Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling stepped into one of the biggest questions from her beloved wizarding world. Rowling explained why exactly Harry Potter named one of his children after Severus Snape, one of the controversial characters in the series.
On Friday, Rowling took to Twitter to respond to a fan who didn’t like Harry naming his son after the Slytherin professor. Rowling wrote that Harry named his son after Snape in “forgiveness and gratitude.”
Rowling went on to embrace the debate. She noted that Snape died at the Battle of Hogwarts to protect Harry as a sign of his love for Harry’s mother, Lily.
“Snape didn't die for 'ideals'. He died in an attempt to expiate his own guilt. He could have broken cover at any time to save himself but he chose not to tell Voldemort that the latter was making a fatal error in targeting Harry,” Rowling wrote. “Snape's silence ensured Harry's victory.”
While Rowling is busy answering Twitter questions, she’s still exploring new areas of Harry's world. She’s working on a Harry Potter stage play, which follows Harry’s youngest son. Rowling has also written the screenplay for Warner Bros.’ Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them, which takes place decades before Harry’s story.
Snape died for Harry out of love for Lily. Harry paid him tribute in forgiveness and gratitude. https://t.co/MPXBgUApa3
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) November 27, 2015
That's not true, I'm afraid. Snape projected his hatred and jealousy of James onto Harry. https://t.co/5jzNHlfSe0 — J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) November 27, 2015
Snape is all grey. You can't make him a saint: he was vindictive & bullying. You can't make him a devil: he died to save the wizarding world
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) November 27, 2015
In honouring Snape, Harry hoped in his heart that he too would be forgiven. The deaths at the Battle of Hogwarts would haunt Harry forever. — J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) November 27, 2015
Snape didn't die for 'ideals'. He died in an attempt to expiate his own guilt. He could have broken cover at any time to save himself 1/2
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) November 27, 2015
but he chose not to tell Voldemort that the latter was making a fatal error in targeting Harry. Snape's silence ensured Harry's victory. 2/2 — J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) November 27, 2015
Harry chose to perpetuate the names of the two who had nobody in their families to do so. https://t.co/uwQVA9Tz9O
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) November 27, 2015
He stood to gain nothing personally but the triumph of the cause Lily had believed in. He was trying to do right. https://t.co/h00btgHwSI — J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) November 27, 2015