Expecto Patronum is one of the most important spells in the Harry Potter franchise. As audiences saw in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, the Patronus fends off evil Dementors and acts as a guardian to the witch or wizard who summons it. When successfully cast, the Patronus Charm often appears in the form of a silver animal.
The animal that appears is unique to the witch or wizard who conjures it, and often has a personalized meaning which connects to the conjurer’s soul. For example, Harry Potter’s Patronus is a stag – the same as his father’s, symbolizing their spiritual bond. Stags are also seen as symbols of transformation and rebirth, making the stag a fitting Patronus for the boy who lived. However, Harry Potter fans are often perplexed at Severus Snape’s Patronus, which appears in the form of a doe. Why is Snape’s Patronus a doe, and what does this reveal about his character?
When do we see Snape’s Patronus?
Audiences first see the doe Patronus in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1. When Harry is in the forest, the doe appears to guide Harry to the Sword of Gryffindor – the object which is needed to destroy one of Voldemort’s Horcruxes. Harry is perplexed by the appearance of the doe, which was also the Patronus that belonged to his mother - Lily Potter.
It is not until Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 when it’s revealed who actually cast the Patronus. After Snape’s death, his memories are replayed in the Pensieve – this is when audiences witness the character casting the doe Patronus in an emotional scene. Upon seeing Snape’s Patronus and recognizing that it is the same as Lily Potter’s, Dumbledore exclaims ‘Lily?’ before audiences witness the flashback of Snape clutching Lily’s body after she was killed by Voldemort. Dumbledore then asks, ‘After all this time?’ to which Snape simply responds with ‘Always’.
Why does Snape have the same Patronus as Lily Potter?
Whilst Harry Potter fans often have different theories about what this exchange means, the consensus is that Dumbledore is asking whether Snape is still in love with Lily after all this time. Snape’s reply of ‘Always’ affirms Dumbledore’s question – he is still in love with Lily Potter all these years later. This is also reflected in Snape’s final words to Harry before his tragic death: “You have your mother’s eyes”.
Snape’s memories reveal that he met Lily before the pair went to Hogwarts. Whilst Snape had a crush on Lily, she never reciprocated this and only ever saw him as a friend. When the pair arrive at Hogwarts, Snape is sorted into Slytherin, whilst Lily is placed in Gryffindor – which is where she meets James Potter. Throughout his time at Hogwarts, Snape is tormented by his unrequited love and the incessant mocking he faced from James. By confirming to Dumbledore that he is still in love with Lily, this shows that Snape cannot overcome the past, nor the grief of Lily’s death.
The fact that Snape is still in love with Lily could likely explain why his Patronus is a doe. Wizards have no authority over their Patronus’ appearance, meaning that Snape’s subconscious love for Lily is so strong that it controls his Patronus’ entire form. In Prisoner of Azkaban, audiences learn that a witch or wizard must think of happy memories in order to conjure a Patronus. Because Snape’s Patronus is a doe, it’s likely that his happy memories are largely linked to Lily Potter. Similarly, it’s likely that Lily’s Patronus was a doe because of her love for James Potter – complimenting his stag Patronus. This shows that love can heavily impact a Patronus’ appearance.
It's also possible that Snape’s Patronus is the same as Lily’s because of their shared desire to protect Harry. Despite Snape’s untrustworthy façade, it’s revealed that he always had Harry’s best interests at heart. Throughout his time at Hogwarts, Snape was looking out for Harry and protecting him against evil – despite his festering grudge against Potter’s father. This is why Snape decided to cast the Patronus to guide Harry to the Sword of Gryffindor. A Patronus is created because of strong emotions, reflecting both Lily and Snape’s strong desire to protect Harry.
What does the Patronus reveal about Snape's character?
Snape’s role as a double agent meant that Snape’s character was notoriously untrustworthy. It’s only when Harry watches his memories when his innocence is confirmed – something which is reflected in his Patronus’ appearance. Symbolically, a doe represents an innocent creature. By conjuring a doe, Snape’s Patronus reflects his good intentions. As previously mentioned, a Patronus protects a witch or wizard against evil. This means that the Death Eaters never had a purpose to use the Patronus Charm – unlike Snape.
The Patronus confirms that Snape was never inherently evil and tried to maintain goodness in his heart – mainly for the sake of Harry’s mother.