In all of the expanded world of Harry Potter, there are few characters quite like Severus Snape. At once tortured, arrogant, and deeply sympathetic, he is full of complexity. While many readers and viewers of the movies have taken them to their heart and turned him into something of a hero, the truth is that there are quite a few of his own words that show that he was, in many ways, a villain.
Far too frequently, Snape was willing to indulge the darker side of his personality, even when he knew more about the truth of the situation than anyone else.
On Being Too Eager
“That Is The Second Time You Have Spoken Out Of Turn, Miss Granger. Tell Me, Are You Incapable Of Restraining Yourself, Or Do You Take Pride In Being An Insufferable Know-It-All?”
There’s no question that Hermione is one of the smartest characters in the series. Unfortunately, this could cause her to get on the nerves of some, including and especially Snape. As this quote demonstrates, he wasn’t above lashing out at Hermione, largely because she was a Gryffindor and was one of Harry’s earliest allies.
When it came right down to it, Snape was often far too willing to indulge his bitterness and urge to hurt others of whom he was jealous.
On the Quality of Students
“I Can Teach You How To Bottle Fame, Brew Glory, Even Stopper Death — If You Aren't As Big A Bunch Of Dunderheads As I Usually Have To Teach.”
Hogwarts is notable for having many great professors, men, and women who seemed to truly care about their students and who wanted them to succeed. However, Snape wasn’t truly one of those, as this comment makes painfully clear. Rather than seeing potential in every student that walked through the doors, he instead saw most of them as a nuisance.
He showed, repeatedly, that he had a casual sort of cruelty that he was more than happy to inflict on his unfortunate students.
On the Chutzpah of That Boy
“You Dare Use My Own Spells Against Me? It Was I Who Invented Them. Yes, I Am The Half-Blood Prince.”
One of the great mysteries of the novel and movie Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was the precise identity of this person. As it turns out, it was none other than Snape himself, who had, even at an early age, grown a little enamored with his own brilliance.
However, what’s especially notable about this quote is that it shows Snape is willing to own up to a dangerous spell that, given what it ended up doing, could hardly have been the product of someone who wasn’t a villain at heart.
On Stating the Obvious
“Yes, It Is Easy To See That Nearly Six Years Of Magical Education Have Not Been Wasted On You, Potter. Ghosts Are Transparent.”
Snape is, of course, capable of delivering a withering comment to anyone who gets in his way, but he saves most of his vituperation for Harry. This quote shows just how willing he is to inflict a bit of verbal damage on the student that he seems to hate above all others.
What’s most revealing about this comment, however, is the fact that Snape knows that Harry is quite smart (if not always the best student), but he still can’t resist the chance to hurt him in whatever way he can.
On Strolling
“Well, Well, Lupin. Out For A Little Walk… In The Moonlight, Are We?”
Lupin is, arguably, one of the best and most likable Gryffindors in the series, particularly since he shoulders the burden of being a werewolf with very little complaint. He is, in essence, a deeply tragic figure. This doesn’t keep Snape from deciding that it would be appropriate to needle him about his unfortunate condition.
Given that the viewer has already seen the tremendous toll this has taken on Lupin and his life, this comment from Snape seems all the more villainous in its casual malice.
On James Potter
“Your Father Was A Swine!”
James Potter was from a perfect person, and though he was one of the more heroic members of the Order of the Phoenix, he could also be quite cruel, particularly toward Snape. However, that doesn’t excuse Snape’s insistence to Harry that his father was, in his own words, a swine.
Given that Harry’s father perished fighting Voldemort, one would think that Snape, if he weren’t a villain, would have found it in his heart to at least let the dead rest in peace.
On Family Resemblance
“How Touchingly Paternal, Black. Perhaps Potter Will Grow Up To Be A Felon, Just Like His Godfather!”
The relationship between Harry and Sirius is one of the best in the series, especially since Sirius becomes the father that he never got to have. Unfortunately, Snape doesn’t see any value in their relationship and instead goes out of his way to insult both of them.
Once again, he shows that, deep down, he truly is a villain, someone more willing to nurse his grievances and to lash out at others than try to find a way toward forgiveness.
On Ron's Failings
"Weasley’s Wand Causes Devastation With The Simplest Spells. We’ll Be Sending Potter To The Hospital Wing In A Matchbox.”
In many ways, Ron is one of the most likable of characters, but he isn’t quite as adept as a student as either Harry or Hermione. Thus, he is an ideal target for Snape, who goes out of his way to insult him in front of one of the other faculty members.
It’s another of those moments that shows how villainous Snape could be, especially in his willingness to inflict his withering commentary in such a way as to inflict maximum emotional damage.
On Harry's Failings
“You Just Know? Once Again, You Astonish Me With Your Gifts, Potter. Gifts Mere Mortals Could Only Dream Of Possessing. How Grand It Must Be, To Be The Chosen One.”
There have been many chosen ones in fantasy, but there are few that are quite as tragic as Harry, who has to endure unspeakable loss as he sets out to defeat Voldemort. Unfortunately for Harry, this doesn’t mean that much to Snape, who decides to make light of the fact that Harry is the one who has to shoulder the burden of defeating one of the most powerful wizards in existence.
It’s yet another of those moments where Snape shows that, deep down, his villainous bitterness will get the better of him.
On Harry's Infamy
“Clearly, Fame Isn’t Everything, Is It, Mr. Potter?”
If there’s one thing that Snape seems to enjoy more than anything else, it’s going out of his way to be cruel to Harry. In this instance, he makes light of the fact that Harry’s fame has proven to be a double-edged sword.
Given that Snape, more than anyone else, knows very well what Harry has had to endure, this remark seems especially cruel. This is another indication that Snape is more than willing to hold Harry accountable for his father’s actions.
NEXT: 20 Things Everyone Gets Wrong About Harry Potter's Draco Malfoy