BOOKS
MOVIES
INFO
A COMPLETE LIST OF SPELLS!
A-H
Accio (AK-see-oh or A-see-oh)
"Summoning Charm"
"accio" L. send for, summon
Causes an object to fly to the caster, even over quite some distance. It would
seem that the caster must know at least the general location of the object
Summoned.
Mrs. Weasley used a series of Summoning Charms to find the magical items Fred
and George were trying to sneak with out of the house (GF6).
Harry learned the Summoning Charm to use the the First Task, when he Summoned
his Firebolt to him so he could fly around and past the dragon (GF20).
Harry used this charm to call the Triwizard Cup to him while escaping Voldemort
and the Death Eaters (GF34).
Moody used the Summoning Charm to grab the Marauder's Map off the stairs (GF )
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Age Line
no incantation given
A thin golden line drawn on a floor, which affects anyone who crosses it if they
are too young (Presumably, the Age Line could also be set up to prevent someone
to cross who was older than a given age.)
Dumbledore drew an Age Line around the Goblet of Fire to keep away anyone who
was not yet seventeen years old.
When the Weasely twins, who had taken an Aging Potion to try to fool it, crossed
over the Age Line, they were thrown back and sprouted long white beards. (GF12)
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Alohomora (AL-o-ho-MOR-ah)
"aloha" Haw. farewell + "mora" L. obstacle
Charm which causes a locked door to open.
Hermione uses this spell to let herself and Ron and Harry into the forbidden
third floor corridor (SS9, also PA21),
but it wouldn't work on the door which required the winged key in the chamber
guarding the Sorcerer's Stone (SS16)
This spell is supposedly found in the Standard Book of Spells, chapter seven
(SS/f) [NOTE: This is quite probably another film error. It is unlikely that
this spell is in any common spell book or everyone would know it. In the books,
Hermione seems to be the only one who has ever heard of it, making it more
likely that she found it in some obscure book that she had picked up for a bit
of light reading after finishing Hogwarts, A History.]
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Animagus (an-i-MAH-jus OR an-i-MAY-jus)
"animal" L. animal + "magus" Pers. magic user
A Wizard or Witch who can transform themselves into an animal; very rare.
Plural: Animagi (an-i-MAH-jye OR an-i-MAH-gee)
McGonagall transforms into a cat (SS1, PA6).
Sirius Black, James Potter, and Peter Pettigrew become Animagi while students at
Hogwarts (PA).
Animagi are supposed to be registered with the Ministry of Magic (PA, ) but
there are unregistered ones around, for example Rita Skeeter (GF).
For an excellent discussion of the legend and mythology of animal
transformations, see pages 9-15.
JKR on Animagi:
Q: If you were Animagus, what kind of animal would you be?
A: I'd like to be an otter - that's my favourite animal. It would be depressing
if I turned out to be a slug or something. (Sch2)
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anti-cheating spells
no names or words given
Cast on quills before exams.
Used before exams at Hogwarts (SS16)
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anti-gravity mist
no incantation given
Charm which creates an innocent-looking mist which hovers above the ground. A
person stepping into this mist immediately finds that up and down have reversed
and they are hanging from the ground over the endless sky.
Harry encounters this mist in the maze of the Third Task of the Triwizard
Tournament. (GF
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Aparecium (a-par-EE-see-um)
"appareo" L. to appear
Makes invisible ink become visible.
Hermione tried this on Riddle's diary, but no words appear (CS13)
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Apparition (A-pa-RI-shun)
Apparate, Disapparate
"appareo" L. to appear
Advanced spell used by fully trained wizards to disappear from one place and
appear almost instantly somewhere else.
Very difficult spell.
Wizards must pass a test in order to be allowed to perform it.
Done incorrectly, apparition can result in the caster being "splinched," which
refers to part of the caster's body being left behind.
Apparition becomes more difficult as distance increases. Only highly trained
wizards would try intercontinental Apparating ( ).
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armor-bewitching charm
no incantation given
Enchants a suit of armor to sing Christmas carols.
This charm was used as part of the Christmas decorations in 1994. Unfortunately,
a suit of armor so enchanted is still not a particularly clever thing, so many
of them didn't know all the words to the songs. Peeves took to hiding inside the
armor and filling in the gaps with lyrics of his own invention, usually very
rude ones (GF22).
the suits of armor must always have some level of magic about them, since they
are refered to as "creaking" along with the muttering portraits when Harry and
Ron arrive at Hogwarts for their second year (CS
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arrows, wand
no incantation given
Shoots arrows out of a wand.
The supporters of the Appleby Arrows were fond of firing arrows out of their
wands to celebrate goals. The practice was outlawed in 1894. (QA)
SEE ALSO Wand Effects
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Avada Kedavra (uh-VAH-duh kuh-DAH-vruh )
"Killing Curse"
Aramaic: "adhadda kedhabhra" - "let the thing be destroyed".
NOTE: Abracadabra is a cabbalistic charm in Judaic mythology that is supposed to
bring healing powers. One of its sources is believed to be from Aramaic avada
kedavra, another is the Phoenician alphabet (a-bra-ca-dabra).
Causes instant death in a flash of green light.
One of the Unforgivable Curses
This is the spell Voldemort used to kill Harry's parents.
Harry is the only person to survive the Killing Curse (esp. SS1, GF14, also
GF34).
This spell produces a glare of green light.
This is probably the curse used by Tom Riddle jr. to kill his father and
grandparents. They were found with a look of absolute terror on their faces but
no physical cause of death.
Wormtail, on orders from Voldemort, used Avada Kedavra to kill Cedric Diggory
using Voldemort's wand (GF32).
It was also used to kill Frank Bryce (GF1) and Bertha Jorkins (GF1, 33).
"That phrase...was used by ancient wizards to make illnesses disappear. However,
there's no proof it was ever used to kill anyone." (pp.17-19)
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Avis (AH-vis)
"avis" L. bird
Conjures a flock of small, twittering birds.
Mr. Ollivander, to test Viktor Krum's wand during the Weighing of the Wands,
used this spell, sending the birds out the window (GF18)
Babbling Curse
no incantation given
Exact effect not mentioned, but one can assume it causes the victim to babble.
Lockhart supposedly cured a simple Transylvanian villager of this affliction
(CS10).
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Banishing Charm
reverse of "Summoning Charm"
no incantation given
Sends an object away from the caster.
Harry and his classmates practiced this spell in their fourth-year Charms class.
Flitwick found himself being "banished" around the room by Neville, whose aim
wasn't very good (GF26)
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Bewitched Sleep
no incantation given
Puts someone into a deep sleep; subjects are in a state almost like suspended
animation and do not breathe for the duration of the spell.
Dumbledore placed Cho, Ron, Hermione, and Gabrielle Delacour into this kind of
sleep while they were "captured" by the merpeople in the lake (GF27)
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Binding/Fastening magic
no incantation given
Spells which fasten chains or ropes to restrain someone or something
Dragon keepers use this magic to drive stakes into the ground to fasten the
dragons to (GF19)
the chair in the Court of Magical Law magically restrained the accused using
ropes (GF
Snape fired ropes from his wand to bind Sirius Black (PA
Pettigrew bound Harry to the tombstone of Tom Riddle Sr. with a binding spell (GF
see also Ropes, magical; Chains, magical
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Blasting Curse
no incantation given
Useful spell for Wizarding Duels.
In the All-England Wizarding Duelling Competition of 1420, Alberta Toothill
defeated Samson Wiblin, who was the favorite, using a Blasting Curse. (fw27)
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Bluebell flames
"bluebell" flower with blue blossoms
Creates a quantity of blue flame which can be directed to a specific place.
Hermione casts a bluebell flame that can be carried around in a jam jar, sent
out a short distance, then retrieved into the jar (SS11)
She sends the flame onto Snape's robes (SS11) and against the Devil's Snare
plant (SS16).
Portable, waterproof fires are a speciality of hers (CS11).
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Bogies, Curse of the
see Curse of the Bogies
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Braking Charm
no incantation given
Charm used on a broomstick to allow it to stop effectively.
