Ghost Cedric

[Brittany]

No: HPFGUIDX 53826

Cheryl wrote:
> > I always thought Cedric might come back as a ghost...
> > 
> 
>        This makes sense to me and I can even justify it.
> 
>        Yes Cedric died happy and should be safe...but, as we've 
all 
> speculated, there are forces at work in the WW that don't quite 
buy Harry's 
> story and who may actively work to punish Harry for his supposed 
part in 
> Cedric's death. 
>        
>        So, a WW trial/hearing/whatever is held to send Harry to 
Askaban/St. 
> Mungos/wherever. And Cedric is drawn back from wherever to defend 
Harry, 
> publicly appearing in front of all Harry's accusers. Shock, 
> horror...especially when he says to Dad or Fudge, publicly "Why 
couldn't you 
> let me rest?"

I can definitely see your reasoning, and I wouldn't put it past JKR 
to bring Cedric back as a ghost, but I just wanted to throw in a few 
points.  

How long does it take for a person to become a ghost?  Because, 
using Myrtle as a reference, she says in book two that she waited 
and waited for someone to come find her body, until Olive Hornby 
did.  So, for me, that implies that she became a ghost pretty much 
immediately.  So, if Cedric isn't a ghost by now, I don't know if he 
can become one.  Then there is also the point that he could be a 
ghost at his parents' house or something, and we don't know about it 
yet.  Even though that would be incredibly painful for his parents :(

Another point I wanted to mention, I don't know if JKR would bring 
him back after the whole Harry-sees-Cedric's-echo ordeal.  And Lily 
and James and Bertha Jorkins came back as echoes, too, and their not 
ghosts, though the priori incantantem spell would probably have 
brought back their echoes anyway, even if they were ghosts.  My 
point is that she's already sort of brought back Cedric, so I don't 
know if she'd do it again (making it more painful for Harry to 
forgive himself and move past it, I think).

And then there's the hypothetical situation you mentioned, which 
would be interesting, and I've often wondered how the rest of the 
wizarding world views Harry after Rita Skeeter's article.  We never 
really find out, except in seeing Fudge's view, which isn't very 
encouraging.  But if Harry is accused of something, I think it would 
be more interesting plot-wise to see him on his own in defending 
himself, plus Dumbledore or Sirius or someone.  Maybe that's how 
Sirius might get caught, no idea, just speculating.  But I think it 
would definitely be interesting to see the whole wizarding world 
turning against "the famous Harry Potter," even though, like I've 
said before, I can't stand to see the kid hurt.

Just thought I'd mention my alternating views, because I'm not 
throwing out the idea that Cedric could come back as a ghost, I just 
don't know if I see it actually happening.

As always, guess we'll have to wait and see (could June 21st get 
here any slower?).

Brittany, who will miss Cedric, ghost or not