OOP Magical Paintings

[mtwelovett]

No: HPFGUIDX 63108

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Mark D." <uncmark at y...> wrote:
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> So what exactly is involved with creating a magical painting? Could 
> Harry have one commisioned of Sirius so he has some semblance of his 
> godfather to talk to?
> 
> It would be interesting to have a Sirius painting to talk to, but 
> that opens the can of worms of getting a painting of James and Lily 
> too.

Paintings and photographs (and chocolate frog cards etc) are something
that has been bothering me for a while now, especially since we see
some more of what paintings can do in OOP. My previous wonderings
dealt with the fact that the wizards could communicate with the
paintings, but they didn't seem to be able to communicate with
photographs, which were more like TV, movies, or home movies/video.
What I want to know is what the difference is? I like the idea of a
portrait of Sirius to talk to even if it isn't the real thing but
don't think it is likely for the reason you point out regarding James
and Lily. I was thinking maybe you have to be dead to have a portrait,
but Dumbledore's office is filled with previous headmasters. We've
obviously seen that headmasters can be removed witout dying, but would
they get a portrait before they died if they were? 

We've also seen now that "Portrait spirits" can jump locations at
Hogwarts to someone else's painting there, but in OOP to other
portraits of themselves in other locations... can they also
essentially apparate into someone elses portrait elsewhere? I often
wondered during SS if Dumbledore on Harry's Chocolate Frog card was
able to take in what Harry was seeing/saying through the card even if
he couldn't directly communicate with him if he'd wanted to. (Ron says
something to the effect of "you can't expect him to hang around all
day, he has other things to do" when Harry is surprised that
Dumbledore has disappered off the card) but there has been no
indication that for example in any of Colin's photos of Harry, Harry
is able to access Colin (if he'd want to) but he may not know how to
"use" this. But this could explain another reason for Bellatrix's
photo to be saved by Kreacher from Sirius' cleaning spree. 

Also along that vein, are all Mirrors linked somehow like the one
Sirius gave Harry? Didn't his mirror in his room at the Leaky Cauldron
in POA talk to him? I'd assumed it was just an "enchanted" mirror, but
what if it were one of his protectors talking to him? 

I think there is certainly more to these magical objects, even if they
aren't all necessary to the story... which is something I find most
wonderful about all these books.

mtwelovett