In a remote section of the English country of Suffolk, there's a tiny village called Snape. It sits by the river, surrounded by fields of grass and thatch largely undisturbed for centuries. On a weekday, it is possible to trek through these wetlands and not see another soul. Yet the village holds a key to worldwide fame. For Snape is the hometown of dark wizard Severus Snape, Professor of Potions and Defense against the Dark Arts, at the Hogwarts School of Magic.
The chill breeze that blows over the rivers and fields bites into your skin. The wildness of the landscape seeps into your soul. Walking between the reeds, bundled up in your hat and coat, you can understand how Severus Snape would grow up to be a hard, disapproving wizard. How he would follow Lord Voldemort, who showed him how to channel his talents into a bid that would win him to the position of Headmaster of Hogwarts School.
Sadly, that path lay through murder. But then, the places we live form our characters, just as much as the people with whom we live.
In the future, this area is destined to be renamed Delta Magna. It has been prophesied that workers from a nearby Methane factor will belittle and enslave the locals. The locals, known as swampies, will revert to a primitive, tribal existence. They will worship a foul monster, and sacrifice their own people to it. Then visitors will arrive in a magical blue box. Sensing the great evil that has festered and grown here since Severus Snape's time, these time travelers (identified as Time Lords and a metal dog) will liberate the indigenous people from the factory workers, and from an immense, ravenous monster called Kroll.
But all that is to come. And the future is never certain. Perhaps the Methane factory, and Kroll, will never mar these swampy fields. Perhaps the village can atone for the terrible actions of their best known son, and erase this blot upon their souls. Certainly the villagers are doing their best to make Snape a place of joy and beauty. There's a center here, called Snape Maltings, where people can travel to study music and celebrate art. Sadly, Severus Snape will always be remembered for hurting Harry Potter and killing Professor Dumbledore. Still, this one fallen wizard does not form the entirety of the village's collective soul. That's easy to see, when you visit Snape.
Dragon Dave
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