5 of 16

Friend

Write now Article Tools

Harry should definitely consider Snape as more of a friend than a foe. As was revealed in the last book, Snape had a lasting devotion to Harry's mother Lily, and out of this affection he undertook to protect Harry by Dumbledore's instruction and by any means necessary. Even though it cannot be said that Snape was fond of Harry, he would (and effectively did) sacrifice his life for the boy's. If this cannot be termed friendship, it is a very strong bond of loyalty, which puts Snape closer to being a friend than a foe of Harry's.

A huge sacrifice that Snape made for Harry's sake, was the sacrifice of the respect of others. To explain this consider the fact that Snape, with encouragement from Dumbledore, passed as a Death Eater to Voldemort in order act as a spy. In doing so he not only risked his life, but many (including Harry) despised him for his connections to the Dark Lord. This image only intensified at the end of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, as Snape was seen by many to have killed Dumbledore. In reality, again as was revealed in the last book, Dumbledore had asked Snape to execute the scene. For obvious reasons, this action turned almost the entire wizarding community against Snape, completely wrongly and undeservedly on Snape's part.

And yet Snape underwent all of these humiliations and sullying of his character in the public eye, not an easy task to accomplish, for Harry's sake. Or if not really for Harry, then for Lily. The result was the same. Without Snape, Harry would not have come out of the ordeal alive. All of this is not to mention the numerous help Snape provided to Harry, anonymously, throughout the seven books. These include muttering a counter-spell at a quidditch match, and providing Harry with Gryffindor's sword in order to break the Horcruxes.

Anonymous help, such as the help Snape gave Harry, with no hope of reward or recognition, and even getting punished for these actions, is a sign of intense loyalty and devotion. To say that Snape was Harry's friend is simultaneously an understatement and an inaccuracy, due to the different nature of his commitment to Harry's well being. In the end it's not entirely true that Harry did not appreciate Snape's sacrifices; after all Harry's son was not named Albus Severus without reason.

Learn more about this author, Adelaide Whether.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Should Harry Potter consider Professor Snape more of a friend or a foe? ?
We want to hear your view. Write now!