Even if Hermione had not had respect and deference to one’s superiors drummed into her by her strict parents, her sojourn in Malfoy Manor had taught her that to insult the portraits was an unforgivably stupid offence. They might be physically powerless, but they were usually highly knowledgeable, and the older ones in particular were capable of strange and capricious things. These people – certainly not living, but not quite dead – existed in an inexplicable half-world and were dangerous to cross.