Severus Snape: Friend or Foe? (Comments 1-550)

This has been an issue for my family and we have discussed it before. Let me poll the family and I'll post our decision tomorrow.

I think Snape is a Foe. That the things he did which made him seemed like a friend were just to enable him to infiltrate Dumbledore's inner circle.

I have to cast my vote for Snape as a friend. I am convinced that Dumbledore is somewhat a Christ figure in the novels--he is going to come back somehow, as a ghost or something, and be even stronger. He knew he had to die in order for that to happen, and he asked Snape to kill him. This served two purposes--it allowed Dumbledore his death so he could come back even stronger, and it cemented Snape's place as a spy within Voldemort's inner circle. In The Half Blood Prince, Snape's and Harry's interactions with Dumbledore at the end are parallel--just as Harry didn't want to feed Dumbledore the potion but did under orders, Snape didn't want to kill Dumbledore but also did it under orders--Dumbledore's orders. I think Snape is a great character; he's one of my favorites. He's so complex, you think you understand him but you probably never really will. I can't wait to see what his part in the last book will be.

I believe he's a friend. He was never allowed into the inner circle of friendship with Harry's parents and the other Marauders, but something kept him somewhat loyal to them. He's always there when Harry's in a pinch, which leads me to believe James and Lily somehow asked him to watch over their son, just as Remus and Sirius do. There's more to Snape than meets the eye, and I think Book 7 will show us what we've been missing.

I am torn over this. At first I thought he was loyal to Dumbeldore, but his latest actions and his vow to Narcissa make me suspicious.

The part of me that always looks for the good in people would like to think of Snape as a friend. I really don't believe that Dumbledore is entirely dead. I agree with Angela M. that there is more to this situation than meets the eye. I think that Snape also sees that Malfoy isn't as bad as his father. I think he made the vow to Narcissa because he wanted to keep Malfoy safe. I truely believe that Malfoy isn't pure evil. He is a bully, yes - but the fact that he faltered when it came to killing Dumbledore leads me to believe he isn't evil.
Unlike Danielle T. I don't think Harry's parents asked Snape to watch over him. I think Snape has because he is a good person. Snape was jealous of Potter's parents - yes... but I don't think that is the whole reason he is so strict with Harry. I think that Snape is strict with Harry because he wants Harry to do better - to do well in life. It's like the teachers you may have had in school who seemed to single you out to pick on you. But in the end you realize they see potential in you and are just pushing you to excel.
I'm anxious to see how everything turns out.

These are some interesting comments. I have to admit to leaning toward Snape being good, although I'm not really sure I have a good reason for it. Since I don't have the book in front of me, I can't remember if it was made clear the Snape knew what he was promising when he made the unbreakable vow to Narcissa. Even if he did, I somehow got the impression that he was asked to do so by Dumbledore. I borrowed the book (waiting for all 7 as a box set), so I can't remember why I thought that.

Add my vote to Snape being a friend. He seems to represent the people who help us most by making us help ourselves, and Dumbeldore trusted him. Someone has to be aware of what's happening in the Voldemort camp, and has to have physical presence to help Harry, since everyone else seems to be on the other side of that veil. I think Snape will be Harry's ace in the hole.

(I do wish Minerva McGonigle[sp?] was a stronger character...)

I hope that result will be friend, but , with friends like Snape, who needs enemies.

My family and I agree with Danielle T. We're believing that Snape will come through for Harry!

I would guess that Snape is a friend. He definitely has motives and reasons for things that we haven't seen yet.

My money is on Snape being a friend. Since book one I've found him to be the most intriguing of all the characters and I don't think I'd feel so drawn to someone that was a foe. I could be wrong, but I think he'll come through in a big way for Harry and pals.

I think Snape is a friend. He did hate Harry's father but I think he was in love with Harry's mother. IF he made a promise to watch after Harry it could explain why he has protected Harry.

I feel he is a friend. He seems to know some behind-the-scenes information that will become important as the series ends.
Oh, no... as the series ends, how can I say that!?

The thing is, I think there are logical answers to all of the Snape as Foe questions that point him back in the direction of friend. There is obviously far more to Severus Snape than meets the eye. His association with Narcissa, for one, is one that Bellatrix believes will provoke the Dark Lord's anger, since he is out to punish the Malfoys for Lucius' failures, and I think inevitably for all those years Lucius denied his death eather affiliations and lived the good life while Voldemort was out there struggling desperately to make his comeback. While we have often been given isntances to question Dumbledore's decisions and whether or not he was losing in mind, in some cases, his trust for Snape has always sealed Snape's position as an ally. His character is so dynamic, that I think it would be an utter disappointment for the adult audience to discover he was single-layered in the end, and that all the bulking of his character she did was simply added to create a sense of mystery. If he does turn out to be a foe, I think most kids will be delighted, since he is made out to represent that horrid teacher they can almost all identify with.

Snape is an extremely talented Occlumens and Leglimens (are those the right words?) which means he could have blocked Dumbledore from reading his true thoughts. And, as is pointed out in "Half-Blood Prince," perhaps Snape felt some sense of guilt for getting the Potters killed?

I am still torn on this issue. I agree with Angela about Dumbledore coming back (ala Gandolf in "Lord of the Rings") but also think perhaps he's not even dead. The whole 5th and 6th books are about silent incantations - perhaps Snape said a DIFFERENT incantation in his head and he and Dumbledore are the only ones who know he is still alive? I know, it's a stretch, but in all the other books, when someone gets hit with that curse, they just drop - why did Dumbledore go flying off the tower?

I think he made the Unbreakable Vow because if he hadn't, they would have known he was a traitor. Perhaps he made it and told Dumbledore, and together they agreed that if it came down to it, Snape had to kill him to protect his role as spy with Voldemort (as other comments suggest).

I am curious as to why Dumbledore never told Harry his reasons for trusting Snape. Perhaps we will find out in the next book?

I think Snape is a friend. I see his actions as necessary in order to prove himself loyal to Voldemort and thus gain access to Voldemort's presence. My prediction is that he intends to get close enough to Voldemort to kill him, even if it's a suicide mission. I think Dumbeldore has known his plan and allowed him to do what he has done over the years in order to help him pull his plan off.

There are so many characters in the story who want to help Harry, but hardly any who would actually be of any use in a battle with Voldemort. Neville Longbottom is one of those few, I think, and I expect he's going to have a very large role in the final conflict. Other than Neville, the only other character who might reasonably be involved with the final battle and who is also strong enough to impact the course of it is Snape. While Voldemort is focused on Harry, Snape can strike by surprise. Even if he doesn't kill Voldemort, chances are good he'll either wound him or distract him long enough for Harry to kill him.

It could be that Harry & Voldemort can't kill each other; if that's the case, someone else will have to kill Voldemort. Snape would be perfect for the job, and he's expendable.

"Or perhaps in Slytherin, you'll make your real friends, those cunning folk use any means, to achieve their ends."

I think Snape is a Slytherin through and through. He will a line himself with anyone, and everyone in power, and he is a double agent working for himself.

His occumency skills are excellent, and I think he is powerful enough to give both Dumbledore and Voldemort any impression that will befit him in the end.

