Talk:Killing Curse/Archive 1

Disputed?
Should the "disputed use" of Bellatrix kiling the fox be disputed if the flash of green light shows that it is definitely Avada Kedavra? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Admiral Carth Onasi (talk • contribs).


 * Do we know that the only spell to produce a flash of green light is the Killing Curse? --

DarkJedi613 (Talk) 03:43, 1 October 2007 (UTC)

If we dont know that, then why does the page say, and I quote, "There was a flash of green light however, indicating clearly that it was used." If it is not clear that it was used, why does it say that? Anf if it is clear, why is it under disputed uses? Admiral Carth Onasi 20:58, 1 October 2007 (UTC)


 * Updated. -- DarkJedi613 (Talk) 23:01, 1 October 2007 (UTC)

Thanks. Admiral Carth Onasi 19:58, 2 October 2007 (UTC)


 * No, the killing curse is not the only spell that produces a flash of green light. If you guys remember the 2nd book CoS, when Lockhart casted obliviate and it backfired it was described as a flash of green light as well (that kind of contradicts with the Deathly Hallows part 1 because it was kind of like a weak lumos in the beginning of the film but wikia takes the books first then the films)

Spider
Question - Is it trivial or trivia to include the spider Crouch-As-Moody killed in class in front of Neville? Or did that only happen in the movie, not the book - I don't have it in front of me. Mafalda Hopkirk 20:52, 4 October 2007 (UTC)


 * It definitely happened in the book too, but what do you mean about trivia and trivial?Admiral Carth Onasi 20:59, 4 October 2007 (UTC)


 * Hehhe i mean is it silly to add it, or is it good info? Mafalda Hopkirk 22:52, 4 October 2007 (UTC)


 * "Trivial" is the word you're looking for:
 * triv·i·al (adjective)
 * of very little importance or value; insignificant: Don't bother me with trivial matters.
 * Source


 * But there are other situations like that (such as "A fox") that are already on the list, so go ahead and add it. -- DarkJedi613 (Talk) 23:03, 4 October 2007 (UTC)


 * Okie dokie =) Thanks. I'm really sorry, but I'm feeling pretty intimidated by the table with names and such. I'm positive I'll destroy it if I try to change it. Could someone please add that for me? Mafalda Hopkirk 23:10, 4 October 2007 (UTC)


 * The "Show preview" button is your friend. :) Pretty much with tables just copy the row above or below where you want to add it, paste it back in and then change the information - that's the easiest way to do it. -- DarkJedi613 (Talk) 23:20, 4 October 2007 (UTC)

When Moody says that it's unlikely the spell would even give him a nosebleed when cast by the students.... I don't get that. The spell has no effects on the target besides instant death, so would a weak version have any effect at all, if a full version doesn't even cause any marks at all? Was it an exaggeration? Dorsha 05:19, 2 December 2008 (UTC)


 * I think Moody meant what Bellatrix later screams at Harry about the Unforgivable Curses -- you need to mean them. If you don't have the right intent or focus, they won't work. At all. Therefore, he was expressing doubt that any of his fourteen-year-old students could use the Killing Curse. I think he just said the "nosebleed" comment to illustrate how the curse is completely useless if you don't mean it. Oread 08:02, 2 December 2008 (UTC)


 * That's what I was looking for, thanks. Dorsha 23:38, 2 December 2008 (UTC)

In the hbp video game stupefy is green when opponents cast itFrosty Earth 11:22, 15 July 2009 (UTC)

Pain
echoes" of previous victims have asserted the death felt "quicker and easier than falling asleep".

That´s wrong- This is what Sirius said. He isn´t a victim of Avada Kedavra.--Rodolphus 11:29, 28 March 2009 (UTC)

The Movies
In the movies, when Bellatrix uses it on Sirius, he didn't die instantly!

If I interpret it correctly...sirius wasn't hit by the killing curse...he said "You can do better than that!" after blocking several spells...then one hit him..he fell backward through the veil and died. It's different in the movie, with the avada kedavra and all..but a lot of things are different in the movie but books came first.Hermione1616 02:24, August 4, 2011 (UTC)Hermione1616


 * In the books, being hit with a Killing Curse causes immediate death, and it isn't stated which spell Bellatrix uses to kill Sirius. The books take precedence over the movies according to our Canon Policy. ★ S t a r s t u f f (Owl me!) 14:17, 9 May 2009 (UTC)

In the Duel in the Minsitry it said "Voldemort sent a killing curse at Dumbledor causing a security guards desk to burst in flame" Now it does not say that it was Avada Kedavra. There are other killing curses such as the one Mrs. Weasley used on Belatrix Lestrange.

How do we know for sure there is more than one killing curse? Where does it state this? Where does it specifically state Mrs. Weasley doesn't just use a silent Avada Kedavra, which is at this time in the novel basically legal? And it was Avada Kedavra he kept shooting at Dumbledore. Why must J.K. Rowling only refer to it by avada kedavra? ex. he shot another avada kedavra at dumbledore. It just sounds silly there. Simple but most likely true.Hermione1616 02:50, August 4, 2011 (UTC)

LordAidan 11:21, 15 July 2009 (UTC)

But when it said "Killing Curse" it was capitalised, meaning it was the Avada Kedavra Curse. If it was not Avada Kedavra, and just any old killing curse, it would not have been capitalised. AlastorMoody 19:08, August 2, 2011 (UTC)

"Quicker and easier than falling asleep"
How would Sirius know? He wasn't killed by Avada Kedavra. He was killed by being pushed through the veil. 71.186.135.215 (C Teng) 01:47, 23 July 2009 (UTC)


 * He wasn't referring to Avada Kedavra specifically, just to dying. - Nick O&#39;Demus 01:55, 23 July 2009 (UTC)


 * Well, that would mean that drowning or burning alive would be quicker and easier than falling asleep. 01:56, 23 July 2009 (UTC)

He was hit with Avada Kedavra, he may have died before he entered the veil --Bongo2009  Talk 12:31, 7

I think the veil killed him but in regards to the question I think he may have just been comforting Harry or for all we know Lily or James could have told him in the afterlife? Is that really so farfetched?

August 2009 (UTC)
 * Sirius was hit with Avada Kedavra only in the movie, in the book, it was simply a spell that pushed him beyond the veil, movies are only canon as long as they don't contradict what is said in the books. Omnibender - Talk - Contributions 20:04, 9 August 2009 (UTC)

Lucius casting Avada Kedavra on Harry in 1993.
I added this to attempts but I noticed afterwards that it was in the "Behind the Scenes" section, so I guess it was not in the book. Feel free to remove that row on the table if it is decided that the table will be "By the Books" 74.15.33.43 14:57, 24 July 2009 (UTC)


 * I removed it. Under our canon policy, things from the movies are considered canon, as long as they don't directly contradict the books. Lucius doesn't attempt to use Avada Kedavra on Harry in the book, but rather lunges at him, so this incident isn't considered canon. ★ S t <font face="Times" color="green">a <font face="Times" color="dimgrey">r <font face="Times" color="green">s <font face="Times" color="dimgrey">t <font face="Times" color="green">u <font face="Times" color="dimgrey">f <font face="Times" color="green">f <font face="Times" color="darkgreen">(Owl me!) 09:25, 26 July 2009 (UTC)


 * Alright, I wasn't aware of that policy so I put it in and asked if that table should include items not seen in the books, or only somethings, as I saw that it was in the BTS (Behind the Scenes) section after I edited the table. 74.15.34.186 17:21, 26 July 2009 (UTC)


