[HPforGrownups] Re: Snape's Mission/Task

[Amanda Lewanski]

No: HPFGUIDX 15984

Amanda Lewanski wrote:

> > "His eyes lingered on Harry for a moment as Harry looked at him.
> His > expression was as difficult to read.  He looked as sour and as
> unpleasant as ever."

I forgot something. The sentence following this is something along the
lines of "Harry continued to look at him long after Snape had looked
away." Hmmm.

I didn't get the impression this was a staring contest; more that they
both were beyond that. This is the first time that Snape's gaze has not
been characterized as menacing or penetrating in some way; either he
looks different or Harry's perceptions of him have been very altered.
This is the first time that locking gazes with Snape has not been a
test. And this is the first time that Snape has notably been the one to
look away. Interesting that this is just mentioned in passing, that
Harry keeps looking after Snape looks away. It's not presented as a
triumph of Harry's, or a loss of Snape's, or any of the usual
"confrontation" language we get with Snape; they're just looking at each
other. Snape just looks away first. Harry just keeps looking. Very, very
different; this stood out to me on my very first reading. Something very
basic has changed.

--Amanda


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