The REAL Reason Snape Created Sectumsempra - Harry Potter Theory

[@HarryPotterTheory]

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[@stevefontaine1335]

🧹🪄⚡@HarryPotterTheory⚡🪄🧹 Lord Of The Rings Theory Channel.?🙏🙏🙏

[@daftwulli6145]

He could have simply used an early version of the curse on james that was not yet as effective as the later version though

[@hullutsuhna]

I think the gash WAS caused by sectum sempra, sort of; Snape was still working on the curse when he did that & that's why it was so much weaker

[@daftwulli6145]

@@hullutsuhna so you repeat what I just said in differtent words ??

[@hullutsuhna]

@@daftwulli6145 it's only a repeat if I was aware of your comment when I posted mine, isn't it? You aren't special, if you can think of an explanation for something, there's no reason to think no-one else can come to the same conclusion on their own.

[@rhondacrosswhite8048]

I don't understand why people keep insisting that the Half Blood Prince's book was nothing more than cheat notes. The potion formulas are really nothing more than recipes. Would you consider it cheating if you added a cup of pecans to a cookie recipe? Or if you grate lemon zest into a dough as well as adding just the lemon juice that the recipe calls for? It seems to me that the changes Snape made to the formulae only improved them.

[@KeiraH-j1j]

Maybe but even then, not all of them are good spells you should use on people

[@BigCJ]

I think the point everyone is trying to make is that Harry used improved formulae only available to him and him alone, a clear advantage over every other student. If Harry had tried experimenting with modifying potion formulae on his own time, that would have been fine; why folks are upset is because Harry didn't work for the advantage he got. It's like forgetting the Pythagorean theorem in the middle of a math exam, then turning over the piece of paper they give you to do your work on and somebody wrote it there before you got it. Unfair, no?

[@KeiraH-j1j]

@@BigCJ yeah maybe

[@kyleethekelt]

Harry did offer to share it with Ron and Hermione; but Ron had difficulty reading the writing and Hermione was so blinkered in her thinking that she could not conceive that a textbook could either be full of errors or be improved upon. Stupid really, for a supposedly-intelligent indifidual. I had no hesitation in correcting my teachers if I found an error, even in primary school, and even if I got into trouble. I always turned out to be correct.With an attitude like that from my best mate, I would have kept it quiet too.@@BigCJ

[@BigCJ]

Don't get me wrong, folks, I'm playing devil's advocate here. OP didn't understand why someone would think using the Prince's textbook was cheating, and I posed one possible viewpoint. Personally, I think Harry was right to keep it secret from those not close to him. Ron and Hermione not gleaning knowledge from that book was their own problem. In life, if you can get an advantage, you take it. His "natural talent" for potion-brewing as well as winning the felix felicis drew Slughorn close enough to Harry for him to draw out the horcrux memory for Dumbledore.

[@ackerose]

This is such a plausible theory. His spells before Sectumsempra were so mild & almost funny and suddenly he hits you with such a dark and violent spell.

[@KeiraH-j1j]

Yeah

[@alibabapirce9782]

People don't understand books at all. Only sektumsempra was Snape spell. Levicorpus was just popular spell at that year used for example by James Potter on Snape himself

[@ackerose]

@@alibabapirce9782 “you dare use my own *spells* against me, Potter?” Spells…plural. Those are Snape’s own creation. Harry specifically mentions that there are many notes of trial and errors in making Levicorpus in Prince’s book.

[@Xyanthium3889]

​@alibabapirce9782 you are clearly the one who dosent understand the books buddy

[@vonborgah]

dark and light are the different sides of a same coin. Violent sure, but so are many other spells, more violent than death curse wich is basicly euthanasia

[@Skywalker0-3]

I think Snape did use it on James, however he was much more precise and skilled with it than harry was. Harry had never used it before and I think the book says he "gestured wildly" with his wand. So harry could have inflicted much more damage to Draco due to this.

[@greywolf9783]

Sounds about right

[@TheLupin22]

much like a sword, the novice hacks away wildly while the expert is much more precise and under control. great point

[@genosis-417]

Could’ve been a predecessor or prototype of sectumsempra. Maybe he intended it to do what harry did but it hadn’t been perfected

[@thecajunphoenix]

Harry Potter is also lucky he didn't end up killing Draco Malfoy with Sectusempra. My guess is Severus Snape used inanimate objects to practice Sectusempra on first just to practice before he used it to defend himself. And unlike The Torture Curse (Crucio) and The Killing Curse (Avada Kedavra), Sectusempra has the Counter-Spell Vulnera Sanentur as long as the latter is used early to prevent the victim from bleeding out.

[@blaster42008]

@@thecajunphoenix made harry a bad wizard in my view. who doesnt practice a new spell before trying it on a person... a bad person through neglect and hate and revenge.... harry turned to the dark side at this point in the story and became a sith wizard.

[@TheTck90]

Even darker theory: he planned on murdering James or Sirius and frame it as a wearwolf attack by using Sectum sempra.

[@lauraeckenfels]

damn thats wild but i think it would fit book severus

[@Metusalem979]

Great theory

[@ProudPapaJD]

Dark! I like it.

[@scottcheg9]

That actually fits way better because then gets to swoop in and console Lilly and gets rid of Remus and James, solving 3 problems at once all with one spell, genius.

[@wvu05]

And the Snaters never fail to disappoint.

[@cl8733]

Snape still might have used Sectumsempra on James that one time. We know using curses is about intent. Snape as the creator of that curse would have known how to use it in a “light” form while Harry was furious and absolutely wanted to hurt Malfoy in that moment, not knowing what he was doing.

[@vonborgah]

yes you can have intent during the casting and not have intent 1 second later.

[@nicoleackerman205]

The fight after the owl Harry said Snape did some spell did not know what it was though because it was no verbal and James's shoulders started bleeding it was probably that but since Snape was 15 or 16 at the time not staring enough to do too much damage. Harry at 16 is advanced when it comes to wizardry powers could be since Voldmort was technically inside of him.

[@13vatra]

It could have also been a beta version of the spell before he perfected it. There were several versions of levicorpus written in the book before reaching the version we all know. Easily could have done something similar with sectumsempra.

[@HeatherNickless-vt8zr]

I think that Sectumsempra spell was more likely intended for use on James Potter and Sirius Black (Who were the worse of the 4 Marauders) before Snape's almost encounter with a transformed Remus Lupin. When Snape wrote in his potions book "Sectumsempra: for enemies", I believe, by enemies, he means: James and Sirius since they are the Marauder members doing most of the bullying. Of the two out of the 4 friends, Sirius should've been the bigger target for Snape's curse since he is the one who doesn't know when to stop pranking him.

[@Xiassen]

I accept most of it, but repeated interactions/battles with Lupin seems farfetched. Seems more likely to have in preparation. As for Lupin's scars, if I recall it was said Wolfsbane didn't exist when he was a kid, hence the need for the Whomping Willow setup. If not received from Fenrir, it may be from this period of unrestrained animal activity.

[@kyleethekelt]

Exactly. And even as an adult, it seems clear that lupin didn't have access to Wolfsbane until he taught at Hogwarts.

[@HeatherNickless-vt8zr]

Wolfsbane has been around for a long time, even post medieval England, There just probably was no Wolfsbane Potion invented yet during the Marauders' time as Hogwarts students and before that time and it is a hard potion to make with unpracticed hands anyway. For a potion's master of open ideas, Prof. Horace Slughorn is not very inventive with his potions, that is why the true masters in potion making are the ones who could come up with new brews all the time; As mean as Snape can be, he is the true Potion's Master of the two of them.

