Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington

Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington, more commonly known as Nearly Headless Nick, is the resident ghost of Gryffindor Tower at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. A wizard from the 15th century, he was executed by a botched beheading that left his head hanging on by a small flap of skin, earning him his famous nickname. In his afterlife, Sir Nicholas is a friendly, if somewhat pompous, guide and confidant to generations of Gryffindor students, most notably Harry Potter. His primary personal ambition is to gain acceptance into the ranks of the Headless Hunt, an exclusive club for decapitated ghosts.

Sir Nicholas was a wizard who, in life, was a courtier in the royal court of King Henry VII (Pottermore). His life came to an end on the night of October 30th, 1492, after a magical mishap. He attempted to use magic to straighten the teeth of a lady-in-waiting, Lady Grieve, but the spell backfired and caused her to grow a tusk. He was immediately stripped of his wand and sentenced to death (Pottermore). The execution, carried out with a blunt axe on October 31st, 1492, was poorly done; after forty-five hacks, his head was still not completely severed from his neck. Fearing death, he chose to remain on earth as a ghost and took up residence at Hogwarts, becoming the official ghost of Gryffindor House. Over the centuries, he became a familiar and welcoming presence for new students. During Harry Potter's time at Hogwarts, Nick played a notable role. In Harry's second year, he celebrated his 500th Deathday with a large party in one of the dungeons. It was while leaving this party that Harry first heard the voice of the Basilisk. Later that year, Nick himself became a victim of the Basilisk, whose lethal gaze caused him to become Petrified. As he was already dead, he could not be killed again, but he was left immobile and smoke-coloured until the Mandrake Restorative Draught was administered at the end of the school year. His petrification provided a crucial clue that the monster in the Chamber of Secrets did not kill by sight alone. Following the death of Sirius Black in Harry's fifth year, Nick provided Harry with a sombre explanation of the nature of ghosts. He explained that very few wizards choose to return as imprints of their living selves, usually doing so because they are afraid of what lies beyond. He confirmed that Sirius Black would not have returned as a ghost.

As a ghost, Sir Nicholas is pearly-white and semi-transparent. He typically dresses in the fashion of his time, wearing a doublet, breeches with a ruff around his neck, and a plumed hat. The ruff serves to hide his most distinguishing feature: his nearly-severed neck. His head lolls to one side, attached by a mere half-inch of skin and sinew, a gruesome injury he is often morbidly eager to demonstrate to the shocked or curious. Nick is generally affable, dramatic, and enjoys the attention of the living. He is a proud Gryffindor and offers help and guidance to students of his House. However, he is also quite sensitive, particularly about his “nearly headless” status. His inability to fully detach his head is a source of great personal shame and the sole reason for his repeated rejection from the Headless Hunt, a fact that causes him considerable anguish. He can also be pompous and long-winded, but his intentions are almost always good.

As a ghost, Sir Nicholas possesses the standard abilities of spectral beings.

• Intangibility: He can pass through solid objects and people, an act which creates an intensely cold sensation for any living being he moves through.
• Flight: He can float and drift through the air.
• Limited Interaction: He cannot physically interact with the world, and any food he attempts to “eat” by passing through it will taste bland and unsatisfying.
• Petrification Immunity: While he cannot be killed again, he can be affected by powerful Dark Magic. The stare of a Basilisk did not kill him but instead rendered him Petrified, a state from which he had to be revived by magical means.

A ghost's possessions are mere imprints of what they had in life. Nick's form is always seen with his 15th-century attire, including his plumed hat, doublet, and ruff. He does not own or carry any other physical objects.

• Harry Potter: Nick acted as a friendly guide to Harry from his first night at Hogwarts. He offered advice and, in a moment of great emotional distress for Harry, provided a clear and compassionate explanation about death and the choice to become a ghost.
• The Headless Hunt: Nick's greatest aspiration is to join this club of decapitated ghosts, led by Sir Patrick Delaney-Podmore. However, Sir Patrick and the other members consistently mock and reject him because his head is not fully detached, which is a source of deep insecurity for Nick.
• Other Hogwarts Ghosts: Nick maintains a civil, if sometimes strained, relationship with the other house ghosts. He has a particular dislike for the Bloody Baron, the ghost of Slytherin House. He is generally on good terms with the Fat Friar of Hufflepuff and the Grey Lady of Ravenclaw.
• Peeves: Like most Hogwarts residents, Nick is often annoyed by the antics of Peeves the poltergeist. However, Peeves shows a rare sign of respect by addressing him as “Sir Nicholas,” though he once dropped a bag of mouldy nuts through him to get his attention during his Deathday party.

• Nicholas: A traditional English name, derived from the Greek Nikolaos, meaning “victory of the people.”
• de Mimsy-Porpington: This surname is whimsical and quintessentially British in its sound. The word “mimsy” was coined by Lewis Carroll in his poem “Jabberwocky,” meaning “flimsy and miserable,” which could be a subtle nod to Nick's ghostly state and his perpetual disappointment regarding the Headless Hunt.

• J.K. Rowling wrote a song, The Ballad of Nearly Headless Nick, which detailed the story of his life and death. It was intended for Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets but was ultimately cut from the final version of the book (J.K. Rowling).
• In the film adaptations, Sir Nicholas is portrayed by actor John Cleese. His role is most prominent in the first two films and is significantly reduced thereafter.