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J.K. Rowling defends decision to have Harry Potter name son after Snape

J.K. Rowling took to Twitter this morning to defend the controversial decision to have Harry Potter name partly name his son after the mostly antagonistic character of Severus Snape.

'Snape deserves both admiration and disapprobation, like most of us,' British author tweets

Severus Snape, portrayed by Alan Rickman in the Harry Potter films, is neither good nor evil, but "all grey," says author J.K. Rowling. (Warner Brothers/Associated Press)

British authorJ.K. Rowling took to Twitter thismorning to defend hercontroversial decision to have Harry Potter namehis son after the widely reviled character ofSeverus Snape.

The series of tweets, which Rowlinginsists were "not a rant,"allstarted with a question from a fan.

In the epilogue of the fantasy series' final book,a grown-up Harry Potter tells his sonAlbus Severus Potter that he was named aftertwo headmasters at theHogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

WhileAlbusDumbledore's character is largely beloved and heroic,Severus Snape mostlyacts as a foil and antagonist to Potter and his friends throughout the series.

But in the end spoiler alert Snapesacrifices himself for the greater good.

Young Potter's namehas always been a sticking point among fans, who are divided about whether Snapeis a hero or a villain.

The question and the ensuing "love &fury" from Potter fanson Twitterprompted Rowling to pen a series of tweets defending the decisionto honour Snape, whom she says is neither good nor evil.

The discussion, she said, is an important one, given people'stendencyto oversimplify things in a complex world.