The Firebolt has an "unbreakable Braking Charm" on it. (PA
the Horton-Keitch Braking Charm is a patented form of the Braking Charm, named
after the founders of the Comet Trading Company, which makes the Comet Racing
Broom (QA)
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Broomstick magic
BRAKING CHARM
CUSHIONING CHARM
When Harry fell off his Nimbus 2000, it didn't fall to the ground but instead
drifted away toward the Whomping Willow, which indicates that it had some form
of enchantment on it to keep it flying without a rider. (PA
Early broomsticks had only simple spells placed on them. A model on display in
the Museum of Quidditch only moves forward at one speed and will move up, down,
and stop. (QA)
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Bubbles
no incantation given
Spell which pours non-bursting golden bubbles out of the wand.
Flitwich used this spell to create decorations for a Christmas tree in the Great
Hall (SS
Ron's broken wand was emiting large purple bubbles at one point, but it's
unclear if this was a spell he was casting or just another malfunction (CS13)
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Bubble-Head Charm
no incantation given
Encloses the head of the caster with a bubble of breathable air.
Cedric used this spell to travel underwater and rescue Cho in the Second Task
(GF26) canary transfiguration hex
no incantation given
A temporary hex to change someone into a giant canary. After a few moments, the
transfigured person molts back into themselves.
Fred and George placed this hex on seemingly innocent custard cream sweets so
that whomever ate one was changed temporarily into a huge canary. Neville ate
one of these "canary creams," much to the amusement of everyone in the
Gryffindor common room. (GF21)
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candle magic
no incantation used
This minor spell ignites candles and can make them float in midair.
Rita Skeeter uses this magic when she's trying to do an interview in a broom
closet (GF
Lockhart may have used a charm of this kind when he "lit the candles on his
desk" so that Dumbledore could examine the Petrified Mrs. Norris (CS9).
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chains, magical
no incantation used
This spell causes magical chains to snake out of a chair and bind a person to
it.
The chair in the Court of Magical Law has these magical chains on it. (GF30)
similar to Magical Ropes
See also Binding magic
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Cheering Charm
no incantation given
A charm that cheers a person up, makes them happy.
Cheering Charms were part of the Charms curriculum for the Third Years. They
were included in the final exam for that term. (PA15)
invented by Felix Summerbee during the 1400s (fw31)
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Confundus Charm (con-FUN-dus)
"confundo" L. to perplex
Causes confusion. A person who is affected by this Charm is said to be Confunded.
Crouch Jr. used this charm to fool the Goblet of Fire into accepting Harry's
name under a fourth school (GF17)
Snape suggested that Harry, Ron, and Hermione were Confunded by Sirius Black
into believing him innocent (PA
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Conjunctivitis Curse
"conjunctiva" L. connecting (as in membrane of the eye) + "-itis" L.
inflammation
A spell that affects the eyes and vision of the target.
Sirius was going to suggest this spell to use against the Horntail dragon (GF9)
Krum tried it during the First Task, but the dragon got so upset that it smashed
some of its own eggs (GF
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Conjured items
no incantation used
A spell which creates objects out of thin air.
Dumbledore literally draws up a chair for Trelawney to sit in at the Christmas
feast in 1994 (PA). He also draws up a chintz armchair for himself to sit in
when representing Harry at his hearing before the Wizengamot. When Figg arrives
to testify, Dumbledore draws up another for her (OP8).
He also conjures up hundreds of squashy purple sleeping bags when the students
need to spend the night in the Great Hall (PA), and he creates a tea tray in
Hagrid's hut (GF24).
Dumbledore arranged the Great Hall for the musical entertainment at the Yule
Ball with "move objects" and this spell:
"Dumbledore stood up and asked the students to do the same. Then, with a wave of
his wand, all the tables zoomed back along the walls leaving the floor clear,
and then he conjured a raised platform into existence along the right wall." (GF
Bill and Charlie Weasley conjure up tablecoths for dinner in the garden at the
Burrow (GF5).
McGonagall conjures up a large fan and instructs Ernie Macmillan to waft the
Petrified Nearly Headless Nick to the Hospital Wing using it (CS11)
There is legislation about what you can conjure and what you can't. (SN)
Most things conjured out of thin air will disappear after a couple of hours. (SN)
Some exceptions to this are the sleeping bags, which survived a lot longer than
just a couple of hours, and the leg of Neville's desk, which had been
accidentally vanished (CS) (although this may have been a Reparo spell instead).
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contract, magical
no incantation given
This spell or spells makes a contract magically unbreakable.
Placing a name in the Goblet of Fire constituted a binding, magical contract.
The people whose names were chosen were obliged to participate in the contest
(GF16).
Even Dumbledore couldn't undo this magic, since Harry was forced to compete in
the Tournament when his name came out of the Goblet.
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Cross-Species Switches
various
Classification of Transfiguration magic in which one type of creature is
transfigured into another.
The fourth years had to write an essay about using these after practicing
transfiguring guinea fowl into guinea pigs (GF22).
Apparently it's easier to do the spell when the creatures have similar names
(e.g. guinea fowl into guinea pigs), similar apprearance (e.g. hedgehogs into
pincushions), or both (e.g. beetles into buttons).
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Cruciatus Curse (KROO-see-AH-tus)
"cruciatus" L. torture (n.)
See CRUCIO
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Crucio (KROO-see-oh)
"Cruciatus Curse"
"crucio" L. torment (v.)
One of the "Unforgiveable Curses," this spell causes the victim to suffer almost
intolerable pain. Some victims of prolonged use of this curse have been driven
insane.
Used by Voldemort's followers during his years of power, both on Wizards and
Muggles.
The Longbottoms were victims of the Cruciatus Curse and were driven insane by
it. (GF, OP9, 23)
Voldemort used it on Wormtail, Avery, and Harry (GF14, 17, 21, 29, 31, 33).
During the Battle of the Department of Mysteries, Harry tried to use the
Cruciatus Curse on Bellatrix Lestrange, but it didn't do much. She taunted him
that he had to mean it or it wouldn't work. (OP36)
When speculating about what the weapon might be that was the focus of the
attention of the Order of the Phoenix and of the Death Eaters, Harry assured
everyone that Voldermort didn't need any new weapon to cause pain, since Crucio
worked just fine, thank you very much (OP
See LONGBOTTOM FAMILY.
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Curse of the Bogies
"bogy" uncertain origin: "Old Bogey" = The Devil c. 1836; "bogle" Scottish
phantom or goblin c. 1505 and "bogge" terror, possibly from "bwg" Welsh ghost
and "bwgwl" fear
Yeah, maybe. But more likely:
"bogey" British slang: booger
Effect unknown.
Ron threatened to learn this curse and then use it on Hermione and Neville if
they all got caught roaming the school at night on their way to a duel with
Malfoy (SS9)
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Cushioning Charm
incantation unknown
The Cushioning Charm creates an invisible "pillow" on the handle of the broom to
make flying more comfortable.
Invented by Elliot Smethwyk in 1820. (QA)
Dark Mark
See MORSMORDE (GF9)
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Defensive charge
no incantation needed; automatic response
A charge like that of electricity runs through the body of a Wizard with this
automatic defensive spell.
When Uncle Vernon tried to hold Harry around the neck, he felt a sudden charge
like electricity running through Harry and he had to drop him. This appears to
have been an automatic defensive response on Harry's part, since there is no
indication that he intentionally cast a spell. (OP1)
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Defensive Charm
no incantation given
Aside from the fact that it is a spell to defend the caster, little is known
about the actual effects produced by this spell.
Fulbert the Fearful died in 1097 when the Defensive Charm he cast to protect
himself backfired. (fw20)
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Deletrius ( deh-LEE-tree-us )
"deleterius" L. detroy, eradicate
Erases the ghost images of spells revealed by the Priori Incantatem spell.
Possibly can be used to remove other spell effects as well.
Amos Diggory uses the Deletrius spell to erase the ghost image of the Dark Mark
he had caused to be emitted from Harry's wand (GF9).
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Densaugeo ( den-sah-OO-gi-oh )
"dens" L. tooth + "augeo" L. grow
Curse which causes the victim's teeth to enlarge grotesquely.
