Summary
To know Peeves is to love him. The infamous rapscallion haunts the halls of Hogwarts inciting mischief and chaos throughout theHarry Potterbooks, earning his rightful place among thelist of fan-favorite characters that were wrongfully omitted from the film series.
Beyond his witty songs and lively pranks, this mayhem-causing jokester is a unique addition to theHarry Pottercanon in that he differs from all of his ghostly counterparts — and that’s because he’s not a ghost at all. Aptly named for being a pet peeve to all those who come across him, Peeves is Hogwart’s resident poltergeist, which means he has a physical form but also harnesses the ability to turn invisible at will. He’s existed at Hogwarts since it was founded in the year 993 andthe story goes that he was never even human.
Peeves' absence was certainly noticed in the book-inspired movies — it’d be hard to miss this specter’s brightly colored court jester outfit. But fans were especially frustrated to find out thatscenes were shot of British comedian Rik Mayall playing the beloved poltergeistinHarry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stoneuntil the character was scrapped from the films altogether. Now, Potterheads are waiting with bated breath to find out if the omnipotent trickster will make an appearance in the upcomingHarry PotterTV reboot.
The Comedic Relief this Reboot Needs
Peeves' antics provide much-needed comedic relief throughout the originalHarry Potterbooks,even in their darkest moments. In the words of Albus Dumbledore, “Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” And Peeves was that shining light, often softening the mood with humorous musical compositions that left readers laughing out loud.
A personal favorite among fans comes toward the end of the Deathly Hallows after the Battle of Hogwarts. Dozens of innocent witches and wizards died during the fight — many of them being children and major characters who sacrificed their lives to put an end to He Who Shall Not Be Named. Swirling among the survivors, Peeves sings, “We did it, we bashed them, wee Potter’s the one, and Voldy’s gone moldy, so now let’s have fun!”
Another highlight comes in the second installment of theHarry Potterbooks, shortly afterthe basilisk is released from the Chamber of Secrets. Rumors begin to spread that Harry is the cause for students being petrified, and Peeves creates a song-and-dance routine to double down: “Oh Potter, you rotter, oh what have you done? You’re killing off students, you think it’s good fun.”
Filch Loves to Hate Him
If Peeves has no enemies, then Hogwarts caretaker Argus Filch is dead.These two characters have a tumultuous relationshipthroughout the original novels that leads to Filch having an increased presence throughout the books as the subject of some major comedic moments.
From dropping chandeliers to trapping Filch’s pet cat in a suit of armor (twice), Peeves gets creative with the many ways in which he antagonizes the sullen Hogwarts staff member. The mischievous chaos-starter has a penchant for vandalism, and extracts great joy from watching Filch clean up his messes.
Their war of wits makes it all the more impactful when Filch invites Peeves to partake in the Battle of Hogwarts in the seventh book. Putting their long-running feud aside, the two characters acknowledge that if Voldemort is not stopped, then there will not be a school to wreak havoc upon.
An Unexpected Friendship with the Weasleys
Those familiar withFred and George Weasleyknow these twins are also marked by a love for trouble-making, though that doesn’t make them an exception to Peeves' own pranks.
Nevertheless, these two brothers become the closest to Peeves of any other Hogwarts student due to their shared interest in causing mayhem. The poltergeist has never been one to respect authority, so it came as a startling surprise to the Hogwarts student body when he saluted the brothers as they set off an array of fireworks and escaped the school in the middle of their fifth-year exams.
Just before their grand exit, Fred and George instruct Peeves to torture Dolores Umbridge on their behalf for hercruel and unusual punishment of students at Hogwarts. Peeves, who is generally not predisposed to taking orders, is quick to rise to the occasion.
The Eyes and Ears of Hogwarts
If a student is breaking the rules at Hogwarts, Peeves is likely the first to know. He’s an insatiable gossip, and throughout the books, uses his power of invisibility to see and hear things that even the professors can’t catch.
When Harry, Ron, Hermione and Neville are wandering the halls of the school after curfew inHarry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Peeves is the one who spots them. He summons Filch by screaming “Students out of bed,” though the caretaker isn’t nearly fast enough to catch the young heroes in the act.
In theChamber of Secrets, Peeves also overhears Hermione talking poorly about Moaning Myrtle. Hee wastes no time telling the gloomy ghost all that was said, much to Hermione’s disdain. It’s not that Peeves has a sense of righteousness. In fact,he’s about as morally ambiguous as it gets; he just loves to make situations as uncomfortable as possible.
How Peeves Helped in the Battle of Hogwarts
Peeves heavily contributes to Hogwarts' victory inthe final battle that occurs at the end of theDeathly Hallows. While hundreds of wizards are fending off Voldemort’s army with defensive spells, Peeves launches Snargaluff pods on to the Death Eaters that instantly ensnare their heads in thorny vines that fight back when provoked.
Besides messing with Umbridge, this is one of the few moments in the series where readers see Peeves use his mischievous ways for a common good. It’s a critical moment in his character arc that those who have only watched the movies would never know.
It remains to be seen if the creative team behind theHarry PotterTV reboot will bring back the friendly neighborhood poltergeist for the new series, but if they do, it’s safe to say there’s room for plenty of hijinks to ensue.
TheHarry PotterTV series is expected to premiere on Max sometime in 2026.
