Cursebreaking for Curse-Breakers
written by Hermione Potter
This textbook should be in possession of every student attending Cursebreaking. However, Hogwarts stores copies which can be found in the Specified Magic Section of the library.
Last Updated
05/31/21
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The Dark Arts
Chapter 2
Chapter Two
The Dark Arts
"The Dark Arts are many, varied, ever-changing, and eternal.
Fighting them is like fighting a many-headed monster, which, each
time a neck is severed, sprouts a head even fiercer and cleverer than before.
You are fighting that which is unfixed, mutating, indestructible."
— Severus Snape
Considered the worst kind of Dark Magic, curses are one of the seven known types of spells and by far the most cruel and malevolent by nature. A curse is defined by its negative effects; usually to induce harm, control, or death upon its victims. Dark spells can be classified into three groups: jinxes, hexes & curses. These groups form a hierarchy, with jinxes at the base, curses at the top and hexes in-between. The further one ascends up this hierarchy, the more wicked, the stronger, the longer-lasting and the less reversible the Dark spell's effects appear to be. The Unforgivable Curses are the strongest known Dark spells in existence, as their effects are very powerful and their use requires skill. Powerful dark spells also require malicious intent in order to be successful. To cast the Cruciatus Curse, for instance, one must truly desire to cause pain in and of itself. The Dark Arts can also be difficult to control; for example, Fiendfyre, a spell of cursed fire infused with dark magic is able to actively seek out living targets, often to the expense of the wizard who cast it.
Counter-curses are designed to remove the effects of a curse. It is often wondered why there are specific spells to counter other spells, when one could theoretically counter any spell with a broad-spectrum one such as Finite Incantatem, or Aveho Defixio. However, certain spells may have in built protections or are simply too robust for a general counter-spell to work against them and therefore require something specifically tailored to work around their specific protections to remedy this. This should be especially true for the conjuration Serpensortia, the snake produced by which was dispelled not with a simple Vanishing spell but a specific Untransfiguration and Counter-curse. The more complex a curse is the more complex its counter methods will be. But above all else, in order to break a curse one must have a solid foundation of will and balance, an ability to control and master ones emotions, and the endurance to outlast physically, mentally, and emotional draining throughout the curse-breaking process.
The Dark Arts
"The Dark Arts are many, varied, ever-changing, and eternal.
Fighting them is like fighting a many-headed monster, which, each
time a neck is severed, sprouts a head even fiercer and cleverer than before.
You are fighting that which is unfixed, mutating, indestructible."
— Severus Snape
Considered the worst kind of Dark Magic, curses are one of the seven known types of spells and by far the most cruel and malevolent by nature. A curse is defined by its negative effects; usually to induce harm, control, or death upon its victims. Dark spells can be classified into three groups: jinxes, hexes & curses. These groups form a hierarchy, with jinxes at the base, curses at the top and hexes in-between. The further one ascends up this hierarchy, the more wicked, the stronger, the longer-lasting and the less reversible the Dark spell's effects appear to be. The Unforgivable Curses are the strongest known Dark spells in existence, as their effects are very powerful and their use requires skill. Powerful dark spells also require malicious intent in order to be successful. To cast the Cruciatus Curse, for instance, one must truly desire to cause pain in and of itself. The Dark Arts can also be difficult to control; for example, Fiendfyre, a spell of cursed fire infused with dark magic is able to actively seek out living targets, often to the expense of the wizard who cast it.
Counter-curses are designed to remove the effects of a curse. It is often wondered why there are specific spells to counter other spells, when one could theoretically counter any spell with a broad-spectrum one such as Finite Incantatem, or Aveho Defixio. However, certain spells may have in built protections or are simply too robust for a general counter-spell to work against them and therefore require something specifically tailored to work around their specific protections to remedy this. This should be especially true for the conjuration Serpensortia, the snake produced by which was dispelled not with a simple Vanishing spell but a specific Untransfiguration and Counter-curse. The more complex a curse is the more complex its counter methods will be. But above all else, in order to break a curse one must have a solid foundation of will and balance, an ability to control and master ones emotions, and the endurance to outlast physically, mentally, and emotional draining throughout the curse-breaking process.
