14 Years Later, Harry Potter’s ‘Always’ Scene Is Even More Heartbreaking Than Ever

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The popularity of the film series was due to both the original books and how well they were adapted for the screen. *The Deathly Hallows Parts 1 and 2* together made $2.3 billion in theaters. Splitting the last book into two movies allowed the filmmakers to fully capture the drama of Harry, Ron, and Hermione’s final year at Hogwarts. Every major character got a satisfying conclusion, including Severus Snape, who was revealed to be a hero even after his death. Harry didn’t realize how loyal Snape truly was to Dumbledore until after Nagini killed him.

Okay, as a huge Harry Potter fan, I’ve always been fascinated by Snape. It’s clear he was completely in love with Lily, and honestly, sometimes it felt a little…intense. But you can’t deny that his feelings for her were the whole reason he turned against Voldemort. I really think if he hadn’t loved Lily, he would have stayed loyal to the Dark Side. It’s crazy to think how important he was to Dumbledore’s plan – even a small change in what he did could have ruined everything! So, to really understand that moment where he reveals his love for Lily, you have to look at everything he went through as a character. It’s a really complex and moving part of the story.

Snape and Lily Were Best Friends as Children

Severus Snape had a difficult upbringing, growing up poor with a Muggle father and a magical mother. His childhood was likely painful, much like Harry Potter’s early life with the Dursleys. This was just the first of several parallels between the two characters. However, Harry’s situation improved dramatically once he started at Hogwarts and gained access to his family’s wealth. Snape, on the other hand, continued to struggle, living in poverty while facing neglect from his mother and abuse from his father.

The Evans family lived nearby, in a somewhat better neighborhood. Feeling isolated and without friends, Snape started observing Lily and her sister. When he discovered Lily was a witch, he sought her friendship, and quickly developed a strong infatuation. He never connected with Petunia, who resented him for his poverty and worn clothes. He was thrilled when Lily received her acceptance letter to Hogwarts, especially since Petunia hadn’t even been considered. This rejection, and Snape’s involvement, likely contributed to Petunia’s later animosity towards Lily’s son, Harry – ironically, impacting Harry’s life before they ever met.

Snape first met Lily on the Hogwarts Express, and that’s also where he had his initial encounters with Sirius Black and James Potter. Just like with Ron, Harry, and Draco Malfoy later on, this led to a rivalry between Snape and Lily on one side, and James and Sirius on the other. Sadly, the Sorting Hat quickly separated Snape and Lily by placing Lily in Gryffindor and him in Slytherin. While the House system sometimes caused unnecessary friction between students, it also allowed many friendships to develop. As Lily reluctantly joined the Gryffindor table, Snape was welcomed into Slytherin by Lucius Malfoy, who was a prefect at the time, and quickly became part of that house.

Snape’s Death Eater Beliefs and Bigotry Turned Lily Away

Sirius Black believed Severus Snape was exceptionally skilled in the Dark Arts, even from his first year at Hogwarts, though he exaggerated when he said Snape knew more dark magic than most seventh-year students. Snape was undoubtedly a magical genius, excelling in all areas of magic and inventing his own spells while still a student. As Sirius also pointed out, Snape was part of a group of Slytherin students who largely became Death Eaters. Ultimately, Snape followed the path of his friends and joined Lord Voldemort. Considering the shame, bullying, and pressure he faced, it’s understandable why Snape was attracted to Voldemort’s ideas about magical bloodlines.

James Potter’s constant bullying significantly contributed to Snape’s turn to the dark side. Memories reveal Snape was initially shy, reserved, and easily hurt, a stark contrast to James’s confident and often arrogant personality. However, Snape wasn’t entirely innocent, occasionally acting spitefully, such as his attempt to expose Remus Lupin as a werewolf, which almost cost him his life. Ultimately, James and Sirius were the main aggressors. Harry was deeply disturbed to witness his father and godfather treating Snape so badly and pressed Sirius for an explanation. While Sirius’s apology – that they were all immature at fifteen – seemed to satisfy Harry, Snape never forgot the abuse.

