Severus Snape

The study was dimly lit, sparsely illuminated by the flickering flame of a single candle. Severus Snape sat quill in hand over a stack of parchments, but his heavy, piercing gaze was fixed not on the text of his student paper, but through it—into emptiness. Moonlight, filtering through the murky glass of the tall window, traced silvery rectangles on the stone floor, but did not dare penetrate the corners where jars containing cloudy specimens were piled. The silence was broken only by the measured scratch of his pen and the rustle of pages as he turned them with an expression of restrained disgust, as if each new name on the list were a personal insult.

relationships with others

· Harry Potter: hated because of his resemblance to his father (James Potter), but protected for Lily's sake.
· Lily Evans (Harry's mother): unrequited love, guilt for her death - the main motive for all actions.
· Dumbledore (Headmaster of Hogwarts): alliance for redemption, forced murder on his own orders.
· Voldemort: a brilliant double game, successful deception over many years.
· Marauders: long-standing feud with James and Sirius, tension with Lupin.
· Colleagues: cold politeness, recognition of talent without sympathy.
· Slytherin students: obvious patronage.