 * But guys that doesn't make any sense. You see all 8 movies were supervised and monitored by J.K Rowling so every single detail in the film that was or was not in the book is probably from the creation of JK Rowling. She might have wanted to modify the story but she obviously can't go and change it in the book after it already came out so she probably thought of changing it in the film. The films are part of the Harry Potter universe. Anything that was in the film and was not in the book is still a part of the universe like for example the part in the deathly hallows part 1 where Harry dances with Hermione was not in the book but it should be counted as a part of the universe since J.K Rowling was the one that came up with it or agreed to put it. Don't you guys agree? —<font face="Vivaldi" size="4" color="Black" >Firefox1095 Gryffindorcrest.jpg 16:09, April 3, 2011 (UTC)


 * You keep saying this in articles and I must say it's untrue. J.K. Rowling approves the movies and does some supervising but respects the directors and writers interpretions and creative vision.  It's not her job or place to force every detail to match the books nor would that work anyway.  The writers write many things into the scripts that are completely different from the books.  Please tell me where your source is for this information on Rowling.Hermione1616 03:10, August 4, 2011 (UTC)


 * And plus, that incident in the movie is ridiculous and makes no sense. How would it in anyway benenfit Malfoy to kill Potter right outside the room Dumbledore is sitting in.Hermione1616 03:10, August 4, 2011 (UTC)


 * I personally give this my vote <font face="Vivaldi" size="4" color="Black" >Firefox1095 Gryffindorcrest.jpg 16:09, April 3, 2011 (UTC)

Protection
In the text is says: There is no known counter-curse or cure for it What about the Life sacrifice?

in the text it says: The Killing Curse, as an "unblockable" curse, cannot be stopped by another spell. but that is not true. they block the curse in a movies. and it was Bartemius Crouch Jr. who said that Avada kedavra is unblockable when he was in disguise as Mad eye Moody. And why would Bartemius Crouch Jr. tell the truth. Maximpop (talk) 13:37, March 22, 2014 (UTC)


 * With regard to the first question: the statement "There is no known counter-curse or cure for it" is with regard to spells cast with a wand; the life sacrifice is someone dying for someone else, no wand involved.
 * To Maximpop: the books specifically state the spell is unblockable. The films blocking it is something entirely different. And Bartemius Crouch, Jr. wouldn't lie because he was appearing like Moody, and therefore saying something untrue wouldn't be the brightest idea, especially on a subject Moody was expert at. --Hunnie Bunn (talk) 13:48, March 22, 2014 (UTC)

Survivors
Should we mention that two people have survived a Killing Curse that wasn't interrupted/didn't miss/etc.?

Harry Potter: Once as a baby, again in GOF in Priori Incantatem, again over Little Whinging in DH, and once more in the final duel with Voldemort

Voldemort: Thanks to his Horcruxes

--78.69.4.223 11:35, 7 August 2009 (UTC)

The life sacrafice isn't a counter-curse. Jayden Matthews 12:21, 7 August 2009 (UTC)


 * It's stated to be a counter-charm (CoS Riddle talking to Harry). --Stevehim 17:50, September 1, 2010 (UTC)

It is mentioned, under "Fatality". Also, the casting over Little Whinging WAS interrupted. - Nick O&#39;Demus 07:01, 14 August 2009 (UTC)

In regards to the comment directly below..the scar doesn't appear on Lily, James, or any other victim of that curse. Only Harry, and it burns when Voldemort is around. Therefore it is probavbly something in relation to the horcrux in Harry or the rebounding curse when he was a baby.

It's said that only Harry Potter is the only person to have survived with "no ill effects." However, he did receive the cut on his forehead and had his scar from the event. I would personally consider that an ill effect, though not as bad as the original intention of the curse. Prov1413erbs 17:31, March 19, 2011 (UTC)


 * Harry only survived the kiling curse once when he was a baby because his mother died to protect him so she placed in the charm in his very skin that protects him from any evil until he turns 17. In GoF, he didn't survive it but just blocked it because he and Voldemort had wands from the same core so that would have happened to anyone. Like if two people have two wands with unicorn hair and both hairs in the wand are from the same unicorn, they will form priori incantatem because they can wound but not fatally harm one another. The Battle over Little Whinging is also the same. He didn't survive it but Harry's wand has already memorized from the GoF that Voldemort was the enemy (absorbing part of his soul during priori incantatem just like every wand absorbs part of it's owner's soul) so it just retaliated by itself because it detected that the person who wants to harm Harry is close by. When Harry surendered in the forest, he did not survive but he actually did die. His sould however stayed in Limbo because when Voldemort used Harry's blood in GoF as his own blood, he roped Harry's soul and attached it to the earth and he actually did not kill Harry's sould but his own soul fragement that was in him and so Harry's soul had the choice to either carry on and die forever to return to his body. The child-like form that Harry saw in the Limbo and Dumbledore said they could not help him was Voldemort himself but his soul was already too damaged because of the many times he killed people (each kill splits his soul kind of like Mitosis) and attaching 6 parts of those to horcruxes. <font face="Vivaldi" size="4" color="Black" >Firefox1095 Gryffindorcrest.jpg 16:23, April 3, 2011 (UTC)

No way!
In the text it says:''there is one known counter curse. marchilies. when used it will create a shield that will block you from the killing curse, Sectumsemphra. and other dark magic only dumbledor knows of it because dumbledor created it '' Where did this information come from? witch source? Because the killing curse is known to not have ANY counter spells. Without source, I don´t believe a word.


 * It was recently-added Fanon and has been removed. - <font face="Monotype Corsiva" size="4" color="FF8000">Nick O'Demus 17:32, 20 August 2009 (UTC)

Title
I think the title of the article should be Avada Kedavra, as it's the name of the spell, not merely the incantation. The Killing Curse is just a nickname, same as the Cruciatus Curse, which is nicknamed the "Torture Curse". Here are some quotes. Jayden Matthews 09:32, December 12, 2009 (UTC)

"Avada Kedavra's a curse that needs a powerful bit of magic behind it - you could all get your wands out and point them at me and say the words, and I doubt I'd get so much as a nosebleed."

- Barty Crouch, Jr. as Alastor Moody

"We were hundreds of feet up! Stan's not himself, and if I'd Stunned him and he'd fallen he'd have died the same as if I'd used Avada Kedavra!"

- Harry Potter

"Snape did it, the Avada Kedvra."

- Harry Potter

"The Cruciatus, Imperius and Avada Kedavra Curses were not made "unforgivable" until 1717."

- Albus Dumbledore


 * I agree. --<font face="Monotype Corsiva" size="4" color="darkblue">ÈnŔîčö DC [[Image:Ravenclawcrest.jpg|25px]](<font face="Times" color="brown">Send me an Owl! ) 15:22, December 12, 2009 (UTC)

Light Colour
The books describe the Killing Curses light colour to be GREEN, as books are the primary resource for this Wikia the article should identify the light as GREEN. Not CYAN, CYAN is the appearance of the Killing Curse in the film adaptions of GoF and HBP, PS and OoTP use a limey-shade of green instead. Therefore the films all contradict one another and as the second resource the books generalised GREEN colouring should be listed instead. Patr0nus  ( Expecto Patronum! ) 13:07, December 12, 2009 (UTC)


 * Cyan is a shade of green. As the books do not contradict it, it is considered canon. I am planning an improvement drive of this article and have placeed an inuse tag on it, so please do not make changes to the article while the tage is in place. Also please do not shout. Jayden Matthews 13:13, December 12, 2009 (UTC)


 * So what if Cyan is a shade of green? So is the Lime which was the colour used in PS, if the books state the light to be green then that is canon, not what the film says. And I wasn't 'shouting' I was bolding the key points to my post. Green is what this article should, and will have as light colour as the green covers what the book says and also is a generalised colouring for the three different colours that have appeared in the films! Patr0nus  ( Expecto Patronum! ) 13:33, December 12, 2009 (UTC)


