A/N: I would like to announce that I have come up with a new genre of angst. Yes, you have seen angstfics for Snape, Quirrel, Harry, Draco, Ron, Hermione and just about every main character. This chapter, I would like to introduce a new angst: Binns Angst. The History of Magic Professor was an obviously unhappy man in his life, otherwise he wouldn't have become a ghost, right? Exactly. Besides, this guy doesn't nearly have enough stories devoted to him (yet another minor character practically ignored). So I'm going to give him a little time in the spotlight and give you his story. Binns' first name, Aldous, is latin for 'old'. The info I'm going from on Dumbledore is from the Harry Potter Lexicon(http://www.i2k.com/~svderark/lexicon/), the ultimate source for info on Harry Potter. And the chapter title means 'Woe to the Vanquished'. Oh, and for a really good fic on the house ghosts, read 'The Ghosts of Hogwarts' by the Lovechild of McGonagall and Snape (1st Prize for Most Interesting Pen name in my book!). That said, enjoy the chapter!
Chapter 14- Vae Victis
"Hello, Wilton," said Persephone as Wilton entered the commonroom after his trip. "How'd the trials go?"
"Life sentences, both of them." Wilton replied, the courtroom and the accused still firmly etched in his mind.
"They got what they deserved." she said softly. "Anyway, I thought you mightn't know this, but Aldous Binns' 25th Deathday party is on in two days. I was wondering if you'd like to come."
"I've never been to a Deathday party before.....okay."
"Oh, you'll enjoy it! I can't even remember how many Deathdays I've been to, but they're enjoyable, really."
Two days later....
Wilton found himself entering the History of Magic classroom and finding a remarkable stench filtering through the room. Most of the Hogwarts ghosts were there, talking, joking, laughing. Persephone was deep in conversation with Nearly Headless Nick, and Wilton got the impression that there was a very close friendship between them.
Continuing his perusal of the room, he found the source of the faint-inducing smell. It was a table of food. Not normal, edible food.....rotten, mouldy, maggoty food. He wrinkled his nose at the horrible sight, and move away from it as quickly as he could. Then, in a corner of the room, a solitary figure caught his eye. Sitting there, all alone on a chair, was the...er, Deathday boy himself. He looked miserable, bored and lonely. Wilton glided over. Noticing an empty chair beside the Professor, Wilton asked:
"May I sit here, Professor?"
The Professor jerked and looked up at him, somewhat surprised. "Oh, of course, William."
Wilton didn't have the heart to correct him.
"So, how is the life of a ghost suiting you?" he asked once Wilton had sat down.
"Well enough, Professor-"
"Call me Aldous....blast the formalities."
"er....well enough, Aldous. I'm sorry I didn't leave exile earlier....the whole school has been so accepting of me, despite what I have done."
"My dear boy," said Binns, leaning back in his chair slightly. "I'm not surprised in the slight they forgave you. Lord, they forgave me...."
"Forgave you for what?" the words escaped before Wilton could stopped them. He knew he shouldn't be nosy.
"Curiosity, hmmm? I'm surprised no-one has asked before you. If you really want to know, William..."
"Yes..."
"Well, my story is not honourable, I shall say that. It began when I was still alive. I entered Hogwarts near the very end of the 19th century, when the Dark Wizard Grindelwald had established himself as a powerful dark wizard. When I was 17, it was 1900. My father, Victor, was a wizard who lived the life of a muggle. He owned a book shop, you see. In those times, England was establishing a rivalry with Germany that would eventually lead to World War One. German wizards were generally despised in England, and it was unfortunate that my family were full to the brim with German blood, so to speak. I remember arriving in England, and my father casting lingua charms over my mother and I so that our German accents would be replaced by English ones. He also changed our last names from Binnheim to simply 'Binns'. My father was always a nervous wizard, so he took the precautions to appear as English wizards very seriously. If it was found out he was German, he would lose business in his bookshop.
Unfortunately, another wizard did find out, about 7 years later. He too, was German, but he was also a Dunkle Bedienstete.......a Dark Servant. He served Grindelwald much in the manner that the Death Eaters today serve You-Know-Who. In return for the secret to be kept, he tried to force my father into becoming a servant of Grindelwald. My father refused....and was subsequently killed. I was listed as his next of kin, so the servant came to me, in my final year at Hogwarts, and tried to force me to join the Dark Side. He was successful, and I found myself among packs of these wizards, killing and torturing English muggleborns and half-bloods.
In 1903, as a young 20 year old, I found myself returning to Hogwarts. I was in University at the time, studying History of Magic, while still fulfilling my duties as a Dunkle Bedienstete. While gathering some books in the library, I met an older wizard, a teaching assistant at Hogwarts by the name of Albus Dumbledore. I talked with him awhile, and we became great friends. I felt guilty for the secret about my other life as a Dark Wizard, and having no family left, I told Dumbledore. His immediate advice was to, of course, leave and denounce my alleigence to Grindelwald. But, on second thoughts, he told me I could provide vital information to the wizards fighting Grindelwald of his whereabouts, meetings and plans.