Hermione was hit by this curse from the wand of Draco Malfoy. Malfoy and Harry
Potter had started fighting in the corridor, but the curses missed and hit
Hermione and Goyle (GF18)
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Diffindo (dih-FIN-doe)
"diffindo" L. cleave, open
Spell that cuts something open.
Harry uses this spell on Cedric's book bag to slow him down so Harry could tell
him about the dragons (GF9)
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Disapparate (dis-AP-a-rate)
"dis-" opposite of, from L. "apart" + "appareo" L. to appear
Apparition, as seen from the place a wizard is leaving.
See APPARITION
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Disillusionment Charm
"disillusion" Eng. to lose faith
A charm which hides the true, magical nature of something.
Hippogriffs and Winged Horses may be kept by Wizards as long as they perform a
Disillusionment Charm on them regularly so that Muggles won't notice anything
strange about them. (FB)
Mad-Eye Moody casts a Disillusionment Charm on Harry to protect him during the
trip from Privet Drive to Grimmauld Place ("I'm going to Disillusion you...").
To Harry, it felt like someone had broken an egg on his head, like a flood of
cold running down over him. When under the Charm, his body took on the
appearance of whatever was behind him. He felt like a human chameleon. Then
Moody removed the Charm, it felt like trickling of warmth instead of cold. (OP3,
4)
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Dissendium (dis-EN-dee-um)
uncertain: "dissocio" L. to sever or divide? Possibly similar in sound to
"descend."
Comments from Amanda in email:
"Dissocio" in its verb form means "to part" or "to seperate" the word "en" can
mean both "here!" and "look!" Dium, of course, refers to the sun and normally
translates as "day" or "today" but I have seen it used as a command to mean
"now." So together dissendium could mean "part/separate here, now!"
Opens the secret door in the statue of the humped witch.
Harry learns this word from the Marauder's Map. It is said aloud while the
statue is tapped with the caster's wand (PA10)
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door opening spell
no incantation used
Sends a jet of sparks out of the wand which opens a door.
Lupin used this spell to open the door of the staff room wardrobe, which
contained a Boggart his class was to fight with. (PA
Harry's bedroom door opened by itself when the Advance Guard came to take him to
12 Grimmauld Place (OP3)
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Drought Charm
no incantation given
Dries up water.
Harry briefly considerd this as a method of getting to the bottom of the lake,
but realized he couldn't dry up that much water with it (GF26)
Enchanted Snow
no incantation given
A magical imitation snow which, unlike real snow, is warm and dry.
This kind of snow was falling from the enchanted ceiling of the Great Hall on
Christmas, 1992 (CS12)
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Engorgio (en-GOR-gee-oh)
"Engorgement Charm"
"engorger" Fr. swallow greedily
Spell which causes the target to swell in size.
The twins placed an Engorgement Charm on the Ton Tongue Toffee that they
"accidentally" dropped in front of Dudley (GF4)
Kevin, the little Wizard boy in the campground, was casting an Engorgement Spell
(or something very similar) on a slug (GF
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Ennervate (EN-er-vayt)
"en-" Old French from "in-" L. cause to be + "nerves" Eng. c.1603 strength, from
"nervus" L. nerve
Spell used to revive a person who has been hit by a Stunner.
Amos Diggory woke up Winky with an Ennervate spell
Dumbledore used it to revive Barty Crouch Jr. (GF9, 35)
Some versions list this spell as "Enervate," which changes the etymology quite a
bit. In fact, if the word was really Enervate, the Latin origins would have
exactly the opposite meaning from what it means as Ennervate.
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Entrancing Enchantments
no incantation given
Spells that cause someone to fall in love with the caster.
Lockhart suggested that Flitwick was an expert in these, much to Flitwicks's
embarassment (CS13)
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Expecto Patronum (ex-PEK-toh pa-TROH-num)
"Patronus Charm"
"expecto" L. expect or look for + "patronus" Medieval L. patron saint,
symbolizing a patron or assistant
ALTERNATE ETYMOLOGY: "expecto" L. to expel from the chest, i.e.to send forth
from one's self.
Conjures a Patronus, a silvery phantom shape, usually that of an animal, which
is the embodiment of the positive thoughts of the caster. A Patronus will drive
away Dementors.
Lupin teaches Harry to cast this spell, which he does with minor success until
he faces a large group of Dementors who are trying to attack Sirius Black. Harry
sees a Patronus come charging across the lake and later realizes that he himself
cast it. (PA12, GF31)
Harry uses his Patronus Charm to drive off two Dementors in the alley near
Privet Drive. He got into trouble for doing it, although he had no choice under
the circumstances (OP1)
Harry's Patronus is a stag, while Hermione's is an otter (OP27)
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Expelliarmus (ex-pel-ee-AR-mus)
"Disarming Spell"
"expelo" L. to drive out + "arma" L. weapon
Causes opponent's weapon to fly out of their hand.
Basic defensive spell, taught at the Dueling Club (CS10) used frequently
thereafter. If the exact nature of the opponent's weapon is uncertain, the spell
can have unexpected results. If several people cast the spell simultaneously,
the target may be rendered unconscious (PA, GF31, 34)
Snape's use of this spell against Lockhart had rather violent results (CS10)
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Extinguishing Spell
no incantation given
Spell that puts out fires.
Used by dragon keepers; they kept them at the ready when handling the dragons
for the first task (GF14)
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Feather-light
Spell that makes an object weigh practically nothing.
After running away from the Dursleys, Harry considered the idea of casting a
spell to make his trunk feather-light so he could carry it all the way to London
on his broomstick (PA3).
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Ferula (feh-ROO-lah)
"ferule" alt. spelling of "ferrule" Eng. wooden handle for strength or
protection, from "ferula" L. fennel plant
Spell that conjures a wooden rod.
Lupin uses this spell to conjure a splint and bandages for Ron's broken leg
(PA19).
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Fidelius Charm (fih-DAY-lee-us)
"fidelis" L. trusty, faithful
Complex and powerful charm that hides a person or persons completely; their
location is known only to their designated "Secret Keeper."
Used to try to protect Lily and James Potter from Voldemort. "An immensely
complex spell involving the magical concealment of a secret inside a single,
living soul. The information is hidden inside the chosen person, or
Secret-Keeper, and is henceforth impossible to find -- unless, of course, the
Secret-Keeper chooses to divulge it. As long as the Secret-Keeper refused to
speak, You-Know-Who could search the village where Lily and James were staying
for years and never find them, not even if he had his nose pressed against their
sitting room window!" Unfortunately, Peter Pettigrew was chosen as
Secret-Keeper, and he betrayed James and Lily (PA
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Finite Incantatum (fi-NEE-tay in-can-TAH-tum)
"finio" L. settle, end, die + "incantationem" L. the art of enchanting
Stops currently operating spell effects.
Snape uses this spell to end the various unfortunate spells that were affecting
members of the Dueling Club when things got a little out of hand (CS10)
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Fire Magic
Hagrid starts a roaring fire in the hut on the rock without wand (SS4)
Wormtail starts a fire under the cauldron in which Voldemort is reborn
at the Quidditch World Cup, a magical fire shoot violet sparks twenty feet into
the air (GF7)
See INCENDIO
See FIRE TALKING
See FLAME FREEZING CHARM
See BLUEBELL FLAMES
See EXTINGUISHING SPELLS
c.f. WAND EFFECTS
c.f. FLOO POWDER
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Fire Talking
no incantation given
Using a Wizard's fire, a person can communicate with another over distance. The
head of the person making contact appears in the midst of the flames and they
can hold a conversation and even interact physically with the person they are
connecting to.
Amos Diggory used this method of contacting Ron's dad when Mad-Eye Moody
reported being attacked. (GF10)
When he was in hiding, Sirius Black talked to Harry by means of a Wizard
fireplace.
Snape used a powder thrown into the fire to contact Lupin and ask to speak to
him (PA
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Flame Freezing Charm
no words given
Changes the properties of fire so that it's heat feels like a warm breeze.
Spell used by witches and the wizards in Medieval times who were burned at the
stake. They would then scream and pretend to be burning up (PA1)
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Flashing Paint Charm
no incantation given
This "tricky little charm" makes the paint on a banner flash different colors.