 * If Rowling had described the curse as "a blinding flash of lime green light" then, yes, cyan would be non-canon. Because the exact shade is not specified in the books, however, the most recent film is considered canon according to policy. Also, using caps in a discussion is considered shouting. Jayden Matthews 13:43, December 12, 2009 (UTC)


 * The films are canon unless the books directly contradict them. In this case there is no contradiction, as Rowling did not specify the exact shade of the curse. <font face="Comic Sans MS" color="#406B2E">J <font face="Microsoft Sans Serif"><font color="#8DB87A">a <font color="#406B2E">y <font color="#8DB87A">c <font color="#406B2E">e  <font face="Arial" style="font-family:Arial;font-size:8;">Darkmark.png•<font color="#406B2E">Avada Kedavra •<font color="#8DB87A">Crucio •<font color="#406B2E">Imperio • 14:05, December 12, 2009 (UTC)


 * Guys you are forgetting something very important here. Rowling monitors every second of filming and editing for the film just to make sure that everything applies with and looks like whatever is/was in her imagination when she wrote the books or whatever she wants to modify in the story or anything else. The killing curse in GoF was a mixture between lime green and cyan and if that's not how Rowling wanted it, it would have never been in the films. <font face="Vivaldi" size="4" color="Black" >Firefox1095 Gryffindorcrest.jpg 13:38, April 3, 2011 (UTC)

Avada Kedavra
Since this has been challenged so many times, I think we should have a vote whether this is "Avada Kedavra" or stay "Killing Curse"-- L.V.K.T.V.J.' ( Send an owl! ) 21:38, February 4, 2010 (UTC)

I agree, it should be Avada Kedavra, the actual name, not the nickname. Also, the other two unforgivable curses are titled by their names, so wouldn't it be proper that this one be also? Theonlyhermione 02:39, March 10, 2010 (UTC)16:07, March 8, 2010 (UTC)

I think that it should stay Killing Curse because what if they made the Cruciatus Curse just the Crucio Curse? Same thing goes for the Imperius Cuse. Dylanfrinkled 9:03, March 10, 2011 ET

Quirrell
In the PS book, there is the following line:

"Quirrell raise his hand to perform a deadly curse."

Additionally, he is seen conjuring deadly green flashes of light in the video game. (PC)

So, I´d conclude that Qurrell had the ability to perform a wandless, non verbal Avada Kedavra. Do yo agree?--Rodolphus 18:15, February 18, 2010 (UTC)

Bumping--Rodolphus 19:49, February 28, 2010 (UTC)

On second thought, it´s also possible that he wanted to use the unidentified lethasl curse, isn´t it?--Rodolphus 10:15, March 25, 2010 (UTC)

I agree with Rodolphus. A wizard doesn't need a wand to perform magic. Just something to channel it. Since the book implies he could he may have been either very powerful yet cowardly, or Voldemort could have showed him a few tricks. Plus, I'm not sure if this comment is to policy as it's in the Prizoner of Azkabban movie and I can't remember if it's the book too but when the Dementors come into the quidditch match and Harry falls, Dumbledore uses 'arresto momentum' using his finger with no wand. Just an example of a wizard performing a specific spell wandless.Hermione1616 03:00, August 4, 2011 (UTC)

Dumbledore
Can it really be said that Dumbledore died by the killing curse? If Malfoy hadn't disarmed him, it was said (or implied i can't remember which) that the elder wand would have passed with Dumbledore as no one would have defeated him for it's allegiance, because he was already dying and had arranged it with Snape beforehand. If the killing curse had been what killed Dumbledore then had Malfoy not dissarmed him before Snape got there, once Snape cast the killing curse wouldn't the elder wand have recognized Snape as it's new master? BachLynn23 23:49, July 28, 2010 (UTC)


 * I think you're mixing up two entirely different things: Dumbledore's death and the Elder Wand's allegiance. While his death had been planned (and thus, Snape would not gain mastership of the wand), Snape technically was the one to kill him by means of the Killing Curse. -- <font style="color:#333333;"> Seth Cooper <font style="background:#333333;color:white;"> owl post! 23:57, July 28, 2010 (UTC)


 * I get it, he was killed by Snape's killing curse, but because he was already dying, the elder wand wouldn't have recognized that as a good enough reason to switch allegiance's, because they had planned the whole thing, so Dumbledore wasn't going to put up a fight for it. I'm kinda annoyed with myself for not having gotten that sooner, just not awake today. Thanks for explaining :-) --BachLynn23 00:12, July 29, 2010 (UTC)


 * Well by the time Snape had killed Dumbledore, the Elder Wand wasn't Dumbledore's anymore. Draco Disarmed Dumbledore before Snape got there, so its allegiance was to Draco. --AlastorMoody 19:18, August 2, 2011 (UTC)


 * You see, Dumblebore DID plan Snape to kill him, however becasue it was planned it wasn't supposed to pass on anymore, however becasue Malfoy disarmed Dumbledore first he took the power of the Elder wand away from Dumbledore beacuse the Elder wand was tooken from him by force, as Alavander said one wand can be stolen by force and then have that wands power then controlled by the new "master" Draco was the new "master" of the Elder wand thats why Snape wasnt the master Draco was. Alastor &quot;Mad Eye&quot; Moody 14:13, October 9, 2011 (UTC)

Blocking
I thought it could be blocked by another unforgivable curse. Actually only another killing curse. But anyway, I thought that they actually could be blocked somehow, such as two wands with the same core. Also, is it possible to invent a spell that could block it, or is it impossible? 75.27.36.231 23:49, December 6, 2010 (UTC)


 * No, it cannot be blocked. The only way that it happened was with Priori Incantatem.  --<font face="Times" size="4" color="Black" >JKoch Ravenclawcrest.jpg(<font face="Monotype Corsiva" size="1" color="Red">Owl Me! ) 02:38, December 7, 2010 (UTC)

Move
This article needs to be moved to Avada Kedavra, the actuall name of the curse, and not the nickname. Read the following piece of text: ''Ah, said Moody, another slight smile twisting his lop-sided mouth. Yes, the last and worst. Avada Kedavra ... the killing curse.''. Note the lower case. The "killing" curse is a nickname. In all other instances it is refered to as the Avada Kedavra curse. Let's get it moved people. 86.145.92.21 11:09, December 8, 2010 (UTC)

Though, every time I can remember the curse is referred to as the Avada Kedavra Curse is in informal exchanges. In Half-Blood Prince, this curse is indeed referred to as "the Killing Curse" (note the uppercase) in a more formal register than casual speech (a Daily Prophet article):

"The nature of that prophecy is unknown, although speculation is rife that it concerns Harry Potter, the only person ever known to have survived the Killing Curse, and who is also known to have been at the Ministry on the night in question. Some are going so far as to call Potter "the Chosen One," believing that the prophecy names him as the only one who will be able to rid us of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named."

- HBP, chapter 3

-- <font style="color:#333333;"> Seth Cooper <font style="background:#333333;color:white;"> owl post! 16:10, December 8, 2010 (UTC)

References of Avada Kedavra outweigh those of the killing curse. Avada Kedavra is the official name of the curse. See the multiple references above. 86.145.92.21 16:21, December 8, 2010 (UTC)


 * Regardless of ammount of times it is referred as such, Avada Kedavra is never (as I can remember) formally given as the curse's actual name. See Stupefy, for instance. While it is referred to most often by its incantation, its proper vernacular name is Stunning Spell. The same thing goes for Rictusempra (which is the Tickling Charm), Reparo (the Mending Charm) and Avada Kedavra (the Killing Curse). -- <font style="color:#333333;"> Seth Cooper <font style="background:#333333;color:white;"> owl post! 16:31, December 8, 2010 (UTC)

So the Cruciatus Curse should be renamed the Torture Curse should it? No. Avada Kedavra is the official title of the curse. What do you judge as formal? The Daily Prophet is a direputable rag. 86.145.92.21 16:49, December 8, 2010 (UTC)


 * I wouldn't rename the Cruciatus Curse the Torture Curse, because "Cruciatus" is used in several instances where characters use formal speech (a casual style being the one used by characters within in-group friends and acquaintances; where ellipsis, slang and interruptions are common and where prior knowledge on the subject is assumed - formal style being the other way around), such as Dumbledore telling Harry about Neville's parents and by Umbridge when discussing "matters of Ministry security" in the OotP film.


