuss in PMs with admins, but don't want to divulge here!)
  

Goals:

• Find Harry Potter.
  
• Infiltrate the Order by any means necessary.
  
• Defend and maintain his position beneath the Dark Lord and above the Death Eaters.
  
• Accidentally partake in the tragic incident that causes Bellatrix's death. Just kidding...?
  

Skills:

• Occlumens
  
• Legilimens
  
• Can brew Veritaserum, Wolfsbane Potion, and many other difficult potions.
  
• He can fly unsupported, only not for nearly so long of a distance as the Dark Lord can.
  

Quirks:
He's been accused of swooping around like an overlarge bat a time or two. That's just because people aren't used to seeing men who are both purposeful and graceful. Occasionally, his emotions can get the best of him.. or at least his temper can, at which point his eyes will bulge, his veins will throb and he's been known to howl, bawl and roar with rage. Interestingly enough, he doesn't suck up to Voldemort as much as the others. He doesn't care to wear Preparation H for lipstick even if it was from the Dark Lord's ass. He respects him, yes, and does his bidding, but he speaks whatever parts of his mind he wants the Dark Lord to know and doesn't cower, flinch or wail like the others. Pfft. Weaklings.

BOGGART
It would be the vengeful spirit of Lily Evans, blaming him for the murder of herself and her husband, and for orphaning her son. She would likely spew hateful words that would crush poor Severus' heart into teensy tiny bits. Not that he'd miss it, it's been long gone from him the moment they went their separate ways.

It could also take on the form of Dumbledore, staring into his eyes with that unwavering, bright blue bespectacled gaze, asking him why he's failed to do what he swore to do all along.

PATRONUS
It has always been a doe since Lily. Always.

ERISED
Lily Evans, alive. Her husband and son are nowhere to be seen, and her bright green eyes smoldering as she throws her arms around his reflection and kisses it with all her might. He sees his fingers sink into her dark red hair..

Personality:
Severus has always been a reserved individual. So reserved, in fact, that no one living has ever seen him as he truly is without his guards up. Even his group of friends from Hogwarts who all turned out to be Death Eaters with him never genuinely knew him.

On the surface, Severus is a dour, bitter, and unhappy man. There's no denying that he's brilliant, of course - and he'll never let you forget it even for one tiny moment. Like all Death Eaters, he delights in cruelty. However, unlike most Death Eaters, his own personal brand of torture has nothing at all to do with the use of Unforgivable Curses and everything to do with mental and emotional torment. The only person in the entire world who enjoys a good mind fuck as much as Severus would have to be Voldemort.

There are moments when Severus can show something like empathy, even concern for someone close to his inner circle, but those moments are rare. Once you're safely out of harm's way, expect things to go back to the way they were, which most likely involved him sneering or not-so-subtly belittling you.

»»SCHOOLING[/color]

Year:
Graduated 1978

Preferred House:
Slytherin

Classes:
All core classes (charms, potions, transfiguration, defense against the dark arts, flying, history of magic)
Most electives (defense against the dark arts, potions, history of magic, astronomy, arithmancy, ancient runes and transfiguration)

WAND
Birch, 11¹/₂", sturdy and resilient, with a core of unicorn hair.

BROOMSTICK
Cleansweep Seven, though recently it's just for show. He has learned a trick or two from his Dark Master, after all..

OTHER MAGICAL DEVICES
He can use his Patronus as a messenger, something he learned while in the Order.

Other than that, his wand, and his ridiculously vast intelligence, he rarely has need for any other special devices, though he does enjoy the use of a pensieve from time to time.

»»THE WAR[/color]

Affiliation:
To himself, above all others; and to the Dark Lord, for all intents and purposes.
Why:
First and foremost, for himself - Because he learned as a child that no one else was going to care for him, protect him and take care of him.

To the Dark Lord, because at last he could shrug off the mantle of his greasy, no-good father and finally be someone of value, importance, and recognized skill.

»»SCHOOLING

Year:
Graduated 1978

Preferred House:
Slytherin

Classes:
All core classes (charms, potions, transfiguration, defense against the dark arts, flying, history of magic)
Most electives (defense against the dark arts, potions, history of magic, astronomy, arithmancy, ancient runes and transfiguration)

WAND
Birch, 111/2", sturdy and resilient, with a core of unicorn hair.

BROOMSTICK
Cleansweep Seven, though recently it's just for show. He has learned a trick or two from his Dark Master, after all..

OTHER MAGICAL DEVICES
He can use his Patronus as a messenger, something he learned while in the Order.

Other than that, his wand, and his ridiculously vast intelligence, he rarely has need for any other special devices, though he does enjoy the use of a pensieve from time to time.




»»THE WAR

Affiliation:
To himself, above all others; and to the Dark Lord, for all intents and purposes.
Why:
First and foremost, for himself - Because he learned as a child that no one else was going to care for him, protect him and take care of him.

To the Dark Lord, because at last he could shrug off the mantle of his greasy, no-good father and finally be someone of value, importance, and recognized skill.