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Severus Snape, born January 9, 1960 was a potions master, professor, and headmaster of Hogwarts. Much information regarding his life was revealed after his death at the Battle of Hogwarts of the Second Wizarding War on May 2, 1998. Severus Snape, though a Slytherin, was actually a half-blood. He was born to Eileen Snape, nee Prince, a pure-blood, and Tobias Snape, a Muggle. His early life is largely shrouded in mystery, but it is known that he was raised in the Muggle neighborhood of Spinner’s End. Interestingly, this is the same Muggle neighborhood in which Lily Potter, nee Evans, Harry Potter’s mother, was raised, and it is known that Severus Snape and Lily Potter met prior to attending Hogwarts together.

Snape attended Hogwarts from 1971 to 1978 as a Slytherin, hiding his Muggle heritage and joining the blood purists of his house. He was a member of Professor Horace Slughorn’s “Slug Club” while attending Hogwarts. After graduating, he quickly joined the Death Eaters , though he eventually defected from them and acted as a spy.

Snape became a potions master in 1981 and subsequently became the Hogwarts Potions professor. He then held the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts professor in the 1996-1997 school year before taking over as headmaster from 1997 to 1998. Before taking the post of headmaster, Snape maintained the Head of House position for Slytherin.

Recent tales have surfaced indicating that Snape was a member of the Order of the Phoenix, a group of wizards and witches that played an integral part in defeating Voldemort. Although Snape had tumultuous relationships with the other members, it has been revealed by Harry Potter that the late Albus Dumbledore trusted Snape implicitly. This may seem foolish, given the knowledge that Severus Snape killed Dumbledore, however, we have also learnt that Dumbledore’s death was orchestrated by his own hand. Dumbledore implored Snape to take on the role of his killer. In light of this evidence, it would seem their relationship had a solid foundation of trust, deeper than any we could imagine.

Although he was rarely seen after taking the post of headmaster of Hogwarts, information regarding his actions at this time has revealed that he attempted to protect the students from Voldemort’s wrath while not revealing his position as a double agent. Many horrors occurred at Hogwarts during his year as headmaster, but none present could state that Severus was behind those.

He was seen taking part in the Battle of Hogwarts, supposedly protecting the students, until he was killed at the hands of Voldemort. It is unknown by this writer why Voldemort chose to kill Snape, though rumors suggest Voldemort believed Snape was the owner of a powerful artifact and that by killing him, Voldemort could take possession of the artifact. It would seem that this was either false information or that Voldemort did not receive the artifact, since he was soon after defeated by Harry Potter.

After his death, the great Harry Potter worked tirelessly to ensure that Severus Snape’s portrait would hang in Hogwarts, honoring him for his role in the war as a hero, and placing him among the portraits of others who held the title of “headmaster”. As such, Severus Snape’s portrait hangs in the Headmaster’s office, next to Albus Dumbledore whom he succeeded. Though Snape is rarely in his portrait, at least when the present headmaster has company, it is a beautiful painting.

The portrait is smaller than some of the more ostentatious headmasters’, and depicts what many assume to be Professor Snape’s office. There is a straight-backed chair with a small table next to it, a fireplace with a mantle, and bookshelves, filled with books on potions, the Dark Arts, and defensive magic. The mantle holds only a few trinkets, among them a doe figurine, though this is gone as often as Snape himself. Sometimes he can be seen sitting in his chair and reading one of his books, the figurine on the mantle, the fire burning merrily against the cold dungeon walls. Despite this, Severus Snape’s portrait maintains the cold facade that his true self held in life, protective of his secrets even now.