Crouch!Moody and the Unforgiveable Curses

[catherinemckiernan]

No: HPFGUIDX 96478

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "scoutmom21113" 
<navarro198 at h...> wrote:
> bboy_mn:
<snip>
> 
> In all cases of the Pain curse, the wizard has to cast the spell 
and 
> continue to sustain the spell by intent. Only when a wizard or 
witch 
> withdraws their wand and their intent does the curse cease.
> 
> That also means this is a very bad curse to use in a duel as you 
are 
> leaving yourself exposed while you stand facing your opponent 
> holding the sustained curse and intent. They would provide the 
> perfect opportunity for some one else to curse you.
> 
> Bookworm:
> I hadn't heard your point before, but I think you are right. There 
> is a difference in the description of how Bellatrix uses the curse 
> against Neville (pp 800-801, US) and the results she and Harry get 
> when they try to use it against each other (pp 810-811, US).

Catherine McK (me)...

Is this necessarily the case? The leg-locker curse, the various boils 
curse, and tarantallegra are all curses with sustained effects. They 
act on the recepient until someone removes the curse (Finite 
Incantatem), or the curse wears off. It is not necessary for the 
caster to keep concentrating. It might also be thus with the 
Cruciatus curse - if a powerful witch cast the curse with sufficient 
force, it might well last a long time (Neville), or she might choose 
simply to give somone a quick blast to illustrate her point (to 
Harry). Perhaps the casters simply stand and watch because they enjoy 
it, not because they have to... Haven't got my copies with me, but 
Krum's use ofthe Cruciatus on Cedric might have some bearing on this?

It's a good point tho', and I am not wedded to my theory, simply 
presenting a plausible alternative in teh absence of much of a theory 
of magic!

Catherine McK