The Standard Book of Spells (All Grades) by Miranda Goshawk

A-B


A

Accio (Summoning Charm)
Description: This charm summons an object to the caster, potentially over a significant distance.[2]
Seen/Mentioned: First mentioned in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, when it was briefly used by Molly Weasley on the Weasley twins to confiscate their Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes' products from their pockets, before they left for the Quidditch World Cup. Later on in the same book, Harry summons his broom to complete the First Task of the Triwizard Tournament.[GF Ch.20] Near the end of the book, Harry summons a Portkey he can't reach to escape from the Battle in the Graveyard. Also seen in Half-Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows to try to summon Horcruxes, and Harry tries to summon a falling Rubeus Hagrid.
Suggested Etymology: The Latin word accio means "I call" or "I summon".[3]In the Hungarian translation, the spell is called "Invito", possibly from the word "to invite".

(Age-Line Spell)
Description: Creates a line that is impassable by people below a set age.
Seen/Mentioned: Seen only in Goblet of Fire, Albus Dumbledore cast this spell to stop underage students from placing their names into the Goblet of Fire.[GF Ch.16]
Notes: Fred and George Weasley, along with several other students made failed attempts to (though underage) pass the line using age potions. Fred and George claimed that this was the ultimate potion, but when they attempted to cross the line, it resulted in growing white beards.

Aguamenti (Aguamenti Charm)
Description: Produces a jet of water from the caster's wand.
Seen/Mentioned: First named in Half-Blood Prince, when Harry is being taught how to perform this specific charm in professor Flitwick's class. Later Harry casts this spell in an attempt to create water for Dumbledore to drink after taking Voldemort's potion[HBP Ch.26]and then to douse Hagrid's hut after it is set on fire later.[HBP Ch.28] Then in Deathly Hallows, Hermione Granger uses it to put out Mundungus' searing eyebrows after Harry accidentally set them on fire.[DH Ch.11] Later on, Harry uses it in a failed attempt to douse Vincent Crabbe's Fiendfyre curse in the Room of Requirement.[DH Ch.31]
Suggested Etymology: The Latin word aqua which has morphed into modern languages like Portuguese as água which means "water", combined with a form of the Latin verb mentio which means to "speak, mention, or proclaim".[4]

Alohomora
Description: Used to open and unlock doors,[5] but doors may be bewitched so that this spell has no effect.
Seen/Mentioned: Used throughout the series, first use by Hermione in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Later unsuccessfully cast by Ron, on the door from the room with the winged keys in Hogwarts.[PS Ch.16] Loses use gradually in the series as the characters discover more and more doors, chests etc. with counter-charms on them (e.g. The doors into Professor Snape's and Professor Umbridge's offices are mentioned as being Alohomora-proof.)
Etymology: From the West African Sidiki dialect used in geomancy meaning: Friendly to thieves as stated by J.K. Rowling in testimony during the WB and JKR vs. RDR Books [6]

Anapneo
Description: Clears the target's airway, if blocked.
Seen/Mentioned: Shown in Half-Blood Prince, Horace Slughorn casts this spell on Marcus Belby when the latter begins to choke.[HBP Ch.7]
Suggested Etymology: The Greek word anapneo which means "to draw breath or to revive".[7]

(Anti-Cheating Spell)
Description: Cast on parchment or quills to prevent the writer from cheating while writing answers.
Seen/Mentioned: Mentioned in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix as being cast on quills and exam papers for exams at Hogwarts.[PS Ch.16]

(Anti-Disapparation Jinx)
Description: Used to prevent Disapparation in an area for a time. Presumably can be used to prevent an enemy from entering a defended area, or used to trap an enemy in an area.
Seen/Mentioned: Mentioned in Order of the Phoenix, used by Dumbledore to trap several Death Eaters in the Department of Mysteries.[OP Ch.36] Also, cast long ago on Hogwarts, the reason why (As Hermione quotes innumerable times throughout the series) "No one can Apparate or Disapparate inside the Hogwarts grounds." In Deathly Hallows, Death Eaters had cast this spell, preventing the trio from escaping Hogsmeade.

