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{{CrimesofGrindelwaldSpoiler}}
 
 
{{Semiprotected}}
 
{{Semiprotected}}
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{{HogwartsMysterySpoiler}}
 
{{Spell infobox
 
{{Spell infobox
 
|name=Killing Curse
 
|name=Killing Curse
|image=Avada Kedavra.gif
+
|image=Avada-Kedavra.gif
 
|incantation=''Avada Kedavra''<br />(a-VAH-dah ke-DAH-vra)<ref name="GOF">{{GOF}}</ref>
 
|incantation=''Avada Kedavra''<br />(a-VAH-dah ke-DAH-vra)<ref name="GOF">{{GOF}}</ref>
 
|light=Green<ref name="DHpt2">{{DH|F2}}</ref>
 
|light=Green<ref name="DHpt2">{{DH|F2}}</ref>
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The '''Killing Curse''' (''Avada Kedavra'') is a tool of the [[Dark Arts]] and one of the three [[Unforgivable Curses]]. It is one of the most powerful and sinister (if not the most sinister) [[spell]]s known to [[Wizardkind]]. When cast successfully on a living person or creature the curse causes instantaneous and painless [[death]], without causing any injury to the body, and without any trace of violence.
 
The '''Killing Curse''' (''Avada Kedavra'') is a tool of the [[Dark Arts]] and one of the three [[Unforgivable Curses]]. It is one of the most powerful and sinister (if not the most sinister) [[spell]]s known to [[Wizardkind]]. When cast successfully on a living person or creature the curse causes instantaneous and painless [[death]], without causing any injury to the body, and without any trace of violence.
   
The only known [[counter-spell]] is [[sacrificial protection]], which uses the power of [[love]]. However, one may dodge the green bolt, block it with a physical barrier, or by the use of [[Reverse Spell|Priori Incantatem]]. The Killing Curse is a conventionally unblockable curse, thus [[Shield Charm|shield charms]] won't defend against it. An explosion or green fire may result if the spell hits something other than a living target.
+
The only known [[counter-spell]] is [[sacrificial protection]], which uses the power of [[love]]. However, one may dodge the green bolt, block it with a physical barrier, or by the use of [[Reverse Spell|Priori Incantatem]]. The Killing Curse is a conventionally unblockable curse; therefore [[Shield Charm|shield charms]] would not be able to defend against it. An explosion or green fire may result if the spell hits something other than a living target.
   
 
==History==
 
==History==
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Until [[1927]], the Killing Curse was used by the [[Magical Congress of the United States of America]] on magical [[beast]]s considered dangerous.<ref>{{FB|2017}}</ref>
 
Until [[1927]], the Killing Curse was used by the [[Magical Congress of the United States of America]] on magical [[beast]]s considered dangerous.<ref>{{FB|2017}}</ref>
   
Along with the [[Cruciatus Curse|Cruciatus]] and [[Imperius Curse|Imperius]] curses, the Killing Curse is known as one of the most terrible and sinister curses in the wizarding world. After the [[Wizards' Council]] was reformed into the [[British Ministry of Magic|Ministry of Magic]] tighter restrictions were placed on the use of certain kinds of magic. The Killing Curse was deemed by the Ministry to be [[Dark Arts|Dark magic]] and along with the Cruciatus and Imperius curses, were declared "''unforgivable''" in [[1717]], with the Killing Curse considered to be the most deadly of the three. Use of any [[Unforgivable Curses|Unforgivable curse]] on a human would carry the punishment of a life sentence in [[Azkaban]].
+
Along with the [[Cruciatus Curse|Cruciatus]] and [[Imperius Curse|Imperius]] curses, the Killing Curse is known as one of the most terrible and sinister curses in the wizarding world. After the [[Wizards' Council]] was reformed into the [[British Ministry of Magic|Ministry of Magic]] tighter restrictions were placed on the use of certain kinds of magic. The Killing Curse was deemed by the Ministry to be [[Dark Arts|Dark magic]] and along with the Cruciatus and Imperius curses, were declared "''unforgivable''" in [[1717]], with the Killing Curse considered to be the most deadly of the three. Use of any [[Unforgivable Curses|Unforgivable curse]] on a human would carry the punishment of a life sentence without parole in [[Azkaban]].
   
However, the [[First Wizarding War]], when [[Bartemius Crouch Senior|Barty Crouch Snr]] was in charge of the [[Department of Magical Law Enforcement]], he fought violence with violence, legalising the three Unforgivable Curses for [[Auror]]s against the [[Death Eaters]] in order to win the war. This was repealed once the war was over, as it was no longer necessary, though, in the [[1994–1995 school year]], [[Bartemius Crouch Junior|Barty Crouch Jr]] (under the disguise of Alastor Moody) demonstrated these three curses to his [[fourth year]] classes on spiders. The Ministry did not approve of this because "Professor Moody" was showing these curses to those who did not truly need to see it (i.e., a class of 14-15-year-olds).
+
However, during the [[First Wizarding War]], when [[Bartemius Crouch Senior|Barty Crouch Snr]] was in charge of the [[Department of Magical Law Enforcement]], he fought violence with violence, legalising the three Unforgivable Curses for [[Auror]]s against the [[Death Eaters]] in order to win the war. This was repealed once the war was over, as it was no longer necessary, though, in the [[1994–1995 school year]], [[Bartemius Crouch Junior|Barty Crouch Jr]] (under the disguise of Alastor Moody) demonstrated these three curses to his [[fourth year]] classes on spiders. The Ministry did not approve of this because "Professor Moody" was showing these curses to those who did not truly need to see it (i.e., a class of 14-15-year-olds).
   
  +
[[File:Harry godric's hollow baby the boy who lived.jpg|250px|thumb|One of Voldemort's most heinous act: preparing to cast the Killing Curse onto a one-year old Harry Potter]]
One of the most infamous events involving this curse happened on [[Hallowe'en]] in [[1981]], when Voldemort arrived at the [[Potter cottage]] in [[Godric's Hollow]] after be told of its location by the [[Secret-Keeper]] of its [[Fidelius Charm]], and murdered [[James and Lily Potter]] while they attempted to protect their infant son [[Harry Potter|Harry]]. He cast the Killing Curse on Harry as well, but it backfired destroying Voldemort's body. This event led to Voldemort's first downfall, the end of the First Wizarding War, and Harry's fate being sealed as the "Boy Who Lived". Also the Killing Curse was known throughout most of the wizarding world to be Voldemort's signature spell. This became common knowledge most likely during the first war, due to his frequent and indiscriminate usage of it; he certainly massacred enough to create an army of [[Inferius|Inferi]]. Ironically, the Killing Curse, Voldemort's signature spell, would ultimately be the very spell that lead to his own defeat. In his final duel against [[Harry Potter]], Voldemort would not realise that the curse would backfire (because the [[Elder Wand]] would not kill its true master), finally putting an end to the Dark Lord.
+
One of the most infamous events involving this curse happened on [[Hallowe'en]] in [[1981]], when Voldemort arrived at the [[Potter cottage]] in [[Godric's Hollow]] after being told of its location by the [[Secret-Keeper]] of its [[Fidelius Charm]], and murdered [[James and Lily Potter]] while they attempted to protect their infant son [[Harry Potter|Harry]]. He cast the Killing Curse on Harry as well, but it backfired destroying Voldemort's body. This event led to Voldemort's first downfall, the end of the First Wizarding War, and Harry's fate being sealed as the "Boy Who Lived". Also the Killing Curse was known throughout most of the wizarding world to be Voldemort's signature spell. This became common knowledge most likely during the first war, due to his frequent and indiscriminate usage of it; he certainly massacred enough to create an army of [[Inferius|Inferi]]. Ironically, the Killing Curse, Voldemort's signature spell, would ultimately be the very spell that lead to his own defeat. In his final duel against [[Harry Potter]], Voldemort would not realise that the curse would backfire (because the [[Elder Wand]] would not kill its true master), finally putting an end to the Dark Lord.
[[File:Voldemort Avada Kedavra.gif|thumb|220x220px|Voldemort trying to kill Harry Potter in the Little Hangleton graveyard]]
 
