Changes: Headteacher's portrait

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"There are plenty of eye-witness accounts. Just because you're so narrow-minded you need to have everything shoved under your nose before you–"

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Phineas Nigellus Black: "Visit my other portrait? Oh, no, I am too tired tonight."

Unidentified Headmaster: "Insubordination, sir! Dereliction of duty!"

Armando Dippet: "We are honour-bound to give service to the present Headmaster of Hogwarts! Shame on you, Phineas!"

— Some of the other portraits scold Phineas for attempting to shirk his duty to the current Headmaster^[src]

The Headmaster portraits are a set of portraits mounted in the Headmaster's office at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Each portrait represents a previous Headmaster or Headmistress, though not every person to hold the office is immediately granted a portrait. They are honour-bound to serve the current Headmaster at all times. Several of these portraits have counterparts in other prestigious magical institutions, such as the British Ministry of Magic Headquarters, St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, and the Black family home at 12 Grimmauld Place. This is extremely useful, as the individuals within such portraits may travel freely between them, though one important limitation is that they may not bring along individuals from other portraits with them.

A trait shared by many of the portraits is that they spend most of the time asleep or pretending to be asleep, though most of them, with the occasional exception of Phineas Nigellus Black, will immediately awaken when addressed.

History

1995-1996 school year

When Arthur Weasley was attacked by Nagini on 18 December, Albus Dumbledore called upon several of the portraits to relay or provide information on the event. Everard was sent to his portrait at the Ministry of Magic to make sure Arthur was found, Dilys Derwent was sent to St. Mungo's to monitor his arrival there, and Phineas Nigellus Black was sent to 12 Grimmauld Place to inform Sirius Black that Harry Potter and the Weasley children would be arriving there by Portkey.

The portraits witnessed Cornelius Fudge's attempt to arrest Dumbledore later that year, and did not sham sleep that night, but instead outright supported him against the Ministry, with one or two even gave Fudge a rude hand gesture.

1997-1998 school year

After the death of Albus Dumbledore, then-Head Severus Snape continued to be advised by, and take orders from, his portrait. It was under these orders that Snape delivered Godric Gryffindor's Sword to Harry Potter, and arranged for Harry to view several of his memories.

Following the defeat of Lord Voldemort at the Battle of Hogwarts, the portraits cheered on Harry when he visited the Headmaster's office. Dumbledore in particular complimented Harry, and supported his decision to discard the Resurrection Stone and return the Elder Wand to the White Tomb.

Knowledge of portraits

Headmaster portraits are capable of interaction with the living world. The headmaster or headmistress is painted before they die. When the portrait is completed, it is kept in a cupboard in the castle, and the headmaster or headmistress can teach their portrait to act and behave like themselves. Additionally, they can impart specific information and knowledge that can be shared down the centuries with their successors.^[1]

Known Headmasters with portraits

Ambone — Professor Swott's portrait in 1992.

Behind the scenes

J.K. Rowling has stated that all of the portraits in the Headmaster's office (and, in fact, all of the portraits at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry) are of deceased individuals.^[3]^[4] Thus, though it has never been directly stated, it can be assumed that a Headmaster who left the position for other reasons (retirement or sacking, for example) will not have their portrait installed until after their death.
Rowling has explained that Severus Snape's portrait did not appear in the Headmaster's office immediately after his death in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows because he effectively "abandoned" his post shortly before his death.^[4]^[5]
The virtual tour of the Headmaster's office on Disc 2 of the DVD release of the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets reveals two portraits of Albus Dumbledore (as portrayed by Richard Harris) on display in the office, one on the wall amongst the other portraits, and the other in the sitting room behind the desk. As Dumbledore was alive at the time, this contradicts J.K. Rowling's above-mentioned statement that all Headmaster portraits depict deceased individuals. However, it can be assumed that neither of these portraits of Dumbledore were the "official" portrait, and that they were only in the office for decoration, or were draft versions of the final portrait which Dumbledore sat for while still alive.

Appearances

Albus Dumbledore's portrait — Dumbledore's portrait in 1997.

Notes and references

↑ Pottermore - New from J. K. Rowling - Hogwarts Portraits
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 ^2.3 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film) DVD (Disc 2 - Dumbledore's Office)
↑ 2004 J. K. Rowling at the 2004 Edinburgh Book Festival
↑ ^4.0 ^4.1 J. K. Rowling at Carnegie Hall in 2007
↑ 30 July 2007 Bloomsbury.com webchat

[Pottermore-1] Pottermore - New from J. K. Rowling - Hogwarts Portraits

[CoS/f-2] 2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 ^2.3 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film) DVD (Disc 2 - Dumbledore's Office)

