For those of you have had read the book OH MY GOSH! Look at my second wish for Severus! IT CAME TRUE! I was so shocked hahah! I was only joking when I said I wanted him to become Head Teacher but its great that he did.

Well... where do I start? First of all.. a minutes silence, I cant believe he's dead. We knew it was going to happen... but to see it written down? thats bad!
However, he did redeem himself in harry, showing the memory, but even before that, when harry went to him and excepted the memory. The things he did- getting harry to the burrow (the seven Potters), the sword and the silver doe, doing everything he could against Voldemort.
I have to confess though, i was getting really worried for a while there, i couldnt see where severus was going to redeem himself. After being made headmaster, and not stopping the torture, and then leaving the castle, I thought that he could never come bacl!
And yes, while the Snape loved Lily theory was already well known, to see it in action, that is to hear severus' version of events, to hear that he did love her and to see his patronus, it was as good as it could have been.
Ill wait until more people have finished the book, hopefully then we can discuss (and mourn) seerus some more...

WOW. I think that will be the first words that come out of most people mouths, that was quite possibly the best book I have read. I tried not to get too caught up in myself, and tried to focus and take in as much as I could. As a whoel the book was amazing, and I kept thinking, when they make this movie I hope they think of it this way (although it's highly unlikely) "it's the last one, were going to possibly make a billion or two off it, lets go crazy, make it LOTR length, full cast, and as true to the book as any movie has ever been.

JK did not butter us up, turn our eyes to the fact that wars are ugly affairs, and people we love will die. I thought the theme's were so strong, and I found myself pitying the 10year olds who will be reading not being able to appreciate it's true meaning and symbolism. The beginning whilst temporarily providing some relief through Fred and George's classic line of "Wow, we're identical" I too was shocked when Mad eye died and even the loss of poor innocent Hedwig, whom I'm sure few people would have guessed the loss of, from that moment I thought, uh oh this is going to be real. Without re-telling the whole story as if you're reading this you've read it I found myself unable to read fast enough or sit still. It was exceptionally well written with a continual question of are the things going to happen that I predicted?

I'm sure most of you were sitting there as I was trying to figure out the riddles in the book before we read them to merely get the satisfaction of htinking, yes I guessed that one, I knew it was coming. My biggest worry once I realised we may not see Dumbledore until the end, and Sirius is clearly never returning and the DOM will remain that most of my thought's were on...please just tell me that Snape was innocent - I was seriusly getting worried as it went on and then when the horrible moment came when after all of his suffering, torment and pain he was killed I thought, oh no, he's dies, died in vain, will we ever know, what a horrible way to have him die and not be able to redeem himself in anyones eyes?

Which is why my heart sank and I found myself giving a little smile when I read Harry's childs middle name was Severus after "probably the bravest man I ever knew" this respect that Harry suddelnly had for Sanpe was so...without being corny...truly touching.

The deaths shocked me, in the respect of who dies and how they were portrayed, I also love Lupin and Tonks, but when I read their deaths did not shed a tear and you never found out how they died. I've often though of the series that the deaths aren's as painful as death is often portrayed, it's quick and clean, so then I was saddened later by the fact that I didn't cry which in turn I'm pretty sure made me cry. The ones that got me were Hedwig, I didn't cry but my heart ached and then the tears came flowing when I read the death of little dobby. It was graphic, extremely well written in terms of Harry's pain and his labour of digging the minute grave and I cried for quite a while, as we could share Harry's emotion. Oddly enough my sister and I also cried upon the return of the spirits of the Potter's, Sirius and I'm glad to say Lupin came back in that scene, the tears were flowing and I couldn't help but think no one's even dieing and I'm crying, I just found that scene so unbearably touching that Harry was walking straight into death and tragically believing DD wanted him to die and Snape having died believing he was merely a puppet.

