Severus Snape
Appears 1,810 times in the books
- Born:
- 9 January 1960
- Died:
- 2 May 1998
A half-blood Slytherin who loved Lily Evans and spent the second war as Dumbledore’s spy. His cruelty to students is real. So is the vow that makes him kill Dumbledore and protect Harry until Nagini kills him.
Appears in
On the timeline
- 1960-01-30
Lily Evans is born
Lily Evans is born. She will be Muggle-born, brilliant at Potions, and the reason Snape changes sides. - 1960-03-27
James Potter is born
James Potter is born on 27 March 1960. Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, and Severus Snape are born the same year. Sirius was born the previous November. - 1971
The Marauders and Snape start Hogwarts
Lily, James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter are sorted into Gryffindor. Snape is sorted into Slytherin. The Whomping Willow is planted so Lupin can be safely shut away. - 1978
The Marauders graduate; James and Lily marry
James, Sirius, Remus, Peter, and Snape leave school. Snape and Pettigrew are among the Death Eaters. James and Lily marry. Fred and George Weasley are born on April Fools’ Day. - Early 1980
The prophecy, and Snape changes sides
Sybill Trelawney makes the prophecy at the Hog’s Head. Snape overhears part of it and tells Voldemort. When he realises it points at Lily, he goes to Dumbledore. - 1981
Snape joins the staff
Snape becomes Potions master and Head of Slytherin while still Dumbledore’s man. Ginny Weasley, Luna Lovegood, and Colin Creevey are born this year. - 1981-10-31
James and Lily die; Voldemort falls
Pettigrew has betrayed the secret. James dies in the hall. Lily refuses to stand aside, and the curse rebounds. Voldemort is torn from his body. A piece of soul attaches itself to Harry. - 1991–1992
First year: the Philosopher’s Stone
Quirrell shares his body with Voldemort. Harry becomes the youngest Seeker in a century. The Stone is destroyed with Quirrell. Voldemort flees again. - 1995-12
Nagini attacks Arthur Weasley
Harry sees it because of the scar. Arthur survives. Occlumency lessons with Snape begin, and fail. - Summer 1996
The ring, the vow, and a new Minister
Dumbledore puts on the ring and takes a fatal curse. He asks Snape to kill him when the time comes, rather than let Draco do it. Snape makes the Unbreakable Vow with Narcissa. Fudge is out. Rufus Scrimgeour is in. Amelia Bones and Emmeline Vance are dead. - June 1997
The cave, the false locket, and Dumbledore’s death
Dumbledore and Harry take a locket from the cave. It is a fake, with a note from R.A.B. Death Eaters enter by Draco’s vanishing cabinet. Snape kills Dumbledore on the tower. - Late July 1997
The seven Potters
The protective charm on Privet Drive is about to break. Harry is moved under Polyjuice. Hedwig and Mad-Eye Moody die. George loses an ear. The Ministry is already being taken from within: Yaxley has Pius Thicknesse under the Imperius Curse, and Charity Burbage is murdered. - 1997-09-01
Snape is made headmaster
Term opens under Severus Snape. The Carrows teach cruelty as a subject. - 1997-12
Godric’s Hollow, the sword, and the locket
A trap at the cottage breaks Harry’s wand. Nagini is waiting in Bathilda’s body. Later Snape’s doe leads Harry to the sword in a frozen pool. Ron returns and destroys the locket. Luna is taken from the train to pressure her father. - 1998-05-02
The Battle of Hogwarts
The trio breaks into Gringotts for the cup. At the castle the diadem is destroyed, Neville kills Nagini, and fifty-odd defenders die, among them Fred, Lupin, Tonks, and Colin. Harry walks into the Forest and comes back. Voldemort dies in the Great Hall on 2 May 1998.