  +
Lord Voldemort was a prolific user of the Killing Curse throughout his life. He used the curse excessively throughout the First and [[Second Wizarding War]]s. His first known usage of the curse was at age 16, [[Murder of the Riddle family|murdering]] his [[Tom Riddle Senior|father]], [[Thomas Riddle|paternal grandfather]] and [[Mary Riddle|paternal grandmother]]. He used it to murder famous wand maker [[Mykew Gregorovitch]] and notorious Dark wizard [[Gellert Grindelwald]], while searching abroad for the [[Elder Wand]]. When he learned of Harry Potter's successful [[Gringotts Wizarding Bank|Gringotts]] break-in and retrieval of [[Hufflepuff's Cup]], he murdered several goblins in a fit of rage. On 2 May during the [[Battle of Hogwarts]], Harry willingly let Voldemort hit him with the Killing Curse, in order to be rid of the piece of Voldemort's soul he harboured at the time.
+
Lord Voldemort was a prolific user of the Killing Curse throughout his life. He used the curse excessively throughout the First and [[Second Wizarding War]]s. He also used the curse outside of warfare, most likely for pleasure. His first known usage of the curse was at age 16, [[Murder of the Riddle family|murdering]] his [[Tom Riddle Senior|father]], [[Thomas Riddle|paternal grandfather]] and [[Mary Riddle|paternal grandmother]]. He used it to murder famous wand maker [[Mykew Gregorovitch]] and notorious Dark wizard [[Gellert Grindelwald]], while searching abroad for the [[Elder Wand]]. When he learned of Harry Potter's successful [[Gringotts Wizarding Bank|Gringotts]] break-in and retrieval of [[Hufflepuff's Cup]], he murdered several goblins in a fit of rage. On 2 May during the [[Battle of Hogwarts]], Harry willingly let Voldemort hit him with the Killing Curse, in order to be rid of the piece of Voldemort's soul he harboured at the time.
   
 
When [[Tom Riddle|Voldemort]] took over the Ministry, the three curses were once again legalised: this time every wizard and witch had the right to use them as they please. In fact, they were practised in [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]] as part of the curriculum of Dark Arts class under the tutelage of Professor [[Amycus Carrow]]. After Voldemort's death and the reform of the Ministry under [[Minister for Magic|Minister]] [[Kingsley Shacklebolt]], the three curses were once again forbidden.
 
When [[Tom Riddle|Voldemort]] took over the Ministry, the three curses were once again legalised: this time every wizard and witch had the right to use them as they please. In fact, they were practised in [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]] as part of the curriculum of Dark Arts class under the tutelage of Professor [[Amycus Carrow]]. After Voldemort's death and the reform of the Ministry under [[Minister for Magic|Minister]] [[Kingsley Shacklebolt]], the three curses were once again forbidden.
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The Killing Curse is recognisable by the flash of green light and the rushing noise emitted from the caster's wand. When the curse hits a living, organic target it invariably kills them without injury. The mechanism by which it kills is unknown. However, when the curse struck Voldemort and succeeded in causing his biological death, he described the curse as having ripped his soul from his body. When the curse hits an inanimate target the effect varies: it can produce small fires,<ref>{{OOTP|B|36}}</ref> small greenish explosions,<ref>{{GOF|F}} and {{OOTP|F}}</ref> or explosions of such intensity that can blow up an entire story of a cottage.<ref>{{DH|B|17}}</ref> It is known by most wizards as [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]]'s signature spell. It is possible to intercept the curse with other spells, but this is extremely difficult as it requires the energy jets of the two spells to collide. As the energy jets of virtually all spells are very small and fast, this has only ever been recorded as occurring by accident.
 
The Killing Curse is recognisable by the flash of green light and the rushing noise emitted from the caster's wand. When the curse hits a living, organic target it invariably kills them without injury. The mechanism by which it kills is unknown. However, when the curse struck Voldemort and succeeded in causing his biological death, he described the curse as having ripped his soul from his body. When the curse hits an inanimate target the effect varies: it can produce small fires,<ref>{{OOTP|B|36}}</ref> small greenish explosions,<ref>{{GOF|F}} and {{OOTP|F}}</ref> or explosions of such intensity that can blow up an entire story of a cottage.<ref>{{DH|B|17}}</ref> It is known by most wizards as [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]]'s signature spell. It is possible to intercept the curse with other spells, but this is extremely difficult as it requires the energy jets of the two spells to collide. As the energy jets of virtually all spells are very small and fast, this has only ever been recorded as occurring by accident.
   
However, certain objects, such as the [[centaur]] statue of the [[Fountain of Magical Brethren]], managed to block the curse without any visible damage to itself.<ref name="OTP" /> It should be noted that curse did not terminate the animation of (i.e. "kill") the statue, however, the statue was only animated by magic and so presumably had no real life in him for the curse to take away.
+
However, certain objects, such as the [[centaur]] statue of the [[Fountain of Magical Brethren]], managed to block the curse without any visible damage to itself.<ref name="OTP" /> It should be noted that the curse itself did not terminate the animation of (i.e. "kill") the statue, however, as the statue was only animated by magic and so presumably had no real life in him for the curse to take away.
   
 
===Performance===
 
===Performance===
{{Quote|The Killing Curse is 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.|[[Bartemius Crouch Junior|Barty Crouch, Jr]] {{c|disguised as Alastor Moody}} on the skill required to cast the curse|Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire}}The curse requires great skill in order to be performed correctly. In [[1994]], Barty Crouch, Jr, disguised as [[Alastor Moody]], claimed that, if all of the students before him were to get out their wands and perform it on him at one time, he would likely be completely unaffected. However, in [[1997]] [[Severus Snape]] also stated that to cast [[Unforgivable Curses]] you need nerve and ability. It is possible to cast the curse [[Nonverbal spell|nonverbally]], as [[Bellatrix Lestrange|Bellatrix]] killed a fox without incantation. However, the lack of the incantation may have been for suspense. Whether this is true or not in Bellatrix's case is unknown.<ref name="HBP" /> However, during his duel with Dumbledore, Voldemort used this spell several times without an incantation. Intense concentration is likely required to cast the Killing Curse, which is probably why [[Death Eaters]] don't use it as their primary offensive spell (although [[Thorfinn Rowle]] did launch the curse repeatedly all over the place during the [[Battle of the Astronomy Tower]]).
+
{{Quote|The Killing Curse is 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.|[[Bartemius Crouch Junior|Barty Crouch, Jr]] {{c|disguised as Alastor Moody}} on the skill required to cast the curse|Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire}}The curse requires great skill, power, and intent in order to be performed correctly. In [[1994]], Barty Crouch, Jr, disguised as [[Alastor Moody]], claimed that if all of the students before him were to get out their wands and perform it on him at one time, he would likely be completely unaffected as he believed they all lacked the necessary power needed to cast the spell. However, in [[1997]], [[Severus Snape]] also stated that to cast [[Unforgivable Curses]] one needed both nerve and ability. It is possible to cast the curse [[Nonverbal spell|nonverbally]], as [[Bellatrix Lestrange|Bellatrix]] killed a fox without an incantation. However, the lack of the incantation may have been for suspense. Whether this is true or not in Bellatrix's case is unknown.<ref name="HBP" /> However, during his duel with Dumbledore, Voldemort used this spell several times without an incantation. Intense concentration is likely required to cast the Killing Curse, which is probably why [[Death Eaters]] don't use it as their primary offensive spell (although [[Thorfinn Rowle]] did launch the curse repeatedly all over the place during the [[Battle of the Astronomy Tower]]).
   
The Killing Curse, in addition to requiring the caster to be a skilled wizard, also requires a genuine willingness and at times desire to commit murder.{{fact}} One of the main reasons why Lord Voldemort demonstrated such an affinity for the curse was his complete and utter lack of remorse or value for the lives of fellow humans, Muggle or otherwise. For example, Draco Malfoy, despite possessing many undesirable personality traits, found himself ultimately unable to kill Albus Dumbledore because he did not hate him enough to actually do the deed. Voldemort, on the other hand, had no such restraint and murdered scores of people without remorse in his pursuit of power and immortality; he was fully prepared to murder one-year old Harry Potter upon deducing him as a potential threat and, had he succeeded, was implied to have been intending to use this most heinous act (the murder of an innocent child) to create his final Horcrux.
+
The Killing Curse, in addition to requiring the caster to be a very skilled wizard, also requires a genuine willingness and at times desire to commit murder.<ref>{{GOB|B|14}}</ref><ref>{{OOTP|B|36}}</ref> One of the main reasons why Lord Voldemort demonstrated such an affinity for the curse was due to how exceptionally powerful he was magic wise along with his complete and utter lack of remorse or value for the lives of fellow humans, Muggle or otherwise. For example, Draco Malfoy, despite possessing many undesirable personality traits, found himself ultimately unable to kill Albus Dumbledore because he did not hate him enough to actually do the deed. Voldemort, on the other hand, had no such restraint and murdered scores of people without remorse in his pursuit of power and immortality; in fact, he was fully prepared to murder one-year old Harry Potter upon deducing him to be a potential threat to his power and, had he succeeded, was implied to have been intending to use this most heinous act (the murder of an innocent child) to create his final Horcrux.
   
