Shouldn't Voldemort have become a ghost?

I have not read more than half of the replies, so I don't know if this has been said.

With risk, comes consequence.

Voldemort split his soul several ways, but that doesn't matter, what matters is he split it period.

I whole fully believe what JK wanted us to understand is that because of his risk to obtain near immortality, he cannot pass on, nor can he return. Voldemort's physical piece of soul that died that night lays in King's Cross, forever.

Sucks for him, lol.

Oh, quick edit...I truly believe Voldemort see's King's Cross just as Harry does. King's Cross meant to Voldemort EXACTLY what it meant to Harry. It was his transition, his reality, from knowing he was different, to accepting it.

Voldermort would be too dangerous as a ghost, im sure if he were he would try and try and try to regain to full life again

If we assume that Voldemort knew as much as Harry/the reader about ghosts, and recognize that he experianced life as a near ghost as Vapor-Mort, then even if his soul could leave a mark on earth, he might still choose not to do so.

Voldemort's speeches about life without a body do not make it sound as if it would be a form of life he would choose, even if facing death. But more importantly, I think he is clever enough to understand the difference between leaving an imprint on earth, and persisting on earth, as a ghost. It is a matter of identity. As Vapormort, Riddle himself survived, and was eventually restored to a body. But a ghost would not be like that, but rather more like Dumbledore's portrait. It represents him, and perhaps reasons as he would, but it is not him, only a facsimile. Voldemort would not be the least satisfied by a facsimile of himself surviving. It would be on the order of Slytherin's Chamber of Secrets. It might allow one to reach across time and influence the world of the future, but one would have no knowledge of it, and no control. It is not how posterity recalls him, his reputation, about which he is concerned, but only himself.

I don't think one can choose to become a ghost. Those who are scared of death are the ones who stay behind in HP universe. I think Headless Nick said something to that effect. Voldemort was very scared of death (OOTP); he did not wish to die at all, and that was why he made the horcruxes in the first place, so that he could live forever IMO. He should have become a ghost IMO

He probably didn't have enough soul left to become a ghost. Cuase I don't think nearly headless nick split his soul or any other ghost for that matter.

I agree with the general consensus. Voldemort's soul was so badly damaged being ripped apart repeatedly, that there wasn't enough to leave an "imprint" anywhere.

You know, I think this is a two-level argument. First, I agree with the consensus that Voldy messed his ticket up when he started splitting souls, not least because all the soul parts in the horcruxes were destroyed, which is to say Voldy could not piece his soul back together.

I notice two other things from DH book about this question. First, despite his injuries Harry was whole in the King's Cross vision; the condition of the soul determines the next physical reality for people who are not ghosts, while the ghosts are locked into their death condition. So Voldemort's King's Cross condition was a true foreboding of what waited for him, to my mind regardless of how or when he died, unless he began to rebuild his soul by showing remorse. Also, everything about Voldemort was artificial - his renewed body was the result of his magical skills, but as soon he died all of that was gone; I think there would not be a body to even bury!

The other thing I took away friom this, is that as poor an existence as a ghost would know, it would still depend on conditions Voldemort could not meet. The ghosts we see have various links to the world, people or places they loved and old loves they cling to, because it's what they loved best. All the things (never people) that Voldemort loved, were destroyed and gone - even if he could exist as a ghost, what purpose would he find in existing as an object of ridicule and mocking, powerless to even scare children, much less control armies. If Voldemort existed as a ghost, he would flee all wizards and men, and indeed all living things, for the eternal shame and failure of his ever-present, unchanging condition.

I'm agreeing with everyone when they say that he had nothing left to become a a ghost. I mean he had split his soul into seven parts. What gets me is that, assuming you all are right, and the reason that he couldn't become a ghost was because of the fact that he did split his soul. My question is that, we have heard of all people in the book, including Dumbledore, say that Voldemort was very wise. If infact he was wise don't you think he would have known about this?

Another thing that kind of makes it easy to believe that he feared death, was that he did split his soul. Voldemort was so afraid of death that he split his soul into seven parts, and placed them inside these objects that could be easily destroyed in my opinion. But I think that the reason he did this was because he thought he had a better chance of living longer, and that he knew that he wasn't strong enough against Harry. I mean why do you think he created all those other Horcruxes?

In conclusion I think that when he finally really did die, I think that maybe he thought it was for the best. By creating all of these Horcruxes he knew that the time was coming for someone, especially Harry to figure that out. And it was just a matter of time, before they were all destroyed.

Also, I think that even if he didn't split his soul, and he died. I don't think he would have become a ghost. I say this because ghosts can only do so many things. I mean they can still haunt you. But can they really kill another person?

Well, no, voldemort didnt fear death, he feared the unknmown, and the things hecouldnt control Death brought. When Voldemort saw what the beggining of death was like, and decide he liked it (or he oculd have completly given up on life at this point)

I agree that he didn't have enough soul left to become a ghost. Besides, if he remained a ghost, he probably would have haunted Hogwarts, and that would be really scary.