[@leeannharris-brookes9439]

I see it as maybe a protection spell for Lilly as she would have started to hang out with them a little more. And maybe he thought he’d have to protect himself and her

[@fatuusdottore]

I thought he scarred himself.

[@HeatherNickless-vt8zr]

@@fatuusdottore; Most of the more fresh scars on lupin were self-inflicted except for the ones that were left by Buckbeak defensively in Harry Potter's 3rd year, and the old scars that have faded overtime and we could not see too well were the scars left by Greyback from when Lupin was a little boy. So, not all scars were self-inflicted but most of them were.

[@LuisLopez-ml5do]

I just saw this the other day at 48:46 in the half blood prince when Harry looks at the book there is a drawing of a werewolf with swords passing through it. I saw it and thought that must be for lupin. 😂

[@grec.]

Makes total sense. Specially because he had the most animosity towards James and Sirius but Remus was always defending them and getting in the way of the 3's arguments towards each other. So, since Sirius made that awful joke to Severus (lure him I to the whomping willow knowing that Remus was transforming into a werewolf that night); once James saved Severus from the dangers, Snape didn't want to be saved by any Marauder ever again but instead being able to defend himself with a curse. And well, he probably created the counter curse in case he casted it by accident or in case he changed his mind afterwards.

[@grec.]

@@katv1195 Exactly. Makes much sense. Specially when he was able to cure Draco after Harry was so reckless by using the curse sectum sempra on him. D*nm man! Snape was such a brilliant wizard. Too bad he excelled the most in the dark arts.

[@MsAppassionata]

Snape uses sectumsempra against James during the “Snape’s Worst Memory” chapter in book 5, if I’m not mistaken. It could have been a glancing blow, which would have accounted for it not being as severe as when Harry uses it against Draco. It kills me how some people are always making excuses for Snape. Let’s face it - He was not a nice guy.

[@jeffreycruz-sanchez6042]

@@MsAppassionataI disagree, I think Snape was a very nice and gentle person. So much so that the bullying he received left him scarred. He is definitely nasty to Harry and to people he doesn’t like, but think about the nature and I mean his true nature… He was offended when Phineas Nigelus calls Hermione a Mud-blood why? Because it echoed his words to Lilly Potter, thus he felt remorse. He felt remorse about telling Voldemort the prophecy and sought help from Dumbledore. A truly evil person does not feel any remorse. Prime example Tom Riddle and his last confrontation with Harry. He refused to feel remorse and his soul was lost because of it. He mistreated and hated Harry yes, because Harry looked so much like his father James Potter and that’s one of the guys who not only tormented him but put him in his debt for “saving his life” from Remus Lupin’s were-wolf form and thus playing the hero which eventually led to Lilly seeing James as a decent man. Harry was a constant reminder of what he could have had with Lilly Evans. Instead it was James. And it was James all over again the minute Harry came back to school. “Mediocre, arrogant as his father….” Everything always went back to James. His loathing of him. Anyone that respected Snape he was pretty nice to as far as adults go.

[@MsAppassionata]

@@jeffreycruz-sanchez6042 Oh please! Another Snape fanboy. Snape did not just bully Harry. He exhibited horrible behavior towards Neville and Hermione. What did they ever do to him to warrant such treatment? He called Lily a mudblood and, though he apologized for calling her that, she rejected him because she had seen him do exactly the same thing with other people before her, and was sick of it. He was always interested in the dark arts, even before going to school, and liked hanging out with future death eaters once he got there. When he heard the prophecy and ran to tell Voldemort, he didn’t care about the family who would die as a result of his snitching, until he found out it was the Potters. Even so, he still didn’t care if Voldemort killed James and Harry, just so long as he spared Lily. I never said that I thought he was a totally irredeemable character. However, that does NOT make him a nice person either. He is what is called an anti-hero. He possesses some good, but also some very bad qualities. Unlike you though, I refuse to let him off the hook for some of the nasty things he does, especially in the books.

[@faultyfox669]

@@MsAppassionataYeah, it amazes me how people forget how awful Snape is. In the third book we see so much of him outside the classroom setting; the whole Shrieking Shack scene, where he binds Lupin in ropes and is planning on dragging him out? He doesn’t do that to Sirius the supposed MURDERER, because really he is just a massive bigot. He hated Lupin because of what he was, and his friends justly would have hated Snape back. Even the fact Snape says James used his own spell against him proves Snape used it on them first. They “bullied” an outspoken bigot, but it makes sense though with all of the JK stuff we know now that she would see Snape as brave for standing up for what he believes in, and give him that name credit in the Epilogue. Alan Rickman’s portrayal of his character also seriously downplayed the general mania of his character for most people’s memory of him.

[@MathiasGreenwalde]

After reading the chapter "Snapes worst memory" in book 5 to me its clear that Snape was going to use it on at least James. He basically tortured him in that chapter and harry saw why Snape hated his father after seeing that memory.

[@Missabra24]

The show we really need. The Marauders

[@MathiasGreenwalde]

It would be a really cool spinoff of the harry potter show coming out. They could have at least 2-3 seasons of just them. However, I really don't want to see how badly they treat Snape if they do make it. Snape was just constantly bullied by them and he really didnt do anything to deserve it. Harry's dad, and Serius was just a dick.

[@thevoicestoldmetoagain4627]

No we dont. Who would write it? Rowling? With her weird PC propaganda bits and bogus character retcons? Nah. We definitely dont need that. You can only milk a franchise for content so much before it becomes stale and repetitive.

[@philpants44]

Yes Rowling. Rowling every day. ​@@thevoicestoldmetoagain4627

[@kat.d.clysmic]

😂😂😂 She wrote the series, if you don't like her or her work, buzz off

[@kat.d.clysmic]

100% agree! I would love that! Or a game from the creators of Hogwarts Legacy!

[@ethanfung9688]

I think it could be possible that Snape had not yet fully developed the curse when we saw him use it on James during their fifth year.

[@edselgreaves6503]

That's what I always thought. He designed it, saw it was too violent, and abandoned plans for it and came up with a counterspell. That's why he looked at Harry that way and immediately knew it came from the book. It was too violent and never intended to be used after it was designed.

[@MsAppassionata]

@@ethanfung9688 You do realize that is just speculation on your part. You don’t actually know, for a fact, that Snape had not fully developed that curse by the time he was 15 or 16.

[@MsAppassionata]

@@edselgreaves6503 How do you know that he abandoned plans for it? Where does it say that in the books?

[@edselgreaves6503]

@@MsAppassionata are you unfamiliar with the concept of story progression? James and Sirius did Levicorpus on Snape in front of Lily growing up, it embarrassed him to the point where he started writing down curses for them too, and at age 16 by the time they got to 6th year Potions, he wrote Sectumsempra in his book. The fact that the spell worked for Harry shows it is fully developed. After 7th year James and Lily were together and Snape had joined Voldemort. By age 19 at least Lily was pregnant and by 20 Harry was born and by 21 James and Lily were dead after Voldemort found their house. Snape never had time to use Sectumsempra before they graduated, so he clearly abandoned it.

