The Hogwarts Ghosts

Book 5: HP & the Order of the Phoenix Forum

Thread open to discuss the Hogwarts ghosts.

They were conspicuously absent in most of the Order of the Phoenix. Where were they? Are they able to spy on the students without being seen? Where are their true loyalties, with the Order or with Voldemort?

I noticed that they weren't around either. I think that the Bloody Baron will side with Voldemort. He could possibly try to "spy" around Hogwarts.

Yes the Bloody Baron is definitely a bad ghost. What about Moaning Myrtle?

Oh, we haven't seen the last of her, and I'm SURE that she will help out our side!!

She does like Harry a lot, so I am sure you are right- if they can keep her out of the prefects bathroom, spying on the boys!

OooOOoOooOOh maybe Harry will Marry Myrtle

The Bloody Barren will probably side with Voldemort true, but I can't imagine Slytherin ghosts being allowed into other houses' common rooms... probably a spell to stop them or something... just a thought.

Because ghosts could act as spies (like you guys said)... and that's just bad bad bad!

Bloody Boran will be a case.

Grant, that is a good point about the Ghosts not being allowed in the others common room. Perhaps there are other perimeters for the Ghosts.

Right, there would have to be, otherwise they'd be cheating for their own team all the time

is it possible for ghosts in Potter-land to objects? I dont remember

True... I guess I never thought of that. Couldn't you see the Bloody Baron going through the area of each house the night before a Quidditch match against Slytherin? He would make it so the players of the opposing team got no sleep.

True... though I just remembered that the ghosts can touch real objects

What's his name... the Poltergeist... he does it...

Peeves. What is the difference between a ghost and a poltergeist?

I don't know, what's the difference between a ghost and a poltergeist?

(what? No punch line?)


I think the difference is Peeves is a pain in the bottom (hence the name Peeves, I'd say). I doubt Peeves is any different to other ghosts, except for the fact that he's annoying


But it'd be interesting to know who Peeves was before he died... to make him so nuts.

Hmmm... Peeves was probably someone Fred&George-like, i'd say...

Well, ghosts are imprints of living souls that are wandering the places *where they used to live*..... i don't think Bloody Baron spent a lot of time in the Gryffindor Tower, huh?? that's why different ghosts aren't able to go to other houses' areas... or rather, not willing to go there. They're not emotionally connected to those places.

And i don't think ghosts will play a real role in the battle between the Order and the Deatheaters. I think they'll be more like a moral support now and then... just like they are right now, to Gryffindors/Slytherins/Hufflepuffs/Rawenclaws...

O.K. I did some searching and a Poltergeist is supposed to be a mischevious spirit.

Ya but that doesn't mean he might not be the missing member.Look at Snape,he's an idiot but still in the order

nice way of saying it sirius

I think Snape's smart... so smart that I don't know what he's thinking

fuscia, then what's the difference between a spirit and a ghost? hehehe

Spirit and a ghost?
I dont think they are different

Anyway thanks Gaboman

O.K. Mr. Smartiepants. A Ghost is a person who has not gone on to heaven or hell and thus is earthbound. A Spirit is something that is distilled and enjoyed at parties.

What do you mean by "is distilled and enjoyed at parties"?

I'll show you what spirits can do to someone *hick*

Quick Dobby, help me get him into the room of requirement. Move Winky over.

*drinks another spirit*

Watch out Sir Nick, you're next... *hick-gurble*

Oh man, Kris, we are going to need some help in here.

Ghosts, there are something like 20 of them at Hogwarts. We know that they can send messages with the ghosts to Dumbledore.

They can go through tables, but can they go through the walls and floors of hogwarts?

Yes, Nick walked through one when Harry was trying to talk to him about death.

Ah okay...

So in theory, if anything bad happened, the ghosts could come to the rescue... in theory

Which also leads me to another point... back to the Blood Barren... if he were to be working for Voldemort, he wouldn't need to sleak into the Common Rooms, he could simply kill someone in the halls... and who's to stop him? Who's to know?

*shivers in fear*

Well, if a ghosts hits you, you feel an icy cold "hand" go through you. They really can not do much.

Peeves manages to cause a lot of damage, doesn't he?

That is true. He is a poltergeist and causing problems is in their nature. I think Ghosts believe they are above all of that.

Ah, but I think even Death Eaters become ghosts at times

Very good point Grant, but Dumbledore would not allow them at Hogwarts. Remember that Myrtle was re-located when she was stalking Olive Hornby.

Oooh good point...

But what if Dumbledore doesn't know? Like he didn't know Quirrell was evil


Though I have a feeling at the end of every book, Dumbledore's a little like Basil from Austin Powers: "yes, unforunately we knew all along"

DAMN IT!! Why put poor Harry through all that then...

Well Harry has to learn that he is strong and capable, plus I think Dumbledore has a sick sense of humor.

hehehe yeah, that sounds right.

I don't know, the Order Of The Phoenix didn't reveal anything really compelling about ghosts, like we thought it would, so the next 2 books will reveal a fair bit about them

After all, life and death is a major theme in the books, and the ghosts are definately a part of that.

I too think we will learn more about death from the ghosts in the next book.

I'm getting excited uh oh, that's not a good thing

Ms Rowling, 'urry the 'eck up, will ya.

If I were her daughter I'd be in the passenger seat of her office (if it doesn't have a passenger seat, I'll just stand behind her) saying "is it done yet, is it done yet, is it done yet, is it done yet, is it done yet, is it done yet, is it done yet, is it done yet, is it done yet, is it done yet, is it done yet, is it done yet, is it done yet, is it done yet, is it done yet, is it done yet, is it done yet, is it done yet, is it done yet, is it done yet, is it done yet, is it done yet, is it done yet, is it done yet, is it done yet, is it done yet, is it done yet..."

How come the Bloody Baron is the only one who can control Peeves?

Hey

you know you were talking about the difference between a ghost and a poltergeist, ghosts are insubstantial and therefore can not manipulate items, a poltergeist like Peeves may choose to be insubstantial or solid thus he can throw objects or move through walls.

Thanks Prongs. Peeves does love to throw stuff doesn't he?

Yes, he does... he's a troublemaker, if I've ever seen one.

Yeah reckon fred and george will become poltergeists after they die?

They will never go away... they will torture people forever with their pranks.

You know there has to be more to peeves than meets the eye. JKR makes too big of a deal out of him to just leave us hanging about his past and stuff. Also I think we will also learn more about the bloody baron, because there has to be a reason why he scares the other ghosts, and why he can control peeves. I wonder if we should have ever payed attention to peeves pranks. JKR leaves clues in the most innocent places. Maybe even just an item, or a line. I dno. I really do like how she uses ghosts almost as a median between the living and the dead. So we're not just left with one side or the other. I mean it gives us some connection to the dead. I dno rambling sorry .

He might have been killed by the Bloody Baron!

hmm, yea thats a good idea! but didnt it say the bloody baron had his head chopped off? I dno in the first book i thought it said he was headless. And well peeves doesnt he have a walking stick. I dno i just think of the bloody baron as much older than peeves.

There are no dates listed for the Bloody Baron or Peeves. Too bad. I have to wonder if the Bloody Baron will try to gather information to pass on to the deatheaters children.