Imperius Curse (WAS Viktor Krum and an Unforgivable Curse)

[cindysphynx]

No: HPFGUIDX 32848

Barkeep wrote:

> You're right as far as the book goes, but I really think this is a 
> plot hole by JKR. It seems to me that spell casting requires 
> concentration and thought (see the Lexicon for more on that), and 
it 
> really bugs me that someone can cause another to cast a spell. 

<snip example>  
> 
> And if they totally controlled their mind and made you cast that 
> spell, isn't it *them* that is casting the spell, and not you? 
> Because you can't concentrate to cast hte spell, you're Imperio'd!
> 
> It really seems wrong that someone can Imperio to cast a spell. 
> Simple actions, yes, but casting curses? I just don't buy it.
> 

The way I see it, the Imperius Curse overcomes the will completely.  
So the Curse would force someone to focus their mind to perform a 
spell, just as though they were committed to do it otherwise.  

The other thing that we know about Imperius is that the victim will 
be able to do things he/she otherwise could not do at all.  This 
explains Neville's complex gymnastics moves under Imperius.  There's 
certainly no reason to think Moody and his wooden leg could execute 
those gymnastics moves, either.  That scene suggests that neither the 
person casting the Imperius nor the victim must be otherwise capable 
of the act that is commanded.  Apparently, Imperio overcomes the will 
*and* forces the person to concentrate on and perform feats they 
otherwise could not.  A very neat trick, actually.

Cindy (who thinks that if we try really, really hard, we can come up 
with some Imperius theory to explain Neville's poor memory)