A HOMAGE TO PROFESSOR SNAPE ALAN RICKMAN: REST IN

PEACE, YOU WILL BE REMEMBERED

Dear Professor Snape,

Its been a shit week. First David Bowie and now? Sigh.

How am I supposed to articulate my feelings when I literally just screamed FUCK YOU at my laptop after
reading the news?

I guess lets start over like this

Dear Professor Snape,

You dont know me, but I know you. I know you very well.

Nine years ago we cried our eyeballs out as we read of your death for the very first time. Simultaneously we
find out the trouble you took in making sure our hero would always be safe. Four years after this you made us
cry again when you passed away on the silver screen. And now? A third time This time for real. No fantasy,
no magic, no script, no joke. All this after you made us fall in love with you.

Harry Potter wasnt truly the hero. It was you and Professor Dumbledore working behind the scenes to ensure
the defeat of the Dark Lord. How much have you sacrificed for Harry? For us? Not only did you help protect
the Wizarding World (even if it were mostly because of a special someone), you neglected to mention you
were a great muggle-metamorphagus. Who knew?

You outraged us when you shapeshifted as Sheriff of Nottingham, awed us as Rasputin, got us to sing in
Sweeney Todd, broke our hearts in Love, Actually, made my young girl-muggle feelings all confused in Truly,
Madly, Deeply, and won us over as who you are. The person you never wanted to become, your alter ego
beloved, enigmatic Alan Rickman.

Even when you went undercover in the muggle world as Alan, you couldnt completely shed off some of your
best qualities. You kept Miss Rowlings plans about the outcome of the war for many years in order to give us
the best print-to-screen adaptation fans could wish for. As Alan, you bravely fought your battles and never
once mentioned how sick and in pain you were. Only a true Severus Snape could be so gallant.

People loved to hate you. When the first book came out, I, too, was guilty of judging your angstiness. By
Chamber of Secrets, I wanted to grab a hardcopy of Advanced-Potion Making and hit that ungrateful git Harry
on the head. Now well never get to see you do it yourself

Professor, whether you wanted to or not, you taught me and so many other bumbling idiots that not everything
is black and white. Sometimes there is a grey area, and sometimes that grey outshines the brightest of colors.

You taught us nerds can be cool. You taught us that love is true, lasting, and that THERE IS such a thing as
forever. (His patronus changed into a deer for goblins sake)

You taught me redemption is possible. That we are not and should not be encompassed nor haunted by our past
mistakes. That we dont need others to affirm our atonement in other for it to be real and valid. From your
story I have learned anyone can be worthy of forgiveness if we only give ourselves in full

Perhaps that is why we are so bewitched by you. Because we see ourselves in the tragic knight in you. We see
ourselves as the bullied kid seduced by the darkness, falling face-first into it, and having the will to step into
 A HOMAGE TO PROFESSOR SNAPE ALAN RICKMAN: REST IN
PEACE, YOU WILL BE REMEMBERED

the light again. Professor Snape? Mr. Rickman? No one elses kindness, generosity, charm, and bad assery
could ever compare to you both.

There will never be another Severus Snape, never a better Colonel Brandon, never a talented performer such as
you.

Woe is the man who has to live up to your brilliant name and legacy. You are a bloody fucking legend, and
now you greet death like an old friend once more; for the last time as the curtains close.

So cheers, professor. Tonight I will hold my butterbeer high and my wand proud, despite the snot dribbling
down my face, because you are my childhood hero.

Cheers for the laughter.

Cheers for the anger, entertainment, education, heartache, bittersweet nostalgia.

Cheers for the strength and hope strength to rise like a phoenix, and hope we have the capacity to save
ourselves from our demons and do some good for the world instead.

Most importantly, cheers for joining us on those nights our noses were buried in pages (394) transported by
portkey into one plot-twisted adventure after another.

From your students, Slytherin, Hupplepuff, Ravenclaw, and Gryffindor alike we thank you for the magic.

Rest in peace, Professor Snape. You are loved, cherished, and will be remembered.

Always.