Could Deathly Hallows refer to Harry going beyond the veil.

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 163317

---  "Geoff Bannister" <gbannister10 at ...> wrote:
>
> ---  "derenmcc" <derenmcc@> wrote:

> 
> Derenmcc
> > I think you may have the right idea. I do not think 
> > that if Sirius were Avada Kadavra'd previous to 
> > falling through the veil, that he would have had time
> > to react.  All previous mentions of victims simply
> > have them collapsing. 
> 
> Geoff:
> I think that you are drawing a conclusion on too little 
> evidence. If I remember correctly, there are only two 
> occasions in the books where an Avadra Kedavra curse is
> used while we, as readers, are present. One is the death
> of Cedric in "Goblet of Fire" and the second is when 
> Snape uses it on Dumbledore in "Half Blood Prince". ...

bboyminn:

While I completely support your point Geoff, I will point
out that we don't actually see Cedric die. At that time we
are inside Harry's head, and he is down on his hands and 
knees vomiting from the pain in his scar. In observing
Harry's thoughs we realize that he understands what has
happened, but he doesn't actually see it. When Harry 
finally opens his eyes, Cedric is already dead and on 
the ground. We don't really see the impact of the AK 
curse.

So, as I said, and as I have said before, and a point
which agrees with you, we haven't really seen any AK
curses actually strike in real time. Of course, that's
other than the AK curse that strikes Dumbledore. 

That particular curse is somewhat suspect by some people, 
though I have reasonably explained it by giving examples
of the many different 'impact' efffects of the same curse
striking under different circumstances. Also, by 
illustrating the difference in 'impact' between a missed
curse and an 'on target' curse. If Dumbledore was already
dead when Snape AK curse struck, it would have acted
like a missed curse, or so I suppose, and that means 
a greater impact effect.

As to why Sirius died the way he did, I suspect that JKR
needed that ambiguity for plot reasons. Either to keep
us guessing and keep us wondering, or to give Sirius a
route back to the living. Regardless of the ultimate 
outcome, until such time as it is resolved, it adds
mystery and suspense to the story. 

For what it's worth.

Steve/bboyminn