(Antonin Dolohov's Curse)
Description: This curse causes serious internal injury, but does not show any external symptoms. It is described as cast with "a slashing motion", sending out a streak of purple flames.
Seen/Mentioned: Seen only in Order of the Phoenix, this spell is cast three times by Antonin Dolohov during the battle between the Death Eaters and members of Dumbledore's Army at the Ministry of Magic. All three times it is shown cast non-verbally, although one time this was due to Dolohov having previously been hit by the Silencing Charm and hence unable to speak.

Aparecium
Description: This spell makes invisible ink appear.
Seen/Mentioned: First seen in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, when Hermione tries to make hidden writing appear in Tom Marvolo Riddle's diary.[CS Ch.13]
Notes: See also Specialis Revelio.
Suggested Etymology: The Latin word appareo which means "to become visible or to appear".[4]

(Atmospheric Charm)
Description: Presumably causes weather patterns to be created.
Seen/Mentioned: It was said in Deathly Hallows that a malfunction of this spell may have been causing offices in the Ministry to rain.

Avada Kedavra (Killing Curse)
Description: causes a bright green flash and a rushing noise; the curse causes instant death to the victim. There is no known counter-curse or blocking spell (with the exception of the curse striking another spell midflight, negating both), although the caster can be interrupted, the victim can dodge the green jet, hide behind solid objects (which burst into flame when hit by it), or, if the casting wizard is not sufficiently competent, the curse may be completely ineffective as described by Barty Crouch Jr (acting as Alastor Moody) in Goblet of Fire. Harry twice countered this spell by casting Expelliarmus. It is one of the three Unforgivable Curses; the use of this spell on another human being renders a life sentence in Azkaban.
The magical conditions have also been documented to defeat the curse, even on a direct hit:
Harry Potter was given magical protection against Lord Voldemort's use of the curse, when his mother sacrificed herself to save him.
Harry is saved by the twin cores effect between his wand and Voldemort's during a duel, as well as during a battle. During this battle, Harry's phoenix feather wand snaps the wand Voldemort borrowed from one of his servants, Lucius Malfoy. The reason for this is unknown. Dumbledore believes this feat to be due to the unique connections and relationships between the two duellists, which are complex and are "realms of magic hitherto unknown".
In Deathly Hallows, Harry is saved twice. The first time because when Voldemort tried to kill Harry as a baby, a piece of Voldemort's soul flaked off and was trapped within Harry himself (giving Harry a connection to, and many of the powers of, Voldemort). When the killing curse hit Harry in the Forbidden Forest, it killed the piece of Voldemort's soul trapped in Harry, and sent Harry to a nether region where Voldemort's use of Harry's blood gave Harry a lifeline back to the world of the living, should he choose to use it, and he decided to return to life. The second time, Harry was able to deflect the curse back at Voldemort (who died from it) because of a special condition involving the Elder Wand. This had been 'won' by Draco when he disarmed Dumbledore of his wand, but none understood this at the time, and Draco did not use the Elder Wand. Harry had won Draco's wand in a life-or-death duel, thereby proving to the Elder Wand that Harry should be the wand's true master. Therefore, when Harry used Draco's wand to cast Expelliarmus against Voldemort's killing curse, the killing curse rebounded on Voldemort leaving Harry unharmed.
Seen/Mentioned: First said (not by name) at the beginning of the first book when Harry arrives to the Dursley's home. First seen in Goblet of Fire against Muggle Frank Bryce, and in every book following.
Suggested Etymology: During an audience interview at the Edinburgh Book Festival (15 April 2004) Rowling said: "Does anyone know where avada kedavra came from? It is an ancient spell in Aramaic, and it is the original of abracadabra, which means 'let the thing be destroyed.' Originally, it was used to cure illness and the 'thing' was the illness, but I decided to make it the 'thing' as in the person standing in front of me. I take a lot of liberties with things like that. I twist them round and make them mine."[8]

