The Unforgivable Curses are the three most sinister spells known to the wizarding world. The term “Unforgivable Curse” was coined in 1717 by the Ministry of Magic. Use of any one of these on anyone (unless authorized by the Ministry of Magic) can land the wizard or the witch a life sentence Azkaban, the most dangerous prison in the wizarding world.
Following are the three Unforgivable Curses –
1. Imperius Curse (Imperio) – This spell allows the spellcaster to control the victim’s actions and thoughts, and can be used for sinister purposes. However, if a person fights it, they might be able to resist it. The dark wizard Lord Voldemort used it multiple times on his victims. He controlled the minds of people and made them kill others with this curse. Dead bodies can also be Imperiused. The imperiused corpses are called Inferi (singular: Inferius). It is pronounced as im-PEER-ee-oh.
2. Cruciatus Curse (Crucio) – This spell gives the victim excruciating pain and agony. In the books, Harry Potter described the feeling as if his head was being split open while having his bones set on fire, as well as white-hot knives boring into every inch of his skin. To produce the excruciating pain, the spellcaster must take pleasure in the torture, watching his/her victim suffer. It is pronounced as KROO-see-oh
3. The Killing Curse (Avada Kedavra) – The ultimate life-ending curse. This spell causes the victim to die instantly and painlessly, leaving no trace of injury or violence on the body. There is no known counter-curse against it, except the sacrifice made by a loved one towards a person whom they genuinely loved, as Lily Potter had protected Harry with her sacrifice. The spellcaster should genuinely want the victim to die and should feel pleasure while performing the curse. Only then would the victim die. There are three ways of blocking the Killing Curse. First, by dodging, secondly, by Apparating (Appearing at a different place using magic) to a different place, and third, by producing the Priori Incantatem charm, which has the power to block the Killing Curse by producing a golden protective light. To perform the Killing Curse, the spell caster must say ‘Avada Kedavara’ loudly, pointing his/her wand at the target. It is pronounced as ah-VAH-dah keh-DAV-rah.
The Unforgivable Curses weren’t spells learned; they were gateways. Gateways to a realm where compassion withered and cruelty bloomed. Only those who had taken a significant step down a dark path, their souls teetering on the precipice of oblivion, could even attempt to cast them.
Don’t miss reading Part I and Part II of this Harry Potter series by Ishan:
Exploring the Deathly Hallows in Harry Potter, and their Origins
