Spells~

[Desdemona]

Scarpin's Revelaspell

This spell is also known by its incantation, Specialis Revelio. It is used to identify the ingredients of a potion [HBP18], or to reveal whether any enchantments have been placed on an object [HBP9]. See also "Specialis Revelio".



Scourgify

From the English word "scour", meaning "to clean".

Used to clean an item. This spell was used by Tonks to clean Hedwig's cage when she help Harry pack before going to Grimmauld Place, although it only had a limited effect due to Tonks never bothering to learn household-style spells properly [OOTP3]. James Potter also used it on Snape when he was bullying him, telling him to wash his mouth out after Snape had sworn at him [OOTP28].

A Scouring Charm has also been separately mentioned, which is almost certainly the same spell. Hermione taught Neville a Scouring Charm to clean his fingernails with, after Snape made him disembowel a barrelful of horned toads in detention [GOF14]. Scouring Charms are also required to remove a Bundimun infestation [FB].



Scouring Charm

See "Scourgify".



Sectumsempra

From the Latin "sectus", which means "to cut", and "semper", which means "always".

This spell was invented by Severus Snape whilst he was a student at Hogwarts, and causes deep wounds to be immediately cut into the victim as though they were being slashed with an invisible sword. Harry discovered it in the Half-Blood Prince's copy of Advanced Potion-Making, where it was written beside the words "For Enemies" [HBP21]. From this point on he had been desperate to try it out, but never did until he found Malfoy crying in the toilets because he was failing in his attempt to mend the Vanishing Cabinets. Malfoy tried to cast the Cruciatus Curse on him, and Harry retaliated with Sectumsempra, still not knowing what it did. He was shocked at its effect, and it took the skills of Professor Snape to heal Malfoy's wounds [HBP24].Harry used it again against the Inferi in the Horcrux cave, but on this occasion it had little effect [HBP26]. He tried to cast it against Snape himself shortly afterwards when Snape was fleeing following his murder of Dumbledore. Once again it did little good, as Snape blocked it with ease, but it did infuriate Snape considerably to have his own spells cast against him [HBP28].



Serpensortia

From "serpent", a snake.

This creates a snake from the caster's wand. It appears from the one usage of the spell to date that the snake will then advance upon a victim of the caster's choice with the intention of attacking them. Snape, presumably for his own amusement, told Malfoy to cast this spell at Harry when they were demonstrating duelling techniques at Lockhart's Duelling Club. The incident had an unforeseen outcome when Harry told the snake to back off in Parseltongue, leading the rest of the school to assume that he was the Heir of Slytherin and therefore responsible for the spate of attacks on Muggle-born students [COS11].



Severing Charm

Cuts one thing from another. This is usually intended for use on items, but does work on living matter as well, as it is known that Crups living in Muggle-inhabited neighbourhoods are required to have their forked tails removed with a Severing Charm [FB]. If used on humans this charm would provide a handy means for Dark Wizards to kill people, creating a powerful alternative to Avada Kedavra that has the advantage of not being Unforgiveable, and so it can therefore be assumed that for some reason it doesn't work on a human target.

Ron once used a Severing Charm to cut the lace from his dress robes, but although this improved them somewhat, he still wasn't delighted with the results [GOF23]. The Severing Charm is likely to be the same spell as Diffindo, although this is unconfirmed. See also "Diffindo".



Shield Charm

See "Protego".



Shock Spell

A medicinal spell which treats the patient for shock. Alternatively it may actually be designed to induce a state of shock in the patient in order to cure them of mental maladies, in a manner similar to shock therapy. A witch who wrote in to The Quibber following Harry's interview about the return of Voldemort suggested he try a course of Shock Spells in order to restore his sanity [OOTP26].



Side-Along-Apparition

"Appareo" is Latin for "appear" or "I become visible".

When Apparating, it is possible for a qualified wizard to Apparate someone else as part of the process in addition to themselves. This technique is known as Side-Along-Apparition. The passenger being carried must grip tightly on to the Apparator in order to ensure that they are transported correctly, and they experience the same feeling of Apparition as they would if they were doing it themselves.

Harry Side-Along Apparated with Dumbledore to Budleigh Babberton when Dumbeldore wanted to speak to Horace Slughorn [HBP4], and again when leaving for the Horcrux Cave [HBP25]. Dumbledore was so weak after drinking the Emerald Potion that he had to Side-Along Apparate back with Harry [HBP27].



Silencing Charm

See "Silencio".



Silencio

From the English word "silent".

