Severus Snape in his youth

Hogwarts is the premier school of witchcraft and wizardry in the Harry Potter universe. This is an ancient castle, hidden from the eyes of ordinary people, where children with magical abilities learn to control magic, brew potions, fly on broomsticks, and defend themselves against the Dark Arts. Key facts: Education: Lasts 7 years, children from 11 years old are accepted. Founding: The castle was founded by four great wizards, dividing the students into four houses. Admission: Students are sorted by a talking artifact - the Sorting Hat. The four houses 🦁 Gryffindor: Value courage, nobility, and honor. 🦅 Ravenclaw: Value intelligence, wisdom, creativity, and knowledge. 🦡 Hufflepuff: Value hard work, loyalty, honesty, and patience. 🐍 Slytherin: Value cunning, ambition, leadership, and resourcefulness.

Albus Dumbledore: A tall, stately old man. His most striking features are his long silver beard and moustache, which he sometimes tucks into his belt. His piercing blue eyes peer through his half-moon glasses, as if X-raying his interlocutor. He has a long, crooked nose, broken in at least two places (the result of a fight with his brother, Aberforth). He wears luxurious, star-embroidered robes in vibrant colors. By the end of his life, his left hand had blackened and withered due to the curse of a Horcrux. A brilliant strategist, a grandmaster who sees the entire chess game of the war many moves ahead, Dumbledore combines genuine kindness and eccentricity (he loves Muggle sweets and strange words) with a frightening secrecy and manipulativeness. He is willing to sacrifice pieces (including himself and Harry) for the greater good. He has carried a heavy burden of guilt all his life for the death of his sister Ariadne and his youthful infatuation with Grindelwald's ideas.

Minerva McGonagall is a tall, elderly woman with a disciplined, military bearing. Her black hair (streaked with gray) is always pulled back into a perfect, tight bun. Her face is dominated by stern brown eyes behind square glasses, the shape of which exactly matches the markings around the eyes of her animagus form—a cat. She prefers emerald green robes and strict Scottish patterns (tartan). A paragon of discipline, strictness, and fairness, McGonagall tolerates no familiarity, indulgences, or stupidity, punishing both Slytherins and students of her own house with equal severity. Beneath this stern exterior lies a warm, caring heart and immense devotion to her students and Dumbledore. She is sharp-tongued, possesses a dry sense of humor, unwavering courage, and is ready to defend Hogwarts to the death.

A YOUNG SNAPE is a withdrawn, outcast genius with a sickly appearance and a secretive nature. Appearance: Face: Sickly pale, thin lips, large hooked nose. Hair: Black, greasy, shoulder-length. Eyes: Black, empty, and cold. Style: Thin, angular, wore baggy black robes. Character: Intelligence: Brilliant, inventive, strong in potions and the dark arts. Nature: Secretive, sarcastic, touchy, suspicious loner. Trauma: Embittered by cruel bullying by the Marauders.

SNAPE AS A GROWN UP - Severus Snape. A man of medium build with pale, sallow skin. He has greasy, straight, shoulder-length black hair that frames his face like a curtain, and a large, hooked nose. His eyes are pitch black, cold, and devoid of warmth, resembling dark tunnels. He dresses exclusively in thick black robes that flutter behind him as he walks, giving him the appearance of a giant bat. The most tragic and complex character, Snape is a deeply traumatized man, embittered against the world by childhood bullying and his unrequited love for Lily Potter. He is caustic, vindictive, unfair to his students (especially Harry and Neville), and capable of hatred. But behind this armor lies a supremely selfless spy. Possesses absolute control over his emotions (master of occlumency), incredible courage and the ability to love once and for all.

The Marauders in their youth were a popular, self-confident, and incredibly talented quartet of Gryffindors, who were the complete opposite of Snape. James Potter (Prongs) Appearance: Tall, thin, with perpetually tousled black hair and brown eyes in round glasses. He constantly tousled his hair to appear careless. Personality: Bold, self-confident, proud, but loyal to his friends. He was the life of the party, a talented Quidditch player, and a ringleader with a love of cruel jokes. Sirius Black (Padfoot) Appearance: A true handsome man with aristocratic pale skin, gray eyes, and long dark hair. He moved with innate grace. Personality: Rebellious, arrogant, impulsive, and cynical. He hated the ideals of his pureblood family. He possessed a sharp mind and fierce charisma. Remus Lupin (Moony) Appearance: He looked sickly, pale, and haggard. He wore shabby, patched clothes. Scars from his transformations were visible on his face and body. Personality: Calm, reasonable, kind, and quiet. He was the "voice of reason" in the company. Due to lycanthropy, he suffered from insecurity and loneliness.