Hermione uses this charm on the banner that the Gryffindors had painted on one
of the sheets Scabbers had ruined. It said Potter for President, and Dean, who
was good at drawing, had drawn a Gryffindor lion under the words. (SS11)
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flying magic
no incantation given
While "[n]o spell yet devied enables wizards to fly unaided in human form" (QA),
various spells create flying effects.
Wingardium Leviosa levitates objects (SS
Dobby uses the Hover Charm to float a pudding above Aunt Petunia's kitchen
(CS2).
spells cast on broomsticks and carpets allow them to fly
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Fountain of Wine
no incantation given
A spell which produces a fountain of wine from the end of the wand.
Mr. Olivander performed this spell with Harry's wand to test it at the Weighing
of the Wands. (GF
Similar to Mrs Weasley's spell to create a creamy sauce from her wand when
cooking (GF
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Four-Point Spell
"point me"
A simple spell, performed with the wand laying flat on the open palm of the
caster. When the words are spoken, the wand rotates to point north.
Harry uses this spell to good advantage in the maze of the Third Task, keeping
himself walking in more or less the right direction (GF31).
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Freezing Charm
See PESKIPIKSI PESTERNOMI
See FLAME FREEZING CHARM
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Fur Spell
no incantation given
A spell that causes a person to grow fur.
Fred and George, in an effort to cheer up Ginny, would cast this spell on
themselves so they would be covered with fur. All it did was irritate Percy. (CS
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Furnunculus ( fur-NUN-kyoo-lus)
related to "furnus" L. oven?
related to "furunculus" L. which means "petty thief" and is the basis of the
English word "furuncle," which is a fancy name for "boil" (as in a skin lesion,
not the verb for the point at which a liquid becomes a gas). Obviously, at some
point, wizards decided it was easier to say the spell when they threw in the
extra "n" after the letters f-u-r. Submitted by Claire T. Nollet
Curse that causes boils to break out all over the victim.
Harry casts this spell on Malfoy, but it is deflected and hits Goyle in the face
(GF18, 37)
Fred and George try to cheer up Ginny by covering themselves with fur or boils
and then jumping out at her. (CS Feather-light
Spell that makes an object weigh practically nothing.
After running away from the Dursleys, Harry considered the idea of casting a
spell to make his trunk feather-light so he could carry it all the way to London
on his broomstick (PA3).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ferula (feh-ROO-lah)
"ferule" alt. spelling of "ferrule" Eng. wooden handle for strength or
protection, from "ferula" L. fennel plant
Spell that conjures a wooden rod.
Lupin uses this spell to conjure a splint and bandages for Ron's broken leg
(PA19).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelius Charm (fih-DAY-lee-us)
"fidelis" L. trusty, faithful
Complex and powerful charm that hides a person or persons completely; their
location is known only to their designated "Secret Keeper."
Used to try to protect Lily and James Potter from Voldemort. "An immensely
complex spell involving the magical concealment of a secret inside a single,
living soul. The information is hidden inside the chosen person, or
Secret-Keeper, and is henceforth impossible to find -- unless, of course, the
Secret-Keeper chooses to divulge it. As long as the Secret-Keeper refused to
speak, You-Know-Who could search the village where Lily and James were staying
for years and never find them, not even if he had his nose pressed against their
sitting room window!" Unfortunately, Peter Pettigrew was chosen as
Secret-Keeper, and he betrayed James and Lily (PA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Finite Incantatum (fi-NEE-tay in-can-TAH-tum)
"finio" L. settle, end, die + "incantationem" L. the art of enchanting
Stops currently operating spell effects.
Snape uses this spell to end the various unfortunate spells that were affecting
members of the Dueling Club when things got a little out of hand (CS10)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fire Magic
Hagrid starts a roaring fire in the hut on the rock without wand (SS4)
Wormtail starts a fire under the cauldron in which Voldemort is reborn
at the Quidditch World Cup, a magical fire shoot violet sparks twenty feet into
the air (GF7)
See INCENDIO
See FIRE TALKING
See FLAME FREEZING CHARM
See BLUEBELL FLAMES
See EXTINGUISHING SPELLS
c.f. WAND EFFECTS
c.f. FLOO POWDER
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fire Talking
no incantation given
Using a Wizard's fire, a person can communicate with another over distance. The
head of the person making contact appears in the midst of the flames and they
can hold a conversation and even interact physically with the person they are
connecting to.
Amos Diggory used this method of contacting Ron's dad when Mad-Eye Moody
reported being attacked. (GF10)
When he was in hiding, Sirius Black talked to Harry by means of a Wizard
fireplace.
Snape used a powder thrown into the fire to contact Lupin and ask to speak to
him (PA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flame Freezing Charm
no words given
Changes the properties of fire so that it's heat feels like a warm breeze.
Spell used by witches and the wizards in Medieval times who were burned at the
stake. They would then scream and pretend to be burning up (PA1)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flashing Paint Charm
no incantation given
This "tricky little charm" makes the paint on a banner flash different colors.
Hermione uses this charm on the banner that the Gryffindors had painted on one
of the sheets Scabbers had ruined. It said Potter for President, and Dean, who
was good at drawing, had drawn a Gryffindor lion under the words. (SS11)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
flying magic
no incantation given
While "[n]o spell yet devied enables wizards to fly unaided in human form" (QA),
various spells create flying effects.
Wingardium Leviosa levitates objects (SS
Dobby uses the Hover Charm to float a pudding above Aunt Petunia's kitchen
(CS2).
spells cast on broomsticks and carpets allow them to fly
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fountain of Wine
no incantation given
A spell which produces a fountain of wine from the end of the wand.
Mr. Olivander performed this spell with Harry's wand to test it at the Weighing
of the Wands. (GF
Similar to Mrs Weasley's spell to create a creamy sauce from her wand when
cooking (GF
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Four-Point Spell
"point me"
A simple spell, performed with the wand laying flat on the open palm of the
caster. When the words are spoken, the wand rotates to point north.
Harry uses this spell to good advantage in the maze of the Third Task, keeping
himself walking in more or less the right direction (GF31).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Freezing Charm
See PESKIPIKSI PESTERNOMI
See FLAME FREEZING CHARM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fur Spell
no incantation given
A spell that causes a person to grow fur.
Fred and George, in an effort to cheer up Ginny, would cast this spell on
themselves so they would be covered with fur. All it did was irritate Percy. (CS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Furnunculus ( fur-NUN-kyoo-lus)
related to "furnus" L. oven?
related to "furunculus" L. which means "petty thief" and is the basis of the
English word "furuncle," which is a fancy name for "boil" (as in a skin lesion,
not the verb for the point at which a liquid becomes a gas). Obviously, at some
point, wizards decided it was easier to say the spell when they threw in the
extra "n" after the letters f-u-r. Submitted by Claire T. Nollet
Curse that causes boils to break out all over the victim.
Harry casts this spell on Malfoy, but it is deflected and hits Goyle in the face
(GF18, 37)
Fred and George try to cheer up Ginny by covering themselves with fur or boils
and then jumping out at her. (CS Feather-light
Spell that makes an object weigh practically nothing.
After running away from the Dursleys, Harry considered the idea of casting a
spell to make his trunk feather-light so he could carry it all the way to London
on his broomstick (PA3).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ferula (feh-ROO-lah)
"ferule" alt. spelling of "ferrule" Eng. wooden handle for strength or
protection, from "ferula" L. fennel plant
Spell that conjures a wooden rod.
Lupin uses this spell to conjure a splint and bandages for Ron's broken leg
(PA19).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelius Charm (fih-DAY-lee-us)
"fidelis" L. trusty, faithful
Complex and powerful charm that hides a person or persons completely; their
location is known only to their designated "Secret Keeper."
Used to try to protect Lily and James Potter from Voldemort. "An immensely
complex spell involving the magical concealment of a secret inside a single,
living soul. The information is hidden inside the chosen person, or
Secret-Keeper, and is henceforth impossible to find -- unless, of course, the
Secret-Keeper chooses to divulge it. As long as the Secret-Keeper refused to
speak, You-Know-Who could search the village where Lily and James were staying
for years and never find them, not even if he had his nose pressed against their
sitting room window!" Unfortunately, Peter Pettigrew was chosen as
Secret-Keeper, and he betrayed James and Lily (PA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Finite Incantatum (fi-NEE-tay in-can-TAH-tum)
"finio" L. settle, end, die + "incantationem" L. the art of enchanting
Stops currently operating spell effects.
