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Snape from the Harry Potter Franchise — The Stalker We Mistook for a Tragic Hero
A toxic obsession disguised as devotion — time to rethink the romance.
The stories of Severus Snape, the tragic and misunderstood potions master, are commonly associated with Lily Potter’s love, which is portrayed as the ultimate act of devotion. Let me make it clear to you that this is not love. This is a creepy, unhealthy obsession that we, as fans, should not be romanticizing.
Snape’s emotions were not a large-scale romantic affair, but rather invasive and harmful. Can we decipher the purpose of what, then?
How Snape’s Childhood Crush Turned into a Creepy Obsession
Snape’s fixation began in childhood. He had no other companion but Lily, a kind and compassionate person in the dark. A dependency on her, triggered by loneliness, turned into something detrimental. This was not the starting point for a meaningful bond, but rather clinging to the one positive force in his life.
Snape remained attached to his teenage crush for life. He could not believe she had chosen another man. He did not have a true appreciation for Lily as he would like her to be.