The Bloody Baron

The Bloody Baron

Age: Well, dead.

House: Slytherin Ghost

Distinguishing Characteristics: The Bloody Baron is a particularly terrifying ghost, with gaping eyes, a thin face, and of course, ghastly silver blood stains on his robes.

First Mention: Sorcerer's Stone/Philosopher's Stone, chapter seven.

General: Little is known about the Slytherin ghost, other than that everyone from Draco Malfoy to Nearly Headless Nick fears him. Perhaps they are afraid for that reason: because they don't know much about him. No one knows why he is covered in blood, and it is unknown how long he's been a ghost. He particularly enjoys moaning around in the Astronomy Tower. He's never spoken in the books and seems a bit mad as he's always described with a blank stare. However, we know he does talk, since Harry impersonates his voice as a whisper in SS/PS. It seems the Bloody Baron can also make himself invisible; Peeves believed it really was him sneaking off towards the third floor. As far as we know, none of the other ghosts can do this. Or perhaps Peeves so reveres the Bloody Baron he assumes mistakenly he can do anything. Does the Baron have special powers, or does he simply wield a sense of mystery?

Despite his stare, the Bloody Baron must have lucid moments, as he makes his opinions known at least to the other ghosts. From what Sir Nicholas tells Harry at the beginning of the series, when Slytherin had been consistently winning the House Cup, the Baron is quite boastful about Slytherin's victories. The Bloody Baron also gives orders at the ghosts' meetings that Peeves should not attend Hogwarts feasts. So not only does the Baron have pride in his house, he also cares for order at the school in general. Assuming the Bloody Baron is as ambitious as Slytherins are renowned to be, we should wonder: what advantage does he gain from preserving order at Hogwarts? Is there something outside the school he himself is afraid of?