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"And since he got out, from what I can tell, he’s been teaching the Dark Arts to every student who passes through that school of his."
Sirius Black regarding Igor Karkaroff's teachings at Durmstrang[src]

Dark Arts was a class taught at several wizarding schools.[4][2] Unforgivable Curses and numerous other forms of Dark Magic were taught in this class.[2] It is possible that students were used as victims as a form of punishment.[2]

Durmstrang Institute[]

"Durmstrang takes a far more sensible line than Hogwarts about the Dark Arts. Durmstrang students actually learn them, not just the defence rubbish we do..."
— Draco Malfoy comparing the two schools[src]

The Dark Arts were taught at Durmstrang Institute. This, along with their pure-blood supremacy, were reasons why Lucius Malfoy considered sending his son Draco there, and why the school had a negative reputation.[4] Sirius Black claimed that since having been released from Azkaban for having been a Death Eater, Igor Karkaroff taught the Dark Arts to every student who enrolled at the school.[1]

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry[]

Salazar Slytherin[]

Early after Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was founded, in c. A.D. 993, disagreements sprung up early around the teaching of the Dark Arts.[3]

Salazar Slytherin may have wanted to teach his students spells of which the other three founders disapproved, and it is a possibility that he had initially constructed the Chamber of Secrets as a place in which to teach the Dark Arts.[3]

1997-1998 school year[]

"Amycus, the bloke, he teaches what used to be Defence Against the Dark Arts, except now it's just the Dark Arts. We're supposed to practise the Cruciatus Curse on people who've earned detentions..."
Neville Longbottom, matter-of-factly discussing the changes that have been made at Hogwarts[src]

During the 1997–1998 school year, Amycus Carrow was appointed Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor at Hogwarts,[5] and changed the subject to just Dark Arts. The seventh years learned how to cast the Cruciatus Curse (which was to be practised on students who earned detention), and possibly how to conjure Fiendfyre and other Unforgivable Curses; Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle were said to be top students due to their inclination to cruelty.[2] However, Crabbe apparently did not pay attention to how to control or stop Fiendfyre, which was what led to his demise later that year in the skirmish in the Room of Requirement.[6]

After that year, Carrow was replaced and the subject returned to teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts.[7]

Known professors[]

Appearances[]

Notes and references[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 19 (The Hungarian Horntail)
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 29 (The Lost Diadem)
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Writing by J. K. Rowling: "Chamber of Secrets" at Wizarding World
  4. 4.0 4.1 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 11 (Aboard the Hogwarts Express)
  5. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 12 (Magic is Might)
  6. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 31 (The Battle of Hogwarts)
  7. Accio Quote!
Hogwarts subjects
Core classes Astronomy · Charms · Defence Against the Dark Arts · Herbology · History of Magic · Potions · Transfiguration
Hogwartscrest
Elective classes Alchemy · Arithmancy · Care of Magical Creatures · Divination · Muggle Studies · Study of Ancient Runes
Extracurricular classes Apparition · Advanced Arithmancy Studies · Ancient Studies · Art · Flying · Ghoul Studies · Magical Theory · Muggle Art · Muggle Music · Music · Xylomancy · Field Studies
Former classes Beasts · Dark Arts
Examinations
First year exams · Second year exams · Third year exams · Fourth year exams ·
Ordinary Wizarding Level · Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Test
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