I agreed to the idea, and became a spy, but found myself reluctantly continuing to partake in the muggle, muggleborn and mudblood killings. Eventually, I got married, to a pretty young witch named Esther and we settled in London together. I also accepted a job teaching History of Magic in Hogwarts, having just left University with a degree. I found myself taking on the responsibility as Head of Ravenclaw too, and consequently I was a very, very busy wizard. I noticed, through my spying, that Grindelwald's attacks grew closer and closer to Hogwarts. Hogsmeade was placed under several security spells, following many attacks.
I began trying to whittle my way out of doing jobs for Grindelwald, and of course, he grew suspicious. I told him a countless number of times that I would be forever loyal to him, but he was aware of the circumstances of my initiation into the Dunkle Bedienstete and of my dalliances at Hogwarts with Dumbledore, so he attacked my wife while in our London home. He tortured her for information, and then killed her to keep her silent. The loss of her hit me.......badly...I still miss her today, and I felt an insurmountable anger for my continued support of Grindelwald. So, I simply stopped going to the meetings that he held with his servants. He must've noticed, for he began attacking Hogwarts with an ardour never seen before. I steadfastly refused, and so, through one of his servants, leaked the word of my true nationality. That spy, whose name was Wilhelm, was a professor like me....he taught Potions. I informed Dumbledore of the spy, Aurors were sent for and the spy was killed in a brief conflict. Today, you know him as the Bloody Baron.
The students at Hogwarts weren't as shocked as I thought they'd be, and thankfully my fellow teachers remained friendly and respectful towards me. I continued teaching at Hogwarts, and I was a founding member of Dumbledore's famous Order of the Phoenix. Unfortunately, after Grindelwald's defeat, the guilt in my part in Grindelwald's reign and in my wife's death haunted me. It still haunts me now, William, after nearly 80 years.....even now, as a ghost, I still cannot rest. And I never will, William. I can't redeem myself, for every witch and wizard that I hurt has gone...they're all dead, like me. I didn't get the chance..."
Wilton was surprised. The story sounded vaguely familiar. "Your story seems to parallell that of..."
"Dear old Severus? Yes, I have been told that before....and I myself am surprised at the parallells quite a bit. But, I don't think you'll find two more different wizards than Severus and I. Severus...if he makes it through he-who-must-not-be-named's second reign, he will prove himself worthy of redemption. He will be and do what I could never. As long as you and everyone else in the school does so, it will all be right."
"Yes, I suppose...but what of the Bloody Baron?"
"He's not sorry for what he did....he served his master rightly and justly, and died for his cause. In his mind, being a ghost was a mere case of bad luck...he happened to have a few debts to pay, he didn't want to pay them, so he became a ghost. That's the way it is, right, William."
"Yes, Professor." Wilton replied and that particular vein of the conversation ended.
Later that night, Wilton found himself contemplating the History of Magic Professor and found himself getting all teary. He felt relief that he could still redeem himself and ask for the forgiveness of the ones he'd hurt.
In his case, Aldous Binns was not so lucky.
Chapter 14- Vae Victis
"Hello, Wilton," said Persephone as Wilton entered the commonroom after his trip. "How'd the trials go?"
"Life sentences, both of them." Wilton replied, the courtroom and the accused still firmly etched in his mind.
"They got what they deserved." she said softly. "Anyway, I thought you mightn't know this, but Aldous Binns' 25th Deathday party is on in two days. I was wondering if you'd like to come."
"I've never been to a Deathday party before.....okay."
"Oh, you'll enjoy it! I can't even remember how many Deathdays I've been to, but they're enjoyable, really."
Two days later....
Wilton found himself entering the History of Magic classroom and finding a remarkable stench filtering through the room. Most of the Hogwarts ghosts were there, talking, joking, laughing. Persephone was deep in conversation with Nearly Headless Nick, and Wilton got the impression that there was a very close friendship between them.
Continuing his perusal of the room, he found the source of the faint-inducing smell. It was a table of food. Not normal, edible food.....rotten, mouldy, maggoty food. He wrinkled his nose at the horrible sight, and move away from it as quickly as he could. Then, in a corner of the room, a solitary figure caught his eye. Sitting there, all alone on a chair, was the...er, Deathday boy himself. He looked miserable, bored and lonely. Wilton glided over. Noticing an empty chair beside the Professor, Wilton asked:
"May I sit here, Professor?"
The Professor jerked and looked up at him, somewhat surprised. "Oh, of course, William."
Wilton didn't have the heart to correct him.
"So, how is the life of a ghost suiting you?" he asked once Wilton had sat down.
"Well enough, Professor-"
"Call me Aldous....blast the formalities."
"er....well enough, Aldous. I'm sorry I didn't leave exile earlier....the whole school has been so accepting of me, despite what I have done."
"My dear boy," said Binns, leaning back in his chair slightly. "I'm not surprised in the slight they forgave you. Lord, they forgave me...."
"Forgave you for what?" the words escaped before Wilton could stopped them. He knew he shouldn't be nosy.
