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Hey everyone, welcome to another installment of Harry Potter Theory.

Today we're going to be discussing one of the most feared curses in the wizarding

world, a Vada cadaverra, also known as the killing curse.

Specifically, we're going to be taking a look at where it came from, who created it,

why it's unforgivable, why it may be merciful, and what the very surprising function

of this spell may have once been.

Let's get into it.

History.

The list of victims who have been struck down by the infamous killing curse

is seemingly endless, and one of the biggest proponents of this vicious spell is, unsurprisingly,

Lord Voldemort. But even though Lord Voldemort's name has become somewhat synonymous with

this horrible curse, the spell itself dates back many centuries before Voldemort's time.

In fact, records indicate that the curse was invented as early as the Middle Ages, sometime

between the 5th and 15th century.

Given that this time period was rife with conflict between wizard kind and Muggle kind,

I'd imagine that it was originally created as a weapon

to be used against muggles, though this is of course just my own speculation.

The curse itself is generated by uttering the incantation of Arna Cadavra, which then creates

a blindingly intense green bolt of light capable of instantly killing a victim upon impact. The spell serves a simple

purpose. It puts an end to the victim's life. In a time of struggle, this would have been

...