The Silencing Charm. This forces the target person or creature to fall silent, unable to make any audible noise. Harry, Ron and Hermione learnt the spell during 5th-year Charms lessons, and predictably, Hermione was very good at it and the other two weren't [OOTP18]. Hermione put this piece of magic to good effect later in the year, when she used it to prevent a Death Eater finishing his incantation during the battle at the Department of Mysteries. Unfortunately, she was floored by a non-verbal spell from the same Death Eater a few moments later [OOTP35].



Slug-Vomiting Charm

Causes the victim to burp slugs.



Sonorus

Latin for "loud".

Projects the voice of the spell caster, making it very loud. It can be countered with the spell "Quietus," which returns the amplified voice back to normal.



Specialis Revelio

Latin for "loud".

Causes an item to reveal anything that has been hidden by magical means. Hermione used it to make sure there was nothing untoward hidden in the Half-Blood Prince's copy of Advanced Potion-Making. It is also the incantation for Scarpin's Revelaspell [HBP18].



Stinging Hex

Produces a painful red weal on the victim's body.



Stupefy

"Stupefy" means "to dull the senses". It may also derive from the Latin "stupefactus," meaning "stunned."

This spell produces a bolt of red light and stuns whoever it is cast upon, knocking the victim unconscious. A single Stunning Spell is not strong enough to do any lasting damage to a victim, but multiple stunners cast on one target can cause serious harm, as was done to Professor McGonagall in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. The spell "Ennervate" can undo the effects of the Stunning Spell and bring victims back to consciousness.



Summoning Charm

See "Accio".



Switching Spells

These are a class of spells which change items from one thing into another. This is the major branch of Transfiguration. It is not clear whether there are a number of related spells for different types of switching or whether it is all done with a single spell, as no details of this are given.

[Desdemona]

Tarantallegra

The Tarantella is a fast Italian dance.

Causes the victim's legs to dance uncontrollably.



Tergeo

Latin for "I wipe, scour or clean".

Spell used to clean something. It may be restricted to cleaning liquids, otherwise it would be no different from Scourgify. Hermione used it to clean the blood from Harry's face after his nose had been broken.



Transforming Spells

A close relative of Switching Spells, this class of charm is used to change living creatures (as opposed to items) from one thing into another. This is the other major branch of Transfiguration. It is not clear whether there are a number of related spells for different types of transformation.



Trip Jinx

Causes the victim to trip over.

Unbreakable Charm

Makes an item unbreakable.



Unbreakable Vow

This spell creates a magical treaty between two people. The two participating parties must link their right hands in order for the spell to be cast. A third person, known as the Bonder, is also required to witness the pact and magically seal it. The tip of the Bonder's wand must be placed on the linked hands, and the terms of the treaty are made. As this is done, flame issues from the wand and winds itself around the hands of the participants. At this point the Unbreakable Vow is made, and if the terms of it are broken by one of the participants, they will die. It is likely that no other spell can counteract the effects of the Vow once it is made.



Unplottable Charm

Used to make a location unplottable. This is a security measure effective against both Muggles and wizards/witches, which is used to make it impossible to plot the charmed building or location on a map.

Vanishing Spell

See "Evanesco".

Waddiwasi

Causes an item to fly at high speed where the spell caster wants it to. This is likely to be a single variant of a general XXXXX-wasi spell which can be cast on any item. The XXXXX in this case was chewing gum, which is the "waddi" part.



Wandless Magic

Traditionally, magic requires a wand to be used, although this is not always the case. There are frequent examples of wandless magic throughout the books, and so it seems reasonable to assume that whilst the wand is a useful (and often vital) channel for magical power, gifted wizards can successfully cast spells without it when necessary. The more advanced the magic, the more difficult it is to cast without a wand, however, and there have been no examples of advanced spells being cast wandlessly. Severus Snape used a wandless Accio so summon the ropes that he'd just used to tie up Remus Lupin to his hand in the Shrieking Shack in Prisoner of Azkaban, whilst Harry's early life was littered with wandless magic such as his removal of the glass in the reptile house at the zoo. In addition to this, House-Elves never use a wand for their magic.



Wingardium Leviosa

Taken in part from the Latin root "levo," meaning "I raise, lift up."

This spell causes an object to levitate. Once levitating, the object can be manipulated in midair by the spell caster.



Wound Healing Spell

Heals wounds and causes the skin to knit back together. Professor Snape used this charm on Draco Malfoy after Harry had attacked him using Sectumsempra.

[Desdemona]

No known spells~~