Harry, Draco and bathroom/ A couple of theories - Snape

[a_svirn]

No: HPFGUIDX 162346

> a_svirn:
> <SNIP>
> Draco almost died brutal and torturous death. He was
> > being methodically butchered. Methodical inflicting multiple and 
> fatal
> > wounds can hardly be called self-defence. 
> <SNIP>
> 
> Alla:
> 
> The word which I am taking a disagreement with here is 
> **methodical**. I consider the circumstances under which Harry used 
> the curse to be anything but methodical, more like very stressful 
> ones. IMO of course.

a_svirn:
That's what the curse does. This is a curse for ripping a body into
pieces. Methodically. That wasn't Harry's intention, but it was a
result of his actions. And it did go beyond self-defence. Because it
wasn't his intention it wouldn't have been a murder. On the other
hand, systematic butchering of your opponent – however unintentional –
means going beyond self-defence. I'd say it would have been a case of
manslaughter if Draco had died. 

> a_svirn:
> Granted, Harry didn't know
> > what the curse does, but I, for one, am not sure that his ignorance
> > could have been a sufficient excuse had he indeed killed Draco. It
> > could have been a consideration, but I'd say the 
> principle "ignorance
> > is no excuse" should apply for the offensive magic.
> >
> 
> Alla:
> 
> Yes, of course. Harry would have suffered for his stupidity. 
> Nevertheless, I would still say that the use of the curse itself was 
> a self-defense.
>

a_svirn:
No one disputes the fact that Harry used the curse in self-defence.
But he did – unintentionally – go father than that.