In the Sorcerer's Stone Snape dislikes Harry because he represents the conflict in his life, trying to appear on both sides at once. He helps potter because if he can keep the dark lord away, in a subtle way, (keeping Potter alive) no one will notice any true alliance. He can safely continue to play both sides, but with less effort then would be required if Voldemort returned.

In the chamber of secrets book Snape wants potter expelled because with out him near by, less can be asked on him.

In the fire goblet Snape does not go to the graveyard because it is a power trip to manipulate both sides.

In the order of the phoenix Snape teaches potter occumency because it is asked of him. It unclear weather or not Snape was helping the dark lord to get into Potter's mind, or to help the potter rebuff him. Dumbledore believes Snape will be loyal to the power of the winning side. It is not so much that he trusts Snape, but that he knows how to play him in a given situation.

In half blood prince Snape could not have asked for a better fall back to confuse both sides to his loyalty then the unbreakable vowel. He must take it form Dumbledore side to avoid arousing suspicion, and from the other to cement family ties, and avoid showing weakness. In the end of the book he acts for himself, if he does not do what is promised, then he will die. He acts with crowdedness to save his own neck, but does not kill Potter, because that act of kindness allows him to able to talk his way back to that team.


In the end, Snape will be position himself on the winning side to soak up as much power and glory as possible. Will that side take notice of his inconsistent actions, and accuse him of treason? Of course not, he has played his cards too well. At the end of the story his will be is a Slytherin through and through, and he will have gone to any means to achieve his end.

I vote for friend - I think he got caught unexpectedly with the Unbreakable Vow and had to give in and take it so as not to blow his cover. I think Dumbledore knew about it as soon as it was possible for him to tell him, and I firmly believe that DD *told* Snape to kill him if it came down to it, rather than letting Malfoy kill him. (To keep Malfoy from becoming a killer.) I believe that when DD said, "Severus, please..." he was not begging for his life, but rather begging him to do what he'd agreed to do.

without having read the books, but being more than a little familiar with this discussion from having seen a couple of the movies and been a fly on the wall over and over again for this same conversation among friends, i agree with Victoria G.
Snape seems like a true Machiavelle. Though if I were looking to predict his actions and out comes I would look for him to step up his display of power at some crucial time somewhere near the middle of the next book, having concealed some bit of his real capability, and disposing of voldimort (or perhaps just using his position to catch the villain at a weak moment). From there I think harry will have to battle Snape in a final showdon to gain his ends for good.
That's just how it looks to an outsider.

I think Snape if a foe. Even though snape has help Harry out in some situations he still continues you to be mean and condsending to Harry and I dont know about you but none of my friends would treat me the way that snape treats Harry.

yorgo d. i think you are right on with the battle between snape and Potter, although i han't thought of it till you said something. i have always seen him as Machiavellian. it makes much more since to be in it for all the power them to settel for the winning side.

I don't think Dumbledore would have trusted Snape without a very good reason. We should find out in this book what that reason was.

Snape is definitely friend rather than foe in my book. As I finished reading the last book, I concluded that Snape is operating as a very sophisticated double agent. This is the most challenging game a spy ever has to play. Consider: if Snape buddies up to Harry and cuts him slack in any way, the word will eventually get back to Voldemort, and then Snape is toast. To play the double agent game perfectly requires a balancing act. Snape has to appear to the Voldemort crew as their ace in the hole, the bad guy that Dumbledore trusts. But his true role is to be Dumbledore's ace in the hole, the one good guy that Voldemort trusts. Get it? In playing his role in the murder of Dumbledore (which I think Dumbledore set up) Snape develops an unassailable position as being indispensable to Voldemort. But it is all a clever ruse- and the Half Blood Prince is riding for a big fall.

Snape may not have killed Harry but that is likely because he knows about the prophesy and is leaving that to his dark master! Total foe. I like Victoria G's explanation--he may not be a death eater through and through but his cowardice keeps him from being selfless which is often what it takes to be good.

It's interesting that so many people line up on the side of Snape as friend. It makes me wonder about the implications of that expectation for J.K. Rowling and how she will manage to pull it all off. She is such a master of twisted, unexpected plots that if anyone can, it will be her, and I'm looking forward to that without too much eagerness to speculate--although I'm glad so many did so I could get to think about it so much!

I come down on the side of friend.
Starting with the death, Dumbledore knew the only way he could save a student - Malfoy - was to die. He has shown that he would rather risk it all than have harm come to one of his students. He communicated as much to Snape, who is a skilled Legilimens.
(I for one believe he is truly dead. Too often have we heard that "Harry is safe as long as Dumbledore's alive." There are no stakes in the final battle with Dumbledore in the picture.)
But Snape could have murdered Harry any number of times, lured him into danger, sold him out. And Snape's rage at being called a coward when he had just killed the only man who ever understood him was immense.
I don't think he likes Harry. I think he hates him. But Dumbledore once said that when a wizard saves another wizards life, there is a bond, an obligation between them. Harry's dad saved Snape, and Snape was unable to repay the favor, so he is endebted to the son. It drives him mad that this is true, he loathes it, but it's a fact - he owes Harry a debt. So - a reluctant friend.

David B. when did James save Snape's life? i don't rember that, but i haven't read the books in a while.

When they were students at Hogwarts Black sent Snape to the Shrieking Shack where Lupin was in hiding during full moons. James stopped Snape from being attacked by Lupin when he was a werewolf. It has been awhile since I have read the books also but I believe that is what happened.

Very courious, and that could explain many things.Snape could even tell this to LV if accused of helping HP.

I honestly think Snape himself is torn between being friend or foe. I believe he owes his life to Dumbledore, and therefore he protects Harry, saves him, and teaches him occlumency to appease Dumbledore and settle his guilty conscious.

On the other hand, I think a part of him is still drawn to Voldemort and he fights it and sometimes gives in to the urge. I think he's fighting his own battle inside, and therefore decides when it suits him whether he will be friend or foe.

I think Snape is a good guy, for one thing if he hadn't made the Unbreakable Vow it would have looks suspicious and might of exposed him. At the end of book six I don't think it was Dumbledore begging for Snape not to curse him, but instead he was begging for Snape to curse him he had to so everyone would be saved.

Snape had no real choice in the matter, everyone knows that Malfoy is a coward, he would never be able to kill anyone. If Snape hadn't than the deatheaters would have killed Dumbledore and Malfoy both, which would have killed Snape and no one would be left to tell the truth or continue on. With no one there to protect Harry Potter the deatheaters would have turned on him and killed him too.

As far as Dumbledore coming back in Book 7, I don't think so. In my mind that is cheating and an easy way out, that isn't her style. Remember on page 626 of the American hardcover edition, "And a new portrait had joined the ranks of the dead headmasters and headmistresses of Hogwarts." Sorry people he is dead and he's not coming back, remember what Dumbledore had said about coming back, there's no honest way to do it and being a ghost meant for Dumbledore that he would have had some sort of unresolved issue and he never really regretted any decisions he made, none that would keep him on Earth anyway, I believe he said as much to Harry about that.

