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Molly Weasley’s Deadly Secret Spell: How She Killed Bellatrix Without Avada Kedavra

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One memorable scene from the Harry Potter series is the climactic duel between Molly Weasley and Bellatrix Lestrange. In the films, these characters were portrayed by Julie Walters and Helena Bonham Carter respectively. Bellatrix, a formidable villain in the Harry Potter universe, is known for her evil deeds yet remains a beloved character. Her demise was anticipated to be significant, involving multiple characters capable of delivering such an impactful death blow. Molly Weasley, on the other hand, is a nurturing and supportive figure throughout the series, so seeing her fierce side in this confrontation provided a sense of fulfillment.

The fight between Molly and Bellatrix towards the end of the Battle of Hogwarts serves to highlight the stark contrast between Molly’s nurturing maternal love and Bellatrix’s fanatical brutality. This encounter, however, has sparked discussions about the specific spell that Molly employs to slay Bellatrix, as it does not appear to be the well-known killing curse of Avada Kedavra. The magical universe in the Harry Potter series has raised concerns due to inconsistencies within its magic system, such as lethal spells other than Avada Kedavra not being adequately clarified. Nevertheless, fans have stepped up to fill these gaps, offering various theories about the nature of Molly’s deadly spell.

5. Stunning Spell To The Heart

Molly May Have Just Used A Common Spell Very Effectively

It is widely believed and seems plausible that, during their confrontation, Molly struck a fatal blow on Bellatrix using the commonly employed stun spell (incantation ‘Stupefy’) in a particularly lethal area, resulting in Bellatrix’s demise. The dramatic closing sequence of their duel portrays:

1. Molly casting the ‘Stupefy’ spell effectively and with great force,
2. striking Bellatrix in a vulnerable location,
3. ultimately leading to Bellatrix’s death.

Bellatrix let out a joyful laugh, mirroring the one Sirius had given as he plummeted through the barrier. In that moment, Harry foresaw what was about to transpire. Molly’s curse whizzed past Bellatrix, brushing her arm and striking her dead center over her heart. The triumphant expression on Bellatrix’s face faltered, her eyes widened briefly: For a brief instant, she comprehended her fate, then she collapsed, and the spectators erupted in cheers, and Voldemort let out a bloodcurdling scream.

By delivering such a blow, there’s a possibility it could have caused her heart to stop (though if someone knew Muggle first aid, they might have been able to revive her). The novel Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix features an instance where Professor McGonagall gets struck repeatedly with stunning spells on her chest. The school nurse comments that she narrowly escaped death from this incident. Therefore, it’s important to note that being stunned can be fatal under certain circumstances.

4. Dark Charm Intensified By Strong Emotions

Molly Had Just Lost One Of Her Children & Was Protecting Another

A Reddit user speculates that Molly might have employed a potent dark spell, possibly one we’ve encountered previously, with its power amplified by her overwhelming feelings of anger and sorrow at that instant. This concept could also be relevant to her casting the stunning charm. In the initial phase of the battle, Fred is slain, prompting Molly to charge into this duel, insisting that everyone else step aside so she can face Bellatrix alone because Bellatrix had just come close to killing Ginny moments ago. This instance, in many ways, embodies a mother’s intense emotions, and it could plausibly impact the magic she wielded.

3. Freezing And/Or Disintegrating Charm

The Deathly Hallows Movie When With Something More Visual

As a devoted fan, I must admit that the filmmakers creatively amplified Bellatrix’s demise to make it more visually captivating. In the novel, Molly merely strikes her with a spell, and she collapses. However, in the movie, it appears as though Molly freezes Bellatrix solid first, followed by reducing her to dust – quite an impressive spectacle!

It’s plausible that Molly employed either the hardening charm Duro or the freezing spell Inmobulus along with an unidentified disintegration spell. This alteration aligns well with the movie version; in the book, Molly might have used a similar spell that caused Bellatrix’s demise by freezing her (possibly targeting a critical organ rather than her entire body).

2. Dolohov’s “Purple” Curse

Hermione Was Once Almost Killed By A Specialized Curse

In addition to the frequent mentions of Molly/Bellatrix, the nearly fatal encounter of Hermione with Dolohov in the Department of Mysteries during ‘Order of the Phoenix’ is often brought up. This encounter involved a spell cast by Death Eater Antonin Dolohov, which was only described as being “purple” and caused her to collapse, leading to a prolonged recovery. If Molly, knowing this spell, had used it under different circumstances, it could have been the same one she employed to kill Bellatrix.

1. Curse That Paralyzes The Heart

There Are Many Other Curses We Don’t Know About With Different Effects

Finally, it is implied that there are many, many spells that exist in the Harry Potter universe which it would have been awkward to list in the text, but Molly is well-studied and has an arsenal at her disposal when she faces Bellatrix. Fans have actually proposed some fairly creative ideas when it comes to what Molly’s spell actually did. A user on Quora says: “Perhaps there are curses that can paralyze the heart, freeze the lungs, or suck oxygen out from the victim’s bloodstream.”

It appears that Bellatrix’s demise, due to the curse striking her heart, makes the most sense in the context of her falling lifeless to the ground instantly. This scene also highlights Molly’s proficiency in magic and her ability to hold her own in a duel, as she knows an array of beneficial spells. It is debatable whether Harry Potter should have elaborated on this, but the scene has remained iconic regardless.

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2025-04-22 21:08

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