HPforGrownups] Harry and the Cruciatus

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 96734

Silverthorne wrote:
<snip>
> I think the problem here is that we have a moral as well as a legal
issue going on. <snip>

> *Morally* speaking, Harry's choice of curses is worrying--he had
seen Crucio used before, he knows what it can do, has in fact seen it
used not moments before, and yet that is still his weapon of choice.
> 
> Still, even on moral grounds, Harry's reaction is understandable by
completely human standards--he is young, not used to controlling his
emotions yet, and completely distraught at the time. Like any teen, he
reaches for the first thing handy--the last spell he most likely can
clearly recall being used, and that might actaully do some *real*
damage--so out comes the Cruciatus.
> 
> The worry comes in whether or not he'll consider that an option in
the future. *If* he thinks it through, *if* he chooses somethng other
than the 'easy way out', then he'll be fine...
> 
> If he chooses Tom's route however, which seems to be 'use whatever
tool you can to acheive your goals', then he's in trouble.
<snip>

Carol:
In essence, I agree with you, but I think we also need to consider the
fact that the curse failed and why. Thanks to Bellatrix, Harry knows
*now* exactly what it takes to make an Unforgiveable Curse work: he
understands that he would have to practice attaining that state of
mind, in essence, becoming like Bellatrix or Barty Jr., in order to
cast a UC successfully.

Frankly, I don't think that's going to happen. I think (hope) that the
experience becomes a valuable moral lesson--this is what he *must not
do.* This is why he must listen to Snape's advice and control his
anger. I really hope he puts the lesson to good use and that we'll see
a different, calmer, more mature, more controlled, more rational 
Harry in Book 6--one who understands that choosing what's right over
what's easy means, most of all, not succumbing to the temptation to
use an Unforgiveable Curse.

He must remember the similarities between himself and Tom, and he must
not choose Tom's route.

Carol