Dark Magic and Snape (was:Re: CHAPDISC: HBP24, Sectumsempra)

[a_svirn]

No: HPFGUIDX 161481

> a_svirn:
> Actually, from what we can see in canon werewolves attack because 
are 
> rendered insane by their illness. They do not *consciously* want to 
cause 
> pain; they simply have certain cravings and act on instinct,
> much like sharks. Maybe it's not exactly a *survival* instinct, but 
it's 
> still an instinct, not an *intent*.
> 
> Magpie:
> I agree--but to address what Betsy said in those first sentences, I 
think 
> "werewolf" refers to a man who changes into a wolf etc., so Lupin 
actually 
> is a Dark creature whether he's human or not.  An actual wolf, even 
a rabid 
> one, would not be a Dark Creature, I don't think, just an animal.  
It may 
> almost be thought of as a possession--the regular human is 
possessed by this 
> dark spirit that causes it to do things, and thus becomes a Dark 
Creature as 
> well.
> 

<snip>

a_svirn:
I think your analogy is exactly right – the curse of lycanthropy does 
bear a strong resemblance to possession.  The trouble is that no one 
usually thinks the possessed persons "dark" or evil. They are 
regarded as *victims* of Evil, not agents of it. And the same goes 
for werewolves. It is a human Grayback  who is malicious and whose 
intent is wicked, not a wolf Grayback, after all. A wolf Grayback is 
just insane – doesn't know what he does and why. Which brings us to 
back to the supposed intent-darkness correlation. Either we have to 
agree – rather lamely – that werewolves are actually a special case, 
an exception from that rule, or we have to face the possibility that 
we've been going with a false premise.