defense against the dark arts: lesson one

Chapter 3

da = dark arts

introduction to defense against the dark arts:

• the dark arts include many branches of magic, potions, and charms
• once the da have a hold on you, they never let go
• when the da corrupts your soul, it also corrupts your body
• da can never be defeated – can never be completely gone
• once you beat a 'branch' of da, another will form, and the old one will come back stronger 
• you can never defeat dark arts, only hold them back

categories of dark arts:

• dark spells
• dark potions
• dark creatures 
• dark artifacts 
• dark practices 

dark spells: any spelling with the intent to harm others. 

• this also is the generic definition of da
• the ministry has broken down dark spells into 3 categories 

dark arts: three spell categories:

jinx: 1st and lowest level of dark spells

• won't cause much harm
• said to be more minor irritation than serious harm
• ex include: tripping jinx, knockback jinx, stinging jinx
• mainly used as distractions and don't cause much damage 

hex: 2nd clasification of dark spells 

• darker than jinxs 
• will do more lasting damage 
• ex include: bat–bogey hex, hurling hex, pensaugeo 
• cause more damage to target
• vewied as major inconveniences 
• cause a moderate amount of suffering 
• can be reversed with the use of a her breaker 

curse: darkest and most dangerous clarification of the dark arts

• casted with the intent to severely harm or potentially kill the target
• ex include: reductor curse, full body–bind curse, conjunctivitis curse 
• these spells are absolutely discouraged unless absolutely necessary  

unforgivable curses: darkest spells known to wizarding kind

• any usage of unforgivables will result in a lifetime sentence to azkaban 
• will learn more in future years 

wand lighting and wand extinguishing charm:

• produces yellow light if casted correctly 
• several dark creatures have a sensitivity to light; casting light charm will allow you to move away
• doesn't go out unless you cast extinguishing charm

spell blocks:

• spell: the wand lighting charm
• incantation: lumos (loo-mos)
• wand movement: counter–clockwise loop
• concentration: low; lighting up tip of wand
• willpower: low

•  spell: the wand extinguishing charm
• incantation: nox (nock—ss)
• wand movement: flick of wand 
• concentration: none
• willpower: none 

1997–1998: the use of dark arts was legalized through voldemorts forces (death eaters)