JK Rowling has finally answered a question that has plagued Harry Potter fans since her final book was released.

The author is well known for responding to fans’ questions on Twitter and duly replied when one reader asked, “Why did you pick Snape to name Harry’s kid after? I’m genuinely curious as he was nothing but abusive towards everyone.”

In a series of eight tweets, Rowling explained that Harry had named his middle child Albus Severus because of “forgiveness and gratitude” to former Potions teacher, later Hogwarts’ headmaster, Severus Snape.

The cast of Harry Potter - Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint - and JK Rowling
The cast of Harry Potter – Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint – and JK Rowling (Ian West/PA)

In the series, Harry and Snape are pitted as enemies and readers see Snape return to Lord Voldemort’s side and kill headmaster Albus Dumbledore in the penultimate book, The Half Blood Prince.

However, in The Deathly Hallows it is revealed just before Snape’s death that he acted on Dumbledore’s orders and has protected Harry throughout his time at school – albeit while bullying him mercilessly – because of an enduring love for his mother, Lily.

In the epilogue, Albus Severus is seen worriedly asking his father about ending up in Slytherin house, to which Harry replies: “Albus Severus, you were named for two headmasters of Hogwarts. One of them was a Slytherin and he was probably the bravest man I ever knew.”

But Snape’s cruelty to Harry and classmates including Neville Longbottom has long had fans questioning whether he was the right decision as a namesake and Rowling’s answer did not seem to satisfy some ardent fans.

She continued to delve into the psyche of her characters.

She continued…

One tweet, since deleted, accused her of going on a rant, to which she wrote: “No, not a rant; I’m thoughtful, not upset! Snape deserves both admiration and disapprobation, like most of us.”

The author, who now writes crime fiction under the pen name Robert Galbraith, held no animosity towards fans who challenged the child’s name.

Albus Severus will be the subject of Rowling’s stage play Harry Potter And The Cursed Child, opening in London in July 2016.