Not only was Voldemort destroyed, but his soul was destroyed as well, therefore since his soul was destoryed, he can't become a ghost because a ghost is a soul. Destroying Voldemort's soul was the whole reason why Harry destroyed the Horcruxes in the first place.

You would think that the dark lord would have become a ghost, but his soul might have been to torn to actually have enough to be come a ghost.

You would think that the dark lord would have become a ghost, but his soul might have been to torn to actually have enough to be come a ghost.
That's what I figured as well. His soul was too far beyond repair to have become something like that. That's why he was the way he was -- stuck between two worlds with no way to go to the other side.

If a ghost is the imprint of a departed soul, then can a dementor destroy a ghost? There aren't very many ghosts, considering how long wizarding history is, so it seems like something must be able to destroy one.

Not only was Voldemort destroyed, but his soul was destroyed as well, therefore since his soul was destoryed, he can't become a ghost because a ghost is a soul. Destroying Voldemort's soul was the whole reason why Harry destroyed the Horcruxes in the first place.

Harry needed to destroy the Horcruxes to make Voldemort the same as any mortal, so he would have no anchors keeping him from dying completely, imo.

The soul pieces which resided within the Horcruxes were destroyed when the objects/beings were damaged beyond repair. However, Voldemort's main (master) soul that resided within his own body would still have existed after his body was dead (the same as others). That last scarred, damaged soul was like what we saw in the King's Cross chapter, imo. According to JKR that is where he stays, in a limbo for eternity, unable to move on.

You would think that the dark lord would have become a ghost, but his soul might have been to torn to actually have enough to be come a ghost.

I agree, I don't think Voldemort's soul would have been strong enough to leave an imprint.

I think that JK Rowling answered this question, but I'll say my opinion anyway :D.

IMO, he couldn't become a ghost, because a ghost is a soul, and Voldie's soul was destroyed, (by Harry and DD). And even if it wasn't, it was a way to damaged soul to become a ghost (I'm not so sure about that...).

I think that JK Rowling answered this question, but I'll say my opinion anyway :D.

IMO, he couldn't become a ghost, because a ghost is a soul, and Voldie's soul was destroyed, (by Harry and DD). And even if it wasn't, it was a way to damaged soul to become a ghost (I'm not so sure about that...).

Is this the quote you're thinking of, from the live web chat?

Jon: Since voldemort was afraid of death, did he choose to be a ghost if so where does he haunt or is this not possible due to his horcruxes

J.K. Rowling: No, he is not a ghost. He is forced to exist in the stunted form we witnessed in King’s Cross.

The soul pieces within the Horcruxes were destroyed. The final main soul that was left in Voldemort's body isn't destroyed. It seems his soul leaves the dead body like everyone else's would once their mortal body dies. I think Horcruxes act differently because they are not the natural soul container. Voldemort then moves on to exist and remain in that limbo state we see in the King's Cross chapter. He didn't have the strength to 'move on' or substance of soul to leave an imprint. Imo.

I think the rest of his soul was just not enough to create a ghost. Voldemort wasn't a fully human person; his soul was so damaged that it was unable to do anything.

I have to go with the theory that there wasn't enough left of Voldemort to truly die, or that being a ghost wasn't a strong enough option for Voldemort. I can't see him going for the compromise of treading in his previous steps as a ghost.

i don't think that Voldemort had enough soul left to becoume a ghost. I mean a ghost is a soul attached to the Earth because of fear of death, but because Voldemort split his soul 7 times, there wasn't enough soul left!!

maybe he is 1/8th of a ghost floating around?

Just a pair of ghostly feet floating around Hogwarts.

According to Nearly Headless Nick in OotP, people who fear death remain attached to the earth after they die, and become ghosts.

Voldemort feared death like no other. Shouldn't he have become a ghost?Actually, what Nick said was that only witches/wizards can make that choice but that many of them go on rather than choice a pale imitation of life. Some who fear death leave an imprint of their departed souls, yes...except that Voldemort had less than 1/7 of his soul left. His soul was weak, maimed, mutilated, yet disturbingly malevolent even in its frailty.

His other seven soul fragments {diary, ring, cup, locket, diadem, snake, Harry's scar} that would have been tiny singular parts of his 'whole' soul had already been destroyed and one assumes, either moved on to the other plain of existence or been completely obliterated. That says to me he didn't have enough of his own soul left for the ghost process and so he was 'forced' to exist in that stunted form rather than having a 'choice' to do otherwise.

I'm in agreement here!! In Harry's vision, he saw a pitiful wretch of a thing, of which Dumbledore said there was no hope for!! If Voldemort had had the ability to remain a ghost, his soul/imprint probably would have ended up like that!! I think Voldemort's desire for power outweighed his fear of death - he only remained a shadow of his former self for so long after Harry survived the first curse because he knew he was stll alive and there was a chance he could return to power!! I doubt he'd ever choose to live like that for all eternity!!

