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

[fiondavhar]

No: HPFGUIDX 93446

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Berit Jakobsen" 
<belijako at o...> wrote:
 
> "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? 


Bonny writes:

I would attribute the peculiar smile to the fact that Harry has just 
been discovered in a very uncomfortable place, and is consequentially 
in a very sticky situation (for the second time that year). He was 
not at the Halloween feast, and was discovered, by the entire school, 
in front of a petrified cat and bloody writing on the wall. As you 
will see if you read on a little further, Snape uses this situation 
to attempt to strip Harry of privileges and have him off the 
Gryffindor quidditch team.  While it's possible that the strange 
expression could have some deeper meaning, it is my guess that it is 
just having Harry once again in the hot seat.

      Bonny