Dark Magic WAS: Re:help with JKR quote/ Children's reactions

[Zara]

No: HPFGUIDX 176771

> lizzyben:
> What spell
> does Snape attack with? Expelliarmus, which later becomes Harry's
> signature spell. I think, in this series, Dark Magic is simply a 
form
> of combat magic. 

zgirnius:
Expelliarmus is not Dark Magic, it is purely defensive and does no 
physical harm. Its naming reflects this - it is the 'Disarming 
Charm'. Protego is another spell of this sort, and is also a Charm, 
the 'Shield Charm'. So when Harry decides to use Expelliarmus against 
Stan and Voldemort in DH, he is refraining from using Dark Magic. It 
is taught in DADA class as a 'defense against' Dark Arts. It seems 
that Snape knows a lot about it (DADA as distinct from Dark Arts), 
because he winds up duelling people who are (unwittingly) on his side 
a couple of times, and uses defensive magic to protect himself 
without harming his opponents.

I would venture a guess that counterspells to Dark Magic of various 
sorts are also not Dark (Finite Incantatem, Liberacorpus, Snape's 
spell to heal the damage of Sectumsempra, etc.). Because, again, they 
do not cause harm to the opponent/caster of the Dark Magic, just 
cancel, stop, prevent, or remedy the effects of that Dark Magic.