[HPforGrownups] Re: Snape's Body Language

[Lady Macbeth]

No: HPFGUIDX 71547

Faith's Girl Says:

>>> My first thought also was that touching the face while speaking is a
sign that someone is lying – particularly covering the mouth.
However, it could also be a general sign that Snape is nervous and
insecure about what he says, without necessarily meaning that he's
lying.  If he is such a fine spy, it's likely he's not used to
talking so openly - maybe he's trained himself so well not to reveal
anything with a badly chosen word?  As such he feels a little
vulnerable - especially talking to Harry, whom he obviously
dislikes, and perhaps doesn't entirely trust.

Actually, if you get yourself into the Snape POV (with is often a
frightening place to be) there are a number fo good reasons to be
nervous.  He's a very private person - and if he is spying on
Voldemort, and V can potentially see through Harry's eyes, it
wouldn't be surprising if he considered everything he said carefully
in case he had to answer for it later.
>Snipped< ... Actually I'm also now liking the idea it could have been a
silent signal that Harry failed to pick up on - a "watch what you're
saying" gesture.  Perhaps Snape feared Umbridge had the office
bugged?  Further to that - a paranoid friend of mine was telling me
recently about M15 taps on phones that allegedly kick in if you
mention a certain key word.  Perhaps the key word was "Voldemort",
which would explain why Snape got so upset over Harry defying him
and saying the name aloud? <<<

Lady Macbeth:
I'm thinking that it's a little of both - he's covering something up, but it
may have also been a signal to Harry.  One thing that Dumbledore and most
likely Snape would have known at the time is that if Harry can see what's
going on in Voldemort's mind, then Voldemort could see what was going on in
Harry's mind.  That would be a big part of arranging the Occlumency lessons
in the first place; Dumbledore may have been afraid that Voldemort would be
right, and Harry's curiosity would drive him to the Ministry of Magic to
find that room.  However, more dangerously and possibly foreseen by
Dumbledore, Harry could see something at Hogwarts or at Grimmauld Place that
would put members of the Order in danger - even if Harry didn't see any
relevance in something, Voldemort might have.

This is also why Snape not only would have wanted him to pay attention to
his lessons but also to not speak Voldemort's name out loud.  It hearkens to
the old saying "Speak of the Devil and He shall appear."  Voldemort likely
doesn't pay 24/7 attention to what's happening in Harry's mind, but the
mention of his name could grab his attention, and thus direct his attention
to what Harry's doing at the time.

-Lady Macbeth


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