Portraits | Encyclopedia Harry Potter OP Guide

Some of the portraits in Hogwarts hide secret passages which you can access after completing small tasks. Admittedly you don't get any points for opening these passages, however they can really shorten your travels around Hogwarts. Here's the list of them with tasks. Warning: there are a few portraits which you won't be able to speak with until some time later.

1. Portrait 1: Fat Lady - wants a password, you can get it from any Gryffindor student;
2. Portrait 2: requires some information about Rowena Ravenclaw, just ask one of Ravenclaw students;
3. Portrait 3: wants you to find out what's the header of Daily Prophet, in order to do this, go to the Great Hall and cast a few spells (Depulso and Accio as far as I remember) on owl-shaped stand;
4. Portrait 4: fix two "knights" standing nearby (Depulso a few times) and you'll be able to pass;
5. Portrait 5: to get his password, you'll have to run a bit: start from portrait 12 on 4th floor, then go to portrait 2, then to painting of the shepherdess on 2nd floor (screen below), then to portrait 11 and portrait 7 - he's the one who will give you the password;
6. Portrait 6: requires a password; take cloak of invisibility from Gryffindor Boys' Dormitory and get back to the portrait - you'll witness a conversation between two Slytherins and portrait and also the password (warning: cloak of invisibility is available after finishing Ginny's task)
7. Portrait 7: requires a password, you can get it from any Hufflepuff student;
8. Portrait 8: you have to run to portrait 7 and talk to him;
9. Portrait 9: requires a password which he hasn't been hearing for 50 years - you can get it from Myrtle;
10. Portrait 10: the only thing you have to do is to speak to him, BUT! You can do this no sooner than while doing Hannah Abbott's task;
11. Portrait 11: to get his password, you have to chase off nearby Slytherins - just point your wand at them;
12. Portrait 12: you need to talk to his both "halves" (to get to them, you must know Incendio in order to burn spider webs).