*Snape takes her arm and helps lift her higher. He isn't sure why she's upset; they're helping her, after all. Primitive Snape cannot understand how strong Wesley's grip is without experiencing it himself, and so does not understand the signals she is giving him. His mind does know that he himself is uncomfortable standing in all this water and mud, and he gestures to a small rise that is at least not submerged. He wants to take her there, and with gestures and grunts, indicates this to Wesley.*