Avis
Description: This charm creates a flock of birds that pour forth from the caster's wand. When coupled with Oppugno, it can be used offensively.
Seen/Mentioned: Shown in Goblet of Fire, cast by Mr Ollivander to test Viktor Krum's wand.[GF Ch.18] In Half-blood Prince, it is cast by Hermione, followed by Oppugno which causes the birds to attack Ron Weasley.[HBP Ch.14]
Suggested Etymology: The Latin word avis which means, "bird".[4]

B

(Banishing Charm)
Description: Opposite to "Accio".
Seen/Mentioned: Seen in Goblet of Fire, cast by Hermione who perfectly banishes a cushion into a box which is their target in their Charms class. To Harry's great surprise, he also perfectly banishes a cushion during this lesson.

(Bat-Bogey Hex)
Description: Grotesquely enlarges the target's bogeys, gives them wings, and sets them attacking the target.
Seen/Mentioned: Ginny Weasley is depicted as an accomplished caster of this particular spell.[OP Ch.6] She is shown to use it in Order of the Phoenix on Draco Malfoy,[OP Ch.33] and in Half-Blood Prince on Zacharias Smith.[HBP Ch.7][9]

(Bedazzling Hex)
Description: Similar to a Disillusionment Charm, it can be used to conceal a person or an object. Is also used to make invisibility cloaks.
Seen/Mentioned: Mentioned in Deathly Hallows by Xenophilius Lovegood when speaking of the different methods by which Invisibility Cloaks may be created.

(Bubble-Head Charm)
Description: Puts a large bubble of air around the head of the user. Used as a magical equivalent of a breathing set.
Seen/Mentioned: in Goblet of Fire, Cedric Diggory and Fleur Delacour use this charm underwater in the second task of the Triwizard Tournament.[GF Ch.26] In Order of the Phoenix, it is described as used by many Hogwarts students when walking through the hallways, because of the bad smells caused by the various pranks played on Dolores Umbridge.[OP Ch.30]

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C

(Caterwauling Charm)
Description: Anyone entering the perimeter of a Caterwauling Charm sets off a high-pitched shriek.
Seen/Mentioned: Mentioned in Deathly Hallows, cast by Death Eaters over Hogsmeade to protect against intruders.[DH Ch.28]
Note: Similar to an intruder charm: they both produce an alarm if the vicinity is disturbed.

Cave Inimicum
Description: Spell used to strengthen an enclosure from enemies.
Seen/Mentioned: Shown only in Deathly Hallows, cast by Hermione and Harry Potter to strengthen their campsites' defences.[DH Ch.22]
Etymology: Correct Classical Latin for "Beware the enemy", from the verb caveo and the noun inimicus.[4]

(Cheering Charm)
Description: Causes the person upon whom the spell was cast to become happy and contented, though heavy-handedness with the spell may cause the person to break into an uncontrollable laughing fit.
Seen/Mentioned: First seen in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.[PA Ch.15]

Colloportus
Description: Magically locks a door, preventing it from being opened by Muggle means.[10]
Seen/Mentioned: First in Order of the Phoenix, cast by Hermione in the Department of Mysteries.
Notes: This spell functions as the counter spell to Alohomora
Suggested Etymology: The Greek word kollao which means, "to join closely together, bind closely"[11] with the Latin word porta meaning "a gate".[4]

(Colour-Change Charm)
Description: Changes an object's colour.
Seen/Mentioned: Attempted by Ron on initial trip to Hogwarts; Mentioned in Harry's Ordinary Wizarding Levels in Order of the Phoenix.[OP Ch.31]

Confringo (Blasting Curse)
Description: Causes anything that the spell meets to explode.
Seen/Mentioned: Seen only in Deathly Hallows. In the opening chapters, it is cast by Harry to destroy the sidecar of the flying motorbike.[DH Ch.4] Later, it is used by Hermione in an attempt to kill Nagini and facilitate an escape from Bathilda Bagshot's house in Godric's Hollow.[DH Ch.17]
Suggested Etymology: The Latin word confringo which means, "to break in pieces, to bring to naught".[4]

