Order Only - Black Curse breakthrough

[alt_draco]

So, I think I might have got it.

First though, for those who don't know: most of us here at 12G have been working on solving Black's Curse, when time allows. We started to make a lot more progress when we stopped trying to figure out exactly how Bellatrix constructed it, and just tried to devise a curse of our own making that would have the exact same effects. Three wand movements is a lot, but reasonable when you consider how much damage is being inflicted on another human being. One or two movements is fine for most spells, but for something that breaks the body down on a cellular level, from the inside out, three distinct (and aggressive) wand movements are needed. We reckon that the first move (the one that Bellatrix gave as a hint to Hydra) is the initiating move, and that the next three might look like a Steppen's Stroke (to penetrate), and a Darte's Flourish (for completion).

For incantation, we already figured out that the third word sets the duration of the curse. So you can pick and choose, here, though one day is probably the maximum that a person can endure it before succumbing (longer for an anamagi). The magic is just too powerful to work slowly. The word Bellatrix gave to Hydra was morior, which - yeah, no surprise there. But figuring out the third word (which is likely the first spoken word) is what has stumped us so completely, because it could be so many things, and in so many languages. Also, since Bellatrix gave Hydra the most obvious word, it was bound to be something completely obscure.

Anyway, I was poking around Malfoy Manor's library and saw that there was a copy of Grimoires of the Worthy Families. Not a copy, but a legitimate first edition, and mother said it was kept at Blackmoor Park when she was growing up. Which means it's also the version that Bellatrix grew up reading (I expect she's obtained her own by now, or thinks she's above relying on it, or else it wouldn't be in the MM library).

I looked through it and a lot of obscure notes had been made in the margins. I could tell by the colour of the ink which were newer and which were older. In the section devoted to the personal magics of Arcturus Black the First (who was a massive pillock and hence probably an inspiration to young Bella), there were some relatively freshly-inked notes. One of them read Palasu Morior _____ ?

Palasu is Sumerian, right? And it would certainly fit in with the intent of the spell.

I think we ought to test it. The question is on what. There's always loads of pigeons 'round here, but if it works on a pigeon does that necessarily mean it will work on a human?

Comments

[alt_lupin]

Oh, good work.

Could I have a look at that section of the Grimoire? I might be able to work out whether it would work the same on a non-magical animal, or if it would kill them much more quickly. Or instantly. My hunch is that it would kill them nearly instantly, but I'm not sure.

Also, I know the goal was to work out a way to reverse this but I'm wondering if I can identify a protective spell that would effectively block it.

[alt_draco]

Instant death, maybe. They're much smaller than humans, after all.

Imagine all the people Bellatrix must have tried it out on before she was satisfied with the results.

You can come read it at the Manor, if you like. Mother is likely to protest if I try to take it out of here.

[alt_lupin]

I'll be over in a few minutes.

[alt_nymphadora]

If it's a hybrid, it'd be tricky, but easier to cobble together now we know a little more about it. The key may be countering at the Steppen's point of the cast.

[alt_lupin]

Yes, the inclusion of the Steppen's stroke would go straight through a lot of the common protective spells, like a shield charm. It's not un-counterable, though, just more difficult to defend against.

[alt_draco]

Bellatrix has mastered it to the point where she can cast it wandlessly and nonverbally, though.

[alt_lupin]

She doesn't even need her wand?

[alt_hydra]

She has to be holding it, at least. But she can move so fast the movements themselves can't be distinguished, one from the next.

Private message to Draco

[alt_sally_anne]

Blaise was utterly distracted in Transfiguration today. Like completely unable to answer Glozeman's questions, and normally he's pretty good at giving the expected answer without going out of his way to look clever in lessons. (I mean. You know Blaise.)

It's noticeable enough that I overheard Mandy Brocklehurst and Morag Macdougal speculating that someone cast some sort of hex on him.

Did you write back to him? If you did, he's DEFINITELY read it.

Re: Private message to Draco

[alt_draco]

Ha, yeah. I did.

Looks like it had an effect.

Re: Private message to Draco

[alt_draco]

I was tempted to just write BOO and leave it at that. But I honestly felt sorry for the div, despite the fact that he seems to miss Teddy as much as he misses me, which is just offensive. He was moaning on about how life has gotten so hard for him this last year. He's being made to marry Susan Spinx, his mother got in trouble with Mulciber because some rebels were hiding out on one of her properties, and he's gutted that Daphs is marrying Crouch.

I told him if he's so miserable to stand up and do something about it, for once. But yeah, you know Blaise. He probably won't.

Re: Private message to Draco

[alt_sally_anne]

Oh, Blaise. All he ever wanted out of life was all the luxury and ease to which he feels entitled. Why is that so hard?

Re: Private message to Draco

[alt_sally_anne]

He's still looking utterly beside himself.

Re: Private message to Draco

[alt_draco]

Well, we'll see how long that lasts.

[alt_lupin]

In case anyone's wondering:

If you cast this curse on a pigeon, the pigeon explodes instantly into rotting goo.

[alt_poppy]

Oh, thank you, Remus. I couldn't have slept tonight for lack of that knowledge.


How I'll stomach supper, now I'm not certain. Fortunately, squab is not on the menu.