Slytherin House Pride Collection Symbol

Slytherin

house pride

Slytherin House Pride

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Learn all about Horace Slughorn

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Professor Slughorn looks worried at the prospect of being asked about Tom Riddle

Lessons you can learn from a Slytherin

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Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

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## Be proud of your abilities

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Slytherins are known for being proud, and while in some cases (Draco Malfoy, we’re looking at you) this trait came with a hefty dose of overbearing haughtiness, there is, of course, nothing wrong with being proud of yourself. 

After all, knowing you are good at what you do – like Snape, who was such an accomplished Occlumens he was able to double-cross Voldemort himself; or Leta Lestrange, who managed to fool Grindelwald and destroy his powerful skull hookah; or Scorpius Malfoy, who was unafraid to express his love of learning – creates a sense of confidence, which is never a bad thing.

## But remember: sometimes, pride comes before a fall

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Yes, we just said confidence is never a bad thing, but there is such a thing as over-confidence. Draco’s a perfect example. For most of his Hogwarts career, the privileges afforded to him as the only son of a wealthy pure-blood family meant he never faced serious consequences. Buying his way on to the Slytherin Quidditch team, pretending to be a Dementor in order to scare Harry, feigning injury just to get Hagrid’s Hippogriff Buckbeak killed – Draco acted without fear of reprisal. This became even more pronounced during Professor Umbridge’s time at Hogwarts, when Draco and his friends were given free rein to express their meanest impulses.

But everything changed in Draco’s sixth year. With the father he wanted so desperately to impress in Azkaban and an impossible task ahead of him, his confidence was finally shaken. What Voldemort asked of Draco was the biggest consequence of all: to kill Dumbledore, and so make up for his father’s failures. No wonder he was crying in Moaning Myrtle’s bathroom. He was finally being tested, and when it came down to it, he couldn’t do what was asked of him. 

The fall of the Malfoys was pretty spectacular, and the result was a chastened Draco who ultimately moved away from his parents’ pure-blood ideology. Which goes to show, you never know what’s round the corner.

## Being cunning can be a very useful skill

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Certain Slytherins used their talent for cunning in particularly devious ways. Voldemort was obviously master of this. Even when he was just plain old Tom Riddle, he fooled enough Hogwarts teachers to become a Prefect, managed to get Hagrid expelled, and charmed Slughorn into telling him about Horcruxes. 

But this talent does not always have to be used with malicious intent, as other Slytherins showed us. For all his ability as an Occlumens, Snape would never have survived as a double agent for as long as he did if he hadn’t also been able to draw on that quality of cunning. And if he hadn’t survived as long as he did, Harry wouldn’t have, either. 

Years later, Harry’s son Albus also demonstrated that being cunning didn’t automatically equal being evil. His decision to turn back time was motivated by a desire to bring Cedric Diggory back. OK, it was misguided and yes, it created havoc, but he didn’t do it for negative reasons. And Albus’s cunning did help him achieve his aims. There aren’t many students who’d use Polyjuice Potion to impersonate Ministry of Magic employees, after all. Although, hang on… maybe that’s not an exclusively Slytherin thing?

## You never know what’s going on in somebody’s life

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Much like Sirius’s brother Regulus, who also grew up in a pure-blood obsessed family, Draco Malfoy’s name meant everything to him, and he was desperate to prove himself.

Family dynamics play a big part in any child’s development, and while an unhappy home life is never an excuse to become an arrogant bully, understanding Draco’s background does put his behaviour in context. 

When it comes to Regulus, you could say that if Sirius was strong enough to reject his parents’ ideology, Regulus should have been too. But family relationships can be tricky, and perhaps Sirius’s desertion made things even more difficult for Regulus. After all, Albus Potter didn’t group up in a pure-blood obsessed family, but he too was always desperate to prove himself to his father. Perhaps that’s what Slytherin pride is – a thirst to prove yourself that the Sorting Hat also identified in Harry.

All of which is to say: people are the products of their environment. Which doesn’t mean unhappy people should be able to act without impunity, but perhaps it is worth taking the time to understand where they come from.

