The Dark Arts

The Dark Arts. Highly misunderstood, extremely dangerous in the wrong hands, and socially inappropriate to openly practice in many parts of the world. In the United Kingdom the Dark Arts are heavily persecuted. When it comes to banned magic, most are found somewhere in the Dark Art spectrum. The Dark Arts have become linked with dark witches and wizards, and society has come to believe that only those seeking wrong doing practice these forms of magic.

Despite this strong affiliation with the cruel, the Dark Arts aren’t necessarily ‘evil’. Modern society has come to identify any practice that isn’t socially acceptable as a dark art. Even practices that used to be common place in generations past.

Some of the harshest laws in the Wizarding World are linked with practicing the Dark Arts. Anyone caught practicing dark magic can face hefty fines (if it is minor), or time sentences to Azkaban Prison (if committing a more serious transgression). Despite these severe consequences Dark Magic is a common practice in the magical black market.

## TYPES OF DARK ARTS

### JINXES, HEXES, & CURSES

The most common Dark Arts. For simplicity's sake, we will refer to these types of spells in three categories: Minor, Major, and Lethal. Some individuals specialize in dark art spells, and are masters of all three of these categories.

Minors jinxes, hexes and curses are common practice among witches and wizards and even students can learn them. One way to view these types of spells is that they are more nuisances than dangerous. Minor jinxes, hexes, and curses are very easy to counter, reverse, and dispel. While you will get in trouble at school for using these spells(because students shouldn’t be using spells on each other in the first place unless it is part of a lesson), there are no real repercussions to their use.

Major jinxes, hexes and curses are where things get serious. These are spells that can cause some serious damage, but thankfully are healable, though it might take some time and work. Students are taught about some of these spells, and NEWT level DADA students are taught some of these spells as they pertain to the subject of advanced DADA, but otherwise these are not a part of the normal schooling curriculum. There can be fines, and prison time if serious enough(a few years max) linked to using these spells on another individual. Basically these spells can be painful, cause quite a bit of damage, but at least you can recover if forced to endure them.

Lethal jinxes, hexes and curses are what they sound like. Lethal does not necessarily mean deadly, though those spells are included. These spells are the ones that cause irreversible damage. The Unforgiveable curses are included in this category. Basically you might ‘recover’ but you won’t be the same when exposed to these sort of spells. Use of these spells on another person is a serious offense and will include prison time.

### NECROMANCY

We see evidence of Necromancy in the Harry Potter books, though we aren’t given much information. We do know that you can not reverse death. So true Necromancy isn’t possible. Instead, Necromancy in the magical world is more of a reanimation. So spelling dead bodies to follow your orders.

### SACRIFICIAL

Sacrificial magic exists in many cultures. Even in European history, human and animal sacrifices have been, at one point, culturally acceptable. Some examples would be the Celtic druids, and the Vikings. In Europe though, sacrificial magic has been outlawed for generations, and has fallen out of practice.

Modern druids also have a history with sacrificial magic, and do not consider animal sacrifices as "dark", though they do agree human sacrifices.

### EXPERIMENTAL BREEDING

While using breeding to create new animal breeds is a common practice in the muggle world, it is not in the Magical. In fact, intentionally attempting to breed different Magical Creatures is strictly outlawed. Hybrid creatures can be extremely unpredictable, and extremely dangerous. As such, anyone caught practicing experimental breeding can face some of the harshest of punishments. Despite the harsh criminal prosecutions, experimental breeding is a very lucrative market.

### DARK POTIONING

The illegal and twisted side of potioning. Poisons, potions of neverending nightmares, elixirs of eternal sleep, and more. Dark Potioners don’t always work in the dark arts alone. They can provide perfectly legal services as well, only offering their more… exotic stock to certain clients. This makes illegal potioning extremely difficult to catch in the act because *any* potioneer is capable of delving into the Dark Arts.

### Curse Enchanting

We all know someone has to make all those cursed items! Cursed items are a common product on the black market, and in shops such as Borgin and Burkes. While many cursed items are from centuries past, unearthed by the unsuspecting, item cursing still exists to this day. These individuals can work off of commision, providing cursed objects upon request, or intentionally sell their work to the unwary victim.

*More types of Dark Arts do exist, this is just an overview of a few/the types you are most likely to encounter*

## EDUCATION

### MOST SCHOOLS

The training young witches and wizards receive regarding the Dark Arts is Defense against the Dark Arts, minor jinxes, hexes, and curses (refer to the section on jinxes, hexes and curses), and at NEWT level major jinxes, hexes, and curses (only as it pertains to advanced DADA). Some classes may cover some Dark Art material, though only as it pertains to the class (for example, the Dark Arts persistently come up in History of Magic.). Any students caught practicing any Dark Arts (that are not mentioned above as being taught) will face consequences, and potential expulsion if severe enough.

### DURMSTRANG

Durmstrang is notorious for not only teaching it’s defense, but also teaching the Dark Arts to its students. These Durmstrang students are taught that all magic has a use, regardless of its classification. Though, quite surprisingly, Durmstrang also instils a strong sense of responsibility in its students, so there are very few incidents involving illegal Dark Arts use from Durmstrang students.

### MAHOUTOKORO

Mahoutokoro on the other hand is extremely intolerant of the Dark Arts. Any sort of Dark Arts practice (including minor spells) can have serious ramifications. It is actually included in the schools robing system. A student’s robes will turn white if they use any sort of Dark Art magic, and this coloration can not be undone. While you won’t be expelled for minor spells, you are disgraced and shunned if your robes turn white. Repeat offenses, or a more serious offense, will lead to expulsion.

## DARK ART USE IN THE MAGICAL WORLD

### LEGAL

Some jobs require a specialized knowledge of the Dark Arts. On the side of the law you have Aurors, Hit Wizards, Magical Interpol, healers, etc. These individuals learn about the Dark Arts because they are tasked with countering, or reversing, these spells and practices. The Ministry can also grant individuals special permission to use the dark arts (of any level) to complete a task. Please refer to the (soon to come!) post on Magical Law Enforcement for more information!

### ILLEGAL

There has been quite a bit of confusion surrounding individuals classified as ‘Dark Wizards’. So, to clarify, a Dark Wizard is someone who practices any Dark Art. Dark Wizards have become synonymous with ‘evil’, murderers, etc, but those individuals only make up a very small portion of ‘Dark Wizards’. You have potioneers, curse specialists, experimental breeders, etc. These individuals work in the Magical underworld.