DD's Penseive / Portrait

[h2so3f]

No: HPFGUIDX 144406

colebiancardi wrote:
 "My thoughts about the paintings is that they are active 
participants, even though they aren't *real*." <snip>


CH3ed:
I think JKR said either on her site or in an interview that 
portraits are 'imprints' of the person and their thinking process is 
somewhat limited to repeating the person's catch phrases in the 
past. I agree with Colebiancardi that they are useful in the 
surveillance area. The portraits have indeed been listening to 
everything that went on in the Headmaster's office. I think the 
scene you were thinking of is from OotP right after the snake attack 
vision. Harry, McGonagall, and Ron went to see DD and when they were 
just outside the door Harry heard the sound of an animated discussion
coming from the office.
 

Colebiancardi wrote:
 "Which leds me to believe that was also the reason why DD talked to 
Snape in the Forbidden Forest, where they argued, instead of DD's 
office - I don't think DD wanted the portraits to overhear what he & 
Snape were planning to do. But why not?  Aren't the portraits 
supposed to be at the beck & call of the headmaster/headmistress? Is 
DD worried that one of the portraits may be used for some other 
purpose? Or did he just wish any plans, such as what Snape needs to 
do if something really bad happens(re: The Tower scene), not to be 
revealed." <snip a lot>


CH3ed:
Good catch! Yeah, I think DD had that discussion with Snape in the 
forest to avoid being overheard by the portraits (only to be 
overheard by Hagrid instead). The portraits are bound by honor to 
serve the current headmaster of Hogwarts. So when DD dies the 
portraits are supposed to tell the new Headmaster anything he/she 
ask. Some of the portraits seem to like to chat to visitors too (I 
think it was Tippet that told one of the DA boys that Harry used 
Gryffindor's sword to kill the Basilisk in his 2nd year. And Phineas 
Nigellus was chatting up Fudge after he, Umbridge and his aurors 
fought DD in OotP) so it is likely DD didn't trust their ability to 
keep from slipping important secrets out. 

I'm leaning pretty far into the DDM!Snape camp so I think this fits 
well with the theory that DD anticipated his possible assasination 
before school year ends.