Sir-Nicholas De Mimsy-Porpington

> I haven't eaten for nearly five hundred years. I don't need to, of course, but one does miss it. I don't think I've introduced myself? Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington at your service. Resident ghost of Gryffindor Tower.
>
> Sir Nicholas greeting Gryffindor first-years, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

**Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington**, known after his death as **Nearly Headless Nick** (d. 31 October 1492), was a wizard who attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and was Sorted into Gryffindor House.

## Biographical information

### Date of birth

Between 1 January 1401 and 31 October 1475

## Physical description

### Gender

Male

He was a wizard of the royal court as an adult. He was executed by an improper decapitation, after he had a magical mishap with Lady Grieve. He tried to straighten her teeth but it backfired and she grew tusks. Since then, he became the resident ghost of Gryffindor Tower at the Hogwarts Castle.

## Biography

### Early life

> I hope I, Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington, have never been guilty of cowardice in my life! The noble blood that runs in my veins —
>
> Sir Nicholas relays some information on his past, The Tales of Beedle the Bard

 File:Nearly-Headless Nick.jpg
Little is known about Sir Nicholas's childhood. He lived in the fifteenth century and was born into the noble Mimsy-Porpington family somewhere in the British Isles.
When he turned eleven, Nicholas attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where he was sorted into Gryffindor. It is unknown at which subjects he excelled in, but he was apparently poor in Charms.

In his adulthood, Sir Nicholas openly associated with Muggles. He was knighted and was a courtier at King Henry VII's royal court.

### Execution

> It was a mistake any wizard could make / Who was tired and caught on the hop / One piffling error, and then, to my terror, / I found myself facing the chop.
>
> A self-penned ballad relaying Sir Nicholas's death, J. K. Rowling's official site

Sir Nicholas met Lady Grieve while strolling in the park on the evening of 30 October 1492. He was certain he could straighten her crooked teeth, but his attempt to do so backfired, causing her to grow a tusk.

Sir Nicholas was immediately taken into custody and sentenced to death as a result of this mistake. Before being locked in a dungeon, his wand was taken from him, thus preventing him from using magic to escape. Throughout the night he cried that he would soon undo the damage done to Lady Grieve.

A priest came to Sir Nicholas's cell to comfort him and escort him to the execution site at dawn the following day. He became a "gibbering wreck" when the executioner told him to kneel before the block. However, the executioner's axe was blunt, as the grindstone used to sharpen it had been misplaced. Thus, it took forty-five hacks to kill Sir Nicholas and even then his head was only partially severed. Naturally, these acts of betrayal and idiocy alone were not enough to condemn Sir Nicholas to such a brutal death, but the rampant acts of previous juvenile encounters led to an unsympathetic public.

Albus Dumbledore explained in his notes on *The Wizard and the Hopping Pot* that Muggle executions of wizards such as Sir Nicholas were rarely successful, given that wizards could magically protect themselves and escape. Sir Nicholas had his wand taken away, however, thus was unable to leave his dungeon cell.

### Post-mortem

> I was afraid of death. I chose to remain behind. I sometimes wonder whether I oughtn't to have... well, that is neither here nor there... in fact, I am neither here nor there... I know nothing of the secrets of death, Harry, for I chose my feeble imitation of life instead.
>
> Sir Nicholas explaining how he chose to remain among the living, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Sir Nicholas chose to linger as a ghost rather than "go on", because, by his own admission, he feared death. He became the resident ghost of Gryffindor Tower at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and would spend his life after death there. By at least 1890, there was a bust carved in his honour that was located in the Faculty Tower, next to one of Phineas Nigellus Black.

"Nearly Headless Nick", as he was called by the majority of the student body, was always happy to point new Gryffindors in the right direction when late to class.

#### 1890–1891 school year

By 1890, his bust had been gathering dust, and he wanted someone to clean it. He asked Scrope the house-elf to do so, but was rejected, and had to manipulate Scrope into doing so.

He learnt about a student's discovery of a book and the missing pages, and offered to tell them information if the student helped him et some rotten beef. He attempted to join the Headless Hunt again by talking to Patrick Delaney-Podmore, but failed again nevertheless. He told the student to talk to a Nestor Amset.

#### 1985–1986 school year

Sir Nicholas held a Deathday Party on 31 October 1985. He was preparing for the party when Erling the Great arrived at Hogwarts. Since they shared the same deathday, Jacob's sibling and the Fat Friar suggested the two celebrate together, but it got rejected by Erling.