[@MsAppassionata]

@@edselgreaves6503 Are you? Never had time? How do you know that? How do you know that he didn’t use it on others when he became a death eater? It’s all just speculation on your part. You don’t actually know, for sure, whether or not that’s the case.

[@juanmanuelmunozhernandez7032]

Well, Snape did encounter Lupin in werewolf form as the trio was bringing Pettigrew back to Hogwarts from the Shreeking Shack. There, he had to protect the young wizards as well as himself. It's odd that Snape didn't resort to the Sectumsempra curse to fend off against the very person he'd allegedly designed it for, isn't it?

[@judithnelson1581]

Severus as an adult had gained some wisdom, perspective and finely honed skills. After Lilly's death when the evil of Voldemort's way affected him personally, he rejected the death dealing Dark Arts.

[@melhawl3685]

That only happened in the movie. In the book Snape was unconscious.

[@craigjohnson2301]

Did Snape even have his wand on him when he stepped out of the tunnel? Hard to use the spell if he didn’t have his wand

[@melhawl3685]

@craigjohnson2301 no he didn't have his wand. Harry had disarmed him in the shrieking shack when he threatened Sirius and Lupin.

[@melhawl3685]

@judithnelson1581 actually the dark arts still compelled him. That's why Dumbledore kept him from being the DADA professor for so long. It was such a temptation to Snape, he was worried.

[@ColtonRMagby]

It makes perfect sense. They probably had an unfortunate encounter one night when Severus was the only person available to help Remus get to the Shrieking Shack, and used Sectumsempra in self-defense. Better to be prepared for situations like this than not.

[@trolletuva]

What I find most disturbing is how the teachers could allow this bullying. And it wasn't better when Neville was bullied. Shame on them. They are as bad as muggles. But the video was very good. I never thought of Sectum sempra being directed to Remus. It sounds very possible though.

[@kyleethekelt]

I think you have to bear in mind that Hogwarts was appallingly understaffed and under-funded. There weren't enough teachers, not enough hours in the day, and the House Heads would also have been expected to double as house staff providing pastoral care. I have read that one fan-writer estimated that Snape and McGonagall, with all their duties, would each have been working 80-100 hours per week. Even living on-site this is an enormous workload. NO wonder teachers missed things which happened under their very noses. Sometimes, it pays to consider that it is systems and cultures which are at fault, rather than simply individuals.

[@trolletuva]

@@kyleethekelt And yet they knew when student were somewhere they shouldn't. What culture or system was at fault when Snape was bullied to the extent of making deadly curses to retaliate? Or Neville into thinking he was worthless as a wizard? No, a bully is a person not a system.

[@professorsassafras]

​@@trolletuva if we are going to be completely honest I'd find bullying to be an understatement. I mean using the dark magical artifact the mairaders map to spy on Snape's every move? Dangling him in the air publicly while stripping off his cloths? That's a little more severe than just bullying. I think I have a couple of possible explanations on why James was never expelled. 1). Perhaps it would have made no difference. James Potter comes from a very wealthy family and if expelled he might continue his friendship with the mairaders and just graduate at a different school with the remaining mairaders deciding to blame Snape and make him suffer for the explusion. 2) perhaps it wasn't possible to expell James, even if James did enough bad to be expelled several times over we must remember that Hogwarts is not exclusive and is like a wizard community college for everyone. Plus with James parents being possibly richer than the malfoys it's not impossible that they might have connections and explusion was just simply not possible unless they commit serious crimes. Pun intended. 3) it wasn't a popular decision. One reason why so many Slytherin joined the death eaters was because of all the people like James Potter. Slytherin was the least favored and the least important house with the common rooms being in the dungeons. Many people Sirius black included were perfectly fine with punishing people like Snape for the crime of being sorted into Slytherin. And with several house leaders being loyal to there house perhaps Dumbledore was just given to much push back. James Potter broke all the rules and deserved to be expelled but he was only meen to the Slytherin who no one cared about, had friends, rich family and was a quidditch star. So perhaps Dumbledore couldn't expell James cause there was too much resistance. But seeing that Snape was around Hogwarts while professor I can see the future applies for her job suggests that Snape might have been hired immediately after graduation. So perhaps by making Snape a professor at Hogwarts and by not hiring any of the marauders perhaps that was Dumbledores way of granting justice for Snape. While simultaneously losing James trust

[@professorsassafras]

​@@trolletuvabut what do you think, why do you think James was never expelled?

[@trolletuva]

@@professorsassafras The only reason I can see besides the money/power aspect is that he in fact saved Snape from Sirius' evil "joke". But they should both have been expelled. Or at least punished in some way.

[@kerim.peardon5551]

I agree that it makes a lot of sense that he invented it as a strong spell to counter a werewolf. I mean, Sirius had already tried to get him killed by sending him after Lupin; what if they did a similar trick again? But I would think that the countercurse would not be for Lupin's benefit, but for Snape's. We saw James use Snape's levicorpus spell on him at one point; if Snape ever used sectumsempra, then it could be taken and used on him.

[@bluntslt8023]

That makes sense

[@Wodenseyes]

The Marauders were such bullies. No wonder Snape was so hateful and angry. I feel terrible for young snape tbh.

[@gibsonchomar7428]

Snape was the one who started the beef He was already hateful and believed in wizard supremacy as a child

[@arijitkulkarni]

They all died mostly terrible deaths, so there.

[@Wodenseyes]

@@arijitkulkarni just bc they were bullies doesn’t mean they deserve terrible deaths. All I’m saying is they were cruel to someone and that cruelty caused that person to become cruel themselves. I’m simply pointing out a cause and effect of kids being cruel

[@arijitkulkarni]

@@Wodenseyes I get you. I'm just saying that it looks like JK believes in karma and some part of her felt it was necessary to make them die in sad ways, perhaps because of what they did to Snape.

[@MsAppassionata]

@@arijitkulkarni Well, Snape died in a sad way too. Is that karma as well?

[@DrTimes99]

Story would have gone in a really weird direction if in addition to potion tips and new spells, Snape had written some terrible angsty teen love poetry for Lilly. Harry would have tossed that textbook a lot faster.

[@Devious_Reviews]

Bill Weasley was attacked by Fenrir, right? I recall (in the book) during the recovery, Lupin claimed those claw marks would be permanent as they were also cursed. That's another theory why Lupin endured and retained the marks in his body, not only exclusive to being hit with Sectumsempra.

[@KeiraH-j1j]

OMG I never thought about this theory, but it would make so much sense Thanks for posting.

[@shahzebqader1268]

The problem about all the half-blood prince book spells is that it is always assumed that all the spells in the book has been written in the book while Snape was in school. But, since it was in snapes cupboard all these years, that means, he started writing in the book when he was in his sixth year in Hogwarts and he kept the book close after Hogwarts too.. as he was not immediately appointed as potions master in Hogwarts. He was appointed much later, at least quite a few years, the mean time in which he was a death eater. Now, I don't know how much close he was in on the inner Voldy circle before he told Voldy about the profecy, but it can be assumed he was definitely doing dirty stuff involving life risks and regular dwelling. So, as he had hia beloved potions book handy, in which he probably already had written stuff, about potions and other magical stuff, he probably invented the spell after he left school and was regularly in riskier situations. Besides, he probably got the book at same time as every other Hogwarts students got their copy of the Advanced Potions Making, in the sixth year. As the sixth and seventh year course loads were very demanding for preparing them for their NEWTs, he probably didn't have much time experimenting and inventing dark magic during those two years, and would have much more time after Hogwarts to experimenting and inventong his own spells. And if he had invented the spell before sixth year, thier education was not in depth enough for them to start actually experimenting, plus he would most probably have written the spell in a different book. But, but of course, if had got possession of the book before sixth year at Hogwarts, the story is different. That would explain Snape's unusual gift of potions making. Although, having the book earlier than fifth year(given the suggested timeline of possession from this theory's premise that he wrote the spell to be used against the marauders) there would have been mentions of other trivial spells which Harry would have found perplexing for a sixth year book to have been scribed in. But since there isn't any such evidence of that, it is probably that Snape got the book in his sixth year, and as such probably had invented the spell much later after Hogwarts years, in his death eater days, ad as such, the curse is not intended for being used against the marauders.

