Learning from the past can only help us in the future. This term, for instance, Peeves knew he would do pranks differently from before. It was the chance to start all over again and he would do it right – with diplomacy.

No more throwing wet socks at passerbys or calling out names. He was going to be good. It was a bright future for the poltergeist. No more dungbombs or stink pellets or water balloons.

There was only lemondrops. In which Peeves gleefully spat out at random students as they left they Great Hall for the first time that year.