CHAPTER TEN: THROUGH THE WALLS
Harry died. But he felt alive. He did not feel anything. It was silence around. He was still on the roan in the Riddle House. He stood up -
But what happened? His body was left away where he died. He looked at himself, and saw that he was white - he was a ghost!
He flew high in the air. The feeling was nothing he could imagine before. He did not feel his body, but he knew it was there and could control it. He felt as if he had no weight. It was a very good feeling. He moved very easy in the air. Then he looked down. His body was lying unmoved on the ground... He was sure that if he wasn't a ghost, he should be crying. That was what he felt. His life was ended... He could not be friend with Ron and Hermione as before... And not with Cho at all... He was a ghost and even if he could stay through the other wizards, it will never be like before.
And how could he go to Hogwarts? He had no idea where the Riddle House was. Being a ghost he could not take a wand, and he could not talk to Erised, too...
Voldemort was lying on the ground - and suddenly he woke up.
Harry was surprised. Voldemort did not die. He was looking at the ghost that was Harry, laughing.
"That's the result of an Avada Kedavra!" he said. "But you became a ghost... The only difference between us is that when I was killed, I did not become a ghost... But after the same effect, you did!"
Harry was confused. There happened the same thing as in the night when Voldemort had his first downfall... But this time, Harry was the killed one. He looked at Voldemort, at the place the Avada Kedavra hit him, and he saw it.
Voldemort had a scar on his head!
"Now, how did you do that?" asked Harry.
"I do not know... Maybe it was because the blood... I wonder if I can use the blood of a ghost to make spells... oh of course not... But, Harry Potter, my mission was complete. You are dead. I can continue my work in spreading the evil throughout the world!"
"You have no more po..." said Harry but he suddenly stopped. He wanted to say that Voldemort did not have mage powers - but he still had Erised's blood...
"Harry, you now know who is the best -"
"NO, YOU WAS THE ONE WHO FAILED FIRST!" shouted Harry.
"Oh, yes, but did I die? No, as you can see, I am alive... And you are just a ghost..."
"just a ghost..." Harry's mind came back. The rest of his life he will remain a ghost, and that could not help anyone... Unless he spied, of course. Ghosts were great spies. At least he still had a use in this world.
Voldemort left and entered the Riddle House. Harry became worried. Hogwarts was at a very long distance from the place where he was - and he had to find it first.
His first day as a ghost was very boring. He could not do anything, just move. He left the Little Hangleron village and went south. He was thinking all the time. What could Voldemort do during this time? What happened to his friends? What were they doing? And there came another question... Why was he at the Riddle house? Who brought him there?
After one day of searching, he just found some mountains. Those could be the ones near Hogwarts, but he wasn't sure of that. But that day another thing bothered him.
He had seen the sky go red in the middle of the day. It was surely fire. Harry thought it was the Armageddon spell, cast by Voldemort. But Dumbledore said he could not do anything as strong as that...
But Dumbledore was wrong. He did not know about magi at that time. And Harry was sure Voldemort was able to do it... Even if he could not use Harry's powers, he could still use Erised's, and besides that, in the "Ancient Magic Effects" book was no incantation given for the portal spells! That meant they could be pure mage spells.
The only chance for the light side to win was if Harry found Hogwarts fast enough. He continued flying south. The mountains were close to him but he wasn't sure where it was at all.
He passed through some forests, meeting some creatures that if he was not a ghost he was surely dead - or at least attacked.
Days passed without him finding anything. He saw people and he couldn't talk to them because he was sure they were muggles. His worries increased and he even thought that he will never reach Hogwarts.
Flying at a very big height, being careful to not be seen, one day he saw a wizard, on a broom. Both of them were very surprised.
"Harry... Potter?" he asked. "You are Harry Potter?"
"Yes, I am. Where is Hogwarts? I've been looking for it for a whole week!"
"Hogwarts... is not far away from here. But - you are a ghost... No one knew... You-know-who let a letter saying that you have died bravely... is that - true?"
"Yes it is... bravely except that I killed myself..."
"That - You-know-who did not say anything like that!"
"Now lead me to Hogwarts and I'll explain to everyone. I'll tell you on our way there."
The wizard led him to Hogwarts. It wasn't a long journey, and in that time Harry told him everything. The wizard was very surprised and very glad that he was the one who met Harry Potter after his death. When they reached the grounds, the wizard left saying he had to do some ministry business.
Now Harry was alone, but at home: Hogwarts. There he had to meet Dumbledore or someone.
He entered through the walls. It was a strange feeling. It was as if he entered in water. He was at the second floor, in a classroom. He left on the known way exactly to Dumbledore's office.
He entered through the stone gargoyle and the door, and stopped at the entrance.
Dumbledore looked at him. He looked as if his wish became true. He was very surprised, and, as never, he could not find words.
"I'm back", said Harry. "This time, as a ghost."
"Y-You became a ghost! Oh, it was obvious!"
"Why?"
"The only wizards who become ghosts are those very strong, usually mago-wizards, but not only, and who are still needed by people. And you are a mago-wizard and... We need you. Everyone needs you."
"Why? How can I help?"
"Being a ghost is like a last chance. There were very few people who took the chance. This is a last chance to get back to your normal state! Now I should call Erised in some way... but how?" He paused thinking. Then, he asked "But Harry... Tell me how you died."
Harry explained him everything. About the care of magical creatures class, the dragon, the Riddle House, what Voldemort said and about the curse he failed.
Dumbledore stood there, thinking. "Why did the spell kill you instead of him. And you say he has a scar now..."
"Yes, professor. It was the same effect as at his downfall."
