dumbeldors portrait Options

[MICKMARVOLODUNDE...]

i dont know if this has been mentioned before ive been away for quite awhile but surely just cos hes dead doesnt mean we'll see the last of dumbledor

firstly wont he have a portrait in the headmasters office which should be able to communicate like the others

and secondly theres a possibility that he could come back as a ghost JK was quoted as saying that the not quite so happy among us become ghosts ie moaning myrtle. im sure dumbledor wasnt to happy having just been betrayed by a close 'friend' and probably feeling he had unfinished business.

just thought id make those observations its nice to be back

[Mizz_McNaughty]

he's either gonna come back to life or be in the potrait i thinkk, -i dont think he'll be a ghost.

[hpdork]

There have been many discussions on this, but I here is my stance.

Dumbledore is dead. He won't come back as a ghost because he was never afraid of death. He said himself that there are things worse than death and death is lifes next great adventure. As for being betrayed by a close friend, I don't think he was betrayed, I believe Snape is on the good side and him and Dumbledore had this somewhat planned.

For the portrait, I think the portrait will be there, but essential useless. I believe Jo said somewhere that portraits can only say catchphrases and such, not actually give advice or wisdom.

That's my view of the issue.

[josie]

yea, i think that once the person is dead, they cannot continue thinking about the things they thogught about while they were alive- eg dumbledore could not carry on giving harry advice about the horcruxes. and i think that DD'd portrait being in the office is conformation that he is infact dead :(

[gazbo-s]

For the portrait, I think the portrait will be there, but essential useless. I believe Jo said somewhere that portraits can only say catchphrases and such, not actually give advice or wisdom.

That's my view of the issue.

Although the portraits in the Headmaster's (or should that be Headmistress's) Office seem to be capable of a lot more than, say, the portrait of Sirius's mother... We overhear DD discussing things with them, they are capable of moving between pictures and passing on messages, etc. I think maybe there is more to them than meets the eye... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[WickedWitchOfThe...]

I agree! I also believe that that is one of the most contradictory statements that Jo has ever said because we know those portraits in that office can see and think. It may seem that they are mindless while most people stopping in for a visit are present, but when DD told Phineas to visit his portrait at Grimmauld Place and all the other portraits were calling him a traitor, it was plainly obvious that they knew exactly what was happening and were responding accordingly. I also think that Jo might have forgotten about that particular occasion when she said that they say catchphrases (if it was after OOTP, can't remember anymore).

[gazbo-s]

I'm not sure that Jo has forgotten this - I'm sure she has some "get out" clause for these ones. She has said that the portraits only mouth catchphrases in regard to questions about Harry talking to his parents or Sirius - she didn't say there was no difference between "normal" magical portraits and those in the head's office. Wouldn't surprise me if we find out what that difference is in Book 7...

[josie]

yes, im sure that they can do more than say catch phrases, i dont think they can remember about their lives though, but i do think that they know who they were and everything they have heard since they died?

[gazbo-s]

Again, not sure I agree that they can't remember their lives - they surely can remember some of the details of who they were and their background (Phineus Nigellus knows he's a Black and related to Sirius, as he realises that the last of the Blacks has died when Sirius is killed).

[WickedWitchOfThe...]

she didn't say there was no difference between "normal" magical portraits and those in the head's office

LOL! And that will probably be her get out of jail free card too. She almost always has some kind of way to wiggle out of tight corners. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) But she does forget things, and as I've said before, I put no blame on the woman at all when she does. It's an intricately woven story, she's bound to forget things.

[Zola231]

It would be good if Albus Dumbldore can use phillegus nillegus's portrait. I'd prefer him as a portrait because he will be able to leave the castle.

What would everyone prefer Dumbldore as a portrait or a ghost?

[gazbo-s]

I really don't think that there is any chance of DD being a ghost - remember what Nearly Headless Nick said to Harry in OOTP about Sirius returning as a ghost - only those who were afraid of death would return as ghosts (or something like that - haven't got my copy with me), and we all know that DD is NOT afraid of death.

[whyzdom]

Wasn't he already described as being a portrait in HBP? When Harry was in the headmaster's office, in a golden frame above the desk. It was page 626 of my book.

[1HPgirl]

Yeah but since he is a headmaster, his portrait probably has to be up there. All of the headmasters do. I HIGHLY doubt he's a ghost. Because DD isn't afraid of death. But, maybe he faked the death. You know maybe Snape and DD used the Polyjuice potion so its really Snape thats dead and DD is off with the deatheaters. I dont know, just a theory.

