Phineas Nigellus in DH

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 171924

While we're on the topic of Chekhov's guns, I think we haven't seen
the last of Phineas Nigellus, who conveniently has portraits in both
Dumbledore's office (now McGonagall's, assuming that she remains
headmistress and I'm sure she will for simplicity's sake) and 12 GP,
which is now Harry's house. Conveniently, that portrait hangs in
Harry's and Ron's room, which I hope they'll continue to sleep in at
12 GP.

Although Phineas could not have witnessed the argument in the forest,
he must have overheard most of the conversations between DD and Snape
(Snape reports to DD; we've never seen DD in Snape's office). He also
criticizes Harry twice in HBP for making derogatory remarks about Snape. 

Does anyone else think that he'll act as a kind of reverse Cassandra,
not providing predictions that aren't believed but providing evidence
of Snape's loyalty to DD that Harry won't want to hear? (I suspect
that his portrait is attached to the wall with a permanent Sticking
Charm; the only way Harry can escape him will be to Silencio the
portrait or sleep in a different room. With luck, the Order won't
allow Harry to do that because of Phineas's essential role as a
messenger or go-between and he'll have to hear the revelations whether
he wants to or not.

Sidenote: This is utterly trivial, but the Giant Squid is also a
Chekhov's gun and will probably play some role in a Battle of Hogwarts
near the end of the book as one of the good guys. (The battle will
probably cause the deaths of several key characters, but not HRH,
Neville, or the absent Snape).

Carol, signing off for the day and trusting any list member who knows
anything about DH to "Keep it secret; keep it safe!"