Confundo (Confundus Charm)
Description: Causes the victim to become confused and befuddled.
Seen/Mentioned: First mentioned in Prisoner of Azkaban, when Severus Snape suggests that Harry and Hermione had been Confunded to believe Sirius Black's claim to innocence.[PA Ch.21] In Goblet of Fire, it is suggested that a powerful Confundus Charm is responsible for the Goblet choosing a fourth Triwizard contestant.[GF Ch.17] It is first seen in action when Hermione uses it on Cormac McLaggen during Quidditch tryouts in Half-Blood Prince.[HBP Ch.11] Its vernacular name is first revealed when Harry uses it on security guards during the Gringotts break-in in Deathly Hallows.[DH Ch.26]
Suggested Etymology: The Latin word confundo which means, "to confuse, throw into disorder".[4]

(Conjunctivitus Curse)
Description: A curse that causes great pain to the victim's eyes.Causes them to crust over.
Seen/Mentioned: It is suggested by Sirius in Goblet of Fire as a means for defeating a dragon for the first task of the Triwizard Tournament, and used by Krum for this purpose.[GF Ch.19, 20] Mentioned in Order of the Phoenix as cast by Madame Maxime against giants.[OP Ch.20]

Crucio (Cruciatus Curse)
Description: Inflicts unbearable pain on the recipient of the curse. The effects of the curse depend upon the desires and emotions of the character - to produce the "excruciating" pain implied by the name, one must (according to Bellatrix Lestrange) desire to cause pain purely for its own sake. The extreme pain inflicted by the curse when cast so - without any apparent evidence of physical harm - makes it uniquely suited as a form of torture. One of the three Unforgivable Curses.
Seen/Mentioned: first seen in Goblet of Fire introduced by Barty Crouch Jr (acting as Moody) and used on a spider. Used regularly by the Death Eaters as torture, and by Voldemort as punishment, even against his servants. Used twice by Harry on Death Eaters.
Suggested Etymology: Crucio (Latin) means "I torture" originating from crux (genitive crucis), which means "torture platform or stake" or, more specifically "cross". The word excruciating is descended from the same root - crucifixion was a form of torturous execution. In the novels, the verbal form of the word is 'cruciate', as when Amycus Carrow says in the final book "I’ll Cruciate the lot of ’em."

(Cushioning Charm)
Description: Creates an invisible cushioned area.
Seen/Mentioned: Mentioned in Quidditch Through the Ages, cast on broomsticks to provide a more comfortable ride. Shown in Deathly Hallows, used to cushion Harry, Ron, and Hermione's fall in Gringotts and Hogwarts.

D

Defodio (Gouging Spell)
Seen/Mentioned: Cast by Harry, Ron and Hermione in Deathly Hallows to help dig their way out of the Gringotts Tunnels.[DH Ch.26]
Suggested Etymology: Latin defodio, meaning, "to dig, dig out."

Deletrius
Seen/Mentioned: Seen only in Goblet of Fire when Amos Diggory gets rid of the echo of the Dark Mark from Harry's wand.[GF Ch.9]
Suggested Etymology: English word delete meaning to remove.[12]

Densaugeo
Description: Causes the teeth of the recipient to grow at an alarming rate.
Seen/Mentioned: Seen only in Goblet of Fire, cast by Draco on Harry, which is then deflected onto Hermione.[GF Ch.18]
Suggested Etymology: Latin dens meaning, "tooth" and augeo meaning to "enlarge".[13]

Deprimo
Seen/Mentioned: Introduced in Deathly Hallows when Hermione casts this to blast a hole in the Lovegood's living room floor.[DH Ch.21]
Suggested Etymology: Latin deprimo which means to "dig deep".[13]

Descendo
Seen/Mentioned: Seen twice in Deathly Hallows, it is cast by Ron to magically cause the stairs in his room to descend,[DH Ch.6] and later by Crabbe in the Room of Requirement to lower the wall behind which Ron is hiding.[DH Ch.31]
Suggested Etymology: Latin descendo meaning, "to come down, to descend".[13]

