I haven’t always considered the man I now call my father a hero.  In fact, I used to hate him.  Why?  I’m not entirely sure, maybe because he never liked me, until last year that is.

My father, Severus Snape, has always been watching out for me since I first came to Hogwarts.  I don’t exactly know why, I don’t think there really was one exact reason anyway.  I believe it to be him keeping his promises to my mother and Dumbledore and fulfilling the life debt he owed to my father.  I know for sure of the life debt, and I suspect the promises.  I don’t think I’ll ever know for sure, because as I’ve learned, Severus has plots inside plots that are so intricate I don’t even understand them half the time.

Severus was a death eater (for any muggles-non magic folk-who are reading this death eaters were like the Ku Klux Klan.)  He joined Voldermort at a young age.  He had been brought up in a death eater household, so everyone suspected him to be one of Voldermort’s followers.  But Severus changed his views when he saw first hand how cruel Voldermort and his followers were.  He went to Albus Dumbledore and begged him for forgiveness and help.  They agreed that Severus would be a spy for the light and have the cover as potions master at Hogwarts.  He risked his life many times, helping the light as much as he could.  Any other person would have been discovered and killed.  Severus though, was the only on in Voldermort's service who could make Voldermort’s potions, so he wasn’t suspected.  Thanks to this cover, and his title as Britain's number one potions master, he didn’t partake in any torture or killing.  He fed Voldermort a lie that his hands needed to be pure for some of his potions, so he couldn’t take part in any acts of violence.  It worked and he never did or had to.

When I was taken by Lucius Malfoy, I knew that Severus would rescue me.  We had reached an understanding of sorts, and I had begun to trust him.  He was a close mentor to me at that time.  I didn’t know his exact feelings towards me then.  I knew that for him to help me it would most likely blow his cover and loose the light side their spy.  There was still a chance the Order could rescue me, but then Severus would still be under suspicion for letting the Order know where and when the death eaters were meeting.  The Order-it’s full name is Order of the Phoenix-is the light organization sworn to fighting Voldermort, or was.  Anyway, Severus got me out of there, and cared for me, and then adopted me, etc., etc. Severus has always been there for me.  Before it was little things, like keeping me from falling off my broom in first year, treating me like a regular student (well, maybe with a bit more malice), and now it’s him being there for me as a father.  Severus is a true hero.  He helped someone else out doing what he, Severus, thought was right.  That’s what a hero does.  They do what they believe is right to help someone else.  Severus switched sides and helped the light because in his eyes it was the right thing to do.  He’s protected me, and helped me endangering himself many times, because he believed it the right thing to do.  I don’t believe him or I should or have to justify his actions, but just let people know that he acted as a hero helping me, the light, and countless others, doing what he thought was right.  My dad is the greatest hero, and I’m proud to be his son. 

Hero-n.  someone who does something they believe to be right to help someone else  

As is portrayed in the essay you just read, a hero is a remarkable person.  They aren’t perfect, just regular human beings who do what they believe to be right.  A spy, like Severus, is a hero.  They are working, doing what they believe to be right, to help someone else. But not all people are spies.  Some people who are heroes are known only by a few people.  I’m a hero.  I saved a family.  It’s not common knowledge, and it shouldn’t be, but it’s a fact.  Anyone can be a hero.  When you help a friend, you’re a hero.  You do what you believe to be right to help them. 

Back to spies, they’re heroes, as has been mentioned before, but both sides have them.  Severus Snape spied for the light, but there was a spy for the dark too.  His identity and involvement are unimportant to this topic.  The fact is that both believed in what they were doing was right, and helped someone with the information they received.  In the real world there are people just like Severus, but I unfortunately don’t know anyone of that nature personally.  I do know that they are doing what they believe is right to help someone else.  Perhaps one day I will meet a hero like Severus, but for now I know that I am one, I can be one, and there are people around me who are a hero.  

Hero-n.  someone who does something they believe to be right to help someone else.