Snape, trying very hard not to smile? Or is he just allergic to cats?

[Berit Jakobsen]

No: HPFGUIDX 93414

There has resently been a thread on this forum discussing how to 
interpret the "glint" in Snape's eyes when Harry asks him if it's his 
job to find out what the Dark Lord is saying to his DE's (OotP p. 521 
UK Ed).

I've noticed another one of his expressions that is harder to explain 
considering the situation he's in: Mrs. Norris has just been found 
petrified, and Dumbledore is examining the cat very closely to find 
out what's the matter with her. Everyone is also aware of the very 
dire message written on the wall where the cat was found: "The 
Chamber of Secrets has been opened. Enemies of the Heir, beware." 
(CoS p.106 UK Ed) So this is clearly a serious situation to everyone 
present. Then, what do you make of this:

"The tip of Dumbledore's long, crooked nose was barely an inch from 
Mrs Norris's fur. He was looking at her closely through his half-moon 
spectacles, his long fingers gently prodding and poking. Professor 
McGonagall was bent almost as close, her eyes narrowed. Snape loomed 
behind them, half in shadow, wearing a most peculiar expression: it 
was as though he was trying very hard not to smile. And Lockhart was 
hovering around all of them, making suggestions." (CoS p.107-108 UK 
Ed)

Why does Snape seem to find the situation amusing? Does Rowling want 
us to think he might be a baddie after all, excited about what has 
just happened? Or is this a rare moment of Snape thinking something's 
funny? Is it possible he's just trying not to smile at the strange 
sight of Dumbledore's long crooked nose buried in Mrs Norris's fur? 
Does Snape even possess that kind of humour? Anyone out there who has 
delved deeply into the psychological make-up of our Snape and can 
give a satisfactory explanation as to what Snape's "most peculiar 
expression" is all about?

And just a little P.S: "Thankfully Snape sneezed at almost exactly 
the moment Ron swore." (CoS p. 192 UK Ed)
Hard to believe, isn't it, that even our mysterious Potion Master who 
has made self-control an art-form are subject to mundane bodily 
reactions like sneezing... Makes him more human, doesn't it? :-))

Berit
http://home.no.net/berjakob/snape.html