Diffindo (Severing Charm)
Seen/Mentioned: In Goblet of Fire when Harry urgently wants to talk to Cedric he casts this spell to rip his bag, delaying him for class,[GF Ch.9] and in Half-Blood Prince to switch covers of his potion books. Also shown several times in Deathly Hallows, for cutting ropes,[DH Ch.9] chains,[DH Ch.13] etc.
Suggested Etymology: Latin diffindo, "I divide."[3]

(Disillusionment Charm)
Seen/Mentioned: First in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, when Dumbledore tells Harry that he does not need a cloak to become invisible. In Order of the Phoenix, Moody casts this charm on Harry.[OP Ch.3, 4] Mentioned in Half-Blood Prince on a purple leaflet from the Ministry of Magic.[HBP Ch.3] Xenophilius Lovegood mentions, in Deathly Hallows, that Invisibility Cloaks are sometimes created by casting a Disillusionment Charm on a regular cloak. Also in Deathly Hallows, Draco Malfoy, Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle use the charm to hide outside the Room of Requirement.[DH Ch.21]
Notes: The described sensation of a Disillusionment Charm is a feeling "something cold and wet trickling down your back." When the charm is lifted, the subject feels something hot trickling down their back.[OP Ch.3, 4]

Dissendium
Description: Causes the statue of the humpbacked witch hiding the secret passage to Honeydukes, as well as other hidden passageways, to open up.[PA Ch.10]
Seen/Mentioned: Seen only in Prisoner of Azkaban.
Suggested Etymology: Latin discedo meaning "I swerve".[13]

Duro
Description: Turns its target to stone.
Seen/Mentioned: Seen in Deathly Hallows, cast by Hermione while escaping from Death Eaters in Hogwarts.[DH Ch.32]
Suggested Etymology Latin duro meaning "I make hard".[13]

E-F


E

Engorgio (Engorgement Charm)
Description: Causes objects to swell in size.
Seen/Mentioned: A "Growth Charm" with the same effect is briefly mentioned. Hagrid is suspected of having performed the charm on his pumpkins in Chamber of Secrets. Then seen in Goblet of Fire when Barty Crouch Jr, impersonating Moody, casts it on a spider to enhance a demonstration of the effects of the Cruciatus Curse, and Ron suggested it might be the cause of Hagrid's abnormal size before learning that he is half-giant. Harry in Deathly Hallows also cast it on a spider.
Suggested Etymology: English word engorge meaning "to fill to excess".[12]

(Entrail-Expelling Curse)
Description: Presumably causes the entrails (i.e. intestines) to be ejected from the body.
Seen/Mentioned: First mentioned in Order of the Phoenix when Harry visits St Mungo's following Arthur Weasley's attack by Nagini while guarding the Department of Mysteries.
Suggested Etymology: English word expel meaning "to drive or force out or away".[14]
Notes: The spell is listed under a portrait of Urquhart Rackharrow, 1612-1697, who is known for being the spell's inventor. [OP Ch.22]

Episkey
Description: Used to heal relatively minor injuries. When this spell is cast, the person feels their injured body part go very hot and then very cold.
Seen/Mentioned: Used in Goblet of Fire after the first task of the Triwizard Tournament. In Half-Blood Prince, Nymphadora Tonks uses this spell to fix Harry's broken nose; also used by Harry in the same book to fix Demelza Robins' mouth.
Suggested Etymology: Greek episkeu meaning "repair, restoration".[15]
Notes: Rowling writes in Half-Blood Prince that Harry's knowledge tells him this spell could belong to a family (or variety) of Healing Spells.