"Then, I have no idea... I say we should try and bring you back to life... Then, we will see... You are our only chance of winning... And if you say he has your blood, and you cannot remove it, then I do not see any way... except of killing both you and Erised. And that will not be of any use."
"Professor... I am already dead."
"Oh, yes I forgot... Sorry for this... We will find the way to stop those connections if we'll go to his base of operations. And I heard he left the Riddle House after killing you. Now, Harry, I will go to the library to find the resurrection book, where I will see how to reattach you to your body. You should find your friends... Go to classes, you will need them. Being a ghost cannot stop you from that. Just that you won't practice anything."
Harry left the office and went to the gryffindor tower. It was empty. It had to be time for classes. If it was lunch, Dumbledore was in the Great Hall, not in his office.
He decided to wait for the gryffindors to arrive. In that time, he thought of Moaning Myrtle... She was a ghost, too. Dumbledore said the ones who are turned to ghosts are still needed by people. And she said no one was interested in her. Harry wondered in which house she was.
After some time, the portrait swung open. Some second years entered. They looked scared. Harry wanted to know why. He hid himself after a sofa and listened.
"He is really frightening!"
"Did you see? He looked familiarized with them!"
"And that monster almost bit me!"
Harry thought immediately at Hagrid. Who else could be familiar with monsters?
"But how did he get it?"
"I do not know... But Snape is really mad!"
Snape? What could Snape bring in class? Harry did not imagine what monsters did he need for potions. There were many potion ingredients that were parts of monsters. Only a few weeks ago he brought an evil monster which looked like a spiked rat, they needed its spikes for a screaming potion (Whoever drank it started screaming).
He saw that on the portrait hole entered the fifth years. Ron and Hermione were amongst them.
They were talking about the previous class, which was History of Magic.
"How boring! If Binns will make them like this, I will try to quit it!" said Ron.
"Quit it? Ron! This is boring but we will need them -"
"Need them? For what? What am I interested in the goblin rebels' attacks on the wizards?"
Ron was really angry. This was the last class for today. Ron stood exactly on the sofa where Harry was hiding.
"Hello Ron", he said.
"What?" asked Ron. He looked scared.
"What happened?" asked Hermione.
"I - I thought I heard Harry's voice!"
"You really miss him, don't you?" asked Hermione. "I miss him, too... But we won't be able to bring him back..."
"Yes you will", said Harry.
Both Ron and Hermione seemed to hear that.
"Was it - really - Harry?" asked Hermione.
"Of course it was him!"
"Meet me at five o'clock in the transfiguration classroom!", said Harry. "I will be there."
"How?" asked Ron. "How are you speaking to us?"
"You will see", said Harry. He entered through the floor in the room beneath the gryffindor common room. It was a room he had never seen before. It wasn't marked on the marauder's map either.
The room had dark gray walls. It was quite large. On each of the walls was a white sphere, it looked as a light.
In the middle there was a mysterious machine. It was black as his hair. Harry could not see exactly what it was; the black color stopped him from seeing it. There was something moving.
He stood there watching and examining the machine. Then he realized it was already five o'clock. He had to be in the transfiguration classroom.
Ron and Hermione were already there. They were waiting and looking around. Harry was near the ceiling.
"Hello", he said.
Ron and Hermione looked up. Their faces suddenly changed.
"Harry!", said Ron.
"You are... a ghost?" asked Hermione.
"Yes, I am. Fortunately..."
Harry told them the entire story.
"So, you killed yourself?" asked Ron.
"That was not killing himself!!!" said Hermione.
"Yes, it was", said Harry. "Partially. I shot the curse, really."
"Yes..."
"What happened in the care of magical creatures class?" he asked.
"Oh, it was horrible... Actually it was not a lauron. It was... You-know-who himself. He took shape of one, and he waited for Hagrid to get him. Then he started changing shapes."
"Voldemort?" asked Harry. "That was why I woke up at the Riddle House!"
"Yes. After the dragon hit you and you became unconscious, the dragon turned into Voldemort. He told us and Hagrid that we will never see you again. After that a... blue thunder hit both of you... And after that, you were gone."
That was maybe another mago-wizard spell. Or why not a mage spell? Voldemort had Erised's powers and now that he knew about magi learning a new spell couldn't be hard.
"Dumbledore said that I can be brought back to life... To my body. I have no idea how, but that was what he said."
Ron looked a bit happier, but Hermione didn't.
"How? I mean How can we bring you back? I have read that there is a possibility but... really... it is impossible to do, just think. No one had done it for one thousand years... How can we do it if no one did it for a so long time?"
"Trust Dumbledore", said Harry. "Trust him... If he says something, it is true."
They stood a short time quiet. Then Hermione had a question to ask...
"Harry... How is it to be a ghost?"
"How?" Harry did not say anything for some seconds. "It is impossible to tell... Just... it is a... funny feeling... Imagine now is it to feel as if you have no weight... Very hard to explain... Impossible..." He flew a little over them. "It's nice to be able to fly... to fly by yourself, not with a broom, or an animal or other things..."
After that he went to the ceiling and entered through it. He went to the gryffindor common room, he wanted to greet his fellow gryffindors.
The ones who saw him were more than surprised, and stood thunderstruck. No one moved in the few moments after Harry was there.
"That... is Harry Potter!"
"Ghost?"
"Cool!"
"Wow... so he does have a chance..." said a seventh year.
"Harry! Welcome back!" said Fred. "Pity you cannot test my newest candy in that state..."
"God, Harry" said Dean Thomas "Everyone thought you are dead!"
"I AM dead!"
Harry went to the bedroom. He did not like how the gryffindors greeted him. It looked more like they did not think at all. Everyone seemed to have lost his mind.
And, they were not to blame. They did not expect seeing him like that... No one did...
