Snape's Role/ dark magic

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 176493

Adam:
> Perhaps I even thought we'd see the difference in this book - how 
> Dumbledore's magic was good, and Voldemorte's was bad, and what the 
> difference really was.  The lines were blurred in this book, and I 
> don't think in a good way.  Sometimes moral greyness is wonderful, 
> and the world becomes more complex.  But with this issue, like so 
> many others, I think JKR set something up to be a certain way, 
> changed it without explanation, and has left many of us either
> disappointed or just scratching our heads.


Jen: You've summed up my impression of dark/light magic by DH, the 
greyness and imprecision.  Here's another quote to add to the 
confusion:  "Because [a] wand, in my world, is merely a vehicle, a 
vessel for what lies inside the person. There is a very close 
relationship -- as you know -- between the wand that each wizard uses 
and themselves."  (An evening with Harry, Carrie and Garp, 2006) 

So all magic really comes down to intent then??  That works for 
things like the Unforgiveables - having to mean them - or a happy 
memory infusing a person with the ability to cast a Patronus. I'm not 
sure it holds up for each and every spell cast in the series though 
(and I don't have it in me to research it <g>).

Jen