Can the Cruciatus Curse kill?

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 78325

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Wanda Sherratt"
<wsherratt3338 at r...> wrote:
> We know that if it's used enough, the Cruciatus Curse can drive 
> someone insane (the Longbottoms).  Can it possibly kill someone, or 
> can that only be done by the AK?
> 
> Wanda

bboy_mn:

Short version: Yes!

Anything has potentially lethal implication if used to an extreme.
Even a tickle charm, if carried on long enough, can become as painful
as a pain curse. As a side note, I was once relentlessly tickled until
I became hysterically violent; it wasn't fun or funny. I'm sure given
the resulting knife wound scar on my brother's hand, he would be
inclined to agree with me.

So, I think the Cruciatus curse could be used to such an extreme that
a person would simply give up living rather than continue to endure
the pain. 

In the case of the Longbottoms, I think rather than simple give up
life, their mind/body/spirit pushed them into a sensory numbing
insanity as a way of escaping the pain. Sadly, once you have been
pushed to the point where you've 'snapped' to escape that pain, it is
extremely difficult to 'UN-snap'.

Just a thought.

bboy_mn