Spoiler Alert: This article assumes the reader is familiar with the plot of the Harry Potter series. If you aren’t, you should stop reading now, pick up the first book, and have your mind blown by its excellence. Then come back and read this.

I, like many other millennials, spent a good chunk of my early years lost in the wizarding world created by J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter book series. I eagerly anticipated all the new books and movies, I dressed as Harry for Halloween, and to this day, I’m still proud to call myself a Ravenclaw.

The story of Harry Potter did more than just entertain me, though. In many ways, I think the series helped to shape my moral compass. I learned from and admired the virtues of many characters—the wisdom of Albus Dumbledore, the authenticity of Luna Lovegood, and the bravery of Severus Snape.

Among the list of amazing characters in the series, Snape is one of my favorite and one of the most complex. On the anniversary of Severus Snape's death, which J.K. Rowling recorded as May 2, 1998, I wanted to remember five of the valuable lessons I learned from this most iconic character.

Lead image from IMDb