Okay. I am still up in the air about this one. But essentially I think that Severus is not as evil as he purported to be. Bitter. Yes. But truly evil, well I am still out on that one. But I don't really think so. And I am a dyed in the wool Gryffindor! I do have to agree that having Alan Rickman play him was an absolute stroke of brilliance on the part of casting. I have been a Rickman fan forever and noone could have played the part better. Like with Dumbledore, Gambon is okay but Richard Harris truly had the Dumbledore twinkle in his eye. This guys eyes are dead and flat. Now Lucius on the other hand.....Now thats EVIL incarnate, but Snape no not really.