geek pride - pac-man - about a ghost
371 words by gdocs
Fred wants to come back. He's surrounded by whiteness, and he realizes quite quickly that he's dead, remembering the wall exploding and the pain of it all. He thinks about how he's leaving behind his family, and his shop, and he's really too young to die. Then he thinks about growing up in the wizarding world and spending most of the year from when he was eleven at Hogwarts and how the school was flooded with ghosts, all the time.
If they can do it, he figures, why can't he? He has so much to live for, and sure, he won't be able to touch anything for real, but George will be there to help with things. He'll be able to talk to George, and to see all of his family again.
Fred wants to come back.
Once he starts thinking about it, the white in front of his shimmers and a familiar figure appears. Nearly Headless Nick, the mascot of Gryffindor.
Fred didn't think that's who he'd see when he died.
"You want to come back?" Nick asks, and Fred immediately nods. Nick sighs. "I'm here to convince you otherwise. They always send a ghost who knows you to dissuade someone from turning into a ghost."
"Why not?" Fred demands, and he's surprised by how hoarse his voice sounds, as if he hasn't used it in a long time. He wonders how long he's been dead. He wonders how long he's been missing out on his life. "I'm too young to just be dead. I have a family that still wants me. I have a twin, and a shop, and so much to still do. Why not come back and do that?"
Nick looks very sad, and Fred wonders if he's had the same thoughts, when he decided to be a ghost.
"You won't be yourself," Nick tells him, and Nick seems so genuine that Fred believes him. "You'll be a transparent version of yourself."
Fred doesn't think he can give George or his family that. That'd be too cruel. Besides, wouldn't it be worse for him to have to see all of them die, as well? He'd live forever.
Fred nods to Nick, and he decides to go on.