Snape

[Lizzie]

So, after reading Deathly Hallows, what do you think about Snape? Dumbledore said - "ou know, I sometimes think we sort too soon". Could Snape have been in any other house than Slytherin? Is Snape a hero?

IMO, the fact that Snape loved Lily doesn't excuse the fact that he was a complete jerk to Harry and the other students while he was at Hogwarts. Though, he did help Harry tremendously - leading him to the Sword of Godric Gryffindor etc.

About Snape being in any other house - I think that if he had been born into another family, he might have ended up a Gryffindor. We know that he was drawn to the Dark Arts - is this because of his upbringing? I think he wanted power, and Slytherin gave that to him.

Snape is definitely an incredibly complex character. And I found it very interesting that it was not Albus Dumbledore or Sirius Black, but Severus Snape who was the bravest man Harry had ever known.

[Bre]

So, after reading Deathly Hallows, what do you think about Snape? Dumbledore said - "ou know, I sometimes think we sort too soon". Could Snape have been in any other house than Slytherin? Is Snape a hero?

I think Slytherin suited him well. Being in Slytherin doesn't mean your an evil person. And yes I think Snape is a hero, probably one of the biggest ones. He was Voldy's right hand man when he came back. Talk about dangerous. He put his life on the line everyday, just to protect Harry.

IMO, the fact that Snape loved Lily doesn't excuse the fact that he was a complete jerk to Harry and the other students while he was at Hogwarts. Though, he did help Harry tremendously - leading him to the Sword of Godric Gryffindor etc.

He couldn't exactly be Harry's biggest fan if he wanted Voldemort to truly think he was on his side. But I also don't think he was a jerk to Harry because he loved Lily. I think because Potter reminded him of James. I didn't mind that he was rough to Harry. Harry needed some people to not like him, otherwise he'd have the biggest head.

Snape is one of my favorite characters. Like you said, he's very complex, and in the end he did what he could to protect Harry.

[Lizzie]

He really could have been in Slytherin, Gryffindor or Ravenclaw, I think. Probably more Ravenclaw than Gryffindor.

Ooh - this is what Jo said about Snape being a hero: "Yes, I do; though a very flawed hero. An anti-hero, perhaps. He is not a particularly likeable man in many ways. He remains rather cruel, a bully, riddled with bitterness and insecurity – and yet he loved, and showed loyalty to that love and, ultimately, laid down his life because of it. That’s pretty heroic!"

[Beck]

Snape was a hero. He was mean and defensive towards Harry because Harry looks so much like James, who was an utter asshole to Snape at school. Yes its not fair to pass the grudge on to Harry, but Harry also acted a lot like James at times too. Plus, he made it hard for Snape to protect him getting into all sorts of trouble Snape may have did what he did only out of love for Lily, but he still did it, which shows he was never all bad or evil, just misguided and thrown in with a bad lot.

[Forsaken]

I'm firmly in the catagory of Snape was a great (and complex) character. I just finished a bit of a rant about it in another thread. However, I'm not sure Snape falls into the typical hero role. Everything he did was because of love/Lily. He was originally one of Voldemort's death eaters because he wanted to be. Also, Slytherin was the right place for him (as somebody said they aren't necessarily evil)

[Paul]

i would say snape was a hero, it takes a hero to protect and die for a person you hate, i couldnt imagine sirius doing the same, as for house i think sltherin suited him