Portraits and death Was:Re: OOTP: Love, Fudge and Photos

[sophineclaire]

No: HPFGUIDX 67635

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Katy Cartee" <rainbow at r...> 
wrote:
>> Diana L. wrote:
> > But the portraits of people are not really *alive*.  They are not
> > actually those people come back to live inside of a painting.  
Like
> > photographs in the wizarding world, paintings (done with magic 
paint
> > perhaps?) can move and talk and, obviously, retain the personality
> > of who they are meant to be, whether once a real person or 
provided
> > by the artist painted the painting in case the subject is from the
> > artist's imagination.
> 
> I'm afraid i can't agree with this one. Phineus (sp?) seemed well 
aware of
> Sirius' existance and seemed to care for him at least a TINY 
smidgen (after
> he was killed) - and Sirius was obviously not alive when Phineus 
was. And
> portraits must retain the persons' experiences for the old 
Headmasters are
> talking with Dumbledore, giving advice, etc. I think a portrait of 
Sirius is
> exactly what Harry needs...although it's never explained if the 
portrait has
> to be made before the person's death or what have you. I'd like to 
see this
> explained in more detail in coming books.
> 



   I wonder if the paint used portrait is sprinkled with the ashes of 
the deceased. Bone fragments from Riddle Sr. seemed important in 
bringing Voldemort back to human form, maybe there is some form of 
conjuring power in having remains. 

 I suppose to become a living portrait requires some form of risky 
magic (not dark exactly), either in the transference of souls during 
some critical time frame (no pun!) before death into the portrait or 
an incantation over the ashes. One could also assume that it's either 
very expensive and reserved for the richest families and VIPs in the 
WW  or possibly a form of permanent/semi-permanent Limbo.

  I suppose some witches and wizards may not find in the idea of 
spending eternity in a wooden frame very appealing. As Dumbledore 
said, Death is the next great adventure. I don't think Dumbledore 
would trade in a chance to explore the unknown to sit around all day 
and banter with future Headmasters. 

As for Sirius, my theory works since there is no body to get ashes 
from and his soul wasn't transfered at the correct moment. Plus, JKR 
has told us that 'E's not pinin'!  'E's passed on!  This animangus is 
no more! He has ceased to be!  'E's expired and gone to meet 'is 
maker! 'E's a stiff!  Bereft of life, 'e rests in peace!  If you 
hadn't nailed 'im to the perch 'e'd be pushing up the daisies! 'Is 
metabolic processes are now 'istory!  'E's off the twig!  'E's kicked 
the bucket, 'e's shuffled off 'is mortal coil, run down the curtain 
and joined the bleedin' choir invisibile!!
   THIS IS AN EX-Maurauder!!

But we could always ask her brother in Bolton to write plenty of 
fanfics with Sirius as our star to act as a replacement

  I'd say it would be interesting if JKR cleared up a few things 
regarding death and mourning rituals in the WIzarding world.

-SophineClaire
     " This discussion is getting too silly! Stop the Newsgroup! Stop 
it!"