Snape uses this spell to end the various unfortunate spells that were affecting
members of the Dueling Club when things got a little out of hand (CS10)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fire Magic
Hagrid starts a roaring fire in the hut on the rock without wand (SS4)
Wormtail starts a fire under the cauldron in which Voldemort is reborn
at the Quidditch World Cup, a magical fire shoot violet sparks twenty feet into
the air (GF7)
See INCENDIO
See FIRE TALKING
See FLAME FREEZING CHARM
See BLUEBELL FLAMES
See EXTINGUISHING SPELLS
c.f. WAND EFFECTS
c.f. FLOO POWDER
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fire Talking
no incantation given
Using a Wizard's fire, a person can communicate with another over distance. The
head of the person making contact appears in the midst of the flames and they
can hold a conversation and even interact physically with the person they are
connecting to.
Amos Diggory used this method of contacting Ron's dad when Mad-Eye Moody
reported being attacked. (GF10)
When he was in hiding, Sirius Black talked to Harry by means of a Wizard
fireplace.
Snape used a powder thrown into the fire to contact Lupin and ask to speak to
him (PA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flame Freezing Charm
no words given
Changes the properties of fire so that it's heat feels like a warm breeze.
Spell used by witches and the wizards in Medieval times who were burned at the
stake. They would then scream and pretend to be burning up (PA1)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flashing Paint Charm
no incantation given
This "tricky little charm" makes the paint on a banner flash different colors.
Hermione uses this charm on the banner that the Gryffindors had painted on one
of the sheets Scabbers had ruined. It said Potter for President, and Dean, who
was good at drawing, had drawn a Gryffindor lion under the words. (SS11)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
flying magic
no incantation given
While "[n]o spell yet devied enables wizards to fly unaided in human form" (QA),
various spells create flying effects.
Wingardium Leviosa levitates objects (SS
Dobby uses the Hover Charm to float a pudding above Aunt Petunia's kitchen
(CS2).
spells cast on broomsticks and carpets allow them to fly
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fountain of Wine
no incantation given
A spell which produces a fountain of wine from the end of the wand.
Mr. Olivander performed this spell with Harry's wand to test it at the Weighing
of the Wands. (GF
Similar to Mrs Weasley's spell to create a creamy sauce from her wand when
cooking (GF
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Four-Point Spell
"point me"
A simple spell, performed with the wand laying flat on the open palm of the
caster. When the words are spoken, the wand rotates to point north.
Harry uses this spell to good advantage in the maze of the Third Task, keeping
himself walking in more or less the right direction (GF31).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Freezing Charm
See PESKIPIKSI PESTERNOMI
See FLAME FREEZING CHARM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fur Spell
no incantation given
A spell that causes a person to grow fur.
Fred and George, in an effort to cheer up Ginny, would cast this spell on
themselves so they would be covered with fur. All it did was irritate Percy. (CS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Furnunculus ( fur-NUN-kyoo-lus)
related to "furnus" L. oven?
related to "furunculus" L. which means "petty thief" and is the basis of the
English word "furuncle," which is a fancy name for "boil" (as in a skin lesion,
not the verb for the point at which a liquid becomes a gas). Obviously, at some
point, wizards decided it was easier to say the spell when they threw in the
extra "n" after the letters f-u-r. Submitted by Claire T. Nollet
Curse that causes boils to break out all over the victim.
Harry casts this spell on Malfoy, but it is deflected and hits Goyle in the face
(GF18, 37)
Fred and George try to cheer up Ginny by covering themselves with fur or boils
and then jumping out at her. (CS
Hex-Deflection
A form of magic or class of spells that defend the caster against hexes.
Moody included Hex-Deflection in his fourth year Defense Against the Dark Arts
classes (GF28)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Homorphus Charm
"homo" Gr. the same + "morph": Eng. change shape [force a werewolf NOT to
change]
OR
"homo" L. man + "morph": Eng. change shape [force werewolf into human shape]
A good Charm to use against a werewolf. It's exact effects aren't given.
Lockhart supposedly used this Charm to defeat the Wagga Wagga werewolf and
demonstrated the feat in Defense Against The Dark Arts class (CS10).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Horn Tongue
no incantation given
Conjures a horn on the target's tongue. What good this would do anyone is
unclear....
Harry, looking for spells to help him combat a dragon, wisely decided not to use
this one as it would just give the dragon one more weapon (GF20)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hover Charm
no incantation given
Makes an object float in the air.
Dobby uses this spell (without wand or incantation) to float Aunt Petunia's
violet pudding in the air (CS2)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hurling Hex
no spell words given
A nasty kind of curse that could be placed on a broom which would cause the
rider to be thrown off, presumably.
When Flitwick was going to strip down Harry's Firebolt to check for curses, this
was one of the things he was looking for (PA )
I-P
Impedimenta (im-ped-ih-MEN-tah )
"Impediment Curse"
"im-" prefix from L. not +
Stops an object or slows it down.
Harry learns this spell to use in the Third Task. Ron also learns it, using it
to stop a bee in midair. Harry uses it to good effect on the giant spider and on
the huge Blast-Ended Skrewt. (GF29, 31
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Impervius (im-PER-vee-us)
"im-" prefix from L. not + "pervius" L. letting things through
Makes something waterproof or water repellent.
Hermione uses this spell to make Harry's glasses repel water during a rainy
Quidditch match (PA9)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Imperio (im-PAIR-ee-oh )
"Imperius Curse"
"impero" L. order, govern, command
One of the "Unforgiveable Curses," this spell causes the victim to be completely
under the command of the caster, who can make them do anything they wish.
(GF14)
c.f. Voldemort: First Rise of the Dark Lord
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Incendio (in-SEN-dee-o)
"incendo" L. to set fire to
Starts a fire.
Mr. Weasley uses this charm to start a fire in the Dursley's fireplace (GF4)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Insect Jinx
no incantation given
Sprouts feelers on the victims's head, makes them unable to talk and have to
scuttle along the ground.
Harry was tempted to Jinx Dudley like this when Dudley was teasing him about his
having bad dreams (OP1)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Instant Scalping
no incantation given
As the name suggests, this hex removes hair.
This spell appears in the book Basic Hexes for the Busy and Vexed, which Harry
consulted to find a spell to work against dragons. (GF20)
Jelly-Legs Jinx
no incantation given
Causes the target's legs to wobble uncontrollably.
Hermione used the spell to break Harry's Shield Charm as they were practicing
for the Third Task.
Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle were hit with this Jinx (along with a few other hexes
and curses) on the train (GF31, 37)
Killing Curse
"Avada Kedavra"
The Avada Kedavra Curse. One of the Unforgivable Curses.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Knee-Reversing Hex
no incantation given
Causes the target's knee to become backwards.
Gertie Keddle wrote in her diary from the 11th century that she hexed a man who
came to retrieve a leather-covered ball from her cabbage patch, and she'd "like
to see him fly with his knees back to front, the great hairy hog." (QA)
Leek Curse
no incantation given
Results in leeks growing out of the target's ears.
During the tension-filled week leading up to the Gryffindor-Slytherin Quidditch
match in the spring of 1994, a nasty incident in the corridors resulted in a
Gryffindor fourth year and a Slytherin sixth year going to the Hospital Wing
with leeks sprouting out of their ears.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
levitation
various spells
Levitation allows a person or an object to float up to five feet above the
ground.
The Wingardium Leviosa spell is a levitation spell. (SS
Dobby used a Hover Charm to float Aunt Petunia's pudding above the kitchen
(CS2).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Library book spells
no incantation given
Madam Pince puts a variety of spells and curses on the books in the Hogwarts
library to make sure that kids don't damage them.
Dumbledore absent-mindedly doodled in a library book and was surprised to find
it beating him on the head. (QA)
The screaming book in the Restricted Section may be reacting according to one of
the spells on it (SS
Madam Pince has been known to add some unusual hexes and jinxes at times,
besides the usual collection of library book spells (QA)
SEE Thief's Curse
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Light Spell
no incantation used
Appearing with a soft, crackling sound, this spell creates a handful of
shimmering light.
