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There are a lot of interesting characters in the Harry Potter universe. There's the very powerful but determinedly low-key Dumbledore. The stern and unsmiling Transfiguration teacher Minerva McGonagall who has a soft spot for Harry. Remus Lupin is also high on my list despite his being a werewolf and all. I think Harry learned a lot from him in terms of magic. Banishing Bogarts and conjuring patronuses is no mean feat. There's Sirius Black's brother, Regulus, who is also on the running, notwithstanding his short mention in the series. He was so brave and noble.

My personal favorite is the one character even Harry Potter himself detests. Why? This particular wizard relishes embarrassing the 'chosen one' and never misses an opportunity to deduct points from the Gryffindors. He unfairly favors students from his own house. He has shown himself in many occasions to be not above pettiness and prejudice. And he sure can hold a grudge! But in spite of all his glaring faults he is also a very gifted and very powerful wizard. His flawed personality makes him intriguing. Scant mention of his past only adds to the mystery. His character as well as his true loyalty is at the heart of the whole series.

It isn't easy to play his part and lesser wizards wouldn't have survived the initial meeting with Voldemort in Book Four. Who else have managed to lie to Voldemort and lived? He is tasked with the most dangerous job in the wizarding world, and to accomplish it he would have to possess great courage, not to mention great skill and magical powers.

Yes, my favorite character in the Harry Potter series is none other than Severus Snape.

When I heard from J.K. Rowling's own lips (courtesy of an interview of her shown on msn video) that Dumbledore is indeed dead, that made Severus Snape even more vital to the story and his motives more mysterious.

What makes Snape's character so intriguing? For one he is the only one in the series with no clear loyalties. Dumbledore and the rest of the Hogwarts faculty clearly adore Harry. Sirius and Lupin are supportive of him. But Snape has always shown mockery towards Harry. But when Harry finds himself in a tight spot, and it has happened more than once with Snape around, he helps him anyway. Grudgingly, yes, but he looks after Harry, too. It isn't apparent but in the end everything about Snape becomes clear.

And to Snape's credit even to the very end Voldemort was convinced of his loyalty.

Learn more about this author, Maria Sheila Chou.
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