What is 'Dark Magic'?

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 95822

Potioncat is snipping from several posts:
> Bill wrote:
> > What exactly is 'Dark Magic'?  This has never been answered in 
> > canon.  Many fans assume that the difference between 'Dark Magic' 
> > and 'Light Magic' has to do with the intended results, but this 
> > cannot be right, as many 'Light Magic' spells can be used to hurt 
or 
> > kill others--
>>snip> >  
> > Another theory is that 'Dark Magic' has to do with controlling 
> > spirits or demons, in the same manner as the classical concept of 
> > sorcery or necromancy.  
snip

> Carol:
 I do like the idea that the Dark Arts aren't evil so much
> as amoral, which would justify Snape's interest in them--but if
> they're not evil, why have a DADA class and why does Dumbledore 
refuse to teach them?


Potioncat:
Bill's article has some interesting ideas that may well fit with 
JKR's world. I'm responding now from a different angle.
I became interested in the definition of dark arts because of its 
influence in the animosity between Snape and the Marauders.  Sirius 
says it's the main reason they didn't like Snape, but I'm not so sure 
that's true. It seems to me that Serius  must have been as well 
exposed to Dark Magic as Snape was. And we're told by an angry Lily 
that James hexed people just because he could. (If you do it, it's 
Dark Magic, if I do it it's OK)


I wonder if wizards always agree on what is dark and what isn't. We 
know from canon that DADA includes fighting off creatures like 
Boggarts and imps (demons?) and in repelling certain curses. Arthur 
says that the diary is obviously full of dark arts, but it's 
uncertain if that's because he knows (after the fact) who made it or 
because of something else about it.

CoS p 329:  "...Never trust anything that can think for itself *if 
you can't see where it keeps its brain?*  Why didn't you show the 
diary to me, or your mother?  A suspicious object like that, it was 
clearly full of Dark Magic--"  If thinking for itself is a criteria, 
then the portraits would fall into this category too, as would the 
Map. 

I have the feeling that this will one area that well never be clear.  
Not even after the 7th book!
Potioncat