 * The term "Avada Kedavra Curse", on the other hand, is only used (that I know of, I should stress) in casual speech. The fact the Daily Prophet is not a reliable source for reported facts is irrelevant; on that particular passage, they are just saying Harry survived that curse when he was a baby and he know for a fact that did happen. -- <font style="color:#333333;"> Seth Cooper <font style="background:#333333;color:white;"> owl post! 17:12, December 8, 2010 (UTC)


 * Wait, you consider Dumbledore's conversation with Harry about Neville's parents formal context? Then what about when Harry and Dumbledore are discussing the murder of the Riddles, in which Dumbledore refers to it as the Avada Kedavra curse? Furthermore, Avada Kedavra curse is used in Dumbledore's notes on the Tales of Beedle the Bard, when grouped with the Imperius, and Cruciatus Curses. 86.145.92.21 17:22, December 8, 2010 (UTC)


 * Oh. You're right then. There's no question Dumbledore's notes should be taken in consideration as, after all, they are the most recent piece of canon. So, if no one has objections, I shall move the article to "Avada Kedavra". -- <font style="color:#333333;"> Seth Cooper <font style="background:#333333;color:white;"> owl post! 17:31, December 8, 2010 (UTC)


 * Thank you muchly. I did point out that particular Dumbledore quote in one of the above sections. 86.145.92.21 17:36, December 8, 2010 (UTC)


 * Sorry about that, I apparently hadn't noticed that. ;) -- <font style="color:#333333;"> Seth Cooper <font style="background:#333333;color:white;"> owl post! 17:47, December 8, 2010 (UTC)


 * Just a random thing I'd like to point out regarding the Killing Curse and being capitalised, somewhere other than the Daily Prophet: During the duel between Dumbledore and Voldemort, it says that Voldemort "sent another Killing Curse at Dumbledore but missed, instead hitting the security guard's desk, which burst into flame." Not sure how this would help, but it's just the curse referred as the Killing Curse somewhere outside of a character's dialogue. --AlastorMoody 19:26, August 2, 2011 (UTC)

Main image
I'd like to propose a new main image, if I may be so bold. While the current image is from the last film, I feel that it's a bit ... underwhelming. I think an image that shows the actual effects of the curse as well as the green light would be more striking. I'll suggest some possibillities below, and if anyone else has any that they think might be suitable feel free to add them on. Jayden Matthews 16:31, December 21, 2010 (UTC)


 * I wouldn't mind having Lily's death as main image. The image is visually appealing and, after all, depicts one of the most circumstantial uses of the Killing Curse in the series. -- <font style="color:#333333;"> Seth Cooper <font style="background:#333333;color:white;"> owl post! 16:36, December 21, 2010 (UTC)


 * What I don't like about the VoldemortmurdersLily photo is that Lily looks as if she was being tortured (the killing curse kills without pain). My vote goes to the spider one. --Ravenclawcrest.jpg<font face="Monotype Corsiva" size="4" color="Blue">The Evening Prophet Ravenclawcrest.jpg (<font color="Black">Owl Post ) 16:49, December 21, 2010 (UTC)


 * That's true. Dumbledore's conversation with Snape establishes that Avada Kedavra dispatches it's victims painlessly. So Lily would not be screaming. Jayden Matthews 16:57, December 21, 2010 (UTC)


 * For all we know, she could be screaming in shock, as she was doing moments before her death (He could hear her screaming from the upper floor - DH chapter 17), and not in pain. Anyways, I would definitely prefer a picture of a human being killed. The spider picture may fail to impress the readers on the awful nature of the curse. Or maybe that's just me. -- <font style="color:#333333;"> Seth Cooper <font style="background:#333333;color:white;"> owl post! 19:24, December 21, 2010 (UTC)


 * Good point. I agree with you, the spider image can goe elsewhere in the article. Jayden Matthews 19:33, December 21, 2010 (UTC)

I vote for the spider one. The first photo of Cedric is after he is already dead and the 2nd Cedric photo is not very clear. The Lily one is a bit...er.....like you know looks a bit fake because she is screaming and acting like she is being tortured even though she told Harry in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows that it is painless. <font face="Vivaldi" size="4" color="Black" >Firefox1095 13:33, April 3, 2011 (UTC)


 * Should we start a vote? Since last time I checked, someone added the spider image without us reaching a consensus. -- <font style="color:#333333;"> Seth Cooper <font style="background:#333333;color:white;"> owl post! 19:22, July 13, 2011 (UTC)

Victims
i would like to add that some victims are not listed such as Bertha Jorkins, Barty Crouch Sr., Siruis Black, and Fred Weasley


 * Sirius didn't die of this, its not confirmed Barty did and Fred died of an explosion.--WarGrowlmon18 05:22, December 23, 2010 (UTC)
 * Sirius Black did not die from the killing curse but instead Bella cast a spell that pushed him into the archway which is like a one way ticket. You can go throught the archway but you can't come back because it is like a portal to death.
 * Fred Weasley didn't die of the killing curse but because of an explosion caused by a spell that resulted in the collapse of the part of the hogwarts castle that he and Percy were fighting side to side against the death eaters in. Bertha Jorkin's death was largely omitted and nothing was mentioned except that she was kidnapped or lost or whatever you want to call it and died. It is not known if it was the killing curse or not. Same goes for Bartemius Crouch Sr. All was known is that his son killed him and transfigured him into a bone then buried him. <font face="Vivaldi" size="5" color="Black" >Firefox1095 Gryffindorcrest.jpg<font face="Vivaldi" size="3" color="red">All is well... 11:11, March 20, 2011 (UTC)


 * Sirius Black died from the killing curse. Bellatrix casted the spell on him in the Ministry of Magic. (During Order of the Phoenix) AznPride112 08:57, March 20, 2011 (UTC)


 * Only in the movie.--WarGrowlmon18 15:09, March 20, 2011 (UTC)

In the Ootp movie Sirius has two lives because: See in the movie Sirius has two lives. User:Donut4
 * Bellatrix clearly shouts "AVADA KEDAVRA" and it hits Sirius. Nothing happens
 * Then he dies from the veil

Since Bellatrix may or may not have killed that fox with the Killing Curse even though there was a flash of green light, we can assume that Voldemort may or may not have killed the unidentified goblin as well as a bunch of Death Eaters with Avada Kedavra after the cup Horcrux incident, right? Was not too sure about this, but felt like bringing up because it is the same problem. On a similiar yet different note, in the movie, Voldemort's feet are covered with blood as well as the dead bodies; did Voldemort kill them using some curse that causes bleeding? Or did they go rolling around in blood before going to tell Voldemort? ("We'll be killed anyway, might as well have a little fun...") AlastorMoody 20:49, July 18, 2011 (UTC)AlastorMoody

Creation
Can someone source the creation section? It seems that none of the unforgivable curses have any soruce for the claim that they came from the early middle ages. 24.0.249.160 03:37, May 5, 2011 (UTC)


 * I recall reading in one of the books, not sure but probably the fourth, that they were infact created in the middle ages as an easier and quicker way to end duels fast. —German eagle logo.Png <font face="Vivaldi" size="4" color="Black"> Firefox1095 German eagle logo.Png— 04:06, May 7, 2011 (UTC)