 
===Signs===
 
===Signs===
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===Sensation===
 
===Sensation===
Presumably, the Killing Curse does not inflict any pain on its target, since it causes instantaneous death. However, Harry Potter, awaking after a Killing Curse cast by [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]] hit him, describes the sensation as an "''iron-clad punch''"''''though this may have been caused by the destruction of the fragment of Lord Voldemort's [[soul]] contained within his body. However, when he was initially struck by the curse, it caused him no sensation at all. When Voldemort was struck by his own rebounding Killing Curse when he attempted to kill [[Harry Potter]] the first time, he described the sensation of his soul being ripped from his body as being "pain beyond pain". However, given the uniquely mutilated state of his soul at the time and that his soul had not gone to the afterlife, it seems likely that his reaction was atypical.
+
Presumably, the Killing Curse does not inflict any pain on its target, since it causes instantaneous death. However, Harry Potter, who awoke after a Killing Curse cast by [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]] hit him, describes the sensation as an "''iron-clad punch''", though this may have been caused by the destruction of the fragment of Lord Voldemort's [[soul]] contained within his body. However, when he was initially struck by the curse, it caused him no sensation at all. When Voldemort was struck by his own rebounding Killing Curse after he attempted to kill [[Harry Potter]] the first time, he described the sensation of his soul being ripped from his body as being "pain beyond pain". However, given the uniquely mutilated state of his soul at the time and that his soul had not gone to the afterlife, it seems likely that his reaction was atypical.
   
 
==Survivability==
 
==Survivability==
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===Sacrificial protection===
 
===Sacrificial protection===
The most effective method of surviving the Killing Curse is through [[sacrificial protection]]. The willing sacrifice of one's life for another, a manifestation of [[love]], which is the most potent defence against the "unblockable" Killing Curse. Love is a powerful and mysterious branch of magic. It gives those who experience it the ability to do very great things. Harry Potter was saved by his mother, [[Lily Potter]] when she lovingly sacrificed herself for him. Lily refused to stop shielding him from [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]], despite having been given the choice to live. Harry became the only known survivor of the Killing Curse with no ill effects, aside from attaining a [[Harry Potter's scars|lightning-shaped scar]] on his forehead.
+
The most effective method of surviving the Killing Curse is through [[sacrificial protection]]; the willing sacrifice of one's life for another, a manifestation of [[love]], which is the most potent defence against the "unblockable" Killing Curse. Love is a powerful and mysterious branch of magic; it gives those who experience it the ability to do very great things. Harry Potter was saved by his mother, [[Lily Potter]] when she lovingly sacrificed herself for him after she refused to stop shielding him from [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]], despite having been given the choice to live. Harry became the only known survivor of the Killing Curse with no ill effects, aside from attaining a [[Harry Potter's scars|lightning-shaped scar]] on his forehead.
   
 
===Horcruxes===
 
===Horcruxes===
 
[[File:First time.gif|250px|thumb|[[Tom Riddle]] splitting his soul for the first time and creating a Horcrux]]
 
[[File:First time.gif|250px|thumb|[[Tom Riddle]] splitting his soul for the first time and creating a Horcrux]]
   
Another defence employed against the Killing Curse is the creation of at least one [[Horcrux]]. The creation of Horcruxes is a preventive measure, created by a wizard long before he faces an actual Killing Curse attack. However, this is less effective than [[sacrificial protection]], since it only allows a little more than the soul of the target to live, while the target's body still dies. If one has Horcruxes, they will not be dead, but they will barely be alive and will be reduced, as Voldemort was when the Killing Curse backfired with his attempt to murder Harry in [[1981]]: to living off another, drinking [[Unicorn blood]], using the [[Philosopher's Stone]] (before it was destroyed), and creating a rudimentary body from Unicorn blood and [[Nagini]]'s venom.
+
Another defence employed against the Killing Curse is the creation of at least one [[Horcrux]]. The creation of Horcruxes is a preventive measure, created by a wizard long before he faces an actual Killing Curse attack. However, this is less effective than [[sacrificial protection]], since it only allows a little more than the soul of the target to live, while the target's body still dies. If one has Horcruxes, they will not be dead, but they will barely be alive and will be reduced, as Voldemort was when the Killing Curse backfired with his attempt to murder Harry in [[1981]] to living as a mutilated spirit. Some of the methods Voldemort used, or planned to use, to survive in this state included; living off another, drinking [[Unicorn blood]], using the [[Philosopher's Stone]] (reduced to a wrath-like state and the stone destroyed soon after before he could), and creating a rudimentary body from Unicorn blood and [[Nagini]]'s venom.
   
 
Voldemort's Horcruxes tethered his soul to the world. The Curse drove his mangled soul from his body, leaving him to roam only as a shadowy spirit, unable to move on to the afterlife but is a less-than-alive life form. If possible, one can make a [[Regeneration potion]] to return to human form, but it requires the bone of the father, the flesh of the servant, and the blood of an enemy. Because Voldemort required a servant to perform the rites of his rebirth, he was forced to spend thirteen years in hiding as he had no one who would come to his aid for such time.
 
Voldemort's Horcruxes tethered his soul to the world. The Curse drove his mangled soul from his body, leaving him to roam only as a shadowy spirit, unable to move on to the afterlife but is a less-than-alive life form. If possible, one can make a [[Regeneration potion]] to return to human form, but it requires the bone of the father, the flesh of the servant, and the blood of an enemy. Because Voldemort required a servant to perform the rites of his rebirth, he was forced to spend thirteen years in hiding as he had no one who would come to his aid for such time.
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|[[Unidentified Non-magique Mother|Non-magique Mother]]
 
|[[Unidentified Non-magique Mother|Non-magique Mother]]
 
| colspan="1" rowspan="5" |[[September]], [[1927]]
 
| colspan="1" rowspan="5" |[[September]], [[1927]]
| colspan="1" rowspan="3" |Used it on Gellert Grindelwald's orders to take over the [[Unidentified home used by Gellert Grindelwald|Muggles home]] and use it as a temporary headquarters.
+
| colspan="1" rowspan="3" |Used it on Gellert Grindelwald's orders to take over a house for a family of [[Unidentified home used by Gellert Grindelwald|Muggles]] and use it as a temporary headquarters.
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Unidentified Non-magique Father|Non-magique Father]]
 
|[[Unidentified Non-magique Father|Non-magique Father]]
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|[[Gunnar Grimmson]]
 
|[[Gunnar Grimmson]]
 
|[[Irma Dugard]]
 
|[[Irma Dugard]]
|Used it on Gellert Grindelwald's orders to keep the [[Credence Barebone]]'s identity as a secret.[[File:Grimmson kills Irma.gif|220x220px|thumb|left]]
+
|Used it on Gellert Grindelwald's orders to keep [[Credence Barebone]]'s identity as a secret.[[File:Grimmson kills Irma.gif|220x220px|thumb|left]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Cassius Bell]]
 
|[[Cassius Bell]]
 
|[[Pure-blood]] [[Red-haired young witch|witch]]
 
|[[Pure-blood]] [[Red-haired young witch|witch]]
|Used it in self-defence during [[Gellert Grindelwald's Paris rally]] in the [[Lestrange Mausoleum]], when she attacked him.
+
|Used it in self-defence during [[Gellert Grindelwald's Paris rally]] in the [[Lestrange Mausoleum]], when she attacked him.[[File:Auror kills Red Head Witch.gif|220x220px|thumb|left]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
| rowspan="24" |[[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]]
 
| rowspan="24" |[[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]]
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|[[Bertha Jorkins]]
 
|[[Bertha Jorkins]]
 
|Summer [[1994]]
 
|Summer [[1994]]
|For being useful after he broke Memory Charm on her.<ref>{{GOF|B|1}}</ref>
+
|For being useful after he broke the Memory Charm on her.<ref name="GOF1">{{GOF|B|1}}</ref>
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Frank Bryce]]
 
|[[Frank Bryce]]
 
|[[August]], [[1994]]
 
|[[August]], [[1994]]
|Used it for overhearing plan to kill [[Harry Potter]] and being a Muggle.<ref>{{GOF|B|1}}</ref>[[File:Voldemort kills Bryce.gif|220x220px|thumb|left]]
+
|Used it due to overhearing his plan to kill [[Harry Potter]] and being a Muggle.<ref name="GOF1"/>
  +
[[File:Frank_Bryce_murder.gif|thumb]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Fawkes]]
 
|[[Fawkes]]
 
|[[18 June]], [[1996]]
 
|[[18 June]], [[1996]]
|Used it to kill Dumbledore, but Fawkes took the curse on himself and burned. As a phoenix, Fawkes reborned minutes later.<ref>{{OOTP|B|36}}</ref>
+
|Used it to kill Dumbledore, but Fawkes took the curse on himself and burst into [[Fire|flames]]. As a phoenix, Fawkes resurrected minutes later.<ref name="OOTP36">{{OOTP|B|36}}</ref>
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Charity Burbage]]
 
|[[Charity Burbage]]
 
|[[July]], [[1997]]
 
|[[July]], [[1997]]
|Used it for supporting the Muggles rights and being the [[Muggle Studies]] teacher.<ref>{{DH|B|1}}</ref>[[File:Voldemort kills Burbage.gif|220x220px|thumb|left]]
+
|Used it for supporting [[Non-magic people|Muggle]] rights and being the [[Muggle Studies]] teacher.<ref name="DH1">{{DH|B|1}}</ref>[[File:Voldemort kills Burbage.gif|220x220px|thumb|left]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Alastor Moody]]
 
|[[Alastor Moody]]
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|For hiding [[Harry Potter]]'s whereabouts.
 
