10 Reasons Why Alan Rickman's Severus Snape is The Best Character in Harry Potter

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If only we had Dumbledore's deluminator to bring light to the darkest of days, following the sad news of Alan Rickman's death at the age of 69. In celebration of one of his best loved roles, here's 10 times Severus Snape really was the best character in​ the ​Harry Potter ​franchise. 

1. He's loyal

Professor Severus Snape danced with death throughout the franchise as a result of his unrequited and unquestionable love for Lily Potter. He did the unthinkable -  killed Dumbledore at the Dark Lord's request, infiltrated the Death Eaters and eventually died - for his cause, and that was his loyalty to Lily's son.

2. Alan Rickman is everything you'd hope Snape would be from the books

If anybody who read the ​Harry Potter ​books threatens to say Alan Rickman's portrayal of Professor Snape wasn't ​exactly ​how you imagined it scene-for-scene, we challenge you to a brawl. Failing that, we'll probably never talk to you again. "Turn to page 394" will forever circulate our brains in that booming, articulate tone.

3. He's a total badass

Oh no big deal, just Snape conversing with The Dark Lord on a daily basis and playing with fire in order to protect Harry Potter's life, whilst he and the rest of Hogwarts think you're a massive douchebag. He dedicated his WHOLE LIFE to the Potter legacy, and for the majority of it nobody even realised. What would HP be without Professor Snape looking over his shoulder 27/4? Dead, probably.

4. He's incredibly thoughtful

According to one fan theory: "The first thing Snape asks Harry is "Potter! What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?" According to Victorian Flower Language, asphodel is a type of lily meaning 'My regrets follow you to the grave' and wormwood means 'absence' and also typically symbolised bitter sorrow. If you combined that, it meant 'I bitterly regret Lily's death'.​"

Mind = blown.

5. He's unpredictable 

Despite being a sarcastic sass pot (more of that later) throughout Harry Potter's story, Snape manages to change everyone's opinion of him in last movie after he's bitten by Nagini. Harry takes his memories, watches Severus's story unfold and realises he's actually been in love with his mum Lily the whole time. Snape treads the line between good and evil throughout J.K. Rowling's story, and it's only in his final hour when we realise how pure he really was.

7. He's got sass

If it wasn't for Severus Snape putting Hermione Granger in her place and telling her what an "insufferable know-it-all" she is, she might have left the Golden Trio in search of Head Girl status and never ended up being a mega babe and/or getting with Ron Weasley. Basically, we all have Professor Snape to thank for Ron and Hermione's romance and we couldn't be happier about it.​

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8. He's an insanely talented wizard

As well as having the truest of characters and the strongest of hearts, Snape was also an incredibly talented wizard who dedicated his childhood and Hogwarts career to bettering his craft. When he's unveiled as ​The Half Blood Prince, ​his dedication to the Dark Arts becomes clear to Harry Potter, as well as the fandom.

9. He is Harry's secret bodyguard

We're not sure if we've hammered this home quite enough just yet, so in case we haven't: without Severus, Harry Potter's story would have never unfolded. Voldemort may well have killed him in the beginning, Quirrell would have had his way during the Quidditch match and Harry would have breezed into trouble with the Death Eaters. Thanks, Snape.

10. He's the true hero of the whole entire franchise

When it comes down to it - in spite of Dumbledore's death, Neville Longbottom slaying the snake and his close relationship with evil - Severus Snape is the true hero of ​Harry Potter. ​Not just in the way he died, but in the way he lived. Without playing the double agent and sacrificing his own life at the end of ​Deathly Hallows Part 2, ​Hogwarts and the World of Witchcraft and Wizardy would never have survived.

Always.