Dumbledore's portrait

[suzi_99_uk]

No: HPFGUIDX 133973

Can someone explain to me the way in which the portraits in 
Dumbledore's office communicate?  Surely if the previous portraits can 
offer advice/censure then Dumbledore's can do the same?  Or is it the 
fact that the subject may still be alive that lets them talk so 
independantly?  Still, surely not all the paintings in Dumbledore's 
office are of people who are still living, and as we know the painting 
of Sirius' mother in Grimmuld Place is certainly of a deceased 
person.  Yet that too voices an opinion, although it does seem to be 
more of a curse-based communication, with her only uttering her hatred 
for 'mudbloods'.  Either way, we've seen that quite a few paintings 
(especially The Fat Lady, Sir Cadogen) in HP are able to hold 
conversations, and if that's the case will Dumbledore's be able to as 
well?  I guess I'm trying to get my head around whether the painting 
is meant to be a kind of after life, and if we really have heard the 
last from Dumbledore. 

Suz