## It’s never too late to do the right thing 

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If Slytherin’s students are the products of their environment, you might expect them all to become masters of the Dark Arts. After all, their founder was a pure-blood obsessive who deserted the school he helped create because he didn’t want to admit Muggle-borns.

But very few of the Slytherins mentioned here took that path. With the obvious exception of Voldemort himself, they each had a moment where they could have chosen a different outcome. When Snape agreed to help protect Harry, when Regulus decided to steal Voldemort’s Horcrux, when Draco refused to confirm that Harry’s identify to his aunt Bellatrix – however they did it, they all rejected Voldemort in the end.

Why you should fall in love with a Slytherin

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Draco Crabbe and Goyle in dress robes for the Yule Ball.

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As a house, [Slytherin does not have the best reputation](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/why-hogwarts-needs-slytherin-house) – yes, we know every one of Voldemort’s friends was in Slytherin and, okay, their founder hid a monstrous Basilisk in the underground chamber of a *school,* of all things – but that doesn’t mean they’re all bad. On the contrary, as potential partners Slytherins have quite a lot to offer…

## They’re ambitious

Although some Slytherins chose to channel their ambition in some very questionable directions, it’s certainly not bad to be ambitious, unless you’re doing dastardly things to achieve those ambitions. And in some cases, that did happen: take Lord Voldemort’s ‘ambitions’ to murder and torture Muggles and Muggle-borns. But, usually, ambition is a good quality – many Slytherins are possessed of a drive to succeed, and this motivates them to greater feats. As Ollivander once said: 

> ‘After all, He Who Must Not Be Named did great things – terrible, yes, but great.’
<br> *Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone* </br>

As the partner of a Slytherin, you could probably help them channel this ambition in more appropriate ways. Say, excelling in a chosen career rather than excelling in bloodshed. To paraphrase Dumbledore, there’s always a choice, and you could help your Slytherin make the right ones. Plus, going out with an ambitious Slytherin could help you pick up the pace in your own life: they’d probably help you work out your goals, maybe get you on some kind of five-year plan. If you’re someone who feels the need for a motivating presence in your life, you could do a lot worse than dating a Slytherin. 

## They don’t give up

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This ambition and drive makes Slytherins pretty single-minded in their pursuits – from Horace Slughorn trying to make friends with the great and good of the wizarding world to Voldemort trying to take it over, they definitely do not give up easily. And despite what we may think about Slytherin house, this determination doesn’t always come from a selfish place – after all, Draco Malfoy’s decision to accept Voldemort’s mission in *Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince* was largely motivated by a desire to prevent [his family](/writing-by-jk-rowling/the-malfoy-family "The Malfoy family by J.K. Rowling") from suffering and, of course, Snape’s dangerous life as a double-agent was driven by his love for Harry’s mother, Lily.

So while on first glance, Slytherin house seems far more preoccupied with [blood status](/writing-by-jk-rowling/pure-blood "Pure-Blood by J.K. Rowling") and hierarchy than with love and bravery, that isn’t always the case. As with everything, a Slytherin’s determination just needs to be channelled in the right way.

## They’re cunning

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From [Salazar Slytherin’s](/features/salazar-slytherin "Salazar Slytherin") hidden chamber to Voldemort’s [Horcruxes](/features/the-horcruxes "The Horcruxes") and Draco’s Dumbledore mission, Slytherins are so prone to secrets that it almost goes without saying that they’re a cunning bunch. Although, actually, the [Sorting Hat](/features/the-sorting-hat "The Sorting Hat") did say it when we first met it: 

> ‘Or perhaps in Slytherin  
> You’ll make your real friends,  
> Those cunning folks use any means  
> To achieve their ends.’ 
<br> *Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone* </br>

Yet again some Slytherins have a tendency to use this trait for devious purposes, but while we’re not saying a predilection for keeping secrets is a brilliant trait in a potential partner, it could have its uses. They’d be great at planning surprise parties, Slytherins, and we bet if you were in a tricky spot, their practiced deception might come in useful. They could probably talk you out of a situation, if they wanted to.

