Professor Binns had fallen asleep one day in front of the fire in the staff room and then he got up the next morning to teach as usual, leaving his body behind, not realizing he was dead.

His classes were very boring.  He droned on like an old vacuum cleaner.  His students were asleep or in a in a toper.    The most exciting thing that happened was his entering the room through the blackboard.  He cleared his throat with the sound of chalk snapping.  Professor Binns trusted only solid believable facts,  He gave compositions for homework.  He said, "I deal with facts, not myths and legends."

Even Christmas could not deflect Professor Binns from plowing through his notes on goblin rebellions - as Binns hadn't let his own death stand in the way of his continuing to teach they supposed a small thing like Christmas was going to put him off.  It was amazing how he could make even bloody and vicious goblin riots sound as boring as Percy's cauldron- bottom report.