The Unforgivable Curses

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"Never used an Unforgivable Curse, have you, boy...You need to mean them, Potter!"

Bellatrix Lestrange - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

The Unforgivable Curses are the three most vile curses in the wizarding world. The use of any one of them can earn the caster a life sentence in Azkaban. The only people permitted to use them are Aurors (dark wizard-catchers).

Avada Kedavra - Killing Curse
Perhaps the worst of the three curses, Avada Kedavra kills without leaving a single trace. It is first described in Philosopher's Stone as 'a flash of green light'. First seen in Goblet of Fire when Lord Voldemort kills the Riddles' gardener Frank Bryce. In the film adaption of Chamber of Secrets, Lucius Malfoy attempts this curse against Harry Potter after being tricked into freeing his house elf, Dobby. Named first by Barty Crouch Jr. diguised by Polyjuice Potion as Alastor Moody. Used various times across the series, particularly from Goblet of Fire onwards, to kill various people such as Sirius Black, Albus Dumbledore, Cedric Diggory, Gregorovitch, Gellert Grindelwald, Charity Burbage etc... . When casting Avada Kedavra, you need to feel that you want to kill your victim as said by Barty Crouch Jr. "If any of you tried to kill me now, I wouldn't suffer more than a bad nosebleed." After successfully casting Avada Kedavra, and therefore killing your victim, you can use an unknown spell to create a Horcrux, one of the darkest objects known to wizard kind in which you conceal part of your soul so if your body is destroyed, part of you lives on. Ther is no known way of blocking Avada Kedavra. Suggested Etymology: 'Avada' is Latin for 'I kill'. 'Abracadabra' is a traditional magic spell.

Crucio - Cruciatus Curse
Crucio is a torturing curse. The victim writhes on the floor in great pain and agony whilst bad memories flash through their head. In the books, it is described as a flash of red light whereas in the films, no light erupts from the wandtip. Crucio is said to be Bellatrix Lestrange's favourite curse. First seen in Goblet of Fire when Barty Crouch Jr. show the fourth-years the Unforgivable Curses in a Defence against the Dark Arts lesson. Later on in the same novel, Harry witnesses the trial of Bellatrix Lestrange, Barty Crouch Jr., and various other Death Eaters in Dumbledore's pensieve for using the Cruciatus Curse on Frank and Alice Longbottom, parents of Neville Longbottom. As revealed, Crucio can torture the victim into insanity. Used various other times to torture including in Goblet of Fire in Little Hangleton graveyard on Harry by Voldemort, in Order of the Phoenix on Neville by Bellatrix Lestrange in the Department of Mysteries and later on it was attempted by Harry on Bellatrix after her murder of Sirius Black. In Half-Blood Prince, Harry attempts to Cruciate Severus Snape after Albus Dumbledore's murder. In Deathly Hallows, Bellatrix Lestrange uses Crucio on Hermione after she finds her with the sword of Godric Gryffindor in Malfoy Manor. Later on in the same book, Aberforth Dumbledore mentions that Gellert Grindelwald uses it on him shortly before the death of his sister Ariana, and Harry uses it on Amycus Carrow after he spat at Minerva McGonagall. Amycus was then knocked out which proves that Crucio can also be used to stun. Suggested Etymology: Latin 'Crucio' meaning 'I torture'. English 'Crucify' meaning 'nail to a cross'.

Imperio - Imperius Curse
When used correctly, Imperio will allow the caster to control the victim both non-verbally and verbally. Gifted wizards such as Harry, Barty Crouch Jr. and Sr., and most probably Dumbledore have been known to throw off the Imperius Curse entirely. In Goblet of Fire, the Imperius Curse is described as a small voice inside the victim's head telling him/her what to do. First mentioned in Philosopher's Stone when Ron tells Harry that Lucius Malfoy was not in Azkaban becaused he had told the Ministry that Voldemort was forcing him to do his bidding. Mentioned again in Chamber of Secrets when Tom Riddle says that he can be 'very persuasive at times'. First seen and named in Goblet of Fire by Barty Crouch Jr. in a Defence against the Dark Arts lesson on a spider. Used in the same book by Voldemort on Harry to make him bow before their duel and to make him say 'no' to having the Cruciatus Curse used on him again. Used by Lucius Malfoy in Order of the Phoenix on Broderick Bode and on another Order member to try and get the prophecy for Voldemort. Used on Madam Rosmerta by Draco Malfoy to help in his plan to assassinate Albus Dumbledore. Used in Deathly Hallows on several people including Pius Thicknesse, Amycus Carrow and a few others. Suggested Etymology: Latin 'Imperio' meaning 'to possess'.