{{Quote|Defence Against the Dark Arts Classroom. No cursing allowed.|Notice outside the [[Temporary Defence Against the Dark Arts Classroom|classroom]].|Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game)}}
{{Quote|Defence Against the Dark Arts Classroom. No cursing allowed.|Notice outside the [[Temporary Defence Against the Dark Arts Classroom|classroom]].|Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game)}}
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'''Defence Against the Dark Arts''' (sometimes written as '''D.A.D.A.''') is a mandatory subject taught at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]], in which [[Wizardkind|students]] learn how to [[magic]]ally defend themselves against [[Dark magic|Dark Creatures]] and the [[Dark Arts]].
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'''Defence Against the Dark Arts''' (sometimes written as '''DADA''') is a mandatory subject taught at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]] in which [[Wizardkind|students]] learn how to [[magic]]ally defend themselves against [[Dark magic|Dark Creatures]] and the [[Dark Arts]].
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The curriculum of the class varies greatly depending on what the [[professor]] at the time deems appropriate; due to the [[Jinx on the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher|jinx on the teaching post]], a great many teachers were appointed.
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The curriculum of the class varies greatly depending on what the [[professor]] at the time deems appropriate; due to the [[Jinx on the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher|jinx on the teaching post]], a great many teachers have been appointed.
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The class is mandatory from the [[first year]] until the [[fifth year]], with the option of [[Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Test|N.E.W.T.]] classes for those who qualify to take it.
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The class is mandatory from the [[first year]] until the [[fifth year]], with the option of [[Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Test|NEWT]] classes for those who qualify.
{{Quote|You have had five teachers in this subject so far, I believe. Naturally, these teachers will all have had their own methods and priorities. Given this confusion I am surprised so many of you scraped an O.W.L. in this subject. I shall be even more surprised if all of you manage to keep up with N.E.W.T. work, which will be much more advanced.|Professor Snape on the curriculum's instability.|Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince}}
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Due to the constant changing of teachers, the curriculum of Defence Against the Dark Arts varies from year to year. Each teacher has their own priorities, their respective efficiencies proportional to their beliefs and methods. Such as [[Quirinus Quirrell]] and [[Dolores Umbridge]] believing that theories are enough (which is, in fact, more hindering), while the more effective [[Remus Lupin]], "''[[Bartemius Crouch Jr.|Alastor Moody]]''" and [[Severus Snape]] have a more balanced belief in theory and practical defence. [[Gilderoy Lockhart]], fraudulent and incompetent, is one known teacher who has taught nothing to the classes of his respective tenure, aside from nonsensical and unrelated materials. In the [[1997-1998 school year]], the class was changed to [[Dark Arts (class)|Dark Arts]].
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{{Quote|Your previous instruction in this subject has been, disturbingly, uneven. But you will be pleased to know, from now on, you will be following a carefully structured, Ministry-approved course of Defensive magic.|Dolores Umbridge's excuse of depriving students of practical defence.|Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)}}
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During the [[1995-1996 school year]], the [[Minister for Magic]], [[Cornelius Fudge]], had gotten into his head that [[Headmaster]] [[Albus Dumbledore]] is using the students to create a private army of young wizards to overthrow the Ministry. As such, he implanted Umbridge to become the teacher of the Defence Against the Dark Arts classes, which he believed to be the main source of training (i.e. Defensive spells) for Dumbledore's would-be soldiers, and supplied a syllabus based entirely on theories on avoiding conflicts instead of facing them, all of which is simply reading out of the textbook, believing that this would be sufficient in passing the examinations. This misguided believe deprived the students on any useful lessons as even the theories are inaccurate, thus leading to the formation on [[Dumbledore's Army]], which taught more practical defence that students from all grades found more useful. Umbridge would later claim that the spells Harry taught were deemed by the Ministry inappropriate for students at their ages.