I had this dicussion with a friend of mine soon after the book came out. She was on the friend side and I was on the foe. None of her arguments convinced me so thoroughly as Angela M.'s on Jan 4. The parallel between Snape and Harry with the potion! Wow! Now I'm not so sure. Great point!

For me the verdict is still out, I see both sides of the argument, but with snapes last action I am leaning more toward foe. I also belive dumbledore will be back in some form or another. He could have the same type of magic possessed by he who should not be named, where part of hisself was kept somewhere else. I don't know but he will be back as long as someone at Hogwatrs believes in him.

I think Severus is a friend, though he is an excellant spy. Granted he had a hard time with the cooler kids when he was young, but I think that had been a past thing, like the crap from grade school. I think he realized Voldamort had gone nuts, and allied himself with the Potters, though he continued to spy on the Dark side. I definatly think there is a lot more to him than meets the eye. It will be interesting to see what Ms. Rowley does with this character.

I personally believe Snape is a friend. He swore the unbreakable vow because he does have a soft spot for Draco. He wants no harm to come to him and to protect him. As for Dumbledore's death...

Dumbledore pleaded with Severus in the moments before his death. But it is not said in the book what he is pleading for. I believe Dumbledore was actually asking Severus to kill him before Draco could, to protect Draco from the evil of killing another human being.

The hate needed in order to cast the Avada Kedavra spell came from Snape's own hate of himself for what he had to do. Hence, Snape's anger as Harry chased him, yelling that he was a coward. He had just done something he never imagined he'd actually do and for Harry to call him a coward was a great insult when he had done what was asked of him by Dumbledore.

My boyfriend on the otherhand, believes Snape is neither good nor bad. He is just out for himself, making sure he will survive the battle until the end.

ok, am i the only one who has read "the half blood prince" all the way through? in case there are some out there who have still not read it, i won't spoil the suprise. but i will say that i think snape is DEFINATELY a foe. so i am VERY curious about what is to become of him in the "deathly hallows".

personally i think he is a friend. but i believe that dumbledore's portrait will prove to be very crucial in all of it. he has to have a portrait. i don't remember if the book mentioned it or not. but i think it will give information... still can't be so sure..

See, I think is a hard quesiton. For example I believe that he could be a foe for many reasons. He could have saved Harry in the first book, because he knew Voldemort would want to do it when he was stronger, and he believed it was the right thing to do. But then he could be a friend and be helping to protect Harry by staying close to the enemy. So it is to close to tell.

Snape isn't a friend of Harry's -- he's made that pretty clear in the past 6 books. However, he is a foe of Voldemort. Just because people are on the same side of a battle doesn't mean they like each other. Harry and Snape can despise each other all the way to a triumph and beyond, and I think they will. Dumbledore, however, trusted Snape implicitly and Dumbledore was no fool. Snape had no choice but to kill him under the circumstances. To keep his cover with the Death Eaters Snape had to agree to the Unbreakable Vow, namely that he would protect Malfoy and complete Malfoy's task for him if necessary. If Snape failed to do this then he himself would die, leaving Dumbledore at the mercy of the remaining Death Eaters. With both Snape and Dumbledore dead, there would be no one left to carry out whatever plan is in place. You know Dumbedore had to forsee his death (I mean, all of us in reader land did and we aren't even wizards) and of course would have a contingency plan. In all liklihood, Snape is the only one with an inkling of what that plan is. Remember the last thing he said to Harry? "Don't ever call me a coward!" Whatever Snape has been doing, it's been a very dangerous game indeed. He may be mean, greasy, bitter, and even sometimes petty, but he is not without honor and he is certainly no coward; indeed, Snaoe is the most complex character of them all. I think Harry will owe him an apology before the end -- if either of them survives.

Also, does anyone else have a theory about Wormtail? David B. pointed out on Jan. 10th the significance of a wizard saving another wizard's life - Dumbledore was actually talking about Harry saving Wormtail from Sirius and Lupin. Wormtail, solidly in the Volemort camp, owes Harry his life, a debt that must be paid. Will he ante up on his own? Will Harry call in the debt? Will Snape call it for him? Wormtail, loathesome though he is, is a wild card.

And, as an aside to the aside, I hope Sirius will be back - Harry needs him and as a character he was never completely fleshed out. Coming back from the dead is, as someone mentioned, a cheat and beneath the talented Ms. Rowling -- but I'd still love to see him again!

I don't think Severus is a friend, I would call him an allie. I don't think he likes Harry, because Harry is too much like his dad. I think he agreed to do Dumbledore's bidding for one reason---to get close to Voldemort in order to kill the man who killed his beloved mother!
I think Harry will be intent on killing Severus, but in the end they will unite and do battle with the dark lord. I think it would take someone with Snape's abililities and help from someone like Harry with his ties to the dark lord in order to kill Voldemort.
The real question is, what will happen to Harry so J.K. doesn't have to write more books, will he lose his power? Or will he end up in the hospital with his former defense of the dark arts teacher and Neville's parents?

Like most of the commentors on this post, I can see both sides of the argument. On the surface, Snape is going to be a "friend" to Harry simply because of the position he holds within the school itself and because of the work he does with Dumbledore. I do believe that strong dislike for parents can cause someone to dislike the child; I myself have been the victim of that and can speak from personal experience. However, since I see Snape as being a FOE through and through, I'll go down the list of questions one by one and answer them and see if it makes sense to everyone.

1. Beginning with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Snape displays a dislike of Harry. Is a childhood grudge against his father reason enough to hate Harry or is it something more?

Not only does Snape hold a childhood grudge against Harry's father, he holds a grudge against his mother, his godfather, and his father's other best friend (which is all revealed in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix). He disliked James Potter and Sirius Black because they were the most popular guys in school, Remus Lupin because he was their friend, and Lily Potter because she was a Muggle-born witch. Remember, the Slytherins prided themselves on being purebloods, and surely someone who was teased and taunted and driven to be a Death Eater such as Severus Snape was no exception. In addition, remember that Harry bears a striking resemblance to his father, so every time Snape looks at him, it's the past being resurrected. If you're the most loyal of Voldemort's followers and you're the ultimate spy, then being what amounts to little more than a living ghost of the past would make it very easy for Snape to hate a child that had nothing to do with the wrongs done to him. It may not be right, but it is understandable.

2. Why was Snape so set on expelling Harry from Hogwarts in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets?
Snape was so set on expelling Harry from Hogwarts in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets because short of Voldemort being resurrected in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, this was the best possible chance for anyone to get rid of him. If he were expelled from Hogwarts in his second year, Harry would not have enough skill to control the magic that flowed within him which amounts basically to leaving him defenseless against an attack from a Death Eater like Lucius Malfoy or his goons.

3. In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, what were Snape and Karkaroff conspiring about?
Snape and Karkaroff are not necessarily conspiring; Snape is aware of what is going on around him and knows that eyes are constantly watching him. Karkaroff, on the other hand, knows that he sold out a lot of Death Eaters to gain his own freedom and sees Snape as a potential ally. Not many people know or remember that Snape was also a Death Eater, but Karkaroff, being the true coward, sees the signs of Voldemort's imminent return and tries in vain to gain Snape's assistance. Like Sirius says to Harry in the fireplace, "No one stops being a Death Eater."

