"I'm not finished, son. The second reason is that the Killing Curse doesn't
"I... see," murmured the Boy-Who-Lived.
"Not difficult," Moody snapped. "
Harry nodded gravely. "But David Monroe - or whoever - used the Killing Curse against a couple of Death Eaters even
Moody shook his head slightly. "One of the dark truths of the Killing Curse, son, is that once you've cast it the first time, it doesn't take much hate to do it again."
"It damages the mind?"
Again Moody shook his head. "No. It's the killing that does that. Murder tears the soul - but that's just the same if it's a Cutting Hex. The Killing Curse doesn't crack your soul. It just takes a cracked soul to cast." If there was a sad expression on the scarred face, it could not be read. "But that doesn't tell us much about Monroe. The ones like Dumbledore who'll never be able to cast the Curse all their lives, because they never crack no matter what - they're the rare ones, very rare. It only takes a little cracking."
There was a strange heavy feeling in Harry's chest. He'd wondered what exactly it had meant, that Lily Potter had tried to cast the Killing Curse at Lord Voldemort with her last breath. But surely it was forgiveable, it was
"Enough," said Professor McGonagall. "What would you have us do?"
Moody's smile twisted. "Get rid of the Defense Professor and see if all your troubles mysteriously clear up. Bet you a Galleon they do."
Professor McGonagall looked like she was in pain. "Alastor - but - will
"Ha!" said Moody. "If I ever say yes to that question, check me for Polyjuice, because it's not me."
"I'll test it experimentally," Harry said. And then, as everyone looked at him, "I'll ask Professor Quirrell a question that the real David Monroe would know - like who else was in the Slytherin class of 1945, or something like that - hopefully without making it obvious. It won't be definitive proof, he could've studied the role, but it would be evidence. Still, Mr. Moody, even if Professor Quirrell isn't the original Monroe, I'm not sure that getting rid of him is a free action. He saved my life twice -"
"
"Once when he knocked down a bunch of witches who were summoning me toward the ground, once when he figured out that the Dementor was draining me through my wand. And if Professor Quirrell
Professor McGonagall nodded firmly.
Harry and Professor McGonagall now stood on the slowly turning stairs, turning without descending; or at least
"Can I ask you a private question?" Harry said, when he thought they were far enough away not to be heard. "And in particular, private from the Headmaster."
"Yes," Professor McGonagall said, not quite sighing. "Though I hope you realize that I cannot
"Yes," Harry said, "that's exactly what I need to ask you about. In front of the Wizengamot, when Lucius Malfoy was saying that Hermione was no part of House Potter and that he wouldn't take the money, you told Hermione how to swear that oath. I want to know, if something like that comes up again, if your first duty is to the Hogwarts student Hermione Granger, or to the head of the Order of the Phoenix, Albus Dumbledore."
Professor McGonagall looked like someone had hit her in the face with a cast-iron frying-pan, a few minutes earlier, and now she'd been told that somebody was about to do it again, and not to flinch.
Harry flinched a little himself. Somewhere along the line he needed to pick up the knack of
The walls rotated around them, behind them, and somehow, they descended.
"Oh, Mr. Potter," Professor McGonagall said with a low exhalation. "I...
"You've got a chance to think now," Harry said. It was all coming out wrong, but he had to say it