## They can be charming

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Of course, not all Slytherins are the same – for all that he was, Snape was never really a charmer – but there have been many examples of Slytherins talking their way in or out of a situation over the years. Before he was known around the world as Voldemort, Tom Riddle charmed most of his Hogwarts teachers; for a long time, Lucius Malfoy’s charm (and wealth) gave him a high level of influence over the [Ministry of Magic](https://www.wizardingworld.com/writing-by-jk-rowling/ministers-for-magic); and Draco Malfoy, although mostly just a bully, did have some charm of his own, even if it only extended to Crabbe, Goyle and Pansy Parkinson.

Obviously, you need more in a relationship than fake charm, but as the partner of a Slytherin, you’d be the one to see beyond it and discover any hidden depths.

## They have a cool dungeon common room

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What’s more romantic than a dungeon softly lit with candles?

## We all have a little bit of Slytherin in us

Given that the Sorting Hat seriously considered placing Harry Potter – the eternally brave Gryffindor – in the house of his greatest enemy, Voldemort, it seems likely that we all possess a Slytherin trait or two. And we have to say, that’s no bad thing. All you need to do is pair that burning ambition and determination with a conscience and a heart – which might sound tough with no help, but if your Slytherin other half can’t do that on their own, well, that’s where you come in.

***

[Still wondering which is the best Hogwarts house to date? Check out our article on the compatibility of all the houses and see if you can find your match.](https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/which-are-the-most-compatible-hogwarts-houses)

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The terrible tale behind the Bloody Baron’s bloodiness

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The Great Hall at Halloween with the ghosts

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Arguably the most terrifying of the [Hogwarts ghosts](/writing-by-jk-rowling/hogwarts-ghosts "Hogwarts Ghosts By J.K. Rowling"), the Bloody Baron wore the chains he clanked so loudly as penance for a crime of passion committed centuries ago. 

With his silver bloodstains and harsh, whispering voice, the Bloody Baron was the most fearful phantom on the block. But none of the other spirits knew the tale of unrequited love behind his bloodied state. That is, except for the one whose murder earned him his nickname: Helena Ravenclaw, known to Hogwarts students as the Grey Lady.

The Baron was believed to have attended Hogwarts in the time of the four founders, and was violently in love with the daughter of Rowena Ravenclaw. The pair were soon doomed to share the same posthumous universe for eternity. How did this happen? 

Overshadowed by her brilliant, brainy mother, Helena stole what legend has it was a cornerstone of Rowena’s wit and wisdom – a tiara enchanted to enhance the wisdom of the wearer. This would later be known as the lost diadem of Ravenclaw.

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‘<em>I stole the diadem,</em>’ Helena told Harry during the Battle of Hogwarts. ‘I sought to make myself cleverer, more important than my mother. I ran away with it.’ Helena fled to Albania with her mother’s diadem, never to achieve her ambitions. She could never have predicted that Voldemort would find her mother’s precious diadem centuries later and turn it into a Horcrux.

The loss of the diadem was a terrible blow to Rowena, who hid its loss and her daughter’s betrayal from the other Hogwarts founders. On her deathbed, Ravenclaw sent the Baron to find Helena, because she knew that he loved her daughter. ‘She sent a man who had long loved me, though I spurned his advances, to find me. She knew that he would not rest until he had done so,’ Helena told Harry.

The hot-headed Baron tracked her down, but when Helena refused to return with him, he murdered her in a rage. Overcome with remorse, he turned the blade on himself. ‘All these centuries later, he wears his chains as an act of penitence… as he should,’ Helena said bitterly.

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Still image of the Bloody Baron from the Hogwarts Ghosts portraits

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The Bloody Baron was the ghost of Slytherin house and was famous for the clattering of chains and rages in the Astronomy Tower, no doubt still tortured by his actions all those years ago. The Grey Lady, Ravenclaw’s house ghost, would often be seen drifting around the castle serenely. 

Both ghosts regularly attended Hogwarts start-of-term feasts, but tended to stick to their own house tables. Both had a reputation for being standoffish. Nearly Headless Nick (Gryffindor) and the Fat Friar (Hufflepuff) were a lot friendlier to their students.

It took quite some persuading on Harry’s part to get the story of her death out of the Grey Lady. It was only when Harry reminded her of the part she played in helping Voldemort locate the diadem in the forest where she died that she remorsefully shared her tale. It seemed it was not just the Baron who was tormented by regret.

