Portraits' magic - WAS: Re: Moody's death / Dumbledore's portrait

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 179506

---  "dumbledore11214" <dumbledore11214 at ...> wrote:
>
> > zanooda:
> <SNIP>
> > The only idea that I had was that, maybe a portrait's
> > "liveliness" depends on how magically  powerful the wizard
> > depicted in it used to be. 
> > 
> > ...
> ><SNIP>
> 
> 
> Alla:
> 
> Right, I really like your interpretation. But here is the 
> quote I had in mind ...
> 
> "
> Q:
> All the paintings we have seen at Hogwarts are of dead people.
> They seem to be living through their portraits. How is this 
> so? If there was a painting of Harry's parents, would he be 
> able to obtain advice from them?
> 
> A:
> That is a very good question. They are all of dead people; 
> they are not as fully realised as ghosts, as you have probably
> noticed. The place where you see them really talk is in 
> Dumbledore's office, primarily; the idea is that the previous
> headmasters and headmistresses leave behind a faint imprint of 
> themselves. They leave their aura, almost, in the office and 
> they can give some counsel to the present occupant, but it is 
> not like being a ghost. They repeat catchphrases, almost. The 
> portrait of Sirius' mother is not a very 3D personality; she 
> is not very fully realised. She repeats catchphrases that she
> had when she was alive. If Harry had a portrait of his parents
> it would not help him a great deal. If he could meet them as 
> ghosts, that would be a much more meaningful interaction, but 
> as Nick explained at the end of Phoenix—I am straying into 
> dangerous territory, but I think you probably know what he 
> explained—there are some people who would not come back as 
> ghosts because they are unafraid, or less afraid, of death."
> 
> 
> Alla
>

bboyminn:

Once again, JKR seems to be rambling and making a convoluted
statement. Of course, I do understand why; she hasn't had time
to craft a formal answer to the question, so she is just 
wandering in and out of various aspects of it as the thoughts
come to her.

But here is what I hear her saying...

I think she is trying to imply that Headmaster Portraits are
MORE realized than common portraits. We see the Fat Lady able
to engage in reasonable conversation, however short those 
conversations might be. But Headmaster Portraits seem to
be able to engage in some degree of rational analysis. 

"The place where you see them really talk is in Dumbledore's
office, primarily; the idea is that the previous headmasters 
and headmistresses leave behind a faint imprint of themselves.
They leave their aura, almost, in the office and they can give
some counsel to the present occupant,..."

Still, presumably a ghost is fully realized. It is essentially
the original person in every way, with the original persons
full mental faculties. 

That said, I can see Dumbledore's portrait capable of some
degree of thoughtful analysis and counsel, but the line would
have to be draw at some point. That is, at some point, he 
would  have to fall short of the original Dumbledore.

Maybe the degree of realization in the portrait is 
proportional to the original wizard. Based on either magical
power and/or intelligence. Though for our discussion, I think
intelligence is the most important. So, by that I mean that 
each portrait is 60% of the original person. Dumbledore was a
genius, so 60% of a genius is still a pretty smart person.

Phineas the other hand, while not unintelligent, seems to be
stuck in a role of who he once was. That is, he is not so 
much who he once was as a portrayal of who he once was. I 
don't see his abilities as deep as Dumbledore. So rather than
60% of a genius, Phineas is 60% of an average smart person. 

Mrs. Black on the other hand, was not a Headmaster and does
not reside in the Head's office or at Hogwarts, and probably 
wasn't that bright to begin with. Taking into consideration
the advantage of being Hogwarts Headmaster, being at Hogwarts,
and being an exceptionally intelligent person to start with,
I would say that makes Mrs. Black about 30% or 40% of her
former self. 

Hey, it was just a thought.

Steve/bboyminn