In Harry Potter, the Ghosts of Hogwarts are an incredible and fascinating part of Hogwart’s history and the Wizarding World. In answer to Snape’s question on the difference between an Inferius and a Ghost, Harry replies with the sage answer that “Ghosts are transparent.” But besides this, what is known about these shimmering specters?
Unfortunately for the viewers of the Harry Potter films, not much screen time was used to delve deeper into the world of the in-between as the plot was focused elsewhere. So now that there’s some time to learn about the souls of the Wizarding World’s departed, here are 10 things you didn’t know about the Ghosts of Hogwarts.
10 The Difference Between Ghosts and Portraits
Nearly Headless Nick describes the process of becoming a ghost as a choice. “Wizards can leave an imprint of themselves upon the earth, to walk palely where their living selves once trod, but very few wizards choose that path,” as it is a “feeble imitation of life.” Wizards often stay behind for reasons such as great regret, attachments, and unfinished business. Ghosts are different from living Portraits. Portraits are legacies. As the Dumbledore Portrait says, “I am paint and memory, Harry, paint and memory.” In order to create a portrait that is a genuine and accurate depiction of the wizard it is portraying, bonding with the portrait is a pivotal part of the process. The more powerful the wizard, the greater the portrait.
9 The DeathDay Party
An event that happened in the Harry Potter and The Chamber Of Secrets novel that was left out of the movie was Sir Nicholas’s 500th DeathDay Party. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were invited by Nick to come and celebrate with the Ghosts Of Hogwarts and other specters that traveled from far away to be there. “They passed a group of gloomy nuns, a ragged man wearing chains, and the Fat Friar, a cheerful Hufflepuff ghost, who was talking to a knight with an arrow sticking out of his forehead.” The food served at the party was rotten to increase its pungency and a musical saw was played for entertainment, much to the dismay of the three living attendees.
8 Why Nearly Headless Nick Died
Something Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington likes to be made known is his dislike for the Headless Hunt, and that he prefers not to be called Nearly Headless Nick. Of course, it’s understandable that no one would like to be reminded of their embarrassing death. When Nick, now the Ghost of Gryffindor, was in an esteemed position in the court of Henry VII he tried his hand at a spell with detrimental consequences. He turned a woman’s teeth into tusks instead of fixing them. He was sentenced to death via beheading but had an executioner who wasn’t very good at his job, leaving his head hanging on by one strip of skin.
7 Moaning Myrtle’s Vengence
Myrtle Warren died during her schooling at Hogwarts when Tom Riddle released the Basilisk from the Chamber of Secrets. But she died with unfinished business and regrets, needing to haunt the tormentors from her past.
When Myrtle was a student, her life was made miserable by fellow classmate, Olive Hornby. Olive’s bullying was the reason Myrtle was in the girls’ bathroom the night of her murder. And when she was sent to find Myrtle it was to find her dead. “Are you in here again, sulking Myrtle? Because Professor Dippet asked me to look for you-.” Myrtle had to be restrained by the Ministry to put a stop to her haunting Olive.
6 The Dreadful Demise Of The Grey Lady
The Grey Lady (J.K. Rowling originally called her The Whispering Lady), formally known as Rowena Ravenclaw’s daughter, Helena Ravenclaw, is the Ghost of Ravenclaw. When Helena was alive, she stole her mother’s diadem and ran away. The very same diadem that would be one of Voldemort’s Horcruxes.
She died at the hands of the Bloody Baron, who at the time was simply known as the Baron. He was sent by Helena’s mother to bring her back home. It was not the Baron’s intention to kill her, but in a blind rage of jealousy for her freedom and her refusal to leave with him, he stabbed her. Ghost Helena would often make trips to the forest of Albania to where she hid the diadem. The same forest Wormtail found Voldemort.
5 The Regret Of The Bloody Baron
The Baron was in love with Helena Ravenclaw. He is described as a horrible ghost with “blank staring eyes, a gaunt face, and robes stained with silver blood.” Helena told Harry of her murder. “He tracked me to the forest where I was hiding. When I refused to return with him, he became violent. The baron was always a hot-tempered man. Furious at my refusal, jealous of my freedom, he stabbed me… When he saw what he had done, he was overcome with remorse. He took the weapon that had claimed my life, and used it to kill himself. All these centuries later, he wears his chains as an act of penitence… as he should.” The Bloody Baron is The Slytherin Ghost and one of the most feared and avoided entities in Hogwarts.
4 The Existence Of Peeves
Peeves is a Poltergeist. He wears loud, colorful clothes and appears solid. He has a crude, humorous nature, with just enough mischief to make things troublesome. He is neither a Ghost nor thought to have been a living wizard, but simply an energy disturbance created by the aura channels of Hogwart’s copious students. Peeves served as an amusing aspect of the books and created a more lively Hogwarts experience for the students and teachers. He would often be found performing pranks and being a nuisance, giving grief to anyone who tried to stop him. The only person or entity that Peeves listens to is The Bloody Baron, although the Poltergeist has a certain affinity for Fred and George Weasley.
3 The Goodwill Of The Fat Friar
The Fat Friar is the Ghost of Hufflepuff. Although he only appeared in the Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone film, he was present in the books, reporting on Umbridge’s actions and wanting to forgive Peeves for his actions during a meeting with the Ghost’s Council. A friendly and jolly man, the Friar provided help to the students of Hogwarts whenever it was needed.
When he was living he was found to be a suspicious character by the senior churchmen. The Fat Friar cured peasants with the pox by the act of poking them with a stick. He was also guilty of constantly pulling rabbits out of the communion cup.
2 The Snore-Inducing Professor Binns
Professor Binns is the History of Magic teacher at Hogwarts. He is the only teacher who is a ghost, although it is debatable whether he is aware of it. Binns died in his sleep one night in front of the staff-room fire and awoke the next day for class, leaving his body behind. J.K. Rowling based the character on her old university professor, a brilliant yet disconnected lecturer who was hardly aware of his students’ presence. It is Professor Binns that is asked about the Chamber of Secrets in the book instead of Hermione asking McGonagall in the film.
1 The Resurrection Stone
Unlike the Ghosts of Hogwarts, the figures brought into being by the Resurrection Stone are not stuck in this form forever but said to be taken from the afterlife for moments of communication with the living. “They were neither ghost nor truly flesh, he could see that. They resembled most closely the Riddle that had escaped from the diary so long ago, and he had been memory made nearly solid. Less substantial than living bodies, but much more than ghosts, they moved toward him, and on each face, there was the same loving smile.” When Dumbledore destroyed the Horcrux within the stone, he was able to keep the stone’s resurrecting abilities intact.
About The Author
