Why AK is Unforgivable (was AK Stealing Souls)

[lupinesque]

No: HPFGUIDX 35824

The lupinesque Gray Wolf theorized:

>Thus, my on theory (a variation of the original) 
> right now says that "unforgivable curses are those spells that 
cannot 
> be countered by any magical mean". No amount of wand-weaving will 
stop 
> any of the three from reaching it's destiny (phisical means are 
still 
> useful, like getting behind a gravestone, as are psiquical means, 
like 
> the one seen in the Imperious). Harry has never told us if he's 
learnt 
> shield magic (protective magic), but I assume some must exists, 
since 
> all wizards have innate shielding capabilities (à la bouncing 
> Longbottom), and it seems only natural that when they started 
> developing magical capabilities in antiquity they started by 
> strengthening their own innate powers.

Harry does start to learn shield charms for the third task, actually 
(chapter 31--it's the one Hermione breaks through with a Jelly-Legs 
Jinx), and I think you hit the nail on the head:  they're ineffective 
against AK.  Otherwise, wouldn't Moody say "there's no blocking it, 
except if you put up a very strong Shield Charm and the wizard trying 
to kill you isn't too powerful?"

Amy Z

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 . . . They made their way into the entrance hall,
 which was completely devoid of mad axe-men.
                  -HP and the Prisoner of Azkaban
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