Dobby's painting

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 102508

So what's up with the painting Dobby gave Harry for Christmas in 
OOTP? Maybe this is just another example of his hero-worship *thing* 
for Harry, but wasn't this present a little odd? It could just be an 
extension of Dobby's artistic abilities from knitting to painting :).

It seems like, after Dobby almost killed Harry of course, that he 
gives Harry very useful things: Gillyweed, bringing back Hedwig, 
introducing him to the Room of Requirement. Then we have the Snitch 
socks and the painting, which haven't proven useful...yet.

I wonder if Dobby even painted it himself? He's artistically 
inclined and the painting was barely recognizable as Harry. One 
thought I had was it is some form of communication device, like the 
mirror from Sirius. 

A few weeks back there was a discussion on portraits in general and 
a mention that this painting is the only one we've seen in the WW 
that isn't moving, talking etc. That's odd, too. 

Ah well, in JKR's world it could be nothing or it could be the key 
to the whole mystery <bg>.