Cuthbert Binns

From Harry Potter Wiki

Cuthbert Binns is professor of History of Magic at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He is, in actuality, a ghost of an elderly Hogwarts teacher who died in his chair one day when he fell asleep in front of the fire, but apparently did not notice that he had shuffled off this mortal coil, and carried on with his duties. The students find his droning lectures dreadfully dull; in fact, only Hermione Granger seems able to remain sufficiently alert in his classes to take reasonable notes. The only interesting thing in his lesson (if it happens) is when he is entering the classroom through the blackboard. He is the only ghost teaching at Hogwarts.

Binns is a wellsource of historical knowledge and facts, and as those facts are his primary concern, he does not bother to remember any of his students' names. Ironically, he does not even recognize Harry Potter, and calls him "Perkins."

The one time a student ever asked a question in Binns' class, in known history, was when Hermione Granger asked him for any information about the Chamber of Secrets. This was the only time the students in his class ever paid attention to his lectures, which Binns was quite bemused at.

[edit] Behind the scenes

• Binns hasn't appeared in either the films or the PC games. His explanation in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets of the legend of the Chamber of Secrets is instead given by Professor McGonagall in the film, in the PC game it is Professor Flitwick who tells the legend.

• In the videogame Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, there is one History of Magic Classroom featured on the Fourth Floor corridor. Professor Binns, however, is never seen in the game.

• The only video games Professor Binns has made an appearance (so far) are the Game Boy Color adaptations, although he was mentioned in the Order of the Phoenix videogame.

[edit] Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (First appearance) (Appears as a ghost or a spirit)
• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game) (Appears as a ghost or a spirit) (GBC version only)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Appears as a ghost or a spirit)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game) (Appears as a ghost or a spirit) (GBC version only)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Appears as a ghost or a spirit)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Appears as a ghost or a spirit)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Appears as a ghost or a spirit)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game) (Mentioned only)