It gives me goosebumps and a slight heartache to confront the fact that the greasy haired, black robed Professor Severus Snape is no longer in this world.

To us, Alan Rickman will always and only be Professor Snape. Granted he may not have been everybody’s favourite character, but he did leave his mark on all of us. And why wouldn’t he? He could teach one how to bottle fame, brew glory, even put a stopper to death- how often do you get a teacher like that? He taught us that the mind isn’t a book, which can be opened at will and examined at leisure; he taught us that life isn’t fair. He taught us that anybody can be a hero, and that love can be immortal. He wasn’t the most charming character, but he was the bravest man ever.  Most importantly, he was a sass master, and his sarcastic one liners could put even Chandler Bing to shame.

“Yes, it is easy to see that nearly six years of magical education have not been wasted on you, Potter. ‘Ghosts are transparent’.”

There is a lot more to say about Alan Rickman, but the news of him passing away has overwhelmed me. His demise has left the world shattered; people from all over the world mourn this loss, whether it be by plunging into the books and movies to the scenes and pages where Snape appears or by posting a small piece of writing about the man on their timelines. Needless to say, he will be missed by all- his family, friends, fans, the people of knew him personally and the ones who know him through the screen and pages.

Alan died at 69, on this day, the 14^th of January. He died surrounded with friends and family. He died leaving millions of Potterheads heartbroken. He died one of the greatest actors ever, and every time I turn to page 394 of any book, Snape’s nosy voice will reverberate in my mind. Alan couldn’t live to be 80; but he’s not gone, not really, because I’m sure, the day you and I will be 80 years old and reading about Snape, our families will say to us, “After all this time?” And we will say, “Always.”