The REAL Reason Snape Told Voldemort about the Prophecy - Harry Potter Theory

[@HarryPotterTheory]

MORE LONG VIDEOS: kzbin.info/aero/PLB5djWCQq2_e0UCOmVbhRP8HkxetpzXUV

[@jebVlogs556]

the power that the lord knows not, was harry's power connection to the horcruxes or the love protection lily put on her son? or harry's own powers he himself didnt know about.. here are two scenes ive scene or read about with harry's powers he used: 1) swelling up his aunt like a air balloon 2) harry speaking parsol- tongue *harry potter thory* you havent spoken about these traits as harry's abilities or powers, can you please make a video just them?

[@Romance_dream_]

lol, the idea that snape should think about James's life is beyond ridiculous after what James had done to him. or the idea that snape can tell voldemort who to kill... snape simply begged him to let lily live. If Snape wanted lily for himself only, he would have done something to her when they were still at school. she would never be with him and he knows it, he simply wanted her to live. and Dumbledore was a massive hypocrite who bargained with lily and James's life. not to mention allowed james and his friends to abuse who ever they liked at school just because they are Gryffindor.

[@jameswest981]

I know what u mean about getting hammered over making comments that others may not agree with I guess this body of work is so loved,fans care so much that they feel u are attacking their own families, I do too but would never personally attack someone over their opinions,great video sir.

[@dietdrpepper15]

Wish Snape had listened to Harry for one moment after seeing his dad bully Snape. Harry was HORRIFIED, and suddenly understood why Snape hated him and James so much. But if he could have heard how Harry thought that was awful and not funny and never should have happened to Snape, for the FIRST time Snape might have been able to see Harry as a separate person from James.

[@hannah51238]

Yeah, excellent point. This always frustrated me. It's almost the Lily part of Harry coming out

[@dietdrpepper15]

@@hannah51238 Completely. And Dumbledore tells Snape that. "You see what you expect to see.." and ignoring how trash HE treated Harry. But even then, Harry thought his dad was awful! So awful he had to talk to his friends to get it out of his head.

[@jebVlogs556]

yeah james a real bully, and probably would given draco malfoy his goons too. and he would probably protected the weasley brother george/fred under secret guards cause with the twins/james,lily,remus,sirius that wouldve been a dominating force at the time in hogwarts. i can agree james giving the twins the loan fo their joke shop with not thinking how they would easily rule diagon alley/and potentially knot turn alley..

[@hannah51238]

@@dietdrpepper15 exactly!!

[@HellDuke-]

I'd say Snape caught on quick after that anyway, if not sooner. At first, you could say he was protecting Lilly's son out of his love for her, sure, but the times he let him off with far less than he could have done makes me think as the years went on he relented more and more.

[@zendoargos4988]

In the end Voldemort did offer Lily the chance to live. If she had stepped aside, so he could kill Harry, Voldemort would have spared her...that was because of Snape. Lily refused and that refusal is why her love protected Harry from Voldemort. Her willingness to die when she had the chance to live made all the difference just as it would for Harry many years later. Had Voldemort been as uncaring and ruthless that night as he was the rest of the time he would have killed Lily without a word and her love would not have been able to protect Harry. Don't forget, James died for Lily and Harry and his death did not protect them...he wasn't given a choice. Lily was given that choice and she chose to stand between her son and death...and death couldn't reach him...because of her. The only reason Voldemort would have given her that choice was because Snape asked and Voldemort chose to try to do it for him. Voldemort's undoing was trying to do something for someone else...instead of only thinking of himself.

[@harvestmoon_autumnsky]

wow. Good point. He and Snape were real besties. JK...I do think Voldemort respected snape as much as he was capable of. Interesting., not to say that he wouldn't have killed her after all.

[@vedjoshi260]

Very very true... I always feel saddened that people forget to notice this.

[@moontainbew5018]

yep.. either way Snape in general was in my mind Gray area neither too evil or good he was selfish and bitter. Not knowing i heard James wanted to eventually make amends with Snape due to Lily for her, but wasnt given the chance, thus many also connections can be seen or versions of it even if not same. James and Snape is like Harry and Draco, tho in the end they made amends. Thus Snape and James never gotten the chance. And Harry wasnt a spoiled kid, thus it went to Dudley so Harry in hidden in the story sees what his dad was treated growing up though never made the connection, he learned from it regardless. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville. IN sense could add Luna. Harry was James but reverse, Ron was Harrys best friend and a sense of feeling a outcast to his family like SIrius was to his family. But again reverse like, but simular, an Hermione like Lupin was was the more wiser but didnt help the matter when broken rules but more of was there but deeply simular to each others personality. Peter was like Neville a complete outcast many seen each of these as the unlikely to succeed to accomplish anything but again reversed personalities Neville eventually DID become a hidden hero, as Peter never attempt to try but mor or less took the cowards way out. But in the end look at the simularities. Not to mention also Ron and Hermione are like James and Lily, both were unlikely to ever be together but like Ron was like James he had to mature but again in a reverse simular way but yet , very close to each others end goal. Two different ways but in the end had to prove their love for each other in the end when grew up. See the simularities? Not to mention Harry and GInny are like James and Lily, went for the red heads, the mature not that emtional type, took a bit to earn and fall in love for each Ginny and Lily for instance each had to find their path had to find who they will love even if Ginny knew she had to figure out the best path, toget there very same with James and Lily. Snape who i dont get why is manys favorite yes hes is 2nd most interesting on his background his motives but more or less he just comes off as a bitter, chidiish, broken man. That though not evil, but still a reason many good people are dead. And those will always be on his soul.

[@vedjoshi260]

@@moontainbew5018See I'll answer this, Snape is my favourite. I don't say I morally support him, but he a great character. I read the books when I was pass 16 so I could see the nuances right from start, which a 10yo child could not see. Also Favourite character does not mean he has to be right, many have Voldemort as their fav, that doesn't mean they support killing of people.

[@moontainbew5018]

@@vedjoshi260 to each their own, i just dont get the hype same as Voldermort, being many peoples Fav tho many book fans like me like Ron the best and even i unlike many others have Tonks 9th best Dean Thomas 11th Lee Jordan 10th James/ Lily as 15th Harry is 26th fav. To each their own, but i dont get the hype yes their backgrounds and motivations are interesting Voldermorts then Snapes though he comes in 2nd most want to learn more. I dont even have Voldermort as the most smartest villian imo though he is so smart and wise and very gifted at magic to me he was pretty dumb even if so smart. He overlooks every single thing he is smart over and never for a second seems to even have any doors open to knowing any back plot in any of his plans overall. So Volermort/ Grayback is the most evilest to me. Voldermort is the most needs to die, and villian of evil, Snape is 2nd most interesting character. But i just dont get the hype even though as i read i wanted to know why alot with Snape, but he just seems IMO i guess i am the rare,, i just see him as a bitter, damaged, broken, but sour, but deserves the hell he ended p with due to Lily's death. He is selfish, didnt care about no one then forever tormented it sucks he went down that line, but he did it to himself. Interesting character 2nd best, overall hes like maybe in the 30ies far as my favorite villlian is Umbridge though she messes up in her own cockiness, she is much wiser smarter how she goes about her wicked ways than IMO Voldermort. Who yes is powerfulest most brilliant evil Wizard ever. But far as being a smarter wiser to her plans and efforts she though i love and hate her, just comes off as more better villian even if Voldermort/ Grayback is the most evil, and Voldermort most powerful. Snape to me is just this ... good character i give him that, but just more of a fly when reading great he there for being a grayish villian hero, interesting but same time annoying same range like Skeeter annoying but i like her character but .. annoying so it 50/50 But to each their own.

[@Djenzh]

I feel like Snape asking Voldemort to kill James specifically is a bit far fetched... I feel like Snape damn well knew that Voldemort intended to kill the entire family. Asking Voldemort to kill one of his enemies is like asking a toddler if he's going to eat that piece of candy in his hand.

[@noxproductions6851]

The harry potter series is the best representation of "one usually meets their destiny on the road they take to prevent it."

[@christophercrooks4310]

Keep in mind at this time Voldemort’s right hand was Malfoy…I believed Snape overheard the prophecy and ran with the news to try to promote himself in the group. At this time Snape may not have even known that Lily was pregnant. Voldemort targets multiple people, and eventually deduces that it has to be Lily’s son, only then, does Snape show remorse and runs to Dumbledore for protection. I think after she was killed Snape was prepared to die himself and when he heard that Harry survived and had her eyes, it gave him a new purpose. It’s clear that he stuck around just for Harry.

