J.K. Rowling explains why Harry Potter named his son after Snape
J.K. Rowling has offered insight into her characters again, this time revealing why Potter named his son after Professor Severus Snape.
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AUTHOR J.K. Rowling has finally revealed why Harry Potter named his son after Professor Severus Snape.
In an epilogue in the final novel “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” the wizard is shown sending his own kids off to Hogwarts but many fans expressed their confusion as to why he named his second son Albus Severus, after headmaster Albus Dumbledore and pesky teacher Snape.
But Rowling has now taken to Twitter to reveal despite Snape making Harry’s time at the school difficult, and even killing Professor Dumbledore, he wanted to honour his love for his late mother Lily Potter.
A fan asked: “Why did you pick Snape to name Harry’s kid after? I’m genuinely curious as he was nothing but abusive towards everyone.”
She then replied, writing: “Snape died for Harry out of love for Lily. Harry paid him tribute in forgiveness and gratitude.”
However, her message sent Potter-lovers into meltdown as they squabbled over the professor’s role in the much-loved books and subsequent films.
She later admitted: “I’ve got to say this: you lot have been arguing about Snape for years. My timeline just exploded with love & fury yet again. Never change x”
But not content with the response, fans pestered the writer who went on to reveal an extended explanation.
Disagreeing with one Twitter user who wrote: “Kind of strange you’d say ‘in forgiveness’, I mean Snape held no malice against Harry (which Harry came to know, eventually)”, she replied: “That’s not true, I’m afraid. Snape projected his hatred and jealousy of James onto Harry.”
She continued: “There’s a whole essay in why Harry gave his son Snape’s name, but the decision goes to the heart of who Harry was, post-war.
“This morning I’ve been thinking a lot about the appeal of simple dichotomies in our messy world, then you raise Snape! Highly appropriate.
“Snape is all grey. You can’t make him a saint: he was vindictive & bullying. You can’t make him a devil: he died to save the wizarding world.
“In honouring Snape, Harry hoped in his heart that he too would be forgiven. The deaths at the Battle of Hogwarts would haunt Harry forever.”
Ending her series of tweets, she hinted she regretted even bringing up the subject.
She added: “See what you started, @FrazzyJazzy7? I need to get back to work. Have a good day, Snape-lovers, haters and in-betweeners all xxxx”
Originally published as J.K. Rowling explains why Harry Potter named his son after Snape