Rare Dark Arts

> The Dark Arts are many, varied, ever-changing, and eternal. Fighting them is like fighting a many-headed monster, which, each time a neck is severed, sprouts a head even fiercer and cleverer than before. You are fighting that which is unfixed, mutating, indestructible.
>
> Severus Snape's description of the Dark Arts, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

 File:Horcrux creation.gif
The **Dark Arts**, also known as **Dark Magic**, or **Dark Side** was a term that referred to any type of magic that was mainly used to cause harm to, exert control over, or even kill people and creatures. Most people who practised what was known as the Dark Arts were evil, but not all.

The Dark Arts commonly referred to spells and actions that could be used to harm others, ranging from the powerful Unforgivable Curses, to brewing dark ***potions*** and breeding dark creatures. These acts were often illegal or at least heavily discouraged in the wizarding world.

Practitioners were referred to as Dark wizards or witches. The most prominent and powerful of these was Lord Voldemort, who was widely considered to be the most evil Dark wizard in all of history. His followers, known as ***Death Eaters***, also heavily practised the Dark Arts.

## Nature of the Dark Arts

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The Dark Arts were generally regarded as corrupting to those who use them (which is part of the reason they are called "dark"). After engaging in them extensively for many years, even Tom Riddle's appearance demonstrated his corruption — he lost his former handsomeness, eventually taking on serpentine physical qualities such as red eyes.

Albus Dumbledore, in particular, suggested that engaging in any of the Dark Arts that involve murder was damaging to the soul; for instance, he told Severus Snape that Draco Malfoy's soul was "*not yet so damaged*" that he was probably capable of murder, but that if he did go through with murder, his soul would be "ripped apart". This suggested that using very dark magic, such as the Killing Curse, damaged an individual's soul. The dark art of creating a Horcrux involved literally splitting the soul for the unnatural purpose of achieving immortality. Quirinus Quirrell was interested in dark magic, initially by a theoretical view to gain recognition, but his curiosity turned to avarice, and eventually he was completely drawn in and corrupted.

According to Snape, the Dark Arts were pragmatic in nature, where every time a branch was defeated, it only came back "*fiercer and cleverer*" than before. It is therefore imperative that one's defences had to be as versatile as these foul arts themselves.

 File:Voldemort crucio harry.gif
Powerful dark spells also required malicious intent in order to be successful. To cast the Cruciatus Curse, for instance, one had to truly desire to cause pain in and of itself, according to ***Bellatrix Lestrange***. The Dark Arts could also be difficult to control; for example, ***Vincent Crabbe*** lost control of the ***cursed fire*** he created in 1998 during the ***Battle of Hogwarts*** and was killed by it. Injuries caused by dark magic sometimes never fully healed, such as George Weasley's ear after it was cut off by the *Sectumsempra* curse (he was struck with during the ***Battle of the Seven Potters***).

Some curses could remain in ***one's genes***, being passed down through generations as recessive, or could reemerge in a descendant that could lead to frail health. For example, ***Astoria Malfoy*** was one such victim of her ***ancestor's*** curse.

Dark creatures could also have lasting impacts that were deadly or incredibly harmful to those who came into contact with them. Basilisks had the ability to petrify people who saw them indirectly or kill them with their gaze, or from the venom in their fangs. While petrification could be cured by the Mandrake Restorative Draught, and wounds from Basilisk fangs cured by phoenix tears, these treatments were quite difficult to prepare or obtain. ***Dementors*** had the ability to consume human souls with their ***kiss***. There was no cure for someone who has had their soul removed, as they spent the rest of their lives in a vegetative state which is even considered worse than suffering a painful death.

### Protection

> You are protected, in short, by your ability to love! The only protection that can possibly work against the lure of power like Voldemort's!
>
> Explanation of the best type of protection against the Dark Arts, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

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According to Albus Dumbledore, the only power strong enough to enable a person to resist the temptation of the Dark Arts, and to defeat them, was pure love. He was perhaps referring to the sacrificial protection which Lily Potter inadvertently used to protect infant Harry Potter, and Harry himself later used to protect the defenders of Hogwarts by letting himself willingly be hit by a Killing Curse from the Lord Voldemort.

However, Harry was not killed by this curse, since it only destroyed the part of Voldemort's soul inside him; he spent a brief time in limbo before returning to the land of the living.

### Ethical considerations

While the Dark Arts had a bad reputation, overall, dark magic was not, by definition, "evil" magic, as reflected in some of the people using them not being evil. Dark magic could be used for good as well as evil. Even the Killing Curse could be used for good, as Albus Dumbledore said that it would not harm Severus Snape to kill him (Dumbledore) as he had asked Snape to kill him since he was going to die anyway (and it would ultimately serve to fool Voldemort and lead to his destruction). Using the Dark Arts in an act of true mercy in and of itself contradicted the very stark moral view that many such as ***Bartemius Crouch Senior*** publicly espoused regarding them.

At the same time, dark magic was not the only type of magic that could be used with the intent to kill. For example, the Severing Charm could kill if used irresponsibly or maliciously.

