How to become a ghost

[deedeee88]

No: HPFGUIDX 83376

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "meriaugust" <meriaugust at y...> 
wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "phoenixwriter" 
> <phoenixfeder2002 at y...> wrote:
> > Sorry if this has already been discussed. 
> > 
> > I have been thinking about it and wondering why some people 
become 
> > ghosts and others do not.
> >
> snip 
> > 
> > Why do ghosts exist? In order to get a chance which they didn't 
get 
> > when they were alive: to learn to love somebody and be loved in 
> > return.
> > 
> > That's it.
> > 
> > PW
> 
> JKR has said that it's the people who aren't the happiest in life 
> that become ghosts, so not being loved is obviously an important 
> factor, but I'm not sure that love has everything to do with it. 
> Nearly Headless Nick (in the last chapter of OotP, but I'm not 
quite 
> sure where, because I don't have my book with me at school) seems 
to 
> imply that becoming a ghost is a choice that people make when they 
> die, and it depends on the kind of person that you are whether you 
> will make the choice to "cross over" or stay behind. 
**snip88

Myrtle, on the other hand, wanted nothing more than 
> to make Olive Hornby sorry she made fun of Myrtle's glasses, and 
she clearly succeded.) It also seems like the choice is irreversible: 
> that once you are a ghost you can't ever "cross over". 

***snip**
> Meri

I agree with you both on most points aside from once a choice is made 
it "seems to be irreversable".

This does not fit with JKR's characters--Dumbledore's always giving 
second chances (Snape, Hagrid, even Harry for that matter).

I think that the ghosts always have a choice to continue on through 
the veil. All the ghosts have their reasons--Myrtle/revenge, 
Nick/fear...Peeves/creating chaos--seeking attention he probably 
never got in the living world.  I wouldn't be surprised at all if 
Harry somehow played a role in getting Nick to "cross over", and this 
playing a role in the ending plot to the story. (Gee who will be the 
next Griffyndor ghost?(DD, Ron, Percy, Luna, 
Neville?!?)..Sheesh..given all the additional questions perhaps it 
will be Myrtle that will finally "crossover".

Even if Harry dies somewhere in the series he may become a ghost.
(highly doubtful but a possiblity)

If the arch is indicative of the "arches" present in 
Judeo/Christian/Wiccan beliefs, then ghosts are here because they 
have something left to learn.

DeeDee