|For hiding [[Harry Potter]]'s whereabouts.
 
|-
 
|-
|Unnamed German speaking family: [[German woman|a woman]] and [[German children|two children]]
+
|Unnamed German speaking family: [[German woman|a woman]] and [[German-speaking children|two children]]
 
|[[1 September]], [[1997]]
 
|[[1 September]], [[1997]]
 
|For not telling where Gregorovitch was hiding.<ref>{{DH|B|12}}</ref>
 
|For not telling where Gregorovitch was hiding.<ref>{{DH|B|12}}</ref>
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|[[Mykew Gregorovitch]]
 
|[[Mykew Gregorovitch]]
 
|[[2 September]], [[1997]]
 
|[[2 September]], [[1997]]
|For not telling who was the thief who stole the [[Elder Wand]].<ref>{{DH|B|14}}</ref>
+
|For not telling who was the thief that stole the [[Elder Wand]].<ref>{{DH|B|14}}</ref>[[File:Voldemort killing Gregorovitch.JPG|220x220px|thumb|left]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Gellert Grindelwald]]
 
|[[Gellert Grindelwald]]
 
|[[March]], [[1998]]
 
|[[March]], [[1998]]
|For hiding [[Elder Wand]]'s location.<ref>{{DH|B|23}}</ref>
+
|For hiding the [[Elder Wand]]'s location.<ref>{{DH|B|23}}</ref>[[File:Voldemort and Grindelwald.JPG|220x220px|thumb|left]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Unidentified goblin killed by Voldemort|Unnamed goblin]]
 
|[[Unidentified goblin killed by Voldemort|Unnamed goblin]]
Line 198: Line 200:
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[2 May]], [[1998]]
 
|[[2 May]], [[1998]]
  +
|-
  +
|[[Patricia Rakepick]]
  +
|[[Rowan Khanna]]
  +
|[[1990]]
  +
|Aimed curse at [[Ben Copper]], but Rowan jumped in the way, sacrificing their life in the process.<ref>{{HM|6|18}}</ref> [[File:Rowan Death.gif|220x220px|thumb|left]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
| colspan="1" rowspan="2" |[[Bartemius Crouch Junior|Bartemius Crouch Jr]] {{c|disguised as [[Alastor Moody]]}}
 
| colspan="1" rowspan="2" |[[Bartemius Crouch Junior|Bartemius Crouch Jr]] {{c|disguised as [[Alastor Moody]]}}
Line 206: Line 213:
 
|[[Bartemius Crouch Senior|Bartemius Crouch Snr]]
 
|[[Bartemius Crouch Senior|Bartemius Crouch Snr]]
 
|[[24 May]], [[1995]]
 
|[[24 May]], [[1995]]
|Used it for nearby destruction of their plan.<ref>{{GOF|B|29}}</ref><ref>{{GOF|B|35}}</ref>
+
|Used it due to nearly destroying Lord Voldemort's plans.<ref>{{GOF|B|29}}</ref><ref>{{GOF|B|35}}</ref>[[File:Bartemius Crouch Snr dead.jpg|220x220px|thumb|left]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Peter Pettigrew]]
 
|[[Peter Pettigrew]]
Line 221: Line 228:
 
|[[Gibbon]]
 
|[[Gibbon]]
 
| rowspan="2" |[[30 June]], [[1997]]
 
| rowspan="2" |[[30 June]], [[1997]]
|Used it to kill Remus Lupin, but he missed and killed his comrade.<ref>{{HBP|B|29}}</ref>
+
|Used it to kill Remus Lupin, but he missed and killed his comrade instead.<ref>{{HBP|B|29}}</ref>
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Severus Snape]]
 
|[[Severus Snape]]
 
|[[Albus Dumbledore]]
 
|[[Albus Dumbledore]]
|Planned ahead of time by slowly dying Dumbledore and Snape to fool Voldemort.<ref>{{HBP|B|27}}</ref>[[File:Snape_killing_dumbledore.gif|thumb|left]]
+
|Planned ahead of time by a slowly dying Dumbledore and Snape in order to fool Voldemort.<ref>{{HBP|B|27}}</ref>[[File:Snape_killing_dumbledore.gif|thumb|left]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Death Eaters|Death Eater]]
 
|[[Death Eaters|Death Eater]]
Line 240: Line 247:
 
|[[Craig Bowker Jr]]
 
|[[Craig Bowker Jr]]
 
|[[2020]]
 
|[[2020]]
|For interupting her at [[Hogwarts Quidditch Pitch]]
+
|For interupting her at the [[Hogwarts Quidditch Pitch]]
 
|}
 
|}
   
Line 299: Line 306:
 
*Out of the three Unforgivable Curses, the Killing Curse is the only one that Harry did not use.
 
*Out of the three Unforgivable Curses, the Killing Curse is the only one that Harry did not use.
 
*While the curse is noted to be unblockable, there are many exceptions listed: the seventh book shows jets of red and green light colliding and shooting off into multi-coloured sparks, much like fireworks, while the films show it being blocked with a [[Shield Charm]].{{fact}}
 
*While the curse is noted to be unblockable, there are many exceptions listed: the seventh book shows jets of red and green light colliding and shooting off into multi-coloured sparks, much like fireworks, while the films show it being blocked with a [[Shield Charm]].{{fact}}
*This is the only known spell whose sole and primary application is death; however, it is not the only spell that can prove fatal: [[Fiendfyre]], ''[[Sectumsempra]]'', ''[[Blasting Curse|Confringo]]'', ''[[Severing Charm|Diffindo]]'' or even ''[[Stunning Spell|Stupefy]]'' in exceptional circumstances. [[Antonin Dolohov]] used an [[Antonin Dolohov's curse|unnamed curse]] that could also prove fatal. [[Molly Weasley]] also uses an unnamed spell on Bellatrix that caused the Dark witch's death.
+
*This is the only known spell whose sole and primary application is death. However, it is not the only spell that can prove fatal; [[Fiendfyre]], ''[[Sectumsempra]]'', ''[[Blasting Curse|Confringo]]'', ''[[Severing Charm|Diffindo]]'' or even ''[[Stunning Spell|Stupefy]]'' in exceptional circumstances. [[Antonin Dolohov]] used an [[Antonin Dolohov's curse|unnamed curse]] that could also prove fatal and [[Molly Weasley]] also used an unnamed spell on Bellatrix that caused the Dark witch's death; it is unclear whether any of the other attack spells being used by non-Death Eaters during the battle at Hogwarts were intended to kill the target, or simply disable.
*The curse's incantation was Voldemort's last words in life in the novel.
+
*The curse's incantation were Voldemort's last words in life in the novel.
*Worth noticing is the similarity between the hand movements for the Curse and the shape of Harry's scar: Both resemble lightning bolts.
+
*Worth noticing is the similarity between the hand movements for the Curse and the shape of Harry's scar; both resemble lightning bolts.
 
*This is the only one of the three unforgivable curses without a Latin incantation.
 
*This is the only one of the three unforgivable curses without a Latin incantation.
*During the [[Encounter at the Shrieking Shack]], Sirius Black and Remus Lupin intended to kill [[Peter Pettigrew]] for his betrayal of James and Lily Potter.<ref>{{POA|B|18}}</ref> It is unknown how they wanted to do it, possibly by the use of this curse. If it would have been used, Peter would have died the same way as his former friends.
+
*During the [[Encounter at the Shrieking Shack]], Sirius Black and Remus Lupin intended to kill [[Peter Pettigrew]] for his betrayal of James and Lily Potter.<ref>{{POA|B|18}}</ref> It is unknown how they wanted to do it, but it was possibly by using this curse. If it would have been used, Peter would have died the same way as his former friends.
 
