14 years after the final movie came out,Harry Potteris still such a cultural giant thatHBO is making a TV adaptation of it. That should be an interesting project, as several of those books may indeed have enough material to support an entire season’s worth of episodes each. However, it’s also hard to imagine that it’ll have the same impact as the films did. Fans who grew up with them will never stop loving them, and a lot of that has to do with the characters. Practically every member of the new cast has enormous shoes to fill; the actors will need to navigate the monumental task of having to differentiate themselves from the wonderful original interpretations while staying true to the books. Andthey will play these roles for a decade, apparently.
There are many reasons why we love the original cast, from the visual design of the characters to their legendary line deliveries. The titular character has plenty of great quotes, for instance, but Severus Snape has better ones. Played brilliantly byAlan Rickman, Snape is not a fan of Harry—which he makes perfectly clear—and it’s difficult to tell throughout the films whether he’s on Dumbledore’s side or Voldemort’s. The ambiguity of this character is every bit as appealing as his open disdain for Harry and company. Also, being the potion teacher, Snape’s love for his craft is one of several interesting details that complicate his dark, gloomy, intimidating presence.Below are perhaps Snape’s ten best quotes, rankedby how deeply they explore his character, how well (often humorously) they illustrate his personality, how well they serve their films' narratives, and how gracefully they keep his loyalties a mystery.
Harry Potter
10"You just bought yourself a month’s detention, McLaggen."
‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince’ (2009)
This quoteisn’t the most important one Snape has ever uttered, but it’s definitely among the man’s funniest moments. At a party, Snape opens a curtain to find McLaggen and Mr. Potter. Right on cue, McLaggen vomits on the professor’s robe. Watching the kid slowly get back up, we know he’s in some deep trouble. Snape’s reaction is precisely what you’d hope it to be: he slowly looks up until he’s staring right into the kid’s face, and says, “You just bought yourself a month’s detention, McLaggen.”
What makes this even better is the way he immediately follows that up with “Notso quick, Potter” as Harry tries to escape. All of this comes in a totally deadpan delivery, and he’s not even looking at Harry when he tells him to stop in his tracks.Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Princeis one of the funnier films in the franchise, and this moment is a highlight that makes uslove the movie-Snape as much as the book-Snape.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
9"I can teach you how to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses."
‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone’ (2001)
InHarry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Professor Snape introduces himself to the class by walking in quickly. At his podium, hands folded together, he tells the first-years that he doesn’t expect most of them to “appreciate the subtle science and exact art that is potion-making.” But, regarding the few who will, Snape says that “I can teach you how to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses. I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even put a stopper in death.” That’s one heck of a sales pitch.
As much as Snape seems to dislike most people and things, we definitely hear the passion in his voice here. The slow delivery of these lines is fantastic, and the way he crosses his arms and conceals his hands in his robe makes him look like a bat. The camera points up at him, making these powers of the potions seem all the more impressive.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
8"Turn to page 394."
‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’ (2004)
As always, Snape walks authoritatively into the classroom. On the way to the front, he shuts all the windows to make the room as dimly lit as possible. Then he pulls down the projector screen and says, “Turn to page 394.” No hello, just straight to the point. When Harry asks about Professor Lupin, Snape gives him almost no information and repeats his directions. Ron is so slow that Snape flicks his wand to get the student there more quickly. Then, after Harry complains about an assignment conflicting with a Quidditch game, Snape tells him that “loss of limb will not excuse you” and stares at him: “Page 394.”
Great repetition here.Snape is clearly growing less and less patient with his students while refusing to budgeon whatever topic they bring up. He’s never in a very good mood, but he seems a bit grumpier today. The way Alan Rickman enunciates this command is so deliberate and uncompromising. Overall, this simple line perfectly sums up why he’s one ofthe best Slytherin characters.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
7"The use of it on a student is…regrettably forbidden. However, should you ever steal from my personal stores again, my hand might just slip over your morning pumpkin juice."
‘Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire’ (2005)
After Harry has completed the underwater task of the Tri-Wizard Tournament inThe Goblet of Fire, Professor Snape is very suspicious that the boy has been stealing from his personal store. Mr. Potter is innocent, but that’s not going to stop the sulky Snape from assuming he’s been stealing several other items from his personal stores. He ends this accusation with a threat, showing Harry a small container of veritaserum (an extremely powerful truth potion) and telling him that “The use of it on a student is…regrettably forbidden. However, should you ever steal from my personal stores again, my hand might just slip over your morning pumpkin juice.”
It’s hilarious when he raises an eyebrow and pauses when he says using the serum on a student is “regrettably forbidden,” and we totally believe him when he states that he’ll use it anyway if the need arises.Alan Rickman was truly the king of pauses and deliberate pronunciations, demonstrated in the way he describes pouring some of the truth potion into Harry’s pumpkin juice. Overall, this is classic Snape.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
6"You have your mother’s eyes."
‘Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows, Part 2’ (2011)
Snape has just beenmortally wounded by Lord Voldemort, but he’s able to hold on long enough to give Harry his tears for the pensieve. Mr. Potter is the last person he sees; staring sadly into the boy’s eyes, Snape utters his final words: “You have your mother’s eyes.” It’s a very emotional moment, showing us that he actually was on Harry’s side all along. Meanwhile, we’ve heard other people tell Harry he has his mother’s eyes, including Professor Lupin and Sirius Black, so it’s quite odd (and moving) to hear it come out of Snape’s mouth.
