In Harry Potter what is the difference between a hex a jinx a charm a spell a curse and dark magic?

Answer 1

A spell is a peice of magic

Negative magic:

Negative spells are generally cast at someone.

A jinx is a spell causing minor discomfort and is mainly for amusement. For example: Silencio (target unable to speak). It has less powerful negative spells than hex, curse etc.

A hex is stronger than a jinx and it causes pain and discomfort. For example: Bat-Bogey Hex (bats appear from the targets nose and attack the target).

A curse is the strongest of negative spells and they are used (most of the time) in battles and duels. Curses are used with an INTENTION to hurt, control, cause terror or kill. For example: Crucio (causes a lot of pain and suffering), which is also an Unforgivable Curse (which means it can't be used ANYTIME).

Dark Magic or Dark Arts: You can't say that jinxes and hexes are dark, although you can define dark magic as causing pain and suffering. Generally dark magic is illegal, but jinxes and hexes are used widely as said above (minor discomfort, creating distraction).

Positive magic benefits a creature or object (improving, protecting etc). Positive magic is charms, conjuration, protective spells and transfiguration.

A charm is an enchantment that causes an object to behave in a way that is not otherwise normal for that object. There are obviously very powerful charms too such as Memory Charm (makes people forget) or less powerful charms like Alohomora (opens locked doors).

Protective spells are used to, well, protect creatures, places, objects from Dark Magic or such. For example: Protego (casts a invisible shield against hexes, jinxes, curses).

Conjuration is a type of transfiguration that creates objects from thin air. For example: Avis (creates a flock of birds).

Transfiguration is to change the form and appearance of an object. For example: you can turn a button into a beetle.