The Unforgivables Curses

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 94969

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "potioncat" <willsonkmom at m...> 
wrote:
 
Potioncat:
> 
> I thought the "Unforgivable" referred to the legal status.  That 
is, 
> no legal excuse for using it therefore automatic sentencing. Except 
> when Aurors were allowed to use it on outlaws.
> 
> This ties in with my own confusion about the definition of Dark 
Arts. 
> While the WW may be clear on them, I am not. 

Geoff:
This is also how I would interpret Crouch!Moody's comments on them...

"'Now.... those three curses - Avada Kedavra, Imperius and Cruciatus -
 are known as the Unforgivable Curses. The use of any one of them on 
a fellow human being is enough to earn a life sentence in Azkaban. 
That's what you're up against.....'"

(GOF "The Unforgiveable Curses" p. 192 UK edition)

They are meant to eliminate, incapacitate or totally control other 
people. The other curses which may be used - Stupefy, Petrificus 
Totalis, Impedimenta etc can obviously affect others but the results 
are short term without the intention of lasting harm.