OT: Ghosts Come & Go - Call for Speculation.

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 96503

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "finwitch" <finwitch at y...> wrote:

> Finwitch:
>
> ... And er - I think he could be at least ghosting, because 
> he probably wants to clear his name and yell at Snape for stopping to 
> teach Occlumency to Harry, for taunting Neville and what not...
> 
> --
> Finwitch

bboy_mn:

Well, I'm very much straying from the thread, but what you said raised
an interesting thought in my mind, and I thought maybe others might
have an opinion on the issue. Of course, it's all speculation, since
there is not enough information for a definitive statement. But that's
never stopped us before.

The question is on the nature of ghosts. Think back to the conversatin
between Nearly Headless Nick and Harry near the end of OoP. Nick said
that he chose to stay in the world as a ghost because he feared death.
Now you speculate that Sirius may come back because he has unfinished
business.

Unfinished business, regarding ghosts in general, is one of the main
reasons that ghost cling to earthly life and refuse to move on to the
afterlife. And that is the key to my question.

Once a ghost chooses to be a ghost, is that irrevocable, or once their
unfinish business or the trama (as in Nick's case) that is holding
them here is resolved, can they them move on to the afterlife and live
 (or I guess I should say die) in peace?

This is not an uncommon theme in ghost stories. Ghost are frequently
able to move on to the afterlife if whatever is holding them to the
physical life is resolved. So, if something happened to overcome
Nick's fear of death, could he move on? If Moaning Myrtle discover and
more importantly took to heart the idea that she was special and
valuable and appreciated by the people (Harry) who know her, would he
trama be resolved allowing her to move on?

Short version: Can ghost change their mind, and decide to move on to
the afterlife; rest in peace?

Again, this can never be more than speculation, but I'm still
interested in people's views on the possibilities.

Just a thought.

bboy_mn