[@rhueoflandorin]

Need to get one thing clear: Snape was not obsessed with Lily. he TRULY loved her. It wasn't obsession with a dead woman that led snape to live the remainder of his life as a double agent, keep the SPITTING IMAGE of the man he HATED alive and safe, and put himself in DAILY risk, eventually die for the purpose of seeing voldemort destroyed----only genuine love is powerful enough for that. True, snape was selfish, he was a bit of an asshole, but his love of/for lily was real. I do agree that initially, when he realized the prophecy pertained to harry potter, snape went to voldemort, hoping he would promise to spare lily and also kill harry and james......and in fact, it was because Snape asked this, and voldemort genuinely OFFERED lily that option, that enabled the magic of lily's SACRIFICE to work. Voldemort had decided to offer lily the chance to live.... "give me the boy...step aside!" Snape asking Voldemort to kill james and harry in exchange for sparring Lily was the PRIMARY ingredient in the ancient magics that destroyed voldemort. James' sacrifice was irrelevant. he was always going to die. but LILY had a CHOICE, because snape asked for her to be spared. It was that CHOICE that enabled the old magic to work. So.... Snape's love of lily is what destroyed voldemort.

[@sashmiel6566]

I also suspect Snape, being as much of a genius as he was (dude created new and effective spells) he probably knew that old magic and probably even taught it to Lily. I doubt he trusted Dumbledore to keep Lily safe.

[@user-lydia698]

Snape had every reason to hate James. But to assume that he went into great lengths to interpret the profecy is mere speculation from your part, especially since Harry and Neville weren't even born yet. Every Death Eater would go into great lengths to gain Voldermort's favour, and Snape did just that. He heard something useful and run to tell his master to gain his favour without putting that much thought into it. I won't bother explaining the reasons why Snape chose to become a Dearh Eater, anyone who has read the books should know. Not everything is black or white.

[@IG7799-c4u]

And James had every reason to hate Snape.

[@user-lydia698]

@@IG7799-c4u indeed, simply existing is good enough reason for golden boy Potter... His words, not mine...

[@paulyb7267]

Because James and Sirius had extremely valid reasons to hate and bully Snape: - he was openly jealous of them - he was openly racist - he was open about doing and condoning the dark arts - he was perfectly fine with bullying when him and his friends were doing it - he created Levicorpous (a spell so popular and so frequent that no one was safe from it) - Stalked their best friend for no reason. Here y’all go; L WTF HE WAS ONLY STANDING UP AGAINST HIS BULLIESSJFDYG, in the books there is 0 evidence that they did a single thing to him that led him to stalking Remus. Every line about how James and Sirius were the aggressors during their school years doesn’t have a timeline. We don’t know when anything went down apart from 5th year, where we’re only given a fraction on what happened and it’s pretty obvious that Snape is the one who ‘started it’ . “Why are you so obsessed with them” his own best friend had to ask and he, Snape a man who’s has no problem bringing up all the ways that someone sucks, couldn’t give a decent explanation apart from “I don’t want people thinking they’re great.” and 7th year where it’s told that James hexed Snape only because Snape never missed a chance to hex him. - Sectumspra was said to be his specialty by Remus who did not encounter him during the war once they graduated. Up until that point he only knew Snape at school, please explain how he would have known that Sectumspra is Snape’s specialty unless he frequently used it at school? - he was open about wanting to join the death eaters. Yea, that terrorist group that was known for murdering, torturing and mutilation, Snape was opening about wanting to join and hung around others who thought the same. But nah it’s his looks and class that are the problem about him, it couldn’t possibly be his actions.​@@user-lydia698

[@user-lydia698]

@@paulyb7267 James and Sirius, and their entourage started their bullying of Severus since day one, after James heard Snape telling Lilly "you better get sorted in Slytherin", and gave him that "lovely" "nickname" "Snivelus", just because Snape said that "only the barmy are sorted in Griffindor". James and Sirius pranked/bullied many students, but Snape was their favourite target, Remus and Sirius confirmed that. Snape wasn't jealous of them, he was angry at the blatant favouritism of Dumbledore and the other teachers towards them, and Griffindor, probably because how rich and influential James's father was. When someone attacks you, you fight back with the weapons you have. And when you know that four bullies are waiting to attack you at any time, the moment you are out of your dorm, you will invent weapons to counterattack you, and they won't be nice. Remember, James never dared to attack Severus unless they were four against one, ofcourse the spell Severus would use against them will not be a boocket of flowers, but something nasty. Anyone could turn the argument around and say Snape hexed James only because James never missed a, chance to hex him. It's Sirius's word against Severus. If someone or the company he keeps attacks you on every turn, you will try to find out their weaknesses, and anyone would be curious as to where Remus would dissappear every month. And what kind of school would knowingly allow a warewolf to study there, and place him in a, place that is nowhere near safe for the other students, since the marauders 🤮learned to break in the shrieking shack quite early in their academic career, break a warewolf out and roam the grounds unchecked, where any other student or staff could get attacked. It was idiotic and very arrogant for James and Sirius to presume that they could keep a warewolf away from it's prey. Snape had every right to discover the secret and demand their expulsion, Remus almost killed him and the rest of his friends were complacent to the crime, especially Sirius, because he told him how to get past the womping willow. He attempted to kill him, there's no denying that. What does that say about Sirius's character? As for the racism accusation, Snape's own father rejected him and his mother because they were magical. Snape experienced first hand the muggles' racism towards Witches and Wizards at a very young age, of course he would hate those who rejected, neglected and probably abused him. They only decent muggles he met were Lilly's parents, even Petunia hated him and bullied her sister because she was jealous of her. Severus grew up in a toxic environment created by a muggle, thought that he would escape it at school, but the moment he voices his wish to be sorted in Slytherin, and gets sorted in it, he becomes the target of the marauders and other houses who hated Slytherin. So basically he was attacked by those who either came from muggle families or supported muggle, and muggleborne. That gave him a scewed view of muggles. Since he was rejected by everyone except Lilly, it was natural for him to join the ones who didn't. Now the Slytherins are not inocent in all of this. Their obsession with purity of blood aided the rise of Voldermort, but they were the only ones that accepted Severus, who just like every misfit latched at them and tried to please them, lest he was left all alone and at the mercy of the Marauders, and their friends. And since this is getting too long, my point is that there are two sides in every story, Remus and Sirius claimed that Snape never missed a chance to hex them and Snape claims that James never dared to attack him unless they were four against one. The truth is somewhere in the middle. What I insist on is that Snape is a very complicated character, he had a very traumatic childhood, and his formative years were not better, causing him to make all the wrong choices, that he payed the price for the rest of his life.

[@user-lydia698]

@@paulyb7267 since your responce was so long, I have to answer more things. So according to you, James and Sirius were justified in hating Snape because he loved the Dark arts. A good guy doesn't attack someone for loving something bad, they try to stir them away from it, and not attack them relentlessly until he is forced to use them against them. At that point there was an open war between Voldermort's supporters and the rest, we don't know the reason of that insident, they may have attacked Severus and his friends first, started a rumor, or snitched at them to the teachers. Him and his friends bullying others is just as bad as the marauders bullying him and others. And if the marauders are pardoned for their bullying for being just kids, so can Severus, because he was also just a kid. Levicorpus is not a Dark Arts Curse, it's defensive and embarrassing to the one who gets it. Everyone was doing it, after they learned about it. It takes two to tango...

[@Dreadjaws]

5:09 - _"We're led to believe that the Snape who met Dumbledore atop the hilltop was a changed man - a man who had realized the error in his ways and was acting in an altruistic fashion."_ This is outright false. As you point out a minute later, the book makes it very clear that at least at that moment Snape wanted to save Lily purely for selfish reasons. He made a point to claim he didn't care if James or Harry survived as long as Lily did. He didn't die to Dumbledore about this, and Dumbledore was visibly disgusted. It's only after Lily's death that Snape changes his tune, once he realizes he was guilty of his own downfall. I think what's actually interesting, and rarely discussed about this whole situation, is that Voldemort actually seemed perfectly willing to abide by Snape's request. He killed James on sight, but expressly told Lily to move out of the way. He was truly willing to spare her life, and only didn't do it because she refused to budge. In the end, it was Voldemort breaking his promise to Snape what caused his own defeat.

[@DeNameless]

I think, in a twisted way, Voldemort did try to honour Snape's wishes. Because in PoA, Voldemort says "Stand aside - stand aside, girl" (harry practicing the patronus) I just think that Lily would never 'stand aside', and thus Voldemort killed her. Because in the end, Voldemort's end goal was more important than Snape's wishes.

[@LegioXXI]

There is even more to that. People seem to forget that in order for the self-sacrificing charm to work, some person dosen't just have to die - but this person also needs to have a *choice*. This is why this situation is so rare. In book 7 Voldemort kills a woman during his search for the elder wand, who protected her children. But because the mother had no choice, there was no Lily 2.0 So without Snape's pleading to spare Lily, the whole Harry Potter saga wouldn't exist - because Voldemort would have just killed her without giving her a choice, not triggering the protection charm. So, in some way, you could argue that Snape's love for Lily is what actually enabled Harry to survive.