* [[Counter-jinx]]es (Discouraged) and [[Defensive Charm]]s (Discouraged)
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*[[Iguana]]s
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* Fleeing
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*[[Vampire bat]]s
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*[[Iguana]]s
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*[[Counter-jinx]]es and [[DefensiveCharm]]s
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* [[Vampirebat]]s
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* Theory
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* [[Patronus Charm]] (taught only to members of [[Dumbledore's Army]]): ''Expecto Patronum''
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*
===Sixth Year===
===Sixth Year===
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*[[Cruciatus Curse]]
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*[[Cruciatus Curse]]
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*[[Dementor]]s
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*[[Dementor]]s
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*[[Nonverbalspell]]s
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* Inferius
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*[[Spell resistance|Resisting]] the [[ImperiusCurse]]
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* [[Nonverbalspell]]s
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* [[Spell resistance|Resisting]] the [[Imperius Curse]]
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Members of Dumbledor's Army (1995-1996) learned advanced defence from Harry Potter. Ex, Patronus Charm, Stunning, and Expelliarmus (disarming).
==Known O.W.L.s==
==Known O.W.L.s==
Line 115:
Line 113:
*[[Michael Corner]]
*[[Michael Corner]]
*[[Neville Longbottom]]
*[[Neville Longbottom]]
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*[[Nymphadora Tonks]]
*[[Padma Patil]]
*[[Padma Patil]]
*[[Pansy Parkinson]]
*[[Pansy Parkinson]]
Line 123:
Line 122:
*[[Susan Bones]]
*[[Susan Bones]]
*[[Terry Boot]]
*[[Terry Boot]]
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All known Aurors, since it is a compulsory N.E.W.T. level, therefore O.W.L. must have been achieved before that.
==Behind the scenes==
==Behind the scenes==
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*When [[J.K. Rowling]] wasaskedforthereasonDumbledorewouldnotgiveSeverusSnapetheDefenceAgainsttheDarkArtsjob,theauthor responded that Dumbledorebelieved that teachingDefenceAgainst the Dark Arts would bring out Snape's worst side, though Dumbledore finally relented in [[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince|Harry's sixth year]]. <ref>[http://www.quick-quote-quill.org/articles/2003/0626-alberthall-fry.htm Interview from Quick Quote Quill]</ref>
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* [[Sixthyear]]saresupposedtobegivendemonstrationsonwhatillegal[[curse]]slooklike;itwasonlyinthe[[1994-1995schoolyear]] that thiswaschangedto the [[fourth year]].
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*J.K.Rowlinghasalsorevealedthat after AmycusCarrow was the Dark Arts teacher, apermanent teacher took the post,because Voldemort's curse over the job was lifted.
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* [[TomRiddle]]twiceappliedfor the Defence Against the Dark Arts position, the first time shortly after graduationfrom 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", hevisited 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 post of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher|curse]]on the position, a belief that was popularly spread throughout the school.
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*EachDefence Against the Dark Arts teacher attacked (or attempted to attack) Harry. Quirrell tried to strangle Harry and jinxed his broom during a Quidditch game, Lockhart attempted to [[MemoryCharm|erasehis memories]],Lupinwentafterhimasa[[werewolf]](althoughhealoneout of all the otherswouldneverhaveattackedHarryhadhebeeninhishumanform),BartyCrouchJr.(disguisedasMoody)attemptedtokillHarry,Umbridgephysically assaulted him, andSnapeattackedHarry in retaliationforthe latter trying to curse him during the [[Battleof theAstronomyTower]]. Ironically,AmycusCarrow—whotaughtDarkArts instead of Defence Against the Dark Arts—was attacked ''by'' Harry Potter after the former had insulted [[Minerva McGonagall]].
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* When [[J.K.Rowling]] wasaskedforthereasonDumbledorewouldnotgiveSeverusSnape the DefenceAgainsttheDarkArtsjob,theauthorrespondedthatDumbledorebelievedthatteachingDefenceAgainsttheDarkArtswouldbringoutSnape'sworstside, thoughDumbledorefinallyrelented in [[HarryPotterand the Half-BloodPrince|Harry'ssixthyear]]. <ref>[http://www.quick-quote-quill.org/articles/2003/0626-alberthall-fry.htmInterviewfromQuickQuoteQuill]</ref>
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*[[DoloresUmbridge]]wastheonlyfemaleDefenceAgainst the Dark Arts teacher intheseries, besides [[GalateaMerrythought]](the latterofwhomwasnot actually seen throughout the series,onlymentioned).