Parents wouldn't allow their children to go to Hogwarts if they knew Voldemort's ghost is lurking around the castle.

I'm in agreement here!! In Harry's vision, he saw a pitiful wretch of a thing, of which Dumbledore said there was no hope for!! If Voldemort had had the ability to remain a ghost, his soul/imprint probably would have ended up like that!! I think Voldemort's desire for power outweighed his fear of death - he only remained a shadow of his former self for so long after Harry survived the first curse because he knew he was stll alive and there was a chance he could return to power!! I doubt he'd ever choose to live like that for all eternity!!


Good point. I think though, that, if he could choose, he'd prefer even that partial existence ("neither here nor there" according to Nearly HeadlessNick) to death.
I suppose we don't know for certain that he didn't/couldn't become a ghost, although his mutilated soul and the pitiful creature Harry saw in his King's Cross Experience would suggest that the choice was out of his hands as a result of the Horcruxes.

You know, like so many others, I never concidered the possiblity that LV would have a ghost. I think his major problem if he were to be a ghost would be that he wouldnt be able to torture people. He could haunt them yes, but it wouldnt have the same effect as listening to them scream in pain, one of his few pleasures in his twisted life.
And I dont think that he would haunt Hogwarts. I think that he might haunt a place that had pain and bloodshed. Maybe an old duel site. Or perhaps some place like the cave that mean so much to him... correction, as much as he could care with only one eighth of his soul.

I don't think that he has enough of a soul to become a ghost. If it was possible, I'm sure he would've, but since we haven't heard anything of the sort, I think it's safe to assume that Voldy is dead and gone and will never come back.

Parents wouldn't allow their children to go to Hogwarts if they knew Voldemort's ghost is lurking around the castle.

Naturally. Particularly those parents who had been around to witness the terrors of Vodemort's campaign, would not want their children near any form of him. If he retains even a third of his malicious brain thinking, he would be manipulating others to do tasks for him. Come to think of it Voldemort would be likely to spend the rest of eternity hunting for a way to regain a human form. :no: Which would be very bad.

But no, I doubt Voldemort had the heart or soul to return to the world as a ghost.

I don't think he'd become a ghost. His soul was maimed, damaged, and for the most part, obliterated. He was forced to live as that wretched, flayed baby creature in the King's Cross limbo (or whatever he saw it as).

Its like theandy said, he ripped part his soul, and tats wat ghosts strive on. soul. so die vouldy, die.

Even though Voldemort feared death, I don't think he would have been able to become a ghost. His soul was too tortured and maimed to be whole. If he did become one, he would be a very holy ghost *pun intended*.

I don't think there was enough soul left in Voldemort to become a ghost. If he hadn't made the horcruxes, he could've become a ghost and his immortality desire would've practically been solved, but he really ruined that path himself by splitting his soul into seven parts.

I don't think Voldemort had anough of his soul left to become a ghost.

Yeah. I mean, his soul was split 7 ways, leaving very little left! :)

If he retains even a third of his malicious brain thinking, he would be manipulating others to do tasks for him.
Thats something I never considered. If Voldemort had really returned as a ghost, he could've still been able to manipulate people, charm them and get them to do what he wants.

But no, I doubt Voldemort had the heart or soul to return to the world as a ghost.
Exactly. Also I feel that Jo intended to make it Voldemort's end; ghost or living. Even if he could return as a ghost, I guess she wouldn't have let him return.

In an interview, JK Rowling stated that Voldemort was not permitted to make this choice due to the heinous nature of his crimes and that he was forced to remain in limbo in the form of the flayed child that Harry saw at King's Cross. Interestingly enough, this implies that there is a judgment at the end of life in the Potterverse.

I think the idea of Voldemort as a ghost, trapped in this world, but unable to act, only to observe and talk - is a rather fitting punishment.

I think the idea of Voldemort as a ghost, trapped in this world, but unable to act, only to observe and talk - is a rather fitting punishment.

Hmmmm....I'd say the 'fitting punishment' is exactly what he got, the very thing he feared - ignonimous death; being forced to exist in that stunted existence in whatever ethereal plane he went to. What a horrible shock to him, to die and THEN be forced to exist in that travesty of self while seeing first hand that there really was nothing to fear in death after all. A life not lived, wasted on fear. An eternity of stunted self and no respite.

I dunno, that seems more fitting than anything else.

Didn't JK say something about a wizard having to decide this sort of thing before they die? Like sign some sort of magical agreement with themselves? If Voldemort thought himself unkillable then he would not have done this.

So there's your answer?

In an interview, JK Rowling stated that Voldemort was not permitted to make this choice due to the heinous nature of his crimes and that he was forced to remain in limbo in the form of the flayed child that Harry saw at King's Cross. Interestingly enough, this implies that there is a judgment at the end of life in the Potterverse.

I didn't know this. In which interview did she tell this ?

In any case, I don't think Voldemort had enough soul left to become a ghost.
Even if he did come back, the Ministry would have sealed him up somewhere.
If there is one person who could devise a method to get a body when he is a ghost, it would be Voldemort.