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An unexpected benefit of the Bloody Baron’s reputation was that he was the only one who could keep Peeves under control. We don’t know if Peeves knew the story behind the Baron’s bloodstained appearance, but we hope he would’ve been tactful enough to steer clear of any songs on the subject if he did.

Complete the quote quiz: Voldemort edition

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Voldemort in the Ministry of Magic from the Order of the Phonix 

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Kill the ______ 

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I crushed them as I crushed your mother, ______ supposed great love!  

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‘There will be no more houses. The emblem, shield and colours of my noble ancestor,______, will suffice for everyone’ 

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‘You show spirit, and bravery, and you come of noble stock. You will make a very valuable Death Eater. We need your kind, ______.’ 

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‘Do not lie to Lord Voldemort, ______ , for he knows... he always knows...’

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‘They, who had seen proofs of the immensity of my power, in the times when I was mightier than ______? 

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‘We are not playing ______, Harry,’ 

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‘Be quiet, ______… I shall deal with you in a moment. Do you think I have entered the Ministry of Magic to hear your snivelling apologies?’ 

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‘______ inspires envy, envy engenders spite, spite spawns lies. You must know this, Dumbledore.’ 

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‘See what I have become?...  ______...’ 

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There’s no question that Lord Voldemort was about as evil as they come – and his words were often just as horrid. Though it might be unpleasant, can you remember some of the Dark Lord’s heinous quotes? Try our quiz and see…

The Horace Slughorn crossword

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Complete the quote quiz: Death Eater edition

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Voldemort and his Death Eaters in the Forbidden Forrest from The Deathly Hallows 

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Lucius Malfoy: ‘Dear me, what’s the use of being ______ the name of wizard if they don’t even pay you well for it?’ 

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Bellatrix Lestrange: ‘______?... Why, I have had the pleasure of meeting your parents, boy.’  

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Severus Snape: ‘What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of _____ ?’ 

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Barty Crouch junior: ‘But Winky didn’t know that I was growing stronger. I was starting to fight my father’s ______’ 

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Corban Yaxley: ‘My Lord, I have good news on that score. I have – with difficulty, and after great effort – succeeded in placing an Imperius Curse upon ______.’ 

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Draco Malfoy: ‘I think I’ll leave it somewhere for Longbottom to collect – how about – ______?’ 

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Peter Pettigrew: 'Kind boy ... kind master ... you won’t let them do it ... I was your ______... I was a good pet ...’ 

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Igor Karkaroff: ‘I notice you have dribbled food all down the front of your robes again, ______ boy –’ 

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Amycus Carrow: ‘She ain’t answering, you ______! You open it! Garn! Do it, now!’ 

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Antonin Dolohov: ‘That headcase _____ kept a whole bunch of stuff in here,’ 

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As we inch closer to Hallowe’en, we thought it was time to take a walk on the Dark side with a quiz all about Lord Voldemort’s most faithful servants – the Death Eaters. Can you remember what they had to say?

The Horace Slughorn wordsearch

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Professor Slughorn with a Butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

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and the Half-Blood Prince

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What happened next? Draco Malfoy edition

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What happened after Draco noticed Ron in the Hogwarts Express carriage with Harry in Philosopher’s Stone?  

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In Chamber of Secrets, what happened after Draco cast the Tarantallegra spell on Harry during Duelling Club?  

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In Prisoner of Azkaban, what happened when Draco called Buckbeak the Hippogriff an ‘ugly great brute’? 

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What happened after Draco attempted to attack Harry when his back was turned, in Goblet of Fire?  

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In Philosopher’s Stone, what happened after Draco noticed Neville’s Remembrall on the grass during their first flying lesson?  

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What happened when Draco asked his father to buy him the Hand of Glory in Borgin and Burkes in Chamber of Secrets?  

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In Half Blood Prince, what happened after Draco’s friends left him alone in their Hogwarts Express carriage, as Harry was lying in the luggage rack, invisible?  

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In Prisoner of Azkaban, what happened after Draco called Hagrid pathetic? 

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In Order of the Phoenix, what happened after Draco caught Harry, as he ran away from the Room of Requirement when Umbridge discovered Dumbledore’s Army?  

