The Unforgivable Curses, namely Avada Kedavra (was:Re-Cruciatus and Insanity)

[mariahisabel]

No: HPFGUIDX 39072

Hello All!

I've been lurking on this list for some time and have never posted 
much of anything simply because there are so many brilliant people on 
this list that one of them always posts exactly what I was thinking 
before I do and I see no point in sending a one-liner "I agree" post
(good thing I don't too, otherwise The Moderators would be after me:)

However, in the recent (small) discussion about the unforgivable 
curses (which has been overshadowed by the memory charm battle raging 
on) I had an idea.

Marina says:
<<<<Cruciatus causes great pain without producing any injury that 
would explain it -- no bruises or burns or broken bones or anything. 
So I'm guessing the spell affects the brain and the nervous system 
directly. If that's true, then prolonged exposure might cause actual 
physical brain damage. To someone unfamiliar with modern medicine 
(like wizards, for example) the outward systems would look like 
madness.>>>>>

and someone else (sorry I dont know who) replied:
<<<<<Exactly. And the physical reactions- such as the twitching,
screaming, feeling limp after the curse is removed- come from the
mind's reaction of the mental suggestion of pain.>>>>>

to which A goldfeesh said:
<<<<<Two of the three Unforgivables seem to work fairly directly upon 
the mind of the victim. So it makes me wonder if perhaps the Avada
Kedavra does too in some way perhaps. It makes me think of an old
Avengers episode in which victims were killed off by their greatest
fears.>>>>>

And here's where my great idea comes in:)
I apologize in advance if it has already been suggested before and of 
course, anyone is quite welcome to try and shoot it down with a great 
big canon:)

The cruciatus curse causes pain to the victim only in their mind. As 
Marina pointed out, there is no outward cause for the pain the victim 
experiences.  Well, if a curse can make the mind believe it's in 
horrible pain, can't it also make it believe it is dead?

Ok, stay with me, Im going to go off a bit but I'll come back to the 
point in a second:)
In the movie "The Matrix" the hero of the story (Neo) is confused 
when, in coming out of a computer training program, (in which his 
mind is receiving signals via computer that he is actually 
participating in the training) he is physically hurt because his mind 
believed he was. He questions Morphius at this time (his 
mentor/guide) and I'm going to type the dialogue between them as best 
as I can remember:

Neo: I thought it wasnt real
Morphius: your mind makes it real
N: so, if you die inside the Matrix, you die in real life?
M: the body cannot live without the mind

The concept is that, if your mind is made to believe you are dead, 
even if you are physically well, you die anyway. Perhaps that is what 
the killing curse does. It does not "harm" you in any way, but it 
makes your brain think you are dead and in turn the brain ceases to 
function.  No brain, no life.  That's why it is aimed at the head 
(Harry's scar) and perhaps why it is unforgivable...the person would 
otherwise be quite healthy, except for the fact that their mind died.

In fact, I believe that in GOF when we are given background info of 
the Riddle murders it states that all 3 bodies were found to be in 
good health, except for the fact that they were dead(sorry i dont 
have the exact quote, far too lazy to get the book right now:)

so anyway, thats my theory on how the killing curse kills and why it 
is unforgivable as opposed to other curses which could kill other 
ways.  once again apologies if it has been suggested before.

TTFN
mariahisabel (who realizes that the explanation she gave of the movie 
above will completely confuse everyone if they have not already seen 
it)