A lot of people have noticed that Dumbledore's office has many relations to Godric Gryffindor. Many have looked at this as a reflection upon Dumbledore, but could it also reflect upon the nature of the office itself? Here, let me explain.

Could it be that the office was once the office of Godric Gryffindor himself? If so, could it be that only headmasters who were from Gryffindor house (like dumbledore) are allowed to use it as their office? Remember that, when Umbridge tried to use it as her office, it wouldn't let her. We all assumed that this was because this wasn't her office (she wasn't headmaster), but perhaps that isn't why she wasn't allowed in. Though we don't know Umbridge's house, I think we'd all agree that she's probobly a slytherin. Perhaps she wasn't let in because, though she was headmaster, she's wasn't a gryffindor headmaster, and thus couldn't get in. Anyway, could there be other offices for the other houses? For example, could there be an office for Ravenclaw? What if there was a new headmaster (McGonagall looked over for the job) who was from Ravenclaw? Perhaps we might find a ravenclaw object....

Of course, this would assume that the pictures would move (magically or otherwise) to the correct office when a new headmaster from a different hosue was brought in.

-fish

Hmm...Interesting concept, savingharry. I've never thought of that. But personally, I think that it is the same office for all of the Hogwarts headmasters. I can't remember for sure, but in CoS when Harry goes "into the diary", doesn't he visit Professer Dippet (the headmaster of the time)'s office, and wasn't it the same office as Dumbledore's? And I don't think we know what Dippet's house was or whether or not he was in Gryffindor. Maybe if we had this information, it would help clarify things for sure.

I think (but not entirely sure, might be mis-remembering) Dippet was a Ravenclaw.

But Phineus was a slytherin, and why would his portrait be on the wall of THAT room if he hadn't occupied it as headmaster?

Well, as you say, we don't know what Dippet's house, so he could have just as well been a Gryffindor too. And, as far as the portriats go, they could be transfered (magically or otherwise) to the new office, couldn't they?

-fish

Interesting idea, the house affiliation dictating where the headmasters office is located.
Personally, I fell that Dumbledore never left the school in OoTP so he never relinquished the office and that is why Umbridge could not get in. Also in CoS, when Dumbledore was asked to leave the school, I cannot recall a scene in which McCongall was in the office, I think that the trio meet her in the corridor. The Headmasters office is just that, I do not think that it would move just because the headmaster was from a different house. Each Headmaster can decorate the room however they see fit. Also each house head already has an office, remember that even though Snape got the DADA job he still kept the same office he always had. In GoF were some of the pictures also in the Chamber the champions entered after being selected.

i not entirly sure but i think in CoS it says Dippet was in ravenclaw. but i might have read it somewhere else. but i dont tink they would change offices but i would have thought that dd's objects would have been taken down magicaly.

i think it is probably the same office for all headmasters however i like the idea

also i think that DD problably sealed the office off from umbridge, or the office sealed itself so she could get in

i was wondering that maybe the office is like the room of requirment in the fact that it is in the same place, however depending on the heads house it could change, or perhaps it changes anyway depending on what the head wants in his/her office. i think that only a true headteacher of hogwarts can live in the office though which means umbridge never could have (also the office would be all pink and that would be scary lol!!)

i don't think so mate...sirius great grandfather was head of slytherin wasn't he? and he must have used the office...i think that umbridge wasn't let into the office because of some enchantment..i think you have to be inaugrated as headmaster or you won't be allowed in the office or something like that...

I'm in agreeance with Chosen Captain, that the office has to be inherited not acquired for temporary measures. Such as when Dumbledore was temporarily removed from office with the aid of Lucius...that the office is off limits to anyone but the Original and Authorized Headmaster.
Not someone who takes over via power hungry means such as Umbridge.

As for Prof. McGonagall...and any other Prof. they all have their own individual offices that they do their work in. Whilst acting as Headmaster they would automatically use their own office.

That and I also think that it is enchanted so that none other than the Offical Headmaster has access for use as Headmaster.

Besides....I like the fact that Umbridge was locked out...serves her right!

i dont think it matters which house you are in just as long as you are headmaster. it also said in ootp that the gargoyle you have to say the password to wouldnt let her past so maybe it just didnt let her in because she didnt know the password or that she wasnt the proper headmaster and they knew dumbledore was going to come back.

I have always thoght that that office hides something that does not meet the eye,
for one harry always finishes up in dumbledores office at the end of the year
also jkr mentiones that every headmaster left something behind,something alive,
in the office,
all the artiffacts are to be used with realy adavanced magic and so i think that over the years the office itself started to show sings of magic due to the fact that it is situated in Hogwarts and because of all the great wizards that have been there,
or lived there.

I think Umbridge couldn't enter because she was not the true head, when Harry returned to Dumbledore's office after Sirius' death in OotP one of the ex-head portraits says something like 'what are you doing here, this office is supposed to be barred from all but the schools true headmaster.

