What loving Severus Snape taught me about myself

It’s Villain Week here at Mashable. In honor of the release of Venom, we’re celebrating all our favorite evildoers from film and TV all week long. Spooky, scary!

I remember the precise moment I finally understood my dark fascination with Professor Snape — that greasy-haired, hook-nosed, black billowing robe of terror who stalked the halls of Hogwarts.

The Occlumency lessons with Harry backfired for the first time in Order of the Phoenix, and suddenly we were in Snape’s memories. And for the first time, I glimpsed the boy that would grow into the terrifying Potions Master:

It was just a passing image, but my throat clenched, breath caught. Because here was this scene I’d seen play out so many times in my own life. And an experience I never imagined I shared in common with the foreboding, formidable man I thought I knew after four lengthy books. Read more…

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