*In the films the curse has been seen as a jet, a flash, or a burst of green or turquoise light.
 
*In the films the curse has been seen as a jet, a flash, or a burst of green or turquoise light.
*In the [[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (PC, Mac)|PC video game version]] of {{PS}}, Quirrell frequently shoots Harry with a green mist-like spell that may be The Killing Curse though it doesn't kill instantly. Harry deflects the "Killing Curse" spells back to Voldemort later with the [[Mirror of Erised]], eventually killing him.
+
*In the [[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (PC, Mac)|PC video game version]] of {{PS}}, Quirrell frequently shoots Harry with a green mist-like spell that may be the Killing Curse though it doesn't kill instantly. Harry deflects the "Killing Curse" spells back to Voldemort later with the [[Mirror of Erised]], eventually killing him.
 
[[File:AvadaLEGO.png|thumb|The Killing Curse in ''LEGO Harry Potter'']]
 
[[File:AvadaLEGO.png|thumb|The Killing Curse in ''LEGO Harry Potter'']]
 
*In {{LEGO|Y1}}, Frank Bryce is replaced by a [[Little Hangleton milkman|milkman]]. However, his death by this curse cannot be considered canon as no echo of him appeared during the [[Duel in Little Hangleton]].
 
*In {{LEGO|Y1}}, Frank Bryce is replaced by a [[Little Hangleton milkman|milkman]]. However, his death by this curse cannot be considered canon as no echo of him appeared during the [[Duel in Little Hangleton]].
Line 312: Line 319:
 
*In {{COS|FA}}, [[Lucius Malfoy]] says "''Avada-''" at [[Harry Potter]] after he unwillingly frees [[Dobby]]. Dobby knocks Lucius backwards with magic to protect Harry, and he does not finish the incantation. The part of the incantation shown was not represented in the subtitles.
 
*In {{COS|FA}}, [[Lucius Malfoy]] says "''Avada-''" at [[Harry Potter]] after he unwillingly frees [[Dobby]]. Dobby knocks Lucius backwards with magic to protect Harry, and he does not finish the incantation. The part of the incantation shown was not represented in the subtitles.
 
*In {{GOF|FA}}, Barty Crouch Jr uses not [[Alastor Moody's spiders|three spiders]] but an arachnid of a separate species, an {{w|Amblypygi}}.
 
*In {{GOF|FA}}, Barty Crouch Jr uses not [[Alastor Moody's spiders|three spiders]] but an arachnid of a separate species, an {{w|Amblypygi}}.
[[File:Voldemort avada kedavra.png|thumb|Voldemort using the Killing Curse against Albus Dumbledore]]
 
 
*In {{OOTP|FA}}, [[Bellatrix Lestrange]] is shown using the Killing Curse to murder [[Sirius Black]] in a scene slightly different from that of the novel, in which Sirius was pushed through the [[Veil]] by an unidentified curse cast by Bellatrix. The effect of the curse is also not shown to be instantaneous in the film. Instead, it hit his arm or shoulder, stinging him and causing him to show signs of weakness as he fell into the Veil.
 
*In {{OOTP|FA}}, [[Bellatrix Lestrange]] is shown using the Killing Curse to murder [[Sirius Black]] in a scene slightly different from that of the novel, in which Sirius was pushed through the [[Veil]] by an unidentified curse cast by Bellatrix. The effect of the curse is also not shown to be instantaneous in the film. Instead, it hit his arm or shoulder, stinging him and causing him to show signs of weakness as he fell into the Veil.
  +
*In {{DH|F1}}:
*In {{DH|F1}}, After being warned by Kingsley's Patronus and the Death Eaters arrive, an unidentified Death Eater appears and immediately attacks an unidentified Auror with what appears to be a Killing Curse, which causes the Auror to be blasted off his feet and into the wedding cake.
+
** After being warned by Kingsley's Patronus and the Death Eaters arrive, an unidentified Death Eater appears and immediately attacks an unidentified Auror with what appears to be a Killing Curse, which causes the Auror to be blasted off his feet and into the wedding cake.
  +
** After defeating a Death Eater in a London diner, Harry, Ron and Hermione briefly consider killing the man before choosing to wipe his memory instead; it's unclear what spell would have been used had they decided to carry through with the idea.
 
*In {{DH|F2}}:
 
*In {{DH|F2}}:
**Voldemort kills [[Pius Thicknesse]] with the Killing Curse after the latter interrupts the former's thoughts. It is unknown if Pius survived the Battle of Hogwarts in the book, but it is certain that Voldemort did not kill him.[[File:Avada Kedavra.png|thumb|A green spell cast by [[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]] in an attempt to kill [[Nagini]]]]
+
**Voldemort kills [[Pius Thicknesse]] with the Killing Curse after the latter interrupts the former's thoughts. It is unknown if Pius survived the Battle of Hogwarts in the book, but it is certain that Voldemort did not kill him.[[File:Nagini DHF2.png|thumb|A green spell cast by [[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]] in an attempt to kill [[Nagini]]]]
**[[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]] casts a green spell in an attempt to kill Voldemort's snake [[Nagini]] (one of his [[Horcrux]]es). Though if this was indeed the Killing Curse that Ron used against Nagini she would have been destroyed as Horcruxes can be destroyed by being hit with a Killing Curse. This is proven when Harry surrenders to Voldemort and he is hit with the curse, while Harry was "killed", Voldemort simultaneously destroyed the Horcrux that resided in Harry's body. However, it may be that Ron ''did'' attempt the curse, but simply lacked the power and will to actually make it effective, based on prior observations that the person casting the Unforgiveables must really want to achieve their intended purpose. It is also possible that the Fragment of Voldemort's soul that was in Harry was only destroyed by the Killing Curse as Harry was an accidental Horcrux, and as such he lacked the additional enchantments that gave the other Horcruxes their invulnerability.
+
**[[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]] casts a green spell in an attempt to kill Voldemort's snake [[Nagini]] (one of his [[Horcrux]]es). Though if this was indeed the Killing Curse that Ron used against Nagini, she would have been destroyed as Horcruxes can be destroyed by being hit with a Killing Curse. This is proven when Harry surrenders to Voldemort and he is hit with the curse, while Harry was "killed", Voldemort simultaneously destroyed the Horcrux that resided in Harry's body. However, it may be that Ron ''did'' attempt the curse, but simply lacked the power and will to actually make it effective, based on prior observations that the person casting the Unforgiveables must really want to achieve their intended purpose. It is also possible that the Fragment of Voldemort's soul that was in Harry was only destroyed by the Killing Curse as Harry was an accidental Horcrux, and as such he lacked the additional enchantments that gave the other Horcruxes their invulnerability.
**The Killing Curse rebounds on Voldemort during [[Voldemort's Last Stand|his duel with Harry]] by the green light of the curse emitting through the crack in the Elder Wand, causing Voldemort's hand to turn black and spread, leading to his death.
+
**The Killing Curse rebounds on Voldemort during [[Voldemort's Last Stand|his duel with Harry]] by the green light of the curse emitting through the crack in the Elder Wand, causing Voldemort's hand to turn black and spread through his body, which in turn led to his death.
**The rebounding Killing Curse affects Voldemort by causing him to disintegrate into ashes instead of leaving his physical body dead.
+
**The rebounding Killing Curse affects Voldemort by causing him to disintegrate into ashes instead of leaving his physical body dead, although development screencaps for the film indicated he was originally going to leave his body behind like in the book.
   
 
==Appearances==
 
==Appearances==
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*{{CC}}
 
*{{CC}}
 
*{{CC|P}}
 
*{{CC|P}}
 
*{{COG|S}}
  +
*{{COG}}
 
*{{FB|2017}} {{Mention}}
 
*{{FB|2017}} {{Mention}}
 
*{{TBB|R}} {{Mention}}
 
*{{TBB|R}} {{Mention}}
Line 349: Line 359:
 
*{{HPS}}
 
*{{HPS}}
 
*{{PM}} {{Mention}}
 
*{{PM}} {{Mention}}
*{{COG|S}}
+
*{{HM}}
*{{COG}}
 
   
 
==Notes and references==
 
==Notes and references==

Revision as of 02:01, 27 May 2020

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"There was a flash of blinding green light and a rushing sound, as though a vast, invisible something was soaring through the air — instantaneously the spider rolled over onto its back, unmarked, but unmistakably dead"
— Description of the Killing Curse[src]

The Killing Curse (Avada Kedavra) is a tool of the Dark Arts and one of the three Unforgivable Curses. It is one of the most powerful and sinister (if not the most sinister) spells known to Wizardkind. When cast successfully on a living person or creature the curse causes instantaneous and painless death, without causing any injury to the body, and without any trace of violence.

