Considering Snape’s love for Lily Evans and somehow similar looks that Harry and Snape share (the black hair, thin stature), some people may get confused about Harry’s ancestry.
Even though in the books there were a lot of instances when other characters told Harry he looks like his father, James, there are people who speculate if Snape is Harry’s father.
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Is Harry the Son of Snape?
Harry is not the son of Snape. Many characters throughout the books claim to have known Harry’s parents and repeatedly tell him that he looks just like his father, except for the eyes which he got from his mother.
In the first book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, when Harry looked into the Mirror of Erised, he recognized his parents without seeing them beforehand.
The resemblance between Harry and his father was there, and we assume that if Harry could see it, others who knew Harry’s father could see it also. Therefore, there could be no mistake who Harry’s father was.
There is also the part where Sirius is Harry’s godfather. Wouldn’t he be privy to the truth about Harry’s parentage?
The narrator also mentions Harry’s father, and it is never Snape. Throughout the seven books, there is not one hint at the possibility of Snape being Harry’s father.
We can only speculate if that was the case, wouldn’t that be a rather surprising and important plot twist?
And the most important in our opinion moment, when Snape came to beg Dumbledore to help save Lily, Dumbledore mentions her son, and Snape seems indifferent to the baby.
“If she means so much to you,” said Dumbledore, “surely Lord Voldemort will spare her? Could you not ask for mercy for the mother, in exchange for the son?”
“I have – I have asked him-“
Indeed, in our opinion, if Snape were Harry’s father, he would not be indifferent to him.
Why do People Think Snape is Harrys Father?
People imagine that because Severus Snape loved Lily Evans, Harry could be Snape’s son.
The truth is that although Lily and Severus were best friends before attending Hogwarts, and for many years while at school, they had an argument, and Lily refused to be Snape’s friend anymore.
Although we don’t know for sure, because there is no mention of it, we can imagine Snape wondering what it would be like to be Harry’s father. He loved Lily Evans even after turning her back on him and getting married to his worst school enemy.
Is Snape Related to Harry?
Some fans believe that Snape is related to Harry and Voldemort because of The Tale of Three Brothers, which explains the three gifts the brothers received from Death.
Tom Riddle, as the oldest, wanted the Wand to be unbeatable. Snape, the middle one, wanted the stone to bring back his love. And finally, Harry, the youngest, wanted to go unnoticed under the Invisibility Cloak.
And in reality, there is a chance for Harry to be related to the youngest Peverell brother. And there is also a chance of Voldemort and Snape being descendants of the other brothers.
The Peverell blood runs through many wizarding families, and there is a chance, that the three wizards, Harry, Snape, and Voldemort share the connection.
It would mean that Snape could be related to Harry, if not directly, then through common ancestry.
Who is the Real Father of Harry?
James Potter is Harry’s real father. Plenty of characters mention to Harry that he looks just like James. The messy black hair and the glasses are the common traits that are mentioned the most.
Even Harry, who doesn’t remember his father, can recognize James Potter without any doubts in the Mirror of Erised. We can all agree that Harry’s heart would not lie to him and show him his real father.
Final Thoughts
Even though lots of people believe that Snape is secretly Harry’s father, this is not true. Snape is not Harry’s father, as all the evidence suggests.
We could assume that because James and Snape were enemies at Hogwarts, and James ended up marrying Snape’s first and only love, Snape could wish Harry was his son instead.
However, this is never mentioned anywhere in the books or by J.K. Rowling, and it is purely speculation on our part because sometimes, we are helpless romantics!