This collision gradually escalated to a strife in which Sir Nicholas attempted to sabotage Erling's party by preserving the food which was intended to be spoiled. This act, planned and committed by Sir Nicholas, Jacob's sibling and Merula Snyde, was discovered by Professor Sprout, who later ordered Sir Nicholas to give his food to Erling and help with Herbology classes. However, upon seeing Erling's pompous attitude, he decided to carry on throwing his party despite the lack of food.

Halfway through his party in the Deathday Ballroom, the Fat Friar brought him to see Erling in the courtyard. Seeing as neither of their parties were going well, with Sir Nicholas's no food and Erling's requirements not fulfilled, the Fat Friar suggested once again that the two hold a party together. Sir Nicholas eventually agreed and cleared out space in the ballroom to allow Erling and his guests to join the party.

#### 1986–1987 school year

> Did someone say ghosts? Sir Nicholas de-Mimsy Porpington at your service. Resident ghost of Gryffindor Tower.
>
> Sir Nicholas to Angelica Cole and Jacob's sibling, Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery

During the 1986–1987 school year, Sir Nicholas helped Jacob's sibling find the Folio of Fortinbras, a book which belonged to an old Charms Master called Fortinbras, in order to learn more about the Cursed Vaults. After they found and read the book in the Charms Classroom after searching there, they then searched the Artefact Room, where they found a scroll detailing the Beaker of Bartholomew, a bottle belonging to an Potions Master called Bartholomew. They went to look in the Potions Classroom, where he partially removed his head for them after they inquired about his name, much to their disgust. After finding the beaker and reading its inscription, he defended Jacob's sibling against Argus Filch who had found them there and threatened to report them, calling him a low-class bully and telling him he was supervising them. Afterwards, they searched the student's common room to find a house sigil which contained more information. After finding one, Sir Nicholas reported to them in the Great Hall he had deciphered the meaning of the sigil, he told that the message read that while Hogwarts was supposed to be safe, it kept dangerous things, thus making it more unsafe. After helping them, he told them he would happily help them again if needed, and went to stop Peeves hurling Snape's soup bowl.

#### 1988–1989 school year

During the 1988–1989 school year, Sir Nicholas met with Jacob's sibling on the Grand Staircase to discuss how Beatrice Haywood had got trapped in a portrait with the portrait curse. He mentioned to them that he had heard a rumour years ago that a student had been stuck in a painting in the Lower Chambers Portrait Corridor, but when he had gone see the student, they had already been freed, if had ever been stuck. After mentioning a faceless interloper who had been tampering with portraits, he told them to seek Professor Binns, given he was not asleep.

Later during the school year, Jacob's sibling met Sir Nicholas in their brother's room, with Bill, Charlie and Percy Weasley, along with his pet rat Scabbers, where he remarked how the Fat Friar had told him about their intention to locate the Marauder's Map, which reminded him about how their brother believed a dragon could be within the castle, which only the map could reveal. He believed the map could be within the dark and dirty room as Jacob had once been in possession of. After they searched the room with the help of Jacob's sibling Wand-Lighting Charm, they found a hand-written letter from Jacob to a student called Olivia Green, whom Nick remembered for possessing exceptional bravery for a Ravenclaw, and told them to seek the Grey Lady for answers.

Jacob's sibling later spoke to him in the Gryffindor common room to ask if he had Peeves about, as they wanted the Vault portrait from him. He gave them advice and told them to seek the Grey Lady.

#### 1989–1990 school year

During this school year, he again helped Professor Binns teach History of Magic classes, this year helping Binns teach sixth-years about ancient runes.

#### 1991–1992 school year

> So — new Gryffindors! I hope you're going to help us win the house championship this year? Gryffindors have never gone so long without winning. Slytherins have got the cup six years in a row! The Bloody Baron's becoming almost unbearable — he's the Slytherin ghost.
>
> Sir Nicholas regarding Gryffindors loss of the Quidditch Cup, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

On 1 September 1991, Sir Nicholas, the Fat Friar and the other ghosts had an argument on whether Peeves should be allowed to attend the Start-of-Term Feast or not. Sir Nicholas was of the opinion that the poltergeist gave the ghosts a bad name with his misdoings, while the Friar wanted to "forgive and forget". During this discussion, the ghosts passed through the Chamber of Reception, in which the first years were waiting for the start of the Sorting Ceremony. Sir Nicholas was surprised to see the newcomers.

