Phineas Nigellus Black's portrait

Phineas Nigellus Black
Phineas Nigellus Black was, according to his great-great-grandson Sirius Black, the least popular headmaster Hogwarts ever had, who died in 1926 according to the Black family tree. Phineas' portrait hangs in the head master's office along with the portraits of the other ex-headmasters and headmistresses. A second portrait of Phineas hangs in the Black family home at 12 Grimmauld Place. Like other characters in portraits in the wizarding world, Phineas can travel between his portraits. He does not get along well with his great-great-grandson, young people, or most people for that matter. However, he seems somewhat upset to find out Sirius, the last male member of the Black family, was dead, for dynastic or emotional reasons. He is unusual in being a character who openly criticises Harry Potter's often rash behaviour. In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry uses the bedroom where a portrait of Phineas is hanging, and Phineas gives him messages from Dumbledore. In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Hermione Granger removes the portrait from 12 Grimmauld Place and takes it with the trio in their quest for Horcruxes. It is kept in her beaded bag so that Phineas could not see where they are. Phineas is upset by the lack of respect with which the trio treats him, but he does provide them with information about events at Hogwarts, and how Dumbledore destroyed a Horcrux. It is revealed through Snape's memories that Phineas has been aiding Snape and Dumbledore so that they could find the trio. After Voldemort's fall, Phineas says that the Slytherins' contributions in the cause should not be forgotten, referring to his own contribution and the participation of Snape, Slughorn, and the Malfoys.