mmm... he wanted to research these people, they used dark magic for good and he wanted to know in what way. So he decided to go to the library once this lesson was over.

Marcelo raised his eyebrows slightly, surprised to hear a but from Eino who-wasn't-comfortable-with-the-name. He was a Ravenclaw, he should have understood... and after hearing his words, he thought for a moment maybe he shouldn't be uncomfortable about his nationality and name too, but also his house. He certainly wasn't suitable for Ravenclaw if he thought that Marcelo couldn't see the point of discussion. That was the very thing he had been trying to explain the girl there.

"I know that, Eino," he said calmly and politely, if anything. "And I have discussed exactly that with the girl," whose name he didn't know. "She said bad intent would make any spell dark, and I said that the spell would be innocent." So he did not think at all that he had missed the point.

Some of these people were indeed interesting. Maybe they were worthless of his breath.

"Well yes, but half the time those spells aren't used for the Dark arts. More than half the time in fact." The girl just couldn't see how a summoning charm could be considered dark arts. "One's intent could make it sound like a particular spell or object could be used for dark arts, but the magic itself, if not created to mainly cause harm...I don't think would be considered dark magic. One didn't create the aguamenti charm just to hurt someone."

....Or DID they!?

"Most of the wizards and witches in the world don't use these mundane spells for the dark arts. That is a rather small handful if there are any who do, and while they probably have been used for...evil purposes, would a small event in which it was used for dark arts permanently label it so?"

"The reason a spell is created is not what makes it Dark aside from the Unforgivables, in my opinion. It is the caster and that caster's intention. It has been said in that past that Dark Arts are ever changing, does that mean that a simple spell could one day be deemed Dark because one person used it for a Dark purpose and then someone else, and then someone else?" Lexi asked of Evelyn. "I do agree that most people do not use mundane spells for harm and I am not trying to say that any spell that is considered mundane should be deemed Dark, but the way anyone uses something can be for a Dark purpose. That being said, I believe that Dark Arts cannot be rigidly defined because of this point... and that it is up to each person to define for themselves what is Dark and Light," she said simply. And that... was enough participation for Lexi Kennedy for one day.

She glanced at Sal and smiled and then went back to twirling her hair round her finger and trying to stay out of further debate... since she had given her own opinion as to what SHE understood Dark Arts to be.

"If you're using the Hover Charm to levitate someone then drop them, your main intent is to levitate, that is the purpose of the charm, so I don't think that gray area is applicable to all or even most spells. There is some 'dark' intent in using simple charms to harm others, but the intent to use each spell is to do exactly what it is supposed to, like levitation and the Hover charm. However, I do agree that there is some gray area in regards to some spells, like the Slashing Curse, because you would, I presume, although I have never used it, need the intent to slash something and someone. Of course, it becomes dark when you intent to slash someone, but not when you intent to slash a piece of fruit." Eino believed there was a 'non dark' and then a 'dark' area, but mostly it was just different shades of gray, maybe some blue too because blue is cool, and yellow.

"Yes but you can do much wrong with spells that are 'innocent' and she is suggesting that maybe it's not so black and white. All I wanted to do was propose that both the magic itself and the intent re intertwined, when you seemed to suggest that they were separate things by saying that the magic itself can't hurt. Well, it can, but that is not always the main intent. For example, spells like the Hover Charm or the Fire-Producing Charm aren't dark just because they can harm someone. The main intent for them is to levitate and produce fire, respectively, while the main intent for something like the killing curse is solely to kill."

She was going to get a headache in this class. Crossing one leg over the other, she nodded slowly at what Lexi was saying, though something DID bug her. She wasn't trying to go against Lexi on purpose, but the idea popped up into her mind. "Well, if it were up to each person to define what was dark and light, that would just cause utter chaos but... don't we naturally already have that made up?" she asked, leaning back in her seat as she twirled her quill in her hand. "Our society is shaped through media, spoken word, and 'leaders' so to speak, and no one really goes against it so we kinda have a natural way of life where we go with the flow of things. An opinion has already been set down from many, many years before on what is right and wrong, dark and light, and naturally...we all learn and follow it from a young age. It's those that decide to act against it, whether in a dangerous or non-dangerous situation that makes us question what is dark and light. Most of us follow what has been set down before us and the others well..." Hehe, yea. They're just a little loopy in the head then. She'd like to see someone use an unlocking charm for the dark arts.

"I don't believe it's the intent of the person that makes the magic of a spell considered dark. I believe that just makes the person dark. The spell has it's purpose and if it's to harm, then it'd be considered dark. If not, then it's just another spell in everyday life." Same went with the creatures, potions, and objects.