He tried to sit on the bed, and he could sit on it. But he could not feel it. The bed was more like a pool to him. But he "floated". Ghosts did not sleep, so he just stood there. He stood and waited until the door was opened.
But it was none of his gryffindor mates. It was Dumbledore.
Harry stood "up"(if you can say that for a ghost) and flew towards Dumbledore.
"Harry...", he said. "I found it... I found the way we will bring you back to life!" Harry looked at what Dumbledore had in his hands. It was a book. He recognized it. It was "Ancient Magic Effects".
How could he forget that? He read about ghost reviving in that book when he wanted to see about Voldemort's powers. Before he knew about magi.
Dumbledore read loud:
"Ghost reviving is a complex procedure. There are needed three wizards. One of them creates a fire in the middle of them and the others need a necklace of the dragonteeth and a silver crystal of the magi. The other two wizards put the artifacts over the fire in the same time, and shot some unknown spells at them. The spells seem to be of the kind that disappeared two hundred years ago."
"So," Harry said, "we surely need a wizard and two magi... or who knows, maybe we need two mago-wizards..."
"We need a mage, a wizard and a mago-wizard. As you see, this book says about things that are unknown. The writers did not know exactly how to do it. But I know who does."
"Who?"
"I am sure the magi know more than we do. We should contact Erised - or will he contact us?"
"I cannot speak to him as a ghost. My powers were diminished when I left the body, as with all the ghosts... Erised should try to contact us... He will do it. I know he will. It's just that when he does, it may be too late."
"I will try to contact him" said Dumbledore "I hope I will manage to do it..."
With that, he left the room. Harry was now in danger of remaining a ghost. How could Dumbledore contact Erised? He wasn't a mage... He couldn't be after all what Erised told him...
Later the fifth year gryffindor boys entered the bedroom, including Ron. They looked as if they had spoken a lot about him in meantime. All except Ron wanted to sleep.
"Harry" said Ron, going towards him "I saw Dumbledore enter the room... as never before. It had anything to do with..."
"Yes, with my bringing to life..." Harry did not want to worry Ron by telling him about the problems with the unknown things needed for the complex spell. "I hope it will be good in final. I can't wait to be a man again... I hate being a ghost... It's very boring and sad..."
Harry now understood what Moaning Myrtle meant with her sadness. She really hated speaking about her at all. Harry didn't feel like he wanted to talk about that either. He wondered how Myrtle would react if she will see him as a ghost...
Ron went to his bed. Harry wondered what to do the night. He could not go to the library because he could not touch books.
Or he did?
He tried touching some things in the room. He tried to interact with one of Ron's parchments. But his hand passed through it as through water.
He tried again, and with the same effect.
Then he wanted to enjoy the freedom he had... He could visit the entire school... No forbidden rooms at all. Filch could not do him anything at all.
The common room was almost empty. Hermione was still doing her homework. He flew near the ceiling so he wasn't noticed by anyone.
Then he left to find other secret rooms. And he knew where he was going to. The eighth floor.
He went to the room he knew. There he saw nothing modified. The room was lighted by three green metal vertical pipes, which were on the table in the middle. The rest of the room was empty. There was nothing changed from the last time he was there.
Harry went to one of the walls and entered through it. It was a thick wall... Maybe there were no secret rooms at all in the whole floor, thought Harry. Then at last he exited the wall and entered a big room.
It was colored with green and lots of plants stood near the window. In the middle there was a magical fire, which was at the top of some other plants.
Harry looked around. There were many chairs and students - luckily, no one had seen him yet. Harry knew where he was.
That was the Hufflepuff common room. He was near the ceiling, the room was very high. The entrance had to be at the fourth floor or something like that.
Harry left the room and went to the eighth floor small room again. Surely he wasn't welcome in the hufflepuff common room...
From the small room he took another wall and walked through it. That was not thick at all, after a short time he exited the school. He was outside. One of the towers were near him - that was the Gryffindor tower.
Back to the small room, he tried anywhere near it but he had found nothing.
Then someone entered the small room. Harry hid himself fast in a corner, hoping that he won't be seen.
Harry could not say who the person was until he went near the pipes. The green light showed his face - it was Lupin. He touched ne of the pipes and he took his hand very fast off it. It seemed as if he was burned.
He took a glove and took the pipe slow. He then left the room. Harry had to see where he was going. He followed Lupin on many staircases, and they stopped in front of Dumbledore's office.
"Voldemort!" said Lupin and the gargoyle moved itself.
"Remus... Have you done it?" asked Dumbledore's voice. Harry could hear them.
"Yes. Here it is... What do you think it is?"
"These three pipes were put here a long time ago... Let me inspect it. Give it to me."
"Be careful, it burns. It emits radiations."
Dumbledore started muttering to himself "So... this is an ancient spell... no, this is... yes, so if we do..."
There was a loud bang, as if the pipe exploded.
"Albus!" asked Lupin. "Are you all right?"
"No... Please... take me to the... hospital... wing..."
Harry flew higher. Lupin ran to the hospital, Dumbledore was floating after him. Harry followed; he wanted to find out more.
"Poppy..." said Lupin "Dumbledore was blasted by a spell... I do not know what it was. We should ask him."
"Oh my goodness! This is not good..."
Harry could now see them well. He was hidden after a bed. Madam Pomfrey took a glass of water and put some ingredients inside. The water turned green. She prepared the potion. She tried to make Dumbledore drink it, and after many tries, she managed to do it a little help from Lupin.
Dumbledore opened his eyes. He looked fine now.
"What happened?" asked Madam Pomfrey.
