Snape's Body Language

[frumenta]

No: HPFGUIDX 71488

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "alicepmint" <alicepmint at y...> 
wrote:
> Snape's Body Language
> 
> During my 2nd reading of OOP I noticed during Occlumency lesson, 
this 
> one line alarmingly stood out to me: 
> 
> "Snape eyed Harry, tracing his mouth with one long, thin finger as 
he 
> did so." (p.531 US)
> 
> The reason it is alarming was that, (I'm most certain) it is very 
> rare to see Rowling made descriptions of body language on 
characters. 
> This is indeed the first time Snape was described with such 
gesture. 
> She further emphasized it by repeating the "tracing mouth with 
> finger" thing the second time in the next paragraph. Is it 
something 
> of significance? of is it's just meant to be some general 
description 
> showing Snape in deep-thinking-mode.

<snip>
>Alice

To be honest, I keep thinking of Martini man with that description 
(and I don't know to how many of you out there this makes sense...)

I think in this instance it is connected with what is actually 
happening. Snape is trying to decide how much he can tell Harry 
about the situation. He's probably thinking. i can tell you he's 
never done it before. In general I don't think he'd be the type to 
say, bite his nails, rub on his forehead, just show that he's 
thinking or that he's worried or what have you so it must be a 
rather intense situation for him. 

Mim