[@Tengu125]

It's possible that with experience, you can use Sectumsempra with more finesse, not necessarily slicing the target across their whole body, and that Snape just healed James using the specifically created counter-curse to avoid being found out by the school staff after "sending a message" by cutting his face.

[@11BRelo]

Could Mad Eye Moodys scars have been because of Snape or Snape taught the curse to a few of the other death Eaters? Like his nose I believe it was Rosier who he said took a bit with him when he was killed( during the pensive memory Harry accidentally fell into) because he never grew it back possibly because he couldnt

[@theoviganestorhaug1366]

Could be, but I also feel like Snape would have kept it for himself. It may be in the period of time he was a real death eater, and trusted tho. I at least don’t know of more spells that cuts like a sword, and is also not possible to heal for the most part

[@tamstertx63]

Regardless of how much Snape despised the Marauders, he did still love Lilly. He knew she would be around them (and Lupin). Perhaps he was also thinking that if necessary, he would be able to protect/save Lilly if Lupin was a danger to her

[@eranshachar9954]

I think Snape created Sectumsempra not just for using against Remus. He said "for enemies" which he probably meant all 4 marauders (because who else would he consider an enemy at this point? Later Voldemort for killing Lily but much later) however I will admit the theory is fascinating. So if this curse is as effective on magical creatures as it is on humans, it should be taught as a standard for self-defense weapon. And as for James I think Snape also subjected him to the curse, only he aimed it to be much weaker just for sending a message. It is most likely Snape used it on all 4 marauders at some point at least once.

[@Liutgard]

I don't know about a connection to Lupin, but I am certain that if Snape had not arrived when he did, Draco would have died, making Harry a murderer. That would have changed the story significantly, leaving a guilt on Harry that he might never been able to overcome. That may have left Harry unable to go into the forest without the metaphorical blood on his hands. Would Harry have been able to come back and defeat Voldemort? I am not sure that he could have.

[@adamhughes4387]

Lets all continue to ignore the fact that Draco was a terrorist at this point who had almost murdered two students in an effort to assasinate Dumbledore and cast an unforgiveable at Harry in that fight. While I'm sure Harry wouldn't feel the difference, that's self defence all over.

[@maryholder3795]

​@@adamhughes4387 I agree with you. Harry was correct and his friends were wrong about Draco being a Death Eater. After all Regulus received his Dark Mark with his family's approval "around the age of sixteen" that's what happened to Draco as punishment for his father's failure after the prophecy orb was destroyed at the Ministry. Draco was then given an impossible task to make up for Lucius failure to kill Albus. He like Regulus was placed in a dangerous situation as a very young dark wizard.

[@danielnixon8416]

since Snap's father was abusive there is the possibility that he created it to use against him

[@rgmY17]

I thought so too

[@jamessmithson-br7rm]

Quite possible just an early version James used on Snape - Sectum before he added Sempra (so just cut, rather than cut always)

[@Alduinhead]

I agree. I think that's most likely

[@MsAppassionata]

@@jamessmithson-br7rm I don’t. Snape said himself that he invented the spell when Harry tried to use it on him. “How dare you use my own spells against me”. There is absolutely no proof, whatsoever, that James had anything to do with creating that spell.

[@11BRelo]

I know you said it’s unlikely that he used it on James but Lily was a very skilled potioneer herself on par with Snape so she could’ve came up with a concoction to heal or hide the scar

[@imqqmi]

I don't think it was only the bullying, the trigger was probably the girl he liked, Lily being stolen from him by James, or so Snape thought. It's likely that the curse is born from frustration and thoughts like 'what if this happens, then I'd do that'. I don't think Snape ever intended to use it, just the thought of using it would eleviate the frustration somewhat.

[@mojaeche8046]

while he loved lily. it wasny that james stole her . i think he was just so happy to have an actual frjend. and when she betrayes hjm by not standing up to james on his behalf. thats what hurt him so mucb. letting to the final arguement between snape and lily.

[@ackerose]

Lily and James started dating at the end of 7th year but we see a proto version of Sectumsempra in Snape’s Worst Memory, Lily did not cut ties with him by then.

[@spencermurray5809]

@@mojaeche8046she did tell off James during the flashback and then Snape called Lilly a mudblood. So you’re wrong on that. Just read the book

[@adamhughes4387]

@@mojaeche8046 Lily did stand up to James for him and he called her a mudblood for it.

[@steve-175]

Snape, being very smart, knew he needed a spell in his back pocket to use if Malfoys group in school attacked / turned on him, knowing their not trustworthy, especially riddles group

[@qwinngalloway6289]

Ive always wondered where that spell came from and how it came to be... hearing this theory makes so much more since now ! I truly do believe that Snape was born a good person but also often dealt with his own demons that lead him to create such dark magic like this ! ive always thought it was neat hearing all these backstories about these carectors !

[@Jacdaniels]

Heromone was jealous of harry being at the top of class, and Ginny was jealous harry was paying more attention to the book than her.

[@Svensk7119]

Maybe Snape just fantasized about harming his enemies.

[@larryroberts3598]

Fascinating video and it raised some good points

[@Tayoisdead]

After watching the deathly hallows in 2012 I severly underestimated how much lore and theory there was in this.

[@Mr.Beefy95]

You made my brain do a quick jot, could it be possible it was sectumsempra that caused mad eye moodys scars? Just a thought

[@00SNIVY00]

Either the Fantastic Beasts movies got it wrong, or Snape didn't create vulnera sanentur, as Grindelwald used it on the Qilin in the movie.

[@leventebardossy5962]

The original sixth movie got it wrong, later they just went along with it. The book never named the counterspell Snape used, but it's described as quite a long one to say.

[@ginnyjollykidd]

I agree with perhaps needing Sectum Sempra for Lupin, and Lupin as a werewolf was so very dangerous: out of his human mind and known to attempt to kill. He threw Sirius as a dog around like a ragdoll. Snape described the werewolf prank as James saving his own skin, but that was because he thought James was in on the joke. But he wasn't. Even if it might have been disastrous for the Marauders, Snape's life was in danger unbeknownst to Snape. James was truly saving Snape's life out of genuine compassion if a little fear.

[@cmdrbond007]

Well, Levicorpus has been used against Snape, as we know. So Snape would have been simply suicidal not to find a counter-course for Sectumsempra - as it could have hit himself.

[@rubensesma]

I feel since the spell was made in a book for school I think it was meant for hardcore bullies. Like James Potter but maybe not him specifically. Also in HP: GOF Dumbledore says in the memory of the trial, Snape was a Death Eater but as a double agent for them basically. So I also believe Sectumsempra could’ve been created during his dark death eater days. I don’t think Snape would make his way out for Lupin just to cut him with a spell like that. A spell like that is meant to make someone suffer.

