She acknowledged that "the books are dark and scary in places" but "no darkness in "Half-Blood Prince"...is so immense that it cannot be rescued by a snicker or a smirk."

Into the scene his character is immediately fleshed out with the emphasis on Fluellen's much mentioned 'disciplines of the wars' and the first opportunity for a smirk at his accent, mannerisms and delivery.

An example: "Charlie surveyed the classroom but it was really his mother congratulating himself for snatching the higher test grade, the smug smirk on his face growing brighter and brighter as he confirmed the inferiority of his peers."

Characteristically, of course, the "smug smirk" provides a facial imagery of Charlie's pride.

Noting her disbelief, Riddler calmly asks Conundrum with a smirk, "Why is this man smiling?"