"Curiosity, hmmm? I'm surprised no-one has asked before you. If you really want to know, William..."
"Yes..."
"Well, my story is not honourable, I shall say that. It began when I was still alive. I entered Hogwarts near the very end of the 19th century, when the Dark Wizard Grindelwald had established himself as a powerful dark wizard. When I was 17, it was 1900. My father, Victor, was a wizard who lived the life of a muggle. He owned a book shop, you see. In those times, England was establishing a rivalry with Germany that would eventually lead to World War One. German wizards were generally despised in England, and it was unfortunate that my family were full to the brim with German blood, so to speak. I remember arriving in England, and my father casting lingua charms over my mother and I so that our German accents would be replaced by English ones. He also changed our last names from Binnheim to simply 'Binns'. My father was always a nervous wizard, so he took the precautions to appear as English wizards very seriously. If it was found out he was German, he would lose business in his bookshop.
Unfortunately, another wizard did find out, about 7 years later. He too, was German, but he was also a Dunkle Bedienstete.......a Dark Servant. He served Grindelwald much in the manner that the Death Eaters today serve You-Know-Who. In return for the secret to be kept, he tried to force my father into becoming a servant of Grindelwald. My father refused....and was subsequently killed. I was listed as his next of kin, so the servant came to me, in my final year at Hogwarts, and tried to force me to join the Dark Side. He was successful, and I found myself among packs of these wizards, killing and torturing English muggleborns and half-bloods.
In 1903, as a young 20 year old, I found myself returning to Hogwarts. I was in University at the time, studying History of Magic, while still fulfilling my duties as a Dunkle Bedienstete. While gathering some books in the library, I met an older wizard, a teaching assistant at Hogwarts by the name of Albus Dumbledore. I talked with him awhile, and we became great friends. I felt guilty for the secret about my other life as a Dark Wizard, and having no family left, I told Dumbledore. His immediate advice was to, of course, leave and denounce my alleigence to Grindelwald. But, on second thoughts, he told me I could provide vital information to the wizards fighting Grindelwald of his whereabouts, meetings and plans.
I agreed to the idea, and became a spy, but found myself reluctantly continuing to partake in the muggle, muggleborn and mudblood killings. Eventually, I got married, to a pretty young witch named Esther and we settled in London together. I also accepted a job teaching History of Magic in Hogwarts, having just left University with a degree. I found myself taking on the responsibility as Head of Ravenclaw too, and consequently I was a very, very busy wizard. I noticed, through my spying, that Grindelwald's attacks grew closer and closer to Hogwarts. Hogsmeade was placed under several security spells, following many attacks.
I began trying to whittle my way out of doing jobs for Grindelwald, and of course, he grew suspicious. I told him a countless number of times that I would be forever loyal to him, but he was aware of the circumstances of my initiation into the Dunkle Bedienstete and of my dalliances at Hogwarts with Dumbledore, so he attacked my wife while in our London home. He tortured her for information, and then killed her to keep her silent. The loss of her hit me.......badly...I still miss her today, and I felt an insurmountable anger for my continued support of Grindelwald. So, I simply stopped going to the meetings that he held with his servants. He must've noticed, for he began attacking Hogwarts with an ardour never seen before. I steadfastly refused, and so, through one of his servants, leaked the word of my true nationality. That spy, whose name was Wilhelm, was a professor like me....he taught Potions. I informed Dumbledore of the spy, Aurors were sent for and the spy was killed in a brief conflict. Today, you know him as the Bloody Baron.
The students at Hogwarts weren't as shocked as I thought they'd be, and thankfully my fellow teachers remained friendly and respectful towards me. I continued teaching at Hogwarts, and I was a founding member of Dumbledore's famous Order of the Phoenix. Unfortunately, after Grindelwald's defeat, the guilt in my part in Grindelwald's reign and in my wife's death haunted me. It still haunts me now, William, after nearly 80 years.....even now, as a ghost, I still cannot rest. And I never will, William. I can't redeem myself, for every witch and wizard that I hurt has gone...they're all dead, like me. I didn't get the chance..."
Wilton was surprised. The story sounded vaguely familiar. "Your story seems to parallell that of..."
"Dear old Severus? Yes, I have been told that before....and I myself am surprised at the parallells quite a bit. But, I don't think you'll find two more different wizards than Severus and I. Severus...if he makes it through he-who-must-not-be-named's second reign, he will prove himself worthy of redemption. He will be and do what I could never. As long as you and everyone else in the school does so, it will all be right."
"Yes, I suppose...but what of the Bloody Baron?"
"He's not sorry for what he did....he served his master rightly and justly, and died for his cause. In his mind, being a ghost was a mere case of bad luck...he happened to have a few debts to pay, he didn't want to pay them, so he became a ghost. That's the way it is, right, William."
"Yes, Professor." Wilton replied and that particular vein of the conversation ended.
Later that night, Wilton found himself contemplating the History of Magic Professor and found himself getting all teary. He felt relief that he could still redeem himself and ask for the forgiveness of the ones he'd hurt.
In his case, Aldous Binns was not so lucky.