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."

- Professor Severus Snape

The Dark Arts, also known as Dark Magic, refers to any type of magic that is mainly used to cause harm, control, or even death to the victim. The Dark Arts are not necessarily "evil", just because it's labelled "dark".

The Dark Arts encompass many spells and actions ranging from the powerful Unforgivable Curses to brewing harmful or poisonous potions to breeding Dark creatures such as Basilisks, and its practise is often illegal or at least discouraged. Practitioners are referred to as Dark wizards or witches, the most prominent and powerful of whom was Lord Voldemort. His followers, known as Death Eaters, also practised the Dark Arts.

Nature of the Dark Arts


The Dark Arts are generally regarded as corrupting to those who use them (which is part of the reason they are considered "dark"). After engaging in them extensively for many years, even Tom Marvolo Riddle's appearance demonstrated his corruption — he lost his former handsomeness, eventually taking on serpentine physical qualities and 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 is probably capable of murder, but that if he did go through with murder, his soul would be "ripped apart". This suggests that using very dark magic, such as the Killing Curse, damages an individual's soul. The dark art of creating a Horcrux involves literally splitting the soul for the unnatural purpose of achieving immortality. Quirinus Quirrell was interested in dark magics, 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 are pragmatic in nature, where every time a branch is defeated, it only comes back "fiercer and cleverer" than before. It is therefore imperative that one's defences must be as versatile as these foul arts themselves.

Powerful dark spells also require malicious intent in order to be successful. To cast the Cruciatus Curse, for instance, one must truly desire to cause pain in and of itself, according to Bellatrix Lestrange. The Dark Arts can also be difficult to control; for example, Vincent Crabbe lost control of the cursed fire he created in 1998 and was killed by it. Injuries caused by dark magic sometimes never fully heal, such as George Weasley's ear after it was cut off by a Sectumsempra he was struck with during the Battle of the Seven Potters. Some Dark creatures also have lasting impacts that are deadly or incredibly harmful to those who come into contact with them. Such as when a basilisk fang pierced the arm of Harry Potter, while in the Chamber of Secrets, he was as sure as dead with the venom running rapidly through his veins, until his wound was healed by phoenix tears. Phoenix tears is a rare substance that is hard to come across. Baslisks also petrify people who merely glance their image, but kill when you look it in the eye. Other Dark creatures include Dementors, they have the ability to suck out a person's soul with their kiss. There is no cure for someone who has had their soul removed, they also can not recover from it, but most spend the rest of their life in a vegetative state reliving their worst memories.

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!"

- Albus Dumbledore explains the best type of protection against the Dark Arts

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, is love. He was perhaps referring to the Sacrificial Protection shield which Lily Potter used to protect infant Harry Potter and Harry himself later used to protect the defenders of Hogwarts by willingly taking a Killing Curse from the Dark Lord. However he 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 then returned to the land of the living.

Ethical considerations
While the Dark Arts have a bad reputation, overall, dark magic is not, by definition, "evil" magic. Indeed, dark magic can be used for good as well as evil. Even the Killing Curse can 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).

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

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

Wandlore
The suitability of a wand to perform dark magic depends, at least partly, on its core; dragon heartstring, phoenix feather, and rougarou hair have a reputation for being suitable for it, while it's hard to perform dark magic with unicorn hair wands.

The Dark Arts and the law
"When a wizard goes over ter the Dark Side, there's nothin' and no one that matters to 'em any more [...]"

- Rubeus Hagrid on the nature of the Dark Side



Although many members of the wizarding world appear to frown upon the Dark Arts, they are not prohibited (with the exception of the Unforgivables) and may even — under certain conditions — be encouraged. For example, while Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry teaches only Defence Against the Dark Arts, Durmstrang Institute teaches the Dark Arts itself. Moreover, shops like Borgin and Burkes in Knockturn Alley openly trade in Dark artefacts, and are patronised by "hundreds of people", which suggests that at least some aspects of the Dark Arts are somewhat socially acceptable or at the very least legal among parts of the wizarding population.