 * I believe it was in Dumbledore's notes in The Tales of Beedle the Bard. I don't have my copy with me right now, so I can't cite the page, but I'll try to look it up later and add the reference. - <font face="Monotype Corsiva" size="4" color="FF8000">Nick O'Demus 05:09, May 7, 2011 (UTC)


 * Thanks to Nick O'Demus, I went over my copy of the Tales of Beedle the Bard yesterday. Here is what I've found about the unforgivable curses: "The Cruciatus Curse, Imperius and Avada Kedavra were first classified as Unforgivable in 1717, with the stricest penalties attached to their use." —Page 86; definitions on bottom. —German eagle logo.Png <font face="Vivaldi" size="4" color="Black"> Firefox1095  German eagle logo.Png— 11:36, May 7, 2011 (UTC)

A question i have never seen anyone ask before. If Avada Kedavra is unblockable by any magic, wouldnt it be ridiculously easy to defeat Voldemort? Voldemort wouldnt be able to block it either, and then its just up to who hits the other one first. Avada Kedavra essentially eliminates any sort of skills when it comes to a fight. While Voldemort is more powerful than anyone(except Dumbledore maybe), he cant block the killing curse either, so i dont see why it would be so difficult to defeat him. Sure he got his Hocruxes, so he wouldnt die before they were all destroyed, but he would still be very weak, and he would most certainly need the help of someone to regain his power again. Voldemort may master more magic than most anyone else, even he cant block Avada Kedavra.

Name
Some names on this wiki really confuse me. The Hovering Charm should really be renamed to Wingardium Leviosa and this should just be Avada Kedavra. Just saying -.- -- KhanWiz - Guardian ~ (talk) ~ (email)  17:09, August 2, 2011 (UTC)


 * In this wiki, we prefer the actual names of the spell as their titles, as opposed to their incantations. I.e. "Stunning Spell" is the actual name of the spell, while Stupefy is its incantation. Spells are only named for their incantations when there's no other name available. -- <font style="color:#333333;"> Seth Cooper <font style="background:#333333;color:white;"> owl post! 17:23, August 2, 2011 (UTC)


 * Oh :/ Little weird but ok. -- KhanWiz - Guardian ~ (talk) ~ (email) Oasis-wordmark.png 17:45, August 2, 2011 (UTC)

"Counter spell"
I'm a new user, so i can't edit this myself, but near the beginning of the article, it says that the only known "counter-spell" for Avada Kedavra is Sacrificial protection. While Sacrificial Protection can protect one from the killing curse, it is not a "counter-spell" or a "spell" at all. I believe the wording should be changed to say "The only known method of blocking Avada Kedavra is Sacrificial protection". -JDRooDigger 11:03, August 2, 2011 (EST)

Year of Illegality
Could someone state the source (page and book) where Dumbledore says it wasn't made illegal unti 1717? It doesn't sound familiar.

I'm not sure about the exact page number, as I don't have my copy of the book on hand, but it was in Dumbledore's notes in the Tales of Beedle the Bard, at the end of the story "Babbity Rabbity and her Cackling Stump". Oh, and please leave your signature when you post. It's not just policy, but it's quite annoying to not know who you're replying to. -JDRooDigger 10:32, August 3, 2011 (EST)

Bellatrix doesn't cast Avada Kedavra on Ginny Weasley in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2" !! Correct it! Molly instead cast it on her...

Effects Against Protego
What would happen if this spell hit a Protego? Would it shatter? Would the spell pass through it?Would it hit the shield, cause it to shatter and hit them? If this is against a bubble shield like the one round Hogwarts the person inside would be safe right because the shield is so big? Would it causes to shatter? Their are just to many variants of Protego one of them must work :/ -- KhanWiz - Guardian ~ (talk) ~ (email)  12:00, August 11, 2011 (UTC)


 * According to Barty Crouch Jr: "Not nice. Not pleasant. And there's no countercurse. There's no blocking it. Only one known person has ever survived it, and he's sitting right in front of me.". It would seem that Protego wouldn't be enough to block it; as demonstrated in Order of the Phoenix, the only way to block this curse seems to be putting a physical object beween the caster and the target. -- <font style="color:#333333;"> Seth Cooper <font style="background:#333333;color:white;"> owl post! 14:26, August 11, 2011 (UTC)


 * I see. Lets say Voldemort casts this spell on the Protego Enchantments over Hogwarts, would everyone inside die? Would it just shatter the shield or would nothing happen? -- KhanWiz - Guardian ~ (talk) ~ (email) Oasis-wordmark.png 14:58, August 11, 2011 (UTC)


 * As far as I'm aware, the bubble over Hogwarts was just a visual effect used for the film. There were protections around the castle, but I doubt they were that simplistic. At any rate, no, I don't believe that any magical shield can repel the killing curse. Also, the curse can only be cast at an individual, not over a location. Jayden Matthews 15:22, August 11, 2011 (UTC)


 * I know, what I am wondering is if someone was in the "Protego Maxima" what would happen to the shield. Voldemort was able to penetrate with the Penetration curse but could you penetrate the enchantments over Hogwarts with the Killing Curse? If so would everyone inside die? -- KhanWiz - Guardian ~ (talk) ~ (email) Oasis-wordmark.png 15:37, August 11, 2011 (UTC)


 * Well, as Seth pointed out no magical shield can protect one from the killing curse. I would assume that the curse would simply pass through the shield. Of course anyone on the other side who is struck by the green bolt of light would be killed, but, as far as I'm aware the curse can not kill multiple victims at once. Jayden Matthews 17:17, August 11, 2011 (UTC)

Disputed Uses
So apparently there has been dispute over actual uses of the "Avada Kedavra Curse". People claim: If that be the case (with which I cannot argue), then I feel someone should take a look at the deaths of: You guys worry over whether or not a fox was killed with this curse, but don't bother to think about the more significant deaths? The ones where no curse is specifically named, other than there's a "jet of green light" or a "burst of green light"? Sorry if I have you all wrong, but I believe you reasoned that there might be another killing curse, or another curse that happens to kill, and also produces green light? Tell me, then, what you think of all these deaths? You dispute over a fox, but not these? Enlighten me, please, I wish to know why these deaths are not as important as a fox's. AlastorMoody 20:41, August 15, 2011 (UTC)
 * That there may be other killing curses
 * That there may be other spells with a green light
 * That there may be other killing curses with a green light
 * Lily Potter - "He could have forced her away from the crib, but it seemed more prudent to finish them all.... The green light flashed around the room and she dropped like her husband." However, one could argue that he did use the Avada Kedavra Curse, as shown in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, heard distinctly in the Prince's Tale scenes.
 * Gregorovitch - "A scream that went on and on and then a burst of green light--"
 * Gellert Grindelwald - "And Voldemort's fury broke: A burst of green light filled the prison room and the frail old body was lifted from its hard bed and then fell back, lifeless, and Voldemort returned to the window, his wrath barely controllable...."
 * Hedwig - "A second's relief, and then another burst of green light."
 * Harry Potter (The second time) - "He saw the mouth move and a flash of green light, and everything was gone."
 * A fox - "There was a flash of green light, a yelp, and the fox fell back to the ground, dead."
 * Fawkes - "But even as he shouted, one more jet of green light had flown at Dumbledore from Voldemort's wand and the snake had struck-- Fawkes swooped down in front of Dumbledore, opened his beak wide, and swallowed the jet of green light whole."


