<Tr> <Th> Portrayed by </Th> <Td> Alan Rickman (adult) Alec Hopkins (teenager) Benedict Clarke (child) Mick Ignis (young adult) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> House </Th> <Td> Slytherin </Td> </Tr> <P> Severus Snape is a fictional character in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series . An exceptionally skilful wizard, his coldly sarcastic and controlled exterior conceals deep emotions and anguish . A Professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Snape is hostile to the series' protagonist, Harry, the moment he sets foot in Snape's classroom; this hostility is rooted in Harry's resemblance to Harry's father James, who bullied and harassed Snape during their time at Hogwarts . Though philosophically attracted to the Dark Arts and Lord Voldemort's ideology of wizard supremacy, Snape's love for Muggle - born Lily Evans, Harry's mother, eventually compels him to defect from the Death Eaters . Snape becomes a double - agent on behalf of Albus Dumbledore and the Order of the Phoenix, and protects Harry throughout the series . </P> <P> A central mystery of the series concerns Snape's loyalties . For much of the series, Snape's actions seem to serve Harry's nemesis, Lord Voldemort, although Harry's mentor, Dumbledore insists that he trusts Snape . Snape dies at the hands of Voldemort in the final chapters of the seventh book, at which time his back story is revealed: as a teenager, Snape was a close friend of Harry's mother Lily, and he turned on Voldemort after the latter sought to kill Lily and her family . </P>

Who is snape in relation to harry potter