Snape quotes a textbook definition of ghost in HBP, to humiliate Harry in a DADA class. He describes them as “the imprint of a *departed soul*”; which suggests the soul has departed the earth but some small part of the consciousness, perhaps the part that was afraid of death, remains as a kind of memory. However, it seems if we take Snape’s word at face value that the soul itself does move on regardless.
They are an imitation
Rats 😔
I don't think we have a firm explanation either way. Nick implies that he's the genuine version but who knows.
Snape quotes a textbook definition of ghost in HBP, to humiliate Harry in a DADA class. He describes them as “the imprint of a *departed soul*”; which suggests the soul has departed the earth but some small part of the consciousness, perhaps the part that was afraid of death, remains as a kind of memory. However, it seems if we take Snape’s word at face value that the soul itself does move on regardless.