Peeves was a poltergeist at Hogwarts School, since c. 993. Peeves is not a ghost, but a spirit of chaos. He was created with the school. Fond of mischief and chaos, he was a constant pain to the school and its inhabitants, as the only ones able to control him were the Bloody Baron and the late Albus Dumbledore. Peeves was more of a chaotic spirit rather than a physical being, but highly different from the other school ghosts. Unlike the overwhelming majority of his colleagues, Peeves has a physical form, though he was able to become invisible at will. Peeves was essentially an embodiment of disorder, and took great pleasure in constantly causing it. Peeves is a poltergeist, not a ghost, but an "indestructible spirit of chaos" that haunts the halls of Hogwarts

Peeves has lived at Hogwarts Castle since its founding in c. 993. He "came with the building", being created along with the Castle. Peeves has wrought havoc upon Hogwarts for centuries. Starting with the original caretaker, Hankerton Humble, who was appointed by the Founders themselves, Peeves has traditionally been a pet peeve of every caretaker the school has seen.

In 1876, caretaker Rancorous Carpe devised a trap in an effort to remove Peeves from Hogwarts Castle. The trap was comprised of a bait of assortment of weapons and a vast enchanted bell jar, reinforced by various Containment Charms, which he intended to drop over the poltergeist once he was in place. This did not go as planned, as Peeves easily broke through the bell jar and was left armed with several cutlasses, crossbows, a blunderbuss and a miniature cannon. The Castle had to be evacuated for three days as Peeves amused himself by firing randomly and threatening the students with death.

Professor Eupraxia Mole, Headmistress of the day, agreed to sign a contract with Peeves, so that he relinquished the weapons in exchange for additional privileges (a once-weekly swim in the boys' toilets on the ground floor, first refusal on stale bread from the kitchen for throwing purposes, and a new custom-made hat by Madmae Bonhabille). This was the last and most disastrous attempt to get rid of Peeves. These events forced Mr. Carpe to take early retirement "for health reasons".

In 1995, Peeves, along with most of the Hogwarts residents, opposed Dolores Umbridge, the High Inquisitor, and pranked her until she was kicked out of the school at the end of the school year. In 1998, Peeves fought at the Battle of Hogwarts against Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters.

 After the Second Wizarding War, Peeves continued making trouble at Hogwarts.