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

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 161492

> >>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.

Betsy Hp:
Not in the WW though.  At least, not when it comes to werewolves.  
My understanding is that once a human is infected with the werewolf 
curse, they *become* Dark Creatures.  They are, by definition (and 
legally apparently) Dark.  As such they *are* considered agents of 
evil.  That's why Lupin couldn't teach, why he has such a hard time 
finding a job, and why he had to be snuck into Hogwarts.

> >>a_svirn:
> 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.

Betsy Hp:
Well, my argument has been that there isn't a clear delineation 
between good magic and dark magic.  That is depends to a large 
extent on the fashion of the times.

Werewolves have been designated Dark Creatures by the MoM.  As per 
the WW's political center, Lupin is a Dark Creature, full moon or 
no.  And if Grayback wasn't a werewolf, but still liked to eat 
people, he'd be sick and wrong, but not automatically dark.

An argument was made (by Shelley, I think?) that the difference 
between dark magic and good magic rests on intent.  But since intent 
is so hard to read, the WW shied away from spells they felt only 
those with bad intent would use.  Which would give certain spells a 
bad reputation and lead to them being labeled "dark".

But it still comes down to fallible human-beings deciding what magic 
is okay and what magic is dark.  Very unlike the Star Wars universe 
where the Dark Side is dark by its own virtues, not public opinion.  
In Potterverse the intent of the werewolf on the night of the full 
moon leads to the possesed human being labeled dark.

Betsy Hp