There was a huge relief in my heart once I read DD had outsmarted or rather kept him detached enough from the truth so that the grand plan could be exposed to Harry, otherwise it never would have worked. My heart sank when Snape died, I have such empathy for everything he had to endure and this was only made worse knowing that he died believing he was used by the only person he possibly had true respect and cared for, and who took him in from his horrible life only to make him go back to it on DD's account, to protect someone from whom his father had made his life a living hell and took away the one person he ever loved. But DD in all his wisdom knew it had to be that way. I still feel that Snape is a really tragic character who if you can examine him properly could no longer be evil, just like Malfoy, he was not meant to be evil. It just is so sad to know that he died, thinking well what have I left to live? I've done all of this and I'm still dying at the hands of the person I ran from and was sent back to to save a boy I loathe and by a person whom I considered to be my friend. Oh doesn't it just hurt you?

All I wanted was for Snape before his end, which was inevitable to feel valued, and although he didn't get it in living, I hope he realised even Harry would respect, understand and be so thankful to him in his death, that it really all was worthwhile...poor Snape

Gag! I really hated the Severus loved Lily nonsense. JKR must have limited contact with men to write such silliness. But I did feel the writer gave the majority what they wanted. Since the majority is very young it will please them. For me it was at the expense of what makes sense. Why didn’t Nagini eat him? How convenient that Severus was able to summon a multitude of memories and have them gush out of his head without a wand! Not to mention creating a flask for them. Yesh. Then we have Harry running to DD’s office with no password and immediately plunges into the pensieve. Didn’t bother to take back-up, wonder how long it would take, nor bothered to say where he was going. Arrogant to the very end Harry!

Other gripes –

A doe patronus?! Why not a stag to challenge James? That just ripples back to my old theory of Snape really being a woman.

Jumping out the window to fly away made me groan. Too cartoony! Made me wonder if he left a man sized hole.

I did find one thing good! Since Severus Snape was headmaster his portrait will be forever at Hogwarts!

Of all the characters she created, Severus Snape stands on a lonely peak. It is not surprising to me that he remained there to the very end. He is by far the most interesting, a fine example of the hardship of making the right choices instead of the easy ones. It's galling to see the Malfoys survive and thrive and see Snape go down, but such unfair fates are a fact of life. Some can freely transgress, unpunished, or happen upon success without expending an ounce of effort, while others barely keep standing while all their good works are swept away by misfortune. It takes a saint not to feel any resentment, yet the unfortunates in Jo Rowling's story don't let it poison their lives or divert them from their goal.

Poor Severus. I really wanted him to be the one to get the reprieve, and a little love, in the end -- but I knew it was a very long shot, not very likely to happen, and perhaps too cruel. Would I truly want him to survive to a prolonged agony of mistrust and misunderstanding? What would he have to live for? How could he learn to open his heart and lay bare what he had always hidden, even from himself? How could he bear to be friends with Harry? He might even prefer to be dead.

Poor Severus. He was always so quick to the mark, so astute in adapting himself to circumstance and protecting his vulnerabilities, so committed to his cause. To be caught without choice but to finally let go of life without having had a chance of redeeming himself, and to die betrayed and utterly alone. How fitting, then, that Harry chanced upon the scene and could witness his last breath and receive his memories. At last he was able to give his deepest secret freely, to the only one who would be sure not to discard or belittle it.

I grieve for Severus. I had known almost from the beginning that he was the great unsung hero of the story, the most courageous, the one who would brave repulsion and hatred, who would persevere in adversity and shadow, in loneliness and isolation, yet unable to love or forgive himself, acting without hope of reward, recognition or redemption. I am glad that he did receive some respect in the end. Not as much as he deserved, to be sure, but at least understood by the one living person who had mattered to him.

I am sure that in death he has found his long sought peace.

Severus was always going to be alone. He was so different to other characters; he was much more valiant, much more intellectual and so much more haunted. I always wanted him to be at peace, but it was always near impossible.

