Upon hearing Professor Penrose mention that Dark Magic would continue to corrupt our souls and our bodies from the very moment we cast our first Dark spell with a malicious intent, my initial thought was that it should be a crime to use the Dark Arts. However, after spending some time in the Hogwarts Library researching the Dark Arts, it is my belief that the Dark Arts should remain legal, save for the three Unforgivable Curses.
Although the Dark Arts encompass many spells and practices that are mainly used to cause harm to others, they are not necessarily always evil or done with malicious intent. Jinxes and hexes, for instance, typically cause little harm to others and are many a time used by witches and wizards as practical jokes. One such hex is the Bat-Bogey Hex whereby it turns a person’s bogeys into bats that fly out of their nose.
In addition, the Dark Arts can be used as a way to defend oneself against Dark Magic in times of desperation. Several books in the Hogwarts Library talked about how the famed Harry Potter and Hermione Granger, and even Professor Dumbledore, used strong Dark Magic—and they are non-dark wizards.
Furthermore, Dark Magic can also be used in an effort to help others. I read that Harry Potter used the Revulsion Jinx on the chains of a dragon to free it (and themselves) from Gringotts, and Hermione Granger used the Stinging Jinx as well on Harry Potter as a means of disguising his face when they were caught by Snatchers.
It is evident that malice isn’t always behind the Dark Arts and that Dark Magic can prove to be beneficial in certain circumstances. However, it is ought to be emphasised to students the seriousness and grave danger of using Dark Magic. Having said that, I still strongly believe that the Unforgivable Curses should be a crime due to their especially sinister nature.
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