11 Harry Potter Universe Fates Worse Than Death

The Potterverse has only three 'Unforgivable Curses' and all are comparable to the worst crimes a person can commit: blackmail, torture and murder. Obviously, the Avada Kedavra curse has no place on this list and the Imperius curse is only akin to blackmail as it forces the victim to act completely against their will but it is the torture curse we're interested in here: Cruciatus.

The Cruciatus Curse inflicts intense, extreme pain on the victim that they cannot combat once afflicted - only the mercy of their attacker will bring the torment to an end much the same as conventional torture. The curse is predominantly used by Death Eaters seeking to glean information from others or as a more merciful punishment than death itself.

So what could go wrong if the curse can be stopped by the attacker at any time? Bellatrix Lestrange using the curse is what could go wrong.

The mindlessly sadistic witch, and her colleagues, used the Cruciatus curse on Frank and Alice Longbottom as it was believed that they knew the whereabouts of their master: Lord Voldemort after his demise in Godric's Hollow. Tragically, the overexposure to the curse drove Frank and Alice insane and they were sent to St. Mungo's Hospital where they lived out the rest of their days.

Definitely a worse fate that death but you also need to consider Neville Longbottom in this as he lost his parents but they still remain in the most haunting fashion imaginable.