[@hans_nektarinko]

Yo, crazy stuff

[@celtictarotreadings333]

@@LegioXXIit was. Snape saved harry more time than obvious. Somewhat unintentionally sometimes but nonetheless

[@Larka661]

He did, but lily refused, causing voldemort to kill her thus forming the protection over harry.

[@epicfan1598]

@@LegioXXI tbf he kind of put them in that situation in the first place though🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@ChatBot1337]

I think the movies expressed this well. Dumbledore knew Snape was a tool, and used him as such. The trade of spy for Lily's life, for example. Dumbledore might come off as tarnished, bargaining with the lives of others, but he expertly used Snape as a means to an end. While the movies don't express the idea as bluntly, Dumbledore is shown to not implicitly trust Snape, or at the very least demands value for his provided protection. However, this begs the question of what drove Snape to do what he did after Lily's death? An easier solution is that while Harry was James' son, he still loved some part of Lily that only Harry represented. Very interesting dynamic.

[@jebVlogs556]

my question is.. what did snape trade in order to try save lily or their lives with dumbledore? and people make it all seem ariana was a monster as being part with creature like as opposed to credence: credence from looking at the movie he was either giving into the powers or didnt care. yall saw how he unmercifully killed the senators oldest son(even though he was human arrogant train to be politician) he didnt deserve to die the way he did,credence had it out for him after he told him in a whisper under his breath "you deserve to be in the trash.." with quick unperceptive smirk on his face or facial twitch.. i mean dang he was bold too.. however having power,nd i mean real power you should use it like that. as an orphan he went on serious homocidal rampage tearing up the city and exposing the magical world breaking over 100 laws.. honestly i believe newt wanted to help him,as opposed to just straight killing him.. in the case of james wanting lily and nothing more but her safety: i can say snape had alot screws lose but as for lily she the first and only friend for snape in years. i dont if they stayed that way after james/lily were married it wasnt ever hinted or talked about(nor do i know if he secretly join the first order of the phoenix lead by dumbledore..

[@Catherine.Dorian.]

@@jebVlogs556In exchange for protecting Lily, snape had to spy on Voldemort. What snape got was Lily being safe since she was only in danger due to snape

[@RandyMarsh0301]

What a butterfly effect... If Snape doesn't relay this prophecy... Voldermort downfall doesn't begin.

[@nssportstv7231]

This video does not stop me from saying Snape is still one of my favourite characters

[@yellowstickers394]

Insert “No one could ever make me hate you” meme

[@irasoso32]

Interesting theory, but if Snape identified the Potters as the parents of this future child, I still don't understand why Voldy waited to attack them until after they were under fidelius (and Snape had turned) as opposed ot going after them immediately.. Also, IIRC, Sirius tells Harry that his parents went into hiding (i.e. fidelius) after one of Dumbledore's spies told him that the Potters were targeted and Lily's letter to Sirius implies that they have been under fidelius for some time.

[@christinecole330]

I was just thinking today about Lily and Snape... How lily was his only friend...how I wish that there was more book time for us to see how important they were to each other as kids and young students.... How the phrase "Always" would be said to each other all the time... And when Snape started heading down a dark magic path and Lily would not follow...and when they had their last conversation outside the Gryffindor common room ... I could see them parting still as friends ... But going their separate ways ...he knowing James was the object of her fancy but knowing she cared for him.... Snape had a horrible childhood but Lily's friendship was his bright light ... And I think he loved her yes but he has made a choice to go and when he heard the prophecy .... What if he tried to convince Lord V that it was Neville ! Trying to protect Lily and her child .... But Lord V decided it was Harry and the rest is history ... Personally I don't think snape Lusted over lily ...he loved her yes but a friendship love ...these books are really loved because it's the friendship the core heart of the story is friendship...

[@theaveragegamer5242]

Voldermert was going to let lily live for Snape. In the book he tells lily to get out of the way… that he didn’t have to kill her. This was going to be Voldemort’s reward for Snape.

[@lxena8033]

Yes, but he didn't try very hard, did he? He may have told her to step aside, but in reality he could have stunned her, forced her aside, put her in a body binding curse..... but he did none of those things. He may have tried to be merciful at the beginning, for the sake of a loyal servant. But when the mudblood kept telling him "no" he killed her, without a second thought , and expected nothing to change..... Did he really care about rewarding Snape.... the answer, no.

[@epicfan1598]

@@lxena8033 exactly he barely tried. Like asking her a couple of times is going to change her answer when he could have just moved her aside or stunned her instead of killing her.

[@untitled6391]

It's obvious Voldy would have killed Lily even if she stepped aside, only he would do it after he killed Harry. After all, he has just killed her husband and child, why would he let her go just to plot her revenge? Not that he would consider Lily that big of a threat, but still, why not be on the safer side? Especially since Voldemort had little regard for life and Lily was a muggleborn on top of that.

[@gidzmobug2323]

Lily would probably not have taken Snape back. He had previously called her a "mudblood"--one of the worst names you can call another wizard. She had not approved of his involvement with the death eaters.

[@maryholder3795]

Snape was an abused child, then came Lily a friend he loved dearly she brought light into his life. At Hogwarts they were separated in Griffindore and Slytherin two houses like the Montague and Capulet's in Romeo and Juliet constantly at war. Next to survive in Slytherin he was forced to fall in with the DE children who hate muggleborn or did he learn the dark arts to better protect Lily? All she and the Maurders saw was him descending in the worst of the Dark Arts- plus Sirius after his parents treatment hated the dark art. Finally the confrontation between the Maurders and Snape in which he called Lily a mudblood. Snape became after Hogwarts a fully fledged death eater committing murders to take the dark mark originally and then to keep his place at Tom's side. Until the prophecy he never bothered about Lily, but he never forgot her, she was just unattainable. The prophecy brought her back into his life, did he think the death of James and Harry would let him get back into Lily's life. That she would have forgiven him. I doubt she would. It was an impossible dream. So the disaster happens, only Harry survived and the rest is history. Snape childhood shaped him, like Tom's both had choices and both regretfully went down a road that caused untold damage to Wixen society

[@pamela_fay]

Snape’s character is so well-written. From the very first the reader receives conflicting messages from and about him. He's probably the most fleshed out character in the series, and we still don't understand him!

[@anthonyfarshaw8619]

LOL! Snape was just a one-trick pony. All he ever did, he did out of spite. Spite against his muggle father made him a Death Eater, spite against the Maurauder's popularity made him try to expose Remus being a werewolf (for which James RIGHTFULLY kicked his Death Eater ass), spite against Voldemort for killing the object of his obsession (if you really love someone, you do NOT join the terrorist organisation that wants her dead) made him a turncoat, spite against James made him bully Harry, and then he also had spite for Neville for NOT being the Chosen One. That he fought against Voldemort didn't make him a good man, just like fighting against Hitler did not make Stalin a good man. SNAPE WAS THE MOST EVIL CHARACTER IN THE SERIES!

[@123duelist]

​@anthonyfarshaw8619 I don't know if he had enough information while in the death eaters to say he knew they wanted Lily dead. Snape obviously felt something for Lily if he went to great lengths to trick his master. Even in the memories when Dumbledore said Harry had to die, Snap told Dumbl,"Youve been raising him like a pig for a slaughter. " It shows that he truly did care for Harry to some degree, even if it was to some degree only because of Lily. The last thing which makes me see Snape in a better light is that Harry named one of his children after him. Idk about you, but if I had a teacher I did not like one bit because all he was a bully and evil and not good, the last thing I'd think of doing is naming my child after him. He also called Snape one of the bravest people he ever knew. The reason why I think Snape joined the death eaters, is because it's the place he felt most accepted. He was probably a loner and scared a lot of people and he was bullied a lot and people laughed at him. He was obviously flawed for his decision to be a death eater, but it is what it is. But when he found Lily, he recognized that she was open enough to accept him, but they separated by houses amd she wanted him to leave Death Eaters, but it would be hard because he didn't know if she would still accept him if he did so.