I wonder what happened to his other soul bits. Its said that if you feel strong enough remorse, the soul can be made whole. Does that mean that other parts of his soul return or he regenerates the remaining part ?

I didn't know this. In which interview did she tell this ?
That's a quote from this interview: J.K. Rowling and the Live Chat, Bloomsbury.com, July 30, 2007 (2.00-3.00pm BST). (http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2007/0730-bloomsbury-chat.html)

Jon: Since voldemort was afraid of death, did he choose to be a ghost if so where does he haunt or is this not possible due to his horcruxes

J.K. Rowling: No, he is not a ghost. He is forced to exist in the stunted form we witnessed in King's Cross.I wonder what happened to his other soul bits. Its said that if you feel strong enough remorse, the soul can be made whole. Does that mean that other parts of his soul return or he regenerates the remaining part ?That is what the book said, however nothing was mentioned about fragments which had already been destroyed.

I believe Jo also remarked upon this in a question/anser, though. The gist being that had Voldemort truly felt remorse, he'd have been made whole and not only that but be transformed. I'll see if I can find that quote too.

ETA: Okay, so that was from Rowling's site, in the FAQs section and it didn't specifically state that his destroyed soul fragments would be reuinted. Instead, it makes it clear that it's Lily's protection, which resides in Harry's blood {now flowing in Voldemort's body}, which would be the genesis of transformation. IF - Voldemort felt remorse.

***SNIP***

So Voldemort himself acts almost like a Horcrux for Harry – except that the power of Lily’s sacrifice is a positive force that not only continues to tether Harry to life, but gives Voldemort himself one last chance (Dumbledore refers to this last hope in chapter 35). Voldemort has unwittingly put a few drops of goodness back inside himself; if he had repented, he could have been healed more deeply than anyone would have supposed. But, of course, he refused to feel remorse.

If Voldemort had felt remorse, wouldn't he still have died? Anyway, I always thought that the Dementors would have sucked out that last bit of his soul. To me, that could be a fate worst than death.

If all parts of Voldemort's soul were destroyed, there was nothing left to "come back" as a ghost. I don't think the Bloody Baron or any of the other castle ghosts would have allowed him to inhabit the castle anyway.

There wasn't enough of his soul left to either go on or stay behind, he was trapped in limbo at Kings Cross for all eternity.

Whoa. WHOA! WHOA! (Yeah, I'm shouting!)

You people just smacked me on the head with this business about Voldy having no soul!

It hadn't dawned on me until this thread, that Voldemort, who feared death maybe more than anyone else, has become more completely dead than anyone else. Even those who suffered the Kiss, I presume, still have their souls alive, albeit tortured.

But Voldemort is completely obliterated. The man who went further down the road to immortality than anyone else became the one to go further into nonexistence than anyone else.

WHOA. They call that dramatic irony, do they not? It calls the Oedipus story to mind: by working so hard to prevent it, he made it come about. That's what I love about these books: the more you think about them, the better they are! And they're so complex that one (except JK) can't even grasp at the complexities without discussion, without the help of other people pointing things out. Isn't that the difference between good and great literature?

I'm really grateful for these boards. They've helped me to see so many facets that I'd have missed on my own.

YEAH, hear hear!

i think the thing under the seat in king's cross is a bit of voldy's soul - proves what we were saying, yeah?
that tiny bit of soul isnt enough to go on, or come back as a ghost because it's so weak.:tu:

I guess not. There weren't anything left of him, was there? I mean all the horcruxes were distroyed and the last bit of him (or his soul) was stuck in Kings Cross...

Well no. One of the reasons is what has been mentioned before, since his soul was so badly mutilated he couldn't take either of the paths normally taken after death.
Also I don't think he would have liked to come back as a ghost. I think he would have felt it would be quite humiliating for him to return to the living world as anything less than the powerful mortal that he had been.

His soul was ripped apart in so many pieces and every piece except one had been destroyed - I think there simply wasn't enough to 'work with'. :p I assume your soul must be somewhat whole to become a ghost.

Also I don't think he would have liked to come back as a ghost. I think he would have felt it would be quite humiliating for him to return to the living world as anything less than the powerful mortal that he had been.

Hm, I'm not sure about that. I mean, the form he takes in GoF is pretty pathetic, he has to completely rely on others to survive. He's an extremely proud man, but I think his will to live is stronger.

You would think there was something left, Voldemort would have thought this out along time ago, If he did ever die at Harry Potters hand he would have done something to let his soul stick around, I personally think that he should have become something. Voldemort is not the person that does not think these things out, but apparently he did not think this time because there is nothing left of him
:(. If he did what would have happened in the years that came? Would it be him coming back like in the GOF? Would Harry have to fight him again? What about a phantom?

I don't even think there was enough left of Voldemort for him to come back as a ghost. He already entrapped his soul in 7 different objects to prevent death. Personally, I think for someone to have become a ghost their soul had to be entact in its entirety.

