Ghosts

The definition of a ghost is ‘the essence of a person that is left behind after the person dies’. They are weightless, transparent, have no physical form, and cannot do much to affect the physical world around them. They are incapable of touching objects or making the object move. Ghosts can become invisible, the only way you’ll notice them is the chill you feel when you walk through them. Only magical people can become ghosts.

When you want to talk to a ghost, the are some courtesy rules to remember:

1. NEVER bring up the topic of their death. It is rude to ask about how the person died unless they bring up the topic first.


2. NEVER draw attention to the fact that the ghost is no longer among the living. Even mentioning something like eating or drinking could cause the ghost to become offended.


3. ALWAYS thank the ghost for their time. They like to feel appreciated.

Poltergeists

Poltergeists are also spirit but not like ghosts, they are the spirit of chaos. They are fuelled by chaos and will always inhabit places where people frequently gather. Poltergeist can also touch and move objects.

Another key characteristic of poltergeists is that it is very rare for them to have a visible, distinct form. They aren’t like ghosts and most often cannot be seen. Some of the signs of a poltergeist are:

• Banging on the walls or, generally, noises that you cannot explain


• Objects suddenly being thrown across rooms, seemingly on their own


• Strange, unexplainable smells


• Physical attack from unseen forces

The only way to “end” a poltergeist attack is to abandon the place they inhabit. They will not be gone completely, though, just temporarily fizzled. Once people return to the area, they will be empowered again and will be back in action, causing chaos and mischief.

One final note to make about poltergeists is that, in extremely rare cases, they can be controlled.

Gytrashes

These creatures are ghostly large dogs that only appear at night, they are white with black eyes. They can blend into the surroundings until they are on top of their pray, which are humans. They will frequently attack in groups of two to six.

There are a few known places where gytrashes are known to have packs. One of the most notable places is right here at Hogwarts, out in the Forbidden Forest. They attack by lunging at the victim, leaving one large bite before darting away, and waiting for the next attack.

If a ghost is bugging you too much, you can chase them away with the Wand-Lighting Charm. This spell will also work to defend yourself against a Gytrash, since they will flee the light from a wand.