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Was Severus Snape more powerful than Voldemort in Harry Potter?

By Callum Gunn

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Image Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc

Voldemort is viewed as the most powerful wizard in Harry Potter, but that title should really be given to Professor Severus Snape.

When you think about powerful wizards, especially in the Harry Potter universe, you will likely put Voldemort at the top of the list. After all, the Dark Lord was the big threat. He was viewed as someone who only Harry Potter himself could stop.

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Yet, when you look at the universe in detail, you’ll find that Severus is the one who actually should take that top spot. While he may not have stopped the Dark Lord (prophecy and all that), he was extremely powerful. He did trick Voldemort into thinking he was a Death Eater, right?

Severus Snape was the Half-Blood Prince

From a young age, Severus Snape was always extremely powerful. He nicknamed himself the Half-Blood Prince during his time at Hogwarts. When Harry picked up Severus’ potions book, the one Severus had made a series of corrections to all the potions to make sure they worked. This allowed Harry to excel at potions in his sixth year.

Nobody else had made these corrections. At least, nobody that we’ve seen. There’s no suggestion that Voldemort ever realized the incorrect amounts and ingredients in textbooks, making it clear that Severus was ahead of his time even as a student.

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Performing unforgivable curses without wanting to 

In Harry’s fourth year, Moody tells them that they could attempt to kill him with the use of the Avada Kedavra curse, but they wouldn’t be successful. Bellatrix even confirms that to use an unforgivable curse successfully, someone has to mean it. Yet, Severus Snape managed it without wanting to kill someone deep down.

"“Avada Kedavra’s a curse that needs a powerful bit of magic behind it — you could all get your wands out and point them at me and say the words, and I doubt I’d get so much as a nosebleed.“"

I’m talking about Dumbledore. Albus knew that he would need to die and he had told Severus that he had to be the one to do it. Of course, Severus was on Dumbledore’s side at this time, but needed to make it look like he was on Voldemort’s side and needed to protect Draco at the same time.

Without really wanting to, he killed Dumbledore with the Avada Kadavra curse. The full intent wasn’t there, but it looked like it, showing the extent of his powers and abilities.

Image Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc

Ability to cloud his mind

Severus made it clear that powerful wizards would need to put blocks up against their memories and thoughts. He even trained Harry in how to do it, albeit unsuccessfully. Although it was questionable if there was any point to this.

After all, Voldemort had been able to get past everyone else’s blocks. He was the most accomplished at Legilimency. No one could prevent Voldemort from looking inside their mind. Expect Snape. This shows Severus’ abilities against the Dark Lord, making it clear that Severus was the more superior of the two.

But Voldemort still killed Severus

Despite all this, Voldemort was still able to kill Severus. Does that prove Voldemort was actually the better wizard?

This really depends on how you measure power. Voldemort was the stronger of the two. He was a better dueler and had more strength. Yet, Severus was smarter and more capable in the way of duality. You even argue that Snape knew that he could not defeat Voldemort. He was aware of the prophecy, therefore, allowed Voldemort to kill him. Once again proving that Snape is the more powerful of the two.

Next: 7 Severus Snape facts you might not be aware of

Do you think Severus was more powerful than Voldemort? Who was the stronger wizard in your eyes? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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