[@macwelch8599]

I wonder if Muggles call these injuries blunt force trauma or stabbing

[@rhondacrosswhite8048]

Muggles would call them lacerations.

[@KeiraH-j1j]

Maybe

[@michellechouinard4958]

I do think he might have created Sectumsempra for the reason you said: the Marauders' pranks were progressing to dangerous levels and he clearly felt unsafe. However, I do NOT think there's evidence to suggest he met Lupin in werewolf form multiple times. I also do not think we need any further reason for him to hate Lupin, beyond Lupin's being James' and Sirius' friend. You see, when you're being bullied by someone, and that someone is surrounded by a group of friends, you tend to hate everyone in the group. They aren't standing up for you or putting a stop to it, and might even laugh at the pranks sometimes, which makes them equally culpable in the eyes of the one being bullied. Don't give Lupin a free pass here, guys: he sat by why another student was being humiliated and terrorized quite regularly. This was a selfish move, and even Lupin later admits he should have told Sirius and James to stop. Snape hasn't forgiven Lupin. Snape lives in the past. He won't let go of anything from his past, neither his love for Lily nor any of his perceptions about people from long ago. Even though they were children, and children grow up. People change. We know his home life sucked and it sounds like he was miserable at school too, except for when he was with Lily. That's why he formed such an unhealthy attachment to her - he was never happy except when he was with her, therefore he believes he CAN'T be happy without her. Snape never grew up, essentially. In many ways, he is stuck in a childlike mindset and cannot form new lasting relationships, or modify his perceptions, because of the traumas he experienced. Also, it is stated in the 3rd Harry Potter book that when a werewolf can't attack humans, they will scratch and bite themselves instead. The scars you see on Remus are self-inflicted... and yes, werewolf bites are cursed wounds so probably won't heal perfectly.

[@DarkBanks3]

I always liked the darker theory/Headcanon for it ⛔️⛔️ TRIGGER WARNING AHEAD⛔️⛔️ * * * * * * * * Thats Severus developed both Sectumsempra and the counter curse for use on himself, the person he felt was his greatest enemy. He used it for self harm for precise cuts and slashes. We know magic works that emotions will often amplify spells effects and you can control the power behind most spells with certain training and willpower, so it would not surprise me that Snape would have such precise control of his own spell that he could make it range from the damage of a scalpel or razor to a sword stroke

[@filmosis5922]

I think this is interesting, my interpretation was the scars were from Lupins transformation when he was in the shrieking shack. Lupin mentions specifically that he used to bite and harm himself when he was there. Werewolf scars also don't fully heal (as will Bill Weasley).

[@demontaco4116]

The problem with this theory is that it's based on a bit too many reaches and even incorrect information. It actually is confirmed where Remus got his scars, they were all self inflicted yes because he still had cravings for flesh and decided to inflict them on himself (it was also confirmed by Rowling). He had no access to the wolfsbane potion as it hadn't been created yet when he was young (hence the shrieking shack and womping willow setup) and he simply had no knowledge of it's existence for awhile after. He then could not afford said potion when it came to be as an adult, until Dumbledore promised him limitless potion access if he came to teach DADA at Hogwarts. Oh and multiple interactions after Snape found out? I'm sorry but this wouldn't have been possible as Dumbledore swore him to secrecy immediately after the "Joke" Black played that night. Not only that, Remus ended up leaving or hiding away any time Snape was bullied by the rest of the Marauders since he hated bullying but still loved his closest friends. Then the whole Order of the Pheonix joinning, followed by Peter Peterigrew and Sirius black incidents, and Remus was gone and wandering alone for a long time. What happened with George, I mean it wasn't much a secret who hit George, even Dumbledore knew. He used this curse enough for it to be considered one of his specialties (there are even threads asking why he used this specific curse to try and hit another death eater, when it can be easily be traced back to him and him alone). Just a whole lost of misinformation being used and/or lack of correct information, information that easily debunks this theory.

[@Martyn_Wolf]

Whilst I agree given all the information in the books alone. We still watched the video

[@madDjakni]

he used it for the same reason that it's easily traceable to him: It's his signature spell and he needs Voldemort and the Death Eaters to believe he's actually fighting on their side, Its effective enough that it shows he's fighting but also not damaging enough that it would kill or severely harm anyone unless he fully intended to. He planned to use the same excuse as why it hit Georges ear. "I was aiming for Moody/the Harry we were chasing but it just accidentally hit you.. sorry about your hand here's the counter curse to stop the bleeding"

[@lynnerose7891]

Rowling isn’t a reliable narrator tbh. She says Peter was a coward but then shows that SIRIUS betrayed the Potters by telling Peter about their location, as well as showing that he was easily the most powerful person in the group other than James. Honestly Sirius was KNOWN to be the Secret Keeper and it was a charm that continued on upon death, unless you told the secret, which he did, to Peter. So I don’t care if Rowling confirmed anything bc she changes her story ALLLLLL the time.

[@madDjakni]

@@lynnerose7891 Except Sirius WASN'T the secret keeper Peter was. Sirius convinced James to pick Peter because everyone would assume he'd pick Sirius thus making any potential threat against the Potters waste their time trying to pry out a secret from Sirius that wasn't his to give. Also you clearly don't understand how the fidelius charm works (neither did Sirius based on his suggestion) because the way it works isn't that once the Keeper reveals the secret to anyone that same person can then go on and tell more people, only the Keeper can share the secret doesn't matter who or how many he tells until the charm is lifted or the secret being protected is destroyed somehow only the secret keeper can disclose it noone else who knows can. Also it has to be given willingly and can't be tortured or otherwise forced out of them (not even with legilimancy) making Sirius argument for making Peter the Keeper moot but plot has to plot. Peter could have told any Death Eater and they could not have told Voldemort where the Potters lived nor could they have brought him there cause he wouldn't see the house or the Potters.

[@bibbaaah]

I think he invented this curse after finding out what Lupin is, and had decided he needs some kind of protection to not kill lupin in werewolf form, just hurt him. I think that's also why he made the recovery spell. I think it was just a way to protect himself from lupin if he ever attacked him.

[@xTerminatorAndy]

One thing that has always intrigued me about Snape is that all the alliterative names belong to pure-bloods. Whenever a character is introduced with an alliterative name, they are invariably pure-blood. Severus Snape is the only exception, and I wonder if that was intentional or merely coincidental.

[@walgekaaren1783]

That would make sectum sempra a defencive spell, due to the regenerative powers of a werewolf. I mean Severus Snape wanted them all expelled but not be eaten by a werewolf. James saves his life, when he almost had the honour of using it on Professor Lupin. I guess, the spell first backfired, because he lacked confidence. That being one of his grudges against himself and the Potter team. James probably had an intercept sepll against sectum sempra, because if a curse dont hit, it dont effect.

[@Goatcha_M]

What always gets me about Snape's potions book is that he could have made a lasting contribution to magic if he'd published his own potions textbook featuring his greater understanding, and made a few galleons out of it as well. But he never did, misering away his knowledge.

[@Valeofmusic]

Nobody is taking about how the potions textbooks are basically useless , because even if you follow the instructions you can’t get the potion right

[@danielharman572]

Sounds like a viable possibility to me. With a werewolf running around it would be prudent to take precautions and if Snape ever found out how lupin became a werewolf. Then such a powerful curse would be of help in such extreme circumstances.

