[HPforGrownups] Portraits & Sirius

[yellows at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 76456

In a message dated 8/10/2003 1:11:23 PM Eastern Daylight Time, SnapesSlytherin writes:

<<I think that it would be the child speaking.  The portrait can only know what was known at the time of painting, unless they have been communicating with the actual person.  So, PortraitofYoung!Sirius wouldn't know the same things that Real!Sirius knew.  He would only know what happened to Real!Sirius unless Real!Sirius told him.  Even if the PortraitofYoung!Sirius knew everything that happened to Real!Sirius, the child would not have the same thought pattern, ideas, and beliefs.  People change so much in their lifetimes.>>

First of all, let me say that I don't think Harry will communicate with Sirius again (unless it's one of those wand-suck things from the graveyard scene in GoF). I don't think that's JKR's plan.

That aside, hypothetically speaking, I think a young portrait of Sirius would be subject to what the portrait was exposed to. A few people have said that portraits are like seperate entities, not ghosts, of their subjects. They are very like their subjects, with similar personalities, but they are not the same thing. 

I don't think a young portrait of Sirius would: 
1. BE Young!Sirius nor 2. Be limited to Young!Sirius' knowledge of things. Consider Portrait!Phineas Nigellus, who learned of Sirius' death in DD's office. 

Brief Chronicles