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harry potter - Why was Peeves in Hogwarts?


Peeves was a poltergeist. It generally irritated people and rather then helping them as well as making fun of them.



  • Why was Peeves in the school?


  • What is/was the job or work assigned to Peeves?



Answer



Peeves was never a person, therefore it never had a job of work assigned to them.


JKR spoke to this issue directly on the FAQ on her old website



Q : Peeves chews gum, how can he when he is a ghost? (Nearly Headless Nick can't eat).


A : Peeves isn't a ghost; he was never a living person. He is an indestructible spirit of chaos, and solid enough to unscrew chandeliers, throw walking sticks and, yes, chew gum.



She's also provided some extra clarity in a Leaky Cauldron interview in 2005




ES: Why does Dumbledore allow Peeves to stay in the castle?


JKR: Can't get him out.


ES: He's Dumbledore, he can do anything!


JKR: No, no no no no. Peeves is like dry rot. You can try and eradicate it. It comes with the building. You’re stuck. If you've got Peeves you're stuck.


ES: But Peeves answers to Dumbledore -


JKR: Allegedly.


MA: Allegedly?


JKR: Yeah. I see Peeves as like a severe plumbing problem in a very old building, and Dumbledore is slightly better with the spanner than most people, so he can maybe make it function better for a few weeks. Then it’s going to start leaking again. Would you want Peeves gone, honestly?


MA: If I was Harry I might, but as a reader I enjoy him. I enjoyed him most when he started obeying Fred and George at the end of book five.



JKR: Yeah, that was fun. I enjoyed that. That was satisfying. [Laughter.]



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