Erecto
Description: Used to erect a tent or other structure.
Seen/Mentioned: Possibly used in Goblet of Fire by wizards at the campsites near the Quidditch World Cup. Used by Hermione and Harry to construct shelter for themselves and Ron in Deathly Hallows.
Suggested Etymology: Latin erectus meaning "to set up, to raise".[13]

Evanesco (Vanishing Spell)
Description: Makes the target vanish.
Seen/Mentioned: Used in Order of the Phoenix by Snape to make Harry's potions disappear from his cauldron. In addition, when Fred and George were showing off their puking pastilles, Lee Jordan cleared the bucket of vomit with the Evanesco spell. During their stay at #12, Grimmauld Place, Bill uses this on a stack of documents. This suggests that Vanished objects can be recovered.
Suggested Etymology: Latin evanesco meaning "to vanish".[13]
Notes: According to Minerva McGonagall, in Deathly Hallows, Vanished objects and organisms go "into non-being, which is to say, everything." This was McGonagall's response to the question, "Where do Vanished objects go?" from the doorknocker at Ravenclaw Tower.

Expecto Patronum (Patronus Charm)
Description: Conjures an incarnation of the caster's innermost positive feelings, such as joy, hope, or the desire to survive, known as a Patronus. A Patronus is conjured as a protector, and is a weapon rather than a predator of souls: Patronuses shield their conjurors from Dementors, and can even drive them away. A Patronus "cannot feel despair, as real humans can, so Dementors can't hurt it."[16] The conjured Patronus protects the witch or wizard that summoned it, obeys his or her commands, and fades away shortly after it is no longer required. When conjured, a Patronus appears silvery, ethereal, and semi-transparent. Improperly formed Patronuses range from momentary formless bursts of silvery mist, to poorly-defined forms which are easily defeated or quickly dissipate on their own. A full-fledged (or corporeal) Patronus takes on a fixed animal form that is often significant to the witch or wizard casting the charm. Patronuses summoned by a particular person have been known to change, such as Tonks' patronus. Rowling has said that Snape was the only Death Eater to be able to produce a Patronus. According to her this is 'because a Patronus is used against things that the Death Eaters generally generate, or fight alongside. They would not need Patronuses'.[17] According to Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, the Charm is also the only known defensive spell against Lethifolds.
Seen/Mentioned: First seen in Prisoner of Azkaban when a Dementor appears in the Hogwarts Express, and Hermione says that Remus Lupin repelled the Dementor by casting a silvery object from his wand. Harry's corporeal Patronus first appears when Draco Malfoy & his friends dress up as Dementors in an attempt to sabotage Harry, he decides to ask Lupin to teach him how to defend himself against the dementors and takes classes where a boggart takes the form of a dementor. He then uses it again towards the end of the book while trying to repel hundreds of Dementors from Sirius and himself.
Notes: Dumbledore has devised a method of using Patronuses to deliver messages putting it into the exclusive use of the Order of the Phoenix. Members of the Order are the only wizards who know how to use their spirit guardians to send messages to one another. According to Rowling, the Patronus is "an immensely efficient messenger" as it is not hindered by physical obstructions or dark matters. Each Patronus has a special quality and appearance that is different and easy to recognise, which makes it clear which Order member has sent the message. In addition, since no one can conjure another person's Patronus, this method of communication does not carry the risk of passing fake messages.[18] It is noteworthy that in Deathly Hallows, McGonagall creates three Patronuses simultaneously to summon Professors Flitwick, Sprout, and Slughorn.
Suggested Etymology: Expecto Patronum is Latin for "I await a protector".[19] It is related to "pater" (father) and Harry's Patronus indeed takes the same form as that of his father's (a stag).

Expelliarmus (Disarming Charm, Disarming Spell)
Description:A Jet of Red Light. This spell is used to disarm another wizard, typically by causing the victim's wand to fly out of reach[20][21]. It can also throw the target backwards when enough power is put into it. As demonstrated in Prisoner of Azkaban, simultaneous use of this spell by multiple witches or wizards on a single person can throw the wizard back with much greater force.
Seen/Mentioned: First seen in Chamber of Secrets, when Snape disarms Gilderoy Lockhart in the Duelling Club; from then on it is commonly used throughout the rest of the series. Draco uses it to disarm Dumbledore and Harry uses the spell to not only disarm Gregory Goyle in the Room of Requirement, but also to reflect Voldemort's killing curse during the final battle. It is seen by the Death Eaters as Harry's signature spell, as he had used it to duel Voldemort in both Goblet of Fire and Deathly Hallows.
Suggested Etymology: Latin expello meaning "to expel, to thrust away" and Latin arma meaning "weapons of war".[13]

