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Seamus fire

A spell cast by Seamus Finnigan literally blew up in his face, evoking "bangs-and-smells magic"

"...Harry had long since learned that bangs and smoke were more often the marks of ineptitude than expertise."
Harry Potter reflecting on the signs of competent wizardry[src]

Bangs-and-smells magic was the common term for magic that was garish but not necessarily effective.[1] When the use of magic resulted in these lurid after-effects (such as loud bangs, bright flashes, smoke, or odours), they were often seen as mark of incompetent spellwork.[1][2]

In the opinion of Garrick Ollivander, wands made from acacia were not suited to this sort of magic, instead being better matched with wizards who utilise more subtlety in their spells.[1]

During his first year at Hogwarts, Seamus Finnigan was notable for often evoking of this type of magic.[3][4] However, during his later years at Hogwarts, he further refined his penchant for the combustible, becoming proficient in pyrotechnics.[5]

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