It’s scary, but it’s not just what he would prefer. Is he even capable of learning to change? In his unconscious, is even capable of knowing what it would be, to change? He has been scarred so deeply by the things that he’s been through, the trials and trepidations of his life, down to the pure horror of the things that he’s seen, and partaken in, that the pain and fear is engrained into his very being. Because of this, he can never be at peace; he can never escape who he has become. Oh, I don’t doubt that Snape could live, and be seen to be happy, and at peace, but Severus would die the instant the pain and fear died. It’s horrifying to dwell on, but Severus is defined as much by the pain and terror that has contorted him, as by the intelligence, courage and power that he has demonstrated away from the crowds.
Maybe, in death he can find the peace that has evaded him in life- possibly, the freedom of death, whatever you believe, the freedom from expectation, guilt, grief and fear will allow him to find harmony.
Or Perhaps, in his dying moments, safe in the knowledge that he had carried out Dumbledore’s plans exactly- and suffered for it-, and done everything within his almost limitless power to help Harry, giving some of his most personal memories away, and knowing that no more could hurt him…. And finally, seeing somebody look at him with something other than repulsion gave him something…
Perhaps- a spark of hope that he was searching for, a spark that would start a fire to burn away his plights and bring him complete and untainted peace. Yes, Severus would die with this peace, but he could die with it, or die without it. Perhaps he did find peace. Oh I hope so.

The manner in which Severus died was totally antiheroic and anticlimactic in my opinion. The manner in which JKR has disposed of, let's face it, the true hero of her series was repulsive. It was weak and gave no recognition to the best character she created through out the series. In my opinion, the only thing Severus' death accomplished was in showing how merciless and vile Lord Voldemort actually was. (It actually showed me how unintelligent he was because I had figured out that Draco was the last person to disarm DD long before JKR had Voldemort realize it and then kill the wrong person.)
While I am glad that we got the answers we were looking for in regards to the love and loyalty questions, I am somewhat let down by the more "administrative" role Severus' character was forced to take in this book. DD was an active headmaster but Severus was forced to comply at least in part with The Dark Lord. He did not duel a worthy opponent through the entire series...I don't count the mistake with George Weasley.
I am thoroughly disappointed that the Dark Lord and the Death Eaters (most of them) never saw Severus' true intentions and loyalties. Voldemort killed him without knowing the truth...that his most trusted follower was treacherous and in my opinion more powerful then he was to fool him for all of those years.
I agree with Clara and Bumblebee in that it was inevitable that he would be alone. That those who are cowardly and most vile such as the Malfoys will live on and Snape's line will die. However to say that he could not have changed...I struggle with that a little bit. As late as it came, Snape reached out to Harry, he willingly let go of his memories...he finally gave Harry the respect and belief that he could not before. It was subtle...but Harry finally got Snapes approval and in return Harry could honor his former Potions Master by naming a child after him and claiming he was one of the best headmasters Hogwarts had ever known.

I was in a rage in the way Severus died, I wanted to kille Tom Riddle more than ever (if that is possible). I wish he would have gone out killing Lucius. Or another DE. I thought his help to Harry/the Order would have been more obvious and helpful. But he did do probably the most important things. Planting the idea for 7 Potters with Dung, the silver Doe leading to Godric's sword, and deffinetly the memories which Harry was able to use to save the world.

~I was wrong about every theory I had except this one. As I was reading the Silver doe chapter I knew it must be Severus. because I knew he loved lilly, it was there the whole time. and since james was a stag a doe would be like his souse/Lily. And would represent her. I knew it was him.

I must admit, I was really on/off about Snape until the end of book 7. I always thought he was good, simply because Dumbledore trusted him I guess, but I was never sure whether or not I liked him.

Wellll how wrong was I to have doubts!

I think in the epilogue, Harry mentioned Snape being one of the most courageous wizards, & I completely agree. I, unlike the rest of you, never realized he would be the real hero of the series, never realized what an incredibly complex character he was until I thought it through, after finishing the final book. And I guess all this time I figured my loyalties lied with Sirius so I could never really bring myself to like Snape, but not that I've completely changed my mind about him, the series & character have finished.