"I tried to look at a eutherian pipe. They were created very long time ago. I did not know what they were until I put a ceresalius spell on it. The spell had to allow me inspect it better, and identify it. And the only objects that have protection are the eutherian pipes! When I tried the charm it exploded. Lucky that I dodged some of the explosion... That could be fatal. That was an Avada Kedavra Explosion."
"But... what are the Eutherian pipes?" asked Madam Pomfrey.
"Eutherian pipes... They are some magical pipes that created a strong magical field in one place. There had to be four - and there were only three... There were four because they were created by the creators of Hogwarts. One by each. What I opened had to be Salazar Slytherin's pipe... I think I know which one is missing..."
"Which one?"
"Godric's. It had to be there... I have no idea about them except what I said. No one knew that they were still at Hogwarts... Some tried to find them, but with no success... And look who knew where they are! Voldemort... You remember when he sent Arkatis to destroy Hogwarts? He went to that secret room... I think Voldemort stole Godric's pipe."
"But what did they do?" asked Lupin.
"The magical fields near Hogwarts are generated by those pipes. The Hogwarts' Defense is mostly created by them. All the defense except the spells I've put... Now I have to go to see more about them."
"But you have to stay another five minutes to relax -"
"No, thanks, Poppy. Bt I must go."
With that Dumbledore stood up... And Harry could be seen... He entered through the floor and flew through the walls until he was out in a room. He was exactly where he did not want to be. The Moaning Myrtle's bathroom.
Myrtle could not be seen, and Harry tried his chance of getting away before she noticed him. But he was too late.
"You?" she asked. "You are a ghost?"
"Yes... unfortunately."
"Take place here... You are welcome...", she said.
"No, than.. Oh, I-I..."
"Come on! Stay here..."
Then Harry had a desire to stay. He had a question to ask...
"Ok, I'll stay. But will you tell me if ghosts can... touch things?"
"Ooooh, it's a very hard question... I heard of some ghosts that did it... But I never tried it..."
"Oh..."
"I have a small idea of how they did it..."
"Really?"
"Yes... I heard from Nearly-Headless Nick some things... He said ghosts have to... fill themselves with energy... I still do not know how... Why don't you ask him?"
Harry wanted to go to ask Nick. He flew a small time and then "Harry! Don't go!" It was Myrtle who wanted him to stay. "I never had the occasion to speak to a young ghost..." Harry tried to ignore her. He knew that he needed to see Nick as soon as possible. He wanted to touch things as a ghost...
But then he suddenly stopped. Where could he find Nearly-headless Nick?
He was nowhere to be seen - Harry searched any room in the school. He went to the gryffindor tower and bid his time until the next day.
He was in the Great Hall when the breakfast started. He was there with the other ghosts. And he had seen someone that was never seen there - Myrtle...
She wanted to talk to Harry... He told her about his intentions, how everyone needs him alive and how they are working to put him back to his body.
Harry then went to ask Nick about touching things...
"Oh, touching things?" he asked. "take a look."
Nick flew to the gryffindor table and pulled a glass of water.
"See, it's not as hard as it looks like. You have to concentrate... Really it's hard to understand how a ghost can "concentrate", but there is a way." He explained a long time how to do it. Harry did not do it at the first time, and the second try was half-successful. "See, Harry... It is easy. Just a few more tries and you will do it!"
Nick was right. Harry did it after three tries and it wasn't hard to do...
"But, Harry. Be careful, as the ghosts have very little energy... You can touch small things for a short time. That's all what a ghost can do..."
Then he took Harry to a private place, near the ceiling.
"Harry", he whispered, "You were a mago-wizard?"
"Yes..."
"So was I. Most of the mago-wizards become ghosts. There are very few wizards who were made ghosts... Take Myrtle and Peeves for example. I have no idea why they were made ghosts..."
He and Nick became good ghost friends. They talked a long time after the breakfast was over. The gryffindor fifth years had Divination, and Harry wasn't interested in that. Nick found out about Harry's intentions.
"Really, Harry. This is a very difficult thing... I do not know how to do it... But I can lead you to the Mago-Wizard palace. There they will tell you exactly how it is done."
"Thanks!"
"I hope you will do it!"
Then Harry left to Divination... He wanted to listen to what Trelawney had to say.
"Weasley! This is a death omen! Really, you have as much as Potter..." She sad in a poor-you voice. "And he died."
Ron looked quite terrified about that. He no longer ignored Trelawney's signs after Harry's death.
Harry flew down in front of the students, near Trelawney.
He told everyone he wants to assist in the classes, and he did. Trelawney accepted, looking at him every second.
The class finished after Trelawney predicted Ron's death continuously.
"Ron, you have no reason to be so scared", said Harry.
"Yes I have... Look at you! You are dead... and she predicted your death for two years! I wonder if I will die after two years, too..."
"You won't! She started predicting your death only because you made her angry!"
"Harry's right", said Hermione who joined them. "You won't die."
"Why do you think that?" asked Ron.
"Oh god", Harry said and he flew high, he was bored of Ron now.
Harry understood that he did not like talking to living-ones anymore. He mostly enjoyed talking to other ghosts... Harry couldn't wait to be alive again and to have Ron and Hermione his best friends again. He went to the transfiguration classroom through the walls. He with McGonagall waited the other students to arrive to start a lesson.
He was really bored... Most of the time McGonagall tried to make Neville able to transfigure a rat into a watch.
At lunch Dumbledore called Harry for a talk.
"Harry, I talked to Sir Nicholas and he told me that he will go to ask the mago-wizards about the chance. Tomorrow we'll have it, and we will bring you back to your body."
"He will go alone?"
"Yes. I insisted that he should take you with him but he said he wanted to leave immediately and it could take some time to find you."
That was all what Dumbledore had to tell him. And he had just to wait for the next day to come...
