This fan theory about Snape's very first words to Harry Potter is blowing people's minds

It's fair to say that the relationship between Severus Snape and Harry Potter had its ups and downs.

It took seven books - or for the lazy among us - eight films to eventually find out what Snape's true intentions were.

But, what if indy100 told you that you could have skipped all of that and known what Snape was up to from the very beginning?

The latest fan theory suggests just that and argues that Snape was sending subliminal messages all along.

During a potions class in the The Philosopher's Stone Snape, played in the films by the late Alan Rickman, said in his very first words to Potter:

Tell me, what would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?

Tumblr user tomhiddles reckons there is a hidden message behind this question.

Asphodel, tomhiddles wrote, is a type of lily and according to Victorian Flower Language means "my regrets follow you to the grave". Wormwood, the fan explained, means "absence" and "typically symbolised bitter sorrow."

Combined, tomhiddles argues, this means:

I bitterly regret Lily's death.

Mind = Blown.

More: This fan theory may finally explain why Harry Potter's year group was so small

More: In memory of Alan Rickman: Here's every Snape scene from Harry Potter in chronological order