Snape and Lily were childhood friends, and Snape’s lifelong love for Lily became central to why he later protected Harry. Harry is Lily’s son, so Snape’s feelings for Lily directly shaped his complicated relationship with Harry.

How they connect

  • Snape and Lily : They grew up near each other and were close before Hogwarts, where their friendship eventually broke apart.
  • Lily and Harry : Lily is Harry’s mother, and her sacrifice protected Harry from Voldemort.
  • Snape and Harry : Snape spent years helping protect Harry, not because he liked Harry personally, but because of his love for Lily and regret over what happened to her.

The important twist

Snape’s Patronus was a doe, the same as Lily’s, which symbolized his enduring love for her. Harry later says Snape loved Lily for nearly all of his life, which is why Snape’s actions toward Harry were so tied to Lily’s memory.

In simple terms

The connection is this: Lily was the bridge between Snape and Harry. Snape loved Lily, Lily was Harry’s mother, and that is why Snape’s story keeps circling back to Harry.