Lupin used this spell while on the Hogwarts Express. It lit the compartment and
the form of the Dementor which was searching the train. (PA5)
see also LUMOS, BLUEBELL FLAMES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
lightening spell
no incantation given
Causes an object to become less heavy and thereby easier to carry.
Harry apparently knows such a spell, since he plans to use it on his trunk in
order to make it light enough to carry it to London on his broomstick (PA2)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Locomotor Mortis (lo-co-MO-tor MOR-tis)
"Leg-Locker Curse"
"loco" L. from a place + "motionem" L. motion + "mortis" L. death
Locks together the legs of the victim, making him unable to walk.
Draco casts this spell on Neville just for kicks; Neville must then hop back to
the common room (SS13)
see also Petrificus Totalus
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lumos (LOO-mos)
"lumen" L. light
Causes a small beam of light to shine from the end of the caster's wand.
This spell is used frequently as people skulk about the castle or the Forbidden
Forest.
Dumbledore even used one when looking for Mr.Crouch (GF28), and his beam of
light was just as narrow and flashlight-like as Harry's usually is. You'd think
Dumbledore would have been able to summon up something a little brighter.
When Harry loses his wand during the Dementor attack, he desperately says "Lumos"
and to his surprise, the tip of his wand lights up, even though he wasn't
holding the wand. The light from a Lumos spell works even when the Dementors'
presense has cancelled out the light from the streetlamps and even the stars
(OP1)
The spell to turn the light off is "Nox."
SEE ALSO Wand Effects
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lumos Solarum (LOO-mos so-LAR-um)
"lumos" L. light + "sol" L. sun
Generates a brilliant blast of light, as bright as the sun.
In the film, Hermione uses this spell to force the Devil's Snare plant to
withdraw from Ron (SS/f).
This spell is NOT to be considered canon because it does not fit in with the
established "rules" of magic in the books. For one thing, the Devil's Snare
plant in the books shrinks from fire, not sunlight. For another, there is
clearly no light spell of this intensity available in the Harry Potter universe.
If there were, Dumbledore would certainly have used it instead of the feeble
Lumos spell to search the forbidden forest for Krum and Barty Crouch Sr. (GF28).
Also, Lupin would likely have used some more powerful light spell to illuminate
the compartment on the train when the Dementors had extinguished all the lights.
Instead, the best he could manage was a handfull of dim blue flames (PA). The
spell is included here in the interest of completeness, however. Memory Charm
See OBLIVIATE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Messenger Spell
no incantation used
Sends a magical messenger to someone in the form of a silvery dart, rather like
a small, ghostly bird.
Dumbledore sent a message to Hagrid using this spell. He simply pointed his wand
in the direction of Hagrid's hut and sent the messenger without saying a word.
Hagrid came directly to Dumbledore, which suggests that it is possible to
retrace the flight of the dart. (GF28)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mobiliarbus (MO-bi-lee-AR-bus)
"mobilis" L. movable + "arbor" L. tree
Moves a tree.
The basic spell for moving something starts with the "Mobili-" prefix. It is up
to the caster to be able to tack on the correct Latinate word for the object to
be moved, in this case a tree. Certainly there cannot be a "standard" spell for
moving a tree to one side!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mobilicorpus (MO-bi-lee-COR-pus)
"mobilis" L. movable + "corpus" L. body
Moves a body.
The basic spell for moving something starts with the "Mobili-" prefix. In this
case, the Latin word for "body" is tacked on the end. Sirius Black uses this
spell to levitate Snape's unconscious body so it could be pushed along the
secret passage back to school from the Shrieking Shack.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morsmordre (mors-MOR-druh )
"The Dark Mark"
"mors" L. death + "mordere" L. to bite
Conjures an immense glowing skull in the sky, comprised of green sparks. There
is a snake coming out of the skull's mouth.
This spell is known only to Death Eaters, who send it up in the sky when they
kill. The Dark Mark is seen at the Quidditch World Cup in 1994, conjured up by
Barty Crouch Jr. using Harry's wand. (GF9)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Muggle Repelling Charms
no incantation given
Spells cast to keep Muggles away from a place or object.
The Quidditch World Cup Stadium had Muggle Repelling Charms all over it; if
Muggles got anywhere near it, they would suddenly remember some appointment they
were late for and hurry off (GF8)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nox (noks)
"nox" L. night
Turns off the light from a "Lumos" spell.
Obliviate (oh-BLI-vee-ate)
"Memory Charm"
"oblivisci" L. forget
Modifies or erases portions of a person's memory.
These spells are used routinely by the Ministry of Magic as they work to keep
the Wizarding World a secret from the Muggles.
They are used if a Muggle sees a dragon (SS ) and after an enchanted item falls
into Muggle hands (CS3).
Memory Charms were used on the witnesses to Peter Pettigrew's murder of thirteen
Muggles and subsequent escape as a rat (PA10).
Bertha Jorkins had had a Memory Charm placed on her by Crouch Sr. after she
discovered Barty Crouch Jr. at the Crouch home (GF33). Voldemort broke through
it, but the process left her mind damaged and he killed her (GF1).
Mr. Roberts, the campground manager near the Quidditch World Cup, needed ten
Memory Charms a day or he started noticing odd things going on. Later, after he
and his family had been attacked by the Death Eaters, they all received Memory
Charms (GF7, 9).
Lockhart used Memory Charms on those whose adventures he claimed as his own.
He'd interview someone who battled some creature or conquered some dark foe,
then write the story as if he did it himself and give a Memory Charm to
theperson so they'd forget it was really them. He tried to do the same to Harry
and Ron, but it backfired onto him instead. (CS16)
A Ministry Wizard whose job it is to cast Memory Charms is called an Obliviator
(GF7).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oculus Reparo (AH-kyoo-lus re-PAR-oh))
"oculus" L. eye + "reparare" L. repair, restore
Simple spell which repairs a pair of eyeglasses.
In the film, Hermione uses this spell on the train to repair Harry's glasses
(SS/f)
This is possibly a form of the spell Reparo which Hermione uses to repair the
broken window in the train (GF8, 11). The basic spell word is "Reparo," with a
target word added on in some cases, particularly when the caster is not
particularly skilled.
Probably the same spell as Mr. Weasley uses to repair Harry's glasses (CS4),
Bill Weasley uses to repair the table leg (GF5), and Percy uses to repair his
glasses when he bows just a little bit too low (GF8).
Pack
"pack!"
A spell which causes items to assemble themselves into a trunk.
Tonks used the spell to help Harry pack his school trunk when he was leaving the
Dursleys' house. She said she wasn't very good at housework spells and that her
mother used to be able to even make the socks fold themselves up together. Tonks'
version was a bit messier, but it certainly got the job done quickly. (OP3)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Patronus
A silvery-white, conjured creature created by using the Patronus Charm. The
Patronus is used against Dementors and Lethifolds.
Harry's Patronus is a stag, as was his father's. Hermione's Patronus is an
otter. (OP27)
A Patronus can be commanded by the caster to attack; Harry controls his and
tells it to attack each Dementor in turn when they attacked him and Dudley in
the alley near Privet Drive (OP1)
Flavius Belby survived a Lethhifold attack by casting a Patronus Charm against
it (fw/51, FB)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Patronus Charm (pa-TROH-nus)
"patronus" Medieval L. patron saint.
See EXPECTO PATRONUM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pepper Breath
no incantation given
This charm gives a person firey hot breath.
Harry, when researching spells to use against a dragon, decides against this one
(GF20).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Peskipiksi Pesternomi (pes-kee PIK-see pes-ter-NO-mee)
"Freezing Charm"?
"pesky" + "pixie" + "pester" + "no" + "me"
Lockhart's version of a Freezing Charm.
Lockhart tries this spell on the escaped Cornish Pixies. It has no effect. The
spell words certainly don't fit the usual format, so it seems likely that
Lockhart was making the whole thing up on the spot. (CS6)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Petrification
"petrificare" L. to make into stone, from "petra" L. rock
Not a spell so much as a magical effect, caused by seeing the reflected eyes of
a Basilisk.