The only known counter-spell is sacrificial protection, which uses the power of love. However, one may dodge the green bolt, block it with a physical barrier, or by the use of Priori Incantatem. The Killing Curse is a conventionally unblockable curse; therefore shield charms would not be able to defend against it. An explosion or green fire may result if the spell hits something other than a living target.

History

"The Cruciatus, Imperius, and Killing Curses were first classified as Unforgivable in 1717, with the strictest penalties attached to their use."
Dumbledore's notes from The Tales of Beedle the Bard[src]

The Killing Curse was invented during the early Middle Ages by Dark witches or wizards. The curse was created primarily as a means of quickly and efficiently slaying one's opponent in a duel.[3] It can be assumed that this was a popular and frequently used curse in duelling.

B4C30M1 Wizengamot trial Pensieve memory

Death Eaters face the Council of Magical Law for their use of the Unforgivable Curses

Until 1927, the Killing Curse was used by the Magical Congress of the United States of America on magical beasts considered dangerous.[4]

Along with the Cruciatus and Imperius curses, the Killing Curse is known as one of the most terrible and sinister curses in the wizarding world. After the Wizards' Council was reformed into the Ministry of Magic tighter restrictions were placed on the use of certain kinds of magic. The Killing Curse was deemed by the Ministry to be Dark magic and along with the Cruciatus and Imperius curses, were declared "unforgivable" in 1717, with the Killing Curse considered to be the most deadly of the three. Use of any Unforgivable curse on a human would carry the punishment of a life sentence without parole in Azkaban.

However, during the First Wizarding War, when Barty Crouch Snr was in charge of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, he fought violence with violence, legalising the three Unforgivable Curses for Aurors against the Death Eaters in order to win the war. This was repealed once the war was over, as it was no longer necessary, though, in the 1994–1995 school year, Barty Crouch Jr (under the disguise of Alastor Moody) demonstrated these three curses to his fourth year classes on spiders. The Ministry did not approve of this because "Professor Moody" was showing these curses to those who did not truly need to see it (i.e., a class of 14-15-year-olds).

Harry godric's hollow baby the boy who lived

One of Voldemort's most heinous act: preparing to cast the Killing Curse onto a one-year old Harry Potter

One of the most infamous events involving this curse happened on Hallowe'en in 1981, when Voldemort arrived at the Potter cottage in Godric's Hollow after being told of its location by the Secret-Keeper of its Fidelius Charm, and murdered James and Lily Potter while they attempted to protect their infant son Harry. He cast the Killing Curse on Harry as well, but it backfired destroying Voldemort's body. This event led to Voldemort's first downfall, the end of the First Wizarding War, and Harry's fate being sealed as the "Boy Who Lived". Also the Killing Curse was known throughout most of the wizarding world to be Voldemort's signature spell. This became common knowledge most likely during the first war, due to his frequent and indiscriminate usage of it; he certainly massacred enough to create an army of Inferi. Ironically, the Killing Curse, Voldemort's signature spell, would ultimately be the very spell that lead to his own defeat. In his final duel against Harry Potter, Voldemort would not realise that the curse would backfire (because the Elder Wand would not kill its true master), finally putting an end to the Dark Lord.

Lord Voldemort was a prolific user of the Killing Curse throughout his life. He used the curse excessively throughout the First and Second Wizarding Wars. He also used the curse outside of warfare, most likely for pleasure. His first known usage of the curse was at age 16, murdering his father, paternal grandfather and paternal grandmother. He used it to murder famous wand maker Mykew Gregorovitch and notorious Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald, while searching abroad for the Elder Wand. When he learned of Harry Potter's successful Gringotts break-in and retrieval of Hufflepuff's Cup, he murdered several goblins in a fit of rage. On 2 May during the Battle of Hogwarts, Harry willingly let Voldemort hit him with the Killing Curse, in order to be rid of the piece of Voldemort's soul he harboured at the time.

When Voldemort took over the Ministry, the three curses were once again legalised: this time every wizard and witch had the right to use them as they please. In fact, they were practised in Hogwarts as part of the curriculum of Dark Arts class under the tutelage of Professor Amycus Carrow. After Voldemort's death and the reform of the Ministry under Minister Kingsley Shacklebolt, the three curses were once again forbidden.

The Killing Curse

Voldemort used the curse excessively throughout the Second Wizarding War

It should be noted that despite the curse being illegal, references have been made to Aurors using deadly force against opponents, though whether this means they were authorised to use the Killing Curse specifically is unclear. Despite the circumstances, it is unknown whether the Killing Curse was used by anyone but Voldemort and his Death Eaters during the Battle of Hogwarts. It is also known that use of this curse may go unpunished if there is sufficient evidence that the caster did so under the influence of the Imperius Curse.

Nature

"The green light filled the cramped hallway, it lit the pram pushed against the wall, it made the banisters glow like lighting rods, and James Potter fell like a marionette whose strings were cut...."
James Potter is murdered by Voldemort with this curse[src]
Godric flash

The flash of green light that indicates the curse

The Killing Curse is recognisable by the flash of green light and the rushing noise emitted from the caster's wand. When the curse hits a living, organic target it invariably kills them without injury. The mechanism by which it kills is unknown. However, when the curse struck Voldemort and succeeded in causing his biological death, he described the curse as having ripped his soul from his body. When the curse hits an inanimate target the effect varies: it can produce small fires,[5] small greenish explosions,[6] or explosions of such intensity that can blow up an entire story of a cottage.[7] It is known by most wizards as Lord Voldemort's signature spell. It is possible to intercept the curse with other spells, but this is extremely difficult as it requires the energy jets of the two spells to collide. As the energy jets of virtually all spells are very small and fast, this has only ever been recorded as occurring by accident.

However, certain objects, such as the centaur statue of the Fountain of Magical Brethren, managed to block the curse without any visible damage to itself.[8] It should be noted that the curse itself did not terminate the animation of (i.e. "kill") the statue, however, as the statue was only animated by magic and so presumably had no real life in him for the curse to take away.

Performance

"The Killing Curse is 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 (disguised as Alastor Moody) on the skill required to cast the curse[src]

The curse requires great skill, power, and intent in order to be performed correctly. In 1994, Barty Crouch, Jr, disguised as Alastor Moody, claimed that if all of the students before him were to get out their wands and perform it on him at one time, he would likely be completely unaffected as he believed they all lacked the necessary power needed to cast the spell. However, in 1997, Severus Snape also stated that to cast Unforgivable Curses one needed both nerve and ability. It is possible to cast the curse nonverbally, as Bellatrix killed a fox without an incantation. However, the lack of the incantation may have been for suspense. Whether this is true or not in Bellatrix's case is unknown.[9] However, during his duel with Dumbledore, Voldemort used this spell several times without an incantation. Intense concentration is likely required to cast the Killing Curse, which is probably why Death Eaters don't use it as their primary offensive spell (although Thorfinn Rowle did launch the curse repeatedly all over the place during the Battle of the Astronomy Tower).

The Killing Curse, in addition to requiring the caster to be a very skilled wizard, also requires a genuine willingness and at times desire to commit murder.[10][11] One of the main reasons why Lord Voldemort demonstrated such an affinity for the curse was due to how exceptionally powerful he was magic wise along with his complete and utter lack of remorse or value for the lives of fellow humans, Muggle or otherwise. For example, Draco Malfoy, despite possessing many undesirable personality traits, found himself ultimately unable to kill Albus Dumbledore because he did not hate him enough to actually do the deed. Voldemort, on the other hand, had no such restraint and murdered scores of people without remorse in his pursuit of power and immortality; in fact, he was fully prepared to murder one-year old Harry Potter upon deducing him to be a potential threat to his power and, had he succeeded, was implied to have been intending to use this most heinous act (the murder of an innocent child) to create his final Horcrux.

Signs

Lily dead

Lily Potter's corpse showed no outward signs of trauma, as the curse does not cause bodily harm

The Killing Curse is described as a jet or flash of blinding green light that "illuminates every corner of the room"[12] followed by a rushing sound, which causes the victim instant death. Victims of the Killing Curse are identified by the fact that they simply appear to have dropped dead for no biological reason. Indeed, victims seem "perfectly healthy" apart from the fact that they are dead.[9] This lack of visible injuries is one that had confused Muggles throughout the years of its use, requiring many Ministry of Magic officials to modify memories. Wizarding authorities, however, could tell at once of the curse's usage due to its somewhat unique nature.

