help with JKR quote was Re: Lily and Tuney and Sev, Oh My

[lizzyben04]

No: HPFGUIDX 176473

> I think there must be some dividing line between the usual
> hexes and jinxes students perform on each other at school
> on a regular basis (such as the twins hexes, Ginny's jinxes,
> etc), and that which Lily referred to as something of a 
> more sinister variety, "Dark Magic." I just don't have the
> least idea where that dividing line lies--and perhaps neither
> does JKR!
> 
> Julie
>

lizzyben:

It's Dark Magic when Slytherins do it. That's the dividing line. If
Gryffindors use Unforgiveable Curses or hexes, it's totally OK. 

So, here's the ultimate Snape apologist. :) What's so bad about "Dark
Magic", anyway? What's so bad about being a "Dark Wizard?" I'm
serious. Sirius says that he comes from a long line of "Dark Wizards",
and there's no indication that any of his ancestors were involved in
hurting Muggles, taking over the Wizarding World, becoming evil
overlords. I guess they had some odd customs, some creepy furnishings
in the house, but - so what? It's like the Addams Family. 

Durmstrang has taught "Dark Magic" throughout the series, and again
there's no indication of Voldemorts coming out of that school. Victor
Krum is learning "Dark Magic", and he's a nice guy. He shows no signs
of prejudice at all, and he doesn't show any signs of being evil, either. 

And we never get a definition of what exactly constitutes "Dark
Magic", or why it's so awful. We're supposed to think Snape was bad
for being into the "Dark Arts", but it's the Marauders who we see
using hexes & jinxes for fun, becoming Animagi, & creating a magical
map that's full of Dark Magic. But then Lily says that James & co.
don't use Dark Magic. It's a puzzle. It starts to seem almost like a
cultural thing - Those weird people w/their weird customs & weird
magic that isn't like the normal magic we use at all.


lizzyben