Unveiling Voldemort's Motive: Nagini's Role in Snape's Demise

Highlights

Snape's death is one of the most tragic moments in the Harry Potter franchise, and it stands out because of how it differs from other character deaths.

Voldemort opted for Nagini to attack Snape as opposed to using any of the Unforgivable Curses, potentially due to his skewed understanding of the Elder Wand and his longing to possess it. Additionally, certain fans propose that this choice may have been driven by a subconscious desire to spare Snape's life.

The death of Severus Snape in the Harry Potter franchise is a tragic event that stands out from other character deaths. Unlike many others who were killed by magical spells, Snape's demise was orchestrated by Lord Voldemort through his loyal snake Nagini. Prior to his death, Snape's throat was cut by Voldemort, followed by the command for Nagini to attack him. This prolonged and brutal act has left fans with numerous inquiries, especially regarding Voldemort's choice not to use the infamous killing curse, Avada Kedavra.

Why Did Voldemort Kill Snape?

In one of the franchise's most unforgettable moments, Snape tragically kills Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Despite later revelations of a prearranged plan between the two, this scene remains one of the series' most shocking. Dumbledore's death sets off a string of tragic events that ultimately lead to Snape's own demise.

After Dumbledore's passing, Voldemort becomes convinced that Snape possesses the highly coveted Elder Wand. As fans may recall, the Elder Wand is one of the Deathly Hallows and renowned as the most powerful wand ever created. Desperate to acquire this magical object, Voldemort believes it will make him invincible. Traditionally, the Elder Wand cannot be used to harm its master. However, Voldemort interprets that he must kill the wand's previous owner in order to gain its loyalty, which is not accurate.

Rather than killing the Elder Wand’s former owner, one only needed to disarm its master. In accordance with this tradition, Draco Malfoy became the true owner of the Elder Wand as he disarmed Dumbledore before the Headmaster’s death at the Astronomy Tower. However, Voldemort was unaware of this rule and mistakenly believed Snape to be the wand's owner. Despite Snape's attempts to argue that the Elder Wand was loyal to Voldemort, the Dark Lord refused to believe him. This belief prompted Voldemort to kill Snape, thinking it would make him the new owner of the Elder Wand. While Voldemort's motives for killing Snape are known, it remains unclear why he chose Nagini to be the instrument of Snape's demise instead of using the traditional killing curse, Avada Kedavra.

Why Did Voldemort Use Nagini To Kill Snape?

Snape’s death left Voldemort unaware of his true identity as a double agent. From Voldemort's perspective, Snape was a trusted and devoted Death Eater. This makes the Dark Lord's decision to brutally and mercilessly eliminate his loyal follower confusing. However, the choice to employ Nagini in killing Snape can be attributed to Voldemort's misconceptions regarding the Elder Wand:

The Elder Wand is ineffective in serving me as I am not its true master. The true owner of the Elder Wand is the wizard who killed its last possessor. Severus, you took the life of Dumbledore, thus the Elder Wand cannot truly belong to me as long as you are alive. You have been a loyal and dedicated servant, Severus, but only I possess the ability to live eternally.

Voldemort held the false belief that Snape was the master of the Elder Wand. However, he rightly understood that the wand cannot harm its true owner. Therefore, the Dark Lord believed that he could not use the killing spell against Snape, forcing him to devise an alternative plan to eliminate the Potions Professor.

Nagini appeared to be the perfect solution for the Dark Lord's predicament. Being under Voldemort's control ensured that it would unquestionably carry out the order to kill Snape. Compared to the risky killing curse, using Nagini was a much safer choice. Voldemort believed it was imperative to possess the Elder Wand, leaving no room for any risks.

Some Harry Potter enthusiasts have proposed an intriguing alternative explanation for Voldemort's decision to utilize Nagini in killing Snape. According to Screen Rant's suggestion, Voldemort employed Nagini to spare his "loyal follower" from death, driven by an unconscious desire. The killing curse rarely fails, guaranteeing Snape's demise if Voldemort had used Avada Kedavra. However, by choosing Nagini instead, Snape had a slim chance of survival. In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Nagini attacked Arthur Weasley, who, despite sustaining severe injuries, managed to survive the assault. This past incident demonstrates that Nagini's attack on Snape did not guarantee his death.

Voldemort had a contemptuous relationship with most of his followers, as seen through his treatment of Peter Pettigrew. However, he had genuine trust and a certain level of respect for Snape, the Potions Professor. Despite this, Voldemort's overwhelming desire to possess the Elder Wand outweighed any significance Snape held. In Voldemort's eyes, Snape was replaceable, and no one would stand in the way of his mission to obtain the Elder Wand. This led to Voldemort ruthlessly murdering Snape, as reinforced by his final words expressing that only he could attain eternal life. It is now known that Draco Malfoy was actually the true master of the Elder Wand at the time of Snape's death, which renders his sacrifice meaningless.

Harry Potter

Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Alan Rickman, Michael Gambon, Ralph Fiennes, Maggie Smith, and Robbie Coltrane.

Stream on HBO Max.