The only exception to this rule was the spell which created a Horcrux; this was an entirely selfish act — taking a life in order to prolong one's own. This act was so reprehensible that the caster's soul became fragmented, allowing the creation of a Horcrux. The soul could only be restored by complete remorse for the murder, or repentance, which was actually painful enough to cause death.

### Wandlore

The suitability of a wand to perform dark magic depended, at least partly, on its core; dragon heartstring, phoenix feather, and ***rougarou hair*** had reputations for being suitable for it, while it was hard to perform dark magic with unicorn hair wands. In addition, wands made of ***applewood*** mixed poorly with dark magic.

## The Dark Arts and the law

> Now... those three curses — Avada Kedavra, Imperius, and Cruciatus — are known as the Unforgivable Curses. The use of any one of them on a fellow human being is enough to earn a life sentence in Azkaban.
>
> Bartemius Crouch Junior explaining the consequences of using the Unforgivable Curses, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Although many members of the wizarding world appeared to frown upon the Dark Arts, they were not prohibited (with the exception of the Unforgivables) and may have had even — under certain conditions — been encouraged. For example, while Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry taught only Defence Against the Dark Arts, ***Durmstrang Institute*** taught the ***Dark Arts*** itself. During the height of the Wizarding War, Bartemius Crouch Snr. authorised the use of killing instead of capture and the Unforgivables to Aurors. Under this, it can safely be assumed the Dark Arts were encouraged by the Ministry to combat, ironically, the Dark Wizard followers of Voldemort.

Moreover, shops like ***Borgin and Burkes*** in Knockturn Alley openly traded in Dark artefacts, and were patronised by "hundreds of people", which suggested that at least some aspects of the Dark Arts were somewhat socially acceptable or at the very least legal among parts of the wizarding population.

Also, in times of war, the Ministry of Magic had been known to permit ***Aurors*** to use strong Dark Magic against its enemies. When Lord Voldemort was in control of wizarding Britain in late 1997 to mid-1998, every aspect of the Dark Arts was legalised and ***taught*** at Hogwarts by ***Death Eater*** professor ***Amycus Carrow***. However, Voldemort was ***controlling*** the Ministry at this time, so it was not standard protocol.

In addition, there was a matter of degree. The three Unforgivable Curses were punishable by an automatic life sentence in ***Azkaban*** prison when used on fellow humans, except when permitted in wartime, whereas some types of magic could have more benign uses as well as Dark uses and, thus, were presumably not always illegal.

## Known Dark Magic

### Dark charms

> A wizard who's about to put an illegal curse on you isn't going to tell you what he's about to do. He's not going to do it nice and polite to your face. You need to be prepared. You need to be alert and watchful.
>
> Bartemius Crouch Junior (disguised as Alastor Moody) regarding curses, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

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A dark charm was primarily defined as any charm that consistently affected the object in a negative manner, usually associated with varying levels of discomfort.

Dark charms could be classified into three groups: jinxes, hexes, and curses. These groups form a hierarchy, with jinxes at the base, hexes in-between, and curses at the top. The further one ascended up this hierarchy, the more wicked, the stronger, the longer-lasting and the less reversible the Dark spell's effects appeared to be. The Unforgivable Curses were the strongest known Dark spells in existence, as their effects were very powerful and their use required skill.

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The Unforgivable Curses were shown to Hogwarts students in Defence Against the Dark Arts class in the ***sixth year***, but ***Bartemius Crouch Junior*** (disguised as ***Alastor Moody*** using Polyjuice Potion) in the ***1994–1995 school year*** showed these curses to ***fourth-years*** instead.

Other dark spells could be used not physically on their intended targets, but could cause great harm to them nonetheless. The ***Taboo*** was a jinx that allowed the caster to track anyone who said a certain word or name. This gave the caster a great deal of power over people's speech, which spread great fear. It was notably used by ***Death Eaters*** to track their enemies during the Second Wizarding War, when they made name "Voldemort" taboo. Lord Voldemort himself placed a ***powerful jinx*** on the position of the Hogwarts Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher in revenge after he was refused the position himself, which resulted in every hired teacher of this subject being forced out of their job at the end of each school year, in various unfortunate circumstances.
The following are examples of dark spells and what hierarchy they belonged to:

Minor dark magic, small inconvenience to the target.
Moderate dark magic, causing major inconvenience to the target.
The worst kind of dark magic, intended to affect the target in a strongly negative manner.

