With reporting by Josh Horowitz

This Thursday (January 14), the world began to mourn the loss of beloved "Harry Potter" actor Alan Rickman, who passed away from cancer at the age of 69.

Obviously, we at MTV News did not know Mr. Rickman personally -- but based on years worth of interviews (and this touching letter he wrote publicly to J.K. Rowling), we feel very strongly that he wouldn't have wanted his death to in any way impact the magic fans feel when watching the "Harry Potter" series, something he clearly loved just as dearly as the rest of us muggles.

MTV News caught up with Rickman before the premiere of the series' final film, 2011's "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows -- Part 2." There, Rickman told us that he was OK with saying goodbye, because "stories [have a] beginning, middle, end. That's what's supposed to happen, it's supposed to finish."

We also presented Rickman with MTV's "Harry Potter" World Cup -- because, after over 7 million votes, fans worldwide picked Snape as their number one favorite.

Rickman didn't betray his trademark tone at the time, but the words he used to celebrate his character -- celebrating his "courage and determination and loyalty and love" -- are a bittersweet reminder that we just lost one of the greatest "Potter" fans of all.