The Petrification effect resembles death, except that the victim is still alive,
as if in suspended animation. It takes careful examination to discern whether a
victim is in fact Petrified instead of dead. If a ghost is Petrified, is turns a
dark smokey gray and can only be moved by the use of a fan. The antidote is made
from mandrake roots (CS9).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Petrificus Totalus (pe-TRI-fi-cus toe-TAH-lus)
"Full Body Bind"
"petrificare" L. to make into stone + "totalis" L. entire
Turns the entire body of the victim rigid.
Hermione casts this spell on Neville with profuse apologies when he tried to
stop them from going after the Sorcerer's Stone (SS16)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prior Incantato (prye-OR in-can-TAH-toe)
also: Priori Incantatem
"Reverse Spell Effect"
"prior" L. former, earlier, preceeding + "incantatare" L. to bewirtch or enchant
Can be cast as a spell, ("Prior Incantato"), in which case it forces a wand to
emit a ghost image of the last spell it cast. The images can be dispelled using
the Deletrius spell.
When two wands are forced to duel which have core material from the same single
animal, the result will be "Priori Incantatem," a display in sequence of the
last spells one of the wands cast. Which wand will show the spell effect depends
on the willpower of the two wizards involved.
Amos Diggory cast the Prior Incantato spell on Harry's wand to find out if it
had cast the Dark Mark (GF9)
When Harry and Voldemort dueled, their wands, which share a core of a feather
from the same phoenix, were linked in the Priori Incantatem effect. (GF36)
Q-Z
Quidditch spellsno incantation given
Several charms are used to make the game of Quidditch possible:
the Quaffle is enchanted to make it fall more slowly. This spell was invented by Daisy Pennifold, hence the modern Quaffle is refered to as a "Pennifold Quaffle."
Gripping Charms, invented in 1875, are cast on the Quaffle to make it possible for the Chasers to hold onto it.
the Golden Snitch is enchanted so that it does not leave the playing field
Bludgers are enchanted to try to knock any and all players off their brooms.
Dobby the House Elf managed to enchant a Bludger so that it only chased after Harry Potter, eventually managing to break his arm (CS
c.f. Braking Charm, Cushioning Charm
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Quietus (KWY-uh-tus)
reverse: Sonorus
"quietus" L. quiet, peaceful
Reverses the effect of the Sonorus spell, making the caster's voice normal in volume.
Bagman used the Sonorus and Quietus spells to allow himself to speak to a large crowd at the World Cup and at the Triwizard Tournament (GF8) Reducio (re-DOO-see-oh )
reverse: Engorgio
"redusen" Middle Eng. diminish, from "reducer" Old Fr. bring back to the source, from" reducere" L. bring, lead
Causes an object to return to it's normal size.
Moody, who had enlarged a spider with an Engorgement Charm, used Reducio to return it to it's normal size (GF14)
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Reductor Curse
from "redusen" Middle English, borrowed from Old French and Latin, c. 1380: to bring down
Blasts solid objects out of the caster's path.
Harry learned this spell as part of his preparation for the Third Task. He used it to blast a hole in the hedge (GF31)
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Relashio
"rilascio" It. - to release, to relax, to issue
Relases a jet of firey sparks. Underwater, this spell fires a jet of boiling water.
Harry used this spell against the Grindylows in the Second Task. (GF)
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Reluctant Reversers, A Charm To Cure
no incantation given
Broom charm.
This spell is on page twelve of the Handbook of Do-It-Yourself Broom Care (PA2).
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Reparo (re-PAR-oh )
"reparare" L. repair, restore
Undoes damage to an object.
Hermione casts this spell to repair the broken glass in the door to a railway carriage compartment (GF8, 11)
Probably the same spell as Mr. Weasley uses to repair Harry's glasses (CS4), Bill Weasley uses to repair the table leg (GF5), and Percy uses to repair his glasses when he bows just a little bit too low (GF8).
McGonagall uses what is very likely this spell to restore the leg of Neville's desk, which he had accidentally vanished (CS
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Restoring Spell
no incantation used
Forces an Animagus who has transformed into animal form to revert to their human form. The spell's effect is a bright blue-white flash of light.
Lupin and Sirius cast this spell together to change Scabbers back into Peter Pettigrew (PA19)
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Rictusempra (ric-tu-SEM-pra)
"Tickling Charm"
"rictus" L. gaping mouth, grin + "sempra" L. always
Causes a person to laugh uncontrollably.
Harry casts this spell on Draco at the Dueling Club (CS10)
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Riddikulus (ri-di-KYOO-lus)
"ridiculum" L. joke, from "ridere" L. to laugh
Defense against a Boggart, forces the creature to take on a silly appearance.
Lupin taught the third year Defense Against The Dark Arts class to use this spell (PA, GF31) The laughter it produces in onlookers is what does the Boggart in.
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Room-sealing spell
no incantation given
Seals a room with a powerful charm that none but a powerful wizard could break.
Snape used a powerful magic spell to seal his office (GF25)
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Ropes, magical
no incantation used
Sends out magical ropes from a wand which tie up someone firmly.
Dumbledore used magic ropes from his wand to bind Barty Crouch Jr. (GF36)
Quirrell created ropes out of thin air to bind Harry in the Chamber of the Stone. Then he claps his hands and the ropes fall away. (SS17)
Wormtail conjured tight cords to bind Harry to the headstone of Voldemort's father (GF32)
Snape used this spell to tie up Lupin. When he did it, there was a loud bang. (PA19)
a similar enchantment is used on the Chained Chair in the Court of Magical Law. When a prisoner sits in that chair, the chain glow gold and encircle the person's arms, binding them to the chair (GF30)
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Rowboat spell
no incantation used
Propels a rowboat along without oars.
Hagrid used his umbrella to cast this spell and "speed things up a bit" when he and Harry were coming back from the hut on the rock (SS5).
Possibly it is this spell which propels the fleet of small boats from the dock near Hogsmeade station to Hogwarts castle (SS
Scouring Charm
no incantation given
Cleans things, fingernails, for example.
Hermione taught Neville a Scouring Charm to clean the frog guts out from under his fingernails (GF14).
A Scouring Charm is required to eradicate an infestation of Bundimuns (FB)
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Serpensortia (ser-pen-SOR-sha)
"serpens" L. serpent + "sortir" Old Fr. to go out
Causes a large serpent to burst from the end of the caster's wand.
Draco casts this spell on Harry at the Dueling Club on Snape's suggestion; the serpent moves to attack Justin Fitch-Fletchley (CS10)
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Severing Charm
no incantation given
Spell to cut something.
Ron uses this spell to remove the lace from the neck and sleeves of his used dress robes (GF23)
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Shield Charm
no incantation given
This spell creates a magical barrier which will deflect hexes thrown at the caster.
Harry learned this spell in his preparations for the Third Triwizard Tournament task (GF31).
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Silencing Charm
no incantation given
A charm which causes something to be silent.
The song of the Fwooper will drive the listener insane and must therefore be sold with a Silencing Charm on it. This charm must be recast on the Fwooper every month (FB).
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Slug Curse
no incantation given (no, it's not "eat slugs")
Causes the victim to belch up slugs.
Ron tried to hit Malfoy with this curse after Malfoy had called Hermione a Mudblood. Unfortunately, Ron's wand was damaged and the spell backfired (CS7)
Interestingly, Ron had only a short time before, at breakfast, snapped "Eat slugs, Malfoy!" This is not the incantation, however, although the film suggests that it is.
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Sonorus (so-NO-rus )
reverse: Quietus
"sonorus" L. loud
Makes the caster's voice carry over long distances.
Ludo Bagman uses these spells to make his voice heard throughout the World Quidditch Cup stadium and over the stands of people watching the Triwizard Tournament (GF8, 31)
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Stunner
"Stunning Spell"
See STUPEFY
c.f. ENNERVATE
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Stupefy ( STOO-puh-fye)
"Stunner" "Stupefying Charm"
reverse: "Ennervate"
"stupefacio" L. to make senseless, from "stupeo" L. stunned
Renders the target of the spell unconscious.