Salander angled his head when a familiar voice chipped in his two bits. "Hmmm, well firstly Dark Arts is constantly changing..." there was a book entry that said that right? "... so if one wants to get technical about it, the answer is yes." he said with a nonchalant shrug "BUT, that is why we go to school to learn magic. If magic was as simple and straightforward as text in a book, then we wouldnt bother with Hogwarts would we? We'd be grabbing a book from Flourish and Blotts under their Do-It-Yourself projects."

He leaned back in his seat, addressing the class in general now. "Our mentors dont just teach us the simple things like wand movement and incantation, they teach us the finer points of magic, they teach us how to hone our intentions, refine them and harness our energy to maximize the use of a spell or potion-- whether that be for good or for evil." Well they are in Hogwarts so its a bit more of the former than the latter.

Minerva thought for a few minutes. What are dark arts.. hmmm She thought of what her mother told her about the history of the wizard world then she thought of the term in muggle sense. Minerva raised her hand. "Professor Glass, I think something is dark if it is evil. If a spell is used to harm or kill someone that could be classified as dark arts. Well that's what I was thinking at least." Minerva hoped she was at least on the right track..

After Proffeser Glass asked her question, Sage mulled over it in her head. It had stumped her. She sat, listening to those around her and their side of their arguments. Most just flat out said that it was anything magical used to harm people, that's what Sage had thought right away also. But after hearing Lexi's side of things, Sage wasn't so sure.

Lexi was right after all. Sage could perform a simple, harmless spell and yet still manage to hurt someone. Any spell could be used to protect someone also. Now the Dark Arts could also be a spell purposefully made or performed to do harm.

Sage's head hurt!

"Hmm...well there's gotta be fine line on what you can call a 'Dark Art', right? You could argue both ways," Sage muttered out loud to herself,"But can you really define it?"

William scribbled on his parchment as Professor Glass explained what NEWTs were. Placing his quill down, he then propped his spellbook against the edge of the desk and laid it in his lap as he flipped through it, searching for a definition of the Dark Arts. Finding very little information, and feeling quite disappointed that a book did not have an answer, he threw his spellbook back into his bag. He pondered what "Dark Arts" could be defined as. He had learned very little, being a first-year and all. But, William decided to give it a shot, and raised his hand slowly.
"Professor, would the dark arts be any kind of magic that does not serve any regularly beneficial use? We use charms and spells, usually, to aid tasks in our lives. Dark Magic is simply used to inflict pain or damage, and you must have pretty ill intentions to be able to do so, wouldn't you?" He could hardly picture any of his professor performing dark magic.

Well, of course it wasn't that black and white. But the thing was still there, a wingardium leviosa was NOT a dark spell just because it was used to kill a person.

He nodded at Eino. Finally he seemed to show the glimpses of his wisdom there to honour Ravenclaw. "That is what I tried to explain." It wasn't his problem that he couldn't explain it this simple. And he took no blame for English being his third language.



So, to sum up his point... he raised his hand again, adressing the professor.

"I think, in the end, a spell is only dark if it's created to cause harm, not just used for it. It is irrelevant, regarding the 'dark arts' issue at least, how one person chooses to use a spell." Just like the Head Girl and Eino said.

End of discussion for João until the professor said something.

MJ raised her hand, and said: "Professor Glass, I think the Dark Arts could refer to magic, the creation of/sale of/use of Dark items or Potions, or even collaborating with Dark creatures. I think that some spells are always Dark in nature, but some spells only become Dark when they are used for the wrong reasons. The same with items. Darkness relies on the intention to harm, steal or control. If a wizard or witch was to use, say, the controlling Unforgivable Curse to save someone's life by, for example, stopping them from falling off a cliff; then that couldn't really be Dark magic... I think it's all in the intentions - it's what the caster/user does with it, not the magic itself. The caster is responsible, therefore it's technically the witch or wizard who is Dark, as opposed to the magic."

Nate raised his hand, as a precaution, and said "Well, the dark arts are magic that usually has many negative repercussions, correct?" He hoped there was no sarcasm in his voice as he said 'correct'. He didn't want to cheek a teacher, especially not so early.

"Sorry Professor." Elsie said, now feeling incredibly guilty for losing house points. She didn't realise it would be so strict! She looked apologetically at the Gryffindor prefects. They could not be happy right now!
Elsie raised her hand,
"Defence against the Dark Arts, could it be defined as defence from any sort of spells that are intended in a negative way?" Elsie asked, that had always been how she thought of it.

Willaim raosed his hand. "Defense Against Dark Arts" to me is defending agaonst the criminal element which also include bad withes and wiazards" Willaim told the professor." You can do this by spells" Willaim said to rhe professor.

Selina was ready to yell at this lady. If she took anymore points away from Gryffindor she swore she was going to throw something and she would make sure that it hurt whoever she aimed for... probably high-heeled Josh. Ugh! Josh! Why did he do that?