Sensation

Presumably, the Killing Curse does not inflict any pain on its target, since it causes instantaneous death. However, Harry Potter, who awoke after a Killing Curse cast by Lord Voldemort hit him, describes the sensation as an "iron-clad punch", though this may have been caused by the destruction of the fragment of Lord Voldemort's soul contained within his body. However, when he was initially struck by the curse, it caused him no sensation at all. When Voldemort was struck by his own rebounding Killing Curse after he attempted to kill Harry Potter the first time, he described the sensation of his soul being ripped from his body as being "pain beyond pain". However, given the uniquely mutilated state of his soul at the time and that his soul had not gone to the afterlife, it seems likely that his reaction was atypical.

Survivability

"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."
— Barty Crouch Jr (disguised as Alastor Moody) regarding Harry Potter surviving the curse[src]

The Killing Curse can be dodged or physically blocked by an object, such as the statues Dumbledore animated to protect Harry Potter during his duel with Voldemort after the Battle of the Department of Mysteries. The Killing Curse is known to be unblockable, as once it strikes the living victim, it almost always results in immediate death. There is "no counter-curse" since it is not possible to revive the dead. However there are some exceptions:

Sacrificial protection

The most effective method of surviving the Killing Curse is through sacrificial protection; the willing sacrifice of one's life for another, a manifestation of love, which is the most potent defence against the "unblockable" Killing Curse. Love is a powerful and mysterious branch of magic; it gives those who experience it the ability to do very great things. Harry Potter was saved by his mother, Lily Potter when she lovingly sacrificed herself for him after she refused to stop shielding him from Lord Voldemort, despite having been given the choice to live. Harry became the only known survivor of the Killing Curse with no ill effects, aside from attaining a lightning-shaped scar on his forehead.

Horcruxes

First time

Tom Riddle splitting his soul for the first time and creating a Horcrux

Another defence employed against the Killing Curse is the creation of at least one Horcrux. The creation of Horcruxes is a preventive measure, created by a wizard long before he faces an actual Killing Curse attack. However, this is less effective than sacrificial protection, since it only allows a little more than the soul of the target to live, while the target's body still dies. If one has Horcruxes, they will not be dead, but they will barely be alive and will be reduced, as Voldemort was when the Killing Curse backfired with his attempt to murder Harry in 1981 to living as a mutilated spirit. Some of the methods Voldemort used, or planned to use, to survive in this state included; living off another, drinking Unicorn blood, using the Philosopher's Stone (reduced to a wrath-like state and the stone destroyed soon after before he could), and creating a rudimentary body from Unicorn blood and Nagini's venom.

Voldemort's Horcruxes tethered his soul to the world. The Curse drove his mangled soul from his body, leaving him to roam only as a shadowy spirit, unable to move on to the afterlife but is a less-than-alive life form. If possible, one can make a Regeneration potion to return to human form, but it requires the bone of the father, the flesh of the servant, and the blood of an enemy. Because Voldemort required a servant to perform the rites of his rebirth, he was forced to spend thirteen years in hiding as he had no one who would come to his aid for such time.

Upon the destruction of all his Horcruxes, Voldemort had no more defences against death, and was finally killed by his own deflected Killing Curse.

Intercepting the Curse

"Harry responded with further Stunning Spells: Red and green collided in midair in a shower of multicoloured sparks..."
— Harry Potter's stunners blocking the Killing Curse[src]
Priori Incantatem Pottermore

Priori Incantantem occurring between Lord Voldemort and Harry Potter

The Priori Incantatem effect is when two wands that share the same cores are put into battle against each other. One wand will then force the other wand to repeat its previously-cast spells. Because of this, a Killing Curse can be blocked if a wand that shares the killer's wand's core fires a spell at it: both spells will connect and thus the wizard has been spared by the Killing Curse.

Priori Incantatem occurred in the duel between Harry Potter and Voldemort in the graveyard during Harry's fourth year.[1] Voldemort cast the Killing Curse and Harry cast the Disarming Charm, and because their wands had twin cores, Priori Incantantem occurred; Harry was not killed and was able to hold Voldemort off to give him time to escape.

Fawkes rebirth

Fawkes the Phoenix bursting into flames before his rebirth

Phoenixes are semi-protected from the Killing Curse, due to them being immortal. In 1996, Fawkes swallowed one intended for Albus Dumbledore, causing him to burst into flame and die instantly. However, he then was reborn from his ashes.[8]

The spell can be directly countered using a Stunning Spell, in which case red and green jets of light will meet and create multi-coloured sparks. Since neither spell is able to reach its intended target, neither will have any effect, as the jets of light basically explode on each other. However, this is particularly tricky, as it requires both jets of light to collide with one another. It is unknown whether this is limited to the Stunning Spell or if it is possible to reflect the Curse with other spells, although during Harry and Voldemort's final duel a similar thing happened when Harry's Disarming Charm collided with Voldemort's Killing Curse, although the Elder Wand's allegiance to Harry must be taken into consideration in this particular situation.

If another target is placed between the caster and the targeted individual, then the new target will take the hit of the Killing Curse, which may simply result in an object being destroyed or damaged in an explosion of green flames. One can also avoid the effects simply by dodging or if the caster has poor aim, as with many attacking curses of this type, the spell must be directly targeted at the intended victim.

Known uses

"He saw the mouth move and a flash of green light, and everything was gone."
— Harry Potter being hit with the curse[src]

Successful

Caster(s) Victim(s) Date Note
Gellert Grindelwald's acolytes Non-magique Mother September, 1927 Used it on Gellert Grindelwald's orders to take over a house for a family of Muggles and use it as a temporary headquarters.
Non-magique Father
Carrow Non-magique Baby
Gunnar Grimmson Irma Dugard Used it on Gellert Grindelwald's orders to keep Credence Barebone's identity as a secret.
Grimmson kills Irma
Cassius Bell Pure-blood witch Used it in self-defence during Gellert Grindelwald's Paris rally in the Lestrange Mausoleum, when she attacked him.
Auror kills Red Head Witch
Lord Voldemort Tom Riddle Snr Summer 1943 For abandoning him and his mother Merope and being a Muggle.
Thomas Riddle For being a Muggle.
Mary Riddle
James Potter 31 October, 1981 For trying to stop him from killing Lily and Harry Potter.
James dead
Lily Potter For trying to stop him from killing Harry Potter.
Lily murder
Harry Potter (survived both) For being his enemy.
Tumblr n29413O6t71rzvuwqo4 r1 250
2 May, 1998
Bertha Jorkins Summer 1994 For being useful after he broke the Memory Charm on her.[13]
Frank Bryce August, 1994 Used it due to overhearing his plan to kill Harry Potter and being a Muggle.[13]
Frank Bryce murder
Fawkes 18 June, 1996 Used it to kill Dumbledore, but Fawkes took the curse on himself and burst into flames. As a phoenix, Fawkes resurrected minutes later.[14]
Charity Burbage July, 1997 Used it for supporting Muggle rights and being the Muggle Studies teacher.[15]
Voldemort kills Burbage
Alastor Moody 27 July, 1997 Used it for being the Order of the Phoenix leader after Albus Dumbledore's death and trying to transport Harry Potter to safety.[16]
Rufus Scrimgeour 1 August, 1997 For hiding Harry Potter's whereabouts.
Unnamed German speaking family: a woman and two children 1 September, 1997 For not telling where Gregorovitch was hiding.[17]
Mykew Gregorovitch 2 September, 1997 For not telling who was the thief that stole the Elder Wand.[18]
Voldemort killing Gregorovitch
Gellert Grindelwald March, 1998 For hiding the Elder Wand's location.[19]
Voldemort and Grindelwald
Unnamed goblin 1 May1998 For bringing news about Helga Hufflepuff's Cup robbery.[20]
Griphook
Death Eaters
Gringotts guards 
goblins
Unnamed Death Eater 2 May, 1998 Battle of Hogwarts
Lord Voldemort (backfired) 31 October, 1981 (survived)
2 May, 1998
Patricia Rakepick Rowan Khanna 1990 Aimed curse at Ben Copper, but Rowan jumped in the way, sacrificing their life in the process.[21]
Rowan Death
Bartemius Crouch Jr (disguised as Alastor Moody) Spider 4 September, 1994[22] Used it to teach fourth-year students.
Crouch Jr kills spider
Bartemius Crouch Snr 24 May, 1995 Used it due to nearly destroying Lord Voldemort's plans.[23][24]
Bartemius Crouch Snr dead
Peter Pettigrew Cedric Diggory 24 June, 1995 Used it on Lord Voldemort's orders.[25]
Cedric's Death
Bellatrix Lestrange Fox near Spinner's End July, 1996 Meant for a possible spy or Auror.[26]
Thorfinn Rowle Gibbon 30 June, 1997 Used it to kill Remus Lupin, but he missed and killed his comrade instead.[27]
Severus Snape Albus Dumbledore Planned ahead of time by a slowly dying Dumbledore and Snape in order to fool Voldemort.[28]
Snape killing dumbledore
Death Eater Hedwig 27 July, 1997 Meant for Harry Potter.[29]
Death Eater kills Hedwig
Numerous Victims of the:
Global wizarding war,
First Wizarding War, and
Second Wizarding War
1940s to 1998 Unknown reasons.
Delphini Craig Bowker Jr 2020 For interupting her at the Hogwarts Quidditch Pitch