4. Knowing the danger Harry faced, why did Snape continue to goad Sirius in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix?
Like Dumbledore said after Sirius's death, some wounds just go too deep for the healing. Sirius and Snape were childhood enemies. Sirius also came from one of the oldest and richest pureblood wizarding families in existence at the time, whereas Snape was just a half-blood that came from the wrong side of the tracks. Based on the glimpses that Harry got of Snape's memories during the abortive Occlumency lessons, it would appear that Snape came from an abusive home that lacked for a lot of creature comforts. Because Sirius and Snape were the childhood enemies that continued to fight long after childhood passed, and because Sirius was still a fugitive from justice, Snape saw it as an opportunity to get back at him for all the wrongs done to him in school, in addition to vent his spleen at the ghost of James Potter, who he always felt treated him the worst of all because Sirius was his best friend.


5. In Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, what were Snape's motives for his Unbreakable Vow with Narcissa?
Snape's motives was simple -- as a double agent, he had to make sure the plan was carried out to kill Dumbledore. He knew the time was coming, but he also knew that Draco Malfoy was not capable of carrying out the task. In order to calm a hysterical mother and shut up a cynical sister, he made the Unbreakable Vow. Bellatrix Lestrange, insane though she was, insisted that she was the closest to Voldemort; however, only one who was privy to his most secret plans would be able to make that Unbreakable Vow so calmly knowing the consequences. That also showed Bellatrix and Narcissa, who could tell anyone else who asked, that Severus Snape was indeed very high up on the chain of command in Voldemort's inner circle and therefore not to be crossed.

6. And of course, there is the major question of Snape and Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. We'll leave out the details for anyone that may not have yet read the books.
This is simple -- he completed the job that Draco Malfoy could not do and that Dumbledore expected him to do. I believe that Dumbledore is indeed dead, but at the same time I also believe that another character who has been mentioned -- Regullus Black -- is going to come into play with these two characters in a way that nobody expects. I say this because the note that came with the fake Horcrux is signed with the initials RAB, which also happens to be Sirius's brother's initials, and Sirius's brother was also personally killed by Voldemort (we know this because Harry is told this by Sirius in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, although Sirius expresses his skepticism about it.) In the end, Snape is not so much a foe as he is an antihero, which is neither friend nor foe, but Snape, even though he is the Half-Blood Prince, is not going to be the one who is the central character in this little drama as the Harry Potter Saga reaches its conclusion.

J.K. Rowling has written an excellent series that can be read on multiple levels; too bad this one has to end, but then again, all great series do at some point!

To me, it's quite simple. Snape is a foe and one to watch for, as well. He is still a Death Eater, and despite his 'debt' to Harry, is not exactly denouncing Voldemort. And of course, he did kill Dumbledore. I agree with the old Jewish quote..."with friends like THAT, who needs enemies ?" I can't wait to see what happens next- but I suppose we'll have to do just that !

Snape will in the end be known as friend. dumbledore trusted him and for a good reason probably in the past we dont know about yet. if he was trying to hide the fact that he was aligned to the wrong side dont u think he would have pulled out his memories when he was teaching harry occlumency and harry saw that memory in the pensieve.

snape is the type of person that would rather come up and help out of no where rather than straight out say he is a good guy. i think he is scheming something in harry's favor, something even dumbledore might not have even been aware of. yes he commited murder but he had no choice or would have blown his cover and would have died.

Snape is a Schemer ill leave it at that but i still say friend.
man i cant wait for the next book. !!!!!!

I believe that Snape has us just as confused as he would like us to be. He has displayed actions that would qualify him as a friend, but most definitly he has has done the contrary. I have to say that it was tough to decide but after weighing the pros and cons I have decided that snape is a friend. He has done far too many things to help Harry to be a foe. If it has appeared that Snape is a foe it was due to his jealousy of harry's tallent and his inate abillity to survive Voldermort.


The jealousy Snape toward Harry is what makes him seem unwilling to help Harry at times. In the end it will become apparent that his act toward Dumbledore in "The Half Blood Prince" was for the greater good of the Order. Dumbledore trusts snape and I believe he has impecable judgement. Dumbledore is not gone for good, come on, he can't be. Good prevails though Ron, Hermione or Harry dies to make it happen.

OK.. everyone says how much Dumbledore trusts Snape.. HELLO... Snape KILLED him in the end didn't he... I don't think it matters if dumbledor comes back in the end or not... its still the fact that HE KILLED HIM! Yes, hes had some times where he DID help him, but in the end.. its the actions that shows somones true self... and in the end.. Dumbledore is dead..and snape is the one we have to hate for it! thats my opinion

I hope that he is a true friend. But He did kill Dumbledore. And that really makes me think that he is a foe. But if he was friend then that means the order has a spy, but will they trust him if he comes back. So I'm gonna say foe just because even if he was friend nobody would trust him because he killed Dumbledore.

Definitely friend even though he dislikes Harry. Snape's obligation is to Dumbledore. I'm quite sure we will discover how that came about in the next book. I am very curious to see what transpired between Snape and Dumbledore long ago that convinced Dumbledore enough to give Snape a second chance. I agree with everyone who said Snape is doing double duty. His loyalty in my opinion is to Dumbledore and will remain to Dumbledore. For all the people who continue to say,"But Snape killed Dumbledore", yes he did because he had to. I believe it was suppose to happen and it was discussed previously between Snape and Dumbledore. This man is "the most powerful wizard", of course he had to have a back up plan and I believe Snape knows all about it. Also, in my opinion, I believe Dumbledore is dead and will not be returning. It's hard for us Potter fans but this is what is written and I don't believe JK Rowling will resurrect Dumbledore in the final book.

Snape is clearly a "friend," but because he is Lucius Malfoy's lover he was perhaps persuaded into being a "foe." In any case, after his lover's death he will certainly return to the "good" side.

Also, because of his ties to Lucius he is obligated to mentor Draco (who, incidentally, will also become a "friend" because he is Harry's lover). :D

I think Snape is a friend. Yeah, he's a basic douche a lot of the time, but other than his past he has proven to be trustworthy, keeping their dealings and whereabouts a secret and all. (Yeah, you could argue that he's doing it to hide some big huge evil plot he's doing underneath it all, but there's an argument to EVERY statement in this argument.

2. Why was Snape so set on expelling Harry from Hogwarts in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets?
Well, if you were on Dumbledore's side but Voldemort and his minions thought you were on theirs, you'd do everything you could to make it seem that you're set against Harry and Dumbledore. He's just making it seem like he's doing what he can without being blatantly evil against Dumbledore (so Dumbledore thinks his dislike of Harry is more towards the blatant hate of James), and still seem like he's making attempts to help out Voldemort.

3. In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, what were Snape and Karkaroff conspiring about?

If you recall, neither one of them returned to Voldemort when he called for them in the graveyard. They both felt the call, but both of them knew that, for different reasons, they couldn't return. Especially since the Dark Lord seems to have numerous ways of getting a scrap of information out of them. Maybe they were aware that they wouldn't have been able to hide their secrets from him. Karkaroff is just more jumpy than Snape, so he must have freaked a little bit and talked to Snape to see what he was up to.

