Chapter 720: Newt and the Serpent Witch’s Little Tales
"Professor Snape, what's wrong?"
Kyle, who had nearly been knocked over, glanced at Snape, who was hurrying away, and asked doubtfully, "Professor, you're not docking his salary, are you?"
"Of course not," Dumbledore replied, adjusting his demeanor with a smile. "In fact, the professor of Defence Against the Dark Arts receives ten Galleons more than professors of other subjects. There's no way around it. Without that incentive, we simply wouldn't be able to recruit suitable candidates."
Kyle believed the high salary was undoubtedly true, though he refrained from commenting on whether the professors recruited were actually suitable. That was something Dumbledore would know better.
"Boy, I have a feeling you're thinking something rude," Phineas Nigellus Black suddenly remarked from his portrait. "Trust me, my instincts are usually right."
"Good afternoon, sir," Kyle replied, looking up at the painting. "I admit, I was just thinking about whether I should remind Sirius to properly clean the house and get rid of some useless items."
"...such as the portrait by the stairs in the living room."
"I was right—you're an impolite brat!" Phineas shrieked, as if someone had stepped on his tail. "I warn you, don't even think about it! Sirius wouldn't throw away his grandfather's portrait!"
"Really?" Kyle said indifferently. "I'm not so sure..."
Phineas's portrait hung by the stairs at 12 Grimmauld Place, which allowed him to move freely between the headmaster's office and there to deliver some of Dumbledore's requests or plans. However, Dumbledore usually opted to deliver messages himself, rendering the portrait largely redundant.
More than once, Sirius had mused about tossing the thing out.