 * You're quite right; it is weird no one stopped to ask themselves if that was the curse used to kill these characters. Anyway, I made a little research and this is what I can tell you:
 * Lily Potter - Killed by Avada Kedavra. In Goblet of Fire, right after "Moody" demonstrates the Avada Kedavra Curse in a spider, it says "So that was how his parents had died… exactly like that spider." Backed up by the "Prince's Tale" flashback in Deathly Hallows: Part 2.
 * Gregorovich - Killed by Avada Kedavra. According to our canon policy, elements from the films are to be considered canon unless they directly contradict the material in the books. In Deathly Hallows: Part 1 the spell is identified as Avada Kedavra.
 * Gellert Grindelwald - Inconclusive, although most likely Avada Kedavra. The spell is never identified (and Grindelwald is not even killed in the film for that matter), but the spell's effects seem to almost mirror Dumbledore's death.
 * Hedwig - Inconclusive. Not named in the text, and in the film it is cast, as in the book, non-verbally.
 * Harry Potter - Avada Kedavra. Again, per the film.
 * A fox - Inconclusive. Already discussed. Not identified in the book, and ommitted in the film/game.
 * Fawkes - Inconclusive. Not identified in the book, and ommitted in the film/game.

-- <font style="color:#333333;"> Seth Cooper <font style="background:#333333;color:white;"> owl post! 19:11, September 2, 2011 (UTC)


 * I agree that there's probably more than one spell that can cause instantaneous or very quick death. The spell Bellatrix used to kill Sirius and the spell Molly Weasley used to kill Bellatrix may be examples. But I think it's being overly pedantic to assume it may not be the Killing Curse in action whenever a "green light" is mentioned in conjunction with a death just because it isn't explicitly stated it's the Killing Curse. We know the Killing Curse produces green light, and thus I think we can take it for granted that any fatal jet of green light mentioned in the books is the Killing Curse, not some unknown spell with the same effect and appearance. <font color="Green">★ <font face="Times" color="green">S <font face="Times" color="dimgrey">t <font face="Times" color="green">a <font face="Times" color="dimgrey">r <font face="Times" color="green">s <font face="Times" color="dimgrey">t <font face="Times" color="green">u <font face="Times" color="dimgrey">f <font face="Times" color="green">f <font face="Times" color="darkgreen">(Owl me!) 01:42, September 29, 2011 (UTC)


 * In addition, I must ask what you used to name this page; character dialogue or narration? Because as I have seen above, many characters call it the "Avada Kedavra Curse", but it seems no one takes into consideration the fact that it is explicitly called the "Killing Curse" in the text, meaning JK probably meant it to be the Killing Curse.
 * "He sent another Killing Curse at Dumbledore but missed, instead hitting the security guard's desk, which burst into flame." ~ Order of the Phoenix
 * "More Killing Curses flew past Harry's head from the two remaining Death Eaters' wands; they were aiming for Hagrid." ~ Deathly Hallows
 * "Then the scar on his forehead burned like fire; as a Death Eater appeared on either side of the bike, two Killing Curses missed Harry by millimeters, cast from behind--" ~Deathly Hallows
 * "Every inch of him ached, and the place where the Killing Curse had hit him felt like the bruise of an iron-clad punch." ~ Deathly Hallows

I'd only like to know why people only use character dialogue to determine the curse's actual name.

But now I think I may have stand corrected, seeing as the most recent canon goes, and apparently it is called the "Avada Kedavra Curse" in The Tales of Beedle the Bard. AlastorMoody 22:17, September 30, 2011 (UTC)

Are we still on about there being other green killing curses, or can we now assume that every burst of green light that is emitted from the tip of a wand and that kills is indeed the Killing Curse? AlastorMoody 22:46, November 15, 2011 (UTC)
 * A fox - "There was a flash of green light, a yelp, and the fox fell back to the ground, dead."
 * As far as I know, victims of Killing Curse are killed instantenously; therefore, that fox shouldn't have time to let a yelp. If I am wrong, then it means that curse that killed Sirius in book is quite likely a Killing Curse; since Bellatrix was taught by Voldemort and was noted to be as ruthless as he is. Picard578 23:14, November 23, 2011 (UTC)

Goyle
Goyle casted this in Part 2 in the Room of Requirement. Hermione dodges it and casts Stupefy against him. Should this be included? -- KhanWiz - Guardian ~ (talk) ~ (email)  17:12, September 2, 2011 (UTC)


 * Non-canon. In the book it is Crabbe who shoots Avada Kedavra. In the book, Goyle is promptly Disarmed by Harry when he points his wand at him. -- <font style="color:#333333;"> Seth Cooper <font style="background:#333333;color:white;"> owl post! 18:41, September 2, 2011 (UTC)

Article title
I realize the reference to this spell as the "Avada Kedavra Curse" in The Tales of Beedle the Bard is the most recent, but it's called the "Killing Curse" throughout the series proper (the seven Potter novels), and thus I think "Killing Curse" would honestly be the most favourable title for this article. It's similar to how the article on Ginny is called "Ginevra Weasley," even though her most recent name is Ginevra Potter, because she's known as Ginny Weasley throughout most of the series. <font color="Green">★ <font face="Times" color="green">S <font face="Times" color="dimgrey">t <font face="Times" color="green">a <font face="Times" color="dimgrey">r <font face="Times" color="green">s <font face="Times" color="dimgrey">t <font face="Times" color="green">u <font face="Times" color="dimgrey">f <font face="Times" color="green">f <font face="Times" color="darkgreen">(Owl me!) 02:31, September 29, 2011 (UTC)


 * I concur. Besides, the (rather short) Pottermore entry referring to it is titled "Killing Curse". -- <font style="color:#333333;"> Seth Cooper <font style="background:#333333;color:white;"> owl post! 19:30, October 6, 2011 (UTC)


 * Well even though I would prefer the article to be called the "Killing Curse" rather than the "Avada Kedavra Curse", I have to say that you are not quite right. Throughout the series, the curse has been known and has been called the Avada Kedavra. When Barty Crouch Jr. disguised as Mad-Eyes was showing it to the DADA class, he referred to it as the Avada Kedavra and when the Order of the Phoenix was talking about the secret weapon that Voldemort wanted, Harry questioned saying "A weapon more powerful than the avada kedavra?" and also when Harry was retelling McGonagall or the Weasleys (not sure who) what had happened on top of the astronomy tower, he said Snape did the Avada Kedavra, not Snape did the Killing Curse. —German eagle logo.Png <font face="Vivaldi" size="3" color="Black"> Firefox1095 German eagle logo.Png— 22:35, October 6, 2011 (UTC)


 * Hence why "the Avada Kedavra Curse" seems to be more of a colloquial term; it is mostly referred to by that name in character dialogue. The curse is much more frequently called the "Killing Curse" in the narration and other more "formal" sources (i.e. Daily Prophet articles, the sign at the Potter's cottage in Godric's Hollow, etc.) -- not to mention it is also recurrently referred to by that name in character dialogue. -- <font style="color:#333333;"> Seth Cooper <font style="background:#333333;color:white;"> owl post! 22:49, October 6, 2011 (UTC)


 * Well yes, that is true. Anyway, bottomline is, "The Killing Curse" is a better article title. —German eagle logo.Png <font face="Vivaldi" size="3" color="Black"> Firefox1095 German eagle logo.Png— 00:51, October 7, 2011 (UTC)

Distance
Here's one that hasn't been asked: do you need to be up close to use it or can you pick somebody off from a distance with it?Gmr2011 01:22, October 6, 2011 (UTC)


 * That's an interesting question. I don't recall there being much discussion within the series of whether or not distance affects magic, other than Hermione's statement that the Summoning Charm will always work no matter what the dsitance so long as you have the proper focus. I would imagine if nothing else you need a clean line of sight and nothing in-between, as we've seen that it be blocked by objects, or by dodging out of the way. ProfessorTofty 03:55, October 6, 2011 (UTC)


 * Well I think Distance doesn't really matter. The only reason why they don't cast magic from distance is because they can never really get a clean aim, or so I think because if you remember in the 6th book when Harry was running after Snape to cast a spell on him, he did try to cast a spell from a long distance but didn't because he couldn't get a good aim at Snape. Wands are not snipers. —German eagle logo.Png <font face="Vivaldi" size="3" color="Black"> Firefox1095 German eagle logo.Png— 19:07, October 6, 2011 (UTC)

Green Curse cast on Nagini
I wanted to talk about the Green curse that was cast on Nagini by Ron Weasley in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. There has been a lot of talk recently that it might be the Killing Curse or it might simply be a normal hex that was green. What I have to say is, if it was in fact the Killing Curse, then wouldn't the 6th Horcrux, which is Nagini, have been destroyed and Nagini was supposed to die before Neville decapitated her with the Sword of Godric Gryffindor? Because the Killing Curse if one of the few things that could kill horcruxes, isn't it? — <font face="Vivaldi" size="3" color="Black"> Firefox1095 — 01:01, October 7, 2011 (UTC)


 * Could it of been Verdimillious? -- KhanWiz - Guardian ~ (talk) ~ (email) Oasis-wordmark.png 19:45, October 9, 2011 (UTC)


 * I can't see why anyone would cast Verdimillious on an attacking Snake that's about to chew their heads off...


