Descriptions in Detail

"If you have done your job properly, by the end of the story the reader should know more about the character than the character knows about himself."
- John Marsden, Everything I Know About Writing.

~~~

This is where I disect and analyse Severus Snape's body language by looking at excerpts of physical descriptions about or of him from books 1-5 (with a few HBP comments and quotes thrown in for good measure, as I'm too lazy busy to update the whole thing).

~Eyes ~

Reading minds and situations (shrewd and calculating):

"Snape gave Harry a swift, piercing look." Pg 131, PS.

"Snape shot a look of pure venom at Harry and Ron as he allowed himself to be swept out of his office..." Pg 64, COS.

"...Snape whispered, his eyes fixed on Dumbledore's face..." Pg 286, GOF

" 'Put it away." snarled Snape, his black eyes sweeping the classroom." Pg 450, GOF.

"The door opened and in came Snape. He was carrying a goblet, which was smoking faintly, and stopped at the sight of Harry, his black eyes narrowing...Snape set the smoking goblet down, his eyes wandering between Harry and Lupin...He backed out of the room, unsmiling and watchful." Pg 117, CoS.
Seeing Lupin and Harry together causes Snape to be extremely suspicious, that is why his eyes are wandering and narrowed. We now know that he had every reason to be suspicious, considering his history with the Marauders.
In the scene with Lupin and Harry, Snape is looking for something suspicious, searching for trouble, or evidence so that he can confirm his suspicions, but there isn't any. This is what his eyes are like when there is:
"...But Snape's black eyes were darting from the egg in Filch's arms to the map in Moody's hand, and Harry could tell he was putting two and two together, as only Snape could..."
The difference is subtle - instead of his eyes "wandering" (slowly, carefully searching for evidence) they are "darting" (moving quickly as he puts it all together).

Here is another similar example from book 5:
"Sirius looked livid, Snape calculating, his eyes darting from Sirius's wand to his face..." Pg 459, OOTP
He is, once again, putting two and two together - only in a different way. This time he is calculating when and/or if Sirius will attack, by paying close attention to his face and wand. And again, his eyes are darting.

"Snape's eyes were boring into Harry's" Pg 208 COS
This is an expression that JK Rowling uses a lot, in all the books. It gives the impression that Snape is searching Harry's mind, and that he can definately read minds (which we now know he can).

Here is another example -
"...His cold, dark eyes were boring into Harry's..." Pg. 656, OOTP.

The carefully observed differences between glittering, gleaming and glinting explained:

"He [Lockhart] glanced at Snape, whose black eyes glinted, and looked quickly away." Pg 144, COS.

Three other expressions that JKR repeats quite frequently when describing Snape's eyes are: "dark and cold/cold and dark" - this occurs so much I would die of boredom if I had to list exactly where, so you'll understand if I don't go out of my way to do so. The two remaining are: "glittering" and "glinting". His eyes appear to glitter whenever he is feeling quite malicious or infuriated, and to glint whenever something happens that he approves of, or, whenever he says or does something to somebody that he finds beneficial.
Also, his eyes "gleam" whenever he is furious.

Listed below are some of the examples of boring, glittering, glinting, gleaming, dark, cold, et cetera from all the books:

Pg 209 (PoA): He has just insulted Harry about James, and "his eyes glinted."
And here's more proof that Snape's eyes 'glint' when he likes something:
" 'No - that's your job [spying on the Death Eaters], isn't it?' Harry shot at him... For a long moment they [Snape & Harry] stared at each other, Harry convinced he had gone too far. But there was a curious, almost satisfied expression on Snape's face when he answered.
'Yes, Potter,' he said, his eyes glinting. 'That's my job...' "

Pg 211 (PoA): The Marauder's Map has just insulted him, and "Snape's eyes gleamed."

In the Shrieking Shack, we can see Snape progressively losing control just by paying close attention to the way his eyes are described:
"Snape was slightly breathless, but his face was full of suppressed triumph...his eyes glittering..." Pg 263, POA.
He has been watching them for a considerable ammount of time under the Invisibility Cloak, and his eyes are glittering. His eyes glitter when he is angry or feeling malicious, as I have mentioned above. But a few sentences later, when Hermione, Ron and Harry begin siding with Sirius and Lupin, Snape starts losing control of his emotions, and I quote: "...his eyes now gleaming fanatically..."

Also in the Shrieking Shack:"But there was a mad glint in Snapes eye that Harry had never seen before..."

Just by paying carefull observation to the 'Three Gs', you can deduce how Snape is feeling.

Other eye descriptions:

Page 457, OOTP:
"...Sirius and Snape both seated at the long kitchen table, glaring in opposite directions..."

Page 467, OOTP:
"...When he [Harry] returned back into the room, Snape had moved into the light and was pointing silently at the chair opposite his desk. Harry sat down and so did Snape, his cold black eyes fixed unblinkingly on Harry, dislike etched in every line on his face."
...
"...his eyes narrowed malevolently..."
...
Page 470, OOTP:
" 'I told you,' said Snape, rigid in his chair, his eyes slits, 'to call me "sir".' "

Pg 242, GOF: "His black eyes were alight with malice..."

Pg 448, GOF: "...his fathomless black eyes boring into Harry's..."
...
"...Snape's eyes flashed..."

Pg 619, GOF: "He [Snape] looked slightly paler than usual, and his cold, black eyes glittered strangely."

~Hair~

Apart from it being greasy, black and shoulder-length (or, using the more objective view-point from chapter two of HBP "long" and "black") it also has other qualities that are more psychological...

Pg 242, GOF: "...and Snape went quiet, though his eyes still glinted malevolently, through his curtain of greasy black hair."

Pg 457, OOTP: "...Snape looked around at him, his face framed between curtains of greasy black hair..."

Pg 656, OOTP: "...surveying her [Umbridge] coolly through his greasy curtains of black hair..."

If the eyes are 'the windows to the soul', then Snape's hair is 'the curtains'. Perhaps the world just looks better through a thick black curtain of grease.

~Lips (or mouth movements in general)~

The Snape smiles:

Pg 750, OOTP: "Snape stared at him [Harry].