### Dark potions

> Undoubtedly, this potion must act in a way that will prevent me taking the Horcrux. It might paralyse me, cause me to forget what I am here for, create so much pain I am distracted, or render me incapable in some other way.
>
> Albus Dumbledore regarding the effects of the Emerald Potion, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

These ***potions*** caused negative effects on those who drank them, or caused harm in some way or another. Dark potions may have also included ingredients that were not common in regular potions, or possessed usual properties. Some Dark potions included the following:

### Dark items

> Of the Horcrux, wickedest of magical inventions, we shall not speak nor give direction —
>
> The introduction of *Magick Moste Evile*, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Some items could be bewitched with Dark Magic for various purposes. They then became known as Dark Magic artefacts (or simply Dark items). The following items were associated with Dark Magic:

### Dark creatures

> Seems you've had a pretty thorough grounding in tackling Dark creatures — you've covered boggarts, Red Caps, hinkypunks, grindylows, Kappas, and werewolves, is that right?
>
> Bartemius Crouch Junior (disguised as Alastor Moody) mentioning different dark creatures to fourth-year Defence Against the Dark Arts students, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Many magical creatures were considered Dark, all of which were deeply feared and/or despised by numerous wizards and witches as a result of the danger these creatures posed to all living things. Some of those creatures included the following:

 Basilisk |  File:Basilisk - FBcases.png
 Boggart |  File:Boggart Shapeshifting.jpg
 Inferius |  File:Inferius (Concept Artwork).jpg
An Inferius was a dead body, reanimated by a Dark wizard's spell. The spells used to reanimate the corpse were complex and difficult to perform. There was a large difference between an Inferius and a ghost. Voldemort was known to have an army of Inferi, mostly consisting of homeless ***Muggles*** that the Dark Lord had murdered.

### Dark practices

Some other practices that would be considered dark included: breaking the ***Ban on Experimental Breeding*** by hatching a Basilisk, consuming the blood of a ***unicorn***, and Necromancy, the Dark Art of raising the dead.

## Known practitioners

> When a wizard goes over ter the Dark Side, there's nothin' and no one that matters to 'em any more...
>
> Rubeus Hagrid regarding Dark wizards, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

The following wizards and witches were known to have heavily used and practised Dark Magic. Note that as above, the Dark Arts encompassed many different types of spells and practices, including many that seemed to be in everyday use by most wizards — this section was limited to those who had used strong dark magic at least once, with malicious and selish intent.

### Non-Dark wizards

> *Imperio*" Harry said again; his voice echoed through the stone passage as he felt the familiar sense of heady control that flowed from brain to wand.
>
> Harry Potter casting the Imperius Curse, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

## In wizarding fiction

The ***Warlock*** in the wizarding fairy tale ***The Warlock's Hairy Heart***, found in Template:TBB, utilised a piece of Dark Magic to remove his ***heart*** from his body to ensure he would never fall in love, while keeping himself alive without this vital organ within his body.

## Behind the scenes

* The Dark Arts are similar to magic known as maleficium, which is used in a similar manner.

## Appearances

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* *J. K. Rowling's Wizarding World: The Dark Arts: A Movie Scrapbook*
* *Harry Potter Official Site*
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## Notes and references

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1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Template:HBP
2. ↑ Template:PS
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Template:COS
4. ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 4.17 4.18 4.19 4.20 4.21 4.22 4.23 4.24 4.25 4.26 Template:GOF
5. ↑ Template:GOF
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Template:HBP
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Template:FB
8. ↑ Template:PS
9. ↑ Template:PS
10. ↑ Template:PS
11. ↑ Template:PS
12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 Template:PS Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; name "PS17" defined multiple times with different content
13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Template:COS
14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 14.6 14.7 Template:HBP Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; name "HBP23" defined multiple times with different content
15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Template:DH Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; name "DH33" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; name "DH33" defined multiple times with different content
16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Template:WW
17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Template:OOTP
18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 Template:DH Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; name "DH30" defined multiple times with different content
19. ↑ Template:DH
20. ↑ Template:DH. Also in Template:DH, Harry mentions "*the injuries from Dark Magic... You can't repair the damage*."
21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Template:COS
22. ↑ Template:POA
23. ↑ Template:POA
24. ↑ Template:OOTP
25. ↑ Template:DH
26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Template:DH
27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 27.3 Template:WBS
28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 28.3 Template:WW
29. ↑ "History of Magic in North America: 1920s Wizarding America" on Template:PM
30. ↑ Template:COS
31. ↑ Template:HBP
32. ↑ Template:HBP
33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 33.2 Template:HBP
34. ↑ Template:DH
35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 35.2 35.3 35.4 35.5 35.6 Template:PM - ***The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1***
36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 Template:DH
37. ↑ Template:DH
38. ↑ Template:DH
39. ↑ Template:DH
40. ↑ Template:HBP
41. ↑ Template:HBP
42. ↑ Harry Potter Lexicon: Dark Magic Items
43. ↑ Template:COS
44. ↑ Template:COS
45. ↑ Template:COS
46. ↑ Template:POA
47. ↑ Template:WW
48. ↑ 48.0 48.1 Template:HBP
49. ↑ Template:WW
50. ↑ Template:HBP
51. ↑ Template:PS
52. ↑ Template:TBB
53. ↑ 53.0 53.1 Template:DH
54. ↑ Template:HBP
55. ↑ Template:POA
56. ↑ Template:HBP
57. ↑ Template:OOTP
58. ↑ Template:OOTP
59. ↑ Template:WU
60. ↑ Template:HM
61. ↑ Template:COG
62. ↑ Template:TBB