 * It is an offensive spell, it might of been helpful. -- KhanWiz - Guardian ~ (talk) ~ (email) Oasis-wordmark.png 16:43, October 10, 2011 (UTC)

Scar or CURSE scar?
It says that Harry Potter survied with only a scar, however technically the correct term would be a Curse Scare as mentiond in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in chapter 2 page 21 paragraph 1 when Harry was thinking about what Hermione might say if he wrote a letter to her telling her that his scar hurt the Paragraph went like this "At once, Hermione Granger's voice seemed to fill his head, shrill and panicky. Your scar hurt? Harry, that's really serious. . . . Write to Professor Dumbledore! And I'll go and check Common Magical Ailments and Afflictions. . . . Maybe there's somthing in there about curse scars. . . ." 'Because of this I think it should be changed to curse scar. Alastor &quot;Mad Eye&quot; Moody 20:45, October 16, 2011 (UTC)


 * Nice name. AlastorMoody 22:44, November 15, 2011 (UTC) But anyway, it goes like this: All curse scars are scars, but not all scars are curse scars. AlastorMoody 22:45, November 15, 2011 (UTC)


 * Yeah, I get that, but, wouldn't Harry's scar be classified as a curse scar since he got it when Voldemort tried to kill him with the killing curse?

Alastor &quot;Mad Eye&quot; Moody 19:18, May 27, 2012 (UTC) Alastor "Mad Eye" Moody


 * Sure, but that's just a technical term. Saying simply that he survived with only a "scar" isn't necessarily less correct, it's just less technical. ProfessorTofty 23:59, May 27, 2012 (UTC)

Hedwig's Killer?
It says the caster of the Killing Curse which killed Hedwig had been Lord Voldemort, the spell actually meant for Harry Potter. Has this been confirmed? Forgive me, there is no evidence in the text; has it been confirmed by Pottermore? If so, is there still a need for the page "Hedwig's killer"? ''Who killed Hedwig? ''Lord Voldemort, or Hedwig's killer? AlastorMoody 22:51, November 15, 2011 (UTC)


 * O I just realised this... BELLATRIX NEVER USES AVADA KEDAVRA ON GINNY (GINNY BLOCKS). SHE USES A PETRIFICUS-TOTALUS-LIKE SPELL! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBc3lEUspWE&feature=channel_video_title Blue_spell.png


 * Book canon trumps film canon. The book states "Bellatrix was still fighing too, fifty yards away from Voldemort, and like her master she dueled three at once: Hermione, Ginny and Luna, all battling their hardest, but Bellatrix was equal to them, and Harry's attention was diverted as a Killing Curse shot so close to Ginny that she missed death by an inch -". -- <font style="color:#333333;"> Seth Cooper <font style="background:#333333;color:white;"> owl post! 18:49, November 23, 2011 (UTC)


 * yes, as true as that is, it never says she uses PROTEGO to block iit, like the movie. So where it says "Protego can't block the killing curse" I'd remove the fact that Ginny does this. As she never blocked in the book, the curse wasn't aimed properly and missed her.


 * Perfectly true. -- <font style="color:#333333;"> Seth Cooper <font style="background:#333333;color:white;"> owl post! 20:39, November 23, 2011 (UTC)


 * Back to what I had originally made this section for (not to debate on Bellatrix using the Killing Curse), who killed Hedwig? Voldemort, or Hedwig's killer? Because the article says Voldemort, but there is a page for Hedwig's killer. AlastorMoody 23:46, January 29, 2012 (UTC)

Blockablity
As we all know, the Killing Curse is an unblockable spell, but it appears it is not in the movies. But, how I look at it, since Harry sacrificed himself, the sacrificial protection charm worked on everyone, and therefore no spells cast by Voldemort or his Death Eaters could hurt them (or was it just Voldemort?). Correct me if I am wrong. And can sacrificial protection protect against the Killing Curse? Or just lesser spells? But I mean, whether or no the Killing Curse is blockable, would you guys at least try to cast a Shield Charm? I think it's always good to be prepared, because you can't always know if they're casting the Killing Curse or some random other spell. AlastorMoody 03:01, November 24, 2011 (UTC)


 * Unblocakbility is only in reference to the spells. It can be blocked by solid objects, say, stones - like when Dumbledore animated statues, or when, on graveyard, Voldemort doesn't even try to hit Harry who is hiding behiind stone monument. Picard578 12:14, November 24, 2011 (UTC)


 * Blockability: What we know. 1. Book four states that there is no counter curse or way of blocking it. 2. The movies (secondary canon I know) definitely portray instances of magic blocking the curse (Dumbledore's red beam against Voldemort's green beam, numerous shield charms etc) 3. There's an ambigious reference to red beams hitting green beams and jointly exploding. The combination of these factors suggests to me that it's ambigious canon that the spell is literally unblockable with other spells. It's entirely possible that Barty Crouch meant something more technical by his claim of unblockability: that there's there's no specific counter-curse for example. It's hard to say.
 * I always took "no blocking it" to mean that it couldn't be countered using spells like a Shield Charm or protecting your mind or anything like that. Obviously it can be physically blocked by objects, as we've seen with Dumbledore animating objects to take the hit, or if it goes off-target. Perhaps Pottermore will tell us more when it gets to Goblet, though I wouldn't hold my breath. ProfessorTofty (talk) 02:21, October 11, 2012 (UTC)

This page should be added to the category: "Horcrux destruction methods".98.125.76.203 02:04, December 18, 2011 (UTC)

You can't destroy a horcrux with the Killing Curse 64.83.227.171 21:46, July 19, 2012 (UTC)

Hand movement
This image is extracted from Pottermore. Simply open the image of any curse and change it to killing-curse.

http://i44.tinypic.com/2wcpsns.jpg

I'm not entirely sure what you mean by "open the image of any curse", but I'm going to take your word for it and add that to the hand movement part of the infobox. Thanks for your help, but next time please sign it. User:Hunnie Bunn 21:13, July 17, 2012 (UTC)

In the movies or the books, never have any characters done this hand movement. In fact, in the books, whenever somebody uses the curse, they are described as simply pointing their wands at the person they want to kill. It seems strange that the Pottermore hand movements are being used, as they are only there for the duelling club minigame. The Wonderbook hand movements also seem a bit strange. For example, the hand movement for the Shield Charm is a vertical line, despite the fact that this is never mentioned in the books, and never seen in the movies, where the hand movement seems to be a sensical parrying movement. I say that we change the Hand Movement boxes. Therupertbob (talk) 21:29, August 24, 2013 (UTC)

There is no proof that the spell Molly used against Bellatrix in the film adaption was Avada Kedavra.86.168.81.104 23:12, July 18, 2012 (UTC)