I think that's why Voldemort appeared to be "stuck" in an immobile form: his soul was so splintered from experiments to conquer death that he could not return as a ghost. He was not whole enough to come back together due to the fact that his soul was terribly split.

Ghosts, despite being imprints of themselves on the earth, still have souls like humans. However, Voldemort practically butchered his soul, so he can't come back.

That really is a horrible thought!

You could probably argue that the damage he did to his soul would render him incapable of becoming anything after death. I think there are several references to how different Voldy is to normal wizards in terms of his soul

should we pity the man? he wanted to be the greatest wizard alive and he ended up less than the meanest ghost.

should we pity the man? he wanted to be the greatest wizard alive and he ended up less than the meanest ghost.

... twice!

haha :)

I wondered that too. When dying, people are presented two choices: to "move on, into the light", OR become a ghost. But I'm guessing that Voldemort's soul was too brokey to become a ghost. :D

That really is a horrible thought!

You could probably argue that the damage he did to his soul would render him incapable of becoming anything after death. I think there are several references to how different Voldy is to normal wizards in terms of his soul

Yup, I believe so. It seems to me that a ghost is a direct manifestation of a soul, and thus there likely was no hope of him being able to fill out a ghostly form with the soul he had left.

It is also a pet theory of mine that Voldemort was likely incapable of being a Secret Keeper because of his maimed soul.

should we pity the man? he wanted to be the greatest wizard alive and he ended up less than the meanest ghost.

No...I don't think so. I reserve my pity for his murdered victims.

It is also a pet theory of mine that Voldemort was likely incapable of being a Secret Keeper because of his maimed soul.

That's a really good point. It's something Dumbledore has said from the very beginning; Voldemort never considered the dangers of magic that he thought was beneath him or magic that revolved around "love" and that is why there was so much magic that he was ignorant to or thought wouldn't affect him.

In the case of being a secret keeper i definitely agree that his soul would be incapable of it. He would see no need to protect any other living person.
I think a person would need empathy or compassion on order to be a secret keeper, both qualities Voldy does not possess.

This makes me think of what Dumbledore says to Harry in 'kings cross':

“That which Voldemort does not value, he takes no trouble to comprehend. Of house-elves and children’s tales, of love, loyalty, and innocence, Voldemort knows and understands nothing. Nothing. That they all have a power beyond his own, a power beyond the reach of any magic, is a truth he has never grasped.”

Think he sums it up pretty well :)

No, Voldemort couldn't become a ghost. I read this, and I agreed with it:

With the destruction of all of his Horcruxes, when Voldemort's Killing Curse rebounded and finally ended his life once and for all, his broken and mangled soul[2] was forced to exist in the stunted form Harry saw in King's Cross, unable to move on or return as a ghost.
source: here (http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Limbo)

I love the thing about the ghosts, like how some people can decide to become one and all and LV would have def been the type to decide to become a ghost.

But what everyone said about how his soul wasn't really there anymore and how you would probably have a part of your soul in order to become a ghost makes sense. It's also really good to know that he won't keep on terrorizing people as a ghost. haha.

I don't think people get a choice to become a ghost. The ones in HP who were ghosts were the ones who were unhappy in life. Voldemort wasn't really happy in life. He should have become a ghost, except he split his soul so much, he could not become a ghost.

His soul was too damaged for that. Imagine his ghost lurking at Hogwarts, looking for somebody to posess! Not a good thought!

I don't think people get a choice to become a ghost.

I'm just not sure there is any other way to interpret Nick's phrasing that "very few wizards choose that path." It just seems based on the quote that it must be a choice.

Frankly, I don't think that Voldemort would have wanted to be a ghost. From his perspective, would it be better to trap himself in a place where he would have no power over his fellow man, where he would be humiliated and laughed at, or to move on to the next realm and hope for something better. He feared death, yes, but becoming a ghost is still death.

IMO given a choice, Voldemort would have become a ghost. He'd probably have backed himself to find a way to get a body. He was a powerful wizard who believed himself greatest after all...

Voldemort was scary enough while alive...we certainly don't need him lurking around as a ghost. :eeep: Anyway, since his soul was damaged so severely, he couldn't become a ghost after dying. Just my two cents.

Voldemort was scary enough while alive...we certainly don't need him lurking around as a ghost. :eeep: Anyway, since his soul was damaged so severely, he couldn't become a ghost after dying. Just my two cents.

Even if he were a ghost, he'd still be dead. The battle is over; the prophecy came true and Harry ended up alive. I don't think there's any way of bringing dead people back even if they're ghosts (other than the Resurrection Stone, but no one would bring Voldemort back with that and he wouldn't be back completely anyway).

Either way, I agree that his soul was too damaged. I don't think he would have had a choice.

