Plea for canonpicking help ...

[snorkackcatcher]

Can anyone point me towards a scene in either OotP or HBP which states Tonks' height in her natural un-Metamorphosed form, or implies it relative to someone or something we know the height of, at least approximately?

I may be missing the wood for the trees here, but I can't think of one. I get the impression she often seems to be portrayed as quite petite in fanfic, but I'm not sure how canon that is -- and in the (*counts on fingers*) next chapter but two of NTLJ (CoS version) it actually matters in a couple of places. I'd be quite happy to just pick a height that fits the storyline, but if there is anything definite in the books I want to use that. :)

Comments

[maple-clef.livejournal.com]

I honestly can't think of any reference to her height (or even build)... Except (wrt build) that she looks gaunt in HBP. I'll have a flick through if you like - after all, an extra pair of eyes never hurts, eh? ;)

[snorkackcatcher]

Nah, that's OK -- I can handwave around any height as long as she's not naturally seven foot tall, it would just be nice if there was a canonical height. :)

[a-t-rain.livejournal.com]

I don't think we're told anything at all about her height.

[snorkackcatcher]

Not specifically -- I was wondering if I'd missed her being described as at Harry's eye level or something. Ah well.

[jesspallas.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure it's ever specifically mentioned, though its possible she could be any height she wants to be. ;) I could be wrong because I've only ever seen them in passing but I think the image of Tonks being quite petite might come from the pictures in the US books. Any US readers out there who can confirm/deny that?

[snorkackcatcher]

sporkyadrasteia came up with a Lexicon link -- I didn't realise they had the pictures on there. All I can say is that this version by Mary Grandpre (?) is definitely not how I picture Tonks. :) In fact of the three in the picture she seems very crudely drawn here. It's not how I picture Moody for that matter - his face should be much more scarred than that (and the same for the film version). Come to think of it, it's not how I picture Remus either -- he's supposed to look a lot younger despite the grey hair. Oh well. :)

I presume she has a natutal height like she seems to have a natural face and hair colour -- it comes into play in NTLJ as a factor in how small or large a person she can imitate, and when she needs to state the height at one point.

[jesspallas.livejournal.com]

I've found that picture too now and I agree - none of them (except maybe Kingsley)are anything like how I see them either. I doubt we'll ever get much in the way of conclusive evidence about Tonks' height so I reckon you're safe making it up...;)

[lazy-neutrino.livejournal.com]

I don't remember anything at all - sorry!

i just looked through the introductory chapters of OotP. All I can tell you is she's not vastly shorter than Lupin - I don't mean that they're of similar height, only that they carry Harry's truck into 12 GP between them. I'm a foot shorter than my boyfriend and it makes that sort of job tricky - the height discrepancy means that one of us is stretching or bending. (So I let him do the lifting!)

[snorkackcatcher]

Ah, that's a point, I'd missed that idea. And in a Key Shipping Scene too! :) About 5-6 inches difference then? Unfortunately I don't know how tall Lupin is either ...!

Oh sod it. She's a middling five foot four for the purpose of this story. :)

[lazy-neutrino.livejournal.com]

Sounds reasonable! I think I'd have missed that point in OotP too, except that I have experience of carrying trunks with tall people. Up steps.

A Key Shipping Scene? Now I understand the meaning of the word 'desperate'...:)

(Actually I got Tonks/Mad-Eye vibes from OotP. One way, maybe, but she never let a comment of his go past without responding. Not something I would ever write, but a fun idea. I'm just as happy with Kingsley/Tonks, Charlie/Tonks or Remus/Tonks, though.)

[snorkackcatcher]

A Key Shipping Scene? Now I understand the meaning of the word 'desperate'...:)

Well that was meant to be ironic. Just for the avoidance of doubt. :)

[dharmavati.livejournal.com]

Well, according to the pic of Tonks in OoTP (which you can find at http://www.hp-lexicon.org/about/books/op/rg-op38.html), Tonks is about an inch shorter than Remus. It's hardly canonical, but you can maybe use it for reference.

[snorkackcatcher]

Hey, thanks -- there aren't any pictures in the UK editions, and I didn't know they let the Lexicon display them.

As I mentioned above with jesspallas' comment, these aren't really my "picture" of any of the characters (I never thought of Moody as that tall, for some reason, although that may just be me). I think I'm going to go with 5'4" rather than the 5'8" or so that picture suggests unless I find anything conclusive. :)