What Was Snape's ORIGINAL Patronus? - Harry Potter Theory

Hey everyone,

Welcome to another installment of Harry Potter Theory. For today’s video, I’m going to be discussing a topic that was requested by you guys in the comment section. I always read the comments, so if you want a topic made- then be sure to request it. The next one might be yours.

In this video, I’m going to be discussing Severus Snape, Lily Evans, James Potter and one of the purest forms of magic - the Patronus. The patronus charm is famous for it’s representation of light, happiness, and purity, and it’s produced when a witch or wizard casts the spell Expecto Patronum. There are two types of patronus charms, corporeal and incorporeal, and the type that the witch or wizard casts will depend on their experience / preference. The more basic form of the spell is the incorporeal patronus, which assumes no animal form and simply resembles a burst of white vapour or smoke, and the more advanced form of the spell is the conjuring of a corporeal patronus- which I’ll be focusing on in this video.

We see many of our favourite characters in the books/films achieve the notable and complicated ability to cast a corporeal patronus- and this can largely be attributed to the guidance provided by Harry in Dumbledore’s Army. Along with those in Dumbledore’s army, various other talented witches, wizards, and professors are also able to cast such a charm- Harry’s parents included.

Despite Snape’s dubious past as a death eater, it has been stated that he was the only death eater that was ever able to produce one. It’s widely thought that conjuring a Patronus when you’re evil is impossible, but that’s not entirely accurate, it’s just risky. In the story of Raczdiain, the first evil wizard ever to attempt the spell, he ended up being devoured by maggots which shot out of his wand. This doesn’t exactly make it inviting- but what Raczidian lacked were the necessary happy memories that you need in order to cast such a spell. Despite Snape’s questionable history, and the hardships that he endured throughout his life, he was still always able to think back to happier times - his childhood in Cokeworth with Lily Evans. We know that James Potter’s patronus was a stag, and we know that Lily’s was a doe- and it’s revealed to us in an iconic exchange between Dumbledore and Snape in the Deathly Hallows, that Snape’s Patronus is a doe as well:

“But this is touching, Severus,” said Dumbledore seriously. “Have you grown to care for the boy, after all?”
“For him?” shouted Snape. “Expecto Patronum!”
From the tip of his wand burst the silver doe: she landed on the office floor, bounded once across the office, and soared out of the window. Dumbledore watched her fly away, and as her silvery glow faded he turned back to Snape, and his eyes were full of tears.
“After all this time?”
“Always,” said Snape.

This scene depicts Dumbledore’s genuine surprise at Snape’s Patronus form - a doe, as he never understood the true level of commitment that Snape felt toward Lily. Dumbledore never suspected that Snape’s motivations had changed, but when he says ‘after all this time’ to snape- it paints a clear picture of just how much Snape cared for Lily. Dumbledore knew that Lily Potter’s patronus was also a doe- and it’s well known that when you well and truly love someone, that your patronus can change to match theirs. The patronus charm is a powerful piece of magic that expresses the true nature of the caster- and can be influenced by significant events or people in one’s life.

You can't choose your Patronus or change it wilfully, and the fact that Snape's patronus was still a doe, matching Lily, ‘after all that time’- was representative of the fact that he truly loved Lily, and that his feelings for her hadn’t weakened over the years. Lily Potter had been dead for 17 years, but his love for her was still strong.

However, one thing that I’m sure a lot of you have been wondering is: What was Snape’s Patronus BEFORE it changed to a Doe? If the Patronus changes to match the one that you love, then I think that it would be reasonable to assume that Snape had another Patronus animal at one point or another- one that was independent from Lily.
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Видео What Was Snape's ORIGINAL Patronus? - Harry Potter Theory канала Harry Potter Theory