Character:Professor Binns
From UnknowableWiki
| Character profile | |
|---|---|
| Professor Binns | |
| Appearance | ancient, shrivelled ghost |
| Hogwarts achievements | ghost, History of Magic teacher |
| First appearance in canon | The Potions Master (PS) |
Professor Binns is a ghost who teaches History of Magic at Hogwarts (PS8). In the early lists that J.K.Rowling created for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, his first name is Cuthbert (JKRW).
Binns was very old when he died; his appearance is ancient and shrivelled (CS9). He already taught History of Magic during his lifetime. One day, he fell asleep in front of the staff room fire and died there during the night only to go on teaching as a ghost the next morning. Rumour has it that he never really noticed his death and did not change his habits in the slightest (PS8, CS9, GF22).
Rather unsurprisingly, Binns is a very old-fashioned teacher. His lessons consist of an incessant and monotonous monologue of dates and names, delivered in a dry, reedy and wheezy drone that resembles the sound of an old vacuum cleaner (PS8, CS9, OP12). Even the most interesting topics become mind-numbingly boring; the most exciting thing that ever happened in his classes was his entering the room through the blackboard (CS9, GF22). Most of the students cannot concentrate for more than ten minutes, half that time in warm weather. Instead, they fall into a dreamlike stupor or pass the time doodling, playing hangman or talking (CS9, OP12, OP17, OP29). Only the most studious, such as Hermione Granger, are able to concentrate and take notes (CS9, GF29, OP12). Binns hardly seems to notice his audience (OP17); in fact, the only time that he commands the interest of an entire classroom by telling them about the Chamber of Secrets, he seems unsettled by the unusual attention (CS9). Whenever he does address a student directly, which only happens under extraordinary circumstances, he is sure to confuse the name (CS9, OP17). During lessons, he usually floats about an inch above his chair (OP17).
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