Failed casts

"Crabbe wheeled around and screamed, AVADA KEDAVRA! again. Ron leaped out of sight to avoid the jet of green light."
— Vincent Crabbe attempts to murder Ron Weasley[src]
Caster(s) Victim(s) Date
Antonin Dolohov Hermione Granger[30] 18 June, 1996
Lord Voldemort Harry Potter
27 July, 1997
Death Eater Rubeus Hagrid[31]
Death Eaters Order of the Phoenix
Vincent Crabbe Hermione Granger[32] 2 May, 1998
Ron Weasley[33]
Bellatrix Lestrange Ginny Weasley
Delphini Albus Potter 31 October, 1981

Other practitioners

Etymology

Avada Kedavra is based on the Aramaic אַבַדָא כְּדַברָא, avada kedavra, meaning "let the thing be destroyed". J. K. Rowling confirmed this during an audience interview at the Edinburgh Book Festival on 15 April, 2004, where she had this to say about the spell's etymology: "Does anyone know where avada kedavra came from? It is an ancient spell in Aramaic, and it is the original of abracadabra, which means 'let the thing be destroyed.' Originally, it was used to cure illness and the 'thing' was the illness, but I decided to make it the 'thing' as in the person standing in front of me. I take a lot of liberties with things like that. I twist them round and make them mine."[34]

This phrase is also the origin of abracadabra, which, like Hocus Pocus, is used by magicians as a magic word when they perform tricks.[35]

"Kedavra" also sounds very similar to the English word cadaver, which means "corpse," and derives from the Latin cadere, "to fall."[36]

Behind the scenes

  • 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".
  • Prior to being introduced to this curse in his fourth year class, Harry had always pondered how his parents were exactly killed by Voldemort. The revelation was rather unpleasant for him.
  • After Harry Potter survived a second killing curse, he described it as having left a bruise that felt like an "iron-clad punch."
  • Out of the three Unforgivable Curses, the Killing Curse is the only one that Harry did not use.
  • While the curse is noted to be unblockable, there are many exceptions listed: the seventh book shows jets of red and green light colliding and shooting off into multi-coloured sparks, much like fireworks, while the films show it being blocked with a Shield Charm.[citation needed]
  • This is the only known spell whose sole and primary application is death. However, it is not the only spell that can prove fatal; Fiendfyre, Sectumsempra, Confringo, Diffindo or even Stupefy in exceptional circumstances. Antonin Dolohov used an unnamed curse that could also prove fatal and Molly Weasley also used an unnamed spell on Bellatrix that caused the Dark witch's death; it is unclear whether any of the other attack spells being used by non-Death Eaters during the battle at Hogwarts were intended to kill the target, or simply disable.
  • The curse's incantation were Voldemort's last words in life in the novel.
  • Worth noticing is the similarity between the hand movements for the Curse and the shape of Harry's scar; both resemble lightning bolts.
  • This is the only one of the three unforgivable curses without a Latin incantation.
  • During the Encounter at the Shrieking Shack, Sirius Black and Remus Lupin intended to kill Peter Pettigrew for his betrayal of James and Lily Potter.[37] It is unknown how they wanted to do it, but it was possibly by using this curse. If it would have been used, Peter would have died the same way as his former friends.
  • In the films the curse has been seen as a jet, a flash, or a burst of green or turquoise light.
  • In the PC video game version of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Quirrell frequently shoots Harry with a green mist-like spell that may be the Killing Curse though it doesn't kill instantly. Harry deflects the "Killing Curse" spells back to Voldemort later with the Mirror of Erised, eventually killing him.
AvadaLEGO

The Killing Curse in LEGO Harry Potter

In films

  • In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Lucius Malfoy says "Avada-" at Harry Potter after he unwillingly frees Dobby. Dobby knocks Lucius backwards with magic to protect Harry, and he does not finish the incantation. The part of the incantation shown was not represented in the subtitles.
  • In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Barty Crouch Jr uses not three spiders but an arachnid of a separate species, an Amblypygi.
  • In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Bellatrix Lestrange is shown using the Killing Curse to murder Sirius Black in a scene slightly different from that of the novel, in which Sirius was pushed through the Veil by an unidentified curse cast by Bellatrix. The effect of the curse is also not shown to be instantaneous in the film. Instead, it hit his arm or shoulder, stinging him and causing him to show signs of weakness as he fell into the Veil.
  • In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1:
    • After being warned by Kingsley's Patronus and the Death Eaters arrive, an unidentified Death Eater appears and immediately attacks an unidentified Auror with what appears to be a Killing Curse, which causes the Auror to be blasted off his feet and into the wedding cake.
    • After defeating a Death Eater in a London diner, Harry, Ron and Hermione briefly consider killing the man before choosing to wipe his memory instead; it's unclear what spell would have been used had they decided to carry through with the idea.
  • In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2:
    • Voldemort kills Pius Thicknesse with the Killing Curse after the latter interrupts the former's thoughts. It is unknown if Pius survived the Battle of Hogwarts in the book, but it is certain that Voldemort did not kill him.
      Nagini DHF2

      A green spell cast by Ron Weasley in an attempt to kill Nagini

    • Ron Weasley casts a green spell in an attempt to kill Voldemort's snake Nagini (one of his Horcruxes). Though if this was indeed the Killing Curse that Ron used against Nagini, she would have been destroyed as Horcruxes can be destroyed by being hit with a Killing Curse. This is proven when Harry surrenders to Voldemort and he is hit with the curse, while Harry was "killed", Voldemort simultaneously destroyed the Horcrux that resided in Harry's body. However, it may be that Ron did attempt the curse, but simply lacked the power and will to actually make it effective, based on prior observations that the person casting the Unforgiveables must really want to achieve their intended purpose. It is also possible that the Fragment of Voldemort's soul that was in Harry was only destroyed by the Killing Curse as Harry was an accidental Horcrux, and as such he lacked the additional enchantments that gave the other Horcruxes their invulnerability.
    • The Killing Curse rebounds on Voldemort during his duel with Harry by the green light of the curse emitting through the crack in the Elder Wand, causing Voldemort's hand to turn black and spread through his body, which in turn led to his death.
    • The rebounding Killing Curse affects Voldemort by causing him to disintegrate into ashes instead of leaving his physical body dead, although development screencaps for the film indicated he was originally going to leave his body behind like in the book.

Appearances

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Notes and references

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
  2. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
  3. The Tales of Beedle the Bard
  4. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2017 edition)
  5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 36 (The Only One He Ever Feared)
  6. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film) and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)
  7. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 17 (Bathilda's Secret)
  8. 8.0 8.1 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
  9. 9.0 9.1 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
  10. Template:GOB
  11. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 36 (The Only One He Ever Feared)
  12. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
  13. 13.0 13.1 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 1 (The Riddle House)
  14. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 36 (The Only One He Ever Feared)
  15. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 1 (The Dark Lord Ascending)
  16. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 5 (Fallen Warrior)
  17. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 12 (Magic is Might)
  18. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 14 (The Thief)
  19. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 23 (Malfoy Manor)
  20. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 27 (The Final Hiding Place)
  21. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 6, Chapter 18 (Into the Forest)
  22. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 14 (The Unforgivable Curses)
  23. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 29 (The Dream)
  24. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 35 (Veritaserum)
  25. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 32 (Flesh, Blood and Bone)
  26. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 2 (Spinner's End)
  27. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 29 (The Phoenix Lament)
  28. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 27 (The Lightning-Struck Tower)
  29. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 4 (The Seven Potters)
  30. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 35 (Beyond the Veil)
  31. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 4 (The Seven Potters)
  32. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 31 (The Battle of Hogwarts)
  33. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 31 (The Battle of Hogwarts)
  34. Edinburgh Book Festival interview
  35. Wiktionary favicon abracadabra on Wiktionary
  36. "Cadaver" on The Online Etymology Dictionary"
  37. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 18 (Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs)
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