But i must agree, i've always thought of the office as Godric Gryffindor's personal room/space, and maybe the other founders had other areas for them, except Slytherine, he had 2 becuase of the chamber of secrets (must thats just my opinion and i'm straying a little).

i think that the office simply wouldn't let umbridge in because she wasn't the rightful head.
i don't think that umbrisge was from slytherin because people say that almost everyone form slytherin turned to the dark side, she may be nasty but like some character said, she would never be a death eater, no matter how mean she may seem. plus she strikes me more as a ravenclaw than anyother house.

I think the fact that DD's portrait appeared there magically and automatically is a key, we all know that Hogwart's has enchantments layered upon enchantments. . and that the roots of this are in the original construction of the building.

I have always loved the idea of the office itself being a great source of power and knowledge on which the present headmaster can rely as a resource. . the place is filled with magical tools, who is to say they were brought by DD? Isn't it more likely that they have been accumulated over time? Passed on from Headcheese to Headcheese, inherrited in turn by the next HM; each one as the last dies leaving behind a position that can only be passed on by death?

Have any HM's ever quit the post before death?

The fact that the portraits appear THERE and accumulate speak to it being non-house oriented. It certainly seems that the school knows it's own headmaster, just as the wand chooses the wizard. . this accounts for Umbridge's frustrations (how satisfying THAT was!) It also seems in the spirit of what the founders intended. . an unchangeable magical resource serving to protect the school at any cost, and of course ultimately the students as well, insulating Hogwarts power from any influence from the outside world, it's politics, and any schemes or plans no matter the power of the individual. . it is the center of the vortex.

~ ill

Besides, wouldn't the statue in front be a Lion if it were a Griffindor institution?

Funny, I thought the same thing but don't remember reading it.

I don't think the headmaster's office changes...just my opinion. Have you noticed that the teacher's offices don't change when they get hired? We know for a fact, at least, that Lupin was in Griffyndor (sp?) and Slughorn was in Slytherin. They had the same office. Maybe it was the same for headmasters?

I agree that Umbridge is a Ravenclaw. . (oh my god putting up with her as an upperclasssman would have been horrible. . come home to the common room to THAT).

On the subject of portraits, i was wonderring. If the portrait magically appears in the office, but Phineas Nigelius has an extra portrait at the black house, how did it get there? how many portraits can appear for a given wizard? As DD points out there is a network of wizard portaits that can be traveresed only by the wizards depicted, very useful for information and communication accross the wizarding world. But how does this work?

Where are DD's other portraits? Did he have a house somewhere? In the black house perhaps?

And lastly, why do these guys sleep so much? You'd think theyd talk to each other more.

~ ill

If you remember, Phinneas Nigellus was a member of the Black family. He was Sirius's Grand Father, so that's probably why his portrait was in Grimmauld Place. I know that a couple of the previous Heads at Hogwarts had portraits in the Ministry and St Mungos, and I expect that maybe they had some connection to those places in their life times. DD, though...I don't know surely he must have had a home away from Hogwarts....it's a good question though. I always got the impression that DD lived in his office.

Since DD used the Black house as an office, and since Harry would want one there, surely there should be a Dumbledore Portait appearing at Grimauld place, (hopefully away from the shrieking corridor, perhaps in the kitchen! No, no, in the bedroom accross from Phineus I think, or maybe the common room they cleaned.)

Perhaps not in the Ministry (DD wasn't exactly at home there) or perhaps in the Department of Mysteries somewhere.

I'd love to know more about the Portaits in general, and the rules that guide them . .

It's hard to imagine that DD has no land holding at all. . even hierloom properties or as places he's used to hide and develop secret things, or pathways to them. . maybe in his alchemy days.

Of course DD always seemed to like simplicity, it is equally sensible that he has liquidated all lands for the sanctity of his office, he has the whole of the Castle for his home. All it's mysteries where his, (except the chamber of secrets it seems) and he obviously exersized his right to use any areas he pleased to store things or further his cause.


~ ill

hey,

there has been a slytherin headmaster though? (Phinease Niggel (sp?) slytherin)
i'd also say that pro. umbridge was a ravenclaw, (wasn't it mentioned somewhere? i haven't read the books in a while)

i liek that idea but i dont think it makes much of a difference concidering htat mcgonnagal was in gryfindor and i doubt there will be another headmaster/headmistress in book 7.

I'd like to point out that just because Umbridge was a nasty piece of work doesn't mean she was in Slytherin.

I think you're wrong, it's possible but there's a big chance that Dumbledore decorated it like that as he was from Gryffindor.

The office sealed itself because Umbridge wasn't the headmaster

Albus was merely absent as the ministry had taken him away. His office remained loyal (or maybe the gargoyles outside his office)

I do not really believe much you said although it was amusing

Phines Nigulus was a Slytherin and Im pretty sure he was a Headmaster for a little while.
Umbridge couldnt get into the office when she was there because she WASNT THE HEADMASTER.
Im not sure what house Professor Dippet was in,it never said,but he was Headmaster.
And we all know how wicked Umbridge is,but that doesnt mean she was a Slytherin.

Hmm, it's an interesting thought. I'm incined to think that, however, there's just one Headmaster's Office.

I think the gargoyles were meerly shunning her from entering. Denying her access to uphold Dumbledore's reign, you know?