Severus Snape is often accused of being overly obsessed with Lily Potter in Harry Potter, but two details in his story hint that he is judged somewhat unfairly. Of course, it can’t be denied that Snape is a bit of a problem. He treated Harry terribly throughout the series, all becuase of his own emotional immaturity. However, claims that Snape was a stalker might be taking things a bit too far. He was a Death Eater who maintained a love for his childhood friend, but evidence indicates that Snape had accepted that he and Lily were on two different paths in Harry Potter.

The big reveal that Snape and Lily had been friends made for an emotional moment in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. It suddenly made sense why Dumbledore had trusted Snape all those years, and it became clear that the former Death Eater truly had been trying to protect Harry all along. Snape’s true intentions and love for Lily were significant in the emotional ending of Harry Potter. Still, audiences have grown critical of Snape’s intentions over the years. Some of his behavior has raised red flags, but there are a couple of details that are often overlooked when judging his character.

Snape Never Gave Lily A Love Potion In Harry Potter

Snape Proved He Wasn’t Like Merope Gaunt

Snape was a potions prodigy, which means that brewing a love potion and slipping it to Lily would have been easy enough to pull off—but he never did. He could have put a quick end to Lily and James’ relationship, but there is no indication in Harry Potter that such a thing ever crossed his mind. Of course, Snape shouldn’t be celebrated just because he never drugged his childhood crush. Still, the fact that Snape never took this route has thematic value within the Harry Potter series.

A significant aspect of Lord Voldemort’s story is that his mother, Merope Gaunt, used a Love Potion to get the man she was obsessed with to marry her. It was through this method that Merope and Tom Riddle Sr conceived their son. Voldemort’s mother was abused and neglected, and this made her so desperate for love that she turned to extreme and morally despicable methods to get it. Snape has a similar history to Merope. He grew up in a loveless home, but despite his talent with potions, Snape never turned to the same methods as Merope.

Snape Didn’t Know Trelawney’s Prophecy Could Connect To Lily’s Son

Snape Clearly Wasn’t Keeping Tabs On Lily’s Life & Family

In addition to respecting Lily’s right to choose him or not, there is further indication in the Harry Potter series that Snape wasn’t obsessed with and stalking his childhood friend. After the duo ended their friendship at the end of their fifth year, Snape and Lily completed their remaining two years at Hogwarts and entered the wizarding world as adults. Snape became a Death Eater, and Lily married James Potter, had a son, and joined the Order of the Phoenix. It’s often ᴀssumed that Snape kept tabs on Lily during this, but there is evidence to suggest otherwise.

As a low-ranking Death Eater, Snape was eager to impress Lord Voldemort. So, when he overheard Sybill Trelawney make a prophecy near the beginning of 1980, he was quick to pᴀss it on to his master. Snape didn’t hear the whole thing, but he reported back to Voldemort that a boy, born at the end of July to parents who had thrice defied the Dark Lord, would be the villain’s downfall. Snape immediately regretted telling Voldemort this when he learned the prophecy could apply to Lily Potter and her son.

The fact that Snape didn’t know that Lily’s family matched up with Trelawney’s prophecy implies that he hadn’t kept tabs on his childhood friend. This makes sense since it was Snape himself who essentially ended the relationship. Lily demanded that he choose between their friendship and his aspiration to become a Death Eater, and he chose the latter. He seemed so engrossed in his goal that he didn’t consider how Lily could get caught up in the middle. Once he learned that Lily had a child who fit the prophecy, Snape quickly began to backpedal.

Snape’s Was A Problem, But He Wasn’t An Obsessive Stalker

Snape Wasn’t Perfect, But His Love Was Genuine

It can’t be denied that Snape was problematic. His behavior in Harry Potter was truly atrocious. Even after he realized that Voldemort would target Lily, thanks to his information, Snape attempted to bargain only for her life—not that of her son or husband. The Death Eater only agreed to protect the Potters as a whole when it became clear that this was the only way Dumbledore would help him. Still, to say that Snape was obsessed with Lily or was stalking her is unfair. Evidence instead points to the fact that he had tried to forget her entirely before her death.

Snape had chosen the Dark Arts over his friendship with Lily, ultimately resulting in his old friend’s death. This was eye-opening for Snape. He had never experienced the love of a mother, so the fact that Lily had sacrificed her life for her son was something he had never thought to anticipate. Harry Potter dedicates a significant amount of time to exploring the difference between love and obsession. Sure, Snape was still an immature, emotional, and cruel mess, but the details of his story prove that his complex feelings for Lily leaned more toward genuine love.