Phineas

[suehpfan]

No: HPFGUIDX 96642

Carol wrote:
> Speaking of Phineas, the last reference to him in OoP is "Phineas
> Nigellus had still not returned. . . ." (Am. ed. 828). This sentence
> sounds to me like one of those innocuous little comments that will
> turn out later to be significant later. Anyone have any ideas about
> what Portrait!Phineas will do when he finishes moving from portrait 
to
> portrait calling for Sirius and how it might be more important than 
it
> seems?
> 
> Carol

I actually have this underlined in the book, I also find it 
intriguing.  It made me wonder again about the magic of the 
portraits.  We know they can move among each other and between their 
own in different locations.  We also know that a portrait can move 
and talk if the person in them is still alive (Gilderoy Lockhart).  I 
have wondered if maybe Phineas went to find the portrait of Sirius at 
Grimauld place (perhaps with his brother before Sirius moved out) to 
ask what happened.  It could also be more sinister than that as 
well.  Maybe Kreacher's next order from the Malfoys was to destroy 
any means of communication, including portraits, with Hogwarts and DD.

How do you kill a portrait?  Imagine the fight in a house full of 
them as the intended victim ran from canvas to canvas...such carnage.

Anyway, it is odd that he did not come back and she needed to let us 
know.

Sue