Ghosts

[grey_wolf_c]

No: HPFGUIDX 34610

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "uncmark" <uncmark at y...> wrote:
> I was reading Harry to my niece for about the tenth time when we came 
> to Moaning Myrtle talking with Harry in Goblet. My niece thinks 
> Myrtle likes Harry and wonders if they will be friends or even more. 
> 
> She wonders whether there is anything Harry can do to help her and 
> mentioned the Casper movie where ghosts moved on when they completed 
> their 'unfinished business'.  I remember similar themes in several 
> books and wondered if the theme carried on in the Potterverse.
> 
> Thoughts on the subject? What would Myrtle's unfinished business be? 
> My niece thinks Harry needs to give her her first kiss. Or maybe 
> Harry needs to bring back Olive Hornby to apologize.
> 
> Uncmark

One of the "big news" expected in OotP is precisly the ghost theme: why 
they turned ghosts, what their magical propieties are, etc. However, I 
very much doubt that anything can be done about them: there are too 
many ghost around for them to be easily "given a chance to rest" by 
having them finish their business, or some suitable variation thereoff. 
If there was an easy solution, it would heve been tried by now, at 
least in those most unconfortable with their undead status.

JKR has mentioned the fact that only unhappy wizards/witches turn 
ghosts (this affirmation is tentatively taken as Canon, even though it 
was said in an interview, like the 1000 student-figure). However, 
lately I've come to believe something (which is, OTOH, pretty baseless, 
so you're welcomed to oppose): that wizards/witches that turn ghosts 
are not just plain unhappy, but also like to be so (thus, they like to 
wallow in their self pity), which suits quite well the two ghosts we 
really know (Nick and Myrtle).

However, on the theme of ghosts, specially surrounding JKR's 
declaration about unhappines, I've always got stuck in the fact that 
the Fat Friar seems to be jolly, even plain happy. Either he takes 
death as a great joke, or there is something we haven't been told which 
makes it consistent with JKR's explanation. Opinions welcomed.

Hope that helps,

Grey Wolf