hope can't always save you

Glancing around the classroom as he entered, Afonka mused curiously how Headmaster Rusnak would respond to his current situation.

It was almost comical really, in a morbid way how his life had been turned upside down, first by Ophelia's death and secondly by what his grandparents were doing. It was like his life was the plot of a book or something, and he couldn't stand it.

Plopping down into a seat, he kept his head down, staring blankly at the books in front of him.

"Mr. Alkaev," Sacha greeted as he entered the room. "It would seem your classmates are either skipping or late. Which do you suppose is worse?" The question was rhetorical, spoken in a mildly amused tone that was difficult to decipher otherwise.

"We're discussing law today, Mr. Alkaev, and how it relates to the Dark Arts." The man situated himself on the corner of his desk. "What are your thoughts on the matter?"

Blinking up at the Headmaster as he arrived, Afonka gave him a little wave, even though it was half-hearted.

Titling his head, Afonka frowned slightly, "Wouldn't skipping be worse? Because even if you're late, you still learn something."

Twiddling his thumbs as he mulled over the question, he said softly, "Well, the Dark Arts - at least, performing the hexes and jinxes on other people are illegal, right? So - so - I think, that even if you use them for some great and noble reason, it'd still be, you know illegal, and you should get punished for it."

But wouldn't that mean that he'd be punished because of his grandparents? Swallowing hard, he blurted out in afterthought, "But only if you're doing it of your own free will. If someone's making you do it, then they should be put in Azkhaban for the rest of their lives."

Sacha let out a rare chuckle. "You have a very valid point, Mr. Alkaev," he said, "though, that was a rhetorical question."

He listened intently as the boy responded. "You believe hexes and jinxes are illegal, then? So, the bat-bogey hex for instance... is a punishable offense?

"Interesting... so dark spells are always wrong, are they? There's never a time when they aren't?"

"Oh," Afonka said softly, dropping his gaze to his lap, an embarrassed blush creeping onto his cheeks.

"Well, no, not all of them." Shaking his head, the Hrabrost backtracked, "Only the ones that - that can hurt people so badly that they can't be fixed by magic or at all." Biting his lip, he asked, "There are spells like that, right?"

Twiddling his thumbs, he nodded, "There aren't. There have to be alternate spells that could be used that aren't as - bad."

"There are spells like that," Sacha confirmed. "In fact, you may be surprised to know that a great many of them aren't dark spells, at all." He watched the boy for a moment, gauging his response.

"I admit that I find your perspective of dark magic a bit interesting, Mr. Alkaev. I wonder if your rather black-and-white perspective extends to everything else in the world, also. That isn't to say your views are wrong, just a bit... rigid." Sacha inclined his head. "Are you aware that aurors sometimes utilize what would be considered dark spells in their work? That they authorized to do so?"

Nodding slowly, Afonka paused, looking up at the Highmaster, frowning, "B - but, they - they should be! If they hurt people so badly, why aren't they illegal? There's nothing good that comes from hurting other people!"

His mouth falling open, Afonka shook his head slightly. If the people who were supposed to be good weren't, then was there really a difference between good and evil? "They shouldn't," he muttered softly, "it - it's not right."

"Because the purpose for which they were made is wholly benign," Sacha replied calmly. "What is the most important factor in dark arts, Mr. Alkaev? It's intent. Any spell can be used to harm, if that is what the caster is aiming to do. On the same hand, a good many spells counted as dark are often used for good. By your argument, all magic is evil. That is what many muggles believe.

"Dark arts are not simply a type of magic, Mr. Alkaev. Dark does not have to mean evil, and some of the most evil people never cast a single Black spell in their lives."

Biting his lip, Afonka watched the man carefully, paying close attention to his words. It did make sense. After all, there were spells like Expelliarmus that you could use to - to - wincing slightly at the idea of being blasted back, Afonka dropped his gaze, twiddling his thumbs.

"OK," he said slowly, still trying to process this idea as he raised his gaze back up to the Highmaster, "but -" cutting himself off, he frowned, "Who came up with the Unforgivable spells anyway? And if it's intent, like you said, why are they so unforgivable? Couldn't there be situations where their use could be - well, maybe not good, but - helpful?"