Harry's Use of an Unforgivable Curse

[Jim Ferer]

No: HPFGUIDX 96112

 Del :  "He would [a prosecutor, bring charges against Harry], if the
law is as described : any use of an UC is  condemnable. After all, if
Harry can be tried for breaking the  Underage Magic Restriction Rule
or whatever it's called, he would most  definitely be charged for
using an UC."

Prosecutors decline to bring charges every day.

Del:"Tons of people get condemned each year for crimes they obviously
 haven't committed, while tons of others are judged innocent of crimes
 they have obviously committed. It depends on many things, including 
the talent of the different lawyers and the general public opinion at
 the time of the trial. Had DD been less talented, Harry would have 
been condemned at his trial, even though he had obviously acted in 
self-defence."

You are right.  In this case, my money would be on Harry, big time.
Justice would have been done this time, I believe. Harry would not be
found guilty of anything.

Del:"In GoF, after learning of the Ucs, Harry wishes he could use
Crucio on  Snape, even though he had taken pity on the spider ! In
OoP, Harry  uses Crucio even though a) he knows it's strictly
forbidden, b) he's  gone through it himself, and c) Bella used it on
Neville just minutes  before ! That to me shows that Harry's anger and
hate are strong  enough to corrupt him, which is scary. I do wonder if
we won't see  him managing to use Crucio efficiently on someone else
he hates in the  next book. It's the logical progression I'm afraid."

In some personality tests there are questions like, "I have wanted to
get back at someone," sprinkled through the test.  If the test subject
denies these feelings it's taken as a warning flag the test subject
isn't giving honest answers.

Anger and rage can corrupt anyone. It's another of the dangers Harry
is facing. Like another young man long, long before and far, far away
from him. I believe  JKR wants to show us that struggle.  I think he's
doing well so far.  

Del: "Harry doesn't strike me as loving during the whole MoM affair.
In  fact, he goes after Bellatrix out of anger, hate and a thirst for
revenge."

It wasn't a loving moment, I agree with that!  

Del: " As for Bellatrix, may I point out that we don't know anything
of her  back story ? In particular, we don't know what her
relationships with  the Longbottoms were prior to the Torture scene.
Frank Longbottom was  an Auror, and as such a direct enemy of
Bellatrix the DE. He even had  the right to use the Cruciatus Curse on
her, and we don't know if he  had any moral concerns such as Moody had."

Is this Bellatrix Lestrange's defense?  If we knew her backstory,
might we find a reason to absolve her? If she has a defense, I suppose
it might be insanity. You can find similar folks up in the Kirby
Forensic Psychiatric Center, sure enough.

Del: "I'm afraid Harry will have to take responsibility for his
negative  thoughts and desires (Cruciating anyone he's mad at) as well
as his  actions, if he is to win over LV. After all, it is through a 
positive emotion that he got rid of LV in the MoM. He has to learn 
how to muster such positive emotions at will, and this is not through
 letting his hate and anger run free."

Everybody has negative thoughts and fears.  Harry is completely
justified in his anger – he's facing pure evil that has hurt him, his
family, his friends, and his world.  He doesn't cruciate 'anyone he's
mad at,'  far from it. Draco,  his goons, Snape, Dolores, Filch and
Mrs. Norris are all safe from Harry's poor excuse for a Cruciatus
Curse, and they will remain so.

On the other hand, the anger is dangerous – anger always is, and this
struggle is a main theme of the story.  The capacity of love he has
and shows his friends and most of the world in general is his armor
against it.  Will that armor be enough? I believe it will be.  

I intend to leave this here. Events will tell the tale from now on. 
Harry's moral compass will guide him well, even when the ship is
tossed around, bringing him back to his true course.  It's the end of
the journey I fear – what will Harry have to give up?

Jim Ferer