Poltergeist

Poltergeist
Species information
Eye colour	Varies
Skin colour	Varies
Hair colour	Varies
Native to	Worldwide
Alternative names	None
Mortality	Amortal
Distinction	Causes chaos Similar to a ghost, but solid and can move objects Was never a living human being
Ministry of Magic Classification	Non-being
Status	Extant

"The name 'poltergeist' is German in origin, and roughly translates as 'noisy ghost', although it is not, strictly speaking, a ghost at all. The poltergeist is an invisible entity that moves objects, slams doors and creates other audible, kinetic disturbances. It has been reported in many cultures and there is a strong association with the places where young people, especially adolescents, are living. Explanations for the phenomenon vary all the way from supernatural to scientific."

— Description

A poltergeist was an "indestructible spirit of chaos". They haunted one specific location at a time, generally those inhabited by a large number of adolescents, and either "[came] with the building", or chose to enter it at some point. They occasionally haunted the homes of Muggles. They were among the creatures classed as Non-Human Spiritous Apparitions, and as such, they were amortal.

Poltergeists generally did not have a physical form, with two notable exceptions being Peeves and Fastidio.

Nature

Abilities

Poltergeists could fly, become invisible at will, and they were selectively tangible, meaning that they could pass through walls like the spectral creatures they were, but they could also exert physical force on objects in order to move them.

Poltergeists were also able to use magic; Peeves was able to use the Curse of the Bogies to make students sick, and was even able to create food out of thin air, a direct violation of one of the five Principal Exceptions to Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration, this could mean that poltergeist magic might have had otherworldly powers.

Behaviour

Poltergeists were notably unruly and delighted in vandalism, malicious mischief, and the general aggravation and embarrassment of living persons. They would unscrew chandeliers, write rude words on chalkboards, throw water balloons at people, throw walking sticks at people, stuff keyholes with chewing gum and other such acts, simply for their amusement. Although, these acts were carried out by Peeves, who has been noted as the most troublesome poltergeist in British history, so the level of mischief caused by a more standard poltergeist is unknown.

It was inevitable that, in a building bursting with teenage witches and wizards, a poltergeist would be generated; it was likewise to be expected that such a poltergeist would be noisier, more destructive and harder to expel than those that occasionally frequent Muggle houses.

Some people (notably Albus Dumbledore and the Bloody Baron) could get the poltergeist to settle down for a while, though it would inevitably start acting up again. Additionally, despite their chaotic nature, poltergeists were known to sometimes sign a contract and it seems that once they did, they were bound by its terms.

Poltergeists had developed a misconception that there was no way to get rid of a poltergeist once it had moved into a location. More destructive poltergeists who had inhabited a location for a longer period of time were harder to expel, but it was not impossible to do. Dolores Umbridge claimed that the Minister for Magic could sign an order banning a poltergeist, and once threatened Peeves with this action. However, her statement might reflect her belief in the superiority of wizards in general and the Ministry of Magic in particular, rather than specific knowledge of the nature of poltergeists, and that her efforts would be wasted. Peeves was likely the only known exception to this course of action.

Comparison to ghosts

Whilst similar, poltergeists differed from ghosts in a number of ways. Firstly, ghosts were incorporeal, whereas a poltergeist, despite not normally having a physical form, was solid enough to move objects with physical force. Poltergeists with form had enough physicality that they could have gum fly up their noses, and they were vulnerable to some of the same jinxes as humans, including Langlock and Waddiwasi. It is also possible that they could feel pain, but still not be physically injured.

Another difference is that ghosts used to be living humans, whereas poltergeists had never been alive in the first place. This trait indicates amortality, the condition of never having died and being unable to die, as one was never alive to start.

Additionally, ghosts' spectral bodies had a greyish-pale appearance, whereas poltergeists spectral bodies had actual colours.

History

Peeves, the poltergeist that haunted Hogwarts Castle, was considered "the most notorious and troublesome poltergeist in British history".

The Sunday edition of The New York Ghost published on 28 November 1926 reported a poltergeist havoc wreaking a diner in Nashville.

During the 1990–1991 school year, a troublesome poltergeist began haunting a Muggle family in Great Britain, which caused problems for the British Ministry of Magic. Arthur Weasley assigned Jacob's sibling with dealing with this issue as part of their work experience at the Ministry. They reviewed poltergeists with Bill Weasley in an evening Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson to learn defensive techniques to be used against them.

Known poltergeists

• Handsome Poltergeist
• Peeves
• Uncle Edward
• Fastidio

Etymology

"Poltergeist" comes from German poltern, which means "to make (loud) noise", and geist, meaning "ghost" or "spirit". The German plural form is "Poltergeister".

Behind the scenes

• It may be possible that poltergeists form from (and consequently feed on) the chaos of an area. If so then it may also be possible that - if their home were to be left desolate for long enough - a poltergeist would not die but simply cease to exist, at least until the locale became more active again.
• Fleur Delacour once stated that if a poltergeist was ever discovered in the Palace of Beauxbatons, it would be immediately expelled, however, as J. K. Rowling has stated Peeves cannot be driven out by any means. As such, Dolores Umbridge's request to Cornelius Fudge to sign an Order for the Expulsion of Peeves from Hogwarts was also a complete waste of effort on her part.

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (First appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film) (Cut from final edit (Peeves))
• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game) (Mentioned only) (Peeves is mentioned)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
• Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Mentioned only) (Peeves is mentioned)
• Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (play) (Mentioned only) (Peeves is mentioned)
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (film) (Mentioned in a newspaper)
• J. K. Rowling's official site
• Pottermore
• Wizarding World
• LEGO Harry Potter: Building the Magical World
• LEGO Harry Potter
• The Queen's Handbag (Mentioned only) (Peeves is mentioned)
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 (DS/PSP versions only)
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7
• LEGO Dimensions (Mentioned only) (Peeves is mentioned)
• LEGO Harry Potter
• Harry Potter: The Character Vault
• Harry Potter Trading Card Game
• Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
• Harry Potter: Wizards Unite
• Harry Potter: Magic Awakened
• Hogwarts Legacy