There's Something About 'Prof. Snape' That Only JK Rowling and Alan Rickman Know, It Lies Behind 'Always'
Every "Potterhead" would know that J.K. Rowling told Alan Rickman something about his character, Severus Snape, which no one knows of but them. Even up to his last breath, the well-renowned actor kept this knowledge of Snape that helped him personify the character with utter perfection. This information has been kept from the "Harry Potter" fans for too long, but little did they know, it only hides behind the professor's heart-felt line, "Always."
Like the sure and learned actor that he is, Alan Rickman always make sure to get the hang of every character that he would portray. He had a habit of getting into the tiniest bit of details about his role, so that he would give justice to the character and offer respect to the author. Thus, upon accepting the challenge of playing the spiteful "Defense Against the Dark Arts" professor, Rickman asked its creator of things that would help him get to know Snape more. Rowling willingly obliged and shared him one thing that basically sums up Snape's identity without letting the others know.
In 2011, the year for the last installment of the "Harry Potter" saga in movies, the now deceased actor hinted that Rowling has, indeed, shared with him something about Snape, that the readers are yet to know, but only on the latter part of the story.
The British actor shared that when it's time to film the first of the 8 "Harry Potter" movies, there were only about 4 of the books out in the market. And so, there is nothing much yet to know about Snape from then. His knowledge about his character was no far from what the readers know about the professor, since he buys and reads the books as they were released for the public. And so, his last resort was to squeeze Rowling for more in depth information on Snape to give him substance.
Unfortunately, the actor died of cancer, 18 months to be exact according to Pink News, without having the chance to share that secret knowledge with the world. Only a brave and curious Twitter approached the ever social media-active-user Rowling for this widely talked-about concern. The author immediately answered that what she told Rickman has something to do with Snape's unforgettable line, "Always."
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I told Alan what lies behind the word 'always'. <a href="https://t.co/NHTJ5J6kxb">https://t.co/NHTJ5J6kxb</a></p>— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) <a href="https://twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/688992186457788416">January 18, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Most ordinary people, those who haven't really got themselves into understanding Rowling's books, didn't immediately got what the author revealed. Maybe because they weren't aware of that memorable scene from the last of the "Harry Potter" films, "The Deathly Hallows Part 2" where Headmaster Albus Dumbledore asked Snape if he loved Lily Potter, Harry Potter's mother, and the professor emotionally answered with "Always."
Although Snape's identity was revealed to the public much deeper through the 6th book, "The Half-Blood Prince," hinted on his fancy for a young Lily and hatred for a young James Potter, Harry Potter's father, nothing much was exposed of him with regards to his feelings. And that's what Snape was made of, his love for Lily Potter. Every fan would know by this time that even though Snape was disgustingly a significant part of the first installations, he eventually turned out to be Harry's hero. He protected Harry in belief that he's doing it for the love of his life. Besides, Harry's got his mother's eyes, which Snape extremely loved.
In the last film, Snape summons his Patronus, the very first time Snape showed someone this in the series. It was a "doe," just like Lily's. And for him, aside from protecting Harry, that's the only last piece of Lily he could get a hold of.
No wonder Snape in the movies always had that angsty, but well-kept manner. He has always been sensitive about Harry and his mother.
According to The Huffington Post, Rickman used this knowledge of Snape to play the role with the most perfect and natural way ever when he started filming. No one but Rickman and Rowling understood this because it still wasn't due to be out in the books as early as 2007.
When Snape in both the books and the movies released his iconic line, everything went clear. His whole being had made sense and the fans loved him even more from then on. Knowing that he died earlier this year, is one of the most devastating news "Potterheads" would get.