[HPforGrownups] Unforgivables (was: Re: WW Ethics...)

[Kelly Grosskreutz]

No: HPFGUIDX 58702

Persesphone_kore wrote:

> I would personally say, and I'd ground this on the overall parallels
> between magic and Muggle society, that in order to function
> efficiently if for no other reason the Wizarding World outlaws killing
> people with magic OR nonmagical means, with a confirmed exception for
> line-of-duty and (I believe) a probable one for self defence. I'd also
> say that the three Unforgivables are classed that way and given
> exceptionally harsh penalties because they aren't considered to have
> any other purpose than the violation of another person in an extreme
> way -- but whatever curse Sirius was believed to have used and
> Pettigrew actually did use on a street full of Muggles, it definitely
> killed people, was believed to have killed a wizard, and apparently
> carried a heavy (life?) sentence without any sign of having been Avada
> Kedavra.

But keep in mind, Sirius didn't get a life sentence (without a trial, I
might add) based solely on blowing up a street of Muggles and presumably
another wizard.  He got the life sentence for being a DE, and on top of
that, the DE who betrayed the Potters to Voldemort.  The killing of 13
people with a single curse was included in there, but was not by itself what
got him a life sentence.  Mainly, that part of it just seemed to be used to
demonstrate just how evil he was.  "Yeah, it's obvious that Sirius Black guy
is evil.  He blew up a street full of Muggles and another wizard in broad
daylight!  It's obvious he didn't care about anybody but himself."  Granted,
this is the part of the story the general public knows, and they believe
this is why he got the life sentence, but they don't know the whole story.

Kelly Grosskreutz
http://www.idcnet.com/~ivanova