(I would put more, but I have to go to school now.)

Snape is a friend. In the end of HBP, when Harry tries to curse him, Snape is still helping him! Snape says, "No Unforgivible Curses from you Potter! You will never beat the Dark Lord until you learn to keep your mind and your mouth shut!" Or something like that. Right there, Snape is telling Harry what his ace in the hole is. Snape will have to go back to Voldemort and tell him that Harry couldn't master spells without speaking. He's hinting to Harry that he needs to learn it and fast. As others have said, Dumbledore is dead and will stay dead. Plus, he and Snape probably had a little chat not long after Bellatrix and Narcissa had left. Dumbledore most likely told Snape that he had to uphold the Vow he had taken - even if it meant his death. Someone pointed out that Harry had nothing to worry about as long as Dumbledore was alive - very true. Personally, I believe that Dumbledore was aware of this thinking and was also aware that Harry might not reach his full potential if he (Dumbledore) were always around. So his death serves many purposes. I also think that Harry has fully earned Snape's hate by this time, but Snape realizes that Harry is the only hope for the Wizarding world, so he sucks it up as much as he can - Snape (being Snape) just cannot resist making snarky little comments from time to time. Both he and Wormtail will figure prominantly in the final battle, as they both have debts to pay to The Boy Who Lived. It could be something as simple as distracting Voldemort at the right time. As for Karkaroff, he's just a weenie and a coward. It's possible that Dumbledore knew that Snape was trustworthy because they had performed an Unbreakable Vow of their own. Granted, not normally Dumbledore's style, but he might have needed the reassurance - it was a war, after all.

Dumbledore's death took me completely by surprise. I did not see it coming, at all. I'm not quite sure about Snape's allegience, however I do know that there is something bigger going on that J.K. is telling us. J.K. has a tendency to hide many clues in the text. These are a few examples that I found on dumbledoreisnotdead.com.

"Harry and Dumbledore are up on the top of the tower underneath the Dark Mark. Harry is wearing his invisibility cloak, Dumbledore ordered him to put it on before they mounted their brooms to ride to the top of the tower. Harry hears footsteps and looks around, but Dumbledore orders him with a gesture to retreat. Harry draws his wand and backs away:

The door burst open and somebody erupted through it and shouted, "Expelliarmus!" Harry's body became instantly rigid and immobile, and he felt himself fall back against the tower wall, propped like an unsteady statue, unable to move or speak.(HBP pg 584/545)

It's interesting to note that things are happening so fast, even Harry is momentarily confused:

He could not understand how it happened -- Expelliarmus was not a Freezing Charm -- Then, by the light of the Mark, he saw Dumbledore's wand flying in an arc over the edge of the ramparts and understood... Dumbledore had wordlessly immobilzed Harry, and the second he had taken to perform this spell had cost him the chance of defending himself. (HBP pg 584/545)

Why did Dumbledore freeze Harry? Harry was already invisible to their attackers and in no danger.

The only explanation could be that Dumbledore already knew, had already planned, that he would die this night (or appear to die), and not only did he not want Harry to become involved and possibly be injured himself, he needed Harry to be a witness, to be able to tell everyone else what happened.

Dumbledore might have also promised Snape that he would make sure that Harry would not be able to interfere, knowing how Harry feels about Snape and what Snape was about to have to do.

The supposition that it was Dumbledore's plan to do this all along is supported by the fact that he acted so quickly to do it, almost without thinking, when Draco burst in on the scene.

Harry's own assumption that the Freezing Charm was done by Dumbledore is supported by the fact the curse lifted when Dumbledore left the tower minutes later."

There are more clues on the website. After reading all of them, I agree with them, when saying, "Dumbledore is either not dead or Snape's not a Death Eater and he killed Dumbledore because Dumbledore ordered him to"

Snape, certianly a foe. When he speaks of Voldemort, he calls him The Dark Lord, even in Harry's 6th year D.A.D.A class. All of the questions that were asked above all the posted comments are asked by Bellatrix to Snape in Chapter two of Half Blood Prince. Besides, HE MURDERED DUMBLEDORE!

For those of you who said that Dumbledore may come back to life, think back to book six when his picture appeared on the Head Master office wall with all the other previous Head Masters. It was said that this could only happen if he was indeed dead. Dumbledore himself said that when people are gone, there is no way to come back except through dark magic. He could not possibly have created his own horcrux as he was the model wizard for the "good side." He can still talk to Harry and anyone else that he needs to through his picture in the office, just like the other pictures talked to him in "The Order of the Pheonix."
As for Snape, I don't care for him much, but I think that he must have done something to prove himself to Dumbledore. I believe that he had to make the unbreakable vow with Narcissa so that he could feel important, knowing that he is privy to information only a few of Voldemorts followers knew. I think that the only reason he killed Dumbledore in the end was to save his own neck. Snape knew that Malfoy could not do it and so he had to or he too would die because of the unbreakable vow.
Also, I believe it said that the unbreakable vow was only made between dark wizards so for the person that said Snape and Dumbledore made an unbreakable vow, that is not possible. Dumbledore would not make a vow that would cost someone their life, he had other ways of keeping things secrect, just like he did with the Order of the Pheonix. Some of you should really go back and re-read some of the books. It is amazing what little things you miss the first time you read them.
I think that RAB is Regulus Black, and that the real locket horcrux is the locket that they found while they were cleaning out the drawing room in the Black house in the Order of the Pheonix. Regulus found it and brought it back to the Black house after he betrayed Voldemort (he was one of Voldemorts higher ups so he knew the location of the locket) They were not able to open the locket that they found in the Black house. Kreacher has probably hidden it in his little cubby hole by now!

I have often wondered about Snapes loyalty. Dumbledor seems to know a fact that WE HAVE NOT BEEN PRIVY to. I re read all the books and really thought about why,. He must be related to someone.
Could Snape be Harry's Uncle? Could Snape detest his famous nephew?
Really think about it.
Could Snape be related to Dumbledor?
HMMMMMM.

It is a vary strange relationship, I want to lean to foe. With what happened in book 6, but we really can't know till it comes out. It would be really mean in my view to make him related to harry anyways, although snape is the half blood prince...

I vote FRIEND!!! I believe Dumbeldore is alive. It was a ruse to save Malfoy. There was a closed casket at the funeral and Hagar, who is in on the plan, was the one who found Dumbledore.

There are a couple things I hadn't noticed being mentioned:

1: It is obvious that Snape hates Harry. No denying that. He wants him expelled, he wants him failed, etc. Still, he doesn't want him dead.

2: Snape hates Harry for several reason, only a couple of which are obvious - Harry is James' son, everyone tells him how much he resembles him. Harry also has his mothers eyes, another thing everyone remarks on (both of these points are mentioned in every book). It will come out that Snape was in love with Lily Potter, yet another reason he hated James, and now Harry. He only has to look at Harry to be reminded of James.