[@D.E.X]

I think that a prequel, "The Marauders and the Wizarding War", would work well. Wizarding War date, with what is happening, with flashbacks to the Marauder years. That would range from sorting hat selection to Harry getting the scar. Lupin and others becoming Animagus. The making of the Marauders Map. Some Quidditch. Might be too much for one full length movie? Is there enough there to make it a trilogy?

[@FlakitoMio-ox4vr]

Can you make a video on all potions in harry Potter or all monster .

[@DoriansPortrait]

When you sit there and you observe the level of bullying that they employed against Snape and makes you realize that Marauders really want all that good of people and then to prove my point later on in life when they're all adults and they look back on their actions especially in which one of them as it you clearly state says that it almost got them killed I like how they dismiss it all like oh Snape was the jerk he deserved everything when in reality they were the ones who were suffering from low self-esteem and really just not being all that good of people to be honest with you.

[@dabartos4713]

my head cannon is that Snape was snooping around to find out more about Lupin and his werewolf problems and he caught him transformed. At that point he realised that werewolves are much more formidable and difficult to deal with even for a skilled wizard and so he had to use sectumsempra to incapacitate Lupin. It's not like Lupin is scar free after all, who says some of his scars weren't made by that.

[@MagashiSaizen]

Its funny how Karma eventually caught up with the marauders if you think about it, all 4 ended up dead in miserable ways.

[@Sammy.H.Redwood]

It was karma for James, Sirius and Peter. But not Remus as he wasn’t, bad as James and Sirius as those 2.

[@paulyb7267]

@@Sammy.H.Redwood Although neither of them (except Peter) deserved the fate they got, they all bullied Snape in a way. James and Sirius were the main perpetrators, Peter only bullied Snape only whenever he was around his more talented friends (he wouldn't have dared to pick on Snape without the presence of his friends to back him up), while Remus never took part in the bullying he also never done (nor attempted to do) anything to stop it either.

[@Sammy.H.Redwood]

@@paulyb7267 James and Sirius also deserves their fate too😂

[@vocalsunleashed]

I think it could still have been sectumsempra that Snape used on James. Yes Draco almost dies when Harry uses it on him, however Harry had never used the spell before and didn't know what it would do, meaning it could've very well been performed badly. When Snape accidentally hits George with it yes the latter loses his ear, but he survives without anyone casting the countercurse on him. So it could be that Snape was able to cast the spell with such restraint that there was only a cut to James's face.

[@Lordmewtwo151]

The explanation on why the spell cast on James wasn't Sectumsempra doesn't completely add up except for the fact that there was no mention of Snape performing Vulnera Sanenteur with the accompanying sprig of dittany. After Snape cured Draco from the latter's run-in with Sectumsempra, he stated that dittany would prevent scarring and presumably applied it in time to do so.

[@Bilski86]

I love how everyone leaves out the fact snape ALWAYS attacked them too every chance he got

[@Ablon94]

what's the difference between sectumsempra and diffindo?

[@bipolarminddroppings]

diffindo just cuts. Sectumsempra causes cursed wounds.

[@mecahhannah]

Awesome as always thanks

[@davidmuttillo2806]

First half sounds good. Second half more questionable. I don't think it was used on Lupin or James.

[@Pattmore]

Likely for James his sworn enemy And for Remus..a werewolf who he suspected since third year..

[@KeiraH-j1j]

I wouldn’t be surprised if he used it on him he was always trying to get them back for bullying him

[@ackerose]

It seems likely that he did use it because Remus recognises the spell in book 7 when Snape accidentally damages George’s ear. He says it’s his specialty.

[@KeiraH-j1j]

@@ackerose ya true

[@somerandomdudeluke]

If I remember correctly he uses Sectumsempra on James in book 5 during Snape’s Worst Memory, he doesn’t say it by name but he shoots a spell at James that makes his neck start bleeding

[@ninjacat-z9m]

I can see where you’re coming from. This theory makes a lot of sense, however I think a more plausible and backed up theory is that the Marauders knew the spell Sectumsempra from one of Snape’s notes or drafts: James knew the spell Levicorpus right? That was a spell only Snape knew, as he made it up, and Snape wouldn’t have told anyone, so that just activates the theory that the Marauders found the spell in Snape’s notes or books, that they most likely stole, given their habit of nosing around, or knowing things they’re not supposed to. They would, of course, have seen other spells that Snape had invented, including Sectumsempra. The Marauders would have obviously been curious, and tested it out (most likely on an animal). They would have all known what the spell did, and the consequences it had, hence the reason why Lupin recognised it immediately for ‘Snape’s work’. Harry could have also told the Order about the Half-blood Prince’s book and each spell that was in it. You also have to remember that Werewolf scars last forever, (look at Bill Weasley) and the Wolfsbane potion didn’t exist when Lupin was younger, so the scars he had inflicted upon himself would have lasted his entire lifetime.

[@helloweener2007]

I think Snape did not invent Levicorpus. Lupin tells Harry in the book that this spell was very popular in his time at Hogwarts. If I remember right he scribbled down an incantation of it to make it voiceless or motionless. So like the potions, he improved existing things.

[@anvos658]

The scars I'd say are more likely to be Fenir. The underlying theory however seems sound, given the only real way to easily stop a werewolf without killing it or master auror level magic would be severe doses of pain and injury to switch it from feral rage fight mode to feral fear flight.

[@38JamieLee38]

🎤 Question….. How did Snape lose the book to begin with? I may be naive and missed this, but is it ever mentioned?

[@opsatr]

Interesting theory. The thing that struck me the most in this video is the translation of the word from Latin. So it means cut and always? The idea that gives me is that this curse is probably meant to not just cut, but continuously cut even after the casting of the spell is over. This may be why it was imperative to immediately tend to Draco's wounds because if more time were to pass without intervention, his wounds might get deeper and deeper... until it reaches the other side. So maybe it has this effect of amputation, immediate or eventual depending on the thickness of the target, whether it's a Death Eater's wand hand, George's ear, or Draco's torso... I wonder if the Inferi Harry hit with it eventually crumbled into pieces. 🤔 (I realize that there is a Severing Charm, but Sectumsempra is definitely darker if it's meant to continuously cut, and used with a more sinister intent.) Now, you're probably right that a primary motivation for Snape to develop this curse could be against Lupin. I looked for a timeline and apparently, the Whomping Willow incident happened sometime (shortly?) before the Levicorpus incident so... maybe Snape started developing that curse after he saw Lupin at the end of that tunnel. And maybe that spell he used against James was an earlier version of it that did not yet have as devastating an effect as the final curse. (Maybe it was something that translated to 'cut' and 'deep', and not yet 'cut' and 'always'.) Still, he was probably testing this cutting curse more and more during their final years as students (until he perfected it), and maybe became a signature curse for him afterwards, enough for Lupin to say later when he was looking at George's ear, that it was Snape's work. However, I doubt the idea that Snape was using it on Lupin and then healing his wounds afterwards. That seems a bit weird. I think Lupin's scars are more likely what they say they are - self-inflicted during his transformations.

[@adamhughes4387]

The Levicorpus incident happened in their 5th year whilst the willow incident I'm almost sure happend in 6th.

