What Portraits Know (was Re: portrait in GH...)

[caesian]

No: HPFGUIDX 97680

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Eustace_Scrubb" <dk59us at y...> wrote:
> > bboy_mn:
> > <even more SNIPPING>
> > Now Dumbledore adds a new concept, portrait characters who have
> > portraits in other locations can move between those portraits. Based
> > on the wizard who ran to find the injured Mr Weasley, once at the 
> > new location, they are again able to move from portrait to portrait.
<snip>
> > 
> > Logically,if you have a portrait character that you don't trust, you
> > wouldn't put him in a location where he couldn't overhear or see 
> > much. 
> > bboy_mn
> 
> Now Eustace_Scrubb:
> 
<snip> I wonder what the other properties of these portraits are?  The
> portraits appear to be complete representations of their subjects. 
> That is, they are not merely physically accurate images, they also
> move as the subjects did and, most importantly, have all of their
> subjects' knowledge, prejudices, emotions, etc.  They can carry on
> conversations with living persons and with other portraits.  
<snip> 
The portraits can also be bound to act in certain ways despite their
> own wishes...Phineas Nigellus reluctantly obeying Dumbledore being an
> example.  Is this a matter of honor...do the subjects voluntarily
> agree to serve the future Headmasters when the portrait is
> commissioned?  Is a spell used to ensure such behavior?
> 
<snip> We already
> know that portraits can serve as spies or at least that they know
> things that could be damaging in the wrong hands.  Could Lucius, for
> example, use Imperius or Crucio on a portrait of Phineas Nigellus in
> order to extract information about the activities of Dumbledore and
> the Order?
> 
> Eustace_Scrubb

Caesian replies:
I have been wondering about this too, especially since the highly gaurded secret of the 
prophesy was revealed to Harry in front of a large group of portraits, all of whom were 
paying very careful attention.  Even Phinneas, who was probably at Grimmauld Place, could 
be included because we don't know for sure that he wasn't lurking just out of sight.  I 
don't see any reason to suspect that the Prophesy is no longer a big deal, or that LV is no 
longer interested in finding the exact wording from another source - like Prof. Trelawny - 
or I suppose one of these portraits. Dumbledore must have a good reason to trust these 
portraits very highly.

Caesian