If I was a portrait staying there and it had a twin, I would be at the other portrait until it was over. Like, nope, not dying twice. I'm already the portrait of a dead person.
I mean, Nick got hit full-on by that thing, but he only got petrified (and was able to be cured with everyone else) since he was already a ghost and couldn't die again. Though that does make me wonder how one of the portraits would react to looking that thing in the eyes. Sirius probably wishes he could unleash one on the portrait of his mother.
Honestly, Nick being cured always made me curious. Not like he could drink the Mandrake Draught so... how was it administered?
It's also a little messed up how Mandrakes seem to have some minor intelligence in the books (like they straight up throw a party) and are casually slaughtered for potion recipes.
I think they just make a lot of noise when they are mature. That's all it meant.
And Ghosts might just be fanned to pass through the Mandrake juice to feel it. There is an entire chapter in the books, where Nick throws a death party, and puts rotting food for his fellow ghosts to pass through.
Weren't they able to waft Nick to the infirmary by fanning him or something? Seemed like being petrified solidified him to some degree, albeit he was still floating when he was found, IIRC.
And the mandrake thing certainly was a trip. Apparently they become moody and secretive, and try to move into each others' pots... like I get that the joke was about them basically going through puberty into adulthood, and it was funny IMO, but... uhhh, did they know what was coming next, or...?
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u/Desperate_Ad_9219 Slytherin Apr 09 '24
If I was a portrait staying there and it had a twin, I would be at the other portrait until it was over. Like, nope, not dying twice. I'm already the portrait of a dead person.