[@abrahamcisneros1425]

​@@anthonyfarshaw8619Gonna cry? 😈

[@BitterBrit]

I don't think I subscribe to this particular theory. I will agree that Severus was a highly flawed individual, who was on the wrong side at the start. He was indeed very selfish and only cared for Lily, but it stops there. (I also disagree that his care for Lily was "obsessive", but that's not really part of this argument.) I've always perceived as his regard for James and Harry's lives in this instance as indifference rather actual desire to have them killed - I also don't think that Severus would do anything to intentionally harm Lily in any way. If he wanted to harm James, he could have taken an opportunity to do it himself earlier. This, of course, doesn't mean he'll mourn the deaths of his childhood bully and a child he doesn't know. We also have no proof that Severus killed anyone. If anything, Severus' conversation with Bella at Spinner's End indicates that he potentially has a reputation for being someone who stays on the sidelines rather than getting his hands dirty. Severus himself also makes a comment to Dumbledore about his soul after Dumbledore mentions that he does not want Draco's soul torn. To me this indicates that Severus' soul is in tact. He may have participated in muggle torture like the other Death Eaters and he'd almost certainly be linked other atrocities. What they are we do not know, but I definitely don't think murder is on the list. (Gosh I tried to keep this short and unemotive as possible, sticking to what I perceive to be truthful and nothing more, I did not succeed at the former and I'm hoping no one stabs me if I failed at the latter. 😂)

[@vegamctavish]

All of this! 💯

[@yellowstickers394]

🙌

[@untitled6391]

"If he wanted to harm James, he could have taken an opportunity to do it himself earlier." I'm sorry, but that's nonsensical. James was a capable wizard and was part of the OOTP. Attacking him would be dangerous. Snape hated James but was still a rational actor. The theory's point is that Snape saw an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. He thought, "why not let Voldemort kill James and then maybe I'll get with Lily finally and also get more respect" but only because the opportunity arose on account of the prophecy. He wasn't a lunatic who was just going to attack James out of nowhere just because he hatred him xD xD

[@BitterBrit]

​​@@untitled6391I understood the point of the video and I don't agree with it. As it's been such a long time, I've forgotten the specific points made however, so probably not worth discussing it with me. Interesting that you believe that Severus was a rational thinker and then say he'd be deluded enough to believe that Lily would be with him if Severus somehow caused James' death. That is not the viewpoint I would assign to someone I deemed as rational. I do agree about the respect part though - delivering the Prophecy to Voldemort was certainly about gaining respect as a DE and moving up in the ranks. That touches upon another point surrounding Severus and his love for Lily, specifically what type of love he has for her, but that's neither here nor there and not something I have the energy for right now. Hope you enjoy your day/night though.

[@dietdrpepper15]

Okay in ALL fairness that Grindiwald business was like one year. One year he shoulda been caring for his sister, but got distracted by the hot guy next door.

[@harvestmoon_autumnsky]

I mean...Jamie Campbell Bower is the epitome of hot.

[@iamhungey12345]

Funny but also true.

[@erikagholston6610]

Snape always had one person on his mind Lily.

[@vincentvanier7296]

I dont think snape hated Harry. He was simply split in two by his anger towards James and Harry’s resamblance to him and his love for Lily. I also really think that snape loved harry, but was acting cold towards him because he knew of dumbledore’s plan. He was being cold because he was trying not to get attached to Harry knowing he was gonna die, meaning he would lose Lily a second time.

[@smitabhmoitra5726]

Nah. Snape was a bitter scumbag that repeatedly bullied multiple students, whilst being in a position of power. He bullies Hermione and Neville multiple times for no reason at all, humiliating them time after time. And he treated Harry even worse than how he treated Hermione or Neville. I'm speaking as a schoolteacher and if I treated my students half as badly as Snape treated Hermione or Neville, let alone Harry, I'd be fired on the spot. He 100% saw bullying Harry as a chance to get back at James from beyond the grave. Hate is Snape's default position. Can you think of one person Snape treated decently aside from Dumbledore or Malfoy? And no, other staff members don't count. He treated them in a neutral manner and loved gloating to McGonagall even though he abused his power to favour Slytherin. No, Lily doesn't count either. He was obsessed with her and screamed "Mudblood" at her while she was TRYING TO HELP HIM. The guy has zero redeeming qualities. He's an awful person doing good things for awful reasons. That's why he's interesting.

[@jillwilliams4656]

Plus, he couldn’t risk Voldemort using legenimency & see that Snape really loved Harry. He had to trick him.

[@Tasha9315]

Rowling herself debunked this and said he was genuinely a jerk to Harry. He didn't love him. He only knew of Dumble's plan much later.

[@celtictarotreadings333]

He didn’t know harry was going to die until the last school year.

[@celtictarotreadings333]

@@jillwilliams4656Snape didn’t love Harry not even close

[@bailatwerski2951]

I actually agree with you 100% because I came up with that theory too. There is no way Severus Snape did NOT know that James and Lily Potter had a son. He absolutely stalked Lily Evans (Potter) te girl he obsessedly loved very much!!! His hatred of James Potter was also a reason to stalk them. He wanted Lily Potter anyway he could get her Even if that means that she would be James Potter's widow. The icing on the cake would be that his arch enemy James Potter who can truly hate it with all he had would be dead. He went from one obsession to another by protecting Harry Potter the child of Lily who had the misfortune to look exactly like his enemy James except for Lily's eyes. I don't think that Severus Snape was a hero, he was just obsessed. I do feel bad for him based on his horrendous childhood which made him incapable of a true love and happiness. What James Potter and by extension Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew did to Severus Snape during their school years was completely unacceptable. Lupin did not participate in the bullying of Snape. James Potter was the worst bully as a teenager. I personally would have a hard time forgiving James myself for the share humiliation caused by him.

[@Pattmore]

I agree

[@yellowstickers394]

I’m highly convinced there’s an alternative Harry Potter series somewhere in this universe to make Snape antis come up with takes like these.

[@vedjoshi260]

We know by the canon, he had no idea, Lily Potter, had a Son. Nor did he have any information about her. Thus putting your theory straight out of the box.

[@noah5864]

been watching for years just got the notification nostalgia hit hard in this one

[@MagusMortloch]

If Voldemort had killed Lilly without giving her a chance to step aside there would have been no love protection. Voldemort being the "merciful lord" ended up being his downfall.

[@priestessmikokikyo77]

exactly if lily did not sacrafice herself for her son they would all be dead!

[@MasterTMO]

Wondering if Snape told Voldemort about the prophecy *before* the boys were born, perhaps not even knowing Lily was pregnant? Then hearing and finding out just how close she is to fulfilling the prophecy making him more and more scared, until that last day in July when two boys were born. Cue full-blown panic when V decides that it's probably the Potter boy who fits the bill over the Longbottom. While Snape would welcome the deaths of James and Harry, the risk to Lily is too great, and V just keeps blowing all of Snape's suggestions aside.

[@alecadams6973]

Nice to see somebody point out that Snape was a creepy incel for once. It gets lost in Rickman's incredible performance and charisma, and the same girls that love the terms "red flag" and "narcissist", fail to see what a manipulative creep he is. He did good things for bad reasons. Incredible character, not a "good guy."

[@Ravenblack42]

Very perceptive and convincing theory you have going here, I’m starting to believe you to be a Legilimens. I think you touch on one of the most important themes in the entire Harry Potter series, and that being love. What mean by this is that where’s Lily’s love for her son Harry was selfless and sacrificial, Snape, despite sharing that same love, showed what it can become when it is corrupted by one’s own desires. I believe this is portrayed by Dumbledore’s responses to Snape in their first and last meetings with each other. While Dumbledore was initially disgusted with him and his intentions, by the end of it, Dumbledore both realizes and bears witness to the manifestation of that self-less, sacrificial love within Snape, as he so states with tears in his eyes, “Lily?, after all this time?” “Always”

[@Larka661]

Look at it this way, if Snape hadnt asked voldemort to spare lily, the story never would've happened. If voldemort just burst in and killed everyone and didnt give lily a chance to live, Harry wouldn't have survived. So, Snape helped in a big way.

[@eranshachar9954]

Snape is my favorite, he is such because he is such an interesting complex character. I believe he didn't risk Lily's life on purpose that he really didn't know at the time. Once he found out he thought how he is going to save her without seen as a traitor to the DE and Voldemort. Strangely enough Voldemort did offer Lily to be spared once, he respected Snape's wish but probably understood she won't move. As for his conversation and lack of care for Harry and James. James was an evil person that I understand- But why a baby who did nothing wrong? I think Snape never had a change of heart. I always define him as "A villain in the service of good duo to circumstances."

[@Tasha9315]

James was not an evil person. He was a jerk as a teenager who bullied Snape. But there's no evidence his friends lied about him deflating his head and growing out of it.

[@eranshachar9954]

@@Tasha9315 Yes and still what he did to Snape was unforgivable. He never expressed any regret in person to him as far as I know so I judge him.

