Short Stories from Hogwarts of Power, Politics and Pesky Poltergeists Page 5

  sign a contract allowing Peeves additional privileges, such as a once-weekly swim in the boys’ toilets on the ground floor, first refusal on stale bread from the kitchen for throwing purposes, and a new hat – to be custom-made by Madame Bonhabille of Paris. Rancorous Carpe took early retirement for health reasons, and no subsequent attempt has ever been made to rid the castle of its most ill-disciplined inhabitant.

  Peeves does recognise authority of a sort. Though generally unimpressed by titles and badges, he is generally amenable to the strictures of the teachers, agreeing to stay out of their classrooms while they teach. He has also been known to show an affinity for rare students (notably Fred and George Weasley), and is certainly afraid of the ghost of Slytherin, the Bloody Baron. His true loyalties, however, were revealed in the Great Battle of Hogwarts.

  So there you have it. You’ve discovered what happens when power goes to someone’s head (quite literally, in Professor Quirrell’s case), which witch clawed her way to power while simultaneously collecting Frolicsome Feline plates, and where the power-hungry and corrupt end up when caught.