Ghosts????

[child of darkness]

How can some ppl be ghosts and others arn't?

Is it just ppl so attached to the world they dont wanna leave it?

[Scellanis]

I thought we had a thread about this ages ago......not sure where though....

[jarvan49]

I expect that this topic will be covered in detail by JKR in the next two books! But I dont have a clue

[AngelicS_89]

I think ppl choose to stay as ghosts if they're not ready to face with their death,not ready to live the world

[Scellanis]

somebody suggested it was if they don't die a 'happy' death for example...we have the Bloody Baron....covered in blood...clearly not a nice death, nearly headless nick....never did manage to cut through his neck, not a nice death, moaning myrtle was in the toilets crying, extremely unhappy at the time of death

I suppose it could also be an unfinished buisness type thing, Moaning myrtle said she wanted to come back to haunt olive hornby didn't she??

[Athena Appleton]

I thought Nearly Headless let us know that it was his choice to stay as a ghost, but, knowing Sirius, Sirius wouldn't make that choice... Nick made it seem like he was just too afraid to accept death, but now he's in this inbetween stage as a ghost...

i don't think becoming a ghost depends too much on "happy" or "unhappy" deaths, as James and Lily were murdered (clearly an unhappy death, especially as they died trying to protect their son)...

[Jotomicron]

I assumed it was a metter of bravery, althought I think that if one wants to return to finnish an unfinished business (like Myrtle) they'd come back.

[Cruzio]

It's pretty much covered in the replies here already, here's the explanation Nearly Headless Nick gives in OotP:

'I was afraid of Death', said Nick softly. 'I chose to remain behind. I sometimes wonder whether I oughtn't to have...well, that's neither here nor there... in fact, I am neither here nor there...' He gave a small sad chuckle. 'I know nothing of the secrets of death Harry, for I chose my feeble imitation of life instead. I believe learned wizards study the matter in the Department of Mysteries -'

Wonder if this was just a quick note, or if JKR intend to reveal more about this research regarding death in the DoM.

[Holly Golightly]

I agree with that , but Sonkem bought up a good point with MOaning Myrtle, I don't think that she was afraid of death, or at least she never gives of that impresstion... just that she really really badly wanted to come abck to haunt Olive Hornbry!!

So maybe that's part of it too...

[Athena Appleton]

maybe it's just wanting to still be around in some form or fashion... that would fit both Nearly Headless Nick (he wanted to still be around because he was afraid of death) and Moaning Myrtle (she wanted to still be around to torture Olive)...

[Amon Rê]

I agree with everyone. I think it is a matter of personal choice, whether the reason be haunting revenge, fear, or wanting to leave a mark...it was their decision. Maybe it depends on how you were raised, or how you lived you're life that affects what you decide...

Wouldn't it be interesting if Rowling actually had us follow a deceased person into the decision process? One can only hope

[Athena Appleton]

I doubt she would... so far, the only person's thoughts we follow is Harry's, except for the one scene with Frank Bryce, and the very beginning of P/SS, when we follow Vernon Dursley's thoughts... So, in order to follow someone through that decision, Harry would have to die, or she'd have to change the layout of the books..

[Amon Rê]

I doubt she would... so far, the only person's thoughts we follow is Harry's, except for the one scene with Frank Bryce, and the very beginning of P/SS, when we follow Vernon Dursley's thoughts... So, in order to follow someone through that decision, Harry would have to die, or she'd have to change the layout of the books..

But see that's where there are no guarantees...the book is actually written by a third person narrator with Harry's thought's intertruding...so you never know...it could happen, I mean look at some of the things we've seen and heard that didn't really come from inside of Harry's head

[Athena Appleton]

Yeah, but just about everything has been told through Harry's eyes, even though it was third-person... we never know exactly what Hermione, Ron, Snape, Dumbledore, etc. are thinking, only what Harry thinks they're thinking.

[paintballdecoy]

They could also become Ghosts when they have time to think about death before it happens, I don't know about the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw ghost but surly Nick was thinking about death before being be-headed, and Myrtle was thinking about killing herself, like always.