Also, in times of war, the Ministry of Magic has 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 may not be standard protocol.

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

Dark spells
"Magic, especially Dark magic... leaves traces."

- Albus Dumbledore



A Dark spell is primarily defined as any spell that consistently affects the object in a negative manner, usually associated with varying levels of discomfort.

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

The following are some Dark spells:

Dark potions
The following potions are identified as Dark:

Dark items
"Of the Horcrux, wickedest of magical inventions, we shall not speak nor give direction —"

- the introduction of Magick Moste Evile Some items can be bewitched by Dark Magic for various purposes. They then become known as Dark Magic Artefacts (or simply Dark items). The following items are associated with Dark Magic:<refHarry Potter Lexicon: Dark Magic Items

Dark creatures / beings
Many magical creatures and beings alike may be considered Dark. For example: the dementor, lethifold, inferi, basilisk, grindylow, acromantula, vampire, hag, werewolf, and rougarou, all of which are deeply feared and/or despised by numerous different wizards and witches.

Dark practices
Some other practises that would be considered Dark include:
 * Breaking the Ban on Experimental Breeding by hatching a basilisk, for example.
 * Consuming the blood of a unicorn
 * Necromancy, the Dark Art of raising the dead.

Known practitioners
The following wizards and witches are known to have used Dark Magic. Note that as above, the Dark Arts encompass many different types of spells, including many that seem to be in everyday use by most wizards — this section is limited to those who have used strong dark magic at least once.

Dark Wizards and Witches

 * Ekrizdis
 * Gellert Grindelwald
 * Grindelwald's followers
 * Gregory Goyle
 * Dolores Umbridge
 * Herpo the Foul
 * Morgan le Fay
 * Raczidian
 * Salazar Slytherin
 * Vincent Crabbe
 * Gormlaith Gaunt
 * Narcissa Malfoy
 * Various other wizards and witches

Death Eaters

 * Antonin Dolohov
 * Amycus Carrow
 * Alecto Carrow
 * Augustus Rookwood
 * Bellatrix Lestrange
 * Bartemius ("Barty") Crouch Jr
 * Crabbe Snr
 * Draco Malfoy (later defected)
 * Goyle Snr
 * Igor Karkaroff (later defected)
 * Lucius Malfoy (later defected)
 * Tom Riddle (alias Lord Voldemort)Bellatrix-promo-bellatrix-lestrange-28967541-432-650.jpg
 * Walden Macnair
 * Mulciber (Riddle-era)
 * Mulciber (Marauder-era)
 * Peter Pettigrew
 * Rabastan Lestrange
 * Regulus Arcturus Black (later defected and fought against them)
 * Rodolphus Lestrange
 * Severus Snape (later defected and fought against them)
 * Travers
 * Yaxley
 * Death Eaters

Non-Dark Wizards and Witches

 * Alastor Moody
 * Albus Dumbledore
 * Bartemius ("Barty") Crouch Snr
 * Harry Potter
 * Hermione Granger
 * Minerva McGonagall
 * Molly Weasley
 * Pius Thicknesse (under the Imperius Curse)
 * Viktor Krum (under the Imperius Curse)
 * Durmstrang students
 * Hogwarts students during the 1997–1998 school year (under threat of the Cruciatus Curse)

Known texts
The following texts are known to discuss the Dark Arts:


 * Magick Moste Evile
 * The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts
 * Confronting the Faceless

Behind the scenes

 * Some spells may not be considered Dark magic in and of themselves, but may be used for Dark purposes. For example, the Taboo curse allows the caster to track anyone who says a certain word or name. This gives the caster a great deal of power over people's speech, and spreads fear. It may thus be considered to have Dark applications, such as when it was used by Death Eaters to track their enemies during the Second Wizarding War.
 * The Dark Arts are similar to magic known as maleficium, which is used in a similar manner.

Appearances

 * PS undefined
 * PS F
 * PS G

Notes and references
Artes Oscuras Magie noire Тёмные Искусства Czarna magia