Who became a ghost?

[wolfbrother]

I think very very few people come back as ghosts. IMO when people die regardless of their age, or whether or not they expected to die, they wouldn't want to come back. From what I gathered with Dumbledore, Harry and the Marauder's after their death, there was a certain detachment and that they weren't too bothered with the stuff happening in the world.
IMO the people who returned as ghosts where people who were either terrified of death or had some sort of an extremely strong emotion at the time of death. I can probably word this better; I hope it makes some sense but my brain doesn't seem to be working now.

[gelowo93]

I don't think most people that we know would have come back as ghost. I think anyone joining the Order would accept that they could die at any time so Moody, Fred, Tonks and Lupin would have "gone on".

Snape had no reason to stay behind - if he hadn't got around to telling Harry the rest of Dumbledore's plan, then I think he would have become a ghost because he was loyal to Dumbledore

Wouldn't we have known by the end if Wormtail had become a ghost? I can't imagine him doing so because he wasn't emotionally connected to anyone, however, he was a coward and might have been too scared of death.

I don't know about Crabbe. I can't imagine him floating around Hogwarts for eternity, but he seemed to think of himself as invincible - otherwise, why would he have produced the fiendfyre? Surely everyone that knew of it would know that you couldn't control it.

Again, I'm not sure about Bellatrix - she wouldn't be the most pleasant ghost to have around Hogwarts, but she was arrogant enough to think that nobody could kill her in a duel.

[HesperGamp]

I really don't think that any major character that died would have become a ghost.

[LordOmega]

Bellatrix probably believed they would never defeat her beloved Lord Voldemort, and she might have chosen to become a ghost to accompany him ...

[Annielogic]

Originally Posted by LordOmega

Bellatrix probably believed they would never defeat her beloved Lord Voldemort, and she might have chosen to become a ghost to accompany him ...

I imagine Bellatrix would want to follow Voldemort as well, perhaps she would 'move on' in the hopes of being reunited with him. Imo. However, in Voldemort's case JKR in an interview explained what becomes of his soul:

quote 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.

His soul seemed too damaged to have enough strength to leave an imprint behind. Imo.

[Jonny Boy]

I'd say that Colin Creevey is about the only character who I could imagine coming back as a ghost. It would be appropriate for him to sneak back into life like he snuck back into the class to fight. He does seem though like a character with a lot left to do.

[merrymarge]

I don't think Colin became a ghost. I think he would want to move on.

[MoscowKrum]

Why didn't Wormtail become a ghost?

[snapes_witch]

Originally Posted by MoscowKrum

Why didn't Wormtail become a ghost?

I can't think of any reason why he wouldn't want to 'move on'; after all his life wasn't that great.

Why do you think he'd want to be a ghost?

[merrymarge]

it's possible that Wormtail became a ghost. Unless he wasn't afraid to die. I don't think all ghosts ended up at Hogwarts. lol

[snapes_witch]

Originally Posted by merrymarge

I don't think all ghosts ended up at Hogwarts. lol

True. It'd be funny if he wound up haunting Malfoy Manor!

[SlyEd]

Imagine if Remus Lupin came back as ghost and than on full moon nights he would turn into a werewolf ghost... Even the Bloody Baron would be scared of him

[merrymarge]

How would that work? could a person turn into a werewolf as a ghost?
I really think Lupin wouldn't want to turn into a ghost. he has his best friends with him and Tonks.

[snapes_witch]

Originally Posted by merrymarge

How would that work? could a person turn into a werewolf as a ghost?
I really think Lupin wouldn't want to turn into a ghost. he has his best friends with him and Tonks.

And if Remus were a ghost I don't think he could have shown up for Harry's walk to the Forbidden Forest.

[merrymarge]

Right. That was important for Harry.

[HedwigOwl]

Originally Posted by snapes_witch

I can't think of any reason why he wouldn't want to 'move on'; after all his life wasn't that great.

I agree. I don't see a reason Wormtail would fight death. Plus, if I recall correctly, Harry was trying to help Wormtail get free from the silver hand. Maybe Wormtail thought he could do it...after all he'd escaped Voldy a few times. So he may not have had time to consider holding himself back.

[Quickquill]

I doubt that Bellatrix had enough tying her to the world to become a ghost. And the valiant defenders of Hogwarts would no doubt all have passed on. The only one I think might have stayed would have been Fred, who might have stayed behind for George. On the other hand, he wouldn't want to be stuck as a ghost when George's time comes, somaybe he didn't stick around in ghost form.

[WeasleKing]

Can someone make this clear? If a ghost is the 'imprint' of a departed soul, what happens to the soul itself? Can the person ever 'move on'?

[merrymarge]

I don't think ghosts can ever "move on".

[snapes_witch]

Originally Posted by WeasleKing

Can someone make this clear? If a ghost is the 'imprint' of a departed soul, what happens to the soul itself? Can the person ever 'move on'?

I'm completely lost without Accio-Quotes, but IIRC it's the portraits that are imprints of their subject. So if this is the case, once a person becomes a ghost s/he is unable to move on to heaven or wherever a soul goes.