3: Snapes love for Lily is what drove him to Dumbledore in the first place. He *was* a loyal Death Eater, but couldn't bring himself to help kill Lily. It is mentioned that he was a spy for Dumbledore, and that Dumbledore was given inside information that Voldemort was planning to kill the Potters.

So, is he a Friend or Foe? Well, both. He has a fascination, maybe even a love for the Dark Arts, but I think he's more like the avid gun collector that insist on having as many guns as possible and knowing how to use them very well. While he may not hesitate to use them in certain situations, he is almost certainly not going to use them just for fun. But he will use them. He certainly hates Harry, but his love for Lily won't let him harm Harry, or allow him to be harmed. He will play a big part in Harry's favor in the last book.

Dumbledore IS DEAD. He is NOT a christ figure. There is nothing to be gained by his return at this point, except a blatant ruination of an extremely compelling and fascinating story. Rowling is far too good a storyteller to pull such a blatant cheat. That would be worse than rewriting the "over the cliff" scene in an old western so that the hero obviously gets out, when the end of last weeks episode clearly showed him going over with the coach.

Besides, he states quite clearly in the first book that "To the well organized mind, Death is but the next great adventure". He's not afraid of death, and won't hang around as a ghost. Nearly Headless Nick spoke of his fear of "crossing over" as a grave regret he had after Sirius died, so I would bet money Dumbledore will NOT return, except through his portrait in the Headmistress' office, and through various memories that will surface in various forms.

Snape was forced to kill Dumbledore, and that will probably torture him (Snape) as much as Lilys death. If not more. He took the vow because he had to. He clearly didn't know what Dracos task was - Harry overheard Snape trying to drag it out of him well after the vow was taken. When he found out, moments before killing Dumbledore, he was certainly able to communicate with Dumbledore through Legilimency. Dumbledore was a very good legilimens too, as he mentions to Harry in HBP. He made it very clear to Snape that he was to carry on with the plan, even if it meant killing him. On the one hand, he was bound by the vow, on the other, he was bound by his word to Dumbledore, and the need to maintain his cover. Besides, as has been mentioned, Dumbledore probably had an idea what Dracos task was well before that night - he probably avoided telling Snape so Snape wouldn't have time to torture himself over it. I don't know if Snape and Dumbledore had an unbreakable vow, but it's possible. Dumbledore doesn't strike me as the kind to put another person under that kind of obligation. Still, that might have been the reason for his unswerving trust of Snape. Maybe Snape insisted on the vow?

So, it looks more like Snape is the tragic figure of the story. He's the one everyone loves to hate until his true motives are revealed. Of course, by then it will be too late. Snape has used an unforgivable curse, on one of the most respected and prominent wizards of modern times. No way he'll be allowed to go free. Not that he'll be able to live with himself anyway.

I suspect Karkaroff is already dead. Voldemort would have taken care of him for putting so many of the Death Eaters in Azkaban. As mentioned above, yes, he's "just a weenie". He's just another wormtail with a little Slavic style and less of the groveling gene.

In TDH, look for more of Sectus Sempra, the "up by the ankle" charm, and Harry learning silent spells and Occlumency. Possibly even some Legilimency (with a little help from the scar). The real question is where are the other Horcruxes? The locket fetched from the cave will turn out to have been removed by Sirius' brother Regulus, but he hasn't destroyed it. It's mentioned very briefly, more as an aside in The Order of the Phoenix - the locket nobody could open that was found while cleaning Sirius' house. The Ring and Book have been destroyed, by Dumbledore and Harry, leaving as many as 5. They think the locket is destroyed, and they think there were only 6 altogether. There has been speculation that Harry (or Harry's scar) is the last one, but I doubt that. There's still Nagini, possibly the Hufflepuff teacup, and one other object (maybe 2) that nobody has a clue to yet. I wouldn't be surprised if Snape has already destroyed one, or winds up destroying one in book 7 - maybe Nagini?

L

well i think most of you are right. friend is what he is to the order not Harry. He love Harry's mom, He owes Harry's dad, And he would do anything for Dumbledore. So as for his dislike of Harry. well didn't he say that Harry looked like James. And James did have the girl he loved. Also WHO ARE THE OTHER POTTER'S? Does anyone reminder them talking about James side of the Family??????

I believe that Snape will turn out to be a Friend, but will die at the end to protect Harry.

I think Snape is playing both sides against the middle. He will do what he has to do to stay alive and be the last one standing when all is said and done. He has already killed Dumbledore and I think he believes in his heart that with a little help, Harry can take Voldemort. With both of them out of the way, he can be and do what ever he wants. Snape's loyalties are with himself and no one else. Everything he does, friendly or otherwise, has a very calculated and well thought out plan behind it. I don't think he does anything that doesn't, in the end, benefit him and move him closer to a position of true power.

Re above comments - Hey, what if Snape is Harry's real father (just kidding - I think). Anyway, my money has always been on Snape coming through in the end. I have no idea if he is currently friend or not but I'm betting he'll be there in the end to help pull Harry through (assuming, of course, that Ms. Rowling doesn't decide to knock poor Harry off).

I think there is more that meets the eye of Snape. You can tell that he didn't want to be a death eater, because he did then he would have showed up at the death eaters meeting. Also I think Snape cares about Harry though he does remind him of harry's father and he's there to take care. But there is one question that just came to my mind. Why didn't the death eaters say anything to Snape about not being coming back? Do they know Snape wanted to be on the good slide?

I think he's a friend. He's saved Harry lots of times. But I think it's hard to be a former Death Eater...so he forms alliances we might not understand. I like that Jo doesn't make all her characters clear cut villians or heroes.

I agree with much of what Lou L. has said. Dumbledore will not come back alive, although the whole debate about him being a Christ figure is still up in the air, I think. His death is similar to that of Simon's in Lord of the Flies, if anyone here has read that. Seemingly for nothing, and yet full of warnings.

Without Dumbledore, Harry now must be able to survive on his own, without Dumbledore's guidance, protection, or foresight. He must now learn to think and fight for himself, and grow up into the independent wizard that Dumbledore has always wanted him to be.

With Snape, I am most certain that he was forced to kill Dumbledore, and not without regret, either. After all, I distinctly remember that passage, where he is about to kill Dumbledore, that his face was filled with hatred. Why this hatred? Surely he doesn't personally hate Dumbledore? Dumbledore is his enemy yes, but this personal hatred makes my skeptical, and my explanation for it would be thus: His loyalty towards Dumbledore makes him loathe the fact that he must be forced to execute him.

Furthermore, the last words that Dumbledore ever speaks are like this: "Severus, please, please." He is clearly begging Severus to do something, of course. But seeing what Dumbledore has given us from the previous five books, do we really QUESTION DUMBLEDORE'S COURAGE? He would not be the person to beg for mercy, particularly under such circumstances. Perhaps the other Death Eaters fail to notice this, and merely interpret this as a final hope for mercy, in a cowardly show of grovelling, but I am most sure that instead of pleading for life, that he was, in all actuality, pleading for HIS OWN DEATH. He sees the reluctance in Snape's eyes, and pleads for Snape to finish it.