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In Half Blood Prince, what happened after Harry saw on the Marauder’s Map that Draco was in a bathroom with Moaning Myrtle?  

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He was Slytherin’s sneering Seeker and Harry’s arch-enemy (well, if we don’t count Voldemort), but do you remember what dastardly things Draco did? Let’s see, shall we…

The Hogwarts Legacy Slytherin wordsearch

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Two students stirring a cauldron in Potions

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Discover Slytherin house! Read about famous members of the Hogwarts house such as Draco Malfoy, take part in quizzes, and much more.

Slytherin - Learn about the Hogwarts House | Wizarding World

Learn all about the Bloody Baron

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Welcome to the Slytherin house collection. We've gathered together everything Slytherin all in one place – just for you. Read about your favourite characters, peruse J.K. Rowling's writing, test your knowledge of your house in our quizzes and explore so much more.

What if Snape had never been in love with Lily Potter?

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Before we dive into what could have happened, let’s take a look at why Snape’s infatuation with Lily was so important to the story…

Severus Snape spent the majority of his life in love with Lily Potter. It is easy to understand why Snape, who had an unhappy homelife as a child, fell hard for the first person to show him love and kindness. His feelings for Lily seemed to be the motivation behind many of his decisions and it often seemed as though their friendship was the thing that he held most dear.

If it wasn’t for Snape’s love for Lily, it could be suggested that the story of Harry Potter would have looked completely different. Snape’s actions helped Harry to overthrow Voldemort. It was Snape that persuaded Voldemort to give Lily a chance to save herself. He also protected Harry during his time at school (however reluctantly). He risked his life constantly as a double agent. He was the one who was in on Dumbledore’s plan for Harry. He was the one to ensure Harry had the sword of Gryffindor when he needed it. Finally, Snape gave Harry his memories, so that he knew exactly what to do to end Voldemort’s reign of terror. 

If Snape hadn’t loved Lily, then it is hard to see where his motivation to do good would have come from. Even though it must have been incredibly painful for him to love someone who didn’t love him back, that relationship was critical. Without it we wonder how things might have changed. Would Snape and Lily still have been friends? Would he have been a Death Eater? Would Voldemort’s Horcruxes have been destroyed? And possibly the most important question, would Harry have survived as an infant and would there ever have been The Boy Who Lived?

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A young Lily and Snape in the corridors of Hogwarts. Lily is carrying a pile of books.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2

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and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2

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## Would Snape and Lily still have been friends?
We think that Snape and Lily may have still been friends in the beginning – even if Snape had not fallen in love with her. Lily brought light and warmth into Snape’s life from the moment they met. He was an isolated, lonely child whose magic would have only made him more of an outsider in his hometown of Cokeworth. The happiness that he must have felt upon discovering that there was another kid that lived close by who was just like him, can’t be underestimated. We can imagine that Snape would still have been drawn to Lily in the beginning – even platonically. 

Likewise, as Lily was such a warm and empathetic person, she would probably have recognised that Snape didn’t have much exposure to kindness and would have tried to be his friend before they headed to Hogwarts anyway. Also, as a Muggle-born, Lily probably felt different to the rest of her family, and Snape would still have been Lily’s first exposure to the magical world. You could say that he was the person who introduced her to who she really was. So, we are pretty confident that they would still have been friends initially.

However, without Snape falling for Lily, we doubt their friendship would have survived for as long as it did. Snape had been obsessed with the Dark Arts from a young age and the friends he made in Slytherin (such as Avery and Mulciber) were partial to them too. In fact, the majority (if not all) went on to become Death Eaters. We can believe that if Snape hadn’t developed any romantic feelings for Lily, a wedge would have been driven between them once they were sorted into their respective houses. Snape would have finally been around people that were more like him, and we think that he would have allowed himself to fall in with the wrong crowd more quickly. Keeping Lily on side wouldn’t have mattered as much to him – and she wouldn’t have been there as the conscience to keep him on track. 

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Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

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and the Order of the Phoenix

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## Would Snape have supported Voldemort? 
As we mentioned before, Snape kept some decidedly dodgy company at school and ended up part of Voldemort’s inner circle. That all happened even though he loved Lily who detested Dark magic and those who practiced it. If Snape’s desire for Lily hadn’t existed, there would have been even less reason for him to not support Voldemort – and we can actually imagine him being an even more fanatical and devoted follower.