Expulso
Description: A spell which causes objects that it comes in contact with to violently explode.
Seen/Mentioned: Used by a Death Eater in an attempt to capture Harry in Deathly Hallows.
Suggested Etymology: Latin pulso meaning "to strike".[13]

F

Ferula
Description: Creates a bandage and a splint.
Seen/Mentioned: Used by Lupin in Prisoner of Azkaban to bind Ron's broken leg.
Suggested Etymology: Latin ferula meaning "a stick".[13]

(Fidelius Charm)
Description: A charm involving secret information hidden within the soul of a Secret-Keeper. This information is irretrievable until the Secret-Keeper chooses to reveal it; those who have the secret revealed to them cannot reveal it to others.
Seen/Mentioned: In Prisoner of Azkaban, it is explained that when Harry was an infant, he and his parents, James and Lily Potter, were hidden from Voldemort by this charm. Later, in Order of the Phoenix, the charm is used to hide the location of the headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix. Order members in Deathly Hallows also use it to protect their homes.
Suggested Etymology: Latin fidelis meaning "confidants".[13]
Notes: Rowling previously stated that when a Secret-Keeper dies, the Secret they held can never be revealed to anyone else; the people who were told before the Secret-Keeper's death will still know the secret, but after the death of the Secret-Keeper no one new can be brought into the circle of knowledge.[22] However, in Deathly Hallows, it is explained that upon the Keeper's death, all those who have been told the secret become Secret-Keepers in turn, and can pass the secret on to others.

(Fiendfyre)
Description: Fiendfyre is an extremely powerful cursed fire, the flames of which take the shape of fantastic creatures that pursue those caught in its path. It is shown to be capable of destroying Horcruxes.
Seen/Mentioned: Appears only once in the series when Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle corner Harry in the Room of Hidden Things (one manifestation of the Room of Requirement). Crabbe casts Fiendfyre, which become flaming beasts that pursue Harry, Ron, and Hermione and devour every object within the Room, including Crabbe and the diadem Horcrux.[DH Ch.31]
Suggested Etymology: English fiend meaning "enemy"[23] and Old English fyr meaning "fire"[24].
Notes: Hermione reveals she was aware that Fiendfyre could potentially destroy a Horcrux but that she never considered using it for that purpose because it was too dangerous to use.

Finite Incantatem
Description: Negates many spells or the effects of many spells.
Seen/Mentioned: Used by Hermione in the Chamber of Secrets to stop a rogue bludger bewitched by Dobby. Snape uses it in Chamber of Secrets to restore order in the Duelling Club when Harry and Draco are duelling. Lupin uses the short form "Finite" in Order of the Phoenix. In Deathly Hallows, Hermione suggests to Ron to attempt to use this spell to stop it raining in Yaxley's office. Harry used Finite to counter Crabbe's Descendo attack on Ron in the same book.
Suggested Etymology: Latin finio meaning "to put an end to" and Latin cantio meaning "enchantment".[13]

Flagrate
Description: With this spell, the caster's wand can leave fiery marks.
Seen/Mentioned: Cast by Tom Riddle in The Chamber of Secrets to spell out 'Tom Marvolo Riddle' and switch it to 'I am Lord Voldemort' also cast by Hermione in Order of the Phoenix to identify doors of the Department of Mysteries which members of Dumbledore's Army had already opened, by marking them with an 'X'.
Suggested Etymology: Latin flagro meaning "glowing".[13]

(Flagrante Curse)
Description: Causes any object affected to burn human skin when touched.
Seen/Mentioned: Seen in the Lestranges' vault in Deathly Hallows, as a criminal deterrent.
Suggested Etymology: Latin flagrantia meaning "burning, blazing".[13]

(Flame-Freezing Charm)
Description: Causes fire to become harmless to those caught in it, creating only a gentle, tickling sensation instead of burns.
Seen/Mentioned: Mentioned in the first chapter of Prisoner of Azkaban in the Book History of Magic which Harry is reading to do his homework. Witches and wizards used this spell during medieval burnings. It is also said in A History of Magic that Wendelin the Weird enjoyed being "burned" that she would openly tell people that she was a witch just so she could be caught and burned; no less then forty-seven times in different names.