He has a plan, you see, and Snape must be included in it. He begs for Snape to keep on with the plan. With this act, a few things are achieved, although I can imagine that Dumbledore knows the Dark Lord will have glazed over these things:

1) With Dumbledore gone, the Dark Lord will believe that he is now unstoppable, and will be overcome with intoxicating hubris and arrogance. The Dark Lord now believes himself to be invincible and unstoppable. He will, as a result, make some sort of stupid mistake by underestimating someone.

2) Harry will now become even more furious at all that is evil with the world (aka You-Know-Who/Voldemort/Voldy-thingy/The Dark Lord & his Death Eaters), and will resolve to defeat him with more determination than ever before. Now, the situation turns from a game of survival to a battle for victory. In short, Harry will be psyched up and mad.

3) Snape now has Voldemort's trust from this act. Snape will now become his greatest weakness, being that Voldemort has little, he thinks, to fear from Snape. Loyalty is a very useful tool for gaining trust.

All this will lead to Voldemort's downfall.



What I've written all this junk for is to say: Snape is good.

I bevleve Snape is a foe.He one my worst people in the book. I never like him. Snape did the most unforgivable crime, he killed Dumbledore. Dumbledore is one my favorite people. He wise, powerful, and famous

I think that Snape is ultimately a friend. I believe that he will come through for Harry in the end. I can't say that I "like" him personally, but he is one of the most interesting characters in the series. He always keeps me guessing. If it were not for this type of intrigue, how many of us would continue to wait on the edge of our seats for the next book to come out. I just do not believe Dumbledore would place his trust in a person who would harm Harry. I believe he has been portrayed in the series as a character that could either be good or bad for a reason. He may be the person who loses his life in this book. Maybe to protect Harry... My question is this, if Harry lives and so does Voldemort, how can Rowling stop writing?????

I cast my vote for Snape being a friend for the following reasons.

One, I do not believe Dumbledore ever misplaced his trust. In anyone.

Two, the only reason Snape gave the Unbreakable vow was to save Draco and Narcissa, both of whom he cares about deeply. He had no idea the vow would lead him to kill Dumbledore.

Three, despite Harry being James' son, he was also Lily's. Snape loved Lily. Harry may be a lot like his father, but he is also a lot like his mother. Whose idea was it to go and save Hermione first year? Who stands up for Neville also in the first year? Let's face it. Harry is his mother's son. The same traits that made Snape love Lily are reflected in the son of his worst enemy. Snape, for Lily's sake, would not turn his back on Harry or Dumbledore.

Four, c'mon, people! Snape is a double agent! He has to do some things in order to maintain his status. Killing Dumbledore does that, as well as protecting his favorite student.

I think Snape is a true friend only to Dumbledore in spite of the fact that by all appearances Dumbledore was killed by Snape. His contempt & loathing for Harry are real. He may feel he has to keep Harry alive because James saved Snape from an attack by Lupin & his loyalty to Dumbledore, but that doesn't mean he likes him at all. His answers to Bellatrix at the beginning of The Half-Blood Prince ring true & many of them are the ones posed here. I will be very interested to see Snape's role in the final book. But I don't believe that Dumbledore - 'the most gifted wizard of his age' - is actually dead. Flying out over the wall after Snape's attack was a nice piece of theatrics so that he could escape, but as soon as the shock wore off when I first read that I haven't believed that what we 'saw' was real. And I wouldn't want to call Dumbledore a liar, but we have only his word at the end of The Sorcerer's Stone that the stone was actually destroyed.

I think Snape is a friend, but in a twisted way. JKR makes references to several literature sources, including the Bible. To start off the passion of Christ, Jesus told Judas, "friend, do what you have to do." At the end of Goblet of Fire, Dumbledore tells Snape the same thing. Since this is a battle between Voldemort and Harry, my guess is that Dumbledore knew he had to be out of the way in every sense in order for the true battle to begin. Who knows...maybe Dumbledore will come back?

Well, I have found everything very interesting, there are so many great observations that I won't waste space listing the contributors. What I haven't seen mentioned yet is the fact that Snape is the spy that was caught listening to the prophecy when Dumbledore originally heard it. This is a clue, I think into his true alliance. Snape also has stated plainly that he knows the "Dark Lord" wants to finish Harry himself. Knowing that Draco was to do the deed himself in Half-Blood Prince, and that his intervention could displease the "Dark Lord" regardless that the outcome was what was wanted, why would he risk more displeasure in killing Harry? I also do not believe that Snape will be able to convince the Order that he is indeed on their side, so returning to Hogwarts or the Order for him is impossible. Harry made it clear that he will not return to Hogwarts as well. J.K. Rowling also made it clear that in keeping with the Genre, Harry has to go on alone. So, with all that brewing in my thoughts, I believe that Snape is a foe that will distract Harry in the last installment. Harry is the one character that has never accepted or understood Dumbledore's trust of Snape and he is now even more polarized against him. I cannot see how she can write a way around that issue to allow Snape back into anyone's good graces. It will definitely be interesting to see how her magnificent imagination brings this to the final conclusion. I can't wait either and wonder where her talents will take when next she picks up her pen.

I have a question. I've seen all the movies and read some of the books but I've never seen where it clearly says why or what happened to make Lord V hate Harry's parents so much that he wanted to kill them. Did I miss something or has it never been fully discussed. I think she should write a prequal to this series all about Harry's paren's, Lupin. Snape and all the others when they were in school and what happened in all the friendships that brought us to the first book.

I vote friend. I notice that no one has mentioned the "draught of living death," a potion that has been mentioned in several of the books. Snape is the potions teacher and would know all about administering this one (and how to brew its antidote). If Dumbledore drank it, then that could explain why he appears to be asleep in his portrait.

I read through a number of these comments and was pleasantly surprised to find that many of the items that had nagged at me were doing the same to others. Granted I didn't get a chance to read each and every one of the comments on all of the pages yet .....but the one thing that I just keep circling in my mind is why do we assume that Sirrius is really dead? I know there has been great speculation about DD really being dead and a comment about his portrait showing up was made as proof that he really is gone. Yet nothing was ever mentioned after Sirrius fell into the darkness. Everyone just went along like there was no posibility other than death, yet we never hear anything about his portrait showing up. I am just fidgeting waiting on this final book hoping that it will confirm and deny or at least tie up a bunch of these loose ends we are all pondering.

I believe that Snape has been playing along with Voldemort, but that he will turn out to be worthy of the trust Dumbledore placed in him. I had forgotten about the "draught of living death". I could not believe that Dumbledore was gone and this does explain why he is sleeping in his protrait. I also agree with Tammy, that sirruis is going to make a comeback in the last book. There is nothing to say he is dead, but a blief that could be incorrect. Whatever happens, I believe shnape will come through in the end. Like others, I believe his actions are necessary to maintain the illusion that he is still a Death Eater. Whether or not he kills Voldemort remains to be seen but I think he will have an intergral part in Voldemorts downfall. I would like to see a way for Neville's parent's, maybe even Harry's parent's have a part in Voldemort's demiseas a way to show justice prevails.

