Portraits in Dumbledore's Office

[corinthum]

No: HPFGUIDX 76338

Buttercup wrote:

> Are the portraits in Dumbledore's office like ghosts?
> The people are dead, but their spirits live in a
> picture? So when a wizard dies he has a choice of
> being a ghost, living in a frame, or going beyond the
> veil. I was just wondering.

A similar thread was started a few weeks ago, asking the differences
in conciousness between ghosts, photographs, paintings, etc.  My
theories can be found in message #71718.

I don't think paintings are the same as ghosts.  Ghosts are actually
the person, although in a slightly altered form.  Portraits, however,
exist separately from their living counterparts.  Portraits are
generally done while a person is still alive, and I believe magical
ones are no different.  I believe the painting, at the time of
creation, has the exact same personality as the person he or she
represents.  However, from that point onward, the two are separate
beings.  Sort of like twins, or clones (real ones, not the sci-fi
type): genetically the same, but other than that separate people.

Apparently, only one portrait-person can exist for each real person. 
When a new portrait is created of that person, the portrait-person
gains a new accessible location, possibly a new outfit or something,
but no new portrait-twin.

So, in answer to your question, I think a person has the choice to
become a ghost or go on to whatever afterlife there is at the time of
his or her death.  The portraits-people are completely separate
entities.  

-Corinth