[HPforGrownups] Re: The Sorting Hat

[Kathryn Cawte]

No: HPFGUIDX 87392


>
> > K:
> Also the DEs would surely have used it on the Longbottoms rather than
> torture them for information - <snip> if a simple Imerio would have
> got the answer then they would have used that.
>
> Mandy again:
> No because the DE were thrown into confusion and chaos after
> the 'death' of LV.  They wanted information quickly.  The Imperio
> seems to me a complex spell that requires time and concentration to
> achieve positive results.  Controlling someone's mind is probably as
> tricky as trying to read it using Ligitimens.  Lucius could inflict
> it on, say, Percy as he has time to manipulate and hold the curse and
> Percy is not going anywhere.  The Longbottoms were being held for
> information by a group of DE's on the run and desperate to find their
> Master ASAP!  Imperio would be completely out of the question at that
> time.
>

K

I don't think Imperio is supposed to be any more complicated than Crucio
which is what we've been led to believe they actually used - and for a
prolonged period of time what is more. I guess we could explain the
development of a potion as complicated as Veritaserum by saying that it was
invented when Imperio was made illegal - because if you could simply use
Imperio to compel your victim to tell the truth I can't see why anyone would
develop a potion as difficult and time consuming as veritaserum.

Anyway if you're right that Imperio wouldn't allow them to get information
*quickly* then that helps my point since Kneasy was saying that Voldemort
could have used Imperio on Sirius and speedily got the information that
Peter was the Secret Keeper whereas I was arguing that Peter and the Potters
would have the time between Sirius being captured and him breaking under
torture in which to try plan B (Plan A being the Secret Keeper switch
thing).

K