As many people have said, the simple explanation is that there wasn't enough of his soul left to leave behind as a ghost. Also maybe that in his final moments he had accepted death. But imagine if he had remained as a ghost. He'd have haunted Hogwarts for sure, as it was the only place he'd ever called home. Even without any powers the students, and probably the teachers, would have been scared of the sight of him. He'd would have constantly disrupted lessons by walking through the walls. He'd have spooked the house elves so there'd have been no meals. In time nobody would send their children to Hogwarts. Young wizards and witches would have remained untrained, or forced to go afar to the other schools. Hogwarts would be left empty, left to fall into ruin. Voldemorts last revenge.

It has to do with the soul, as people already said.

I don't think it would've been possible for such a lifeless creature to return as a ghost, who had lost most human features.

And as Dumbledore most certainly reminded us, Voldemort couldn't feel love. And I think that you need to be able to feel such emotions to return, in the form of a ghost. It would also have been such a humiliation for Voldemort, who wanted nothing more than to gain power, to return as a helpless ghost, who couldn't do anything to help his beloved Death Eaters.

But if he would become a ghost, it would be the undeniable mark that he existed. And generations and generations to come would know about the stories.

I don't think so. Voldemort's soul was too shattered and damaged to even know.

Even without any powers the students, and probably the teachers, would have been scared of the sight of him.

I don't think they would be scared. There were about twenty ghosts at Hogwarts, and at least one was a murderer. They'd probably throw things at him and get extra points for getting a book through his head.

I don't think he could have become a ghost as there wasn't enough left of him. I don't think he would have chosen to be a ghost if he could. He was afraid of dying, but once he was dead that wouldn't be an issue. He also wanted power, and ghosts are powerless.

Even if he could have/wanted to come back as a ghost, would he be the shape he was when he died, or the maimed creature his soul had become?

Wouldn't it be humiliating for Voldermort to come as a ghost? He had great pride.

I always wondered what distinctions JKR makes between Souls and Spirits. IMO the Hogwarts ghosts are spirits, that a person's soul would transfigure into a visible tangible thing (ghost) after refusing to go through the Veil.

I think LV is an enigma to the whole thing, since he didn't create one horcrux, he made seven, causing his soul to become dangerously unstable, thus nothing left behind to transfigure into a ghost.

I don't actually know why he did not become a ghost.

Headless Nick did say something about going to the land of the dead, going further or something when Harry asked him if not Sirius could be a ghost. Maybe Voldemort did not wanted to become a ghost, because he would be humiliated than. So he choise to go the the land of the dead, where Sirius did.

I think LV is an enigma to the whole thing, since he didn't create one horcrux, he made seven, causing his soul to become dangerously unstable, thus nothing left behind to transfigure into a ghost.

This certainly makes sense to me. Good response!

My understanding of what Nearly-Headless Nick said is that the wizard has to choose to become a ghost, like there was something the wizard had to do before death in order to come back as a ghost. With this interpretation, it follows that because Voldemort never expected to die, he could never have made the decision to be a ghost.

I always wondered what distinctions JKR makes between Souls and Spirits. IMO the Hogwarts ghosts are spirits, that a person's soul would transfigure into a visible tangible thing (ghost) after refusing to go through the Veil.

I think LV is an enigma to the whole thing, since he didn't create one horcrux, he made seven, causing his soul to become dangerously unstable, thus nothing left behind to transfigure into a ghost.

You have a good point with the "unstable soul" idea. Basically my opinion is similar to yours: that upon death, if someone has some unfinished business to take care of (usually something bad) or chooses to remain with the living, their soul transforms into a "visible tangible" spirit aka ghost.

This kind of reminded me of the TV show Ghost Whisperer, when some of the ghosts remain with the living because the peace of their spirit in the process of death is disturbed and they continue to roam around searching to put their spirit to rest.

If he would have been able to become a ghost, would he not have done so, to manipulate the living?This way, he could have avenge his own death, through others.

I think that although Voldemort understands the power of fear, he would have been aggravated at the ultimately powerless nature of being a ghost. Unless there was some way to possess or inhabit a physical body, I can't see him wanting to essentially repeat what must have been (for him) a nightmarish experience.

It would certainly make for interesting fanfiction fodder. I would like to think that perhaps some small part of Voldemort - whatever innocence was left - might become a ghost (perhaps even before Voldemort's death, but with the creation of the first horcrux). Call it sentimental, but I like the idea of a ghost hanging around the orphanage Tom Riddle grew up in... perhaps age five or six... perpetually lonely, unable to join in the other games of the children around him, knowing he's different but not knowing why.

This certainly makes sense to me. Good response!

Thank you, thank you :)

According to Nearly Headless Nick in OotP, people who fear death remain attached to the earth after they die, and become ghosts.

Voldemort feared death like no other. Shouldn't he have become a ghost?

His soul wasn't intact. That may be a requirement for ghost-hood.

I also wonder how harmless a VoldyGhost would be. It seems like a comical and cruel ending for him (never actually having to face death, but realizing just how terrible that can be), and yet I can't help but wonder... As a ghost, he would still be a huge rallying-point for those who shared his beliefs. Although he would certainly lose a lot of his power in that he could cause no bodily harm to anyone, he might still be a terrible threat to the world.

