On January 14, 2016, both the Muggle and Wizarding World lost an icon, Alan Rickman. Alan Rickman was an amazing actor in many performances, both on screen and on stage. He is most known as the man behind the iconic portrayal of everyone's favorite "villain" Professor Severus Snape.
After the first Harry Potter movie, he quickly became a fan favorite (even if they hated to admit it). Alan Rickman took on the persona as Professor Snape to a whole new level, and along the way, he and his character taught us lessons on love, bravery, good versus bad, and life. Alan Rickman will not be forgotten, for he took a once fictional character, and brought him to life.
Alan Rickman taught us what love is, how it's loved, and what it's like to be loved. Throughout so many different occasions, he showed us that true love never dies.
He taught us that when you love someone, that love doesn't just exist between the two of you...it exists between the two of you and everyone else you have relations with.
He taught us that just because you don't like someone, it doesn't mean that you don't love them. Alan Rickman brought a character to life who loved in a way that was so strong, many will never experience it. The character himself had a huge heart but did not receive love in return. Alan Rickman took this character and gave him an audience who fell in love with him.
He taught us that you never truly know someone until they choose to reveal themselves to you. You can know someone for your whole life, but never truly know them. He showed us that people put up walls and that they're guarded and they have reasons for it.
Alan taught us that when someone wants to open up to you, that they will...but until then, you have no idea what's truly going on inside.
He taught us that good and bad isn't as simple as it sounds. It's not black and white; there are gray areas. The people who you may think are bad can have the biggest hearts, and the people you think are good have evil flowing within them.
He taught us that doing the right thing might not always seem like it's the right thing to do.
He taught us that when doing the right thing, people will talk and judge you without knowing your reasons for it.
He taught us that in the face of adversity, to stick to what you know and good will follow.
He taught us that loyalty is everything. Despite not liking Harry and his friends, Snape protected them throughout the series because of his fierce loyalty to Dumbledore and Lily. He was so fiercely dedicated to Dumbledore that he allowed the whole Wizarding World turn against him just so he wouldn't break his promise to Dumbledore.
He taught us that if you love someone, you remain loyal to them. Even after death.
Thank you, Alan Rickman, for teaching us all of these lessons, even if it was through a character. Thank you for being dedicated to making Harry Potter a reality. Thank you for being you. You'll be in our hearts forever.
"Always"
