Avada Kedavra

Oh boy. This will not win me any favours with some of you and I apologise if you find this upsetting. Yes, this is Severus Snape, and yes, he is using the Killing Curse on someone in this picture.

It could be a muggle, a witch, or Lily in a guilt-ridden nightmare if you believe he never laid wand on anyone in his Death Eater life.

I do think that it is likely that he killed during his time as a Death Eater. Now we don't have canon evidence of that, but the comparative ease with which he dispatched Dumbledore shows he does know how to use that particular curse, and use it well. I doubt that anyone could use this spell as successfully on their first attempt even if they are as accomplished a wizard as Snape, and that he merely practiced this on unsuspecting pumpkins seems too convenient for my taste.

It is not my reading of the character that Severus could have never harmed anyone and was a Death Eater just for Potions brewing and adding to the sex appeal of the group, but I respect any other that include a more likeable, non-killing Snape.

Credits
Lightning brushes by *redheadstock here, Severus pose by the great *SenshiStock here and Muggle Girl by ~dazzle-stock here - amazing stock artists, both of them.