At the feast, Sir Nicholas sat opposite Harry Potter and patted his arm when the latter was Sorted into Gryffindor. He later introduced himself and showed the result of his botched beheading: his nearly chopped neck, when Seamus Finnigan wondered how could someone be *Nearly* Headless.

Later in the year, Sir Nicholas told the Grey Lady how Harry Potter was made Seeker of Gryffindor.

#### 1992–1993 school year

> Half an inch of skin and sinew holding my neck on, Harry! Most people would think that's good and beheaded, but oh, no, it's not enough for Sir Properly Decapitated-Podmore.
>
> Nick bitter at his rejection by the Headless Hunt, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

In 1992, Sir Nicholas tried to join for the Headless Hunt, although his application was denied by Sir Patrick Delaney-Podmore, who only accepted huntsmen "*whose heads have parted company with their bodies*". Nick was embittered that "half an inch of skin and sinew" connecting his head and neck was not good enough to qualify as "beheaded".

After Harry Potter returned to the Castle after a rainy Quidditch practice on 24 October 1992, Argus Filch took him to his office in order to fill in a write-up in which Filch accused Harry of "*befouling the castle*" with mud. Sir Nicholas convinced Peeves to smash the school's Vanishing Cabinet over the office as a distraction.

Later that same evening, a message was left on one of the Castle's walls, announcing the opening of the Chamber of Secrets and Mrs Norris, Argus Filch's cat, was found petrified.

Later in the year, on 18 December 1992 Sir Nicholas was petrified on one of the Castle's corridors, along with Justin Finch-Fletchley. Sir Nicholas inadvertently saved Justin's life by taking the brunt of the Basilisk's otherwise-lethal gaze, with Justin seeing the basilisk through Nick rather than being directly exposed to its vision. Nick received the full blast of its power, but as a ghost it was naturally impossible for him to die again.

Justin was then carried up to the hospital wing by Professor Flitwick and Professor Sinistra, but nobody seemed to know what to do for Sir Nicholas. This could have been the first time that a ghost was petrified, as Petrification does not seem to be something that happens often, seeing as it is incredibly advanced Dark Magic. In the end, Professor McGonagall conjured a large fan and gave it to Ernie Macmillan with instructions to waft the ghost up the stairs, most likely towards the hospital wing.

By the end of the year, Professor Sprout's Mandrakes had fully matured and were used to make a Mandrake Restorative Draught which was administered to revive all those who had been Petrified, including Sir Nicholas. The method by which the draught was administered to Sir Nicholas is unknown.

He was later seen in the Great Hall at the End-of-Term Fest greeting Hermione after she was revived. He was not present in the Great Hall when Hagrid returned to the school after his stint in Azkaban.

## Physical description

> Pearly white and semitransparent, Nick was dressed tonight in his usual doublet, but with a particularly large ruff, which served the dual purpose of looking extra-festive, and insuring that his head didn't wobble too much on his partially severed neck.
>
> Description, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

As a ghost, Sir Nicholas was pearly-white and slightly transparent. He would usually sport a ruff, which would ensure his partially severed head stayed in place, as well as tights, a pair of breeches, a doublet or, occasionally, a tunic. He had a preference for extravagant plumed hats. He also sported long curly hair, and a small moustache and goatee. He carried himself in a prim fashion and spoke in an airy, delicate tone.

## Personality and traits

Template:Dialogue a-b-c-b Sir Nicholas was affable, kind, and always willing to lend a hand to Harry Potter and other fellow Gryffindors whenever they needed it. Nicholas apparently enjoyed eating during his lifetime, as after his death he spent the feasts at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry looking wistfully at the food. Sir Nicholas was polite and delicate, staying away from potentially indiscreet questions and sensible about the fact that he was no longer living.

Nicholas showed interest in the lives of the students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and took delight in showing off his wound to the dismay of those around him. He was very proud of his bravery and noble heritage, getting easily offended if anyone referred to him as a coward. He was very sociable, being friends with the Grey Lady, Harry Potter. He also had a cordial relationship with the Bloody Baron and Sir Patrick Delaney-Podmore. He did not enjoy being known as Nearly Headless Nick, he preferred to be addressed by his full name or Sir Nicholas.

