No, under ordinary circumstances, Harry Potter would not be able to survive another Killing Curse (Avada Kedavra) after the events of the Battle of Hogwarts. The unique magical protections and circumstances that allowed him to survive the curse twice previously are no longer in effect.
The Mechanics of Harry's Prior Survivals
Harry Potter's unprecedented ability to survive the Killing Curse twice is a cornerstone of the wizarding world's understanding of his legend. Each instance was due to distinct, powerful magical forces.
First Killing Curse: Lily's Sacrificial Protection
When Harry was a baby, Lord Voldemort attempted to kill him. Harry survived this first Killing Curse due to the ancient magic of his mother, Lily Potter's, sacrificial love. By choosing to die to protect her son, Lily created a powerful protection that caused the curse to rebound on Voldemort, destroying his physical body. This magical shield was unique and tied to the specific act of sacrifice.
Second Killing Curse: The Horcrux and Soul Connection
Harry survived the second Killing Curse, cast by Lord Voldemort in the Forbidden Forest during the Battle of Hogwarts, for a fundamentally different reason. A fragment of Voldemort's soul, unknowingly transferred to Harry on the night Voldemort first attacked him, resided within Harry, making him an unintentional Horcrux.
When Voldemort cast the Killing Curse a second time, it did not kill Harry, but rather it only killed the piece of Voldemort's soul inside Harry. Harry's deep, albeit unwanted, connection with Voldemort allowed this piece of soul to be the primary target of the curse, effectively destroying Voldemort's own Horcrux without harming Harry's true self. Harry's status as the Master of Death at this moment also played a role, allowing him to choose to return to the living world from a limbo state.
Here's a comparison of Harry's two survivals:
| Event | Attacker | Outcome for Harry | Reason for Survival | Status of Horcrux in Harry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Killing Curse | Lord Voldemort | Survived, became accidental Horcrux | Lily Potter's sacrificial love protection | Created |
| Second Killing Curse | Lord Voldemort | Survived, briefly visited Limbo, returned | Curse targeted and destroyed the piece of Voldemort's soul (Horcrux) within Harry | Destroyed |
Surviving a Third Killing Curse
Given the circumstances of his previous survivals, it is extremely improbable that Harry Potter could survive another Killing Curse.
- No Horcrux: The critical factor in his second survival was the destruction of the Horcrux within him. This piece of Voldemort's soul no longer exists inside Harry, meaning that specific magical shield is gone.
- No Sacrificial Protection: The sacrificial protection provided by his mother was a one-time event against Voldemort and would not extend to future Killing Curses cast by other individuals.
- Master of Death Status: While Harry was indeed the Master of Death, symbolized by his possession of the three Hallows (the Invisibility Cloak, the Resurrection Stone, and the Elder Wand), this status doesn't grant outright immunity to death. It allowed him to choose to return from Limbo, but it wasn't a universal "Killing Curse immunity" charm. Furthermore, he chose to discard the Elder Wand, symbolically relinquishing a key aspect of that mastery.
Therefore, without these extraordinary magical interferences, Harry Potter would be as susceptible to the Killing Curse as any other witch or wizard. The curse, described as unblockable and having no counter-curse, would prove fatal.
Factors Influencing Survival (General Magical Protections)
While Harry's unique circumstances are gone, the wizarding world does possess general protections against curses, though none typically against the Killing Curse itself:
- Shield Charms (Protego): These can deflect many spells but are explicitly stated to be ineffective against the Killing Curse.
- Physical Obstacles: Solid objects can block the curse, but it would be fatal if it connected with a living being.
- Fawkes's Intervention: A phoenix's tears can heal many wounds, and their body can intercept a curse, as Fawkes did for Dumbledore, but this is an external factor, not an inherent protection.
In conclusion, without the specific magic of his mother's sacrifice or the presence of a Horcrux within him, Harry Potter would not possess any unique ability to survive another Killing Curse.
