Harry Killing in HBP (was re: Violence)

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 131985

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, John Fisher <jcf at i...> wrote:
> Lupinlore <bob.oliver at c...> wrote:

John: 
> Harry's *having* to kill somebody (besides Voldie) strikes me as
> unlikely.  Remember how in the MOM battle even the Death Eaters didn't
> use Avada Kedavra?  Between "stupify," "impedimenta," and
> "expelliarmus," there really isn't much reason to use a killing spell
> (a possible exception being that AK apparently can't be blocked).  

Geoff:
If I may disagee, there were two at least attempts to use Avada Kedavra 
in the Ministry battle.

One by an unknown DE:

'Harry saw the knees of the Death Eater bend; poking his wand out from 
under the desk, he shouted "STUPEFY!"
A jet of red light hit the nearest Death Eater; he fell backwards into 
a grandfather clock and knocked it over; the second Death Eater, 
however, had leapt aside to avoid Harry's spell and was pointing his 
own wand at Hermione who was crawling out from under the desk to get a 
better aim.
"Avada -"
Harry launched himself across the floor and grabbed the Death Eater 
around the knees, causing him to topple and his aim to go awry.'

(OOTP "Beyond the Veil" pp.696 UK edition)

...and one by the Big Boss:

'Voldemort paid no attention.
"I have nothing to say to you, Potter" he said quietly. "You have irked 
me too often, for too long. AVADA KEDAVRA"
Harry had not even opened his mouth to resist; his mind was blank, his 
wand pointing uselessly at the floor.
But the headless golden statue of the wizard in the fountain had sprung 
alive, leaping from its plinth to land with a crash on the floor 
between Harry and Voldemort. The spell merely glanced off its chest as 
the statue flung out its arms to protect Harry.'

(OOTP "The Only One He Ever Feared" p.717 UK edition)