That's right. He did, however, kill his father, so I'm not sure that the fact he never killed his mother is too much to his credit.

"While you're correct that Dark creature and Dark wizards and witches differ, they are still fundamentally dark," Professor Rae interrupted her class from their discussion.

"Dark wizards decide to become dark, but the magic that is imbued in the Dark creatures is the same quality of magic. Dark creatures aren't really "creatures" in the sense that the phoenix and the dragon are. They exist solely as an extension of evil intent. Again we come back to intention. Dark creatures perform actions that go WAY beyond what other animals do to survive. They don't cause harm to wizards and Muggles as a means of survival. They cause harm because they are fundamentally evil."

"I know you want to give these creatures the benefit of the doubt and say 'they didn't choose to be dark; we shouldn't harm them...' but please lose that attitude if you hope to survive against any Dark creature. It will have no hesitation in killing or maiming you, and your compassion will not be rewarded. If it brings you any comfort, remember that most Dark creatures consist in large part of Dark magic. They don't have souls. They aren't born as a normal creature is."

"Of course we shouldn't approach that topic in such a manner. A Dark Creature would never hesitate to attack us. It's the way it thinks. Once it passes over to the realm of Darkness, it's lost. But, what about witches and wizards? Should we approach it with the same manner?" Ashlie looked at the Professor curiosuly.

Are we to take the attitude kill or be killed, or should we be noble and spare life even if what we are sparing is rooted with the dark arts and evil?

Well now - remember that even a non-magic or non-dark creature could lead to the same kill-or-be-killed situation. Dragons, hippogriffs and such are not Dark creatures, but if riled and attacking a wizard, he or she may very well have to (try to) kil lthe creature lest they die themselves. Same with non-magic animals like tigers and bears, if you get on the wrong end of those claws you will either have to defend yourself however possible or face the possibility of becoming food.

That said - I don't think we should also go out hunting supposedly Dark creatures for the sake of eradicating "Dark Magic" If an otherwise Dark creature has found its niche in teh world and is surviving without resorting to Dark urges (or being controlled to do so) the we should "let sleeping dogs lie" as it were.

Following this though vein, can a Dark creature be redeemed? If Mr Potter had been able to talk to the Basilisk without Voldemort's interferance, could the creature have been redeemed. It lasted for who knows how long by being left alone and hunting vermin under the school, so could a good wizard redeem and otherwise Dark creature?

-K-

That's right. He did, however, kill his father, so I'm not sure that the fact he never killed his mother is too much to his credit. [/b][/quote]
Too much.

But didn't we just say the same thing about voldemort- that dark magic took over his soul, and his need for the dark arts eventually posessed him. If that is the same way that dark creatures are, isn't it fundamentally the same situation? So, if we need to get rid of dark wizards, should we also go dark creature hunting? Or if we hope that there is good in dark wizards and witches, should we try to avoid killing creatures?

"Well, remember that Dark witches and wizards are still people. They chose the Dark magics that infect them, but they can come back from those choices. Its a hard road, but it has been done. There are many reformed former Dark wizards out there. Besides, they are beings... they have a soul."

"Dark creatures do not live the same sort of life cycle that a human would. And they don't have a soul to lose when they die. It isn't possible to compare Dark wizards with Dark creatures except in saying they both use Darker magics."

"And, no... a Dark creature cannot be redeemed. A Dark wizard is someone beyond the Dark magic, but Dark creatures consist almost solely of the magic. If you removed that Dark magic, the thing that makes is seek to hurt and destroy, then you would kill it anyway. And in a far less humane way."

*kirstie writes down what the teacher is saying*

if we see a dark wizard, should we wait for them to attack first? or should we just kill them? wouldn't that make us murderers?

"Well, Kirstie, in all my experiences in fighting and tracking Dark wizards, I've never met one yet who wore a sign around their neck identifying them as such. You can't tell just from looking who is good and who is bad... unless they are wearing a Death Eater mask. That makes it pretty clear. It is your responsibilty to be aware of what is going on around you and of whether or not the magic you are witnessing falls under Dark or acceptable magics. As my old trainer always said, "Constant Vigilance!""

ok cool thanks for clearing that up professor. i just got a bit confused over some of the earlier posts, but i undertand now

Would you say we should attack a dark creature on sight, then, professor?

"Isn't that just inhumane?" Ashlie asked. "You shouldn't attack it unless it tries to attack you," she said.

*Nadia hears patiently at everything said and finally raise her hand.*

I beg to differ, Professor, I don't think we have as much choice as a dark creature or a common creature when it comes to survival. Because I'm still standing by my theory that it's necessary for their survival to make us suffer; it's what they feed of:

Think that if this dark creatures are an extension of a negative feeling is because there's certain necessity for them to do so. The most logical reason is that they feed of the negativity they produce, so they need it, to make us dispair, fear and be miserable, to survive -- the same a bear would do, the noble animal. Hence and as they are not doing it *out of nastiness*, because then they are feeding, their doings can't be *morally* wrong, can they? They can't be *dark*!

Moreover, the Kelpie and Pogrebin are both *demons*, and without doubt: dark creatures, they both actually feed of humans and other living creatures' flesh and blood. I think the concept of a dark creature is hypocritical on our part. True, I'm not waiting still while one is chasing after me, but neither I would for a wild tiger.

And, something else; why would we consider Banshee a dark creature without consider Mandrakes the same; they both kill when speaking and probably have no power over it. (The same with the Basilisk? I can't tell...)

I say we have as much choice as a common, or magical or dark creature because we are no saint either; we kill to survive, we feed of meat and the lives of many indefense creatures; we are hungry of power and facilities since the day we are born. We were born as dark as the worst dark creature.


Oh and Treamayne, if the dark creatures having no control over their doing is enough of a cathegory to be called dark creature then so makes the people under the Imperio, you say? They don't have control over their actions then, dark or not. Again, I say, there's no such a thing as a dark creature.

The same with dark objects the only time when I'm admitting to anyone something is dark is how they are made, like *what instruments* were needed to give life to the creature.

And, well, if I might, pardon the lateness; the reason I think that made Tom Riddle became dark was dispair. The same with everyother dark peer around there; only despair can drive you to fight the world that way, not to fear risking everything else. And I think, if driven to the situation that calls for it, everyone of us would make the choice of darkness, if desperate enough; it's on our very nature to choice oneself over the others.

Professor Wyn listened to Nadia's long explanation of her theory. "While I appreciate the points you make, Nadia, I beg to differ with you. You are correct, it is in the very nature of Dark creatures to harm and maim, thus it is one of their survival needs. But again, they aren't using whatever they gain in a way that helps them to grow or be nourished, as Dark creatures do not have natural life cycles."

"The key to whether or not a creature is Dark is hard simply because it goes deeper than 'is it dangerous to me' to its intentions and whether or not it is permeated with Dark magic."

"I hate to cut this conversation short, but I think it is time for me to give out homework and let you all get about your business. If you have any questions I didn't answer, please come by my office. I realize this was a strange class, but that's the nature of this subject. We need to cover whatever you feel will protect you best."

"For next week, I'd like you to write two full paragraphs. The first should be on what it would take for you personally to choose Dark magic. The second would be on what keeps you from doing so now. I really want you to put effort into these, because knowing what your buttons are could potentially save your life."