'Put that wand away at once,' he said curtly.
'Ten points from Gryff -'
Snape looked towards the giant hour-glasses on the walls and gave a sneering smile."

Pg 225, OOTP: "Professor Snape sat in the very front row, wearing green like everyone else, and a very grim smile."

Pg 222, OOTP: "Snape was shaking Professor McGonagall's hand, with a horrible forced smile."

Pg 210, OOTP: "...and as Snape swept by he looked down his hooked nose at it without comment [Hermione's cauldron], which meant he could find nothing to criticize. At Harry's cauldron, however, Snape stopped, and looked down at it with a horrible smirk on his face."

Pg 458, OOTP: "...Snape's lip curled in triumph..."

The Snape snarls, teeth and everything else:

Pg 243, GOF: "Snape was now shaking his head, his lip curling..."

Pg 142, COS: "...Snape's upper lip was curling. Harry wondered why Lockhart was still smiling; if Snape had been looking at him like that he'd have been running as fast as he could go in the opposite direction..."
...
"...watching Snape baring his teeth..."

Pg 210, POA: "...Snape's uneven, yellowish teeth were bared..."

Pg 371, GOF: "...Snape snarled, and he brushed past them, his long black cloak billowing out behind them."

Pg 410, GOF: "[Dumbledore happens to trust me]...said Snape, through clenched teeth."

Pg 164, PS: "...He [Harry] saw Snape land nearby, white-faced and tight-lipped...Snape spat bitterly on the ground..."

Pg 191, PS: "Snape made them all nervous, breathing down their necks while they tried to remember how to make a Forgetfullness potion..."

Pg 169, POA: " 'Crackers!' said Dumbledore enthusiastically, offering the end of a long silver one to Snape, who took it reluctantly and tugged...Snape's mouth thinned and he pushed the hat towards Dumbledore..."

Snape in contemplation:

Pg 467, OOTP: "...Snape eyed Harry, tracing his mouth with one long, thin finger as he did so..."
...
"...Snape stared at Harry for a few moments, still tracing his mouth with his finger. When he spoke again, it was slowly and deliberately, as though heweighed every word."
I believe, what we are witnessing here, is something that Snape does when he is in deep contemplation scheming.

~Other Features~

Nose details:

Pg 192, COS: "...Thankfully, Snape sneezed at almost exactly the moment Ron swore..."

Pg 211, POA: "...His [Snape] long nostrils quivering..."

Pg 411, GOF: "...Snape stretched out his hands like a blind man, and began to move up the stairs; Harry could have sworn his overlarge nostrils were dilating, trying to sniff Harry out - "

Fingers/hands:

Pg 265, POA: "He [Snape] clicked his fingers and the ends of the cords that bound Lupin flew to his hands..."

Pg 262, GOF: "...Snape pointed a long, yellow finger at Malfoy..."

Pg 204, POA: "Snape was running one of his hands over the one-eyed-witch's head, examining it closely."

Skin details:

Pg 409, GOF: "...Harry could see a vein flickering horribly on Snape's greasy temple...Harry saw the edge of Snape's sallow face turn a nasty brick colour, the vein in his temple pulsing more rapidly..."

Pg 210, POA: "Snape's sallow skin had gone the colour of sour milk..."

Pg 458, OOTP: "...An ugly flush suffused Snape's pallid face..."

Eyebrows:

Pg 458, OOTP: "Snape raised an eyebrow..."

Pg 657, OOTP: "...and Snape looked back at her [Umbridge], his eyebrows slightly raised...Snape gave her an ironic bow and turned to leave..."

~Snape's Clothes~

The clothes listed here are the clothes that JK Rowling describes Snape wearing in the books. They are almost completely different to the clothes that Rickman!Snape wears.

Note: For a visual complement to this section, see my Snape's Canon Clothes page.

Snape's cloaks:

Pg 103, PS: "He [Snape] swept around in his long black cloak."

Pg 165, PS: "A hooded figure came swiftly down the front steps of the castle..."

Pg 166, PS: "He [Snape] threw his cloak over his head and strode out of the clearing..."

Pg 459, OOTP: "...He [Snape] turned to leave, his black travelling cloak billowing behind him...balled his fist in the pocket of his cloak over what Harry was sure wasthe handle of his wand..."

Pyjama party:

Pg 407, GOF: "...He [Snape] was wearing a long grey nightshirt and he looked livid..."

Snape's robes:

Pg 571, OOTP: "...a second flash of light later, Snape was hanging upside down in the air, his robes falling over his head to reveal skinny, pallid legs and a pair of greying underpants..."
No trousers.

Pg 134, PS: "Snape was holding his robes above his knees. One of his legs was bloody and mangled. Filch was handing Snape bandages."
Again - nothing underneath the robes (apart from underwear).

From all of these descriptions, it is quite obvious that Severus Snape wears robes, a cloak, underwear and nothing else underneath. Sorry to disappoint you, but there are no taylored trousers, or white, neck-high shirts, et cetera...

Snape's accessories:

Pg 225, POA: "Professor Snape sat in the very front row, wearing green like everyone else..."
Something very rare, and to be remembered - Snape wearing a colour that isn't black, or a shade of black.

~Teenage Severus Snape~

Pg 564 - 571, OOTP:

"Snape-the-teenager had a stringy, pallid look about him, like a plant kept in the dark. His hair was lank and greasy and was flopping onto the table, his hooked nose barely half and inch from the surface of the parchment as he scribbled...His hand was flying across the parchment; he had written at least a foot more than his closest neighbours, and yet his writing was miniscule and cramped..."

"...moving between the tables towards the doors to the Entrance Hall, still absorbed in his own exam paper."

"Round-shouldered yet angular, he walked in a twitchy manner that recalled a spider, and his oily hair was jumping about his face."
The word "twitchy" (apart from being a possible spider clue - see my Spider Snape essay for details) makes me think of someone who is constantly alert to the possibility of attack.
"...Snape had settled himself on the grass in the dense shadow of a clump of bushes. He was as deeply immersed in the OWL paper as ever..."

"...Snape reacted so fast it was as though he had been expecting an attack..."