I thought it was both appropriate and unfair that JKR killed Snape off, appropriate because he was the martyr & hero, and because his last moments with Harry showed a completely different side of Severus, one we probably wouldn't have seen if he had lived. It was unfair however, because he had done so much, served the wizarding world & saved the day, and put himself in danger every day for "the greater good". It was awful to see him die & I honestly didn't see it coming.

Clara - exactly what I was thinking!

Yes I hope that in Snape's dying moments he did feel some value and worth that he had done his job, he had done what was asked of him so how could anyone ask for any more? I too hope the final look of remorse that Harry gave him when retrivieving his memories was one where Snape you give his last sign and think 'Yes I've done it" and I hope there was a slight twinge on the left of his lip, as this moment was not one of happiness for him but one of final relief and he was able to let go. Can you imagine what was running through hhis head in his final moments? Unless he knew Harry was there he probably felt he would never be disvovered before the end and it had been all worthless if Harry never found him and knew the truth?

I actually dont mind the way Snape died, but that's possibly because I dont want to find anything wrong with this book because I like it so much, I'm all for justifying every moment and occurance in the book, I trust JK in a way I trust DD, she wrote it so it must have been for a good reason, she would not dispose of a character in a way that she felt unneccessary or unfitting. I would however have liked Voldie to, as someone said before know the truth, I just wanted to see his face as he found oout this was an elaborate plan, however I guess if this had occured the plan may never have worked? ---See how I always talk myself out of the things I thought I wanted to hear or happen?

The only part of Nevillesgirl's post I disagree with is the part about Severus' death being antiheroic and anticlimactic. That's a big-time understatement. It's like saying the story of the Titanic is about a boat that sank. And that is not a criticism of her, I just think she shouldn't hold back. I just about choked when I read the scene.

In my opinion the entire scene was far too abrupt, almost shoved in there as an afterthought. Actually, Severus' character is regulated to almost a bit part in this novel, far less than Greyback's or even Umbridge's respective roles. I guess I would have rather seen (or even heard of) more interactions between Snape and Voldemort. More opportunities to guess where Snape's loyalties really lay. I wanted to read Deathly Hallows thinking all the time, was I wrong about Severus? Was he really a traitor? Alas, that was not the case. I wanted to see Harry forced to confront his own prejudices of Snape, and one by one, have them shattered because Severus was a far better man than Harry or even James Potter could have imagined. It would have made the ending, when we learn that Harry and Ginny name their son after him all the more powerful.

I know that we are commisserating together. I wrote another piece in the Severus Snape thread in the Book 7 forum... here

The books were really about Severus, weren't they? All those "Harry Potter" titles were just a ruse. I can't think of many literary characters that provoke so much feeling. And I've read a lot!

and believe me, it's not because I fell in love with this character like he was a real man, but I feel like his whole actions were a big big firework, and we all expected a big BANG!!!, but instead, it went like *poof*, if you know what I mean. It's like crossing the road to go picking your Nobel prize and being hit by a schoolbus. Sorry folks, that's how I feel. I cried over him for hours.
I feel that he has been the best character in the whole saga. I feel that his complexity and his generosity have been great. At the same time I think that while usually a book should say to kids that "nerds" have a chance to be happy in life...well...THIS book didn't. This book is basically the story of how a brilliant, poor, not-so-attractive boy has devoted himself to an idea, generous enough not to tell the world about his sacrifice, proud and brave enough to bear all the insults and contempt from the other people for his whole life. Sev's best friend threw away ten years of friendship for a word, closed the door between them and married the hero of the Quidditch team whom had tortured Sev for years. I honestly expected more from Lily. So what is the message my kids should learn? sacrificing yourself for half of your life, without a word of compassion and understanding, without nobody to love you? for someone who rejected you cruelly? No, I don't think so. I'm really angry. Viva Nerds.

How could she not love him? It actually ached soo much that he died without gratitude or love
Also, when he told harry to look at him, ["and the green eyes met the black"] I figured he wanted to see Lily's eyes for the last time before he died...AWWW
How depressing, he's wonderful

I don't think it was really one word that did it, Snape's memories show the gradual deteroration of their closeness, including Lily's and Snape's sheer disapproval of the friends each of them had. She concidered his death eater friends "evil" and when Snape called her 'mudblood', she saw this as a sign that he had gone the same way.

