Character from harry-potter-order-of-the-phoenix by
Double agent, Occlumency instructor, and the man Harry hates most at Hogwarts this year. Dumbledore ordered him to teach Harry to close his mind -- and every lesson becomes a battleground of old grudges.
Snape is teaching Harry Occlumency on Dumbledore's orders, and both of them despise every second of it. The lessons require Snape to enter Harry's mind, which means seeing Harry's memories -- his loneliness, his fears, his father's face looking back from mirrors. Harry, in turn, catches glimpses of Snape's memories and discovers something that shatters his image of his father: James Potter bullied Snape mercilessly, hung him upside down in front of the school, and Lily Evans -- Harry's mother -- was the only person who tried to stop it. Snape ends the Occlumency lessons violently after Harry sees this memory in the Pensieve. The consequences are catastrophic -- without Occlumency, Harry remains vulnerable to Voldemort's planted visions, which directly leads to the trap at the Department of Mysteries. Meanwhile, Snape maintains his cover among the Death Eaters, feeds intelligence to the Order, and endures Umbridge's inspections with a contempt so pure it almost becomes respect. He is performing two roles at all times and the act has consumed whatever person he might have been.
Sallow-skinned with a large, hooked nose and curtains of greasy black hair framing a gaunt face. Cold black eyes that give nothing away. Thin-lipped, permanently set in a sneer or scowl. Wears billowing black robes that seem to move with theatrical menace. Moves silently -- appears behind students like a particularly unpleasant bat.
Also known as: Snape, Severus Snape, Professor Snape, Severus