"...dropping his bag, he plunged his hand inside his robes and his wand was halfway into the air when James shouted [Expeliarmus]..."

"...[Snape] was knocked off his feet halfway through a dive towards his own fallen wand..."
Notice how fast Snape's reaction is - it's quite amazing. His wand is out before they even start their physical attack, and then, when they knock his wand out of his hand he is already diving towards it. He doesn't waste a second - he just reacts.
"...Snape let out a stream of mixed swear words and hexes, but with his wand ten feet away nothing happend..."
The fifteen year old Snape obviously hadn't mastered the fine art of self-control yet. He probably learnt self-control when he learnt Occlumency...
"...the Impediment jinx was wearing off. Snape was beginning to inch towards his fallen wand, spitting out soap suds as he crawled..."
Again - he reacts immediately. The jinx is only just beginning to wear off, and Snape is already doing his best to move...

"...But too late; Snape had directed his wand straight at James; there was a flash of light and a gash appeared on the side of James's face, spattering his robes with blood..."

"...James whirled about: a second flash of light later, Snape was hanging upside down in the air, his robes falling over his head to reveal skinny, pallid legs and a pair of greying underpants..."

"...Snape fell into a crumpled heap on the ground. Disentangling himself from his robes he got quickly to his feet, wand up..."

This is a quote from an owl I received, in regard to this section of Detailed Descriptions, which sheds more light on Snape's rather fast reflexes, and constant alertness to attack:

"I was reading in your detailed description section about how Snape is always ready for attack, and to me it seems like a trait that an abused child would have. In psychology the term for it is hypervigilance, and people develop it when they cannot trust the people they should most be able to trust. Since they cannot relax at home for fear of attack, they never relax anywhere else either. I suspect his parents were unpredictable and prone to violent outbursts without warning, which would lead to him always being on guard. It would also account for how he gets calmer when he is angry. People who are raised around angry parents will usually fear anger and suppress their own, until they have saved up so much that they explode with it."

-nepenthen.

~Snape in Control~

In the classroom/with students:

Pg 140, COS: "Snape prowled through the fumes, making waspish remarks about the Gryffindors' work while the Slytherins sniggered appreciatively..."

Pg 141, COS: "Snape swept over to Goyle's cauldron and scooped out the twisted black remains of the firework. There was a sudden hush..."

Pg 129, POA: "Snape advanced on Ron slowly, and the room held its breath..."
...
"...While Snape prowled up and down the rows of desks, examining the work they had been doing with Professor Lupin..."

Pg 209, POA: "...and he bent down, a hand on each arm of Harry's chair, so that their faces were a foot apart."

Pg 313, POA:"A muscle twitched unpleasantly at the corner of Snape's thin mouth every time he looked at Harry, and he was constantly flexing his fingers, as though itching to place them around Harry's neck."
This is Snape on the border between control, and losing it all together.

Pg 370, GOF: "Snape had his wand out, and was blasting rose bushes apart, his expression most ill-natured. Squeeks issued from many of the bushes, and dark shapes emerged from them."

Pg 209, OOTP: "There was no real need for the call to order; the moment the class had heard the door close, quiet had fallen and all fidgeting stopped. Snape's mere presence was usually enough to ensure a class's silence."

Pg 276, OOTP: "Harry's moonstone essay was handed back to him with a large, spikey black 'D' scrawled in an upper corner."

Pg 467, OOTP: "Snape paused for a moment, apparently to savour the pleasure of insulting Harry, before continuing..."

Pg 657, OOTP: "Snape looked round at Harry. His face was inscrutable."

When he has the most control over himself, he looks quite bored and uninterested in whatever is going on around him at the time.

In action:

Pg 131, PS: "Snape bent over the troll..."
Obviously not the slightest bit concerned.

Pg 141, COS: "Lockhart and Snape turned to face each other and bowed; at least, Lockhart did with much twirling of his hands, whereas Snape jerked his head irritably. Then they raised their wands like swords in front of them."

Pg 142, COS: "Both of them swung their wands up and over their shoulders. Snape cried: "Expelliarmus!" There was a dazzling flash of scarlet light and Lockhart was blasted off his feet."

Pg 262, POA: "Severus Snape was pulling off the Invisibility Cloak, his wand pointing directly at Lupin."

Pg 263-264, POA: "BANG! Thin, snake-like cords burst from the end of Snape's wand and twisted themselves around Lupin's mouth, wrists and ankles...Snape pointed his wand directly between Black's eyes..."

Pg 616, GOF: "Snape made a sudden movement, but as Harry looked at him, Snape's eyes flew back to Fudge."

"...Snape strode forwards, past Dumbledore, pulling up the left sleeve of his robes as he went. He stuck out his forearm and showed it to Fudge, who recoiled."

Pg 523, OOTP: " 'What the - ?' he muttered.
Harry could hear a muffled commotion coming from what he thought might be the Entrance Hall. Snape looked round at him, frowning...Snape strode to his office door, his wand still held at the ready, and swept out of sight."
I have noticed that whenever Snape discovers something himself - such as Quirrell letting the troll in, or Sirius Black at the Shrieking Shack, or the quote above - he always acts alone. He is a loner; he prefers to work by himself, and to gain all the recognition (or glory). So Slytherin.

Everything else:

Pg 63-64, COS: "There was a knock on the door and Snape now looking happier than ever, opened it."

Pg 146, COS: "Snape stepped forward, waved his wand and the snake vanished in a small puff of black smoke. Snape, too, was looking at Harry in an unexpected way: it was a shrewd and calculating look..."

Pg 217, COS: "He [Lockhart] didn't seem to notice that the other teachers were looking at him with something remarkably like hatred. Snape stepped forward..."

Pg 125, POA: "Snape stood for a moment, watching the Headmaster with an expression of deep resentment on his face, then he, too, left..."
Notice that he did this behind Dumbledore's back and when he assumed that no one else was around to notice.

Pg 185, GOF: "He [Snape] seemed strangley wary of displaying overt animosity to Mad-Eye-Moody."

Pg 618, GOF: "Snape had not yelled, or jumped backwards, but the look on his face was one of mingled fury and horror."

