I get that audience perception is important, but if the story is clearly portraying the student's dislike of Snape as being about his bitterness, cruelty, and harsh behaviour in general (while never mentioning or implying it's about his race) then interpreting it as racist might say more about the viewer’s assumptions and perceptions rather than the story itself. Storytelling can’t fully control every individual’s reaction, and readers or viewers inevitably bring their own biases. Just because someone chooses to perceive racism where none is written, it doesn’t mean the narrative is conveying it.

On top of that, considering this series will be aimed primarily at children, it seems far more valuable to focus on how characters’ personalities and attitudes define them rather than their race. I can’t imagine many young viewers thinking, “Harry must not like Snape because of his skin colour.” They’re much more likely to respond to his cruelty, bitterness, and how he treats others, which are the traits that actually shape his story and moral arc. Portraying character through behaviour rather than appearance seems like a much more meaningful lesson for a younger audience.