Harry died. But he felt alive. He did not feel anything. It was silence around. He was still on the roan in the Riddle House. He stood up -
But what happened? His body was left away where he died. He looked at himself, and saw that he was white - he was a ghost!
He flew high in the air. The feeling was nothing he could imagine before. He did not feel his body, but he knew it was there and could control it. He felt as if he had no weight. It was a very good feeling. He moved very easy in the air. Then he looked down. His body was lying unmoved on the ground... He was sure that if he wasn't a ghost, he should be crying. That was what he felt. His life was ended... He could not be friend with Ron and Hermione as before... And not with Cho at all... He was a ghost and even if he could stay through the other wizards, it will never be like before.
And how could he go to Hogwarts? He had no idea where the Riddle House was. Being a ghost he could not take a wand, and he could not talk to Erised, too...
Voldemort was lying on the ground - and suddenly he woke up.
Harry was surprised. Voldemort did not die. He was looking at the ghost that was Harry, laughing.
"That's the result of an Avada Kedavra!" he said. "But you became a ghost... The only difference between us is that when I was killed, I did not become a ghost... But after the same effect, you did!"
Harry was confused. There happened the same thing as in the night when Voldemort had his first downfall... But this time, Harry was the killed one. He looked at Voldemort, at the place the Avada Kedavra hit him, and he saw it.
Voldemort had a scar on his head!
"Now, how did you do that?" asked Harry.
"I do not know... Maybe it was because the blood... I wonder if I can use the blood of a ghost to make spells... oh of course not... But, Harry Potter, my mission was complete. You are dead. I can continue my work in spreading the evil throughout the world!"
"You have no more po..." said Harry but he suddenly stopped. He wanted to say that Voldemort did not have mage powers - but he still had Erised's blood...
"Harry, you now know who is the best -"
"NO, YOU WAS THE ONE WHO FAILED FIRST!" shouted Harry.
"Oh, yes, but did I die? No, as you can see, I am alive... And you are just a ghost..."
"just a ghost..." Harry's mind came back. The rest of his life he will remain a ghost, and that could not help anyone... Unless he spied, of course. Ghosts were great spies. At least he still had a use in this world.
Voldemort left and entered the Riddle House. Harry became worried. Hogwarts was at a very long distance from the place where he was - and he had to find it first.
His first day as a ghost was very boring. He could not do anything, just move. He left the Little Hangleron village and went south. He was thinking all the time. What could Voldemort do during this time? What happened to his friends? What were they doing? And there came another question... Why was he at the Riddle house? Who brought him there?
After one day of searching, he just found some mountains. Those could be the ones near Hogwarts, but he wasn't sure of that. But that day another thing bothered him.
He had seen the sky go red in the middle of the day. It was surely fire. Harry thought it was the Armageddon spell, cast by Voldemort. But Dumbledore said he could not do anything as strong as that...
But Dumbledore was wrong. He did not know about magi at that time. And Harry was sure Voldemort was able to do it... Even if he could not use Harry's powers, he could still use Erised's, and besides that, in the "Ancient Magic Effects" book was no incantation given for the portal spells! That meant they could be pure mage spells.
The only chance for the light side to win was if Harry found Hogwarts fast enough. He continued flying south. The mountains were close to him but he wasn't sure where it was at all.
He passed through some forests, meeting some creatures that if he was not a ghost he was surely dead - or at least attacked.
Days passed without him finding anything. He saw people and he couldn't talk to them because he was sure they were muggles. His worries increased and he even thought that he will never reach Hogwarts.
Flying at a very big height, being careful to not be seen, one day he saw a wizard, on a broom. Both of them were very surprised.
"Harry... Potter?" he asked. "You are Harry Potter?"
"Yes, I am. Where is Hogwarts? I've been looking for it for a whole week!"
"Hogwarts... is not far away from here. But - you are a ghost... No one knew... You-know-who let a letter saying that you have died bravely... is that - true?"
"Yes it is... bravely except that I killed myself..."
"That - You-know-who did not say anything like that!"
"Now lead me to Hogwarts and I'll explain to everyone. I'll tell you on our way there."
The wizard led him to Hogwarts. It wasn't a long journey, and in that time Harry told him everything. The wizard was very surprised and very glad that he was the one who met Harry Potter after his death. When they reached the grounds, the wizard left saying he had to do some ministry business.
Now Harry was alone, but at home: Hogwarts. There he had to meet Dumbledore or someone.
He entered through the walls. It was a strange feeling. It was as if he entered in water. He was at the second floor, in a classroom. He left on the known way exactly to Dumbledore's office.
He entered through the stone gargoyle and the door, and stopped at the entrance.
Dumbledore looked at him. He looked as if his wish became true. He was very surprised, and, as never, he could not find words.
"I'm back", said Harry. "This time, as a ghost."
"Y-You became a ghost! Oh, it was obvious!"
"Why?"
"The only wizards who become ghosts are those very strong, usually mago-wizards, but not only, and who are still needed by people. And you are a mago-wizard and... We need you. Everyone needs you."
"Why? How can I help?"
"Being a ghost is like a last chance. There were very few people who took the chance. This is a last chance to get back to your normal state! Now I should call Erised in some way... but how?" He paused thinking. Then, he asked "But Harry... Tell me how you died."
Harry explained him everything. About the care of magical creatures class, the dragon, the Riddle House, what Voldemort said and about the curse he failed.
Dumbledore stood there, thinking. "Why did the spell kill you instead of him. And you say he has a scar now..."
"Yes, professor. It was the same effect as at his downfall."
