A Love so Tender

Those who have not yet read the last book of the Potter series should not go through this write-up either. This contains a spoiler – a wonderfully pleasant surprise; but a spoiler nonetheless. Those who do not care for Harry's feats would do well to skip this as well, for it would make little or no sense to them.
But the obsessed fans who have read every line of the book thrice over will understand as soon as the conversation points to Severus Snape. My friend and I spent three hours straight just discussing this character from all angles, and we are still to come to terms with the latest revelations concerning him.
Severus Snape, since his very introduction, is a character that every reader views with the deepest hatred and loathing. He is nothing much to look at, with his greasy hair, hooked nose and cold black eyes. His unfairness and cruelty surpass his ugliness – on their first meeting, he deliberately humiliates Harry. As the potions master, his willfulness knows no bounds: right from needlessly berating clever Hermione; handing out detentions galore to students of other houses and favoring his own; threatening to poison them and taking away their privileges at the slightest chance.
His hatred of Harry makes the latter begin to have a fear for the very subject that he teaches. Their personal relations keep deteriorating, as Snape seems to take so much pleasure in torturing Harry. As the stories of the legendary rivalry between Snape and Harry's father come to light, we begin to understand Snape's aversion to the younger, popular version of his enemy. But there is no limit to Snape's ruthlessness and sadistic tendencies – as soon as a wicked smile begins to lurk in his face, it bodes trouble.
The childish enmity turns into full fledged battle in the sixth book, when Harry learns that it was Snape who sold his parents to the evil dark Lord Voldemort. Even after that crime, the beloved headmaster Dumbledore offers him a second chance and allows his to work as a spy for their side. As the omnipotent Dumbledore trusts him, we grudgingly agree that there might be a chunk of goodness within this monster. But no. In a seemingly unforgivable act of double-crossing, Snape mercilessly murders Dumbledore and scampers off to the veil side, a tainted and besmirched individual. I know how many readers would have loved to get their hands on him; I would have been right at front.
In the seventh book, Snape's atrocities increase. He not only takes over as a tyrannical headmaster; but also curses off the ear of a much-loved character. Our repulsion rises thousand fold and we long for him to be dead until he abruptly dies – confessing such secrets to Harry that in one instant, he claims his position as the hero of the pack.
And here lies the skill of the marvelous author. Until the very end, she does not give out even a subtle hint about the sacrifice of Snape. We learn that he has, in fact, been striving to protect Harry since sixteen years, as a token of his unrequited love to Harry's mother. With not a care for personal safety, he dares to fool even the sinister Lord Vodlemort while remaining faithful to Dumbledore – and killing him on his own orders.
This revelation is so amazingly crafted, so well-hidden: it is unquestionably the most beautiful romance in the book. The efforts of an impoverished, clever boy who cares deeply and unconditionally for one girl all his life and dies to keep her son safe bring about a tremendous wave up sympathy. It is touching beyond explanation.
I was truly ashamed for my earlier negative vibes – in retrospect, every meanness of Snape is overshadowed by his greatness. And when Harry names his son Severus after the brave personality, it is a fitting honor. For a magnificently conceived and executed character that disguises a love so tender.