Used by Ministry Wizards to try to stop whomever cast the Dark Mark (GF9)
Used by dragon keepers (a lot of them at once) to manage dragons (GF
Flavius Belby tried to use a Stupefying Charm against a Lethifold, but only succeeded in blasting a hole through his bedroom door (FB)
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Summoning Charm
See ACCIO
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Switching Spells
various, depending on the transfiguration intended
A classification of Transfiguration spells.
Neville wasn't particularly adept at these (GF15)
Hermione, discussing ways to combat dragons:
"Well, there are Switching Spells...but what’s the point of Switching it? Unless you swapped its fangs for wine-gums or something that would make it less dangerous..." (GF
See CROSS-SPECIES SWITCHES Talon-clipping charm
no incantation given
A charm used for dragon care.
Harry found this spell in a book in the Hogwarts library when researching ways to overcome the Hungarian Horntail in the First Task of the Triwizard Tournament. (GF20)
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Tarantallegra (TAIR-an-tuh-LEG-ruh)
"tarantella" It. dance associated with the tarantula, from Taranto, a city in Italy + "allegro" It. fast
Forces the victim's legs to do a crazy dance.
Draco casts this spell on Harry during the Dueling Club (CS10)
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Thief's Curse
no incantation given
An unspecified bit of nastiness which can be cast on someone who steals something.
People who stand too long reading Quidditch Through the Ages in a shop without buying it might find themselves the object of this curse, according to Dumbledore in the introduction to QA.
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Tickling Charm
SeeRICTUSEMPRA
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Time Travel
no incantation used; by magical device only
An extremely dangerous magical effect, allows a person to travel back in time. Because of the potential for catastrophe should history be altered, time travel is all but forbidden in Wizarding society. Certain magical devices are usable for time travel, but access to them is strictly controlled.
Hermione used a Time Turner to repeat hours of the day and take more classes (PA)
The Pensieve and Tom Riddle's diary allowed a form of time travel, although the person traveling was not actually part of the time they entered. Instead, they became an observer, unseen and unheard. This form of time travel is tied to stored memories and the traveler views the past from a vantage point near the person whose memories are used. This form of time travel might be better termed "memory travel."
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Transmogrifian Torture
"trans" L. across + ?
"transmogrify" Eng. verb c.1656, from L. to change or alter greatly and often with grotesque or humorous effect
c.f. Calvin and Hobbes: his "duplicating machine" is called a Transmogrifier
perhaps also related to:
"moggy" Br. slang: cat
Supposedly something which results in a cat being killed.
Lockhart pronounced with certainty that Mrs. Norris was dead, killed by the Transmogrifian Torture. Immediately thereafter, Dumbledore informed everyone that she wasn't in fact dead, rather she was Petrified, and Lockhart pointed out that he knew this all along. Knowing Lockhart, it is distinctly possible that there is no such thing as the Transmogrifian Torture (c.f. PESKIPIKSI PESTERNOMI) (CS9)
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Twitchy Ears Hex
no incantation given
Causes the ears of the victim to wiggle and twitch uncontrollably.
Harry was hit with this Hex as they practiced Hex-Deflection in Defense Against the Dark Arts class (GF28)
Unbreakable Charm
incantation not given
Makes an object unbreakable.
Hermione cast an Unbreakable Charm on the jar in which she captured Rita Skeeter in beetle form. (GF37)
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Unforgivable Curses
Three curses in particular are known as Unforgivable because using them on another human being can result in a life term in Azkaban. These three curses were used extensively by Voldemort's followers during his rise to power in the 1970s. One, the Killing Curse, was used by Voldemort himself on Harry Potter, but the curse backfired and Voldemort was defeated.
The three curses are:
Cruciatus Curse (Crucio)
Imperius Curse (Imperio)
Killing Curse (Avada Kedavra)
During the Battle of the Department of Mysteries, Harry tried to use the Cruciatus Curse on Bellatrix Lestrange, but it didn't have much effect. She taunted him:
"Never used an Unforgivable Curse before, have you, boy? You need to mean them, Potter! You need to really cause pain--to enjoy it--righteous anger won't hurt me for long..." (OP36)
See CRUCIO
See AVADA KEDAVRA
See IMPERIO
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Unplottable
incantation not given
A magical effect on a place; makes it impossible to plot its location on a map.
Hermione suggested that this may have been done to make Durmstrang and Beauxbatons harder to locate by other witches and wizards. (GF10)
Hogwarts also has wards and spells on it to hide its true nature from Muggles, but it is apparently not Unplottable.
Number 12 Grimmauld Place is Unplottable. (OP
See Muggle Repelling Charms Vanishing Spell
no incantation given
Makes something or someone disappear.
When Colin was taking his picture and asking him to sign it, Harry wished he knew a good Vanishing Spell to escape the embarassment (CS
Another form of this spell actually makes things go away. Neville did this by mistake to one of the legs of his desk when McGonagall announced that, in spite of the attacks on students and the banishment of Dumbledore and Hagrid, they would still be given their exams (CS Waddiwasi (wah-di-WAH-see)
"vadd" Sw. a soft mass + "vas y" Fr. go there
It makes sense because Lupin didn't just make a wad of gum leave that keyhole, but directed it into Peeves' nose. (contributed by Alina)
Shoots a wad of gum out of a keyhole.
Lupin considers this to be a useful little spell. He uses it to remove a wad of gum from a keyhole that Peeves was putting there. The gum then shot up Peevse's nose. (PA7)
The "useful spell" that Lupin was showing them was undoubtedly the "wasi" part, in this case with a target word attached, "wad." Again we see how important intention is to magic, since the wad was directed into Peeves' nose by intent with the "go there" part of the spell. In another situation, the spell might be "stolawasi" to send a robe into a student's trunk, but it would only work if the student focused his mind on where he wanted the robe to go.
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Wand effects
no words used
Causes loud booming noises, sparks, or flashes of light, designed to get people's attention.
McGonagall creates a loud bang to get people's attention in the hallway (CS10)
Harry and Ron shot sparks to hold off an advancing skrewt (GF21)
Harry, Ron, Draco, Neville fired red sparks into the air to call for help in the Forbidden Forest (SS
Ollivander casts a stream of silver smoke rings and a fountain of wine during the Weighing of the Wands (GF18)
Purple firecrackers to get everyone's attention (SS10)
When Harry's temper was getting the better of him, his wand inadvertantly gave off a few red and gold sparks (OP2)
SEE ALSO: Messenger Spell, Four-Point Spell, Wand Writing, Bubbles
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Wand sparks
no incantation given
Emits red or green sparks from the wand, used as a signal
The Advance Guard knew it was safe to bring Harry from 4 Privet Drive when a signal was given, wand sparks first red then green (OP3)
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Wand writing
no incantation given
Emits an animated ribbon from the tip of the wand that spells words or forms numbers
Dumbledore uses ribbon from wand to form letters in air (SS7).
The judges of the Triwizard Tournament show scores with ribbons coming from their wands (GF
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Wingardium Leviosa
(win-GAR-dee-um lev-ee-OH-sa)
"Levitation" (SS/f)
"wing" + "arduus" L. high, steep + "levo" L. to raise up, levitate
Causes a feather to levitate.
Very simple spell taught to first year Charms students (SS10).
In an excellent example of how intention affects magic, Ron uses this spell to make a mountain troll's club levitate and then crash back onto it's own head, even though the "wing" portion of the spell seems specific to feathers.
Flitwick says that Levitation is one of the rudimentary skills for every wizard and therefore teaches it to his first year class (SS/f)
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Wizard Space
Causes objects to hold more than their outer dimensions would seem to allow.
While not mentioned by name, this magical effect is seen in a number of places in the Wizarding World. It would seem that "wizard space" is fairly common, since Molly Weasley didn't seem a bit surprised when their Ford Anglia could hold a lot more people and cargo than it should.
Cauldrons apparently can hold a lot of stuff. Harry dumps an entire collection of Lockhart's books into Ginny's cauldron, for example. And apparently it didn't get too heavy for an eleven-year-old to carry as a result (CS4).
The invisibility cloak also seems to have this quality, since it expands to cover several children and a crated dragon, but still can be easily used by a single person (SS, etc)
the magical tents Mr. Weasley borrowed for use at the Quidditch World Cup were considerably more spacious inside than they looked from the outside (GF )