I agree with Angela M. Snape did have a grudge against the Marauders, but being a Death Eater seems to have shown him that he must help defeat Voldemort and put away old grudges. Dumbledore entrusted him with his biggest secret and greatest weapon against Voldemort: his death and life thereafter. Harry and Snape are in the same position with Dumbledore.

In the last book, I believe that Harry will learn that everything is not as it seems and he must make up his own mind about everyone/everything. And grow up in the process.

After reading various theories, and comments...there is one thing certain for me...that Severus Snape is, on the surface, an un-pleasant man. He is vindictive, he bullies students that he's taken a dislike to, he favors students from his own house(slytherin)..and is an unlikable character older as he was at a youthfull age, a revoltingly greasy hair gitt. But then on the other hand Severus Snape is a brilliant wizard, and JKR has set up Snape up to be a mystery. I'm left wondering if he is the power that the Dark Lord knows not. So I have come to believe Snape is one of the good guys, if he wants to be or not, because he dislikes Harry Potter..But I feel he was very much loyal to Dumbledore, and was caring out his orders and wishes.

One of the great things about the books is that good and evil are often intertwined. Rowling has gone to great efforts to make Snape thoroughly hateful, though she has always given him moments of moral strength and a world of conflicted loyalties and ambiguities. This, of course, sets him up to be a friend, in the end. However, evil is rarely without its human face (Voldemort's, i.e. Tom Riddle's dreadful childhood, is proof – as were Hitler's own alleged humiliations and pains; as are Bin Laden's mistaken beliefs in an "Allah" we should all dread and fear)…which might lead me to believe that even evil can be human, and that Snape will, indeed, turn out to be foe – foe in all its human complexity, sadness, and disappointments. These books, while incredibly sweet to savor, are never sugarcoated, and Rowling began her career as a teacher, and I think writes with lessons to impart. So…friend or foe? Personally, I want to believe that Harry will prevail…but I am not nearly as clever, nor as omnipotent, as Rowling….and have no idea what to presume. At the end of the day, though, indeed at the end of the series, I don't think we are going to feel a great relief or sense of closure. I think that perhaps evil will be vanquished…for the time being…but we will be left with the sense that it is always lurking in the shadows of human discontent. And, as Rowling is the sheer genius of a writer that she is, and as she displayed with Dumbledore's "death" (never mind other canards, but what was the point of Dumbledore being the inventor of the Sorcerer's Stone…even if she HAS stated emphatically that Dumbledore is dead?), I would be very surprised if Rowling doesn't have the prescience – or courage of her own, really – to leave the door open for a "Harry" of the future…even if it is one she believes now that she will never walk through again.

Snape is our friend! Voldy is our master! OR ELSE! Mwahahahahahaha!!!

Wouldn't it be kewl if Harry is really a death eater and they're just saying that Voldy is after Harry to make everyone think that Harry is the good guy so he can manipulate all his friends and stuffs? :D

Every human being knows there are two voices that give very opposite advice, the voice of GOOD and the voice of EVIL. Both of which are represented in the books as two VERY IMPORTANT characters, Lupin and Snape.

I could go on and on about my conclusions on Snape but I'm just going to say what I believe will happen in the final book and let the book speak for itself.

I believe that both GOOD and EVIL; Lupin and Snape will play ONE among many Very important roles.
Ultimatly I expect SNAPE as well as LUPIN will SACRIFICE themselves to help Harry in his battle against Voldemort.

Agree or Disagree with me, either way this is my own conclusion on one of many questions I hope to be answered in the final book.

Snape didn't WANT to kill Dumbledore. Remember Snape and Dumbledore were arguing in Book 6? Dumbledore insisted Snape do something, and Snape didn't want to? That's what they were talking about.

Furthermore, Dumbledore isn't dead. Unbeknownst to Snape, Dumbledore switched his wand with a prank wand from the Weasley brothers' joke shop. Ever wonder why nobody, Harry in particular, really SAW Dumbledore's body after he died? And his "body" was wrapped in a sheet?

Hello fellow Potter lovers...Severus Snape is an enemy...we learned in the end of The Half-Blood Prince that it was he, and not Draco Malfoy, that put the forbidden curse, Avada Kadavra, on Dumbledore...Harry witnessed it while hiding under his invisible cloak...so why are we asking ourselves this silly question? He is an enemy...no question about it!!!

I've sort of leaned both ways in this... but I'd have to say he's a friend. I think he doesn't really like Harry because of that stuff with his father but hes still loyal to the good side. That whole business with the Unbreakable Vow I think was just a cover up so the bad guys would think he was on their side. And so that he could have control over the situation. I think Dumbledore knew what was coming and that there was no avoiding it but Snape did it instead of Draco to try to keep him (Draco) from the dark side. I don't believe there is any way for Dumbledore to come back but there is some reason he had to die that we'll find out in the last book. And unless J.K. is lying, she's said Dumbledore is definitely dead, he's not coming back.

I think Snape is Foe for this reason, to perform the killing curse you have to want it. Snape performed it on Dumbledore, which means he meant it. Then again Sarah R. makes a good point about having to do it. Technically Dumbledore would say that the cause was bigger then even him and he would sacrifice himself for the greater good. So now I'm not so sure about foe. i'm SOOOO confused!!! Anyone see Devil wears prada? I WANT that manuscript!

Whenever Harry was inside Dumbledore's office, all the other portraits were sleeping, except when they woke up to complain. I see no doubt of Dumbledore's death. His portrait was in the office, and even if he wasn't dead by the time he flew out the window, he didn't have a broom to ride, so the fall would have killed him. Dumbledore's dead, let him lie.

Tammy brought up Sirius. If anyone came back he is the only likely one I can think of. We don't know that the veil he disappeared into was death. It could have been another thing like the wardrobe Draco used to bring the Death Eaters to the school.

As for Snape, I always thought he was a good guy with issues. Even when he took the Unbreakable Vow, he hesitated before saying the final words. Because of that, I don't think he wanted to do it. He knew how powerful it was and what it cost and didn't want to get involved, but if he didn't he would betray someone he cared about, no matter which side he was on. If he said no to the vow, Narcissa and Bellatrix would tell Voldemort that Snape was a traitor and he would die.

If he jumped right in without hesitation, he'd be a fool for not understanding the power of the Unbreakable Vow and they may also think he was sure Draco would fail, which would be a betrayal of Draco's own weakness. Saying that Draco was weak is totally against Snape's favoritism in class anyway.

Narcissa was worried because it was the first task Voldemort asked her son to do. She may also not want her son to be part of Voldemort's plan. It may be too late for Narcissa and Lucius to get out of Voldemort's clutches, or they think it is, but Draco might if he hasn't even really started yet. That certainly opens a can of worms.

I've seen a parallel between Snape's life and Harry's life in some instances. Could that be a clue? The Deathly Hallows will be huge! It has to be to answer all these questions!

Of course Snape is a friend! I think that, like Hermione did with the parchment that the DA members signed, the Order of the Phoenix members must have sworn an oath or signed a similar pledge that they would not betray the Order. Perhaps Dumbledore, like Hermione, was the only one who knew there was a curse connected to the oath/pledge, and as such trusted Snape, since Snape is still alive and unmarked and must be on the Order's side.