Witchcraft

Witchcraft is a powerful form of sorcery that channels its power from the Devil. Most, if not all, witches use particular emotions or states to enhance their magical abilities, such as lust, impulsivity, selfishness, or indulgence. Many witches also sacrifice animals, other humans, or their own blood to empower their magic.

Description
Witchcraft is a word used colloquially to describe the more specific maleficium, a Latin word meaning "wrongdoing" or "mischief" and is the basis of the English word "malice". Malice is an extremely dark and powerful form of sorcery that draws on malevolent powers, primarily used for malicious purpose.

The ancient witch who is currently known as Countess von Marburg considers witchcraft as a long path to endarkenment. According to Reverend Increase Mather, the practice of witchcraft dates as far back as to the beginning of humankind. Mather's implications were later confirmed by the Countess, who expressed how Eve was the first witch who "followed the Serpent". Since then, witches have existed, passing down their knowledge and skills through the generations in family lines or by making deals with the Devil.

Unlike other forms of magic, the specific practice of witchcraft appears to corrupt its practitioners by distoring their perception of right and wrong. While more benevolent individuals, such as Anne Hale and Mary Sibley, were simply shown to become morally corrupt as a result of their witchcraft, other characters, such as Mercy Lewis, who struggled with bipolar disorder and mild schizophrenia, were shown to become even more insane and bloodthirsty after her initiation.

Initiation
One of the simplest and most common ways to join the legions of the Antichrist is to make a pact with the Devil. Generally, their is an exchange between the aspirant witch and the Devil, although the nature of this exchange is not yet entirely clear. During an Initiation, a witch is pushed to the brink of despair, with Tituba being desperate for revenge against her Puritan owners, Mary Sibley due to the burden of her pregnancy out of wedlock, and Mercy Lewis being threatened with death by Mary.

Known Witches

 * Agilbert Fontaine
 * Antioch Peverell
 * Apolline Delacour
 * Cassandra Vablatsky
 * Cliodna
 * Corvinus Gaunt
 * Cyprian Youdle
 * Edward Tonks
 * Filius Flitwick
 * Godric Gryffindor
 * Gormlaith Gaunt
 * Helga Hufflepuff
 * Iolanthe Peverell
 * Licorus Black
 * Leopoldina Smethwyck
 * Misapinoa Black
 * Phillipus von Hohenheim
 * Rolanda Hooch
 * Scorpius Malfoy