Real People Who Inspired Timeless Fictional Characters

The Inspiration Behind Severus Snape Was A Real Professor

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While J.K. Rowling was writing the character of Severus Snape for the Harry Potter series, she drew inspiration from someone she personally knew. The somewhat dark, yet ultimately misunderstood potions master was based on her former chemistry teacher, John Nettleship.

By the time the series was popular, people who knew Rowling and Nettleship began asking if there was a connection. She eventually admitted her inspiration to Nettleship who eventually came to love the character and say that he was proud to be the inspiration. Hopefully, he read the books to know the true nature of Severus Snape.