Bitter Shadow

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN ANY OF THE HARRY POTTER CHARACTERS!

Summary: I'm just like this ugly stain on this carpet that people try to overlook. I'm that creepy shadow that seems to be everywhere you look. I'm…nobody.

Chapter 1: End at the Beginning

"History of Magic is sooooo boring,"

"Professor Binns is completely dull. Who cares about Troll wars?"

I hear what they say in the hallways. I'm a ghost not deaf. They say I'm the most boring teacher ever. That I'm a real snooze. Well, let me tell you that being a ghost isn't exactly a walk in the park. It's bloody boring. I can't eat anything, I give people the chills, I can't do anything I use to like to do. Being a ghost serves no purpose whatsoever.

The worst part is I don't know why I'm a ghost. Dumbeldore says I will be able to move on to the next…whatever there is after this life…as soon as I solve whatever it is that is holding me back. Now, I ask you, how the hell am I supposed to do that when I can't leave these school grounds and when I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS HOLDING ME BACK!

Like I said, I hate being a ghost.

But let me start at the beginning by starting at my end, My death.

I don't remember much before my death, maybe that is why I'm still stuck here…maybe not. I do remember my death clearly. I can even tell you what I had for breakfast that morning. It was toast with orange marmalade. I hate orange marmalade, but Flitwick had taken all the strawberry so I was stuck with orange.

After eating a disgusting bunch of orange marmalade, I headed to teach my class. My students have always said that History of Magic was the most boring class, well they weren't much more interesting. Who cares about the next Hogsmede trip or who was going out with who. Besides, it wasn't like I wanted to be a teacher. I always wanted to be an auror, but noooo, Mad-Eye Moody took my position instead. God I hate him.

After teaching incredibly dull and brainless students, I retired to my room where I could catch up on some reading. I even remember the number of steps I had to take to get to my room. 1,674. I remember sitting down and reading that book. I got about half way through and it was quite interesting, about a man trying to solve his own murder.

For some reason unknown even to me I got up out of my chair…and when I looked back, I saw me. I was slumped over the arm of the chair, the book had landed onto the floor. I was ice cold. I was pale and limp. I was…dead.

Well after that, I went to see Dumbeldore. He confirmed my being dead and that I was still a ghost. He said I could still teach if I wanted to.

Yeah, right. Like I would wanna do that for eternity. I tried to ditch Hogwarts and all the memories it held but…I couldn't leave. I couldn't even walk--glide out the door! Dumbeldore stood behind me and muttered something about the whole thing being strange. Strange! This old man is babbling about me not being able to walk…glide out a door when I just died less than an hour ago!

Dumbeldore began into a long boring rant- if my students think I'm boring they should listen to Dumbeldore. I rest my case- about how I must be stuck here because there is something that I need to take care of. Only after I've taken care of my problem can I move onto my next…place. Of course, he said this all with his stupid goofy smile on his face.

How aggravating is that! I can't even leave the place I hate the most. Why oh Why did I have to die here of all places?

So now I'm stuck here.

I'm just like this ugly stain on this carpet that people try to overlook. I'm that creepy shadow that seems to be everywhere you look. I'm...nobody.

(A/N: What do you think is holding Binns back from moving on?)