(non)TBAY: Arthur Weasley With Imperius Curse and Small Craft Advisories

[Anna Hemmant]

No: HPFGUIDX 45312

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., Lilac <lilac_bearry at y...> wrote:
> 
> Elkins, in her lovely TBAY post, said:
> 
> <<<"It does make sense that some families might be more vulnerable 
to 
> the Imperius curse," said Veronica. "After all children of 
alcoholics 
> are more likely to be alcoholics. Perhaps there is a gene that 
some 
> have that make them less able to fight off that curse. That would 
> explain why Ron has a more difficult time with that curse in DADA 
> class."
> 
> "It could be," agreed Elkins.  "Also, Ginny succumbed quite 
readily 
> to Riddle's diary, which would seem to be a similar type of magic, 
> don't you think?  Mental domination.  You really do have to be 
> careful with this one, though," she warned, looking up owlishly 
from 
> the scroll.  "This one can get you into some trouble.  A lot of 
> people balk when it comes to this piece of canon, because they 
don't 
> like the idea that such a weakness might be genetic, rather than a 
> matter of pure personal willpower.  They find that notion very 
> thematically shaky.  And many people also point out that none of 
the 
> students in Harry's class has very much luck with the Imperius 
> Curse..."

Hello! Can I pleade just say that JKR seriously puts a lot of 
emphasis on the fact that it not what we are born, but what we chose 
to become that shapes us. Therefore, any explaination in terms of 
inheritance couldn't be countenanced. However, perhaps you might be 
onto something in the magical inheritance thing, but what could the  
the cruciatus curse or the AK curse have similar effects? Would 
these have to run in the same way as inheritance? i.e. would neville 
have some kind of traces of the crucio in his blood despite the fact 
that it's administered to his parents after he's born? Would this 
add to the sociological reasons for his fear of this specific curse, 
or am I just talking a load of brown round things?