[@opsatr]

@@adamhughes4387 (I think I replied to you already by I can't see my reply anymore... maybe because I included a link in it?) Anyway, as I said, I based that on a timeline I saw on the HP lexicon which placed the WW incident before the levicorpus one. They have notes there why they did that. And I have now reread the relevant part in Deathly Hallows to verify it (I thought my book was elsewhere at first but I checked the bookcase and it was there 🤪). In Snape's memories in ch. 33, Lily and Snape did talk about the WW incident ("And you're being ungrateful. I heard what happened the other night. You went sneaking down that tunnel by the Whomping Willow, and James Potter saved you from whatever's down there--"). And Snape said James did it to save himself and his friends, etc. This was the time Lily called James a toerag which made Snape happy... Then the next memory is the levicorpus one, where Snape called Lily a Mudblood in the end... And then the next memory is Snape trying to apologize to Lily but she has had enough... ... ... So, yeah, I agree with the lexicon in putting the WW incident before the levicorpus one, even though it was apparently believed prior to the DH release that the WW incident happened just before 7th year (therefore 6th year) before James was made Head Boy.

[@adamhughes4387]

@@opsatr well fair enough then, I was convinced the WW was 6th and Levicorpus 5th but I didn't have a copy to hand to check. Still not sure how convinced I am about Sectumsempra being for Lupin but the timeline at least fits for it.

[@dan8532]

I don't think this is it. Snape was already dealing in dark magic by their 5th or 6th year. Snape was a dark wizard and shouldn't get as much credit as he deserves. He only switched because Voldy wanted to kill Lily, he was totally cool with Voldy killing muggles, James, and Harry

[@sarinhighwind]

How dare you try and use my own spell against me.

[@darajeeling]

so according to your theory... Malfoy should have had wounds on his face and body as well because of the dark curse thing (or do you think "Vulnera Sanantur heals cursed wounds completely - or just the wounds caused by this specific curse?). I am totally in with Snape inventing the spell for Lupin I am however really displeased with the suggestion that he might hav used it on Lupin. Creating it for him makes perfect sense since he had a nrea fatal encounter as a teen. I however do not see him use it on Remus in adult life - just because he could. For me the wounds Remus sported were either self inflicted / accidents during transformation (like gettin kicked by Buckbeak) or maybe (if you want to stay with the "cursed" theory - woulds inflicted by another werewolf (which would make them cursed as well - thereby healing slower/not properly) For me Remus recognizing Snape in the battle of the 7 Potters is sort of a "I knew my enemy" thing. Remus has been on the giving and reveivig end of Snape for 20+ years I do not think he needs to see the face of someone he knows so well. Snape (and I mean book Snape) has a very distinctive way of movement - I think it highly plausible, that Remus (who has been "duelling" or fighting with Snape) would recognize a mannerism or special hand movement or something. I think it might not be neccessary to let you know Snape is my favorite character (the best written one in the series) - I don't see him as the best teacher and I see his flaws (but after 20+ years of always hearing what an "as...le" he is - I am sort of fed up with things that are thrown his way.).

[@babadoudidadouda]

"on his face": did Harry hit his face with the spell? Snape healed Draco with the countercurse, so maybe the latter didn't scare?

[@JensTVMusic-lvo7u]

Snape definitely wasn't the only one to create potions and spells. And, the book specifically says for Sectumsempra is for enemies. Snape also loved Lily so much he probably had no problem being Harry's father since he stared at Harry when Harry was an infant while they were both crying over Lily's dead body. Most likely by that point in the story after all that had happened, Snape had no problem with Harry reading his diary with those spells, which were not that dark at all considering he wanted to be a Defense Against a Dark Arts Professor instead of a Potions Professor. Snape was frustrated Harry was raised by awful Muggles in particular the same Muggle sister of Lily the love of his life from the begining who was bullying the love of his life. Harry as a crying infant just to appear before him in his class for the first time, and all that happened ever since. He was just frustrated Harry tried to use it on him once especially not knowing Snape created it, and that was his diary. A personal note I would like to add, is considering the love of his life died from Avada, and she saved her son, Sectumsempra is literally should be Ministry of Magic and Auror approved Defense Against The Darks Arts Defense used by Harry Potter the Auror himself who was also taught Expelliarmus by Snape also and that was Harry Potter's best spell that he also used to defeat Voldemort himself. Snape did just a great a job as Harry Potter. Snape was the Chosen One, down to Occlumency, Veritiserum, and Legitimens. My phone gave me a hard time texting those words

[@HalfEye79]

In the book Snape worked a lot at this spell. So maybe that curse, he threw at James was an early version of this. I would say, that at first he made that spell just so, that blood was driven. But after he saw, that James only would be pissed off, he changed it, so the victim of the curse couldn't do such things.

[@ginantsfan5]

" You dear use my own spells agent me I who crated them???? Yes Potter I am The Half-Blood Prince."

[@lynmurray4331]

I think that the mauraders got ahold of Snape's potion book at some point (5th year or earlier) and found levicorpus/libracorpus and sectumsentra in it. Levicorpus was a nonverbal spell so they wouldn't have heard Snape or anyone else using it. Lupin made a comment about there being a period in his 5th year where you couldn't walk through the halls without getting jerked into the air by your ankle.

[@anvos658]

Fairly sure all spells can be non-verbal. Non-verbal casting is just a skill a skilled wizard can learn.

[@King_of_Blue-Eyes]

This was an interesting theory!

[@HarryPotterTheory]

Cheers!

[@24934637]

Blood always looks significantly more when it's splashed about on the floor, especially a wet floor where it's going to be somewhat diluted. Looking at the quantities of blood that Draco lost, I have to agree that despite it looking probably more than it is, there is still enough blood loss to have been approaching VERY dangerous levels. Draco was lucky that Snape was there to glue him together again!

[@adamhughes4387]

Snape probably did use Sectumsempra on James but likely an unfinished version of only got a glancing blow in with it. Regardless, Levicorpus (which was also written in the Prince's book, along with trial and error results for creating) was being used not just by Snape but by everyone in James and Snape's 5th year. Which means Snape was reading and making notes in the 6th year book when he was a fifth year at the latest which in turn means Sectumsempra was also probably created in his 5th year; the year before the Werewolf incident. So it couldn't have been as a response.

[@Lucie-de6ux]

Personally, I've always thought the tipping point that prompted Severus to create Sectumsempra was the humiliation James and Sirius submitted him to after their OWLs, I think the fact that James dared to use Levicorpus, Severus' own invention, against him. He also reminisces about it in HBP : "[...] you'd turn my inventions on me, like your filthy father, would you?" I think using his own spells against him would have been the ultimate insult, the straw that broke the camel's back if you will However, I love the idea it could have been created out of fear of Remus, I'd never thought about it

[@CosmicDuskWolf]

After finding out what James Potter and his friends did to Snap it was pretty understandable how Snape became the way he was. The fact that Snape still cared about Harry throughout the series was pretty impressive seeing how he was mistreated and bullied. Just goes to show no matter what house someone was from in Hogwarts doesn't mean they are a particular way. If they where the roles would have been reversed and Snape would have been the bully to James. Sectumsempra seems like it was made for a defensive purpose more then an offensive reason. Though as someone with scares from being hit by a car going 40 mph when I was 17, scars can stay visible for the rest of your life even in a non magical way. So Lupins scars even if they where caused by claws and not Sectumsempra they would still be visible for the rest of his life. Heck I still have scars from knife cuts from when I was a kid from carving mistakes.