Then when she asked about what was, to them, Defense Against the Dark Arts Selina rose her hand and said, "Well, ma'am, I suppose, to me, Defense Against the Dark arts is a form of magic work that deals with either inflicting pain or protection. I mean, Charms is glorified house work and Dark Arts is a bit more gritty... real stakes."

Calming Draught? Lafay had told her she needed one during her first year. Clenching her hands into a fist, she tried to steel herself to answer, "No, M-ma'am" She said trying her best to clam her nerves.


What are the dark arts? Every the lesson was the same. Raising her hand, she answered "Well, There are certain spell that are always going to be considered dark arts, such as the Unforgivable curses. And there are Dark Creatures as well." There was so much more, but others had already said quite a bit, and she didn;t want to repeat everything they had said.

Cora raised her hand timidly, and smiled shyly at the professor. She had heard much about magic in general from her sister, and knew a bit about it.

"Professor, I think dark magic is a type of magic intended to harm or destroy someone or something. Usually dark magic has no justification, but it can be used for bad and good, I believe. I think dark magic is highly unethical and oftentimes completely uncalled for." Cora left out exactly how TERRIFIED she was about dark magic. "I, for one, hope to never have to use dark magic." Cora was slightly concerned that she simply wouldn't be able to perform dark magic. There was just not a single mean bone in her body, and she couldn't harm a fly.

Cora was slightly proud of herself for accomplishing saying something quite a bit more audible than her last few comments. Maybe Cora WAS becoming braver. When she looked up at the professor, suddenly Cora thought not.

And now, introductions are over finally. It's good that she wanted to know each and everyone so that she can addressed them right.

Erin raised her hand to answer the professor's question about the dark arts. "Dark Arts depend on the intent of the wizard using it. Let's see for example curses. Curses are used to cause harm to another person. However, if someone just cast a simple curse to someone, it doesn't count as dark magic right away. It all comes down to the true intent of the caster.I guess, the ones that are truly considered Dark Magic are the Unforgivable Curses, the Cruciatus, Imperius and Killing curse."

With that, Erin sat down feeling a little confident on her answer.

Luna raised her hand eagerly to give her personal contribution to the class.

"Profesor, I believe that the Dark Arts, are a subject that will never be known to be complete or have an end. They are a form of magic that is changing, it mutates, it becomes better, harder to repel or fight off, there are always new ways in which this magic can manifest itself, and that's the challenging part, how to destroy a Dark Magic that is 'new' and yet so powerful. One can say that the Dark Arts are perhaps.. Eternal, for as long as there are corrupted souls who seek power for their own 'greater good' above everything or anyone else, the Dark Magic will continue on, being fed by the ambition of those souls and will never see its end."

Luna then gently sits down, satisfied, and longing to learn more.

Harlow's head was swimming with all the double talk and the back tracking at the agreeing on principle but differing on reasons that was going on around the room. All she knew was that knew dark arts when you saw them. She was however taking some good notes.

"A Dark art is any type of magic used solely for the purpose of furthering ones own gains while causing harm or taking away there freedom of choice. Therefore it is my opinion that if a magic normally considered a dark art is used to help mankind, such a removing a very dangerous dark wizard, or getting information on how to save innocent lives, then they are not consider dark magic because they help the rest of the world and its populace," Samuel said swiftly, determined that he had a fairly correct idea, but still realizing that the question was on based on morals.

Disappointed at how many points her House has lost since this class had started, Ariadne figured she should, at least, attempt to answer the question. 'I suppose there is a separation between good and bad magic, the Dark Arts being understood as the latter, but as there is a thin line between what is good or bad, right or wrong, there can't be any clear distinction between the two forms of magic. Therefore, I think we should consider specific rather than general situations to describe Dark Magic. The purpose with which magic is used can be a reliable indicator of whether it is Dark magic or not.' Silence. Well, she tried.

Willow looked to the front of the classroom and gaped at the professor. She didn't mean to snap her quill! Plus, there were a few other people who had been talking too! This class wasn't starting how she hoped it would. Raising her hand, she addressed Professor Glass.
"I interpret the Dark Arts to be spells or enchantments we may come across in our lives and have to defend ourselves against, or defeat the offensive object in question. We may also need to gain a greater understanding of the Dark Arts to prepare ourselves if we ever cross something of the sort. For example, the Unforgivable Curses, which I understand are high above most of our levels of experience." She finished.

Ryden groaned. This required way too much thinking. . . Ugh. Resting her head in her hand, the blonde honestly did try to think for a bit, and even listened to others as they voiced their opinions, but the fact remained that she was REALLY not bothered.

And she had absolutely no idea, too.

"It's... er, all in the wizard or witch's mind?" the fifth year Ravenclaw suggested. The sorting hat was probably regretting its decision now.