If he came back as a poltergeist, he'd be trouble

If Peeves turned really bad, he'd be a major threat.

Apparently Voldemort's soul had become so mangled and inhuman that he remained trapped in a limbo-like state forever, unable to come back as a ghost or move on to the afterlife.

Voldemort would be very vulnerable as a ghost. It doesn't seem that his fear of death would make him become a ghost. We learn from Moaning Myrtle that the ministry does regulate what ghosts can do. That to me says that living wizards have some control measures,like spells or enchantments, that work against ghosts or spells that can outright banish them. So I don't believe Voldemort's fear of death would compel him to become a ghost. Part of his fear had to do with a desire to control and conquer death. As a ghost he would live death every day and his very existence would be dictated by others.

I think he did not have enough of his soul left to become a ghost. Perhaps he became a poltergiest?

I think he did not have enough of his soul left to become a ghost. Perhaps he became a poltergiest?

I don't think poltergeists are the same thing as ghosts, and they never were alive in the first place.

I think Voldemort tried to become a ghost and as other people have said, his soul was too damaged so he just died, and hopefully, he was stuck in Limbo for all eternity.

I don't think being a ghost would have satisfied Voldemort. It wasn't only about being immortal to him but also about control, power and of course the use of magic.

I wonder however how a damaged soul could actually prevent one from becoming a ghost. I mean, Voldemort did have a shred of his soul left in his distorted body when he was killed. I wonder what his ghost would have looked like ...

I don't think being a ghost would have satisfied Voldemort. It wasn't only about being immortal to him but also about control, power and of course the use of magic.

I wonder however how a damaged soul could actually prevent one from becoming a ghost. I mean, Voldemort did have a shred of his soul left in his distorted body when he was killed. I wonder what his ghost would have looked like ...

What about Voldemort before he regained his body?
Would that count as a ghost, because if so he can just bring back his body, but this time not do the fatal mistake as to use Harry's blood but a random enemy. But the problem is, who would do that for him, Im pretty sure Lucius would have wanted nothing to do with Voldemort, Bellatrix is dead, so is wormtail. Maybe another Quirrel?
But yeah I think Im missing something here

I don't think he was stuck in limbo anywhere.

Based on what I've read here, a soul seems necessary to become a ghost or to "move on." But as we know, throughout the 7th book Harry is destroying the pieces of Voldemort's soul. Voldemort himself destroyed the last bit. By the end there was nothing left to become a ghost or move on. I think he simply ceased to exist. There was nothing left to be "stuck."

I honestly don't think that there was enough of his soul left to become a ghost. I don't think he wouldn't have wanted to become a ghost anyway because he wouldn't have been able to get revenge on the people he hated so he probably figured... why bother?

I agree with pretty much everyone here that Voldemort didn't have any soul left to become a ghost. I think the big reason why he didn't become one is because JKR said that when she finished the last book it would be done. There would be no coming back or any stupid sequels. I think if he became a ghost it would've just created a firestorm of controversy.

I bet he wouldn't have considered taking the steps to become a ghost even if he could have, because he didn't want to live on as a powerless transparent being; he wanted to live forever, and believed that he would. I think that preparing to become a ghost would have been like admitting defeat to him.

we saw the piece of his soul at King's cross.... that futile baby unable to do anything..... his soul wasm't even whole enough for a ghost

I agree there wasn't enough left of his soul, but also, he was so arrogant to the fact that he was immortal because of his horcruxes that he probably never even thought about needing to take the steps to become a ghost. By the time he knew Harry was hunting horcruxes, he didn't have any time to go through those steps (whatever they may be.)

I bet he wouldn't have considered taking the steps to become a ghost even if he could have, because he didn't want to live on as a powerless transparent being; he wanted to live forever, and believed that he would. I think that preparing to become a ghost would have been like admitting defeat to him. I agree. Voldemort spent a lot of time and risk trying to become corporeal when he could have technically lived forever safely as a body-less soul. I don't think he would have chosen to do that again.

Voldemort knew that Harry was destroying his horcruxes so I doubt he would have done nothing to ensure his survival. He could have made more horcruxes, become a ghost after he died, or done some other measure that JK hasn't mentioned to us.

I think Voldemort's soul was maimed beyond the realms of nature which would affect even his afterlife..where do you put someone who's torn their soul apart into 7 pieces? I doubt he would become a ghost, he would just as easily find a way to come back again then!

He didn't have enough of his soul left to become a ghost, and what soul he had left had been so brutally damaged that it was beyond the point of repair (once he refused to repent, that is); he wouldn't be able to come back as a ghost... ever. Also, poltergeists and ghosts are two different things, poltergeists were never alive.

