D.A.D.A Guide
written by Alexa Jamie Potter
Having trouble with your D.A.D.A homework . . . eh? Well in this book, it will guide you to pass tests and improve your knowledge on the dark arts!
Last Updated
05/31/21
Chapters
5
Reads
1,377
Class information
Chapter 1
"Your defences must therefore be as flexible and inventive as the arts you seek to undo"
—Professor Snape discussing defence during a 1996 lesson[src]
Defence Against the Dark Arts is a required subject from first year to fifth year. The curriculum of the class varies greatly depending on what the professor at the time deems appropriate. Due to the jinx on the teaching post that was present before Lord Voldemort died, many teachers have been appointed to this post.[2]
Tom Riddle twice applied for the Defence Against the Dark Arts position, the first time shortly after graduation from Hogwarts when he was turned down by Headmaster Armando Dippet, who claimed he was too young but invited him to re-apply a few years later. Many years later, after becoming steeped in the Dark Arts and starting to use the title "Lord Voldemort", he visited the school and applied again, this time to Dumbledore. He was refused again. According to Albus Dumbledore, after the second refusal, no Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher held the post for more than one school year. Dumbledore believed that this was due to Voldemort placing a jinx on the position, a belief that was popularly spread throughout the school.[2]
The lessons generally have a practical approach, with the cases of competent teachers believing that when it comes to the Dark Arts a practical approach is the best way, with theoretical assignments given as homework. Inadequate teachers, such as Quirinus Quirrell and Dolores Umbridge, who were focused on theories alone, hampered the learning of defences as they would not be providing students any practical experiences.[13]
In the fifth year Ordinary Wizarding Level examinations are taken; as such, students are spent learning new topics and possibly revisiting the past four years of lessons (depending on the teacher). As part of their Defence Against the Dark Arts O.W.L., students must sit a written exam one of the questions asks to describe the five signs of a werewolf[23] and after students must complete a practical exam of; counter-jinxes, defensive spells, the Boggart-Banishing Spell, and the Patronus Charm (for bonus points).[24]
To advance to the N.E.W.T. class a student must first achieve a high O.W.L. score of either 'Outstanding' or 'Exceeds Expectations'; most teachers set the bar at 'Exceeds Expectations'.[25]
Also, due to the course being directly related to the Dark Arts itself, Dark Wizards who wish to teach would typically apply for this course, notably being Tom Riddle,[2] Patricia Rakepick,[26] Quirinus Quirrell,[27] Bartemius Crouch Junior,[7] Dolores Umbridge,[28] Severus Snape[9] and Amycus Carrow.[29]
Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle are two known students who failed their O.W.L.s in Defence Against the Dark Arts, for which the following year's respective teacher, Snape, gave them both detentions.[30]
The Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher is also responsible for dealing with any Dark Arts related activities that threaten the school and its residents, as Harry and Ron expected Lockhart to enter the Chamber of Secrets and protested against his excuse of leaving under an unavoidable urgent call in 1993,[31] while Snape was assigned to staunch the deadly curse that afflicted Katie Bell in 1996.[32]
—Professor Snape discussing defence during a 1996 lesson[src]
Defence Against the Dark Arts is a required subject from first year to fifth year. The curriculum of the class varies greatly depending on what the professor at the time deems appropriate. Due to the jinx on the teaching post that was present before Lord Voldemort died, many teachers have been appointed to this post.[2]
Tom Riddle twice applied for the Defence Against the Dark Arts position, the first time shortly after graduation from Hogwarts when he was turned down by Headmaster Armando Dippet, who claimed he was too young but invited him to re-apply a few years later. Many years later, after becoming steeped in the Dark Arts and starting to use the title "Lord Voldemort", he visited the school and applied again, this time to Dumbledore. He was refused again. According to Albus Dumbledore, after the second refusal, no Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher held the post for more than one school year. Dumbledore believed that this was due to Voldemort placing a jinx on the position, a belief that was popularly spread throughout the school.[2]
The lessons generally have a practical approach, with the cases of competent teachers believing that when it comes to the Dark Arts a practical approach is the best way, with theoretical assignments given as homework. Inadequate teachers, such as Quirinus Quirrell and Dolores Umbridge, who were focused on theories alone, hampered the learning of defences as they would not be providing students any practical experiences.[13]
In the fifth year Ordinary Wizarding Level examinations are taken; as such, students are spent learning new topics and possibly revisiting the past four years of lessons (depending on the teacher). As part of their Defence Against the Dark Arts O.W.L., students must sit a written exam one of the questions asks to describe the five signs of a werewolf[23] and after students must complete a practical exam of; counter-jinxes, defensive spells, the Boggart-Banishing Spell, and the Patronus Charm (for bonus points).[24]
To advance to the N.E.W.T. class a student must first achieve a high O.W.L. score of either 'Outstanding' or 'Exceeds Expectations'; most teachers set the bar at 'Exceeds Expectations'.[25]
Also, due to the course being directly related to the Dark Arts itself, Dark Wizards who wish to teach would typically apply for this course, notably being Tom Riddle,[2] Patricia Rakepick,[26] Quirinus Quirrell,[27] Bartemius Crouch Junior,[7] Dolores Umbridge,[28] Severus Snape[9] and Amycus Carrow.[29]
Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle are two known students who failed their O.W.L.s in Defence Against the Dark Arts, for which the following year's respective teacher, Snape, gave them both detentions.[30]
The Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher is also responsible for dealing with any Dark Arts related activities that threaten the school and its residents, as Harry and Ron expected Lockhart to enter the Chamber of Secrets and protested against his excuse of leaving under an unavoidable urgent call in 1993,[31] while Snape was assigned to staunch the deadly curse that afflicted Katie Bell in 1996.[32]