(Flying Charm)
Description: Cast on broomsticks, and (presumably) magic carpets to make them fly.
Seen/Mentioned: Draco mentioned this spell when tauntingly asking Ron why would anyone cast a Flying Charm on Ron's broomstick in Order of the Phoenix during Ron's first Quidditch practice. It is also mentioned in Quidditch Through the Ages.

Furnunculus (Furnunculus Curse)
Description: Causes the target to become covered in boils.
Seen/Mentioned: Used by Harry in Goblet of Fire on Draco, but was deflected onto Goyle instead. Also used later in the book when Draco tried to harass Harry on the Hogwarts Express and was hit with a couple of curses, including the Furnuculus Curse (which was cast by Harry).[GF Ch.37]
Suggested Etymology: Latin furunculus originally meaning "petty thief" but later used to mean "boil" in English.[13]

G-H



G

Geminio (Gemino Curse)
Description: Creates a duplicate of any object upon which it is cast. As revealed by the goblin Griphook, any copies created are worthless.
Seen/Mentioned: Used by Hermione in Deathly Hallows to copy Salazar Slytherin's locket in order to hide their tracks from Umbridge.
Suggested Etymology: Latin gemino meaning "to double".[13]

Glisseo
Description: Causes the steps on a stairway to flatten and form a ramp or slide.
Seen/Mentioned: Used by Hermione to escape from pursuing Death Eaters in Deathly Hallows. Used on the girls dormitory to ensure that boys cannot get in.
Suggested Etymology: French glisser meaning "slide".[25]

(Gripping Charm)
Description: Used to help someone grip something with more effectiveness. This charm is placed upon Quaffles to help Chasers carry the Quaffle whilst simultaneously holding their brooms.
Seen/Mentioned: Mentioned in Quidditch Through the Ages.

H


(Hover Charm)
Description: An object is levitated off the ground and moved according to the caster.
Seen/Mentioned: Used by Dobby in Chamber of Secrets to which Harry is accused of using. Also used by Xenophilius to clear rubble off his stairs in Deathly Hallows.

(Hair-Thickening Charm)
Description: Thickens one's hair.
Seen/Mentioned: In Order of the Phoenix, Snape asserts that Alicia Spinnet used it on her eyebrows even though she was obviously hexed by a member of the Slytherin Quidditch team.

Homenum Revelio
Description: Reveals humans near the caster.
Seen/Mentioned: Used by Dumbledore to detect Harry under his Invisibility Cloak, but first named when used multiple times by various characters in Deathly Hallows.[26].
Suggested Etymology: Latin homo/hominis meaning "person" and Latin revelo meaning "to unveil".[13]

(Homorphus Charm)
Description: Causes an Animagus or transfigured object to assume its normal shape.
Seen/Mentioned: According to Lockhart, he used it to force the Wagga Wagga Werewolf to take its human form. It was, however, used by Lupin and Sirius on the rat named Scabbers to reveal that he was Peter Pettigrew in Prisoner of Azkaban.
Suggested Etymology: Latin homo meaning "person"[13] and Greek morphosis meaning "shaping".[15]

(Horton-Keitch Braking Charm)
Description: This spell was first used on the Comet 140 to prevent players from overshooting the goal posts and from flying off-sides.
Seen/Mentioned: Mentioned in Quidditch Through the Ages as the charm that gave the Comet 140 an advantage over the Cleansweep.

(Hurling Hex)
Description: Causes brooms to vibrate violently in the air and try to buck their rider off.
Seen/Mentioned: In Philosopher's Stone, Quirinus Quirrell may have been casting a wordless and wandless version of this spell on Harry's broom during his Quidditch match. Flitwick suggested that Harry's confiscated Firebolt may be jinxed with this spell.