Q. What about Snape?
A. Snape is a very sadistic teacher, loosely based on a teacher I myself had, I have to say. I think children are very aware and we are kidding ourselves if we don’t think that they are, that teachers do sometimes abuse their power and this particular teacher does abuse his power. He’s not a particularly pleasant person at all. However, everyone should keep their eye on Snape, I’ll just say that because there is more to him than meets the eye and you will find out part of what I am talking about if you read Book 4. No, I’m not trying to drum up more sales, go to the library and get it out. I’d rather people read it.
Q. One of our internet correspondents wondered if Snape is going to fall in love.
A. (JKR laughs) Who on earth would want Snape in love with them? That’s a very horrible idea.
Q. There’s an important kind of redemptive pattern to Snape
A. He, um, there’s so much I wish I could say to you, and I can’t because it would ruin. I promise you, whoever asked that question, can I just say to you that I’m slightly stunned that you’ve said that and you’ll find out why I’m so stunned if you read Book 7. That’s all I’m going to say.
Q. Why does Professor Dumbledore allow Professor Snape to be so nasty to the students (especially to Harry, Hermione, and Neville)?
A. Dumbledore believes there are all sorts of lessons in life; horrible teachers like Snape are one of them!
Q. (Stephen Fry (heavily paraphrased)):
Then there's characters like Snape, who are bad but there is a certain ambiguity about him. You can't quite decide because there's something quite sad about him. Something very lonely. We're slowly (after five books) getting the idea that maybe he is not so bad after all.
A. Yes, but you shouldn't think he's too nice. Let me just say that. It is worth keeping an eye on old Severus Snape, definitely.
Stephen Fry: We have another question from another competition winner, who is called Jackson Long. Let's have a look at your question.
Q. (Jackson Long): Professor Snape has always wanted to be Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. In book five he doesn't get the job. Why doesn't Professor Dumbledore let him be the DADA teacher?
A. That is an excellent question and the reason is… I have to be careful… not to say too much. However, when Professor Dumbledore took Professor Snape onto the staff and Professor Snape said he'd like to teach Defence Against the Dark Arts please and Professor Dumbledore felt that it might bring out the worst in Professor Snape, so Dumbledore said: "I think we'll let you teach potions and see how you get along there."
Q. Who's your favorite character besides Harry Potter?
A. It's very hard to choose. It's fun to write about Snape because he's a deeply horrible person. Hagrid is someone I'd love to meet.
Q. Do you have favorite characters?
A. I really like Snape. I mean, I wouldn’t want to have a dinner with him, but as a character he’s great because he’s complicated and quite nasty. I love Dumbledore. I love Hagrid. I really like Sirius because he’s a troubled adult and there may be a slight dearth in some children’s literature of adult characters who are allowed to be complex or have problems. It’s hard actually to name the characters I don’t like. Because if I didn’t like a character as a character I just wouldn’t use them.
Q. (Ernie): I wonder if you can let us know what form will Professor Snape's Boggart and Patronus take? I am very curious.
A. Well, I'm not going to tell you Ernie, but that's because it would give so much away. I wonder whether Ernie is your real name? (It was my grandfather's).
Q. Why specifically does Dumbledore trust Snape?
A. Another excellent and non-answerable question. I shall merely say that Snape has given Dumbledore his story and Dumbledore believes it.
Q. Is there a link between Snape and vampires?
A. Erm... I don't think so.
So, all the Snape lovers and the rest of you, your comments!
(j/k)
. But I belive his bad side is why I love him too 
). Snape probably had loosy parents (there was something in the books about them) and that affected him so badly. It is not 
What? 
