"Because it helps to have the element of surprise on your side." Rave answered hopeing it was what the professor was looking for.

Davina shot her hand into the air."Professor it is important for aurors and wizards against the dark arts to get around without the awareness of the enemy in order to have the element of surprize on their side"

"Yes... two answers are acceptable, and they're both equally important. Jo is right in saying that being able to be a bit sneaky is important in getting around those who would harm you, and Megan is right in that knowing HOW a Dark wizard might attempt to be stealthy can keep you from being fooled or hurt. Ten points for Gryffindor. Are there any sure signs that someone is a Dark wizard?"

"They have the Dark Mark on their forearm." Alanna's hand was in the air.

Eunice shook her head slowly. She wasn't really sure. "They practice the unforgivable curses, such as crucio and avada kedavra?"

Meghan raised her hand, "Usually its just a hunch. But a few signs might be like Alanna said a dark mark. But even then that might not mean they are one now...i suppose seeing a wizard commit an act of dark magic would be one of the only sure ways to know they are a dark wizard." Meghan trailed off knowing she didn't make much sense.

"Well, it is pretty obvious that some one is a dark wizard if you walk in a room and they are doing an Unforgivable Curse on am innocent person." Erin said with a little laugh. "But sometimes, there are other signs, like if they seem very interested in learning Dark Arts, or sometimes they just look evil." Erin responded after she raised her hand.

"I suppose 50 years ago, that was a dead giveaway that someone followed Lord Voldemort, but what of today? What of somebody that meddles in the Dark Arts but doesnt' follow a powerful leader?"

"If your sneak-o-scope goes off around them"Davina said this absentmindedly.

Yurio raised his hand. "They are often seen in Knockturn alley?" he guessed.

"Um...I mentioned before that they may practice the Unforgivable Curses...?" Eunice said, unsure if that was what the professor was looking for.

"So... if you witness them performing Dark Magic, although it is illegal, so most Wizards are smart enough to hide it. Or if they look... evil? What makes a person look evil?" She smiled, a hint of mischief on her face.

Meghan thought about it, "Well there really isn't a sure way of knowing. You can have a hunch but you can't really know..can you?" She paused that thought kind of scared her.

Erin raised her hand. "Yeah, I agree with Sabrina. If you have some good dark detectors, that would be helpful to see if someone is a dark wizard."

Then she responded to the next question. "Well, I don't know, some people just look evil. Sometime's it is how they dress or maybe how they talk..... I don't know. I guess that was a stupid answer."

"They way they carry themselves and act?" Rave answered

"Okay..." Rae tried to keep up with all their ideas. "Seeing them in an area that is known for Dark activity... that's a good one. Or maybe just general sneakiness about purchases or spells or such. Hold onto that idea about a sneakoscope, Davina. We'll come back to it."

"I would think that a Dark Wizard worth his or her salt won't be showing many sure signs. The only thing I can think of that is solid 'sign' is the Dark Mark, and not too many Dark Wizards are going to roll up their sleeves and announce themselves for us. Really it's a combination of little things like a hate for Muggles or a biggotry for bloodstatus which doesn't make you necessarily dark, but if you put it all together you can start to think it would be wise to keep an eye on that person, if you catch them in the act of perfoming dark magic, or using dark artifacts, then you have something different entirely." said Jo.

"Yes, what Rave said. They may be more hostile to other people than usual. I don't think we should base it on what they look like, because looks can be very decieving," Eunice concluded.

"Excellent, Meghan. Five more for Gryffindor. You can't really tell. No one has a flashing sign on their robes telling you they are evil or good, and most of us fall somewhere in between anyway. I'm a good Witch, but I've used a hex in my day. Does that make me evil?"

Kaitlin was writing all these facts and opinions down in bullet formation. "Hmm..."

As Erin listened to what everyone else said, she felt a little stupid about the answers that she had given.

"Of course not" Erin said with a giggle.

Meghan pondered for a moment. "No maybe you used the hex for protection." Meghan offered as an idea.

:No it makes you able to defend yourself." Rave said to the professor

"Someone once said that no magic is inherently good or evil, it's how you use it and what you use it for." Jo added to Meghan's response.

Meghan nodded to Jo's response. That was a good thought. She gave Jo a smile.