[My Pensieve]

Yeah but since he is a headmaster, his portrait probably has to be up there. All of the headmasters do. I HIGHLY doubt he's a ghost. Because DD isn't afraid of death. But, maybe he faked the death. You know maybe Snape and DD used the Polyjuice potion so its really Snape thats dead and DD is off with the deatheaters. I dont know, just a theory.

Helloooooooo, JK has already stated Dumbledore is dead, dead, dead!!!

[whyzdom]

Yeah but since he is a headmaster, his portrait probably has to be up there. All of the headmasters do. I HIGHLY doubt he's a ghost. Because DD isn't afraid of death. But, maybe he faked the death. You know maybe Snape and DD used the Polyjuice potion so its really Snape thats dead and DD is off with the deatheaters. I dont know, just a theory.

No, it clearly states that a new portrait had appeared above the desk. "And a new portrait had joined the ranks of the dead headmasters and headmistresses of Hogwarts: Dumbledore was slumbering in a golden frame above the desk, his half-moon spectacles perched upon his crooked nose, looking peaceful and untroubled."

And the sentence directly after says even Professor Mc had to steel herself after having glanced at it.



So yeah, he is definitely dead... and not coming back in a physical body sort of way.

Please spell out ALL your words! Thanks...

[Perseus_Evans]

JKR has confirmed that Dumbledore is dead, despite much evidence to the contrary. The appearance of the portrait in his office would seem to support this as well.

While it's possible that JKR has lied to us in order to protect the most important plot twist in the series, I tend to doubt it at this point.

The abilities of the portraits to be more than just mindless has always troubled me since hearing JKR's description of them as being very limited...

Phineas expressed "grief" upon hearing of the death of Sirius, which is a reaction to new knowledge... No matter what, it would be extremely inconsistent with JKR's portrayal of how much the portraits can do. If they are only echoes, then I would not expect such emotionality from them.

I've always thought that the Office portraits are different than others, as they must carry some basic essence of the person they represent, more than an echo. They are enchanted, I think, to be able to assist the current headmaster, which must give them some extended abilities, beyond, say, the image on a chocolate frog card... But I think they certainly must carry memories at least. But, like the mirror of Erised, they can offer no new wisdom or analysis.

Then again, Percy walked out of the photo on Arthur's desk, despite the fact that the picture was obviously taken before the falling out between them. One must conclude that the reactions of the images can change with time. But that may only be because Percy is alive...

I have a strong feeling that Harry will have an opportunity to talk to DD's portrait, but he will be disappointed by a lack of connection. He will recognize him as a former student, but know nothing of their emotional connection.

My current theory is this: Like a victim of the Dementor's kiss, the portraits can talk but have no soul. And they will feel no real emotion... Perhaps Phineas's reaction to Sirius's death was more or less a sense of keeping a statistical record. He expressed concern, but in a very detached way, as if he's been informed that his wand had been misplaced...

[Arsi]

I almost agree with you 100 percent, but the portraits do tend to have some degree of emotion, when Phineas's reaction was that he didnt want to check The Black Household, the other portraits became rather upset and vocalized their objection, that they are bound to serve the current headmaster of Hogwarts.

Other things that suggest that portraits do tend to have more than just a mere presence is that of The Fat Lady, she and her friend Vi were gossiping and got drunk during the Xmas celebration. Sir Caddugin also tends to get quite irrate and over emotional, even chasing people by following them into other paintings.

As for the Past paintings, like the one on Arthur's desk, I had also considered that Percy walking outside of it, was highly significant. That the pictures are not just representation of what was, but also how things are going at the present time.

I do not know if the painting in Dumbledore's office will hold any enlightment for Harry, by knowledge of Horcruxes, or further lessons about Voldemort. Harry in his own way did say goodbye to Dumbledore, so I am not sure if the painting will be needed.

Dumbledore probably left something with Aberforth in case of his death for Harry.

[My Pensieve]

JK had something to say about the portraits, can't remember what was said, but I believe she contradicted herself because didn't the fat Lady show emotion when her portrait was slashed? She ran from portrait to portrait because she was ashamed of what had happened to her. So I think there is emotions in the portraits more then JK admits. I tend to believe there is a little bit of convenient forgetfulness with her sometimes.