Editing Severus Snape (section)

===Magical abilities and skills===
All seven novels show Snape to be a very powerful wizard and to have been outstanding while a student. He specialises in potion making and has talent and passion for the Dark Arts. Sirius claimed that Snape knew more hexes and curses as a first-year student at Hogwarts than most seventh-years knew.<ref name="Padfoot Returns">{{HPref|book=4|chapter=27}}</ref> Particularly gifted in potion making, Snape added major improvements to his Potions textbook while still a student. 

Also as a student, Snape shows a rare gift for discovering new spells. Lupin describes [[Sectumsempra]] as Snape's "speciality" in ''Deathly Hallows.''<ref name="Fallen Warrior">{{Cite Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows|chapter=5}}</ref> Snape is shown using this spell as a teenager against Harry's father James<ref name="Snape's Worst Memory" /> and in the aerial battle in the last novel when he accidentally hits [[George Weasley]] (acting as a Potter decoy) with it while actually aiming for a Death Eater who was trying to attack Lupin, permanently severing George's right ear. Despite Sectumsempra's deadly power, Snape can also heal the wounds it causes.<ref name="Sectumsempra" /> Snape is adept at reversing or containing potentially fatal damage from other dark curses as well, due to his vast knowledge of Dark Arts, as he does when Dumbledore<ref name="The Prince's Tale" /> and then [[Katie Bell (Harry Potter)|Katie Bell]]<ref name="The Secret Riddle">{{HPref|book=6|chapter=13}}</ref> are cursed.

Skil<!-- Yes, there is only one 'l' in skilful in British English, which we use in this page-->ful in the arts of [[Legilimency]] and especially [[Occlumency]], Snape is able to both access the minds of others and protect his own thoughts—indeed, though Snape does not care for the term himself, Harry forms the uncomfortable impression early in the series that the Potions Master is able to "read minds." Being an Occlumens, Snape is able to keep his betrayal from Voldemort, who is himself described as being "the greatest Legilimens" in history.<ref name="Spinner's End" /> According to Rowling, Snape is the only Death Eater capable of producing a full [[Patronus Charm|Patronus]], which, like Lily's, is a doe.<ref name="Bloomsbury chat" /> 

Snape is a talented duellist, able to hold off by himself (if only briefly) a group of three Hogwarts professors that included former duelling champion [[Filius Flitwick]]. Professor McGonagall later implies that Snape learned to fly without the use of a broom, a rare skill previously displayed only by Voldemort.<ref name="The Sacking of Severus Snape" />