When, why, and how did you become a Snape fan?

When? I didn't immediately like Severus, and I don't even remember exactly when that changed eighter, it happened more gradually.
Why? A man surrounded by antique bottles and parchments, with a dark voice and mysterious personality, black robes, dangerous look. Passionate, devoted. But aside from the obvious, I just don't know, still don't know, I think I'll never know. The only thing I truly know is that I loved that character more than most people in my life, and I don't need an explanation or proof for that.

This is going to be TMI, but you asked for it :D

I first started reading the HP books at a really horrible time in my life, just after one of my best friends died of a heart attack at only 29 years old. I was feeling angry and bitter and depressed, and a friend decided to cheer me up by recommending HP to me because the series had once helped her through a difficult time. Long story short I eventually picked up The Sorcerer's Stone and oddly enough, as I read about Harry's first potions class, I felt an instant kinship with Snape. I knew I was supposed to hate him because he was mean to Harry and was constantly doing things that made him look like a villain, but something about his anger and bitterness and sense of loneliness called out to me. As hard as I tried to see him as a bad guy, it wasn't long before I loved everything about him - his snarkiness, his mystery, his brilliance, his brokenness, his loneliness, the layers of pain and regret he kept tightly locked behind an apathetic expression... I loved all of it.

As much as I adored Harry and all the other characters, the truth is that by the time I read OotP, Snape's journey was the one that mattered most to me. I kept thinking, "I know there's a story there! No one is that closed off without some tragic reason behind it." I was so worried that Rowling would never tell his whole story or that he'd simply end up being as evil as he sometimes seemed.

When I finished reading DH and his beautiful, heart-wrenching story was finally revealed, I felt real joy for the first time in months. Just as I had hoped, he was a hero all along and I couldn't stop crying as I read his memories over and over again, smiling through my tears every time my eyes lit on the word "always". I felt ridiculous for getting so emotionally involved in a fictional character's life, but he felt so real to me, like a friend that had come along to comfort me and commiserate just when I needed him most.

I know that at the end of the day, Severus Snape is just a character in a book, but to the ones who are broken and hurting and seeking redemption...he's real for us :) I'll always be thankful to Rowling for that.

I became a Snape fan when I was nine, when I first read the books when they came out. As for how and why... I read the books. At first I just thought he was funny, but as he developed more I realized I could connect to him, relate to him, and that there was a lot more to him than met the eye.

I always like him a little, then liked him more in "the order of the pheonix" (snapes worst memory) and then he became my favorite character in the last book "Harry Potter and the deathly hallows".

I agree the way he treats Ron and Harry in class is hysterical :)

I started liking Snape in Dec '09 during a viewing of PoA during an HP marathon on ABC Family. I don't know what it was about him; he was so slinky and snarky. Then I read all the books shortly thereafter. I thought he was one of the most complex characters Rowling created, and I couldn't shut up about him. Happily, I came across this site not too long ago, and it's great reading comments from other obsessed fans. I do remember that when I reserved a copy of the book DH that Borders was handing out stickers w/ the choice of either "Trust Snape" or "Snape is a bad man." I'm glad I went w/my gut and chose the "trust Snape" one.

When I read the first book. I was 11 and loved villains - I loved him more when, at the end of the book, it turned out he wasn't one.

The very, very first time I saw Severus on film. See, I started with the movies, and three HP book-fans telling me everything was wrong. I loved the Potions Master from the very first second he was on screen. There was just something about those dark eyes, that black hair, those black clothes, and that look, then that voice...oh my Gods, I get wound up just thinking about it. <3 <3

I always knew there was more to that man than what we saw. Once I started reading the books, I was even more sure of it, and him.

He came into my life when I was at the lowest I had ever been, shortly after my Mother died, and he was there for me when my Father died. He's helped me through some of the roughest patches in my life, and I'll always love him.

(nene) I'm one of the older HP fans. The 1st book was sent as a gift from a slightly clueless friend of my partner to my first child. She'd been born the previous year. I of course read it. I thought it was ok, until almost halfway through the book, when I reached the part with the 1st potions class. My interest was piqued when Harry said Snape didn't dislike him, he hated him. I thought: here we go, he's definitely the villain. I was all ready to dislike him. And then Snape did his introductory speech. His words as well as the description of how he spoke just grabbed my attention. I was hooked. He was very obviously one of the bad guys, but I didn't want him to be. Once I finished the 1st book I couldn't wait to get my hands on the second, just to find out more about Snape.

I've always loved Severus. I automatically felt a sort of a connection to him. Being the bad guy in everyones eyes, and people not seeing what he really was. Plus we have the same sarcastic personality.

Through out the entire series I found myself defending him from the characters in the book and the people in real life. I thought that his actions weren't cruel, or unjustified, they were understandable.

When the half blood prince came out, I was initially curious. It became apparent that his relationship with Dumbledore was much more complex then we had ever seen.

But when he killed him, it mentally rattled me. I mean I had defended him right? Had said all through the series that he was good, but he did it.

I didn't hate him though, he was still my favorite, but a bad guy, not as good as I thought he was.

Through DH I was reading intently to see what I would discover about him, because their were so many loose ends that needed to be fixed.

His death destroyed me! I was so upset.

And the prince's tale made me cry and go I told you so I the same time

I LOVE him!!!!

I didn't immediatly like him, but I always find a way to look at the story through the villains eyes. Yeah, I couldn't do that with him. Because I didn't know his history. But I sorta liked him because I like most villains, and because he acts like me on a bad day. (Smirk) When he killed DumbleDore, I fell into a state of depression and wouldn't watch the movie or read the books at all for months. I finally recovered but developed a deep loathing for Snape. I literally started ranting about how disgusting he was, and what a sick and twisted mind he had. I was mad. But, I was impressed by his impressive potions book. I felt a small bit of respect for him. But, I became a pure Snape fan in Deathly Hallows. That took the cake. I read the beggining of The Prince's tale, and BAM! Instant Snape fan! Because guess what? I finally knew his history! (Happy dance)And SnapeXLily sucked me in deeper. I then became a Harry Potter hater, because he was the son Snape could never have. And when I watched the movie...... My tears filled up the theater. Yes, his memories shocked me even more than the book memories. I became silent for the rest of the week in a state of shock. When I finally did speak, this is what I said. "....SNAPE IS AWESOME!" And so I became a empty husk of my former awesome self, and became a mindless drone servant for Snape. My obsession for Snape grew and grew, along with my love of SnapeXLily. I began writing stories about Snape, talking about Snape, and.... THINKING ABOUT SNAPE! I admit it. I have become a crazed fangirl who has a humongous amount of love for all things Snape. But you normal mortals and Snape haters? Look out. My army of fangirls are building up. And we'll launch war on you. (Evil laugh)

I have liked Snape throughout all the movies (I don't read the books XD).
I always thought he was awesome.
But after watching the Deathly Hallows part 2, he IMMEDIATELY became my fave character!

I saw the movies before the books...

One day I saw Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone. I thought Snape has this dark aura (duur) but I never thought he's bad or something...

I was in 1st or 2nd grade, I guess. :)

It was love at first sight. :)

All I remember was I was 3 so it must have been 2001 and I just plainly liked his character and personality