[@DamonNomad82]

In other words, the Marauders' cruelty to him made Snape Snap! You're right about the scarring, though. I still have a scar on my finger from a cut that I gave myself at age 2 when I managed to get ahold of a safety razor, almost 40 years ago.

[@CosmicDuskWolf]

@@DamonNomad82 They do tend to stick around.

[@Aaron-MackHartford]

I feel like James really did it for Remus then save Snape from Remus.

[@peterpeterpumpkineater9451]

This explains it so well, especially when you look at Remus’ stated “reason” for his scars. If he was wounding himself, there would be many, many more scars upon his body… considering all the years that have passed.

[@Toonwalla2010]

This, though some of Remus's scars still could be self inflicted as Werewolf bites/scratches are considered cursed by their very nature (case in point Bill Weasely's scarred face). However, in Prisoner of Azkaban (book) it was strongly hinted by Lupin himself that Snape already had suspicions about Lupin being a werewolf well before his discovery but never had solid proof until Sirius decided on leading him to the Whomping Willow as a prank. If Hermione could uncover the truth about Lupin so easily, it must have been just as easy for Snape to discover the secret, too, as he was equally as book-smart. It's possible that Snape used the spell against Lupin that night Sirius led him to the Shrieking Shack as self defence until James was able to save him.

[@hexlinger]

In the movies, one of the flashbacks show snape hanging by his ankles and picked on by james....very similar to levicorpus. Is it possible james "stole" that spell from snape and why he was so angry when harry tried to use sectumsempra against him? "You dare try to use my own spells against me?"

[@Defiantflame96]

To be honest three out of his spells would be the craziest combo literally 1 langlock to prevent the target from attacking you (if they cant perform nonverbal spells) 2 levi corpus destabilize your enemy and prevent them from being able to point a wand easily and another reason i will explain in a second bear with me 3 sectum semper to kill When your enemy is in the air the blood will drain from the enemy faster from the enemy being upside down (if im not wrong in the book it would lift them by the ankle to be upside down)

[@DamonNomad82]

I always thought that the cutting spell Snape used on James Potter was an earlier, experimental version of Sectumsempra, one that was less potent and deadly than the finished product but still inflicted the same general kind of injury. Either that, or Snape, who was under severe duress in that particular moment, may have been using Sectumsempra, but that his aim was off and he scored only a glancing blow with the very edge of it so that James wasn't hit by the full effect and thus suffered only a minor cut rather than being debilitated and in danger of death like Draco Malfoy was a generation later.

[@mikeymorphine8265]

"May have been jealous because of his quidditch skills"??? Omg the marauders were not only bullies, but they even deny themselves?! I need to reread the books for sure

[@AnonCommenter-k5m]

More importantly who put his book there for 'A Student' (definitely not specifically HP) to find it? Cos Snape wouldnt have left it there, he was very confused how harry got his book

[@saiynoq6745]

I want to see a movie with Harry’s dad being the bad guy

[@paulyb7267]

Rubbish. Comments like yours make me realize that perhaps it will be much better if there was a prequel centred around James Potter being the main/central character in a story about either the Potter family or the Marauders under James's POV. Maybe that way, it will shut up haters like you for good.

[@Sammy.H.Redwood]

Yep👍🏼

[@MrFrostien]

@@paulyb7267 He was a swine, too bad Severus couldnt gets his revenge

[@jwglaze35]

I have a theory for you Snip's potions book is actually a Horcrux made by Snip which is why Harry changed the longer he possessed to book. Note: Only saw the movie so can be way off book wise.

[@elizabeths.3634]

Very interesting theory.

[@jetblast190]

This is an excellent evidence based theory.

[@HarryPotterTheory]

Thank-you!

[@Josh-wu9ef]

I doubt Snape made notes in his book as a kid. It was likely his personal book as a teacher of potions.

[@bipolarminddroppings]

Its established that the book is from his time as a student. Even still, sectumsempra isn't his spell, it's just one he copied down. Again, this is established in the books, but it seems no one who makes Harry Potter content on KZbin has actually read the books...

[@KadeStringer2.0]

@@bipolarminddroppings wrong he created the spells and they weren’t from any other book

[@melaniemanning2462]

If Snape has great control of the curse, he would be able to hold back when he used it on James. I also think sectum sempra was made as a precaution to lupin, a sort of, "you just try me," to the Marauders. But I don't see him using it on Lupin for no other reason than him being a werewolf.

[@bwy553]

Oh I get it!! When you read “the half blood prince “ you are supposed to be reading it as though the person were giving themselves a title, or showing a bit of bravado, like proudly saying I am the Half Blood Prince. But in reality, Snape was actually talking about himself in a derogatory way “I am the half-blood, Prince.” Using his mother’s maiden name, Prince because he hated his muggle father. And he hated the muggle blood in him.

[@bernardliquete9292]

One question, when Harry chased Snape and co. through the woods to Hagrid's Hut, Harry used sectumsempra then Snape deflected it. Shouldn't Harry have suffered the effects of the deflected curse? Or was he to emotionally imbalanced to cast the curse correctly so when Snape deflected it, it only sent Harry to the ground?

[@anvos658]

Just because you deflect something doesn't mean it rebounds, and Snape wouldn't be intending to rebound it to Harry.

[@rodneyjackson7147]

always wondered if there was something special about that book when snape first got it... or why he wrote more then potion ingredients and tips in the potion book and didnt write the spells in his copy of advanced potion making... i guess it could be that potions was his favorite subject so the books served as a notebook for all his classes. or mabey just a not thought through plot device on jk rowlings part?

[@pastorjerrykliner3162]

I dunno... Snape clearly wanted Sirius Black dead and didn't care to save James Potter either. I don't think he would have "not wanted" to kill Remus Lupin. If anything, if your theory is correct, he would only want to "save" Lupin so that he didn't get into trouble for creating and using, what doubtless would become, the fourth "Forbidden Curse." The death of Lily Potter was the event that changed Snape's character; before that moment he didn't demonstrate any real compassion or morals.

[@darryl.spivey]

I really love how everyone tends to turn a blind eye to how the Maraders were just as bad as the death eaters but not really committing to what the death eaters believed. First- the fact that they decided to "play a trick" on Snape which would have gotten him killed (which clearly they were hoping to do) Second- they specifically targeted Snape every chance they got. It's no wonder Snape created that curse as a "just-in-case" Honestly the marauders are nothing more than the jocks of the school. I see them as being no better than the death eaters.

[@MrFIRESEAL117]

Sectumsempra is a lethal spell, Overkill in the case of defending against Schoolhouse bullies. Makes me wonder if there's variations of the spell like giving someone a mere paper cut.

[@nelsonwoodard7459]

Given that the spell was in a potion manual, I thought it was intended to use on ingredients as a way in making potions easier or more efficient.

[@ViolentRainbow]

I never understood how someone "creates" a spell, I mean it's a word and a wand movement, there's nothing else involved so... how does that work exactly?

[@LoganW22]

I don't think Snape made it specifically or Lupin or ever has used in on Lupin for one simple canon reason. During the Prisoner of Azkaban, when Snape meets the werewolf lupin, he shields the golden trio and just stands there to protect the,. If he made it or had used it on lupin before, muscle memory kicks in and he would have used it immediately on Lupin. Not just stand there and wait for lupin to attack him