Pg 323, OOTP: "Snape straightened up slowly and turned to look at her [Umbridge]...His expression was unfathomable"

Pg 475, OOTP: "Snape looked agitated; but when he spoke again he sounded as though he was trying to appear cool and unconcerned."

~Snape Out of Control~

There are three things that can make Snape a little less than impressed: The Marauders, Harry Potter, losing Dumbledore's trust (pre-HBP), having his privacy invaded, being lied to, and being called a coward.

The Marauders:

Pg 72, POA: "Professor Snape, the Potion's master, was staring along the staff table at Professor Lupin. It was common knowledge that Snape wanted the Defence Against Dark Arts job, but even Harry, who hated Snape, was startled at the expression twisting his thin, sallow face. It was beyond anger: It was loathing."

Pg 264, POA: "Snape shouted, looking suddenly quite deranged."
He only ever "'shouts" or "roars" when he has completely lost the plot. Otherwise he speaks softly and sometimes whispers.

Harry Potter:

Pg 286-287, POA: "He crossed to the door and held it open for Snape, but Snape hadn't moved...Snape took a step towards Dumbledore..."
It's almost as if he wants to attack Dumbledore.

Though he manages to regain control:
Pg 287, POA: "Snape turned on his heel and marched through the door Fudge was still holding. It closed behind them..."

Before completely losing it:
Pg 306, POA: "BAM. The door of the hospital wing burst open...But Snape was beside himself...His face was twisted, spit was flying from his mouth..."

Pg 307, POA: "Snape stood there, seething, staring from Fudge, who looked thoroughly shocked at his behaviour, to Dumbledore, whose eyes were twinkling behind his glasses. Snape whirled about, robes swishing behind him, and stormed out of the ward."

Pg 572-573, OOTP: "A hand closed tight over his [Harry's] upper arm, closed with a pincer like grip. Wincing, Harry looked around to see who had hold of him, and saw, with a thrill of horror, a fully grown, adult-sized Snape standing right beside him, white with rage...It was scary: Snape's lips were shaking, his face was white, his teeth were bared...Snape threw Harry from him with all his might. Harry fell hard onto the dungeon floor...And as Harry hurtled towards the door, a jar of dead cockroaches exploded over his head."

Pg 564, HBP: "'DON'T-' screamed Snape, and his face was suddenly demented, inhuman, as though he was in as much pain as the yelping, howling dog stuck in the burning house behind them, ' - CALL ME COWARD!'"

Unconscious lack of control:

Pg 410, GOF: "Snape suddenly did something very strange. He seized his left forearm convulsively with his right hand, as though something on it had hurt him."

Pg 593, GOF: "'Crouch!' Snape said, stopping dead in the doorway. 'Barty Crouch!'
Surprise.

Pg 470, OOTP: "He [Snape] rubbed his left forearm, apparently unconsciously, on the spot where Harry knew the Dark Mark was burned into his skin."

Pg 522, OOTP: "Snape was shaking slightly, and was very white in the face."
This is after Harry Potter breaks into his mind, during an Occlumency lesson.

~Snape and Shadows~

This is the very first reference to Snape and shadows:
Pg 108 (CoS): "Snape loomed behind them, half in shadow, wearing a most peculiar expression: it was as though he was trying hard not to smile."

Pg 109 (CoS): "If I might speak, Headmaster,' said Snape from the shadows."

Pg 569 (ootp): "Snape had settled himself on the grass in the dense shadow of a clump of bushes..."

Pg 467 (ootp): "...he [Harry] jumped when Snape's cold voice came out of the shadows."

Pg 242 (GoF): "Snape made a soft noise of imaptient disbelief in the shadows."

"Shadow -

# A phantom; a ghost.

1. One, such as a detective or spy, that follows or trails another.
2. A constant companion.
3. Sports. A player who guards an opponent closely.
# To cast a shadow on; shade.
# To make gloomy or dark; cloud.
# To represent vaguely, mysteriously, or prophetically.
# To darken in a painting or drawing; shade in.
# To follow, especially in secret; trail. " -http://www.dictionary.com

1. When Mrs Norris is petrified, Snape watches the events from the shadows. He has hidden himself so that he can be unobtrusive. This gives him time to observe the events unfolding, and to reach his own conclusion about what has occured. When he has an answer - he has no problems stepping forward out of the shadows to make his presence and opinion known.
2. He also uses shadows the normal way - for shade, as seen in the Pensieve scene (OOTP).
3. When Harry stepped into Snape's office before his very first Occlumency lesson, Snape was sitting in the shadows. I think he did this on purpose, so that he could observe Harry without him knowing.

~Walk Like Snape~

Walking is something that Severus Snape does with style, and as such, is very important to defining his character and personality.

Striding:

Pg 195, PS: "He [Snape] strode off in the direction of the staffroom."

Pg 97, POA: "Snape strode over to Neville..."

Pg 212, POA: "he [Snape] strode across to the fire, seized a fistful of glittering powder from a jar on the fireplace, and threw it into the flames..."

Sweeping:

Pg 167, PS: "Snape was sweeping about in his usual bad temper..."

Pg 412, GOF): "Snape swept downstairs and passed Moody without another word."

Pg 601, GOF: "Snape nodded silently and swepped out of the room."

Pg 563, OOTP: "He [Snape] turned and swept from his office."

His movements are light, and he doesn't make much noise when he walks. Also, the long cloak he wears adds to the 'sweepiness' and 'swishiness' of his walk. He is light-footed and has a natural "prowling walk" - the perfect spy.

Everything else:

Pg 208, POA: "It was Snape. He approached Harry at a swift walk, his black robes swishing, then stopped in front of him...There was a look of suppressed triumph about him."

Pg 296, POA: "Barely two minutes later, the castle doors flew open yet again, and Snape had come charging out of them, running towards the Willow."

Pg 165, PS: "...Clearly not wanting to be seen, it walked as fast as possible towards the forbidden forest...He [Harry] recognized the figures prowling walk...he saw Snape enter the forest at a run..."

Pg 446, GOF: "Snape had glided over to their desk while they had been talking."
Fast and without a sound.