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* JKRowlinghasalsorevealedthatafter Amycus Carrow was the Dark Arts teacher,apermanentteachertook the postbecauseVoldemort'scurseover the jobwaslifted.
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*ThesixD.A.D.A.professorswhotaughtHarryeachhadadarksecret that he didn'tlearnuntilnear the end of theirrespectiveschoolyears:
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* WhilstitisknownthatDumbledoredidnotwishProfessor[[Snape]] to teach DADA for fear of relapsing into his Death Eater ways it is also possible that (since the subject had been jinxed) he was also thinking of Snape'sphysicalwell-being(not least of all because of how much of importance he could have been, and was, in the long run). Despite Dumbledore's fear, however, Snape did not truly return to his old ways when granted the position he sought for, though he did teach the lessons with a sense of passionfortheDark Arts.
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**Quirrell was servingVoldemort and was possessed by him.
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* Each Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher attacked (or attempted to attack) Harry. Quirrell tried to strangle Harry and jinxed his broom during a Quidditch game, Lockhart attempted to [[Memory Charm|erase his memories]], Lupin went after him as a [[werewolf]] (although he alone out of all the others would never have attacked Harry had he been in his human form), Barty Crouch Jr. (disguised as Moody) attempted to kill him, Umbridge physically assaulted him (and had previously sent Dementors to attack him, though this was beforeshe taught the subject), and Snape attacked Harry in retaliation for the latter trying to curse him during the [[Battle of the Astronomy Tower]]. Ironically, Amycus Carrow, who taught Dark Arts instead of Defence Against the Dark Arts, was attacked''by''Harry Potter after the former had insulted [[Minerva McGonagall]].
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**Lockhart was acowardlyfraudwhocovertlystole the achievements of others.
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* [[Dolores Umbridge]] was theonlyfemaleDefenseAgainstthe Dark Arts teacher in the series besides [[Galatea Merrythought]] (the latter of whom was not actually seen throughout the series, only mentioned).
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**Lupinwas a werewolf.
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* The six professors of this subject who taught Harry each had a dark secret that he didn't learn until near the end of their respective school years:
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**Moody was actuallyBartyCrouchJr., anescapedDeathEater.
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** Quirrell was servingVoldemortandwaspossessedbyhim.
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**Umbridge was theone who sent the Dementors that attacked HarryandDudley.
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** Lockhart was acowardly fraud who covertly stole the achievementsofothers.
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**Snapewas the one who had reported the Prophecy to Voldemort, and was the Half-BloodPrince.
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** Lupin was awerewolf.
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*Duringhistenureas[[Potionsmaster]], [[Severus Snape]] only accepted students who achieved an [[Outstanding]] on their [[Ordinary WizardingLevel|O.W.L.s]] into his [[Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Test|N.E.W.T.]]-level [[Potions (class)|Potions classes]]. However, whenSnapebecamethe Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher in the [[1996–1997 school year]], students who only achieved [[Exceeds Expectations]] were still allowed to take the N.E.W.T.-level D.A.D.A. classes
*[[TomRiddle]]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 claimedhe 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 post of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher|curse]] on theposition.
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**Snapewas the one who hadreported the prophecy to Voldemort and was the Half-BloodPrince.
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*WhilstitisknownthatDumbledoredid not wish Professor [[Snape]] toteachD.A.D.A.forfearofrelapsingintohisDeathEaterwaysitisalsopossiblethat (sincethesubjecthadbeenjinxed)hewasalsothinkingofSnape'sphysicalwell-being(notleastofallbecauseofhowusefulhecouldhavebeen—andwas—in the longrun).