Before allowing Harry to probe his mind, Snape deliberately blocked certain memories – those containing his most embarrassing and shameful secrets. Despite knowing he shouldn’t, Harry couldn’t resist looking, and what he found deeply disturbed him. He witnessed James Potter relentlessly attacking Snape with spells until Lily intervened, forcing James to stop. However, Snape, in a fit of rage, cruelly called Lily a ‘Mudblood.’ This act, combined with their differing House allegiances and friend groups, shattered their friendship. Lily was devastated, barely recognizing the kind boy she’d once befriended, and was deeply horrified by the growing darkness she saw within him.

Snape tried repeatedly to apologize, but his attempts were always rejected. The loss of Lily, the one person who grounded him, devastated him and he never truly recovered. He threw himself into the Dark Arts and never regretted it. While details of his early time as a Death Eater are unclear, he quickly became a trusted member of Voldemort’s inner circle. He continued to love Lily in secret, only revealing this to Dumbledore after the most painful experience of his life.

Lily’s Murder Convinced Snape to Keep Her Alive in Harry

Only Albus Dumbledore and Harry Potter completely heard the prophecy about the one who could defeat Voldemort. Severus Snape only caught a fragment of the prediction from Sybill Trelawney while eavesdropping. Despite hearing so little, he immediately told Voldemort about his future rival, even though that person hadn’t been born yet. When Snape discovered Voldemort planned to target the Potters, he desperately begged him to spare Lily, only killing James and their child. Voldemort appeared to agree, stating he wouldn’t harm Lily without giving her a chance to step aside. However, as fans know, things didn’t turn out as Snape expected.

Before Voldemort killed James and Lily Potter, Snape pleaded with Dumbledore to protect Lily. Dumbledore was initially unsure, but he eventually agreed and used a powerful charm, the Fidelius Charm, to keep the Potters safe. However, Sirius Black convinced James and Lily to choose Peter Pettigrew as their Secret Keeper, which ruined Dumbledore’s plan. Voldemort easily found the Potters’ home, killed James and Lily, and then tried to kill Harry. Because Snape begged Voldemort to spare Lily, he gave her opportunities to save herself. When she bravely chose to protect Harry instead, her sacrifice created a magical shield that saved him from Voldemort.

Snape was consumed by grief over Lily’s death and didn’t concern himself with how Harry had lived, even though his own actions had unintentionally contributed to Voldemort’s downfall. Dumbledore used Snape’s sorrow to motivate him, but also rightly pointed out that Snape had a responsibility to Harry, given he was the reason the boy became an orphan. Despite being widely distrusted by Harry and the wizarding community, Snape remained dedicated to defeating Voldemort while still trying to honor Lily’s memory. Keeping his true allegiance hidden was crucial, and Dumbledore allowed people to misjudge Snape because it provided the perfect disguise for a spy.

The Deathly Hallows Revealed Snape’s Heartbreaking Heroism

By the time *The Deathly Hallows* ended, the need for secrecy was over. Voldemort, determined to possess the Elder Wand, correctly guessed that killing Snape would increase his power. However, his plan was doomed to fail because Dumbledore had asked Snape to kill him, meaning the Elder Wand’s true allegiance would always remain with Dumbledore. Sadly, this act also resulted in Snape’s death. The only comfort in this tragic event was the arrival of Harry Potter. Snape would have died content knowing he’d done everything he could, but he desperately wanted Harry to understand the truth.

One of the most powerful moments in *Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2* reveals Severus Snape as a hidden hero. Even as he dies from Nagini’s venom, Snape shares his memories with Harry, finally explaining his true loyalties. This transforms Harry’s hatred into understanding and respect, as he discovers the depth of Snape’s love for his mother. Harry is stunned to learn that Snape was even frustrated with Dumbledore’s plan, which involved potentially sacrificing him. Flashbacks show Snape grieving over Lily’s death, creating a deeply moving and heartbreaking scene.

When Dumbledore gently asked if Snape had come to care for Harry, a doe identical to Lily appeared – a recurring symbol of his enduring love for her. Snape’s love for Lily was constant throughout his life. His final words to Harry, “look at me,” revealed his desire to see Lily’s green eyes one last time before he died. Every action Snape took, both before and during his time at Hogwarts, was connected to Lily in some way. Neither Voldemort nor Dumbledore could have changed how deeply he loved her. Years later, Harry honored Snape by naming his youngest son after him, a tribute to the man who was once seen as a villain but ultimately proved to be a hero.

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2025-10-17 16:53