"Then, I have no idea... I say we should try and bring you back to life... Then, we will see... You are our only chance of winning... And if you say he has your blood, and you cannot remove it, then I do not see any way... except of killing both you and Erised. And that will not be of any use."
"Professor... I am already dead."
"Oh, yes I forgot... Sorry for this... We will find the way to stop those connections if we'll go to his base of operations. And I heard he left the Riddle House after killing you. Now, Harry, I will go to the library to find the resurrection book, where I will see how to reattach you to your body. You should find your friends... Go to classes, you will need them. Being a ghost cannot stop you from that. Just that you won't practice anything."
Harry left the office and went to the gryffindor tower. It was empty. It had to be time for classes. If it was lunch, Dumbledore was in the Great Hall, not in his office.
He decided to wait for the gryffindors to arrive. In that time, he thought of Moaning Myrtle... She was a ghost, too. Dumbledore said the ones who are turned to ghosts are still needed by people. And she said no one was interested in her. Harry wondered in which house she was.
After some time, the portrait swung open. Some second years entered. They looked scared. Harry wanted to know why. He hid himself after a sofa and listened.
"He is really frightening!"
"Did you see? He looked familiarized with them!"
"And that monster almost bit me!"
Harry thought immediately at Hagrid. Who else could be familiar with monsters?
"But how did he get it?"
"I do not know... But Snape is really mad!"
Snape? What could Snape bring in class? Harry did not imagine what monsters did he need for potions. There were many potion ingredients that were parts of monsters. Only a few weeks ago he brought an evil monster which looked like a spiked rat, they needed its spikes for a screaming potion (Whoever drank it started screaming).
He saw that on the portrait hole entered the fifth years. Ron and Hermione were amongst them.
They were talking about the previous class, which was History of Magic.
"How boring! If Binns will make them like this, I will try to quit it!" said Ron.
"Quit it? Ron! This is boring but we will need them -"
"Need them? For what? What am I interested in the goblin rebels' attacks on the wizards?"
Ron was really angry. This was the last class for today. Ron stood exactly on the sofa where Harry was hiding.
"Hello Ron", he said.
"What?" asked Ron. He looked scared.
"What happened?" asked Hermione.
"I - I thought I heard Harry's voice!"
"You really miss him, don't you?" asked Hermione. "I miss him, too... But we won't be able to bring him back..."
"Yes you will", said Harry.
Both Ron and Hermione seemed to hear that.
"Was it - really - Harry?" asked Hermione.
"Of course it was him!"
"Meet me at five o'clock in the transfiguration classroom!", said Harry. "I will be there."
"How?" asked Ron. "How are you speaking to us?"
"You will see", said Harry. He entered through the floor in the room beneath the gryffindor common room. It was a room he had never seen before. It wasn't marked on the marauder's map either.
The room had dark gray walls. It was quite large. On each of the walls was a white sphere, it looked as a light.
In the middle there was a mysterious machine. It was black as his hair. Harry could not see exactly what it was; the black color stopped him from seeing it. There was something moving.
He stood there watching and examining the machine. Then he realized it was already five o'clock. He had to be in the transfiguration classroom.
Ron and Hermione were already there. They were waiting and looking around. Harry was near the ceiling.
"Hello", he said.
Ron and Hermione looked up. Their faces suddenly changed.
"Harry!", said Ron.
"You are... a ghost?" asked Hermione.
"Yes, I am. Fortunately..."
Harry told them the entire story.
"So, you killed yourself?" asked Ron.
"That was not killing himself!!!" said Hermione.
"Yes, it was", said Harry. "Partially. I shot the curse, really."
"Yes..."
"What happened in the care of magical creatures class?" he asked.
"Oh, it was horrible... Actually it was not a lauron. It was... You-know-who himself. He took shape of one, and he waited for Hagrid to get him. Then he started changing shapes."
"Voldemort?" asked Harry. "That was why I woke up at the Riddle House!"
"Yes. After the dragon hit you and you became unconscious, the dragon turned into Voldemort. He told us and Hagrid that we will never see you again. After that a... blue thunder hit both of you... And after that, you were gone."
That was maybe another mago-wizard spell. Or why not a mage spell? Voldemort had Erised's powers and now that he knew about magi learning a new spell couldn't be hard.
"Dumbledore said that I can be brought back to life... To my body. I have no idea how, but that was what he said."
Ron looked a bit happier, but Hermione didn't.
"How? I mean How can we bring you back? I have read that there is a possibility but... really... it is impossible to do, just think. No one had done it for one thousand years... How can we do it if no one did it for a so long time?"
"Trust Dumbledore", said Harry. "Trust him... If he says something, it is true."
They stood a short time quiet. Then Hermione had a question to ask...
"Harry... How is it to be a ghost?"
"How?" Harry did not say anything for some seconds. "It is impossible to tell... Just... it is a... funny feeling... Imagine now is it to feel as if you have no weight... Very hard to explain... Impossible..." He flew a little over them. "It's nice to be able to fly... to fly by yourself, not with a broom, or an animal or other things..."
After that he went to the ceiling and entered through it. He went to the gryffindor common room, he wanted to greet his fellow gryffindors.
The ones who saw him were more than surprised, and stood thunderstruck. No one moved in the few moments after Harry was there.
"That... is Harry Potter!"
"Ghost?"
"Cool!"
"Wow... so he does have a chance..." said a seventh year.
"Harry! Welcome back!" said Fred. "Pity you cannot test my newest candy in that state..."
"God, Harry" said Dean Thomas "Everyone thought you are dead!"
"I AM dead!"
Harry went to the bedroom. He did not like how the gryffindors greeted him. It looked more like they did not think at all. Everyone seemed to have lost his mind.
And, they were not to blame. They did not expect seeing him like that... No one did...
