EYES (Was Re: Luna's silvery eyes)

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 162252

Carol earlier:
> 
> We've seen eye magic(Legilimency and Occlumency), which does not
seem to be related to eye color. DD's are blue, Voldemort's are now
red, and Snape's are black. <snipped canon examples of Ollivander's
and Luna's eyes>
> 
Tinktonks responded:
> 
> I am CONVINCED that there is going to be something major involved
with eyes.  And I know that we have had many discussions about eyes
before but I still feel a huge intreague for th subject.
> 
> If you actually narrow down how many times eyes are mentioned in the
books I think the number would be staggering.  Interesting then that
Ron's eye colour has never been disclosed!  I wonder whether this is
of consequence!!!
> 
> Also the part that really struck me was when Dumbledore's Periwinkle
Blue eyes look Green when reflecting the potion in the stone basin. 
WHY PUT IN THIS DETAIL?  Surely it must be of some importance but I
cannot for the life of me think of a good reason.
> 
> I have considered this is an omen of Dumbledore sacrificing his life
for Harry as Lily did, but somehow that just doesn't feel right!
> 
> Can anyone help me out?
> 
> Tinktonks
>
Carol responds:
I'm not sure that I can help with the Dumbledore question. (It would
help if you'd provide the exact quote and a page reference.) It may
simply be that the reflected green of the potion adds an ominous note
to an already tension-filled and, for me, terrifying scene. In the HP
books, green (except in relation to Harry's and Lily's eyes) is a
rather eerie and sinister color, associated with Slytherin (not all
Slytherins are evil, but in general, the House is regarded as if they
were), with poison (the Basilisk is a poisonous green), and with Avada
Kedavra, a Dark and deadly Unforgiveable Curse. So I'm guessing that
the green reflected in Dumbledore's eyes, permanently bereft of their
twinkle, either reinforces or foreshadows the mental anguish and
physical agony that he's suffering or will suffer from the poisoned
memory (or whatever the potion in the Pensievelike bowl is). 

I don't think Ron's eye color is particularly important. JKR has
disclosed in an interview that they're blue (while Hermione's are
brown and Harry's, of course, are green). It may be that she's giving
each of her Trio a different eye color and hair color, just as she
gave each of them one of the three Ollivander wand cores (Phoenix
fether for Harry, unicorn hair for Ron, and, according to an
interview, dragon's heartstring for Hermione) and made one a
pureblood, one a halfblood, and one a Muggleborn. Equal opportunity
heroes, I suppose. (She also made one of the Trio a girl, possibly for
similar reasons. Not that I really want to try to second-guess JKR!)

But Luna's eyes are not within the normal range of eye colors, and
their resemblance to Ollivander's is striking. Not only are the eyes
silvery, but neither Ollivander or Luna seems to blink, at least not
as often as "normal people," as the narrator puts it (reflecting
Harry's pov). 

Since you find the references to eyes intriguing (and I agree they're
ubiquitous), you may find this essay on Snape's eyes interesting:

http://www.hp-lexicon.org/essays/essay-snapes-eyes.html

At least one of the quotes cited referred to Snape's unblinking eyes
in relation to Legilimency, and as I mentioned in my original post, I
think Ollivander is also a Legilimens. Maybe Luna, who seems to be
chiefly characterized by her eccentricity and seemingly naive faith in
the improbable, is, too. (BTW, I trust Luna's instincts and keep
hoping that they'll triumph over Hermione's reliance on faith and
reference books.)

Carol, who thinks that DD's death will be significant in unforeseen
ways, but not as a form of magical protection for Harry