Names of the Hogwarts Ghosts

[Ali]

No: HPFGUIDX 58662

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "tepmurt9981" <tepmurt at h...> 
wrote:

<<_Fat Friar_ - Described as "a fat little monk" (SS Chpt.7,
 pg.115, hardback ed.)<snip>
 
 A friar is a member of certain Roman Catholic religious orders.  
They differ from monks in that friars are not bound to a specific 
monastery and are expected to travel and work/beg for a living.  
Traditionally, friars are not allowed to own property 
(infoplease.com).
 
 So, if a friar is traveling around and living off of charity, you
 wouldn't expect him to be fat. <<<

Ali responds:-

One of Robin Hood's Merry Men was a fat friar: Friar Tuck. The idea 
of having a fat friar is already well established in British 
folklore. Who knows, the Fat Friar could even be Friar Tuck. 

 
>>> The Grey Lady_ - seen, but not named, in Chapter 12 of PS/SS, 
this ghost is described as "a tall witch."
<snip>
 
 Could this possibly be a pun? Grey as in "intelligent," for one 
would assume that she was in the Ravenclaw house when she was 
alive.  Grey could also mean "old," which the Grey Lady will never 
be.<<< 

Ali again:

The Grey Lady is a ghost said to haunt many places in Britain - York 
Minster being one such place. She's generally said to be Lady Jane 
Grey who was named by Edward the 6th as his successor, but reigned 
for only 9 days. Despite being an innocent pawn in the proceedings, 
she was later executed by Mary the 1st. Lady Jane Grey was indeed 
meant to be a gifted scholar. I think she was around 16 when she 
died.

Ali