[@paulyb7267]

@@eranshachar9954 Absolute rubbish. James and Sirius had extremely valid reasons to hate and bully Snape: - he was openly jealous of them - he was openly racist - he was open about doing and condoning the dark arts - he was perfectly fine with bullying when him and his friends were doing it - he created Levicorpous (a spell so popular and so frequent that no one was safe from it) - Stalked their best friend for no reason. Here y’all go; L WTF HE WAS ONLY STANDING UP AGAINST HIS BULLIESSJFDYG, in the books there is 0 evidence that they did a single thing to him that led him to stalking Remus. Every line about how James and Sirius were the aggressors during their school years doesn’t have a timeline. We don’t know when anything went down apart from 5th year, where we’re only given a fraction on what happened and it’s pretty obvious that Snape is the one who ‘started it’ . “Why are you so obsessed with them” his own best friend had to ask and he, Snape a man who’s has no problem bringing up all the ways that someone sucks, couldn’t give a decent explanation apart from “I don’t want people thinking they’re great.” and 7th year where it’s told that James hexed Snape only because Snape never missed a chance to hex him. - Sectumspra was said to be his specialty by Remus who did not encounter him during the war once they graduated. Up until that point he only knew Snape at school, please explain how he would have known that Sectumspra is Snape’s specialty unless he frequently used it at school? - he was open about wanting to join the death eaters. Yea, that terrorist group that was known for murdering, torturing and mutilation, Snape was opening about wanting to join and hung around others who thought the same. But nah it’s his looks and class that are the problem about him, it couldn’t possibly be his actions.

[@arinerm1331]

I believe you're absolutely correct. Severus, like a male lion who takes over a pride and kills the previous lion's cubs, was hopeful of both James' and Harry's deaths so that Lily would be unencumbered of all her family when Snape re-entered her life. In his fantasy, the two would start a new family all their own.

[@beaublevins2903]

Voldemort had to mark harry as his equal. Even if snape was not conscious of the reason he told Voldemort, he had to tell Voldemort. It's funny, even when snape was working for the bad guys, he was working for the good guys.

[@TigersRforever]

Yay I'm here early! Can't wait to see what you put together today!

[@baystated]

Did the reveal in Deathly Hallows of Snape's infatuation with Lily make anyone else's skin crawl? Anyone else baffled by the "he's good after all" verdict the fandom crowned him with? And they are also slighted that Harry didn't call out to him with the resurrection stone. [shudder]

[@vedjoshi260]

How do you think that was infatuation not Love. If it was obsession he would've stalked her, he would've had never let her go... But after the mudblood incident, the two were very distant. So distant that he didn't even know about her pregnancy. Please don't put out your head-canons as facts. Lupin once said "You are blinded by Hate" and that's what I'll tell you again...

[@baystated]

@@vedjoshi260 I guess someone has to explain it to you: when she friend-zones you and you never get over it, it is obsession, not love. Now you know. It isnt hate Josh, it is having respect for a woman's boundaries. Please consult one on this matter. You may find it illuminating.

[@vedjoshi260]

@@baystated He loved her, but he took no actions to get her! He also distanced himself from her. That's a maximum one person can do. And how do you "Delete" people from your memories if they don't reciprocate your feelings. Maybe you are right about boundaries, but no, currently there is no method of "Deleting People". Btw it's even Harder to forget people you truly love. Why don't you invent this. It's like saying "No one in this world should be poor, it's sad and wrong for humanity", yes this statement isn't faulty, but it's impractical and impossible. Exactly like your concept of "Deleting people". I hope you understand (but ik you won't, coz it's an online debate, who agrees here? Everybody wants the highground) Besides I doubt you understand the concept of true love. People move on, but even after years a beautiful memory of that person remains intact in your heart. You don't act on it, you don't even try to contact that person. But that memory makes you happy. And that is not toxic, it's pure, beautiful and lovely. Coz no we can't forget people. Btw, what do you think would've been a perfect thing for Snape to do? Obviously you won't give a damn to all the things above, but atleast let me know your 'utopian' situation

[@kaaygdabestever6687]

I feel like he was a true death until he killed lily I feel that anyway killing lily anyway after Snape begged his master not to showed how ruthless heartless cold blooded Voldemort really was showing that he didn't care about anyone but himself and that's what I think turned Snape good he understood Voldemorts true motive and how much he actually cared

[@HellDuke-]

Considering the circumstances, I'd say he probably didn't care for James or Harry and simply asked to spare Lily. At worst saying something along the lines of "I don't care if you kill James or the boy", however i doubt he outright asked to get rid of James.

[@vedjoshi260]

So please tell me what he should've had asked? I dont think Voldemort was a merciful Lord who would've had said "Ohh Severus, this is your friend's son, let me spare him". Voldemort was obviously not sparing the boy, even at anyone's request. So the only person he could save, was Lily and he asked for her life. Simple as that.

[@bestever74]

He didn’t know it would endanger the life of Lily. If he had even not knowing the whole prophecy he would have kept his mouth shut.

[@juanmanuelmunozhernandez7032]

Fair ideas. What I feel is they somewhat clash with each other: if it's true he was completely away from Lily's life at the time of the prophecy (and he must have been given they then belonged to opposing factions), then he *couldn't* have known the prophecy might refer to her family. Also, knowing very well that Voldemort had absolutely no regard for human life, he couldn't possibly have asked for anything more than the strict minimum he would care for (Lily's life), and even that was a desperate move because he'd know Voldemort couldn't care less. Plus, what would have been naive is to hope that, once James and the kid were gone, he'd still have a chance at Lily. What would he do then? Give up the Death Eaters to try and gain the heart of a woman that was widowed and childless because of the Death Eaters he'd belonged to? I think Snape had already accepted long before that his love for Lily would be Platonic for the rest of his life. I don't think he'd ever held hope to regain her affection in any way other than perhaps cordiality. Then, when talking to Dumbledore, Snape was clearly in the middle of a moral transition. After all, he was still a Death Eater at that point. It would have been very unrealistic for him to suddenly regard for the well-being of a whole family, especially when one of the members was the person he had the most contempt for in the world. My view is that, over the course of this episode in his life, he made a full turn, even coming to terms with the fact that James and Lily were a family and Harry was their offspring.

[@CidVeldoril]

I mean, if I were Snape, I'd have asked Volde if I could borrow Wormtail to lure Lily away for the night while he does the death. Imperio Wormtail! Now go and bring Lily to safety. Imperio her too, if you have too! 5 minutes after she is out of the house... Volde does the death (twice) and Severus gets to do the happy dance. Also, if I thought that Wormtail luring her away wouldn't work, I'd have a box with a portkey prepared that he could give her as a gift from...uhhh Petunia? Wormy boy would give the box to Lily, she would open it, touch the thing, be teleported away and Volde could do the death, get out and be done before she would realize what just happened.

[@ScottGrantSmith]

I think Dumbledore took that opportunity to get Snape to switch sides with the Unbreakable Vow spell. That's the only reason he'd trust Snape after that.

[@imperfectxennial3008]

Think of it this way: James bullied Snape so bad, he couldn’t care less about James. Since Harry reminded Snape of James would also be logical as to why he didn’t care if he lived or died.

[@IG7799-c4u]

James didn't bully Snape. It was a rivalry between them. James hated the dark arts, and Snape was enthralled by them. Snape hung out with people who later became death eaters, such as Mulciber and Avery. As Lupin said to Harry in the fire one time, Snape took every chance he could to curse James so you couldn't expect him to take it lying down. Of course we see James in a bad light through Snape's own memories which can easily be distorted to change the truth.

[@jkrause365]

I think it's brilliant! And Snape as written in the novels is _not_ one of my favorite characters. But Alan Rickman's portrayal makes Snape one of my favorite of my favorite characters.

[@endor8witch]

so what? james was despicable towards him for so long. also dumbledore is a hypocrite and social climbing opportunist. his "disgust" of severus was irrelevant. besides, dumbledore was just fattening up harry before sending him to slaughter - that was his plan anyway. so he isn't any better

[@priestessmikokikyo77]

James potter was a despicable retch in school dumbledore wanted nothing more "Allies" in Gryffindor to win his fight. Harry Potter was just his pawn! Severus Snape and Lily Evens played their parts well. Lily died giving her life for her son and making the curse rebound. and Severus was the one who gave the proposy to Voldemort making the story set in motion. the chractoers in HP are all flawed and hypocritical and bised!

[@mikeseibert4889]

Why would Snape like James Potter he was a bully to him while at Hogwarts.

[@priestessmikokikyo77]

Severus HATED James! and rightfully so not only he he make his life a living HELL At school but his loyal dog Sirius plotted to kill severus! that is soo EVIL!!!!!!

[@befrugalwithus]

When I first saw this part. Of course he wanted both of them dead. Lily was his only concern. Sad he was like this. James did die that day. But instead of the person he wanted saved. It was her son instead.

[@theafaith23]

I think you're spot on with this. In his defense, I think his childhood plus years of abuse in school left him scarred and vulnerable, and when he saw a chance to even the scales in his favor, he took it. Brilliant video.

