Summary

• Snape's hatred towards Harry in the Harry Potter series was fueled by his unrequited love for Lily, which he couldn't move on from due to guilt. This adds complexity to Snape's character and explains his treatment of Harry.
• Snape's loyalty to Dumbledore and the Order of the Phoenix was a result of his guilt over Lily's death. He chose the double life to redeem himself and help take down Voldemort.
• Despite Snape's redemption arc, his treatment of Harry and obsession with Lily aren't excusable. Lily only saw Snape as a friend, and his refusal to respect her boundaries shows his unhealthy fixation.

The Snape and Lily twist was one of the greatest shocks that the Harry Potter series had to offer, but new knowledge of that relationship gleans further insights. Snape's hatred of Harry is an essential element of the overall story and Snape's character. It fostered confusion among audiences and readers about Snape's true loyalties and made his silent heroism all the more surprising. Only Alan Rickman knew of this twist before the final Harry Potter book hit the stands, leading to some intriguing acting choices.

While many things don't make sense about Snape, numerous mysteries were resolved when it was revealed Snape was Lily's childhood friend, was deeply in love with her, inadvertently orchestrated her death, and turned spy for the Order of the Phoenix as penance for his crimes. The films don't offer a lot of information about Snape and Lily, and some of the finer points about their friendship come through subtextual information. There's more behind the iconic phrase "Always," and even more people didn't know about Snape and Lily.

Harry's Presence Tortures Snape

Harry Potter Reminds Snape Of Lily

From the moment Harry meets Snape at only 11 years old, it's abundantly clear that the potions master doesn't like him. Harry doesn't understand why Snape is so awful to him, and this unearned ire causes viewers to sympathize with the innocent first-year student without questioning if there's something else going on beneath the surface. It's not until the final moments of the last movie that everything becomes clear.

Though Snape and Lily were only friends, Snape was in love with Lily and couldn't move on because of his guilt. Through his memories, it's revealed that he was worried about Harry's future when Lily and James died and that he was afraid of seeing Harry when he was old enough to attend Hogwarts. He can hardly bear to see Harry daily, being reminded of Lily and everything he lost, especially considering that Harry had the same eyes as his mother. Still, it's no excuse for how he treats the young boy who has also lost so much.

Snape Is Unable To Move On From The Past

Snape Can't Forgive Himself

Something that Harry Potter fans know about Severus Snape from the books is that he is constantly living in the past. Snape struggles to let go of the past, which is obvious in Snape's constant comparisons between Harry and his father, his unmitigated hatred toward Lupin, and his mistreatment of Sirius when the two are operating in the Order together. Grief and mourning are normal and healthy, but even Dumbledore is surprised to learn that Snape still loves Lily "after all this time."

While it's truly unknown how a later in life Snape and Lily conversation would've played out, if Lily could speak to Snape, she probably would have wanted him to be happy, and, if that meant moving on, then she would have advised him to try. Instead, Snape harbors his feelings for her and tends to his guilt and grudges in a very unhealthy manner.

Snape Chose The Double Life Because Of Lily's Death

Snape's Love For Lily Led His Decisions

Throughout the series, it's unclear who Snape s — Voldemort and the Death Eaters or Dumbledore and the Order of the Phoenix. The reason Snape and Lily ended their friendship was his moving to the dark side. He spreads his devotion between both light and dark, but, after he kills Dumbledore, it's revealed this was all arranged. After Lily's death, Snape firmly makes up his mind that he won't Voldemort, and he wants to stop him. He goes to Dumbledore, and Snape becomes a spy.

Snape's Redemption Isn't Entirely irable

Snape Isn't A Pure Hero

No matter what reasons Snape has for behaving the way he does, it doesn't excuse his behavior. Not only does he bully Harry and try to make his time at Hogwarts miserable, but he also tries to turn Harry against his father. He often bad-mouths James because he got everything he wished for himself. There's no denying — not even Harry could deny it — that James and Sirius mercilessly bullied the potions master at Hogwarts.

