Professor Binns?

[Hermione]

I have recently begun to look at Professor Binns in a new light. Why does Dumbeldore keep him around? I suspect his reasoning is more thought out than whether or not he pays a ghost. What can this ghost Professor offer that other living professors can't?

Being a ghost, he is older and has witnessed more history. I also think he may have some historical artifacts that may help the trio. In the post, Is it all relative? (http://www.maturepotter.com/forum/showthread.php?p=11679) I threw out the theory of an antique pensive belonging to Godric Gryffindor or someone who knew him. He might have more insight on the Gryffindor vs Slytherin battle which could aid the Order in the Harry vs Voldemort battle.

I do think there is more to Professor Binns than meets the eye, and I hope we get to look into him farther.

[Tinkerbell]

Good point there Meredith. I am not sure we have actually been told thus far when Binns died and therefore how long he has been teaching as a ghost, so he may well have been around for a very long time!!

[Hermione]

I am betting Hermione will be the one to see into him farther, as she is the only one who pays any attention in History of Magic.

[Weasleyfanforever]

I think one of the reasons that Dumbledore keeps him around is that he died at Hogwarts, and chose to stay behind, so he has no choice on where he can go, he has to haunt Hogwarts, so why not keep him on teaching, just as he did when he was living. The thing that puzzles me is that Nearly Headless Nick has said that you are given the option to move on or to stay behind, but it has been stated somewhere that Professor Binns may not even, or didn't at the time that it happened know that he was dead. How could that be possible?

Also, I am in agreement with Meredith here, if anyone finds anything of any interest or help in Binns' class, it will be Hermione. It is said that she is the only one that can "resist the soporific power of his voice".

[Boing]

Interesting idea. I'm not sure if we will see more of him or not - it's always difficult to say because JKR is very good at blinding us to the obvious . . .:D So, I would be tempted to say that he is just there to show that not all magic is fun and interesting and that even at Hogwarts you can have a boring class, just like all the kids reading it - they can understand that concept perfectly.

However, because I am tempted to say that, it makes me think twice that perhaps JKR is hiding something in the form of the most boring person at Hogwarts!

I like the idea that he might have some artifacts or that perhaps he has been around longer than we might realize . . . .

[Padma Patil]

Professor Binns already has been useful to the trio in CoS. He is the one that tells them about the Chamber of Secrets and the monster therein. So maybe your right. Perhaps Binns does know something about Gryffindor and Slytherin.

[Hermione]

Do we think he knows now that he is dead? The first morning they had History of Magic in year 1, he appeared through a chalk board. JKR said that was the most interesting thing that happened.

If one can float through solid objects, that would be a good clue to the person that they are deceased and now an appartition. Perhaps he is in denial about being dead?

I wonder is History of Magic goes in chronalogical order, if so we may have bipassed the founders already. It was 1,000 years ago that Hogwarts was founded. But maybe he will go back?

Or perhaps a question, like Hermione's in Book 2, will raise the subject.

[Weasleyfanforever]

The interesting thing that I have found is that, for someone who is so boring, Professor Binns is at least mentioned in every book thus far. I am wondering if JKR doesn't keep slipping him in as a warning, and later we will look back, and think, "OMG, how could I have not seen that?" Hmmm, I wonder if Professor Binns was a pure blood or a half blood while he was alive... I am also wondering if there was a reason behind his death now. I don't think that if he was such a minor character that wouldn't come to be important later on, he would be mentioned so much....

[Alz]

I'm sure it was written that Professor Binns died in the staff room - he just got up and left his body behind ... I read that recently maybe during CbyC chapter??
I'm not sure if he holds many secrets other than just being a curiosity.
I think Dumbledore saw him as a good teacher in life and see's no reason he cant continue in his death - seems it is the students that find him dead boring :D

[Hermione]

I think the students find his teaching style boring, not so much his subject or him.

I love the idea that there is more to Professor Binns than meets the eye.

[Alz]

If there was more to the eye - and given him being around so much - I would have expected him to have made some profound entry into a plot or storyline ...
He has an interesting point about him - but you have to think of him as literary wallpaper - like a backdrop on the world of Harry Potter that adds to the background.

[Boing]

This could be taken both ways, but he has already entered into the storyline in that he was the one who told all the kids about the Chamber of Secrets, how/why it was built, etc. So, he has made an impact.

Now that could mean one of two things - either he has already made his impact in CoS and that's it OR he could come in handy later with more knowledge of the founders/Hogwarts/etc.

[Sirius Potter Fan]

JMHO but, JKR seems to have her whole story laid out in her head from the start. She places things where they need to be for a reason, but we may not see the reason for a long time...the fact that she continues to mention him in each book... and just that the kids still take HOM in their fifth year (who takes 5 years of History??? I only needed 2 years to graduate) If he's still around, maybe it does mean something.

[Alz]

Well in order to offer parity again - she mentions a lot of the teachers all the time and yet they arent all plot burners!
I really feel that he is just another teacher that we are all familiar with and the most remarkable thing about him was that he feel asleep in staff room and then walked out of his body.
The fact Dumbledore keeps him around is that of nostalgia I suppose - that and maybe he really does think he makes the best teacher ...
I'm sorry it doesnt sound too exciting - but not everything in Potter was a deeper meaning :eek:
*LOL - I will so regret saying this when he becomes the HBP or something :D*

[Sirius Potter Fan]

Yeah, and we won't let you forget either! ;)