[@porky0322]

Ive been trying to convince my fellow potter heads for years that snape never changed. Ive always thought that it was awfully convenient that the memory that changes harrys mind about snape came from snape himself. I know Dunbledore said it was very difficult to change what a memory shows, but snape was an exceptional legillimens (far better than horace slughorn). And im sure he could have done it. There was far to much genuine hate for harry. I have always believed that snape never changed and that his goals were always based in revenge against james for stealing what he believed to be his by rights...

[@abrahamcisneros1425]

Stop it

[@abrahamcisneros1425]

🤣

[@brittneybrown369]

Maybe I just have not discovered the content, but I need to hear about Peter Pettigrew as stabbers for the first couple of movies and how he was unable to relay everything that he would have overheard. Did he just forget all of it when he found Voldemort? It’s driving me insane!

[@thepsychofunboyartist]

For Snape in the books this is an accurate theory. Well done!

[@bazookabombboy2961]

What if snape never meant to tell Voldemort but he use legilimency to read snakes mind to not miss a detail. From that moment on snape practiced occlumency to avoid sharing any information now that he had the chance to protect Lilly’s son.

[@sandramacglashan1088]

I agree the movie did express this well the movie and books also express this Snape loved Harry’s mum Lily.

[@vencislavdimitrov9304]

This is a very likely theory, considering the never-ending hatred, that Snape had for James Potter and later for Harry (mostly). It would be a very sweet deal for Snape to had James and his offspring taken out of his way, buy the most evil sorcerer ever. This will allow him offer his support to the grieving and lonely Lilly, eventually taking her for himself. Too bad for him that his brilliant plan didn't quite work.

[@andylee6022]

This is all based on the supposition that Dumbledore would not sacrifice the potters so that Voldemort would die. Snape worship comes from the attraction of the bad boy or dark. That people want to see him redeemed. None of what he did was directly because he cared about anyone besides Draco. If he was not trapped by Dumbledore you have a Death eater who would glaldly killed Harry and moved on.

[@okamireader5]

I honestly had this same idea, that Snape thot he could use this prophecy to have Voldemort get rid of James (as well as Harry) in order to have Lily for himself. It was, in a certain way, an unhealthy obsession. Lily was once the one positive relationship Severus Snape had in his early life. His father was abusive and his mother was distant, and his parents often yelled at each other, and Snape was neglected or worse beaten, likely by his father but his mother probably did little or even nothing to protect him. So... when Severus observed Lily perform magic, he knew instantly she was a witch and befriended her, out of longing for a friend, someone with whom he could share a positive relationship. Snape was actually the one to truly introduce Lily Evans to the wizarding world, telling her about her magic and that it was nothing to be ashamed of, in spite of Lily's jealous sister saying otherwise, informing Lily of Hogwarts, Azkaban, and other things to help her prepare for her entering the wizarding world, becuz Lily was muggle-born, something Snape didn't care about. Snape probably had high hopes for his and Lily's time in Hogwarts. He'd hoped to share some wonderful years, learning and growing alongside each other in Hogwarts. Although he likely didn't think of Lily as a potential romantic partner back then, becuz they were just kids at the time. But then Lily was sorted into Gryffindor while Snape went to Slytherin, the two Houses having long been rivals, and it worsened becuz Snape butted heads with James Potter, who viciously target Snape and bullied him. He managed to maintain his friendship with Lily, who gave him the nickname of Sev, and she stood up for and by him whenever James and Sirius were rotten to Severus. Meanwhile, Snape's time in Slytherin probably wasn't ideal. He was sorta taken under the wing of Lucius Malfoy, and taught by him the concept of blood purity. Snape was a halfblood, born to a muggle father and witch mother, which wasn't as bad as being 'mudblood' (muggleborn) in the eyes of bigoted and elitist purebloods like Lucius among others in Slytherin and in the wizarding community. Due to his upbringing, his poor family life, and likely his own insecurity as well as a yearning for greatness, Snape began to experiment with magic as well as potions, as proven in his potions book, which contained his notes on improving various potions, as well as spells that he himself managed to create. Inventing a spell is an impressive feat indeed, especially since spell creation can be dangerous, sometimes even fatal (as proven in the case of Luna Lovegood's mother, Pandora), but Snape managed to create several spells, a sheer testament to his magical knowledge and skills. But then Snape became enamored of the Dark Arts, likely out of vengeful feelings that were festered by the bullying he suffered from the Marauders, as well as his resentment towards his parents, and a growing hunger for power and glory. It culminated into what became Snape's worst memory, when he was humilated by James and made the awful mistake of calling Lily a mudblood when she'd tried to stand up for him, al in a vain and foolish effort to save face with his Slytherin peers. That bigoted act cost him his friendship with Lily, which had become strained by how Lily didn't approve of the sorts Snape was consorting with (the pureblood elitists and admirers of Lord Voldemort), and Lily finally severed their friendship, deciding she wanted nothing more to do with Snape, who'd made it clear of where he stood and what he wanted, and how he all but admitted he intended to join the Death Eaters out of a misplaced desire for power and glory. As a result, Lily finally gave James a chance in their seventh year, where they dated, formed a real romance, and soon married, and thus Snape had well and truly lost any chance he'd had with Lily. In spite of this, Snape continued to pine for Lily, never letting her go and moving on, refusing to look elsewhere for a romantic partner, thus denying himself happiness becuz his shame, regret, and inability to let Lily go would not allow him to. So... when he overheard part of the prophecy and informed Voldemort of it, Voldemort concluded it refer to the son of James and Lily Potter, and the rest, to Snape's everlasting regret, was history.

[@Spawned-uy8ip]

Just as James and Sirius had formulated a plan to finally be rid of Snape by sending him down that tunnel. James just got cold feet at the last minute, which lead to him rushing down that tunnel to save his gang of thugs. of course, he went about the school, lying about it, to score points with Lily. It worked like a charm. Snape couldn't deny anything because Dumbledore had tricked Snape into an oath of silence because Dumbledore knew his own arse was on the line. Ok, come at me James/Sirius stans 😀😁😊😊.

[@ruthanneseven]

Your theory has merit, imo. I agree with you about Snape's motives. I think Snape finally understands, as he dies, though.

[@ShannonCarter55]

One thing that people might forget that Dumbledore also had the pieces in place to ensure Harry would survive that final Killing Curse. The resurrection stone, the book given to Hermione...he knew Harry needed to die but he was making sure there was a way out and even ensure the same love that his mother used to protect him extended to all at Hogwarts. Dumbledore was not as cruel. He was always finding ways to end Voldemort but save Harry.

[@RealCadde]

I want to add that the mere act of Snape telling the prophecy to Voldemort was the prophecy setting itself in motion. It wasn't Harry that defeated Voldemort, it was Voldemort defeating himself through hearing the prophecy. Fate works in mysterious ways, and usually it's the mere fact that you know something's about to happen which actually makes that thing happen. Just like high jumpers only think about how they clear the bar before they jump. Because thinking about all the ways they could hit the bar and pull it down is likely to make them do exactly that. Or how those with stage fright can overcome it by thinking the audience are the ones who are anxious. Or how you always aim to do things too well, lest you'd find you fall just short of the goal. How your coach or drill instructor sets an impossible goal for you, so you achieve the performance they secretly expect of you. Voldemort heard the prophecy, believed it would happen, acted to stop it from happening but in doing so actually made the prophecy come true. Had he just stayed arrogant like he usually is and brushed the prophecy off as garbage, none of the things that happened to him would have happened.

[@pottermusings]

I like the theory about Snape and I think for sure that we can't blame him for hating James and his friends.

[@Aaron-MackHartford]

I don’t blame him either for James and his friends.

[@fidogyrenuzanon2335]

I’ve got a thought. Ever wonder how weird it is that Snape managed to get kicked out during the prophesy? After all, the bar in question was known for hosting “less than savory characters.” As such, it wouldn’t make sense for an eavesdropper to get thrown out just willy-nilly or for eavesdropping to be considered a notable offense. My theory, then, is that Snape realized that he was overhearing something important and deliberately got himself caught to sabotage his own attempt to hear the prophesy. This would explain a lot of Snape’s behaviors throughout the stories, including his whole-hearted attempt to protect Harry during his first year. Additionally, this would explain the fact that someone would get thrown out of the bar in question for eavesdropping, of all things.

[@BenjaminKeenan-y3u]

I agree with what you said in the video. Snape has always been portrayed in both the movies and books both as one of the most competent, powerful and intelligent wizards who “knew more dark spells in his first year than half of the seventh years combined” with his half blood prince book that he created better short cuts and overall better ways to brew potions, the spells he created, his aptitude at Occlumency and Legilmency, keeping his mind closed around Voldemort while truly being a double agent and etc etc but yes he just happened to not use his basic deductive reasoning in that moment. Ya ok

[@pennynike1]

I very much disagree with the theory that Snape wanted Voldemort to kill Lily for him. His character was seen true at the end. Yes, he hated James. But he protected Harry despite thst hate for Lily!

