- Happiness

[meboriqua at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 26547

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Amy Z" <aiz24 at h...> wrote:

  <I don't know what I meant by asking whether RL is happy, because I 
don't know what JKR meant by saying that the happiest people do not 
become ghosts.  It's instructive to remember that (IIRC) she said it 
in the context of being asked whether James and Lily became ghosts.  
She said they didn't--and I think it's true that just because your 
adult years are dominated by a reign of terror, you're murdered before 
your 23rd birthday, and you die believing your entire family will be 
destroyed, that doesn't mean you'd describe yourself as an unhappy 
person.  I'm being quite serious.  Clearly JKR does not mean to say 
that whether one becomes a ghost depends upon one's state of mind at 
the moment of one's death, else James and Lily would surely be 
ghosts.>

I know exactly what you mean, and it made me think of something else 
as well.  Maybe (and I'm thinking mostly of JKR here) happiness is 
also about being satisfied (contented?) with yourself.  Moaning Myrtle 
was obviously not happy with who she was, as she was always crying 
about her appearance and being teased by other students while she was 
still alive.  If that is the case, Ron could be a candidate for 
becoming a ghost, but only if he lets his own insecurities and 
jealousies of others (Harry, Draco) continue to get the best of him.  
Harry OTOH, never seems to wish he was someone else - he, like Remus 
(see next paragraph) accepts who he is and what he has to deal with 
very well, and certainly better than I could!

Happiness can also be achieved through inner strength, something most 
of our favorite characters have.  Remus, IMO, is quite strong in both 
categories - he has certainly dealt well with his situation and is 
also a very strong person to be able to deal with the ostracism that 
goes along with the already painful experience of regularly becoming a 
ferocious beast.

I really am curious to find out more about the already existing ghosts 
in the series.  I hope that when JKR reveals to us why people become 
ghosts, we will find out more about the Bloody Baron and Peeves.  

--jenny from ravenclaw 

Fudge is finger lickin' good ****************