Perhaps there's truth to Snape's complaints, but James must have had redeeming qualities for Lily to love him. Still, his redemption arc doesn't excuse or explain his appalling treatment of Harry.

Snape & Lily Were Neighbors

This Is How Their Friendship Developed

Snape and Lily were best friends at Hogwarts, but they met before that. As shown in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, the two were originally neighbors, with Snape hailing from the wrong side of the tracks. As per his memories, he had a crush on Lily long before they formally met.

This is even more apparent in the book, but nonetheless, it adds another layer of dynamic and suggests that they see one another more often than what's depicted. Petunia even accused him of spying on them when the sisters played together. When Lily found herself accidentally practicing magic, Snape emerged, and the two soon became friends.

Lily Only Ever Saw Snape As A Friend

The Attraction Was Always One Sided

As much as people romanticize Snape's infatuation with Lily, the fact she did not love him back romantically is ignored. The fact Snape and Lily were only friends, and she only saw it as such, reveals a lot about his refusal to respect her boundaries. It seems his love was an ongoing obsession with her that lasted long after her death. This is ed by his sullen insistence that James was to blame for everything wrong. Had he mourned Lily and moved on without holding on to his grudges, it would have been much more palatable.

Snape Taught Lily About Magic Before Hogwarts

Snape Was Instrumental In Lily's Skills

One of the most interesting things about the Snape and Lily relationship was that Snape was to Lily as Hagrid was to Harry, as it was Snape who taught Lily all about Hogwarts and the Wizarding World. Lily hails from a family of muggles and never knew that the Wizarding World existed until Snape explained things to her. He was her first wizarding friend and her introduction into the magical world that became her home.

Like Harry, she entered the world with no knowledge about magic, believing it to be pure fantasy, and Snape educated her about the ins and outs of what it means to be a witch. Lily was often hailed as one of the brightest witches of her age, and some of that may be due to the knowledge she received from the bright yet sullen half-blood prince.

Snape Never Insulted Harry About His Mother, Only His Father

Snape Only Ever Hated James Potter

As Harry's professor, Snape takes merciless enjoyment in tormenting the Boy Who Lived, mocking everything from his fame to his scar. One of Snape's favorite jabs to make was regarding the arrogance and insufferable nature of Harry's father, James — and that Harry was just like him. Harry had no way of knowing his father was a rival of his first-year potions master, and, even if he had known, it wouldn't have made it any more bearable for a young boy who barely even knew his parents.

Upon a rewatch or a reread of the Harry Potter series, audiences immediately notice that Snape only ever targets Harry's father, never saying a word about Lily. Snape never insulted Lily in front of Harry, which is a huge clue to the Snape and Lily relationship, and foreshadows why he bothered to ever help the boy in the first place.

Snape Only Cradles Lily's Body In The Movie

Snape Only Cared About Lily's Death

Audiences may not know that Snape did not arrive at the Potters' home in Godric's Hollow in the book, which means the Snape and Lily scene where he cradles Lily's body is only in the film, making Snape appear sympathetic. It also calls into question what he did with Harry. He doesn't raise him or deliver him to the Dursleys. It's possible he helped in some other way. While the clip focuses on his regret, it uses Lily's death to develop his character. It adds a level of affection the book version of Snape doesn't have.

Lily Is A Part Of Snape's Worst Memory

Lily Still Haunts Snape

While it's never expressly stated, the Snape and Lily relationship is key to understanding why the memory Harry views in the pensieve in Order of the Phoenix earned the moniker of Snape's "worst memory." Though she may be the love of Snape's life, Lily also remains a big part of Snape's worst memory, though her role in it was cut from the feature films. When he recalls being bullied by James and the other Marauders, Lily is right there in the background and comes to his defense.

Throughout their relationship, she's either defending James or awkwardly asking Snape not to blame him for it. However, there are times when she defends Snape, which may be even more humiliating for the young Slytherin. Toward the end of the memory, Lily comes to Snape's defense, and he rebuffs her and calls her a Mudblood. This is effectively what ended their friendship for good, as revealed in the books, which is why it's Snape's worst memory, not that he was being bullied.