Empty picture

[vmonte]

No: HPFGUIDX 95043

Pet wrote:
Re-reading TOOTP last night I stumbled across something I'd completely
overlooked when I first read it. In the room that Ron and Harry are 
sharing at Grimmauld Place there is an empty picture that's always 
sniggering (Bloomsbury, p. 62, p. 151). Once the occupant even talks 
to Harry, telling him that it's the "first sign of madness, talking 
to your own head" in a sly voice (p. 162).  So, we've been wondering 
if and in what form Sirius will show up again. What if the invisible 
occupant is teenage Sirius? Lurking just out of sight? 
JKR wouldn't bother to mention the empty picture at least 4 times 
(once the occupant is seemingly asleep, p.92) if it wasn't important, 
would she? Any thoughts?

Hi Pet,
The empty picture is of Phineas.  Phineas, a relative of Sirius, was 
also once a headmaster at Hogwarts.  There is a picture of him in 
DD's office. 

vmonte