[HPforGrownups] AK curse (was Re: The Ancient Magic Witch theory, the fight back)

[Richelle Votaw]

No: HPFGUIDX 42176

Roo writes:

> I think it is quite possible that Voldemort himself invented the
> Avada Kedavra Curse. Or at least brought it to the attention of the
> wider wizarding community. "Flash of green light" suggests heir
> of Slytherin, just as red and gold sparks suggests Gryffindor.
> That would explain why Voldemort was so feared, and why there
> isn't a counter-curse. There wasn't enough known about it, and
> you would be hard pressed to find any guinea-pigs to test it on.

Well a good spider would do as Moody/Crouch showed us.  That aside, what
exactly does it take to perform the AK?  Moody/Crouch tells us "Avada
Kedavra's a curse that needs a powerful bit of magic behind it--you could
all get your wands out now and point them at me and say the words, and I
doubt I'd get so much as a nosebleed."  Voldemort obviously is the most
successful with this curse, which could indicate that he invented it.  Or
perfected it.  But we already know he's powerful, so he's certainly got
enough magic behind it.  What about Peter Pettigrew?  I know Voldemort (in
ugly baby whatever form) killed Frank Bryce, and I can't quite remember
about Bertha, but can't find it right now.   Didn't Pettigrew actually kill
Cedric though?  In the graveyard Harry heard  "a high cold voice say, "Kill
the spare."  A swishing noise and a second voice, which screeched the words
to the night: "Avada Kedavra!""  Is Pettigrew that powerful?  Or is it
because of some sort of special tutoring from Voldemort?  I've just never
thought of Pettigrew as a really powerful wizard, especially since he's been
out of practice in rat form for 12 years or so.

Richelle