So chapter 32 has Snape proclaiming he has ‘a plan’. Let’s see, could it be Jo wants us to ride a “Snape’s not Dead’ theory train? I’m not playing that suckers bet! Toot-toot!

He was very brave throughout the books but I think Dumbledore used him and his love of Lily a bit! That wasn't nice of Dumbledore! Anyway, Snape is an interesting character, he had a bit of a lonely life I suppose and he had one friend, Lily. Although he lost the friendship when he called her a mudblood, sadly. I feel sorry for Snape but he's a brilliant character!

First of all I WAS RIGHT! About Severus's true alliance, loving Lily and begging for her to servive.

My gosh my heart sank when he died. Like Harry and Voldemort he had a troubled childhood growing up with not enough love around him. However unlike Harry he didn't have support from anyone! Even though Harry had been through a lot he still have love from friends all around him and half or more of the wizarding nation behind him when it came to defeating You-Know-Who.

With our Sevie the only person who knew his true alliance was Dumbledore which showed that Severus wasn't seeking glory he only wanted to do what was right. Despite his trust Dumbledore under estimated how much of a heart, sole and a conscience Severus had. Like Wormtail was one of the few Gryffindors who went bad Severus was one of the few Slytherin's who actually had a pure sole and a big heart. Despite the fact that his love for Lily was not recipiated he still fought for her and her son's life ( no matter how much of a glory basking git he could be at times ) I think Dumbledore forgot that even though Severus converted back to the good side for Lily that Severus had maybe grown attatched to Dumbledore himself, maybe the way Harry had so when it came to killing him it just added to the pain of the loss of Lily. He then had two people he loved's blood on his hands. I was gutted that he died alone without anyone to thank him, even when Harry realised the truth about Sev, JK Rowling didn't write about Harry's gratitude of guilt towards Severus...almost like he didn't matter. If it wasn't for Sev Harry wouldnt have got the sward!

He was an incredible fighter, even though he didn't ever raise a wand against Voldemort or the Death Eaters he continuously remained loyal to the Order and fed them all the information they needed. I wonder if Harry ever told every about Severus being a good guy?....I some how doubt it. All those people who hated and resented him, even though Harry was shouting about Sev's love for Lily in the final fight with Voldie no one knew the full picture. I for one always have been and alway will be 100% behind Severus Snape even when everyone else I have talked to have doubted him.

Severus was the one character I think JK Rowling really brought to life for me, he was more than just ink on a page, and now he is dead it's like someone who I really understood and loved has gone. But he will live on forever, especially in our fanfics!

Harry must have told everyone about Snape. His son was named after him after all- would have raised a few questions as to why he did that if he hadn't told everyone Snape's true allegience.

But I think that JK could have shown that Harry felt some compassion to the fact that this man who fought so hard to keep him alive in Lily's honour was now dead. I'd feel guilty if I was Harry!! Ha!

I was a little surprised that Snape liked Lily romantically. The only time I remember Severus and Lily being in the same scene was when Harry saw them along with James and Sirius in the pensieve. This was when Lily was speaking harshly to James for his bullying of Severus, and then Severus calling Lily a mudblood. It also came as a surprise to me that Severus and Lily had known each other since childhood. So, yeah, I was a bit surprised that Severus was interested romantically in Lily.

I feel for Severus. He never really experienced love what with his mother being mentally ill and all. And, even though Lily loved Severus, it wasn't in a romantic way. Lily loved him as a brother. A theme that JKR is fond of using. For Severus to have had this obsession - another theme that JKR is fond of! - for Lily for years is remarkable. Only for Lily though. He didn't care for James, and quite frankly neither do I, nor did he care about Harry. But, I think that he may have changed his opinion of Harry later, and may have seen Harry more as Lily's son instead of as James' boy.