## Etymology

*Nicholas* is from the Greek Nikolaos, "victory of the people." Nick is a jokey, ironic nickname and pun -- one definition of nick is "to cut slightly," and he received more than just a little cut when he was beheaded. *Sir* indicates he was knighted by a British monarch when he was alive. *Porpington* is a name Rowling made up and is closest to porpentine, an obsolete name for a porcupine. "Like quills upon the fretful porpentine...": From Shakespeare's *Hamlet*. Nick can be a prickly-tempered person at times. *Mimsy* may have come from the same word coined by Alice in Wonderland author Lewis Carroll. It appears in his nonsense poem "The Jabberwocky": "All mimsy were the borogoves..."

## Behind the scenes

 File:Nick Minifigure.jpg   File:Headless Nick Pop.jpg   File:Nearly Headless Nick - PAS.png
* In the film adaptations of Template:PS and Template:COS, Nearly Headless Nick is played by John Cleese.
	+ In the video game Template:HL, Nick is voiced by British voice actor Jason Anthony.
* In Template:PS, Hermione Granger, rather than Seamus Finnigan, is the one to ask how he can be "Nearly Headless"
* In the Welsh translation, Nicholas is called "Syr Goronwy ap Gwallter", which literally translated as "Sir Goronwy son of Gwallter", commonly Anglicised as "Walter".
* It should be noted that Sir Nicholas's clothes do not match the time period he's said to be from. The ruff, doublet and breeches did not come into fashion until the sixteenth century and are mostly associated with the reign of Elizabeth I. This would be more consistent with earlier versions of *Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone* in which Sir Nicholas claims to have been dead for four hundred years.
* In the first draft of Template:COS, Nick sang a self-penned ballad explaining how his head had (nearly) come off. There was a priest who comforted him.
* While most of the Hogwarts students call him "Nearly Headless Nick", he prefers the more formal "Sir Nicholas de Mimsy Porpington" or "Sir Nicholas". Harry, however, also calls him Nick. The fact that he prefers to be called Sir Nicholas is only mentioned in the first book and film.
* In the PS1 versions of the first two video games, he is seen wearing a high hat and his head constantly falls off to the side.
* In the German translation of the second game (PS1 version), Nicholas states that it is his 150th deathday. Which would incorrectly place his death in 1842.
* Sir Nicholas was the first ghost named in the series.
* Sir Nicholas is the only House Ghost who did not live during the founders' time.
* The manner of Sir Nicholas's death may be a reference to Template:Wplink, an executioner in the service of King Charles II, who was infamous for taking multiple attempts to perform his executions.

## Appearances

Template:Imagecat

* Template:PS Template:1st Template:Ghost
* Template:COS Template:Ghost
* Template:OOTP Template:Comment
* Template:PM Template:Ghost
* Template:WW Template:Ghost
* Template:JKRS Template:Mention
* Template:TBB Template:Mention
* Template:TCG Template:Ghost
* Template:PM Template:Ghost
* Template:WW Template:Ghost
* Template:HPV Template:Ghost
* Template:HM Template:Ghost
* Template:WU Template:Ghost
* Template:PAS Template:Ghost
* Template:MA Template:Ghost
* Template:HL Template:Ghost

## External links

* Extra information about Nearly Headless Nick from J.K. Rowling

## Notes and references

Template:Reflist

1. ↑ Template:PM gives his century of birth as the 15th century (https://www.pottermore.com/features/the-secret-lives-of-the-hogwarts-ghosts). He was already an adult when he died.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Template:COS
3. ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 Template:PS
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Template:PS - Chapter 13 (*Nick and Other Residents*)
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 Template:TBB - *Albus Dumbledore on "*The Wizard and the Hopping Pot*"*
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "If a teacher is head of a house, can we assume that they were sorted into those houses when they were students at Hogwarts? Is that also true for the house ghosts? So was Snape a Slytherin?" on Template:JKRS
7. ↑ Template:OOTP
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 Extra Stuff - "Nearly Headless Nick" on Template:JKRS
9. ↑ Template:OOTP
10. ↑ Template:HL Template:See image
11. ↑ Template:PS
12. ↑ Template:HL
13. ↑ Template:HL (Richard Jackdaw's Ghost)
14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Template:HM
15. ↑ Template:HM
16. ↑ Template:HM
17. ↑ Template:HM
18. ↑ Template:HM
19. ↑ Template:HM
20. ↑ Template:PS - Chapter 15 (*New Seeker*)
21. ↑ Template:COS
22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Template:COS
23. ↑ Template:COS
24. ↑ Template:COS
25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `PS72`
26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 26.3 26.4 Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `CS82`
27. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `GF12`
28. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `OP382`
29. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `OP112`
30. ↑ Template:IMDb name

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