Since the first Harry Potter movie, Severus Snape was presented as a villainous figure, but once the final installment was released, viewers learned his intentions were never evil — leading to the endless debate over whether Snape was good or bad. The Harry Potter series told the story of Harry and Lord Voldemort, a dark wizard who had sinister plans for the Muggle and wizarding worlds and a personal vendetta against Harry. The books' were adapted into blockbusters, and the Harry Potter movies released between 2001 and 2011 with the final novel, The Deathly Hallows, divided into two parts.

With the Harry Potter reboot series at Max in development, it's worth trying to understand whether Snape was good or bad. Severus Snape (Alan Rickman) was the Potions Master at Hogwarts when Harry, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger arrived, and quickly positioned himself as an enemy of the trio, especially of Harry. However, following the reveal in Deathly Hallows that all he wanted to do was protect Harry from Voldemort when rewatching the movies it’s easier to catch all those subtle hints at him not being a villain at all.

Snape Gave Away His Intentions In Sorcerer's Stone

Clues Were Revealed In Snape's Very First Scene

The first few clues that help audiences understand whether Snape was good or bad are in the first Harry Potter movie/book. The first clue happens during Snape's introduction. In Snape’s first appearance during the Sorting Hat scene, he reacts when seeing Harry in discomfort due to the boy's scar’s pain and turns to look at Quirrell. This is significant, as Quirrell was later revealed to be hiding Voldemort, and many interpreted this moment as Harry's scar burning because of Snape.

Later on, during Harry’s first potions class, Snape asks Harry what he would get if he “added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood”, which fans have found to have a secret meaning (via Tumblr): asphodel is a type of lily meaning, “my regrets follow you to the grave”, and wormwood means "absence” and is associated with bitter sorrow. Combined, these two would mean, “I bitterly regret Lily’s death.” When considering whether Snape was good or bad, it's uncertain if J.K. Rowling meant to include this in the text or if it was just a happy coincidence.

Snape Saved Harry At The Quidditch Match

Hermoine Mistook Snape For Trying To Jinx Harry's Broom

The next clue regarding whether or not Snape is good or bad is during Harry’s first Quidditch match. During the game, Quirrell was jinxing Harry’s broom, but Hermione wrongly believed it was Snape as he was whispering something while staring at Harry. Snape was actually trying a counter-spell, and Hermione’s fire distracted both, breaking the jinx.

While watching the film, Quirrell can be seen in the background muttering to himself, even though the camera is focusing on Snape.

This was yet another misdirection on the filmmakers and Rowling's part. In the novel, Hermione ends up knocking Professor Quirrell over after setting Snape's robes on fire and breaking his eye , thus breaking the jinx. While watching the film, Quirrell can be seen in the background muttering to himself, even though the camera is focusing on Snape.

Snape Shielded Harry & His Friends From Harm

The Teacher Protected The Trio From Remus Lupin

More clues to answer whether Snape was good or bad can be found after Sorcerer's Stone. Jumping to Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Snape once more showed that he cared about Harry when he automatically shielded Harry, Ron, and Hermione as Remus Lupin transformed into a werewolf. This is one of the moments that paints Snape in an entirely different light.

Throughout the year, Lupin had managed to take his wolfsbane potion so that he could remain cognizant while still in his werewolf form. However, between the chaos of Sirius returning and finding Pettigrew, that night he forgot. When Lupin begins to transform, Snape immediately throws himself in front of the trio.

Snape's Hesitation At Killing Dumbledore

Snape Killing Dumbledore Was Dumbledore's Own Plan

One of the biggest moments that causes audiences to question if Snape is good or bad is when he kills Dumbledore. Before it was later discovered that his death was pre-planned, many were leaning toward the latter assertion. However, when watching the scene over, there are other clues that viewers may have missed.

In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, when Snape killed Albus Dumbledore, there was some hesitation in his voice, which is seen as an involuntary reaction that shows he wasn’t killing him out of evil. In fact, Dumbledore and Snape planned the former’s death at the hands of the latter, as part of the bigger plan of Snape earning Voldemort’s trust.

Why Snape's True Nature Was Hidden

Snape Protected Harry Out Of Love For Lily

The reason for Snape appearing like a villain in the Harry Potter series is not just to mislead the audience but also a result of PTSD. The books and movies mention that Harry has his mother’s eyes, which was triggering to Snape, given his feelings for Lily and how badly James Potter and his friends treated him.

Snape, then, protected Harry out of love for Lily but inevitably projected his hatred for James on him. All these hints and subtle details pointing at Snape’s real intentions throughout the Harry Potter series are what make Severus Snape such a complex character.

He Wasn't Evil But Snape Was Still Kind Of A Villain

What makes Snape one of the most interesting characters in the Harry Potter franchise is that, even with the revelation that he is not evil and was protecting Harry, he is still not a "good guy." From the first appearance of Snape in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, he does not hide his contempt for Harry. Though he protects the boy out of love for his mother, it is clear that Snape sees too much of Harry's father in him to really soften to him.

He is meant to be a professional teacher, yet he cannot control his emotions enough to be a decent educator to Harry.

Snape's mistreatment of Harry is even more noticeable in the books, as Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone features many instances of Snape going out of his way to punish Harry, treating him more harshly and differently from the other students. He is meant to be a professional teacher, yet he cannot control his emotions enough to be a decent educator to Harry. Dumbledore even its to Harry at the end of the book that it is likely Snape hates him.

Snape's treatment of Harry is so harsh and unfair that the story is able to undo the fact that Snape's character was redeemed in the first installment. Snape was seen as the prime suspect as the main villain in the first Harry Potter adventure, and while he was revealed to have been looking out for Harry the whole time, he goes right back to being so cruel that the audience starts to question if he is a villain after all.

This is not a fault of the story but rather a way of showing that Snape is a more complex character within Harry Potter's story of good and evil.