Severus Snape is one of the most notable names of my generation. We grew up with a deep seated hatred of this man that few others could surpass. On June 26, 1997 Joanne Rowling opened up a new world to children. She masterfully wove together a magical tale that grabbed hold of the world. For ten years, we grew up with the best of friends and the worst of enemies- among the most memorable was the slimy Severus Snape. But on July 21, 2007 Queen Rowling dropped a bomb that would change everything. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the last book was published, and in it Rowling has put a great secret- the full backstory of Snape. Suddenly, Snape is no villain, only a scorned lover. You all know how he madly loved Lily Evans, but she choose his archenemy James Potter. And you know that he pleaded with the Dark Lord to spare her life, and risked everything by going to Dumbledore in a vain effort to save her. You also know that, while he hated Harry for the sins of his father, he repeatedly saved Harry because Snape still loved his mother.

When Rowling revealed this, the Snily cult was born. Even for those who did not support the Snape-Lily relationship found a new love for Snape. In his single-word declaration of love, we forgave him. We even loved him. We tattooed "Always" onto our bodies. He became the great symbol of unrelenting, sacrificial love, and I think that is heartbreaking.

I'm not going to regale you with all of Snape's sins. You know them. And I commend Rowling for turning one of the most despised characters into one of the most loved characters in a few simply pages, but I believe the love and obsession with Severus Snape reveals some serious problems with our perception of love.

Snape's famous line, "always" declares his unyielding love for Lily, and he dies ensuring that her killer will see justice, but this is not love. He obsessed over Lily. He stalked Lily. He was unable to control his emotions. If they had not been friends, if his obsession had been over a different woman, we would be appalled by his behavior. We would cry harassment and stalking, and we would label him a predator. Love does not do this. Love does not hold on for 17 years. Love grieves, and love heals. Love does not lash out at boy because of jealousy for his father. Love does enjoy not tormenting students day after day.

I wonder if the reason so many people admire Snape's obsession is because they want to be the object of such passionate, furious desire. Imagine if your crush loved you like Snape loved Lily. At first glance, it would be heaven. The constant attention, the over-protectiveness, the incredible feeling of being the sun that somebody's world revolved around. I cannot pretend not to understand the appeal. But look closer. Look at the rage and pride. When Lily came to his defense, Severus called her a mudblood because his pride was wounded. Love would have rejoiced at her help, because love is humble. When James shows Lily affection, Snape does not trust Lily enough to let her make her own decisions. He does not believe she can see the who James really is. He is trying to control her friendships already. Were they dating, he would have becoming horribly controlling. I doubt she would be let our of his site, and if she was, it would only be with those Snape approved of.

I am not trying to villainize Snape. He is a complicated character, and he was not evil. But he was unhealthy. And yet, for some reason, he has become idolized for his ability to love. To come extent every scorend lover can relate to Snape, and every romantic girl can lst for him, but that doesn't change the fact that he is extremely unhealthy. We need to reconsider what we want out of our friends and family. We need remember that love is about serving, not taking. If I love somebody, it should not be because they idolize me, or the obsess over me. It is because I have desire to build them up and they do the same for me.