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* Duringhistenureas[[Potionsmaster]], [[Severus Snape]] onlyacceptedstudentswhoachievedan[[Outstanding]]ontheir[[OrdinaryWizardingLevel|OWLs]]intohis[[NastilyExhaustingWizarding Test|NEWT]]-level [[Potions (class)|Potionsclasses]].However,whenSnapebecametheDefenseAgainsttheDarkArtsteacherinthe[[1996–1997schoolyear]],studentswhoachieved[[ExceedsExpectations]]werestillallowedto take the NEWT-levelDADA classes
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*Mostofthe D.A.D.A. teachers in Harry's six years at Hogwarts followed a similar pattern: each (with the exception of Quirrell and Snape) was an entirely new teacher, each was chosen out of necessity,due to thelossofthepreviousinstructorandthe absence of other applicants, each meets Harry before he arrives at Hogwarts in the respective year (with the exception of [[AlastorMoody|Mad-EyeMoody]],whowasonly mentioned in passing - although Harry had unknowingly encountered Barty Crouch Jr at the Quidditch World Cup), and each physically (or magically) attacks Harry during school term, either intentionally, or accidentally as in the case of [[Remus Lupin]].
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* Theonlybook to havetwicebeenassignedforthissubjectis''[[TheDarkForces:AGuidetoSelf-Protection]]''.
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*In"Order of the Phoenix",whendiscussingwhotheirnewD.A.D.A.teacherwouldbe,Harrysaidthat the teachersdidn'thavemuchluckas"Onesacked,onedead, onelosthismemory and onewaslocked in atrunkforninemonths",referringtoLupin, Quirrel, LockhartandMoodyrespectively; thisisn'ttrue.However, as Lupinwasn'tsacked.Rather,heresigned.
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* Most of the DefenceAgainsttheDarkArtsteachersinHarry'ssixyearsatHogwartsfollowed a similar pattern: each (with the exceptionofQuirrellandSnape)wasanentirelynew teacher; each was chosen out ofnecessity, duetotheloss of the previous instructor and theabsenceof other applicants; each meets Harry before he arrives at Hogwarts in therespectiveyear(withtheexceptionof[[Alastor Moody|Mad-Eye Moody]], who was only mentioned in passing, althoughHarryhadunknowingly encountered Barty Crouch Jr at the Quidditch World Cup); andeach physically (or magically) attacks Harry during school term, either intentionallyoraccidentally, as inthecaseof[[RemusLupin]].
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* In ''Order of the Phoenix'', when discussing who their new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher would be, Harry said that the teachers didn't have much luck: "One sacked, one dead, one lost his memory and one was locked in a trunk for nine months," referring to Lupin, Quirrel, Lockhart, and Moody, respectively; this isn't true, however, because Lupin resigned rather than was fired.
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* [[Vincent Crabbe]] and [[Gregory Goyle]] are two known students who failed their O.W.L.s in Defence Against the Dark Arts, to which the following year's respective teacher, Snape, gave them both detentions for.
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, a great many teachers have been appointed.
The class is mandatory from the first year until the fifth year, with the option of NEWT classes for those who qualify.
"You have had five teachers in this subject so far, I believe. Naturally, these teachers will all have had their own methods and priorities. Given this confusion I am surprised so many of you scraped an O.W.L. in this subject. I shall be even more surprised if all of you manage to keep up with N.E.W.T. work, which will be much more advanced."
—Professor Snape on the curriculum's instability.[src]
Due to the constant changing of teachers, the curriculum of Defence Against the Dark Arts varies from year to year. Each teacher has their own priorities, their respective efficiencies proportional to their beliefs and methods. Such as Quirinus Quirrell and Dolores Umbridge believing that theories are enough (which is, in fact, more hindering), while the more effective Remus Lupin, "Alastor Moody" and Severus Snape have a more balanced belief in theory and practical defence. Gilderoy Lockhart, fraudulent and incompetent, is one known teacher who has taught nothing to the classes of his respective tenure, aside from nonsensical and unrelated materials. In the 1997-1998 school year, the class was changed to Dark Arts.
"Your previous instruction in this subject has been, disturbingly, uneven. But you will be pleased to know, from now on, you will be following a carefully structured, Ministry-approved course of Defensive magic."