Pg 109, OOTP: "Snape flitted in and out of the house several times more..."

Pg 460, OOTP: "Snape pocketed his wand, turned on his heel and swept back across the kitchen, passing the Weasley's without comment. At the door he looked back.
'Six o'clock, Monday evening, Potter.'
And was gone."
Snape does a lot of "turning on his heel". It makes his walk very rigid and formal, as if he is constantly marching, which suits his character perfectly.

Pg 209, PS: " 'Yes, Severus does seem the type, doesn't he? So usefull to have him swooping around like an overgrown bat' "
Quirrell uses the word "swooping" because that is what Snape was doing to him (swooping around him, trying to catch him in the act). I think the "overgrown bat" comment was directed more at his clothes, than anything else.

~Talk Like Snape~

Softly:

Pg 101, PS: The first time we hear Snape's voice...
"Snape. like Flitwick, started the class by taking the register, and like Flitwick, he paused at Harry's name.
'Ah, yes, he said softly, 'Harry Potter. Our new - celebrity.'
Snape's voice is naturally soft. He likes to pause and speak slowly, to subtley emphasise a point, using nothing but his tone of voice. And he's a master at it.

Pg 209, POA: " '...What would your head have been doing in Hogsmeade, Potter?' said Snape softly. 'Your head is not allowed in Hogsmeade. No part of your body has permission to be in Hogsmeade.'
'I know that,' said Harry, striving to keep his face free from guilt or fear. 'It sounds like Malfoy's having hallucin - '
'Malfoy is not having hallucinations,' snarled Snape..."
He snarls and sneers a lot too.

Pg 204, GOF: " 'It's no one's fault but Potter's, Karkaroff,' said Snape softly. His black eyes were alight with malice. 'Don't go blaming Dumbledore for Potter's determination to break the rules...' "
... "Snape made a soft noise of impatient disbelief in the shadows..."

Pg 262, GOF: " 'And what is all this noise about?' said a soft, deadly voice.
Snape had arrived."
Whenever you hear a 'soft, deadly voice', you know it's Snape - without Rowling even having to state that it is. Each character in the HP series has a distcint voice. As another example is, if you hear a 'slow drawling voice', you can expect that it's one of the Malfoy men.

Pg 408, GOF: " 'Peeves?' said Snape softly, staring at the egg in Filch's hands. 'But Peeve's couldn't get into my office...'
'This egg was in your office, Professor?'
'Of course not,' Snape snapped, 'I heard banging and wailing -' "
If he's getting slightly annoyed, first he 'snaps'.

Pg 409, GOF:" 'Reckon they were after potion ingredients, eh?' said Moody. 'Not hiding anything else in your office, are you?'...
'You know I'm hiding nothing, Moody,' he said in a soft and dangerous voice, 'as you've searched my office pretty thoroughly yourself.' "

Pg 448, GOF: " 'So I give you fair warning, Potter,' Snape continued, in a softer and more dangerous voice, 'pint-sized celebrity or not - if I catch you breaking into my office one more time -'
'I haven't been anywhere near your office!' " Said Harry angrily, forgetting his feigned deafness.
'Don't lie to me,' Snape hissed. "
Then he progresses to 'hissing'.

Pg 210, OOTP: " '...But we have a year to go before that happy moment of farewell,' said Snape softly, 'so, whether or not you are intending to attempt NEWT, I advise all of you to concentrate your efforts upon maintaining the high pass level I have come to expect from my OWL students.' "

Pg 211, OOTP: " 'Tell me Potter,' said Snape softly, 'can you read?' "

Pg 471, OOTP: " '...I am about to attempt to break into your mind,' said Snape softly. "

Pg 582, OOTP: "He [Harry] had just turned away when he heard a smashing noise. Malfoy gave a gleeful yell of laughter. Harry whipped around. His potion sample lay in pieces on the floor and Snape was surveying him with a look of glowing pleasure. 'Whoops,' he said softly. 'Another zero, then, Potter.' "

In normal, everyday conversation, Severus Snape's voice is naturally 'soft' and 'low'.

Sneering and snarling:

Pg 618, GOF: " 'Him!' he snarled, staring at Sirius, whose face showed equal dislike. 'What is he doing here?' "

This quote sums it up nicely. Dislike. Snape also snarls when he finds something/someone stupid, or when something/someone revolts him.

Pg 322, OOTP: " 'You will notice,' said Snape, in his low, sneering voice, 'that we have a guest with us today.' "

His sneer seems to carry more sarcasm with it than his snarl; he snarls more when he is angry or irritated, where as sneering just occurs naturally.

Silky and smooth:

Pg 144, PS: " 'Be that as it may, fighting is against Hogwarts rules, Hagrid,' said Snape silkily..."

Pg 129, POA: " '...Detention, Weasley,' said Snape silkily, his face very close to Ron's. 'And if I ever hear you criticise the way I teach a class again, you will be very sorry indeed.' "

Pg 263, GOF: " 'Hospital wing, Goyle,' Snape said calmly...
'Let's see,' he said, in his silkiest voice.'Fifty points from Gryffindor, and a detention each for Potter and Weasley. Now get inside, or it will be a week's worth of detentions.' "

Pg 264, POA: " '...Up tp the castle?' said Snape silkily. 'I don't think we need to go that far...' " For a Dementor to kiss Black.

Snape's voice is always "silky"' after the occurence of something that will allow him to deduct points from Gryffindor, or dish out a few detentions... If he is intentionally provoking the dream team into verbally attacking him, and they fall for it, his voice will be silky/smooth as he has managed to obtain what he was seeking.

Pg 195, PS: " Hermione gasped. Harry and Ron wheeled around. Snape was standing there.
'Good afternoon,' he said smoothly.
They stared at him.
'You shouldn't be inside on a day like this,' he said, with an odd, twisted smile..."

Pg 656, OOTP: " '...I have already told you,' said Snape smoothly, 'that I have no further stocks of Veritaserum...' "

Again - Snape's voice is "smooth" because has the upper-hand; he knows something that Umbridge does not.