Snape has always come across as the opposite of a sentimentalist, yet him saying the same thing everyone else has said suggests that he at least had a soft side for Harry’s mother, too. We’ll later discover in the pensieve just how much he loved her, andSnape shows a lot of bravery to show this kid his sensitive side. At last, Snape’s true character is revealed—and it’s an admirable one, indeed.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2
5"Avada kedavra."
At the climax ofHarry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, several Death Eaters have Dumbledore unarmed and surrounded at the top of the bell tower. Harry is below them, unseen, pointing a wand at them, ready to attack. Suddenly we see Snape pointing his own wand at Harry, quietly putting a finger up to his mouth to make sure he stays quiet. As Malfoy is proving unable to kill the old wizard, Snape walks up and takes his place. Dumbledore says “please,” which is one ofthe headmaster’s best quotes in the series.
That’s when Snape uses the killing curse on him, and the camera makes sure to catch Snape’s expression afterward. It’s hard to read him, and the viewer wonders why he would want to keep Harry hidden (as Dumbledore did) and kill Dumbledore. Only in the final movie do we know for sure the true meaning of this exchange, butthe ambiguity of this quote makes it one of Snape’s most fascinating moments.
4"You dare use my own spells against me, Potter? Yes,I’mthe half-blood prince."
After killing Dumbledore, Snape and the other Death Eaters head over to Hagrid’s hut. While Bellatrix lights it on fire, Harry yells at Snape from a distance and attacks. Snape defends but doesn’t fight back, telling Bellatrix to leave after she hits Mr. Potter with a spell. Furious, Harry tries the sectumsempra curse on Snape, which is easily deflected. Snape then walks over to him and says, “You dare use my own spells against me, Potter? Yes,I’mthe half-blood prince.” After that, he walks away.
This is a dark, dramatic, and very well-executed reveal. And it makes perfect sense; the half-blood prince’s instructions were responsible for why Harry did such a remarkable job in Professor Slughorn’s potions class, and Snape is a potion instructor himself. What makes this more interesting is that Snape doesn’t elaborate on any of his recent actions. Even when Snape unveils a part of himself, he keeps other things concealed.
3"I could do it, you know. But why deny the dementors?"
Seeing Sirius Black and Remus Lupin with Harry and his friends, Professor Snape disarms them and points his wand at Sirius. These two men went to Hogwarts with Severus back in the day, and the potions master clearly hates their guts. Snape points his wand straight into Sirius' neck: “I could do it, you know. But why deny the dementors? They’re so longing to see you. Do I detect a flicker of fear?” And then he goes on to describe the dementor’s kiss, which he’ll enjoy witnessing.
Not only does Severus confidently say that he could kill Sirius; he says he’d rather let the dementors torture him instead. It’s one thing to see Snape’s normal expression of disapproval of those around him; it’s another to see him threatening someone who knew him as a kid.There’s some bad blood here, showing Snape in a context with peers who don’t respect him. It’s also interesting to see this man’s hatred come to this level of intensity, one of many elements that makesPrisoner of Azkabanone ofthe bestHarry Pottermovies.
2"You and Black, you’re two of a kind: sentimental children forever whining about how bitterly unfair your lives have been. Well, it may have escaped your notice, but life isn’t fair."
‘Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix’ (2007)
InHarry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Professor Snape is trying to teach Harry how to master occlumency. Mr. Potter’s not doing so well, as Snape just effortlessly penetrated some memories of Harry and Sirius Black. Harry wants to take a break, but his teacher reminds him that the Dark Lord isn’t resting. Then Snape grimaces, “You and Black, you’re two of a kind: sentimental children forever whining about how bitterly unfair your lives have been. Well, it may have escaped your notice, but life isn’t fair. Your blessed father knew that; in fact, he frequently saw to it.”
Two people Harry considers role models, and Snape just insulted both of them. Though he’s never been afraid of expressing disdain for Harry’s father, there is another level of passion in his comments this time around. As always, Rickman’s delivery of these lines makes every single syllable count. The bitterness is palpable, and it’s another intriguing look into Snape’s past. The film goes on to show Snape getting bullied by those guys,making his words ring surprisingly true. Seldom do we get to see Snape in such a sympathetic light.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
1"Have you ever considered that you ask too much? That you take too much for granted? Has it ever crossed your brilliant mind that I don’t want to do this anymore?"
A brief but excellent scene inThe Half-Blood Princeinvolves a conversation between Snape and Dumbledore. We only hear what Harry can hear, and he catches the tail-end of a conversation between the two wizards. Snape asks his headmaster, “Have you ever considered that you ask too much? That you take too much for granted? Has it ever crossed your brilliant mind that I don’t want to do this anymore?” Dumbledore tells him that whether he wants to or not doesn’t matter, and that’s the end of it.
“What are they talking about?” the audience wonders. We’ll discover that this is about Snape acting as a double-agent who will have to kill Albus himself (as he does later). It takes so long for viewers to be sure that Snape is on Dumbledore’s side. Thus, these lines remain tantalizingly ambiguous until the end of the final movie. Of course, once we learn that and re-watch this scene, Snape’s complaint is extremely valid. Thisstunningly heroic Harry Potter characterhas done some very dark things to convince Voldemort he’s a loyal Death Eater. This weighs on him, yet he’s not allowed to stop.All these factors make this quote arguably Snape’s most important and sympathetic in the franchise.