—Dolores Umbridge's excuse of depriving students of practical defence.[src]
During the 1995-1996 school year, the Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge, had gotten into his head that HeadmasterAlbus Dumbledore is using the students to create a private army of young wizards to overthrow the Ministry. As such, he implanted Umbridge to become the teacher of the Defence Against the Dark Arts classes, which he believed to be the main source of training (i.e. Defensive spells) for Dumbledore's would-be soldiers, and supplied a syllabus based entirely on theories on avoiding conflicts instead of facing them, all of which is simply reading out of the textbook, believing that this would be sufficient in passing the examinations. This misguided believe deprived the students on any useful lessons as even the theories are inaccurate, thus leading to the formation on Dumbledore's Army, which taught more practical defence that students from all grades found more useful. Umbridge would later claim that the spells Harry taught were deemed by the Ministry inappropriate for students at their ages.
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 HeadmasterArmando 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 curse on the position, a belief that was popularly spread throughout the school.
When J. K. Rowling was asked for the reason Dumbledore would not give Severus Snape the Defence Against the Dark Arts job, the author responded that Dumbledore believed that teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts would bring out Snape's worst side, though Dumbledore finally relented in Harry's sixth year. [1]
JK Rowling has also revealed that after Amycus Carrow was the Dark Arts teacher, a permanent teacher took the post because Voldemort's curse over the job was lifted.
Whilst it is known that Dumbledore did not wish Professor Snape to teach DADA for fear of relapsing into his Death Eater ways it is also possible that (since the subject had been jinxed) he was also thinking of Snape's physical well-being (not least of all because of how much of importance he could have been, and was, in the long run). Despite Dumbledore's fear, however, Snape did not truly return to his old ways when granted the position he sought for, though he did teach the lessons with a sense of passion for the Dark Arts.
Each Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher attacked (or attempted to attack) Harry. Quirrell tried to strangle Harry and jinxed his broom during a Quidditch game, Lockhart attempted to erase his memories, Lupin went after him as a werewolf (although he alone out of all the others would never have attacked Harry had he been in his human form), Barty Crouch Jr. (disguised as Moody) attempted to kill him, Umbridge physically assaulted him (and had previously sent Dementors to attack him, though this was before she taught the subject), and Snape attacked Harry in retaliation for the latter trying to curse him during the Battle of the Astronomy Tower. Ironically, Amycus Carrow, who taught Dark Arts instead of Defence Against the Dark Arts, was attacked by Harry Potter after the former had insulted Minerva McGonagall.
Dolores Umbridge was the only female Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher in the series besides Galatea Merrythought (the latter of whom was not actually seen throughout the series, only mentioned).
The six professors of this subject who taught Harry each had a dark secret that he didn't learn until near the end of their respective school years:
Quirrell was serving Voldemort and was possessed by him.
Lockhart was a cowardly fraud who covertly stole the achievements of others.
Lupin was a werewolf.
Moody was actually Barty Crouch Jr., an escaped Death Eater.
Umbridge was the one who sent the Dementors that attacked Harry and Dudley.
Snape was the one who had reported the prophecy to Voldemort and was the Half-Blood Prince.
Most of the Defence Against the Dark Arts teachers in Harry's six years at Hogwarts followed a similar pattern: each (with the exception of Quirrell and Snape) was an entirely new teacher; each was chosen out of necessity, due to the loss of the previous instructor and the absence of other applicants; each meets Harry before he arrives at Hogwarts in the respective year (with the exception of Mad-Eye Moody, who was only mentioned in passing, although Harry had unknowingly encountered Barty Crouch Jr at the Quidditch World Cup); and each physically (or magically) attacks Harry during school term, either intentionally or accidentally, as in the case of Remus Lupin.
In Order of the Phoenix, when discussing who their new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher would be, Harry said that the teachers didn't have much luck: "One sacked, one dead, one lost his memory and one was locked in a trunk for nine months," referring to Lupin, Quirrel, Lockhart, and Moody, respectively; this isn't true, however, because Lupin resigned rather than was fired.
Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle are two known students who failed their O.W.L.s in Defence Against the Dark Arts, to which the following year's respective teacher, Snape, gave them both detentions for.
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