I found it sad that Severus wanted to look into Harry's green eyes - Lily's eyes - moments before he died. My heart went out to him.

p.s. I always thought that Snape was not truly evil. Knowing now what I know, Severus Snape belonged in Gryfindor House.

I guess it was just really... bitty. In every book so far, sev has added something. In PS it was the suspected 'thief' of the stone, in CoS he was there, as usual adding some sarcasm and an ironic lightness (given the fact that there was a murderous creature on the lose and pretty much the only people that could stop it had been taken away), In PoA he related to every memory of remus' and was a key part in the who-betrayed-Lily-and-James question, in GoF he was the one that encouraged the use of Harry as 'bait' and of course the extra sarcasm and mystery again, in OotP he was the surprise member, and obviously the occlumecy and in HBP, well he was the prince- and here his character fell into even more shadow and questions. In DH however.. he was neither present enough or the real severus when he was present. He didnt seem to add anything, and yes- did seem to be added as an afterthought. Although i cried when he died... it was more the fact that he was dead, than the heroic way he died.
Also, after seeing his reflexes in previous books.. the power he has, why didnt he just stop Nagini from biting him? Yes, Voldemort would have seen him and killed him, but id love to see the look on his face when he found out that his most trusted follower had been betraying and outsmarting him for over 17 years. Severus was so much more powerful that Voldemort ever realised- he was definetly more talented at occlumecy, and had stores of hidden power, i would have liked severus to show Voldemort that... and then die...or not die at all

One thing I dont understand though.. is JKs motives for excluding him in this way. She cant have forgotton about him, who can? and she must have realised that he had such a huge fan base. Why take one of, if not the, most interesting and complex characters of the series and not include them in every page.. then again if I wrote the book it would be completely sev-based. Hec, why not just change the titles.. hm Severus Snape and the Deathly Hallows... Interesting...

~I guess what I mean by aniheroic is that Severus Snape is such a strong, brilliant wizard. That is the way JKR set him up whether she did it intentionally or not, we may never know. I tend to think not. I say this because the way Severus dies in my eyes was not heroic. He was begging to go get Harry, return to the battle. He didn't lift his wand. He didn't defy his former Dark Master. He didn't confront the other Death Eaters who have called him cowardly. He just...got bit by Nagini and dies. I wanted and expected drama with confrontation and quick wit that we have come to know from our Severus. I was disappointed. To me that was not climactic at all. After Severus was absent from most of the book, he suddenly flees after being attacked by Mcgonagall, returns to the dark lord, then...dies. I just missed him through out the novel. JKR held such a pivotal character in her hands and completely dropped the ball where he was concerned. If she wanted to kill him off, fine...but she could have given him the respect as probably the best complex character that she had written in her entire series.
Yes, I cried when Nagini bit Severus and he was dying. But I think most of my tears were not just that my man was dying but that he didn't get to fullfill the expectation I had built up in my mind that I thought he should have. This is not the characters fault but the authors.

The very excellant article vortext included in their post points to some very interesting points. Of all the characters that grew and changed during the series, even over their (literary) lives, Severus Snape probably grew the most. Just exactly how different is Harry or Ron or Hermione now? How have they evoloved into new and better people? Exactly. Ron is a bit more focused and maybe Hermione a bit more open minded but Harry? But Severus, aah, now there in lies quite a tale. Severus started out as an angry, self-hating boy, who embraced the Dark Arts and all they entailed. Ignored and possibly even hated by his parents, he clung to the one thing that gave him a sense of power, evil. Through his relationship, albeit platonic, with Lily he grew to be someone more than he could imagine. Even after she died, he continued to change himself, to put aside childhood rivalries and predjudices for the sake of the one person he truly loved. Through it all Severus learned to love himself and accept himself for who he was and others likewise. While we all may have jeered his losses during the previous six books, we were cheering his successes as well, overjoyed when we caught a glimpse of his tender side we all knew existed. How sad that JKR reduced the one character that really made the most difference in this series to almost a caricature of himself. [spoiler/]