Alan Rickman, Severus Snape, died aged 69

By Rutuja Kulkarni 3 min read

It was one of those moments in life- where your monotonous routine comes to a grinding halt, and all you can do is stare at the news- your mind being unable to process what feels like a ton of bricks being dropped on you. And just like that, I am eleven years old, bobbing along the cinema hall excitedly, waiting for my friends to show up, so we’d go catch the newest Harry Potter- finally ending our hopeless parroting- much to the relief of my family.

My reverie is broken of course, by my sister, who stands right next to me, hand over heart and a pool of tears in her eyes. She looks at me, and I at her, and an unspoken understanding, reassuring each other, ensue.

To me, he’ll always be Severus Snape.

He’ll always be that riveting Potions Master we first met at Hogwarts, who looked at everyone and everything as if it were beneath him to spare even a second upon their wasteful life. He’ll always be that Professor who was snarky and prejudiced, and somehow always aware of the chaos around him, and a not so silent spectator to it, after all. He’ll always be the voice in my head, as the hair on my arms rise in the chill of his threatening tone. He’ll always be the deceptive hero that stayed faithful to his cause- his love – despite the wounds it caused to his ego. He’ll always be the man, that will come to mind every time the word ‘always’, is spoken of.

Because, if you know Severus Snape like I do, you know that no one but Alan Rickman could have done justice to the beloved character, and have left behind what can only be called a legacy. No one.

I’m deeply sad that he’s no more, and all my prayers are with his family.

He’s often famously quoted for saying , “If people want to know who I am, it’s all in the work.” And, I very much hope that it’s true, because that’s how this Harry Potter crazed, goody two shoes, avid reader/fangirl will remember him- someone who played a character so flawed and feisty, skilled yet sensitive, scared and scarred, and above all- loyal, till the end of time. A character that was to be ‘villainous’ and unlikeable, turned into one of the most loved characters in the history of film- and this remarkable accomplishment is all his doing!

“When I’m eighty years old, and sitting in my rocking chair, I’ll be reading Harry Potter, and my family will say, ‘After all this time?’, and I will say, ‘Always’.”, he once said- melting hearts of every single person who has ever loved Harry Potter.

So, I raise my wand to you, and I bid you goodbye. Thanking you, I hope you are in a better place- a meadow perhaps, a beautiful green lot, of course, with a bed of lilies somewhere between it.

Alan Rickman

1946 —Always

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Rutuja Kulkarni

She has been writing since 6 years of age and is passionate about writing articles, poetry, reviews and rants. She's an avid reader, and loves debating upon issues- fictional or otherwise. She's a feminist, which she believes makes her life hard, but she wouldn't have it any other way. She hopes to meet Tina Fey someday and is a pizza lover!