Icy:

Pg 165, PS: " '...Oh, I thought we'd keep this private,' said Snape, his voice icy. 'Students aren't supposed to know about the Philosopher's Stone, after all.' "

Pg 110, COS: " 'Excuse me,' said Snape icily, 'but I believe I am the Potion's master at this school.'
There was an awkward pause."

Pg 446, GOF: " 'Fascinating though your social life undoubtedly is, Miss Granger,' said an icy voice right behind them, 'I must ask you not to discuss it in my class. Ten points from Gryffindor.' "

His voice takes on an "icy" tone when his intelligence is being insulted: Quirrell insults him by pretending that he doesn't know what Snape is talking about, although they both know that he does; Lockhart insults him by insinuating that he can make potions better than Snape; and Hermione insults him by not paying attention during a lesson.

Cold and cool:

Pg 62, COS:"'...Or maybe,' said a very cold voice right behind them, 'he's waiting to hear why you two didn't arrive on the school train.'...'So,' he said soflty, 'the train isn't good enough for the famous Harry Potter and his faithfull sidekick Weasley...'

Pg 96, POA:: " 'I don't remember asking you to show off, Miss Granger,' said Snape coldly, and Hermione went as pink as Neville."

Pg 128, POA: " 'Be quiet,' said Snape coldly. 'I did not ask for information. I was merely commenting on Professor Lupin's lack of organisation.' "

Pg 129, POA: " 'This is the second time you have spoken out of turn, Miss Granger,' said Snape coolly. 'Five more points from Gryffindor for being an insufferable know-it-all.' "

Pg 209, OOTP: " 'Settle down,' said Snape coldly, shutting the door behind him. There was no real need for the call to order; the moment the class had heard the door close, quiet had fallen and all fidgeting stopped. Snape's mere presence was usually enough to ensure a class's silence."

Pg 322, OOTP: " 'Fighting, Potter, Weasley, Longbottom?' Snape said in his cold, sneering voice. 'Ten points from Gryffindor. Release Longbottom Potter, or it will be detention. Inside, all of you.' "

Pg 470, OOTP: " 'You seem to have visited the snake's mind because that was where the Dark Lord was at that particular moment,' snarled Snape. 'He was posessing the snake at the time and so you dreamed you were inside it too.'
'And Vol - he - realised I was there?'
'It seems so,' said Snape coolly."

Pg 471, OOTP: " '...And he might try and make me do things?', asked Harry, 'Sir?' he added hurriedly.
'He might,' said Snape, sounding cold and unconcerned. 'Which brings us back to Occlumency.' "

Pg 472, OOTP: "He [Harry] looked at Snape who had lowered his wand and was rubbing his wrist. There was an angry weal there, like a scorch mark. 'Did you mean to produce a Stinging Hex?' asked Snape coolly.

Pg 562, OOTP: " 'You're late, Potter,' said Snape coldly, as Harry closed the door behind him."

Pg 262, POA: " 'So that's why Snape doesn't like you,' said Harry slowly, 'because he thought you were in on the joke?'
'That's right,' sneered a cold voice from the wall behind Lupin. Severus Snape was pulling off the Invisibility Cloak, his wand pointing directly at Lupin."

Curtly:

Pg 264, GOF: " 'Yes?' said Snape curtly.
'Please, sir, I'm supposed to take Harry Potter upstairs.' ...
'Potter has another hour of potions to complete,' said Snape coldly. 'He will come upstairs when this class is finished.'
Colin went pink.
'Sir -sir, Mr Bagman wants him,' he said nervously..."

Pg 370-371, GOF: " '...Then flee,' said Snape's voice curtly. 'Flee, I will make your excuses. I, however, am remaining at Hogwarts.'
Snape and Karkaroff came around a corner. Snape had his wand out, and was blasting rose bushes apart, his expression most ill-natured. Squeeks issued from many of the bushes, and dark shapes emerged from them.
'Ten points from Hufflepuff, Fawcett!'
Snape snarled, as a girl ran past him. 'And ten points from Ravenclaw, too, Stebbins!' as a boy went rushing after her."

Pg 412, GOF: "'I think I will go back to bed,' said Snape curtly."

Pg 750, OOTP: " 'What are you doing, Potter?' said Snape, as coldly as ever, as he strode over to the four of them.
'I'm trying to decide what curse to use on Malfoy, sir,' said Harry fiercely.
Snape stared at him.
' Put that wand away at once,' he said curtly."

"curt

adj 1: marked by rude or peremptory shortness; "try to cultivate a less brusque manner"; "a curt reply"; "the salesgirl was very short with him" [syn: brusque, brusk, short(p)] 2: brief and to the point; effectively cut short; "a crisp retort"; "a response so curt as to be almost rude"; "the laconic reply; `yes'"; "short and terse and easy to understand" [syn: crisp, laconic, terse]

Source: WordNet ® 1.6, © 1997 Princeton University"

Hissing:

Pg 62, COS: " '...You were seen,' he hissed, showing them the Headline: FLYING FORD ANGLIA MYSTIFIES MUGGLES."

Pg 262, POA: " 'Don't ask me to fathom the way a werewolf's mind works,' hissed Snape.

Pg 409, GOF: " 'Shut up!' Snape hissed at Filch."

Pg 410, GOF: " 'You don't have the authority to send me anywhere!' Snape hissed, letting go of his arm as though angry with himself. 'I have as much right to prowl this school after dark as you do!' "

Pg 450, GOF: " 'What's so urgent?' he [Harry] heard Snape hiss at Karkaroff."

Pg 522, OOTP: " 'Reparo,' hissed Snape, and the jar sealed itsself at once."

I think that "hissing" is Snape's way of letting off steam. He doesn't yell very often, or raise his voice, but hissing for him is the same as yelling (where another person would yell, or raise their voice - Snape hisses). It suits his character rather well, as his voice is usually soft and low, and also because it makes him seem much more snake-like.

Deadly, dangerous, calm, whispering:

Pg 141, COS: " 'If I ever find out who did this [the Filibuster firework in Goyle's cauldron],' Snape whispered, 'I shall make sure that person is expelled.' "

Pg 145, COS: "Snape moved closer to Malfoy, bent down and whispered something in his ear. Malfoy smirked, too."

Pg 95, POA: " 'Now,' said Snape in his most dangerous voice."

