The Essential Defence Against the Dark Arts

The Essential Defence Against the Dark Arts
Book information
Author	Arsenius Jigger
Released	Before September 1993
Publisher	Luca Books
Subject	Defence Against the Dark Arts
Copies	Hogwarts students

"Turn to page 394."

— Severus Snape instructing the third year Defence Against the Dark Arts class

The Essential Defence Against the Dark Arts, also known simply as Defence Against the Dark Arts, was a book on fighting the dark arts, written by Arsenius Jigger sometime before 1993. It was published by Luca Books.

History

It was used by Professor Lupin as a required textbook for his third-year Defence Against the Dark Arts.

This book was caught up in the Calamity in the 2010s, with a copy of this book being returned to the witch Zelda Hum after it became a Foundable.

Contents

The book's passage on Werewolves

This book had information on various dark creatures, such as:

• Red Caps
• Hinkypunks
• Grindylows
• Kappas
• Boggarts
• Vampires
• Werewolves (covered on page 394)

Behind the scenes

This book as seen in Harry Potter: Wizards Unite

• In what is presumed to be an easter egg by prop designers, the bulk of what can be seen of the book's text has been taken from the 1995 video game The Beast Within, and as such, should not necessarily be considered canon to the Harry Potter universe. The original text can be found here.
• There are at least two different versions of the prop for this book. The version sold by MinaLima Design has the text on the cover composed of random letters, while the one showcased at Harry Potter: The Exhibition (seen at the top of this page) has the letters form various words related to the series.
• This book was not listed on the third year supplies list. It is possible that it was handed out by Professor Lupin at the start of the year, similar to what Professor Sybill Trelawney did with The Dream Oracle two years later.
• The book references that wizards can become werewolves through being cursed by the Lycacomia Curse. However, as it has been established that lycanthropy can only be induced by cursed werewolf bites and not through dark charms, this is considered non-canonical.

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (First appearance) (Not by name)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film) (First identified as The Essential Defence Against the Dark Arts)
• Harry Potter: Wizards Unite
• The Art of Harry Potter Mini Book of Graphic Design