Overview

The Imperius Curse (Imperio) is a Dark Arts Curse as well as one of the Unforgivable Curses. When cast successfully the curse puts the victim under complete control of the caster causing the victim to be unquestionably obedient. The curse could be resisted if the said victim had exceptional strength of will. This curse, though a part of the Unforgivable Curses, was one that you could defend against making it different from the other two Unforgivable Curses; though the punishment for the use of it was the same as the others, a life sentence in Azkaban. According to Severus Snape, resisting the Imperius Curse was very similar to Occlumency. As both required a large amount of will power to do so. The curse could also be broken free from if the victim suffered a large and considerable mental shock from another source like a powerful deadly curse or cursed item as well as an item with strong protective charms.

Effects

Unlike another one of the Unforgivable curses like the Cruciatus Curse, being subject to the curse was not an unpleasant experience. It was actually the opposite. The victim of an Imperius Curse was placed into a calm and trance-like state where the feelings of anxiety and responsibilities were banished from the mind. In a sense similar to hypnosis. A correctly Imperiused victim would become fully under the casters control and was directed to do anything and everything the caster wished them to do. This did not leave out any crime as it included murder, embezzlement and political corruption and in some cases going as far as to take one's own life.

The victims under the curse's effects could not resist any command and would do whatever the caster commanded of them, this included things they normally were unable or unwilling to do while granting them the skills necessary to successfully complete the tasks given. This included increased physical strength, expanded knowledge, or the ability to cast spells much higher above their level. It was also possible that those under the Imperious curse could spread it to others causing them to be under the effects of it as well and placing them under full control of the original caster. Once the Curse was terminated the victims became themselves again as well as any pain that the curse had dulled by the pleasant sensation it gave while under its effects would return along with any pain the victim had suffered while under the effects of the curse.

The Imperius Curse was not only sometimes blocked or broken by those with a strong mind and will but the curse would also not work on Secret Keepers to control or use them to find information from as it needs to be of the Keepers own free will that the admission comes out. If the Imperius Curse was performed poorly it could damage the mind causing long-lasting effects causing the victim to have to seek treatment at St Mungo’s Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. Powerful Dark Magic can leave irreversible biological damage as well as mental. This is shown with the Unforgivable Curses like the Imperius Curse and the Cruciatus Curse as well as other Dark Curses such as Sectumsempra. Any unsuccessful attempts at throwing off the curse could have varying effects on the victims mental and physical well-being.

History

• Early Middle Ages: The Imperius Curse is created.
• 1717: The Imperius Curse alongside the Cruciatus and Killing Curse all become Unforgivable with the strictest sentencing attached to any usage of them.
• 1970-1981: The Imperius Curse along with the other unforgivable Curses were made legal by Bartemius Crouch Senior during the First Wizarding War in an attempt to fight fire with fire. Once the war had ended the law was put back in place that it was not allowed to be used under any circumstances without a sentencing of life in Azkaban. Many Death Eaters after the first fall of the Dark Lord had claimed to be under the effects of the curse during their support for Lord Voldemort and the actions they had made during the war times. This got many out of having a life sentence in Azkaban. Some of those who used this excuse were Lucius Malfoy, Corban Yaxley, Walden Macnair, Avery, Crabbe, Nott, and Goyle. The ministry having no way to prove deception otherwise had allowed them to elude justice.
• 1994-1995: Barty Crouch Jr, disguised under use of polyjuice potion as Alastar Moody taught the three Unforgivable Curses during DaDa class at Hogwarts. The demonstration was done as a fourth-year lesson in front of the class.
• 1995: Lucius Malfoy used the Imperius Curse twice to try and acquire a prophecy needed for Voldemort from the Department of Mysteries. He used the Curse first on Sturgis Podmore who was a part of the Order of the Phoenix and then on Unspeakable Broderick Bode attempting to have them break into the department and steal the prophecy. Both attempts failed as Sturgis was apprehended while trying to break in and Bode had triggered strong self defense spells around the prophecy resulting in injury.
• 1997: When Voldemort had taken over the ministry the three Unforgivable Curses were then made legal again, this time allowing anyone the legal ability to cast the spells without any repercussions as well as having them be added to the Hogwarts curriculum in the Dark Arts class taught by Amycus Carrow.
• 1998: As the curses were still legalised during the Battle of Hogwarts Harry was able to use the Imperius Curse three times on two different people. This was to help them break into Gringotts Wizarding Bank undetected. Harry was not the only one to be known to have used the curse during the war as Minerva Mcgonagall had been able to use it to force Amycus Carrow to bind himself as well as his sister Alecto Carrow. After Voldemort's death and the Ministry falling under the lead and control of Minister Kingsley Shacklebolt the three curses were then made forbidden again.

Credits/References

Written by Aleric Selwyn
Base code by Andrew Sutherland, edited by Iselin Merilä and Desmond Gray.