What *are* the Dark Arts?

[Jim Flanagan]

No: HPFGUIDX 7769

The "Defense against the Dark Arts" course seems to be a very mixed 
bag, as it includes how to deal with critters like Cornish pixies, 
hinkeypunks and boggarts, and how to recognize werewolves.  Since 
these creatures are just acting according to their nature, I don't 
see how learning about them qualifies as dark "arts."

We don't know much about what Moody taught his students other than 
experiencing the Imperius curse. The only useful DADA that Harry has 
learned ("learnt" for our friends across the water) were the Patronus 
charm, which he had to *beg* Lupin to teach him, and 
the "Expellarmus" spell, which he learned by watching Snape at the 
one and only dueling club meeting.

Perhaps a better name for the course than "Defense against the Dark 
Arts" would be "Defensive Magic." 

-JF