12- "Ghost"

Jerrod felt cold. Beck kept screaming his name, as she stumbled away from him. A strange light sensation filtered up from his feet, causing him to look down. Jerrod cried out in shock, as he saw the floor through his feet.

I'm a ghost, Jerrod thought, completely stunned. He drifted toward Beck, who quickly withdrew.

'Come on Beck, its me' he pleaded. Beck just sobbed through her hands.

'You're a ghost!' she screamed. Jerrod was confused. Maybe if I went back through the door. Beck turned and fled. Jerrod just watched her go.

Beck cried as she ran, almost disbelieving what she had seen. A rushing of feet preceded Filch's arrival.

'My girl, you shouldn't be out this late. No magic costume will protect you from punishment.' Instead of arguing, Beck just collapsed to the floor, crying out her heart. Filch was perplexed. Clearly something had happened to the boy, but it was not in Filch's nature to be nice.

'Come, let me take you back to Gryffindor tower.' He helped the crying girl up, and half-carried her up the stairs. A ghost slid from the wall, whose presence caused Beck to scream. Filch recognised the ghost, but still took an involuntary step backwards.

'My boy, what have you done?' shouted Filch, hobbling down the corridor toward him. By reflex, Filch moved to grab Jerrod by the shoulder, but instead, his hand just passed through the ghostly Jerrod. Filch shouted at him again.

'How do I go back?' shouted Jerrod, his ethereal voice echoing around the tight confines of the corridor.

'Quickly boy, you have to go back through the door.' Beck's sobbing lessened a little, as she realised that Jerrod might still be okay. Jerrod disappeared through the wall, and Beck detached herself from Filch, and raced back down the stairs.

He fell heavily onto the stone floor. Beck rushed to his side, tears turning to joy. She helped him up, while Filch barred the door.

'What is this?' asked an imperious voice. All three looked up, and saw Professor Malfoy striding toward them. 'I can clearly remember the message at the beginning of the year; STAY AWAY FROM THE DUNGEONS!' Filch stepped up.

'The Door of Dread has been found Professor.' Malfoy's face paled.

'Come with me. Now' Malfoy commanded, leading them out of the dungeons.

Once again, Jerrod and Beck stood before the headmaster, but this time, an expression of profound concern was played across his face.

'This is most troubling' was all he said, for a few minutes. He dismissed Filch and Malfoy. 'I am about to tell you something that most of the teachers here do not know.' He looked at them intently over his glasses.

'Yes headmaster, we won't tell a soul' said Jerrod, and Beck nodded in agreement. Mr. Potter took a deep breath, and explained.

'When I fought Lord Voldemort, I destroyed all his Horcruxes. Than in duelling, I destroyed his body. Most people can tell you this, but none but a few know this; his will to dominate was incredible. It even saved him from absolution.'

'You mean-' Jerrod started.

'Voldemort is a ghost. He still exists.'