OOP - Greasy haired odd kids

[Sydney]

No: HPFGUIDX 66088

Tracey wrote:

> My bad on the stoop vs. round, that's what I get for posting without 
> my book!  But I got the strong impression that the spider-like walk 
> was natural for Teen Snape, since Harry's POV didn't note anything 
> particularly artificial about it and the Marauders didn't stop to 
> snicker about their clever hexwork before they all got out on the 
> lawn.  Adult Snape is much more composed and has a groomed, superior 
> manner about him, thus he walks calmly and smoothly in comparison to 
> his younger self.
> 

I reckon Snape's generally more confident demeanor is owed to the time
he spent as a spy.  Firstly, in doing something genuinely heroic and
useful he could finally have something to hold himself up for
(certainly something he hugs close to his heart and throws in Sirius'
face every chance he gets).  Secondly, his walk is now described as
'prowling'or 'swift', or as whatever efficient, silent means of
locomotion is suitable for eavesdropping.  Just goes to show how easy
it should have been to guess his occupation just from pre-GoF clues!

His demeanor is certainly more confident, but I still think he's meant
to be seen as not taking much care of himself.  I was a bit taken
aback to see Rickman in the movie strolling around in the wizarding
equivalent of Armani!  Didn't ring quite true for me. His hair wasn't
greasy either.. grrrrr.

The greasy hair I think JKR kept on as a mark of how much baggage
Snape is still carrying from his messed-up youth in Knockturn Alley
(c'mon, he HAS to have grown up there!).  If he ever goes through some
therapy and pulls himself together, she'd let us know in a steamy
shower scene.  Both equally likely scenarios sadly.

-- Sydney (hopefully anticipating a Snape-guided tour of the mean
streets of Knockturn Alley in Book 6)