Molly Weasley
Can someone please explain to me why it is stated that Molly Weasley used Avada Kedavra on Bellatrix in the movie? It doesn't look at all like that to me. In fact, as the page for Molly suggests, it seems much more like she used Duro (or, if we aren't sure if they are the same spell, at least some sort of petrifying curse) and then Reducto (or at least some sort of disintigrating curse). Is there some sort of source that says that she used Avada Kedavra? Kyouraku-taichou (talk) 22:01, August 23, 2012 (UTC)

Blocking with a stunning spell
In the book Deathly Hallows, Harry Potter is said to have blocked the killing curses sent by the Death Eaters in the line ""red and green jets met and formed a multitude of multicolour sparks" in the chapter "The Seven Potters". Why is that not mentioned?Undominanthybrid (talk) 19:25, August 25, 2012 (UTC)


 * Huh... it would seem that Rowling may have taken a page from the movies and actually made that canon; a Killing Curse CAN be blocked with another spell. Kyouraku-taichou (talk) 20:06, August 25, 2012 (UTC)
 * Do we even know whether or not that the green light was the Killin Curse? It could've been another spell. Squall L. (talk) 06:25, April 26, 2013 (UTC)Squall L.
 * Then tell me why on earth Hedwig dropped dead without any spark any explosion or the kind.Undominanthybrid (talk) 16:23, June 30, 2013 (UTC)


 * Maybe it's not so much as blocking but rather reflection. Moody said there's no counter curse and we know that Protego is also useless. We also know solid objects can act as makeshift shields with the side effect of exploding. But do consider that at no point whatsoever did Rowling tell us exactly what happens when the actual beam of the curse collides with the beam of another spell such as Stupefy or Expelliarmus.

More Victims
I believe there is one more known victim of the Killing Curse: Serius Black. He was killed by Bellatrix in the movie Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

108.196.223.57 05:09, October 4, 2012 (UTC)Erick G.

Sorry to say, but that's only in the films. In the book he gets pushed through with an unidentified curse. -- <font face="Times" size="3" color="Red">Hunnie Bunn (<font face="Times" size="3" color="Red">talk ) 02:02, December 27, 2012 (UTC)

Hand Movement: Part II
How Do You Know That That Icon Is The Hand Movement For The Killing Curse?81.105.243.16 20:39, November 28, 2012 (UTC)


 * It's a very long explanation; see, on Pottermore the hand movement for the Levitation Charm was shown, and so when the "Wingardium Leviosa" spell became available on the hanging sign and one added it to their favourites it showed the same hand movement. Hence, when the Killing Curse was added to one's favourites the hand movement was shown. -- <font face="Times" size="3" color="Red">Hunnie Bunn (<font face="Times" size="3" color="Red">talk ) 02:02, December 27, 2012 (UTC)


 * Still, that probably isn't the actual movement, it's just needed for a duelling minigame.  Therupertbob (talk) 21:47, August 24, 2013 (UTC)


 * I just don't understand how do you do Oo Lady Junky 22:05, August 24, 2013 (UTC)

Phoenixes
Is it known for sure whether or not Phoenix can survive this? I assumed Fawkes survived because Voldemort's wand is powered by Fawke's tail feather. Squall L. (talk) 06:30, April 26, 2013 (UTC)Squall L.


 * Fawkes didn't survive. He died, and was re-born from his ashes, as always happens when a phoenix "dies". They are naturally immortal and never truly die.-- 09:48, October 23, 2013 (UTC)

Nicholas Flamel
Under the effects of the life elixer created by use of the Philosopher's Stone, would Nicholas Flamel be killed by the Avada Kedavra or would the two effects cancel each other out?--Belisarius00 (talk) 01:37, March 4, 2014 (UTC)

He would die. The Elixir doesn't stop a person from dying, it just prolongs their life. If a person took the Elixir and was then beheaded, they would still die, as their brain would be incapable of sending bioelectric impulses to the body. All the Elixir does is prolong the amount of time a person has before they die of old age. Dr. Galenos (talk) 01:44, March 4, 2014 (UTC)

Behind the Scenes error
It states the following under the 'Behind the Scenes' section.

"The biological reasons for the victim's death have never been fully explained. In any case, it is something that does not affect the health of the victims, as Muggle autopsy show that there is no change aside from outright death. It may simply be that the Curse just causes every organ in the body to instantaneously "shut down". This added point about heart attacks isn't correct due to the fact it states 'There is no change aside from outright death'. Heart attacks do leave signs on their 'victims', in fact I was under the impression (and looking it up has confirmed this) that a person's heart usually does suffer permanent damage from a heart attack.
 * It also might be a heart attack."

Can someone confirm or correct this please?

Gaymer19 (talk) 06:05, October 3, 2015 (UTC)


 * <p class="MsoNormal">Let’s talk about death first.  There are generally two ways that a person is determined to have died:  The first is brain death.  This means that there is no blood flow to the part of the brain that deals with thinking and the cells in this area have died.  The second is cardiac death, and this means that the heart is no longer pumping blood.

<p class="MsoNormal">In the crime shows, when the detective feels for the lack of a pulse to declare someone dead, cardiac death is what they are talking about. Now, no matter how someone is killed, their heart will stop beating and this is the immediate cause of death.

<p class="MsoNormal">In general, a heart attack means a myocardial infarction, often called an MI. This means that a blood clot has broken off from inside an artery and has blocked at least part of the blood flow to the heart. When this happens, the heart muscle that is supplied by this vessel stops pumping and begins to die. If this damaged area is big enough, the heart cannot pump enough blood, and the person will die. Or, the area of damaged heart can disrupt the electrical signals in the heart and the heart can stop beating altogether – and the person dies. The other meaning of “heart attack” can be asystole or “pulseless electrical activity.”  This means that the heart has stopped beating. This can be caused by drugs like cocaine, an electric shock, illness, or problems with the heart that some people are born with.

<p class="MsoNormal">It is very difficult to tell if someone has died directly from a heart attack. If it is a big MI, especially if they manage to hang around for a couple of days, the pathologist can see scar tissue in the heart, and can see that at least some of the coronary arteries are blocked. Otherwise, a diagnosis of death by “heart attack” is made because there is not any other possibility. Sometimes there is a very small blood clot that stops the heart from beating, and then breaks up and moves on but the heart cannot restart and the person dies. Or, if someone dies and is found at autopsy to be perfectly healthy, and there is some cocaine in their system, the pathologist will determine that they died of a likely heart attack caused by cocaine use.

<p class="MsoNormal">The “killing curse” is said to leave no physical damage on those it kills. In the death of a single person, this will almost certainly be determined by Muggle pathologists to be a “heart attack.”  However, in the case of the Riddle’s, where three people died at the same time, this would not work since the odds of three people each having a heart attack at the same time are so incredibly small. (However, there are some poisons that can cause a heart attack but cannot be detected in the human body.  In a case like the Riddle’s it is likely the verdict would have been that they died of an undetectable poison.  But, there would not be evidence to prove who administered it beyond a reasonable doubt.)  This is one area where JKR’s account is not technically correct. A pathologist who comes across a body that appears to be “perfectly health, except for being dead” is not all that unusual. What would be unusual would be to have three such people die in the same room at the same time.

<p class="MsoNormal">(However, there is one other possibility:  It may be that the “killing curse” kills not only the human person, but also all the virus/bacteria/fungi on and in the person.  This would greatly reduce the amount of decay on the body, and this may account for the Muggle pathologist’s bewilderment in the Riddle murders.) Wva (talk) 23:29, October 7, 2015 (UTC)

<p class="MsoNormal">


 * Okay, thank you! It's rather obvious that I'm not a doctor, so a lot of the information I looked up very easily could have gone over my head.
 * Gaymer19 (talk) 20:46, October 4, 2015 (UTC)