[HPforGrownups] Re: AK Stealing Souls

[Laura Huntley]

No: HPFGUIDX 35769

VIN SAID:
>     Actually, I have a little seperate idea that perhaps explains 
>why these curses are "Unforgiveable," and it's fairly straightfoward 
>I think. Rather than having some sort of "soul stealing" power 
>behind it, I think AK is just as the canon states- a curse that 
>kills quite quickly and evenly. The reason, IMHO, is more likely 
>these are the only spells that are developed that are SPECIFICALLY 
>and ONLY designed to kill, harm, or limit another person. It's the 
>only use for these spells, they can't do anything else. Other spells 
>can be used to kill, that much is certain. However, they can also be 
>used for other methods. Take for instance the first Quidditch match 
>in SS, Hermione uses a simple spell to summon a fire, with the 
>intention of distracting Snape. Couldn't she just have easily 
>summoned it inside of Snape's Lungs or body, which would surely be 
>lethal? But that's not an Unforgiveable curse! To sum up and 
>finalize it: AK, Imperious, and Cruciatus are Unforgiveable curses 
>because their sole and only use is to harm others. Yes, other spells 
>are harmful if used incorrectly, but also could have other uses. I 
>know most people would immediately think about the explosive spell 
>Pettigrew used to frame Sirius Black- but couldn't that, as corny as 
>it sounds, be used in mining? Or Destroying old Structures? What 
>about in rescue situations? I know these are odd situations, and 
>also fairly uncommon, but it still can be used for other things. 

Yes, I go back and forth between this theory and my own.  Another idea may be that it is "unblockable", that is, if you have the power to use it, you can kill anyone and they don't have a chance -- therefore it is Unforgivable.

However, I think there's got to be something more to it.  As I stated in my first post, if there wasn't some special benefit to using AK, then why would the DE's be so fond of it?  The following is a list of its limitations:

1)  Can only be used on one person at a time.  Obviously, if you are looking to eliminate enemies efficiently, AK makes no sense.  While you're caught up AKing one guy, the other could be blasting you to smithereens.  Furthermore, if all Voldie wanted to do was kill Harry, think of the multitudes of options he had.  There is hardly any reason for him to even enter the house and risk the attack of James and Lily.  Voldie would hardly need a special, unblockable curse to kill a baby.  Even if Harry had special wards on him to prevent being killed by purely magical means (which I doubt he did), Voldie still had lots of options.

2) AK is hard to perform.  Why spent so much energy learning to use AK and then expend the magic needed to perform it when another, easier spell would suffice?

3) It seems you need a direct, unblocked way to the victim.  Again, why go through the trouble of entering the Potter's house if he could have just blown it to a fine powder around them?  Entering gave James and Lily a chance to fight back, gave them warning and the time to offer a defense.  If V just blasted them from the outside, they would have no chance to ward themselves, they wouldn't have seen it coming.  So, V must have had a good reason to use AK.

mmm, on the other hand, it's all in how JK wants it to be...

laura


       


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