Pg 128, POA: " 'MissGranger,' said Snape in a voice of deadly calm, 'I was under the impression that I was taking this lesson, not you...' "

Pg 210, POA: "'...And did the Headmaster tell you the circumstances in which your father saved my life?' he whispered.'Or did he consider the details too unpleasant for Potter's delicate ears?' "

Pg 262, POA: "With a roar of rage, Black started towards Snape, but Snape pointed his wand straight between Black's eyes.
'Give me a reason,' he whispered. 'Give me a reason to do it, and I swear I will.'
Black stopped dead. It would have been impossible to say which face showed more hatred."
I think we can safely assume that Snape is referring to "Avada Kedavra". And since he says "give me a reason to do it, and I swear I will", it is also safe to assume that he did have a reason, in the past, to use this Curse, and that he has used it before, because he sounds very confident. This gives us a small hint about his past (considering also that this is pre-Goblet of Fire, and that we are still not supposed to know that Snape was a Death Eater.)

Pg 411, GOF: " '...I merely thought,' said Snape in a voice of forced calm..."

Pg 458, OOTP: " 'I'm his godfather,' said Sirius, louder than ever.
'I am here on Dumbledore's orders,' said Snape, whose voice, by contrast, was becoming more and more quietly waspish, 'but by all means stay, Black, I know how you like to feel...involved.'
'What's that supposed to mean?' said Sirius, letting his chair fall back on to all four legs with a loud bang.
'Merely thatI am sure you must feel - ah - frustrated by the fact that you can do nothing useful,' Snape laid a delicate stress on the word, 'for the Order.' "

Pg 470, OOTP: " 'Do not interrupt me, Potter,' said Snape in a dangerous voice."

Pg 472, OOTP: " 'Manners, Potter,' said Snape dangerously."

Pg 520, OOTP: " 'You do know why we are here, don't you, Potter?' said Snape, in a low, dangerous voice. 'You do know why I am giving up my evenings to this tedious job?' "

Severus Snape's voice is naturally soft and low. The angrier he becomes, the softer his voice gets. When he is at his most lethal, his voice is a mere whisper - unlike Black, who does the complete opposite.

Snape's emotions are almost always under strict control.

His voice is a weapon; he is very subtle and he chooses his words carefully, pausing in certain moments only for dramatic effect, or to get the message across clearly. Snape knows how to use his voice, and what to say, to generate the effect that he is after from each individual person. He is very observant, and after carefully studying his subject, unleashes his elegant verbal attack.

When his voice sounds dangerous, it is a warning - to let the person know that they are crossing the line; but when he is whispering, the person crossed the line a long time ago.

As long as he has a situation and/or himself under control, his voice grows calmer the more dangerous he becomes. Snape knows the importance of remaining calm and controlled in a potentially lethal or hazardous situation, and always remains cool and calculating, so that he can anticipate his opponent's next move, in order to stay one step ahead.

If he knows what someone is thinking, he knows how to act accordingly... Legilimency helps.

Barking, roaring and shrieking in general:

Pg 140, COS: " 'Silence! SILENCE!' Snape roared.
'Anyone who has been splashed, come here for a Deflating Draught. When I find out who did this...' "
This is the first time ever that Snape raises his voice, and it is only to bring the panicing class back to order, after Harry throws the Fillibuster Firework into Goyle's cauldron.

Pg 198-199, COS: " 'Hurry up, I've got to take you all to Herbology,' barked Snape over the class's heads, and off they went, crocodile fashion..."

Pg 264, POA: "'KEEP QUIET, YOU STUPID GIRL!' Snape shouted, looking suddenly quite deranged. 'DON'T TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND!' A few sparks shot out of the end of his wand, which was still pointing at Black's face."

Pg 265, POA: " 'SILENCE! I WILL NOT BE SPOKEN TO LIKE THAT!' Snape shrieked, looking madder than ever."

Pg 306, POA: " 'HE DIDN'T DISAPPARATE!' Snape roared, now very close at hand. 'YOU CAN'T APPARATE OR DISAPPARATE INSIDE THIS CASTLE! THIS - HAS - SOMETHNG - TO - DO - WITH - POTTER!' ... 'OUT WITH IT, POTTER!' he bellowed. 'WHAT DID YOU DO?'
'Professor Snape!' shrieked Madam Pomfrey. 'Control yourself!'
'See here, Snape, be reasonable,' said Fudge. 'This door's been locked, we just saw -'
'THEY HELPED HIM ESCAPE, I KNOW IT!' Snape howled, pointing at Harry and Hermione. His face was twisted, spit was flying from his mouth.
'Calm down, man!' Fudge barked. 'You're tallking nonsense!'
'YOU DON'T KNOW POTTER!' shrieked Snape. 'HE DID IT! I KNOW HE DID IT -'
'That will do, Severus,' said Dumbledore quietly."

Pg 572, OOTP: " 'You will not repeat what you saw to anybody!' Snape bellowed."

When he loses it - he really loses it. He keeps all his emotions tightly bottled, and when the cork pops, it does so with explosive force because the bottle has been shaking for quite some time. It is a much needed release. Dumbledore understands this: he allows Snape to vent off some steam before bringing him back to order.

Quietly and muttering:

Pg 410-411, GOF: "But Snape's black eyes were darting from the egg in Filch's arms to the map in Moody's hand, and Harry could tell he was putting two and two together, as only Snape could.
'Potter,' he said quietly."

Pg 447, GOF: " 'All this press attention seems to have inflated your already overlarge head, Potter,' said Snape quietly..."

Pg 323-324, OOTP: " 'You applied for the Defense Against the Dark Arts post, I believe?' Professor Umbridge asked Snape.
'Yes,' said Snape quietly.
'But you were unsuccesful?'
'Obviously.' ...
'And you have applied regularly for the Defense Against the Dark Arts post since you first joined the school, I believe?'
'Yes,' said Snape quietly, barely moving his lips. He looked very angry.
'Do you have anyidea why Dumbledore has consistently refused to appoint you?' asked Umbridge.
'I suggest you ask him,' said Snape jerkily."

Pg 474, OOTP: " 'What's in the Department of Mysteries?'
