Hating Dark Arts (was re James' essence...)

[whirledgirl]

No: HPFGUIDX 154040

> Julie:
> It's still strange to me that James hated Snape so passionately
> for performing nasty curses (Dark Arts curses, presumably), while
> he was fine with hexing anyone who annoyed him. Does he really
> think it's fine to humiliate and hurt others as long as it's not an
> official "Dark" spell or hex? Does the label truly make the
> difference?
<SNIP>


Finwitch:
> <SNIP>
> As to James hexing anyone who annoyed him... (Lily did agree there
> WAS provocation, though she didn't think it was enough of it)
<SNIP>
> As result, James' father may well have
> *instructed* James to hex any who annoy him to avoid accidental
> magic coming up.

WhirledGirl:

I..have some ideas that might help! First about Julie's point
regarding her finding it strange that James and Snape hate each
other, apparently at first sight;

There are a number of explanations for this, the first and simplest
being that they simply did not like the look of each other and
mutually decided to not bother. A bit like Harry decided he didn't
like Draco in PS/SS. It does happen. Harry didn't know anything
about Draco and his family either at that point. James and Snape
aren't neccessarily a direct equal to Draco and Harry as enemies,
there seem to be some differences, yet it could serve to explain.
Also, the root of this conundrum seems to lie at how JKR has (or
hasn't) really clarified what constituted 'dark' magic in those
times, let alone 'now', if that's the same as the 'dark arts', and
how long/much/severe dark magic a wizard or witch must use before
they are considered a 'dark' wizard or witch.

Aside from this lack of clarification, there is also no direct
opposite. I realised the other day that actually, although there are
plenty of references to light in connection to DD's office etc.
(light from the pensieve and from fawkes for example), the
term 'light magic' is never used. This led me to speculate that
perhaps 'dark magic' is simple unrefined magic that originates from
the 'dark ages',in our *muggle* history.

This is relevant, because it would explain why James (and probably
many others) felt it wrong to use dark magic, because it was less
predictable than the more refined and controllable 'light' spells,
apart from against their common enemies. Few spells are referred to
as illegal within the books, namely the Unforgivables, yet there are
more (as we've seen from HBP - Sectumsempra for example) that are
*nearly* just as dangerous and harmful.

Not only that, but Knockturn Alley is literally next to Diagon
Alley, while being full of known 'dark' objects and possibly
disreputable wizards and witches too. Why hasn't this place been
a/closed or b/kept a closer eye on? There don't seem to be any
aurors around, for instance, when Draco enters Borgin & Burkes in
HBP. If there had been, everything would have been different. Ok so
granted this is still a story, and certain things just *have* to be
that way for the story to unfold, but i still find it odd that from
what we can see Knockturn Alley and what is sold within goes totally
unregulated!

Now Finwitch's problem, was James instructed by his dad (or his mum,
right?) to hex anyone who annoyed him?;
This could be the case, but to me, it seems more like James was at
school...able to do magic...and...took advantage of it. They (all
the students) are there to learn, after all, and this includes
learning when it is right to use magic against somebody else and
when it isn't. Eventually, James must have made the right choice,
because he not only, with Lily, defied Voldenaughty three times
according to the prophecy, but went into hiding in order to protect
his wife and son.

Let's not forget also that James came from a wizarding family, and
that the parents in an all magical family are responsible for
regulating whether their children actually use magic out of school.
And while Harry's use of magic against Aunt Marge *was* accidental,
it was also reversible. This would surely be true if it happened at
Hogwarts, esp. with the teachers fully grown witches and wizards.
Imo, they would be able to rectify any accidental magic, so this is
not valid..'reason' for James to take out his frustration/hatred of
Snape in the way he does. Imo, however you dress it up, James was
wrong. Just like Harry was to use Sectumpsempra against Draco.
A 'stupefy' would've worked just as well, and then Harry could have
gone to DD saying that Draco tried to crucio him. If nothing else,
it may have meant that DD would have taken Harry more seriously
about his allegations that Draco was planning something.

Seems that wizards and witches - just like us muggles lol- aren't
perfect.

smiles and thanks for reading this far if you did!

WG*