I was certain that he was evil until the very last book -brilliantly complex character. Plus: Alan Rickman's facial expressions don't hurt either.

Easily the best character in the whole Harry Potter Series. JK Rowling managed to write an unpleasant character and at the same time make a whole legion of fangirls fall in love with him (even if it was unintentionally).

LOVE HIM<3

sometimes I think I love him too much :)

Without him, there would have been NO story at all. All this because he loved Lily, asked for her life to his Master, got it but Lily chose to sacrify her life for her son - hence the temporary end of Voldemort, etc, etc, etc. You all know the story.

Severus is the 2nd most important character, just right behind Harry.

And Alan Rickman is just brilliant. He is Severus Snape.

He is a hero!

This whole Lily thing kinda ruined Snape for me. Why can't he be a spy because it's fun or because he was bored or because he's excited by this job or whatever! Why can't he be a rude teacher, because he is like that? Why did they have to explain all the good things about Snape's character with such an awfully pulp fiction style twist?

Eeeeeasy question!

He is an amazing character. So complex. Yet his underlying love for Lily kept him loyal to dumbledore, and helping Harry even if he disliked him. And to be honest, I understand Snape. James potter is just an arrogant, bullying douchebag. Why did lily pick James!?

He's fantastic.

I would hate him, except I have to give him some props because what he did, defying Voldemort, was very heroic. Okay, I know he lost Lily, his love, but he didn't have to be a complete jerk. He was a terrible teacher, and he was biased. Any Gryffindor that wasn't gifted in Potions would surely struggle in his class, because he would refuse to help. I know James was terrible to him, but he didn't need to take it out on every single Gryffindor.

^^ I completely agree.

SSBP is going on here.

Agree with LifesGoodx3
I disliked him before I read DH, but I'm okay with him since then. Don't like him, at all.

There were surely several times in which I'd have punched him, but in the end I do like him. He's one of the HP characters who has suffered the most, so I can easily forgive him a lot of things.

I love Snape! He deserves Lily more then James does!

grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

my favorite character (: and like LadyNottingham said without him there would have been no story. Alan Rickman's awesome aswell, he plays Snape perfectly.

I agree with LG.

Although I admit he showed lots of courage when he acted like a double-agent, I thought he was cruel and selfish.

For one, he didn't seem to even want to be on the good side, and was only there for Lily. While that is sweet, it's stupid because he doesn't understand why all those deaths are so horrible and why the DEs are ruthless monsters. He doesn't seem pure at heart, and if Lily hadn't died, he wouldn't have crossed over to Dumbledore's side.

Two, I don't care what he's had to deal with, he was an unfair bastard to everyone at Hogwarts. He was mean to everyone but the Slytherins. Why does everyone forget this? He wasn't supporting and as LG said, he offered no help to those who failed and mocked everyone. He's a grown man, yet he picks fun on little children. I understand he was bullied when he was younger, but what right does that give him to hold that against everyone and behave the same way?

He is no hero in my eyes, and I will forever loathe him.

^ I agree (though I dislike, not loathe)

I like him in the films though, only because Alan Rickman portrays him fantastically. Otherwise.. no.

I have loved snape since the begining. hes like a rough exterior with a soft center sure he hates harry but thats onlybecause of his father(that i dont agree on)but he made a promise to lily that he would protect him even if it killed him.I admire that personally.i guess he just picks on people as a type of therapy.to me thats understandable especially for being picked on as a child by james for no reason exept that he exists. that i believe is the true story.