Editing Severus Snape (section)

===Loyalties===
Snape's true loyalty was one of the most significant questions in the series up until the end of the final instalment, ''Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows''. Although the first five novels depict him as unfair and vindictive towards Harry and his friends, he invariably ends up protecting or otherwise helping them when they or their allies are in danger. Several characters express doubts about his loyalty, but Dumbledore's trust in him is generally taken to be the final word. Curiously, the same thing appears to happen in the opposite side, when we see how Bellatrix Lestrange mistrust Snape and only the word of Voldemort seems to protect him from the suspicions of the other death-eaters.<ref name="Spinner's End"/> The sixth novel, ''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince]]'', departs from that model. In the second chapter, Snape claims to have been working for Voldemort ever since the latter's return, and only pretending to help Dumbledore.<ref name="Spinner's End"/> By killing Dumbledore toward the end of the novel, Snape seems to place himself firmly in Voldemort's camp.<ref name="The Lightning-Struck Tower"/> Rowling maintains this impression through the early chapters of the seventh novel. However, near the climax of the book, Snape leaves Harry his dying thoughts (to be viewed in the Pensieve) and ultimately reveals to Harry that he had been loyal to Albus Dumbledore throughout the series.<ref name="The Prince's Tale" /> Snape's fierce devotion to and love of his childhood friend Lily, Harry's mother, is the foundation of that loyalty.<ref name="The Prince's Tale"/>

After ''Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince'', Snape's loyalty was a matter of intense debate among the fans. The issue was given special attention in the marketing campaigns on behalf of the last book, ''Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows''. "Is Snape Good or Evil?" was one of the questions in [[Scholastic Corporation|Scholastic Inc]].'s seven-question series, part of its marketing campaign for the book.<ref>{{cite web |title = Scholastic asks "Is Snape Good or Evil?" |url = http://www.hpana.com/news.19880.html |date = 1 May 2007 |access-date = 18 March 2008 |archive-date = 20 August 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080820035306/http://www.hpana.com/news.19880.html |url-status = live }}</ref> As part of the [[Waldenbooks]] marketing campaign, two free stickers, one that said "Trust Snape" and another that stated "Snape Is A Very Bad Man" were available with the book. [[Borders (retailer)|Borders]] published a separate book on the topic, ''The Great Snape Debate,'' containing essays and arguments from both sides of the debate.<ref>{{cite web |title = Severus Snape: Friend or Foe? |url = http://www.bordersmedia.com/harrypotter/snapepanel/default.asp |access-date = 18 March 2008 |archive-date = 25 March 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080325041331/http://www.bordersmedia.com/harrypotter/snapepanel/default.asp |url-status = usurped }} Link includes video.</ref><ref>{{cite web |title = The Great Snape Debate – Borders Exclusive |url = http://www.bordersstores.com/search/title_detail.jsp?id=56815939 |access-date = 18 March 2008 |archive-date = 20 February 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080220003939/http://www.bordersstores.com/search/title_detail.jsp?id=56815939 |url-status = live }}</ref>