We also think Snape’s fascination with the Dark Arts would have made Voldemort irresistible. By supporting Voldemort, he could fully immerse himself in that world. He was also not above the arrogance that afflicted many witches and wizards, despite being a half-blood rather than a pure-blood. He sneered at Petunia for being a Muggle, hesitated when Lily asked if it mattered that she was a Muggle-born and even called her a Mudblood. Snape was clearly sympathetic to Voldemort’s abhorrent ideology and enjoyed feeling superior. We reckon that without his feelings for Lily, Snape would not have been tempted to come into the light and probably would have gone down an even darker and more twisted road.

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## Would he have ever worked for Dumbledore? 
Snape did eventually turn away from Voldemort – but it wasn’t for any noble reason. As soon as he found out that Voldemort was planning to kill Harry and his parents, he met with Dumbledore and begged him to save Lily. He couldn’t have cared less if James and Harry had ended up dead but couldn’t stand the thought of Lily dying. While Dumbledore said he would protect the Potters, it was on the condition that Snape now worked for him as a double agent. Snape’s love for Lily ran so deep that he agreed. When she was still murdered, he reluctantly decided that her death would not be in vain, and that he would protect her son. 

If Snape had regarded Lily as merely a friend, acquaintance, or just someone he had once known, we don’t think he would have accepted Dumbledore’s conditions or worked as a spy. Snape was put in an incredibly dangerous position the moment he turned away from Voldemort. We can’t believe that he would have been willing to do that for just anyone and we highly doubt he would have done it to do the right thing. After all, when he found out that Harry needed to die at the hand of Voldemort, he was furious – but not because he had grown to care for Harry or even the cause. Snape had worked tirelessly to protect Lily’s son for her and felt it had all been in vain. His love for Lily trumped everything – after all those years and always. 

However, that is not to say that Dumbledore wouldn’t have found another way to recruit Snape – he could be very persuasive. Once Snape was working for Dumbledore, you could see that he did have some influence on him. When Dumbledore was injured by Marvolo Gaunt’s ring, Snape’s anger at him seemed to come from a place of concern and care. He also seemed to respect Dumbledore – even if he didn’t always see eye to eye with him. We also found out that as an adult he didn’t tolerate the use of the word Mudblood, though that was probably more to do with the painful memory of calling Lily one. 

Either way, Snape did demonstrate growth, which suggests that while Voldemort’s philosophy was incredibly enticing, there was something in Snape that was good. And an incredible and intelligent wizard like Dumbledore may have been able to use that small sliver of light and turn him. Though we don’t doubt it would have been an almost impossible task. 

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Dumbledore and Snape in the Great Hall looking down. The enchanted ceiling is showing a galaxy pattern.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

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and the Prisoner of Azkaban

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## Would he have been a Professor at Hogwarts?
Snape wasn’t a natural teacher. He despised so many of his students and seemed to take great pleasure in torturing them (unless they were Slytherins). If he hadn’t ended up being Dumbledore’s spy, we reckon there is a good chance that this surly Potions Master would never have lurked in the Hogwarts dungeons as a teacher. 

Instead, we can imagine Snape would have lost himself in studying and practicing Dark magic. He could have spent all his time working for Voldemort as a Death Eater and it is possible that he would never have considered returning to the school where he was bullied.

However, if we consider the idea that Harry never had survived as an infant, and Voldemort had been able to rise to power, he might have found his way back to Hogwarts. Voldemort had always seen Hogwarts as valuable. For example, in *Cursed Child*, in an alternate reality where Voldemort succeeded, Hogwarts was one place that he clearly had control over – there was even a Voldemort Day. And even in the *Deathly Hallows*, we see that Voldemort had installed the Carrows to try and keep a grip on the school as his power grew.

So, we think it would be highly like that Voldemort would have installed his best and brightest followers at the castle to indoctrinate the students. As Snape was intelligent, we could easily see him being someone Voldemort thought suited for a role there. And if he was allowed to teach the Dark Arts, we can actually see him being pretty happy.

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