[HPforGrownups] Re: Curse that killed Bellatrix

[Dave Hardenbrook]

No: HPFGUIDX 187708

Ikotur:
>I just finished reading Deathly Hallows and was wondering what curse 
>killed Bellatrix that was cast by Molly. Certainly not Avada Kedavra?

Unlike others here, I *don't* believe it was AK.  From what we've 
seen of successful AK (e.g. against Frank Bryce in _GoF_) it appears 
to be instantaneous ("he was already dead before he hit the 
ground").  But with the curse that Bella used on Sirius, and which, 
in the name of poetic justice, I believe was then used by Molly on 
Bella, there is a moment during which the victim realizes what has 
happened before they expire: "For the tiniest space of time she knew 
what had happened, and then she toppled..." (_DH_, Ch. 36)

Dave