Did Severus Snape Share Classes with Lily Evans?

Severus Snape and Lily Evans were both students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry during the same time period. Given their conflicting house affiliations, it's a question many fans wonder whether these two Slytherin and Gryffindor students ever shared classes. Let's delve into the details to explore this intriguing scenario.

Before O.W.L.S.

Contrary to the presumption that all students are segregated into their respective houses, the school layout and class schedules didn't completely isolate students solely based on their house affiliations. While it's true that Slytherins and Gryffindors often had antagonistic relations, the diverse curriculum at Hogwarts necessitated some coexistence and overlap.

According to canonical sources and logical deductions, it appears that the structure of classes during their early years allowed for some shared lessons. Professor Slughorn, for example, had shared classes with Lily Evans, and for Severus Snape to have written in her Potions textbook, he must have taken the same class with her. Given that both were in the same year, it would be highly improbable that they wouldn't have shared some core classes.

After O.W.L.S.

Post-O.W.L.S. academic years become less certain, as the structure of elective subjects and timetables can vary. The complexity of the school schedule post-O.W.L.S. makes it difficult to pinpoint specific classes they might have shared. However, we can still infer certain shared subjects based on their Hogwarts years.

Given that both Snape and Evans were in the Gryffindor and Slytherin houses, respectively, we can assume they had to take some of the compulsory classes together, such as:

PotionsDefense Against the Dark ArtsTransfigurationAstronomyCharms

These core subjects are mandatory for all students across different houses, ensuring a minimum level of shared classes.

Customary Schedule and Similarity in Timetable

Despite the rivalry between Slytherins and Gryffindors, Hogwarts ensured certain subjects were taught to students in multiple houses to maintain a balanced educational experience. While specific class schedules would differ, the necessity of shared compulsory subjects would ensure that Severus Snape and Lily Evans had some classes in common.

Moreover, the age and year grouping of students meant that they would be in the same cohort for several years, likely resulting in overlapping class schedules. Even if some elective subjects provided an opportunity for different choices, the compulsory subjects kept them together for a significant period.

Therefore, it's safe to conclude that Severus Snape and Lily Evans shared classes, particularly in their early years, and possibly in their O.W.L.S. year, ensuring a certain level of academic overlap despite their differing house affiliations.