Budding essayist wins Harry Potter contest

Kiah Walker recently won a Harry Potter essay contest, sponsored by Gibson's Bookstore on Main Street. Kiah waxed poetic on her feelings on Snape, the potions professor at Hogwarts School of Magic. Is he good, evil, or somewhere in between? Kiah examines the question in her essay below, for which she took home a limited edition copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

The Two Halves of the Half-Blood Prince

Severus Snape, the self-proclaimed Half-Blood Prince, is perhaps J.K. Rowling’s most intriguing character. The outcome of the entire Harry Potter series may rely upon his true allegiance as a double agent. I believe that Severus Snape is good (as opposed to evil) for a variety of reasons, although one cannot truly tell.

The main reason that many would think Snape is ‘good’ is that he is trusted by Albus Dumbledore. Dumbledore was one of the greatest wizards ever. Although Dumbledore gives people second chances, that doesn’t mean he trusts them. Dumbledore clearly trusts Snape. He tells Snape many of his most guarded secrets. Snape is a very good occlumens, meaning he can keep his mind completely protected from others, but Dumbledore is still comfortable with it. I do not think Dumbledore would ever trust Snape without good reason, so he may have had one that he never told anyone. Perhaps the reason was something that could put Snape in harm’s way if it were divulged. To quote Remus Lupin, “Dumbledore trusts Severus, and that ought to be good enough for all of us.” Unfortunately, Lord Voldemort (who is probably the most powerful dark wizard ever) also trusts Snape.

Another thing that could suggest Snape is good is that he owes his life to Harry’s father. Since James is dead, the debt is (theoretically) passed on to Harry. Snape oftentimes seems to hate Harry, but it is possible that Snape will save Harry in the seventh and final book. He has never actually harmed Harry, even with over six years of chances to hurt or even kill him. Snape also protected Harry from Professor Quirrel, a Voldemort supporter (although Snape claimed not to know that). At one point, Snape did also possibly save Harry by telling the Order of the Phoenix about Harry’s danger at the Ministry of Magic and how he would need help.

The main thing working against Snape is that he ended up murdering Dumbledore. This is where we can do little more than theorize. Snape killed Dumbledore with, “revulsion and hatred etched in the harsh lines of his face.” Maybe it was hatred for Dumbledore, but I think it was hatred for what he had to do. It is possible that Dumbledore had commanded Snape to kill him as part of a larger scheme. After all, Dumbledore knew attempts were being made on his life. Snape had also made an Unbreakable Vow to kill Dumbledore, which Dumbledore was aware of and seemingly unconcerned with. Right before Dumbledore died, he said, “Severus… Severus… Please…” Maybe Dumbledore was pleading for Snape to kill him. Once Dumbledore was dead, Snape did not harm anyone else.

I do think that Dumbledore had a plan. According to Hagrid, Snape and Dumbledore argued. Dumbledore said Snape wasn’t trying hard enough to do something, perhaps to try to kill Dumbledore. Snape had also said that he didn’t want to do “it” anymore, and that Dumbledore took too much for granted. I think Snape may have been referring to what might happen to him after killing Dumbledore.

I believe, and want to believe, that Snape is good. There is plenty of evidence for this argument. Still, it remains to be seen. We will all soon find out.