IMO he couldn't become a ghost because there wasn't enough left of him, like most of you have said. This is Snape's definition of ghost given in HBP 'A ghost, as I trust that you are all aware by now, is the imprint of a departed soul left upon the earth... and of course, as Potter so wisely tells us, transparent.' (That last part that Harry contributed is very relevant to the topic xD) I think that by the time Voldemort died his soul was already little more than an imprint. So, it was too much debilitated and too weak to stay attached to Earth.
Now if the possibility has been given to Voldemort of becoming a ghost... well, I'm not sure if he would've accepted. It's true that he was terribly afraid of death just as a child is afraid of darkness. Afraid of what may come afterwards, and of what would be awaiting him. He was so truly terrified that given the chance to scape it he would've clung to anything. Still if you are a ghost it's because you've already experienced death. So I guess this argument wouldn't be valid.
So then, if it's not because of fear to death, what reasons would Voldemort have to become a ghost? I guess mainly the perspective that he may find a way of returning to power, somehow. I know there's no way to come back to life from a ghost form (or at least as far as we know) but still Voldemort was very arrogant and, truth be told, it wouldn't be the first time he was doing something no one had ever done before.
Still, though I don't think pride would influence his decision (as if he was a ghost I guess he would wait well hidden until he managed to regain power, just as he did after Harry defeated him the 1st time), IMO he would've refused to become a ghost. I... well I'm not sure and I'm definitely not saying that Voldemort felt remorse once he died but still... well I think he probably started to see things from a different point of view. He had lost. He was wrong. He had been wrong all along and his arrogance and his ignorance had lead him to death. His truly worst enemy. So I guess after that he would really just let himself die. And well, finally, rest in peace... or at least as peacefully as he could.

OK. I've just found info on the subject from JKRowling herself. It's from a Live Chat at Bloomsbury.com back in 2007 so, sorry if someone' posted this yet.
Jon: Since voldemort was afraid of death, did he choose to be a ghost if so where does he haunt or is this not possible due to his horcruxes
J.K. Rowling: No, he is not a ghost. He is forced to exist in the stunted form we witnessed in King's Cross.
Now what does JKRowling mean with 'he was forced to exist in the stunted form we witnessed in King's Cross'. How can you actually... 'exist' if your dead. I guess this raises a lot of questions about the afterlife and specially on how exactly this is in the HP books. But actually I don't think Jo's worked this out, or at least not like... not like if she was writting about how the Ministry is organised. Anyway, would this mean that Voldemort suffered forever in that form? I really don't like this idea... What do you guys think?

You get to choose whether you want to be a ghost, it is mentioned when Harry asks Nearly Headless Nick about it and Nick tells him that not everyone can become a ghost, but only because many would not choose that life, it is only wizards that fear death that choose to become ghosts, although this could leave reason to believe that Voldemort would choose to become a ghost, since he feared death and wanted to outsmart it and live forever. However, since he split his soul into so many parts, it would be virtually impossible for him to come back as a ghost, because what would come back? His soul is not whole and their is only fragments scattered around.

Funny I just finished OotP the other day and thought the same thing.

But the horcruxes probably prevented it.

Funny I just finished OotP the other day and thought the same thing.

But the horcruxes probably prevented it.

The horcruxes definitely prevented Voldemort from ever returning as a ghost... When talking to the death eaters about the night he tried to kill Harry he says "I was less than spirit...less than the meanest ghost" he was only able to exist as anything because of his horcruxes and now that they are all destroyed and he has been killed he will never return.

JKR said in an interview that he couldn't become one because his crimes in life were too serious. Also, I think his will would have been set against becoming one, as mentioned above. He would've hated the thought of traveling powerlessly.

Please explain, "traveling powerlessly". As a ghost where would he go?

I don't think Voldemort would have wanted to be a ghost. He wanted to return to full power, and he could never have achieved that in a ghostly form.
I'm not entirely sure of the powers that ghosts have, but seeing as they're made out of mist, they probably wouldn't be able to hold wands, which would have been a great disadvantage to a wizard trying to achieve absolute power.

I think that maybe he did have a little remorse for what he did. I think that, somewhere, deep down, the little boy that was Tom Riddle, that was abandoned and unloved, realized the magnitude and horror of what he was doing. But I believe that his pride was to strong to admit that to anybody, including himself. So who knows? Maybe he is a ghost, and is hiding from the world because of embarrassment. Or maybe, like most of you have suggested, there just isn't enough left of him.

I don't think Voldemort would have wanted to be a ghost. He wanted to return to full power, and he could never have achieved that in a ghostly form.
I'm not entirely sure of the powers that ghosts have, but seeing as they're made out of mist, they probably wouldn't be able to hold wands, which would have been a great disadvantage to a wizard trying to achieve absolute power.

I got the impression that his greatest fear was death, which was the reason behind the horcruxes. Being a ghost would have spared him from dying, although I do agree he would have not had very much power. I think he selected the method which appealed to him the most - killing people and splitting his soul, so he'd still be powerful. Once he chose that route and it failed, however, there was not enough left of his soul for him to become a ghost, and when he died, his remaining soul fragment disappeared.

As everyone has said, I don't think Voldy would've become a ghost because he had no soul left to leave an imprint.

As for what Jo meant, she meant that baby-like form he had in King's Cross. That was what he became.