Disclaimer: The characters in this fic belong to JK Rowling, Bloomsbury, etc.
A/N: This is sort of an unusual one for me. There should be more stories about this character. He's begging for more stories to be written about him. I'm not sure about the whole ghost thing, but I think that's how JK described it. Unhappy people who die are the ones that become ghosts, right? Forgive me if Dumbledore's OOC here, I'm not to good with writing about him. And please, review, cause I love reading them!

Redemption (It's my fault....)

I don't wander the halls of Hogwarts the way the other ghosts do. If any of the students saw me, I don't know how they'd react. Perhaps with sympathy, perhaps with hatred. The crime I committed that keeps me from eternal rest is one that the wizarding world gasped at. My funeral was not a fancy one. Dumbledore, a few teachers and loved ones attended, but it was largely shunned.

As you should know, ghosts do not rest if they are unhappy or have 'unfinished business'. In my case, I'm both. I haunt Hogwarts looking for my redemption. This is where I will find it. As I said above, I don't wander over Hogwarts. I haunt the Forbidden forest and the Astronomy tower, when nobody's there. The Astronomy tower, I hear you ask? It's where Professor Sinistra teaches. She was my unrequited crush. We were at Hogwarts together, and I've been in love with her ever since. My shyness kept me from saying so. Even in later years, I held my tongue, fearful of consequences. What would she see in me, anyway. Probably despises me for what I did.

The crime I committed, you see, set off a chain of events that lead to the resurrection of the Dark Lord this late summer. His threat has hung over Hogwarts ever since I died, five years ago. And now, he has returned, more powerful than ever. I watched on, and the guilt of the part I've played in it, came back to haunt me as I've haunted the school.

Someone is coming into the tower, I prepare to retreat, but a voice stops me.
"Wilton?"
Albus Dumbledore comes out of the shadows. I turn towards the older wizard, so full of wisdom and well-respected by all.
"Headmaster....how did you know?"
"Wilton, I knew the moment of your funeral that you weren't going to rest. Your soul has always been troubled, and now you look for a chance to redeem yourself. I don't think you're looking in quite the right place. Why aren't you with the other ghosts? Some have their price to pay too."
"But none as bad as the one I have. It's my fault that all that has happened has happened. I set it off by going off to Albania."
"You were overpowered Wilton, as you've always been. You've always let people walk all over you. Even in your death. Now is the time, Wilton. You don't let redemption come to you, you find it yourself. And you won't find it here."
"But what will they say? Severus hated me to begin with......the other teachers, well isn't it obvious what they will think, Headmaster?"
"Severus didn't hate you, Wilton.....he hated the way you let people walk over you and take advantage of you. You must remember that Severus is a very strong-minded wizard, and he will not tolerate that sort of think happening to himself or the people he knows and cares about. And don't presume that Severus didn't care about you."
"That may be, Headmaster-"
"I don't want your arguments anymore. Don't hide away Wilton, find your redemption. It's waiting for you."
I nod meekly. There's no point in arguing with Dumbledore. He will always have an answer to your argument.
He wanders out of the tower and I follow him.
"The sorting feast will be on soon." I murmur.
"Yes, it will be." Dumbledore says, eyes twinkling. "And we will be honoured to have you there, Professor Quirrel."

The End

A/N: What'd you think? I've become a real sympathizer for Quirrel (*sniffs* poor defenseless wizard!). I love the actor who's playing him. Anyway, please don't forget to review!!!