Something Small/Dobby's painting of Harry

[a_reader2003]

No: HPFGUIDX 92553

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "jenni_stern" <jennistern at a...> 
wrote:
> <idrinkjameson at h...> wrote:
> 
> >      JKR stated that something very small would be a big part of 
book six.  I've heard a couple of interesting theories on what that 
small thing might be, but I've yet to hear anything convincing.  Its 
been discussed elsewhere that the something could be the Weasley 
clock, the car, or Ginny herself.  I'm not sure that any of those are 
the right answer.  I myself am leaning towards the secret compartment 
> > under the floor in the Malfoy's palace, but I'm not sure why.  
> 
> My Turn:
> 
> I'm of the assumption that the "small" thing mentioned, that will 
> play a role in book 6, is the Hand of Glory.  
(snip)
> Jenni

Carolyn:
I am fascinated by the picture that Dobby painted of Harry. Its such 
a bizarre thing for a house-elf to do, to make a piece of art. I 
can't think of any non-human in the series doing anything like it. It 
is also evidently a very bad, child-like splodge, judging by their 
problem in working out what it is, or even which way up it should be. 

Given that most pictures in the WW seem to be able to communicate, I 
am expecting the painting to play a role. What if it isn't actually 
of Harry at all, but of someone else that Dobby wants Harry to speak 
to? Harry's name is on the back, but this needn't be a title for the 
picture, but a message to Harry. We don't have any dialogue between 
Harry and Dobby about the picture after Xmas, IIRC, where anything is 
explained about it.

I wondered if it could be of a house-elf, maybe a dead one, maybe an 
ancestor/relative of Dobby, who can explain some crucial piece of 
back story at some point ? 

The picture might also not necessarily painted by Dobby, but maybe by 
someone else trying painfully to communicate with the outside world, 
despite spell damage/Imperius control ..