94 hp Diagon Alley

Professor Nepe - well, that's it...'. A few rubies flew back into the upper sphere, and even so, a considerable number remained.

"Okay, Potter, Malfoy. I think you should go outside in such fine weather." Professor McGonagall continued to speak enthusiastically.

Harry didn't need her to repeat that, he slipped his wand back into his robes and walked straight to the gate without looking at Snape and Malfoy again.At the castle gate, he noticed Gwen winking at him from the sidelines.

"Finding trouble with Malfoy?" Gwen joked when Harry approached.

"You went to complain to the professor again? Gwen?" Harry also told a joke.

"Oh, I just ran into the Headmaster who was returning to school, and for the sake of Gryffindor's points, revealed the fact that Potter and Malfoy were chatting... This can't be considered a small report." Gwen wiped her wand Sharp, "I don't want to talk too much, Harry. But thanks to Professor Snape giving Sirius a good potion, he can-"

"—I heard, Gwen," said Harry firmly. "Neville told me. But that doesn't stop me from finding him annoying."

"I don't think he likes you very much either." Gwen immediately reassured the boy. "It's not your fault. I mean, some people can be annoying, but they're not bad people…"

Harry pursed his lips as he thought of the man who had revealed the prophecy to Voldemort.In his opinion, Snape was definitely not a good person, and he couldn't tell the difference between disgusting and evil now, but he still politely greeted Gwen and began to look for Nick around the castle.

Ron and Hermione were discharged from hospital in full recovery three days before term ended.Hermione always wanted to mention Sirius, and whenever she said his name, Ron would stop with a "hush" sound.Harry still didn't know if he wanted to talk about his godfather; his thoughts were always changing with his mood.But one thing was clear to him: he wasn't so sad now, a Sirius who only knew chocolate frogs and mischief was far more acceptable to him than losing his godfather.His only concern was who was going to take care of Sirius when he returned to Number 4 Privet Drive in a few days?Although he now knew the reason why he went back there every summer, he still didn't feel more fond of the place.In fact, he's never been more afraid to go back than he is now.

Professor Umbridge left Hogwarts the day before the end of term.She appeared to have sneaked out of the hospital during dinner time, and it was obvious she was trying to get away without being noticed.But unfortunately, she met Peeves on the way, and Peeves seized this last chance just after listening to Fred's words.Joyfully stopped Umbridge ahead, taking turns hitting her hard with a cane and a sock full of chalk.Many students ran into the porch to see her fleeing, and the deans tried half-heartedly to stop them.In fact, Professor McGonagall made only a few feeble protests before sitting back behind the desk and regretting that she couldn't deliver Umbridge herself because Peeves had borrowed her crutches.

Outside the Charms classroom, Harry finally saw a translucent body floating across the end of the corridor.

"Hey-hey, Nick! Nick!" The ghost stepped back from the wall, revealing an exaggerated feathered hat and dangerously shaking head. It was Sir Nicholas.

"Good evening," he said, pulling the rest of his body back from the solid stone wall as well, smiling at Harry. "Looks like I'm not the only one late?" He sighed, "Though, we're in very different moods, sure?"

"Nick, I have something to ask you, okay?"

A strange expression crossed Nearly Headless Nick's face.He tucked a finger into his neck and straightened the stiff collar with difficulty, obviously giving himself time to think.He didn't stop thinking until the head with part of its neck cut off almost fell off.

"Er—now, Harry?" Nick asked with a look of panic, "Can we wait until after the banquet is over?"

"No - Nick - help," Harry said, "I really need to talk to you, here, okay?"

Nearly Headless Nick sighed as Harry opened the door to the nearest classroom.

"Oh, well then," he said resignedly, "I can't pretend I didn't think of it."

Harry opened the door to let him in, but he slipped through the wall.

"Thinking of what?" Harry asked, closing the door.

"Thinking you'd come to me," Nick said, as he slid back to the window again, looking out at the pitch-black field. "Sometimes, there are times... when someone is in pain... because of a loss..."

"That's right," said Harry, not wanting to be misunderstood. "You're right. I—so I've come to you."

Nick said nothing.

"It's like this -" said Harry, finding it more embarrassing than he'd imagined, "it's like this - you're dead, but you're still here, aren't you?"

Nick sighed, still staring out the window at the field.

"I was right, wasn't I?" Harry asked, staring. "You're dead, but I can talk to you now... You can walk around at Hogwarts, and anywhere, can't you?"

"Nice," said Nearly Headless Nick, "I can walk around and talk, yes."

"So, you came back from there, didn't you?" Harry asked urgently.Nick still said nothing, adding impatiently, "People can come back, can't they? Come back as ghosts. They don't have to disappear completely, do they?"

Nearly Headless Nick hesitated and said, "Not everyone can come back as a ghost."

"What do you mean?" Harry asked hastily.

"Only...only wizards."

"Oh," said Harry, almost laughing in relief, "well, that's all right, the man I'm talking about is a wizard, so he'll be able to come back, right?"

"He may not come back."

"Who?"

"Sirius Black," Nick said.

"But you're back!" said Harry angrily. "You're back—you're dead, but you're not gone—"

"Wizards can leave their own mark on this world, so that they can walk powerlessly where they have lived and walked." Nick said painfully, "but few wizards will choose this path." road."

"Why?" Harry asked. "Anyway - it doesn't matter - whether it's normal or not, Sirius won't mind, he'll be back, I know he will!"

Harry was so firm in his thoughts that he actually turned his head away, observed the movement of the door, and asked him for a split second that he was sure he was about to see Sirius, pearly white, transparent, but beaming, coming in through the door, walk towards him.

"He's not coming back," Nick repeated. "Given a choice, he'd... go."

"What do you mean, 'go down'?" Harry asked quickly, "to where?"

"I can't answer that," Nick said.

"You're dead, aren't you?" Harry was furious. "Who else can answer that question better than you?"

"I'm afraid of death," Nick said softly, "and I choose to stay behind. Sometimes I wonder if I shouldn't... Well, it's just that I don't belong here, and I don't belong here. It belongs there..." He gave a slight wry smile. "Only half of Sirius stepped into death, but I dare say that if half his soul could make up his mind, he would have walked bravely. I don't know the secret of death. Harry, I believe that in the Department of Mysteries Learned men are working on this—"

"Don't mention that place to me!" said Harry aggressively.

"I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help to you," Nick said softly. "All I can say is that he's not quite dead after all—then...then, forgive me...party, you know..." He walked away , leaving Harry alone, staring blankly at the wall where he had vanished.

Harry thought he'd be able to get back his godfather's lost half-soul, but his hopes were dashed, and the ghost couldn't bring his former godfather back.He walked back slowly in the empty castle, with mixed feelings.

He turned the corner and walked towards the corridor where the Fat Lady was, and saw that someone was pasting a notice on the bulletin board on the wall ahead.Harry glanced again and saw that it was Luna.There was nowhere to hide nearby, and she must have heard his footsteps, but Harry hardly had the strength to avoid anyone at the moment, anyway.

"Hello," Luna said vaguely, turned her head and glanced at him, and walked over from the bulletin board.

"Why weren't you at the party?" Harry asked.

"Oh, a lot of my stuff is gone," Luna said calmly. "You know, someone took it away and hid it. But because it's the last night. I have to get it back, so , I'm posting a notice."

She pointed to the bulletin board, and she had indeed pinned up lists of books and clothes she had lost, begging people to return them.

"How could they hide your stuff?" he asked Luna, frowning.

"Oh... this..." She shrugged. "You know, I think they think I'm weird. In fact, some people call me Mad Girl Lovegood." Harry looked at her, just now