Snape's Best Quotes
Nice choice.
I've seen so many people criticize Severus for how harsh he was in that scene while completely ignoring the subtext. What I see here is not him being mean, but his desperation. He needs Harry to understand how serious this is, that it's quite literally a matter of life and death. Those words, however harsh, are intended to protect Harry, not insult/antagonize him.
Unfortunately, their relationship is so fractured that Harry doesn't understand the difference. Understandable in his case, though it should be more clear to the readers.
That is a marvellous quote from Snape! He is actually trying to get Harry to be more like him, but Harry has more of his mother's nature and cannot be moulded this way. I have to read those Occlumency sessions again.
‘Don’t be shocked, Severus. How many men and women have you watched die?’
‘Lately, only those whom I could not save,’ said Snape.
DH Chapter 33 - The Prince's Tale
One of my favourite Snape quotes. This defines the sort of man he was before his death.
El clasico:
"You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion-making,' he began. He spoke in barely more than a whisper, but they caught every word-- like Professor McGonagall, Snape had the gift of keeping a class silent without effort. 'As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensaring the senses... I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death-- if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach."
Harry Potter Book I, Chapter 8, p146
Fascinating though your social life undoubtedly is, Miss Granger,’ said an icy voice right behind them, ‘I must ask you not to discuss it in my class. Ten points from Gryffindor.’
Snape had glided over to their desk while they had been talking. The whole class was now looking around at them; Malfoy took the opportunity to flash POTTER STINKS across the dungeon at Harry.
‘Ah … reading magazines under the table as well?’ Snape added, snatching up the copy of Witch Weekly. ‘A further ten points from Gryffindor … oh, but of course …’ Snape’s black eyes glittered as they fell on Rita Skeeter’s article. ‘Potter has to keep up with his press cuttings …’
The dungeon rang with the Slytherins’ laughter, and an unpleasant smile curled Snape’s thin mouth. To Harry’s fury, he began to read the article aloud.
‘ Harry Potter’s Secret Heartache … dear, dear, Potter, what’s ailing you now? A boy like no other, perhaps …’
Harry could feel his face burning now. Snape was pausing at the end of every sentence to allow the Slytherins a hearty laugh. The article sounded ten times worse when read by Snape.
‘ … Harry Potter’s well-wishers must hope that, next time, he bestows his heart upon a worthier candidate. How very touching,’ sneered Snape, rolling up the magazine to continued gales of laughter from the Slytherins. ‘Well, I think I had better separate the three of you, so you can keep your minds on your potions rather than your tangled love lives. Weasley, you stay here. Miss Granger, over there, beside Miss Parkinson. Potter – that table in front of my desk. Move. Now.’
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: Chapter 27 - Padfoot Returns
This scene was hilarious, I quite enjoyed scenes of Snape being an asshole and 😹😹 when I read it for first time.
That scene was hysterical and makes me miss the hijinks of Rita Skeeter during the fourth book!
Yeah, agreed about Rita 😹😹
‘You wanted to see me, Headmistress?’ said Snape, looking around at all the pairs of struggling students with an expression of complete indifference.
‘Ah, Professor Snape,’ said Umbridge, smiling widely and standing up again.
‘Yes, I would like another bottle of Veritaserum, as quick as you can, please.’
‘You took my last bottle to interrogate Potter,’ he said, observing her coolly through his greasy curtains of black hair.
‘Surely you did not use it all? I told you that three drops would be sufficient.’
Umbridge flushed.
‘You can make some more, can’t you?’ she said, her voice becoming more sweetly girlish as it always did when she was furious.
‘Certainly,’ said Snape, his lip curling. ‘It takes a full moon-cycle to mature, so I should have it ready for you in around a month.’
‘A month?’ squawked Umbridge, swelling toadishly. ‘A month? But I need it this evening, Snape! I have just found Potter using my fire to communicate with a person or persons unknown!’
‘Really?’ said Snape, showing his first, faint sign of interest as he looked round at Harry. ‘Well, it doesn’t surprise me. Potter has never shown much inclination to follow school rules.’
His cold, dark eyes were boring into Harry’s, who met his gaze unflinchingly, concentrating hard on what he had seen in his dream, willing Snape to read it in his mind, to understand …
‘I wish to interrogate him!’ shouted Umbridge angrily, and Snape looked away from Harry back into her furiously quivering face. ‘I wish you to provide me with a potion that will force him to tell me the truth!’
‘I have already told you,’ said Snape smoothly, ‘that I have no further stocks of Veritaserum. Unless you wish to poison Potter – and I assure you I would have the greatest sympathy with you if you did – I cannot help you. The only trouble is that most venoms act too fast to give the victim much time for truth-telling.’
Snape looked back at Harry, who stared at him, frantic to communicate without words.
Voldemort’s got Sirius in the Department of Mysteries, he thought desperately. Voldemort’s got Sirius -
‘You are on probation!’ shrieked Professor Umbridge, and Snape looked back at her, his eyebrows slightly raised.
‘You are being deliberately unhelpful! I expected better, Lucius Malfoy always speaks most highly of you! Now get out of my office!’
Snape gave her an ironic bow and turned to leave. Harry knew his last chance of letting the Order know what was going on was walking out of the door.
‘He’s got Padfoot!’ he shouted. ‘He’s got Padfoot at the place where it’s hidden!’
Snape had stopped with his hand on Umbridge’s door handle.‘Padfoot?’ cried Professor Umbridge, looking eagerly from Harry to Snape. ‘What is Padfoot? Where what is hidden? What does he mean, Snape?’
Snape looked round at Harry. His face was inscrutable. Harry could not tell whether he had understood or not, but he did not dare speak more plainly in front of Umbridge.
‘I have no idea,’ said Snape coldly. ‘Potter, when I want nonsense shouted at me I shall give you a Babbling Beverage. And Crabbe, loosen your hold a little. If Longbottom suffocates it will mean a lot of tedious paperwork and I am afraid I shall have to mention it on your reference if ever you apply for a job.’
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: Chapter 32 – Out of the Fire
This whole scene was awesome. Snape frustrated Umbridge, insulted Harry, took information about Padfoot, gave his ironic bow 😼 and subtly saved Neville in his sarcastic way.
The movie scene of this was also incredible.
Yeah, true, movie scene was awesome as well. 😸
