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If avada kedavra is unblockable (except when an object comes in between the victim and the castor), why didn't Voldemort use it against Dumbledore during their battle at the Ministry in book 5? Was he just so arragant that he thought he could defeat Dumbledore with other magic, to prove he was superior?

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    Voldemort used the Killing Curse multiple times, but keep in mind that Dumbledore is not just standing by idly as he sends out waves of Avada Kedavra. The entire time Dumbledore is moving around (and even apparating) and counterattacking with powerful spells that are extremely difficult to defend against as well (unknown 'gong' spell, fire whip, water sphere, animated statues, etc.). If any of these counters connected successfully, the fight would have been over for Voldemort and so he had to be very defensive himself.
    – ssell
    Commented Jan 7, 2016 at 17:40

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He did as described on wiki

Voldemort again Disapparated and Apparated in the middle of the fountain, sending another Killing Curse at Dumbledore. The snake and the curse nearly struck simultaneously, but Fawkes the phoenix sacrificed himself by diving into the path of the curse. He burst into flames and was immediately reborn as a tiny, featherless phoenix.

Edit:

I was able to find exact part of book in chapter "The Only One He Ever Feared"

Here

Voldemort raised his wand and another jet of green light streaked at Dumbledore, who turned and was gone in a whirling of his cloak. Next second, he had reappeared behind Voldemort and waved his wand towards the remnants of the fountain. The other statues sprang to life.

Here

"It was foolish to come here tonight, Tom,' said Dumbledore calmly. The Aurors are on their way".

"By which time I shall be gone, and you will be dead!" spat Voldemort. He sent another killing

curse at Dumbledore butmissed, instead hitting the security guard's desk, which burst into flame.

Here

Another jet of green light flew from behind the silver shield. This time it was the one-armed centaur, galloping in front of Dumbledore, that took the blast and shattered into a hundred pieces.

And here

`Look out!' Harry yelled.

But even as he shouted, another jet of green light flew at Dumbledore from Voldemort's wand

and the snake struck

Fawkes swooped down in front of Dumbledore, opened his beak wide and swallowed the jet

of green light whole: he burst into flame and fell to the floor, small, wrinkled and flightless.

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  • So after Fawkes was hit and reborn, why didn't Voldemort just keep trying until he finally landed one?
    – Joe JMC IT
    Commented Jan 7, 2016 at 16:32
  • He did, I was able to find book online and copy parts of it here... The entire battle took not more than few minutes, if even so. Voldemort also needed to create diversions and to defend himself. So three killing curses in few minutes if proper attempt to kill Dumbledore
    – Vanja Vasiljevic
    Commented Jan 7, 2016 at 16:35
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    So basically it boils down to Dumbledore being a great enough wizard to keep out of the way of the curse?
    – Joe JMC IT
    Commented Jan 7, 2016 at 16:37
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    Well yes, if you are a great wizard as Dumbledore you keep away from things that can hurt you. Same is for Voldemort, he had to conjure silver shield out of nothing to deflect Dumbledore curse which wast even lethal.
    – Vanja Vasiljevic
    Commented Jan 7, 2016 at 16:39
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    I added one more quote but it really all brings down to the best aspects of a wizard. Dumbledore charmed that centaur from a fountain. He befriended phoenix so it "gave life for him". But in same chapter Dumbledore did use apparition: "Voldemort raised his wand and another jet of green light streaked at Dumbledore, who turned and was gone in a whirling of his cloak. Next second, he had reappeared behind Voldemort and waved his wand towards the remnants of the fountain. The other statues sprang to life."
    – Vanja Vasiljevic
    Commented Jan 7, 2016 at 18:28
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Voldemort wanted to humiliate Dumbledore, not kill him directly. Plus the story wouldn't allow it, the book would have been over so quickly.

Voldemort was a dark lord that could have also been killed MANY times with the killing curse, but what story would there be if that happened?

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  • It wasn't me who down-voted, first of all. But: he did want to kill Dumbledore; that's why he ended up ordering Draco to do so: Dumbledore was in the way and until he was gone he would be hindered again and again in his ultimate plans (turns out he still was partly his own doing). And Voldemort couldn't have been killed many times with the curse because why? The Horcruxes. So no, it has nothing to do with not wanting to kill Dumbledore; it has everything to do with Dumbledore was a great wizard. And the only one Voldemort feared.
    – Pryftan
    Commented Aug 22, 2017 at 21:54
  • Voldermort did try to kill Dumbledore directly, at least 3 times in that battle. He just wasn't successful at it.
    – Bernard the Bear
    Commented Mar 5, 2019 at 1:44

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