`Well,..said.Harry,.refusing.to.be.deflected..`You.were.right,.I.ve.‐.I.ve.come.to.find.you...
Nick.said.nothing..
`It.s.‐.said.Harry,.who.was.finding.this.more.awkward.than.he.had.anticipated,
.`it.s.just.‐.you.re.dead..But.you.re.still.here,.aren.t.you?..
Nick.sighed.and.continued.to.gaze.out.at.the.grounds..
`That.s.right,.isn.t.it?..Harry.urged.him..`You.died,.but.I.m.talking.to.you…you.can.walk.around.Hogwarts.and.everything,.can.t.you?..
.Yes,..said.Nearly.Headless.Nick.quietly,.`I.walk.and.talk,.yes...
`So,.you.came.back,.didn.t.you?..said.Harry.urgently..`People.can.come.back,
.right?.As.ghosts..They.don.t.have.to.disappear.completely..Well?..he.added.impatiently,.when.Nick.continued.to.say.nothing..
Nearly.Headless.Nick.hesitated,.then.said,.`Not.everyone.can.come.back.as.a.ghost...
`What.d.you.mean?..said.Harry.quickly.`Only….only.wizards...
`Oh,..said.Harry,.and.he.almost.laughed.with.relief..`Well,.that.s.OK.then,.the.person.I.m.asking.about.is.a.wizard..So.he.can.come.back,.right?..
Nick.turned.away.from.the.window.and.looked.mournfully.at.Harry..
`He.won.t.come.back..
.`Who?.
.`Sinus.Black,..said.Nick..
`But.you.did!..said.Harry.angrily..`You.came.back.‐you.re.dead.and.you.didn.t.disappear.‐..
`Wizards.can.leave.an.imprint.of.themselves.upon.the.earth,.to.walk.palely.where.their.living.selves.once.trod,..said.Nick.miserably..`But.very.few.wizards.choose.that.path..
`Why.not?..said.Harry..`Anyway.‐.it.doesn.t.matter.‐.Sirius.won.t.care.if.it.s.unusual,.he.ll.come.back,.I.know.he.will!..
And.so.strong.was.his.belief,.Harry.actually.turned.his.head.to.check.the.door,
.sure,.for.a.split.second,.that.he.was.going.to.see.Sirius,.pearly‐white.and.transparent.but.beaming,.walking.through.it.towards.him..
`He.will.not.come.back,..repeated.Nick..`He.will.have….gone.on...
`What.d.you.mean,..gone.on.?..said.Harry.quickly.`Gone.on.where?.Listen.‐
.what.happens.when.you.die,.anyway?.Where.do.you.go?.Why.doesn.t.everyone.come.back?.Why.isn.t.this.place.full.of.ghosts?.Why.‐?T.
.I.cannot.answer,..said.Nick..
`You.re.dead,.aren.t.you?..said.Harry.exasperatedly..`Who.can.answer.better.than.you?T.
.I.was.afraid.of.death,..said.Nick.softly..`I.chose.to.remain.behind..I.sometimes.wonder.whether.I.oughtn.t.to.have….well,.that.is.neither.here.nor.there….in.fact,
.I.am.neither.here.nor.there…..He.gave.a.small.sad.chuckle..`I.know.nothing.of.the.secrets.of.death,.Harry,.for.I.chose.my.feeble.imitation.of.life.W.stead..I.believe.learned.wizards.study.the.matter.in.the.Department.of.Mysteries.‐..
`Don.t.talk.to.me.about.that.place!..said.Harry.fiercely..
`I.am.sorry.not.to.have.been.more.help,..said.Nick.gently.`Well….well,.do.excuse.me….the.feast,.you.know…..
And.he.left.the.room,.leaving.Harry.there.alone,.gazing.blankly.at.the.wall.through.which.Nick.had.disappeared..
Harry.felt.almost.as.though.he.had.lost.his.godfather.all.over.again.in.losing.the.hope.that.he.might.be.able.to.see.or.speak.t.him.once.more..He.walked.slowly.and.miserably.back.up.through.the.empty.castle,.wondering.whether.he.would.ever.feel.cheerful.again..