JK Rowling Defends Harry Potter Naming His Son After Severus Snape

“Harry paid him tribute in forgiveness and gratitude,” best-selling author tells fans on Twitter

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Warner Bros

J.K. Rowling has had to answer — again — for why her beloved “Harry Potter” series ended with the boy wizard naming one of his sons after Professor Severus Snape, his greatest frenemy.

“Why did you pick Snape to name Harry’s kid after? I’m genuinely curious as he was nothing but abusive towards everyone,” said one Twitter user, prompting the author’s reply on Friday, which involved the seeming villain’s affection for the boy wizard’s late mother, Lily.

“Snape died for Harry out of love for Lily. Harry paid him tribute in forgiveness and gratitude,” she said on Twitter. She later added, “There’s a whole essay in why Harry gave his son Snape’s name, but the decision goes to the heart of who Harry was, post-war.”

In the epilogue to the final “Harry Potter” book, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” it was revealed that Harry had grown up and named one of his sons Albus Severus, after both his beloved Professor Albus Dumbledore and the slightly less beloved Snape.

Snape has both passionate defenders and detractors among “Harry Potter” fans. He had a long-undercover con as Dumbledore’s right-hand man and double agent working to undermine evil Voldemort, but he also was renowned for his ill treatment of Harry and his friends.

Rowling also debunked a popular fan theory that Snape acted cruelly toward Harry as part of his cover, not out of any genuine hatred for the boy.

“Snape projected his hatred and jealousy of James onto Harry,” she said, alluding to Harry’s father.

Rowling concluded the spontaneous Snape debate by acknowledging how long it’s been going on.

“I’ve got to say this: you lot have been arguing about Snape for years,” she said. “My timeline just exploded with love & fury yet again. Never change x”

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