'What did you say?' Snape asked quietly, and Harry saw, with deep satisfaction, that Snape was unnerved."

Pg 211, POA: "'Let me see, let me see...' he muttered, taking out his wand and smoothing the map out on the desk."

Pg 470, OOTP: " 'Do not say the Dark Lord's name!' spat Snape.
There was a nasty silence. They glared at each other across the pensieve.
'Professor Dumbledore says his name,' said Harry quietly.
'Dumbledore is an extremely powerful wizard,' Snape muttered."

Pg 523, OOTP: "Snape opened his mouth in a snarl - and a woman screamed from somewhere outside the room. Snape's head jerked upwards; he was gazing at the ceiling.
'What the - ?' he muttered.

Obviously, he speaks quietly when he is trying to conceal something (or when he is unnerved) - so that a third party can't listen in on the conversation. He also sometimes mutters for the same reason, though he usually mutters when he is thinking something through.

Everything else:

Pg 140, PS: "It took perhaps thirty seconds for Snape to realise that he was on fire. A sudden yelp told her [Hermione] she had done her job."

Pg 145, COS: " 'Don't move, Potter,' said Snape lazily, clearly enjoying the sight of Harry standing motionless, eye to eye with the angry snake. 'I'll get rid of it...' "

Pg 562, OOTP: " 'On the count of three then,' said Snape lazily. 'One - two - '
Snape's office door banged open and Draco Malfoy sped in."

Pg 410, GOF: "Moody's face twisted into a smile. 'Auror's privelege, Snape. Dumbledore told me to keep an eye -'
'Dumbledore happens to trust me,' said Snape through clenched teeth. 'I refuse to believe that he gave you orders to search my office!' "

Pg 616, GOF: " 'There,' said Snape harshly.'There. The Dark Mark...' "

Pg 448-449, GOF: " 'It is Veriataserum - a Truth Potion so powerful that three drops would have you spilling your innermost secrets for this entire class to hear,' said Snape viciously."

Pg 473, OOTP: " 'Get up!' said Snape sharply. 'Get up! You are not trying, you are making no effort! You are allowing me access to memories you fear, handing me weapons! '...
'Yeah? Well, I'm finding that hard at the moment,' Harry snarled.
'Then you will find yourself easy prey for the Dark Lord!' said Snape savagely."

All together now:

Pg 286, POA: " 'I suppose he's told you the same fairy tale he's planted in Potter's mind?' spat Snape. 'Something about a rat, and Pettigrew being alive -'
'That, indeed, is Black's story,' said Dumbledore, surveying Snape closely through his half-moon spectacles.
'And does my evidence count for nothing?' snarled Snape...
When it becomes obvious that Dumbledore believes Black, Snape's tone changes dramatically...
'You surely don't believe a word of Black's story?' Snape whispered, his eyes fixed on Dumbledore's face.
'I wish to speak to Harry and Hermione alone,' Dumbledore repeated.
Snape took a step towards Dumbledore. 'Sirius Black showed he was capable of murder at the age of sixteen,'' he breathed. 'You haven't forgotten that he once tried to kill me?' "

Pg 459, OOTP: " 'How touching,' Snape sneered. 'But surely you have noticed that Potter is very like his father?'
First the sarcastic sneer...Though the comment was also designed to trap Black into further opportunity for verbal abuse.
'Yes, I have,' said Sirius proudly.
'Well then, you'll know he's so arrogant that criticism simply bounces off him,' Snape said sleekly. ...
Snape replies "sleekly" because he already knew what Black's reply would be. He has complete control over the whole conversation...
'I've warned you, Snivellus,' said Sirius, his face barely a foot from Snape's, 'I don't care if Dumbledore thinks you're reformed, I know better -'
'Oh, but why don't you tell him so?' whispered Snape. 'Or are you afraid he might not take very seriously the advice of a man who has been hiding inside his mother's house for six months?'
The situation is getting dangerous...
'Tell me, how is Lucius Malfoy these days? I expect he's delighted his lap dog's working at Hogwarts, isn't he?'
'Speaking of dogs,' said Snape softly, 'did you know that Lucius Malfoy recognised you last time you risked a little jaunt outside? Clever idea, Black, getting yourself seen on a safe station platform...Gave you a cast-iron excuse not to leave your hidey-hole in future, didn't it?' "
But now Snape knows that he has won, and his tone of voice becomes normal once again.

Snape's eloquent and poetic use of language:

Pg 102, PS: " 'You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion making,' he began. He spoke in barely more than a whisper, but they caught every word - like Professor McGonagal, Snape had the gift of keeping a class silent without effort. 'As there is little foolish wand waving here, many of you will hardly believe that this is magic. I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses... I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death - if you arn't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach.' "

Also, keep in mind Snape's Potions riddle (pages 206-207 of the UK books).

See my other in-depth resource, Snape's Eloquence, for further details.

~Detailed physical descriptions~

Pg 94, PS: "greasy black hair, a hooked nose and sallow skin..."

Pg 61, COS: "Cruel, sarcastic, and disliked by everybody except the students from his own house (Slytherin), Snape taught potion's..."

Pg 62, COS: "There, his black robes rippling in a cold breeze, stood Severus Snape. He was a thin man with sallow skin, a hooked nose and greasy, shoulder-length black hair, and at the moment, he was smiling in a way that told Harry he and Ron were in very deep trouble..."

Pg 155, GOF: "On Proffesor Sinistra's other side was the sallow-faced, hook-nosed, greasy-haired Potion's master Snape."

Pg 73, OOTP: "In the centre of the group Harry saw the dark, greasy-haired head and prominent nose of his least favourite teacher."

Of course, keep in mind these are all Harry's descriptions, which means that you are seeing Severus through the eyes of a teenage boy, who does not even like him very much. For a more objective point-of-view, I recommend studying chapter two (Spinner's End) of HBP. Here are a few Harry-free Spinner's End quotes (to demonstrate the noticable difference):

Pg 27, HBP: "A sliver of a man could be seen looking out at them, a man with long black hair parted in curtains around a sallow face and black eyes."

Pg 28, HBP: "... his thin mouth curling into a slightly mocking smile..."

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