[edinburgh2004-3] 2004 J. K. Rowling at the 2004 Edinburgh Book Festival

[carnegie-4] 4.0 ^4.1 J. K. Rowling at Carnegie Hall in 2007

[5] 30 July 2007 Bloomsbury.com webchat

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 |owners=[[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]]
 }}
-{{Dialogue a-b-c|Phineas Nigellus Black|Visit my other portrait? Oh, no, I am too tired tonight.| Unidentified Headmaster|Insubordination, sir! Dereliction of duty!|Armando Dippet|We are honour-bound to give service to the present Headmaster of Hogwarts! Shame on you, Phineas!|Some of the other portraits scold Phineas for attempting to shirk his duty to the current Headmaster.|Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix}}
+{{Dialogue a-b-c|Phineas Nigellus Black|Visit my other portrait? Oh, no, I am too tired tonight.| Unidentified Headmaster|Insubordination, sir! Dereliction of duty!|Armando Dippet|We are honour-bound to give service to the present Headmaster of Hogwarts! Shame on you, Phineas!|Some of the other portraits scold Phineas for attempting to shirk his duty to the current Headmaster|Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix}}
 The '''Headmaster portraits''' are a set of [[portrait]]s mounted in the [[Headmaster]]'s [[Headmaster's office|office]] at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]]. Each portrait represents a previous Headmaster or Headmistress, though not every person to hold the office is immediately granted a portrait. They are honour-bound to serve the current Headmaster at all times. Several of these portraits have counterparts in other prestigious magical institutions, such as the [[British Ministry of Magic Headquarters]], [[St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries]], and the [[House of Black|Black family]] home at [[12 Grimmauld Place]]. This is extremely useful, as the individuals within such portraits may travel freely between them, though one important limitation is that they may not bring along individuals from other portraits with them.
@@ Line 25: / Line 25: @@
 Following the [[Voldemort's Last Stand|defeat]] of [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]] at the [[Battle of Hogwarts]], the portraits cheered on Harry when he visited the Headmaster's office. Dumbledore in particular complimented Harry, and supported his decision to discard the [[Resurrection Stone]] and return the [[Elder Wand]] to the [[White Tomb]].
-==Knowledge of portaits==
+==Knowledge of portraits==
 Headmaster portraits are capable of interaction with the living world. The headmaster or headmistress is painted before they die. When the portrait is completed, it is kept in [[Headmaster portraits' cupboard|a cupboard]] in the castle, and the headmaster or headmistress can teach their portrait to act and behave like themselves. Additionally, they can impart specific information and knowledge that can be shared down the centuries with their successors.<ref name="Pottermore">[http://www.pottermore.com/en/book3/chapter8/moment2/hogwarts-portraits ''[[Pottermore]]'' - New from J. K. Rowling - Hogwarts Portraits]</ref>
@@ Line 34: / Line 34: @@
 *[[Armando Dippet]]
 *[[Basil Fronsac]]
+*[[Brian Gagwilde]]
 *[[Dexter Fortescue]]
 *[[Dilys Derwent]]
@@ Line 47: / Line 48: @@
 *[[Vulpus]]<ref name="CoS/f"/>
 *[[Walter Aragon]]
-*[[Unidentified chessmasters Heads of Hogwarts]]
 *[[Unidentified Hogwarts Headmaster]]
 *[[Unidentified Hogwarts Headmistress]]
 *[[Unidentified resting headmaster]]
+*[[Unidentified Sleeping Headmaster with Apple]]
+*[[Unidentified Sleeping Headmaster with Book]]
 ==Behind the scenes==
+*[[J.K. Rowling]] has stated that all of the portraits in the [[Headmaster's office]] (and, in fact, all of the portraits at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]]) are of deceased individuals.<ref name="edinburgh2004">[http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2004/0804-ebf.htm 2004 J. K. Rowling at the 2004 Edinburgh Book Festival]</ref><ref name="carnegie">[http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/2007/10/20/j-k-rowling-at-carnegie-hall-reveals-dumbledore-is-gay-neville-marries-hannah-abbott-and-scores-more J. K. Rowling at Carnegie Hall in 2007]</ref> Thus, though it has never been directly stated, it can be assumed that a Headmaster who left the position for other reasons (retirement or sacking, for example) will not have their portrait installed until after their death.
-*It is possible that [[Dolores Umbridge]] does not have a portrait, because she is still alive and is currently in Azkaban. Most headmasters only receive their portraits once they die. Moreover Hogwarts did not recognise her as Headmistress, as she was forcibly interjected by the Minister, and was denied access to the Headmaster's office. Also considerable factors are that her term lasted from the middle of the year to near the end of that same year, and that she was dismissed with suspicions on her conducts.
+*Rowling has explained that [[Severus Snape|Severus Snape's]] portrait did not appear in the Headmaster's office immediately after his death in ''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]'' because he effectively "abandoned" his post shortly before his death.<ref name="carnegie" /><ref>[http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2007/0730-bloomsbury-chat.html 30 July 2007 Bloomsbury.com webchat]</ref>
-*According to [[J. K. Rowling]], all of the Headmaster portraits depict deceased individuals. As such, though it is never directly stated, it can be assumed that a Headmaster who leaves the position for other reasons will not have their portrait added until after their death.
+*The virtual tour of the Headmaster's office on Disc 2 of the DVD release of the [[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)|film adaptation]] of ''[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets]]'' reveals two portraits of [[Albus Dumbledore]] (as portrayed by [[Richard Harris]]) on display in the office, one on the wall amongst the other portraits, and the other in the sitting room behind the desk. As Dumbledore was alive at the time, this contradicts J.K. Rowling's above-mentioned statement that all Headmaster portraits depict deceased individuals. However, it can be assumed that neither of these portraits of Dumbledore were the "official" portrait, and that they were only in the office for decoration, or were draft versions of the final portrait which Dumbledore sat for while still alive.
-*Snape did not get a portrait at first due to his, at the time, questionable allegiance. However, with [[Harry Potter]] convincing [[Minerva McGonagall]], he got Snape's portrait into the office.
-*The virtual tour of the [[Headmaster's office]] on Disc 2 of the DVD release of the [[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)|film adaptation]] of [[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets]] reveals two portraits of [[Albus Dumbledore]] (as portrayed by [[Richard Harris]]) on display in the office, one on the wall amongst the other portraits, and the other in the sitting room behind the desk. As Dumbledore was alive at the time, this contradicts J.K. Rowling's above-mentioned statement that all the portraits depict deceased individuals. However, it can be assumed that neither of these portraits of Dumbledore are the "official" portrait, which was added after his death, and that they are only in the office for decoration (possibly a way of symbolizing Dumbledore's occupation of the office).
 ==Appearances==