A '''curse''' is one of the seven known spell types and the worst kind of [[Dark Magic]]<ref name="JK on the definition of various spell types">[http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/extrastuff_view.cfm?id=24 JK on the definition of various spell types]</ref>. Curses are used with the intention of causing [[Cruciatus Curse|harm]], [[Imperius Curse|control]], or even [[Killing Curse|death]] to the victim. Like [[hexes]], Hogwarts students don't learn them in school. However, students studying [[Defence Against the Dark Arts]] learn how to deal with them using defensive magic.
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{{Quote|An' anyway, yeh couldn' work any of them curses yet, yeh'll need a lot more study before yeh get ter that level.|Rubeus Hagrid to eleven-year [[Harry Potter]]|Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone}}
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Most curses can be blocked or lifted by a [[Counter-curse|counter-curse]].
A '''curse''' is a tool of the Dark Arts and one of the seven known spell types and the worst kind of [[Dark Magic]]<ref name="JK on the definition of various spell types">[http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/extrastuff_view.cfm?id=24 JK on the definition of various spell types]</ref>. Curses are used with the intention of causing [[Cruciatus Curse|harm]], [[Imperius Curse|control]], or even [[Killing Curse|death]] to the victim.
Like [[hexes]], Hogwarts students learn only a few of them in school. However, students studying [[Defence Against the Dark Arts]] learn how to deal with them using defensive magic. Most curses can be blocked or lifted by a [[Counter-curse|counter-curse]], with the most notable exceptions being the [[Killing curse]] and the [[Cruciatus Curse]], two of the [[Unforgivable Curses]].
*Wizards may have the ability to send curses in the [[Owl post|post]]. This is unconfirmed, but in ''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]'' a piece of [[Hermione Granger]]'s hate mail claimed that it is possible.
*Wizards may have the ability to send curses in the [[Owl post|post]]. This is unconfirmed, but in ''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]'' a piece of [[Hermione Granger]]'s hate mail claimed that it is possible.
*According to [[Wizards' Ordinary Magic and Basic Aptitude Test|W.O.M.B.A.T.]], it may not be possible to cure a curse victim without the correct counter-curse.
*According to [[Wizards' Ordinary Magic and Basic Aptitude Test|W.O.M.B.A.T.]], it may not be possible to cure a curse victim without the correct counter-curse.
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*[[J. K. Rowling]] defined curses as "''the worst kinds of dark magic''".<ref name="JK on the definition of various spell types"/>.
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*[[J. K. Rowling]] defined curses as "''the worst kinds of dark magic''".<ref name="JK on the definition of various spell types" />
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==Appearances==
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*Whilst [[Bartemius Crouch Jr.|Barty Crouch]] once said that the Killing Curse cannot be blocked, this is not strictly true. For example, one could obstruct its path with another object, such as [[Albus Dumbledore]] did when he animated the [[Fountain of Magical Brethren]]; further, it can be countered with a Stunning Spell and (in the case of Priori Incantatem) with the Disarming Charm. It can also be blocked by [[Sacrificial protection]].
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*''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone]]''
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*''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)]]''
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*''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game) ]]''
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*''[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets]]''
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*''[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)]]''
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*''[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game)]]''
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*''[[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film)]]''
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*''[[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game)]]''
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*''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]''
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*''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)]]''
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*''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (video game)]]''
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*''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix]]''
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*''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)]]''
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*''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game)]]''
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*''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince]]''
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*''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows|Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)]]''
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*''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows|Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (video game)]]''
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*''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]''
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*''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1]]''
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*''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (video game)]]''
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*''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 ]]''
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*''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (video game)]]''
A curse is a tool of the Dark Arts and one of the seven known spell types and the worst kind of Dark Magic[1]. Curses are used with the intention of causing harm, control, or even death to the victim.