[@jaykobanstaett1183]

If Snape was really evil, Harry wouldn’t have won.

[@RealCadde]

I am onboard with the thought that Snape didn't realize who's death he was setting up. Only blinded by false loyalty towards Voldemort, all in an effort to be accepted for what he truly was. A brilliant wizard who's been through the worst. One thing though, Snape never actually loved Lily. If he truly loved Lily, he would want what's best for HER, not for HIM. He would be happy as long as Lily is happy. No matter who she's happy with. Snape was obsessed with Lily, blaming everyone around her for her not choosing to stay with Snape. That's not love, that is petty narcissism. And as he held the now dead Lily in his arms, he wasn't crying for her. He was crying for himself as he set himself up for failure every step of the way. And it was not out of love for Lily that he cared for Harry, it was out of guilt for putting Lily in that position that he decided to try and do something good. He didn't love Lily before her death, but it is possible that the loss of Lily finally gave him true feelings for her and asking himself why he had been so selfish. That's also why he, despite Dumbledore's failure to protect her, decided to accept things as they were and work towards protecting the boy and work as a double agent.

[@haychbee4679]

The prophecy could’ve been about Neville why wouldn’t he push Voldemort to Neville? Cause it didn’t get James out the way

[@paulyb7267]

I'd say Voldemort planned to kill both boys, he just decided that the half-blood Harry (like himself) should be first. Had Voldemort succeeded in killing Harry, he would have gone after Neville next.

[@Romance_dream_]

lol, the idea that snape should think about James's life is beyond ridiculous after what James had done to him. or the idea that snape can tell voldemort who to kill... snape simply begged him to let lily live. If Snape wanted lily for himself only, he would have done something to her when they were still at school. she would never be with him and he knows it, he simply wanted her to live. and Dumbledore was a massive hypocrite who bargained with lily and James's life. not to mention allowed james and his friends to abuse who ever they liked at school just because they are Gryffindor. this is by far the worst theory of this channel.

[@hishamthegamer1277]

James did save snapes life once.

[@Romance_dream_]

@@hishamthegamer1277 no he didn't, james saved himself and his friends from getting into trouble for killing a student.

[@hishamthegamer1277]

@Romance_dream_ he had nothing to do with jt, it was Sirius.

[@vedjoshi260]

Dude here what you are saying is making very less of a sense. Voldemort, who he is would've killed everyone. There was no chance Voldy was sparing the child who could be his potential killer and also why would Snape care about his arch nemesis. Besides the great dark lord was not merciful enough to spare all lives, so the only best case scenario was asking to spare Lily

[@baystated]

It is interesting that the prophecy was told TO Dumbledore, as if the prophecy itself was sentient. She didn't blurt it out when she was alone before or after their meeting. And perhaps too, it knew to wait until Snape was listening in... within arm's reach of Aberforth to only hear half. Prophesies are always sneaky bastards.

[@MissKittifer]

I wanted to be mad at you for this lol but honestly it *kinda* makes sense. I’ll never understand the lifelong and intense obsession Snape had for Lily and how it literally warped his mind (James and her child’s death would have her accepting him? No one in their right mind would think that!) Which I’d why I had my own theory that James put a love curse on Snape for revenge so Snape would go through life without real love and ensuring them a Death Eater who would protect Lily at least when it was needed. But that’s what I’m convinced of. ☺️

[@Guyfrom-dg7ek]

Snape was probably Volemort's 1st or one of the top lieutenants in the 1st wizarding war. That's why he had to relay the peophecy of Voldemort's downfall to protect Voldemort. But once Voldemort goes after the Potters, Snape wants Dumbledore to save Lily only as it was the girl he loved and probably want to connect with again. But saving 1 woman only at the expense of the rest of the family is morally repugnant, so Dumbledore told him if he truly loved Lily, he must protect Lily's son. Without Dumbledore's great advice, Snape would not know how to love and sacrifice for more ppl than just 1 obssessive love.

[@rasheedjalloul]

Your video covers are so funny 😂😂😂

[@ann.tidote6232]

My question has always been: If Voldemort only got the first part of the prophecy, how did he know what month the child would be born considering it’s at the end?

[@vegardyrnes1793]

Hmmm. Yes. Gave me a broader view on Snape, the Potters and Dumbleore. Very good point.

[@ajwinberg]

You put into words what I have always thought. Thank you.

[@alex_316]

Very interesting. What if Voldemort actually didn't want to kill Lily, because Snape asked. His target was just a child, but Lily couldn't let this happen and stand between him and Harry and this is how Harry became Horcrux. Voldemort could doubt inside to kill Lily because of Snape's ask and this causes the rebound and Harry becomes Horcrux

[@nicholasdalessandro1958]

Snape definitely hated James, but perhaps in the end hated Voldemort more. Why else would he fess up to Dumbledore which was very risky? Of course, he loved Lily which fueled his actions, but perhaps he thought that by protecting Harry would rid him of his uneasy alliance with Voldemort. After all, James was no longer a direct antagonist of Snape. Surely Snape got over his school grounds bullying enough to not want James to actually die. It seems Snape avoided the worst of things that Voldemort could have asked of him to do by becoming a double agent. Perhaps, he felt that Voldemort would have asked (or did ask) Snape to deal with this threat, which would have definitely involve harming Lily. So, Snape did the only thing he could do, go to the only Wizard he knew that could protect the Potters and save himself from the obligation to take out the boy.

[@harvestmoon_autumnsky]

I guess there's something very visceral about seeing someone as the victim of bullying. James was the alpa jerk in their quartet. Sirius was the aloof and condescending one. Remus was the reluctant one. Peter was the desperate to be liked one. But it was James who could have stopped it all and didn't. I know he had a change of heart, and I don't think Snape plotting to kill him is good. Still...I understand a victims dreams of defeating his childhood bully,

[@virginia7191]

I agree with you on Snape’s motives, but he is still one of my favorite characters!

[@jebVlogs556]

same he played his role alittle too well if not just brillantly flawless

[@kellysouter4381]

You made up some of this. Its not canon that Snape actually asked Voldemort to kill James.

[@l1bxtr]

Can you do a video about the Wizarding World and the Royal Family’s?

[@mystopian]

Great theory. Adds another dimension to Snape and his character arc.

[@mikahwilliams907]

One instance is usually all it takes for change. If it is powerful enough

[@curtislangford3181]

Good Analysis!

[@tclapson]

Very deep thinking about this... I wonder if any of this ran through J.K Rowling's mind when writing the books... there are so many theories and conversations happening online and in real life about motives of the characters and what they were thinking, as if they really existed... so it's easy to forget that this is fantasy and has all been made up out of one person's imaginative mind... it's truly remarkable that the depth of reasoning that takes place... I know if I were going to write a book, I would be making things up as I go along and wouldn't really be thinking so deeply about what these fictional characters were actually thinking... to do that, strikes me that you would need to be able to really put yourself in the shoes of another person... perhaps meaning a somewhat split personality of sorts... to think as if you were someone else, to act, and behave, talk, and do as if you were someone else... so imaginative, so creative... it's just mind-boggling how she's managed to create such a story. All that said and done... I think you might be right... Perhaps Snape was still trying to get one over on James Potter and at least in the process make the girl he fancied and had some strange obsessive crush (creepy love) for, single once again... I am unsure if you truly believed that you thought Snape had no knowledge of Lilly having had a baby, and therefore it could have been about here... or perhaps, he just told Lord Voldermort about the prophecy and then later when Snape was aware it could have been about Lilly, Snape was pro-killing James and the baby... but not Lilly... because it seems unlikely to me that Snape would have done anything to have Lilly harmed regardless of a prophecy and being a devoted death eater.

