Headmaster Portraits (was Re: Dumbledore dead?)

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 151653

 
> najwa now:
> I also believe that the portrait means that Dumbledore is dead, but
> still linked to the living, however I wonder if the portraits mean
> that he cannot speak to anyone but the current headmaster. We've seen
> portraits speak to people that aren't headmasters, such as the
> messenger portrait in the Prime Minister's office, but I don't recall
> a time where Headmasters have actually spoken to anyone other than a
> Headmaster/Headmistress, though they can eavesdrop as we've well seen.


Potioncat:
Phineas Nigellus spoke to Harry. In OoP, one of the students who joined 
Dumbledore's Army said that a portrait in DD's office had told him 
about some of Harry's adventures.

I'm wondering if it's significant that the portrait of Dippet never 
seemed to speak.