He tried to sit on the bed, and he could sit on it. But he could not feel it. The bed was more like a pool to him. But he "floated". Ghosts did not sleep, so he just stood there. He stood and waited until the door was opened.
But it was none of his gryffindor mates. It was Dumbledore.
Harry stood "up"(if you can say that for a ghost) and flew towards Dumbledore.
"Harry...", he said. "I found it... I found the way we will bring you back to life!" Harry looked at what Dumbledore had in his hands. It was a book. He recognized it. It was "Ancient Magic Effects".
How could he forget that? He read about ghost reviving in that book when he wanted to see about Voldemort's powers. Before he knew about magi.
Dumbledore read loud:
"Ghost reviving is a complex procedure. There are needed three wizards. One of them creates a fire in the middle of them and the others need a necklace of the dragonteeth and a silver crystal of the magi. The other two wizards put the artifacts over the fire in the same time, and shot some unknown spells at them. The spells seem to be of the kind that disappeared two hundred years ago."
"So," Harry said, "we surely need a wizard and two magi... or who knows, maybe we need two mago-wizards..."
"We need a mage, a wizard and a mago-wizard. As you see, this book says about things that are unknown. The writers did not know exactly how to do it. But I know who does."
"Who?"
"I am sure the magi know more than we do. We should contact Erised - or will he contact us?"
"I cannot speak to him as a ghost. My powers were diminished when I left the body, as with all the ghosts... Erised should try to contact us... He will do it. I know he will. It's just that when he does, it may be too late."
"I will try to contact him" said Dumbledore "I hope I will manage to do it..."
With that, he left the room. Harry was now in danger of remaining a ghost. How could Dumbledore contact Erised? He wasn't a mage... He couldn't be after all what Erised told him...
Later the fifth year gryffindor boys entered the bedroom, including Ron. They looked as if they had spoken a lot about him in meantime. All except Ron wanted to sleep.
"Harry" said Ron, going towards him "I saw Dumbledore enter the room... as never before. It had anything to do with..."
"Yes, with my bringing to life..." Harry did not want to worry Ron by telling him about the problems with the unknown things needed for the complex spell. "I hope it will be good in final. I can't wait to be a man again... I hate being a ghost... It's very boring and sad..."
Harry now understood what Moaning Myrtle meant with her sadness. She really hated speaking about her at all. Harry didn't feel like he wanted to talk about that either. He wondered how Myrtle would react if she will see him as a ghost...
Ron went to his bed. Harry wondered what to do the night. He could not go to the library because he could not touch books.
Or he did?
He tried touching some things in the room. He tried to interact with one of Ron's parchments. But his hand passed through it as through water.
He tried again, and with the same effect.
Then he wanted to enjoy the freedom he had... He could visit the entire school... No forbidden rooms at all. Filch could not do him anything at all.
The common room was almost empty. Hermione was still doing her homework. He flew near the ceiling so he wasn't noticed by anyone.
Then he left to find other secret rooms. And he knew where he was going to. The eighth floor.
He went to the room he knew. There he saw nothing modified. The room was lighted by three green metal vertical pipes, which were on the table in the middle. The rest of the room was empty. There was nothing changed from the last time he was there.
Harry went to one of the walls and entered through it. It was a thick wall... Maybe there were no secret rooms at all in the whole floor, thought Harry. Then at last he exited the wall and entered a big room.
It was colored with green and lots of plants stood near the window. In the middle there was a magical fire, which was at the top of some other plants.
Harry looked around. There were many chairs and students - luckily, no one had seen him yet. Harry knew where he was.
That was the Hufflepuff common room. He was near the ceiling, the room was very high. The entrance had to be at the fourth floor or something like that.
Harry left the room and went to the eighth floor small room again. Surely he wasn't welcome in the hufflepuff common room...
From the small room he took another wall and walked through it. That was not thick at all, after a short time he exited the school. He was outside. One of the towers were near him - that was the Gryffindor tower.
Back to the small room, he tried anywhere near it but he had found nothing.
Then someone entered the small room. Harry hid himself fast in a corner, hoping that he won't be seen.
Harry could not say who the person was until he went near the pipes. The green light showed his face - it was Lupin. He touched ne of the pipes and he took his hand very fast off it. It seemed as if he was burned.
He took a glove and took the pipe slow. He then left the room. Harry had to see where he was going. He followed Lupin on many staircases, and they stopped in front of Dumbledore's office.
"Voldemort!" said Lupin and the gargoyle moved itself.
"Remus... Have you done it?" asked Dumbledore's voice. Harry could hear them.
"Yes. Here it is... What do you think it is?"
"These three pipes were put here a long time ago... Let me inspect it. Give it to me."
"Be careful, it burns. It emits radiations."
Dumbledore started muttering to himself "So... this is an ancient spell... no, this is... yes, so if we do..."
There was a loud bang, as if the pipe exploded.
"Albus!" asked Lupin. "Are you all right?"
"No... Please... take me to the... hospital... wing..."
Harry flew higher. Lupin ran to the hospital, Dumbledore was floating after him. Harry followed; he wanted to find out more.
"Poppy..." said Lupin "Dumbledore was blasted by a spell... I do not know what it was. We should ask him."
"Oh my goodness! This is not good..."
Harry could now see them well. He was hidden after a bed. Madam Pomfrey took a glass of water and put some ingredients inside. The water turned green. She prepared the potion. She tried to make Dumbledore drink it, and after many tries, she managed to do it a little help from Lupin.
Dumbledore opened his eyes. He looked fine now.
"What happened?" asked Madam Pomfrey.
