This was written by espreso.tv

British writer and screenwriter J.K. Rowling shared a conversation with actor Alan Rickman, who played Severus Snape in the Harry Potter series. She admitted that she told him about the true complexities of his character and was the first to reveal that he was a "double agent."

Rickman, who died in 2016, played Severus Snape, Harry's teacher and bad guy who ultimately turns out to be working for the good forces — protecting Harry from the likes of Voldermort and his aides.

Rowling recorded an interview for her website where she answered questions from fans about her writing process. In it, she described how Rickman was confused about his character's motivations.

"He called me and said: "Look, I'm thinking about this, and I really need to understand what Snape is up to, am I the ultimate villain?" He was the only person I told: "You were in love with Harry's mother", Rowling said.

The writer recalled that she told Rickman the truth about his character long before it became public knowledge.

"I told him, "You're a double agent. But you don't love Harry. You can't overcome your deep dislike of this guy who looks just like your sworn enemy". So I told Alan Rickman what we were in for long before it was in the movies," the author recalled.

Rickman played Snape in all eight films in the bestselling series. Snape was one of several major figures who were eventually killed off, and Rowling shared her anguish at having to get rid of the characters she created.

"I don't like killing off characters, but it's part of life, isn't it? Killing off Snape was horrible. I always knew he was coming. I couldn't kill Lupin and Tonks [Harry's teacher and his wife], it was so sad. And Fred [Weasley]", Rowling said.

The writer also announced that she has two books left to write in the series of hit detectives about Cormoran Strike, and in general, she has ideas for six books in her head.