Snape portrait

[bother]

Many people are confused why there wasn't any mention about Snape portrait in Headmaster's study when Harry came there after Voldemort's dead. Snape after all was a Headmaster of Hogwarts so there should hang his portrait after his death, shouldn't it?
When Dumbledore died, his portrait appeared there at once.
So didn't Harry just noticed Snape portrait or there wasn't any? If latter - why not?

[DucksRMagical]

I imagine there was a portrait, but Harry just didn't notice or didn't pay any attention. Though he realized that Snape was good, Dumbledore was still the headmaster who Harry looked up to and helped him through all the hard times he had during previous years. There just wasn't that connection with Snape.

[Run Away!!!]

It is also possible that Snape was never truly a headmaster of hogwarts. Sure he held the position, but it was only because he wanted to help Dumbledore and nobody really thought of him as the rightful headmaster.

[noris]

well that would mean that when umbridge dies she would also have a portrait. i think it doesnt matter how long they are headmaster/mistress you still get your portrait there.

[GodrictheGriffon]

I think that Snape was an official Headmaster but Umbridge wasn't because she didn't help the students at all, really.

[Run Away!!!]

Well it would make sense if neither Umbridge or Snape had a portrait. Like I said, nobody new that Snape was good at the time, and nobody liked him or wanted him as headmaster or thought he deserved to be in that place. Same with Umbridge. So I don't think they get a portrait unless they are accepted as headmaster in the hearts of the students and staff members.

[choki]

Come to think of it, both Snape and Umbridge became headmaster under the order of their respective 'master' which happened to be at that time, the highest authority. However they were never chosen to be headmaster. Neither gained respect from the students nor the teachers at Hogwarts.

Maybe the position of the headmaster is like the master of the Elder Wand. Being in the position doesn't necessarily means that you're the headmaster, i.e having the Elder Wand in your hand doesn't necessarily means that you're the master of the Elder Wand.

[June]

Rowling gave this reply to a question posed to her:


Q: Was the absence of snapes portrait in the headmasters office in the last scene innocent or deliberate?

J.K. Rowling: It was deliberate. Snape had effectively abandoned his post before dying, so he had not merited inclusion in these august circles. However, I like to think that Harry would be instrumental in ensuring that Snape’s portrait would appear there in due course.



There you have it.

[DucksRMagical]

I asked her almost the same question, I asked whether Snape or Umbridge have portraits in there. But she never answered it, probably because she had answered that one previously! I must have missed that part.