The AK that was (or wasn't)

[triner918 at triner2001.yahoo.invalid]

Pip!Squeak wrote about AK's in canon:

The Riddles: 'Lying there with  their eyes wide open.'

Frank Bryce: 'There was a flash of green light, a  rushing sound, and 
Frank Bryce crumpled. He was dead before he hit the  floor' [GoF, 
Ch.1]

The Spider: 'rolled over onto its back, unmarked,  but unmistakably 
dead.' [GoF Ch. 14]

Cedric: 'he heard something  heavy fall to the ground beside 
him...Cedric was lying spread-eagled on the  ground beside him.'[GoF, 
Ch. 32]

Sirius (if that *was* an AK): 'his  body curved in a graceful arc as 
he sank backwards through the ragged  veil...' [OOP, Ch.35]

Fawkes: 'swallowed the jet of green light whole: he  burst into flame 
and fell to the floor...' [OOP, Ch. 36]. Bursting into  flame is a 
natural characteristic of phoenixes, of course {g}


Trina:
 
I have the mental picture of all the dead lying on their backs.   Cedric, we 
know is.  So is the spider.  All we know of the  Riddles is that they are 
"lying there with their eyes wide open" but for  argument's sake they are supine.  
Frank Bryce merely crumples--we have no  idea how exactly he falls, although 
by the description I imagine he falls  forward, seeing as how he's got a limp 
and a walking stick.  Sirius arches  backwards through the veil.  

Pip!Squeak: 
Nobody *who dies* is blasted off their feet by the AK. They 
drop/fall  where they're standing/flying.
 
Trina:
Aren't they?  If the AK kills you instantly and you simply fall down  dead 
(crumpling as Frank Bryce was described) wouldn't you fall  forward, not 
backward? If the knees buckle, that is.   And if you are dead the second it hits you, 
how could the spider  possibly roll over?  It's already dead.  Pretty neat  
trick to move while dead.  I think the force of the AK is what moves the  body. 
 The AK is a powerful curse and needs some power behind it.  I  also think 
the strength of the AK has to be relative to the strength of  victim.  The 
Riddles and Bryce--they're Muggles and therefore helpless,  doesn't take much to 
kill them.  Same with the spider.  Cedric, while  still fairly young and 
inexperienced, gets flung backwards.  Since Harry  "stared into Cedric's face", he's 
definitely on his back.  Sirius also gets  knocked backwards.  And as for 
Dumbledore..well, he is one of the greatest  wizards of the age, incredibly 
powerful, and a formidable opponent (at least  when not weakened by Horcrux juice).  
I say the AK that took him out would  have to have one of amazing strength 
and power.  Why wouldn't blast him  into the air and over the wall of the tower? 
 And he, like Cedric, lies  spread-eagled on the ground.
 
Submitted for your approval.  Make of it what you will.
 
Trina
 
After all, to the well-organized mind, death is but the next great  adventure.





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