[@jacobdrolet4262]

Amazing video

[@ViewerOnline101]

I've been saying this for YEARS. Snape WILLINGLY joined Voldemort because he believed in him and his murderous pure blood supremacist philosophy (Lily was the exception for him because he loved her, making him a biased hypocrite). When he overheard the prophecy, he told Voldemort in an attempt to save Voldemort so he could continue his murderous ways because that dark world was the one he wanted (this was evident even from his conversation with Lily when they were still in school). He only went to Dumbledore to save Lily, not to switch sides, and to heck with Harry and James. He ONLY switched sides to save Lily because Dumbledore demanded it, and then continued to reman Dumbledore's agent after Lily died to keep Harry safe and to stop Voldemort because Dumbledore convinced him to keep Lily's memory alive by protecting all that she sacrificed her life for (the cause and her son). Snape even straight up tells Dumbledore that he NEVER cared for Harry and was only doing what he was to honor Lily's sacrifice when Dumbledore inquires about him. Heck, even in Cursed Child, Snape tells Scorpius how after fighting for the good side for so long that he "might" have come to believe in its cause, meaning he STILL agreed with and supported everything Voldemort was doing and it was solely for Lily's that he was opposing Voldemort. Had Voldemort spared Lily or had she chosen him over James, he would have been happily sitting on Voldemort's lap the entire time. Snape was NEVER a good person. Even when on Dumbledore's side, he was constantly denied the DADA position because Dumbledore was worried Snape would be tempted back to the dark ways, and even then, he was still a bully to STUDENTS (not to mention lied about what happened with Sirius so Sirius would get the Demettor's Kiss purely out of spite). He was a bad person who did a selfish thing that just so happened to align with the good side's goals, nothing more. Yet so many people think that just because he was in love with Lily and did the "good" things he did for her sake alone that this made him a good person. No, it didn't. What if, say, Umbridge did something good to save a person she loved, would that suddenly make her a good person and excuse all the bad things she did and all her cruel ways? No. Now, I honestly don't think Rowling meant for Snape to come out this way. I think that even she was fooled by her own writing (which can happen), based on what she's said in interviews about Snape and by Harry's' reaction to him being a spy. She INTENDED for him to be a good person in the end, but if you actually go back and look at Snape's character and history, he's not. He's a bad person who did a good thing for his own benefit, and then later kept doing a good thing to honor Lily's sacrifice, otherwise he never would have joined the good side and would have been happy staying on Voldemort's side. While I don't think that Snape was using this as an "opportunity" to get rid of James, I do think he didn't care if James died at all (he likely even wanted it), hence why he only bargained for Lily's life with Voldemort and then later with Dumbledore.

[@francescomettifogo5175]

Snape is the clear product of his traumatic childhood. He and his mother were abused by his muggle father and he had no friends when growing up, his family was also very poor. he hated muggles cuz of his father (that's why he joined voldemort later) and was talented and ambitious, therefore he became a slitherin. And then he saw the only person that cared for him, the first person that cared for him other than his mother, his first and only true love fall for his childhood bully. For the rich, pureblood, gryffindor quidditch star potter. the good looking kid with loving parents, money, friends, who everyone admired in school because he was good at flying a broom, and whose favourite sport was bullying and humiliate him, protected by his entlitled clique. I wonder why he'd be mad at him and would love to see him get killed. Honestly, I think I would too if I were him. Of course he was not a fully positive character, he was essentially an antihero.

[@lxena8033]

That's not why he joined the Death Eaters..... Snape never really cared about that pure blood crap. If he had, he would've never befriended Lily, no matter how pretty or talented she was. We see this in HBP with Blaise Zabini... When Pansy comments that even Blaze thinks Ginny is pretty, he replies, " I wouldn't touch a filthy little blood traitor like her whatever she looked like" To those wizards that care about blood purity, that's ALL that matters. We see this with Fudge, Lucious, Yaxley, most of the Black family, the Gaunts..... it doesn't matter what kind wizard, or witch you are... If you are not the right kind of wizard, or don't show "proper wizarding pride" then, you are not worthy. Snape doesn't have this mindset. Sure he calls other students that to look cool in front of other Slytherins, but he really doesn't think it, and we know this because he continues to hang out with Lily at school, at least until the end of their 5th year. If he was into that blood purity nonsense, he wouldn't be seen with her, it's that simple. No, Snape joined the Death Eaters in order to learn the Dark Arts from Voldermort, one of the most powerful dark wizards around. It is said many times that Severus was fascinated by the dark arts, and that he knew more curses in his first year than the 7th year students. To someone who was consistently learning about the dark arts, and self teaching himself, an opportunity to learn from someone like Voldermort would've been such a temptation, such a once in a lifetime opportunity. It would've been hard for him to resist.

[@emankcin1701]

Please stop arguing its tearing this community apart 😊

[@ViewerOnline101]

@@francescomettifogo5175 That's irrelevant. While I will admit that his childhood may have partly shaped him, there comes a point where one's actions become their own and they must take responsibility for their actions, and Snape crossed that line.

[@ViewerOnline101]

@@lxena8033 Yes, Snape DID believe in blood purity. Maybe not as extreme as some of the others, but he does. The fact that he called Lily a mudblood is evident of this as well, as that was his real feelings towards muggleborns coming out when he was too angry to hang onto his bias for Lily. He never would have called her that, and when she was DEFENDING him from James at that, if he didn't believe in blood purity at least to some extent. Lily even calls him out in how he was associating with those who became future Death Eaters who were doing some really dark things, and called him out on him wanting to become a Death Eater (which he didn't deny). Death Eaters follow Voldemort because they believe in blood purity and that it makes them better/stronger than those with more muggle blood, and Rowling herself said that Snape thought Lily would be impressed with him for joining the Death Eaters (which is literally the equivalent of someone joining the Nazis or the KKK in order to impress their Jewish or black love interest), which just shows how warped his thinking is and his opinion on blood purity.

[@mhorrighan]

I feel like the books are not taken into account here. When Snape met Dumbledore to beg him to keep Lily safe, he wasn't presented as a changed man at any point, it was absolutely obvious that he did what he did out of concern and love for Lily, James and Harry be hanged, so I don't understand why this is presented like new and shocking information here

[@connie40star]

In this segment, I don't understand how and why he couldn't see the animosity his father had towards Snape, the same hatred and animosity he Harry has towards Draco.

[@i.love.jesus.1]

Firstt love your videoss

[@UltimatePerfection]

Why didn't Potters made Dumbledore their secret keeper? Obviously out of universe explanation is because plot demanded so, but I'm interested in the in-universe one. After all, they knew Dumbledore is strong enough to oppose Voldy so even if Fidelius charm wouldn't work as advertised or was cast wrongly, he wouldn't divulge it even under tortures.

[@FuDziWuDzi]

I always thought that Snape is an obsessive delusional person but not evil. He’s not a Hero either in my opinion and it’s one of the only things I didn’t like when Harry named his son Albus Severus. He never actually loved Lilly, it was just a teenage obsession that grew with him into adulthood. But he’s not pure evil.

[@Nemoda20]

I don't think it went that far. Snape is not the most social person. I don't think he know enough of about the Order of the Phoenix members personal life to make conclusions who is the prophecy about. Also I think the prophecy states Voldemort will chose who its about. I think Voldemort picked the potters and it got Snape off guard. Well the Lily part did. It was the first time the Dark Lord and Snapes goals did not align, and he quickly learned his needs does not matter to Voldemort. Snape admits he only tried to save Lilys live, and did not cared if Voldemort killed James and Harry. Think Dumbledores reaction is mostly about Snape selfish obsession over Lilly, that he does not care if Lily's heart break as long as if he gets what he wants.

[@stevegallo8483]

Snape didn't even hear the whole prophecy before running to Voldemort with what he heard. At the point, the prophecy could have been about either Harry or Neville, as both were born at the end of July. (Voldemort choosing to go after the Potters made it about Harry.) Because of his obsession with Lily, that triggered Snape to act by going to Dumbledore after trying to persuade Voldemort to spare Lily.

[@markostojic99]

Oh shit... your best point is at the end haha Snape is to analytical and strategic to have not considered who the prophecy might have been about before passing it along. Until then I was listening for fun, but now... you might be onto something... damn thats dark...

[@Worldmisery]

Snape may have told Voldemort the prophecy but it was Pettigrew who told Voldemort where they were hiding. Snape betrayed Voldemort when he turned to Dumbledore, Pettigrew betrayed the Potters.

[@thomasa8814]

"Oh no! Your husband and son were killed thats terrible! Here let me help you out of those witches britches and we'll greave together."

[@AdmiralofU2]

Um.... What did Snape hear when he was eavesdropping on Trelawney and Dumbledore's interview?

[@RKIJSITFAHCWGOR]

severus snape is the real hero of the story ngl

[@grokeffer6226]

Redemption seems to be one of the themes of the books.

[@masteroftheassassins]

The biggest difference between James and Snape is that even when James was a bully, he picked on people his own age. Snape, on the other hand, picks on children knowing they could do nothing back to him. James grew up but Snape didn’t.

[@leventebardossy5962]

I think Snape's plans didn't end there. After all, even though his competition would be out of the picture this way, Lily, due to the ultimate heartbreak she would have been through if Snape's plan had succeeded, wouldn't have wanted anyone in her life for quite a while (if ever), least of them a henchman of the man who killed her husband and son. I believe Snape, having his talent, planned to make Lily forget James and Harry. Maybe everything since her Hogwarts graduation, and then create her new memories via lies. Then to separate her from her previous life, and make her live with him elsewhere. Probably if Voldemort had succeeded, he would have asked for this as a reward. Not to be let go as a Death Eater, but a permission to have a separate life, like Lucius Malfoy did.