"I tried to look at a eutherian pipe. They were created very long time ago. I did not know what they were until I put a ceresalius spell on it. The spell had to allow me inspect it better, and identify it. And the only objects that have protection are the eutherian pipes! When I tried the charm it exploded. Lucky that I dodged some of the explosion... That could be fatal. That was an Avada Kedavra Explosion."
"But... what are the Eutherian pipes?" asked Madam Pomfrey.
"Eutherian pipes... They are some magical pipes that created a strong magical field in one place. There had to be four - and there were only three... There were four because they were created by the creators of Hogwarts. One by each. What I opened had to be Salazar Slytherin's pipe... I think I know which one is missing..."
"Which one?"
"Godric's. It had to be there... I have no idea about them except what I said. No one knew that they were still at Hogwarts... Some tried to find them, but with no success... And look who knew where they are! Voldemort... You remember when he sent Arkatis to destroy Hogwarts? He went to that secret room... I think Voldemort stole Godric's pipe."
"But what did they do?" asked Lupin.
"The magical fields near Hogwarts are generated by those pipes. The Hogwarts' Defense is mostly created by them. All the defense except the spells I've put... Now I have to go to see more about them."
"But you have to stay another five minutes to relax -"
"No, thanks, Poppy. Bt I must go."
With that Dumbledore stood up... And Harry could be seen... He entered through the floor and flew through the walls until he was out in a room. He was exactly where he did not want to be. The Moaning Myrtle's bathroom.
Myrtle could not be seen, and Harry tried his chance of getting away before she noticed him. But he was too late.
"You?" she asked. "You are a ghost?"
"Yes... unfortunately."
"Take place here... You are welcome...", she said.
"No, than.. Oh, I-I..."
"Come on! Stay here..."
Then Harry had a desire to stay. He had a question to ask...
"Ok, I'll stay. But will you tell me if ghosts can... touch things?"
"Ooooh, it's a very hard question... I heard of some ghosts that did it... But I never tried it..."
"Oh..."
"I have a small idea of how they did it..."
"Really?"
"Yes... I heard from Nearly-Headless Nick some things... He said ghosts have to... fill themselves with energy... I still do not know how... Why don't you ask him?"
Harry wanted to go to ask Nick. He flew a small time and then "Harry! Don't go!" It was Myrtle who wanted him to stay. "I never had the occasion to speak to a young ghost..." Harry tried to ignore her. He knew that he needed to see Nick as soon as possible. He wanted to touch things as a ghost...
But then he suddenly stopped. Where could he find Nearly-headless Nick?
He was nowhere to be seen - Harry searched any room in the school. He went to the gryffindor tower and bid his time until the next day.
He was in the Great Hall when the breakfast started. He was there with the other ghosts. And he had seen someone that was never seen there - Myrtle...
She wanted to talk to Harry... He told her about his intentions, how everyone needs him alive and how they are working to put him back to his body.
Harry then went to ask Nick about touching things...
"Oh, touching things?" he asked. "take a look."
Nick flew to the gryffindor table and pulled a glass of water.
"See, it's not as hard as it looks like. You have to concentrate... Really it's hard to understand how a ghost can "concentrate", but there is a way." He explained a long time how to do it. Harry did not do it at the first time, and the second try was half-successful. "See, Harry... It is easy. Just a few more tries and you will do it!"
Nick was right. Harry did it after three tries and it wasn't hard to do...
"But, Harry. Be careful, as the ghosts have very little energy... You can touch small things for a short time. That's all what a ghost can do..."
Then he took Harry to a private place, near the ceiling.
"Harry", he whispered, "You were a mago-wizard?"
"Yes..."
"So was I. Most of the mago-wizards become ghosts. There are very few wizards who were made ghosts... Take Myrtle and Peeves for example. I have no idea why they were made ghosts..."
He and Nick became good ghost friends. They talked a long time after the breakfast was over. The gryffindor fifth years had Divination, and Harry wasn't interested in that. Nick found out about Harry's intentions.
"Really, Harry. This is a very difficult thing... I do not know how to do it... But I can lead you to the Mago-Wizard palace. There they will tell you exactly how it is done."
"Thanks!"
"I hope you will do it!"
Then Harry left to Divination... He wanted to listen to what Trelawney had to say.
"Weasley! This is a death omen! Really, you have as much as Potter..." She sad in a poor-you voice. "And he died."
Ron looked quite terrified about that. He no longer ignored Trelawney's signs after Harry's death.
Harry flew down in front of the students, near Trelawney.
He told everyone he wants to assist in the classes, and he did. Trelawney accepted, looking at him every second.
The class finished after Trelawney predicted Ron's death continuously.
"Ron, you have no reason to be so scared", said Harry.
"Yes I have... Look at you! You are dead... and she predicted your death for two years! I wonder if I will die after two years, too..."
"You won't! She started predicting your death only because you made her angry!"
"Harry's right", said Hermione who joined them. "You won't die."
"Why do you think that?" asked Ron.
"Oh god", Harry said and he flew high, he was bored of Ron now.
Harry understood that he did not like talking to living-ones anymore. He mostly enjoyed talking to other ghosts... Harry couldn't wait to be alive again and to have Ron and Hermione his best friends again. He went to the transfiguration classroom through the walls. He with McGonagall waited the other students to arrive to start a lesson.
He was really bored... Most of the time McGonagall tried to make Neville able to transfigure a rat into a watch.
At lunch Dumbledore called Harry for a talk.
"Harry, I talked to Sir Nicholas and he told me that he will go to ask the mago-wizards about the chance. Tomorrow we'll have it, and we will bring you back to your body."
"He will go alone?"
"Yes. I insisted that he should take you with him but he said he wanted to leave immediately and it could take some time to find you."
That was all what Dumbledore had to tell him. And he had just to wait for the next day to come...