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(Changed to Boggart-Banishing Spell)
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{{Title|''{{PAGENAME}}''}}
 
{{Spell infobox
 
{{Spell infobox
 
|name=Boggart-Banishing Spell
 
|name=Boggart-Banishing Spell
|image=[[File:Riddikulus.gif|250px]]
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|image=[[File:Snape_boggart.gif|250px]]
 
|type=[[Charm]]
 
|type=[[Charm]]
|incantation=''Riddikulus'' (rih-Di-Kyu-luss)
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|incantation=''Riddikulus''<br/>(ri-di-KULL-lis)
  +
|pronunciation=(rih-Di-Kyu-luss)
|hand=
 
  +
|hand=[[File:Ridhand.png]]
|effect=Gets rid of [[Boggart]]s
 
  +
|light=None
}}
 
  +
|effects=
The '''Boggart-Banishing Spell'''<ref>[http://www.hp-lexicon.org/magic/spells/spells_r.html#riddikulus HP Lexicon]</ref> (''Riddikulus'') is a [[charm]] that is used in defence against a [[Boggart]]. It causes the creature to assume a form that is humourous to the caster, thereby counteracting the Boggart's ability to terrorise. Boggarts are defeated by laughter, so forcing them to assume an amusing form is the first step to defeating them.
 
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|creator=
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|effect = Degrades a [[boggart]] into something funny}}
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{{Quote|'R-r-riddikulus!' squeaked Neville. There was a noise like a whip-crack.|Neville casts this spell.|Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban}}
   
 
The '''Boggart-Banishing Spell'''<ref>[[Pottermore]]</ref> is a [[charm]] that is used in defence against a [[Boggart]]. It causes the creature to assume a form that is humourous to the caster, along with a whip-crack noise, thereby counteracting the Boggart's ability to terrorise.
To cast, the spellcaster must first acknowledge what they fear the most (as it will most likely what the Boggart will take form of) and then visualize it into something amusing. The problem is, because the Boggart would have assume said form at the moment of direct encounter, the one attempting to use this charm would have lost concentration after seeing the Boggart manifest their worst fears, making this spell useless. As such, it is always advisable to first take one step at a time when practicing this enchantent.
 
   
  +
Boggarts are defeated by laughter, so forcing them to assume an amusing form is the first step to defeating them. However, because Boggarts are amortal, this spell does not truly dispel them, similar to the [[Patronus Charm]].
  +
  +
== History ==
 
Professor [[Remus Lupin]] taught this to his [[third year]] [[Defence Against the Dark Arts]] class. Thanks to Lupin's teaching, [[Harry Potter]] was able to use this against a Boggart in the [[Triwizard Tournament|Triwizard Maze]] in [[1995]].
 
Professor [[Remus Lupin]] taught this to his [[third year]] [[Defence Against the Dark Arts]] class. Thanks to Lupin's teaching, [[Harry Potter]] was able to use this against a Boggart in the [[Triwizard Tournament|Triwizard Maze]] in [[1995]].
   
==Etymology==
+
==Casting==
 
A simple charm that requires force of mind, to cast, the spell caster must first acknowledge what they fear the most (as it will most likely be what the Boggart will take the form of) and then visualize it into something amusing. The problem is, because the Boggart would have assumed said form at the moment of direct encounter, the one attempting to use this charm would have lost concentration after seeing the Boggart manifest their worst fears, making this spell useless. As such, it is always advisable to first take one step at a time when practising this enchantment.
"Riddikulus" is an adaptation of "ridiculous" as well as of ''ridiculum'' (Latin, "joke") and ''ridere'' (Latin, "to laugh").
 
  +
==Know uses==
 
  +
{| class="wikitable" border="1" 500px;"
==Boggarts==
 
 
{|cellspacing="0" border="1" bgcolor="white"
 
!Person
 
!Fear
 
!Riddikulus
 
 
|-
 
|-
  +
! align="center" width="20%" |Caster(s)
|[[Albus Dumbledore]]
 
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! align="center" width="20%" |Date
|The corpse of his sister [[Ariana Dumbledore]]<ref>[http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/2007/7/30/j-k-rowling-web-chat-transcript "A transcript of a web chat with J.K. Rowling"] from [http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/ The Leaky Cauldron]</ref>
 
  +
! scope="col" |Notes
|Unknown
 
 
|-
 
|-
  +
| colspan="1"|Third years
|[[Seamus Finnigan]]
 
|A [[banshee]]
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|June [[1994]]
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|The [[third year]] [[Defence Against the Dark Arts]] exam was an obstacle course of dark creatures which included; climbing into an old trunk and battling a boggart.
|She lost her voice.
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
| colspan="1" rowspan="2"|[[Harry Potter]]
|[[Hermione Granger]]
 
  +
|[[24 June]], [[1995]]
|[[Minerva McGonagall|Professor McGonagall]] telling her that she failed her exams or failure in general.
 
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|Harry used this against a [[boggart]] in the [[maze]] during the [[Triwizard Tournament]].
|[[Minerva McGonagall|Professor McGonagall]] giving her an award.<ref>''[[LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4]]''</ref>
 
 
|-
 
|-
|[[Neville Longbottom]]
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|[[June]] [[1996]]
  +
|Harry did a perfect one during the practical part of his [[Defence Against the Dark Arts]] [[O.W.L.]]
|[[Severus Snape]]
 
|Snape was wearing [[Augusta Longbottom|Neville's grandmother]]'s clothes.
 
|-
 
|[[Remus Lupin]]
 
|Full moon
 
|A balloon
 
|-
 
|[[Harry Potter]]
 
|A [[Dementor]] (or simply "fear", as stated by [[Remus Lupin|Lupin]])
 
|Smoke/uses [[Patronus|Patronus Charm]].
 
|-
 
|[[Parvati Patil]]
 
|A [[Mummy|mummy]]
 
|It tripped over its bandages.
 
|-
 
|[[Tom Riddle|Tom Marvolo Riddle]]
 
|His own dead body
 
|Unknown
 
|-
 
|[[Dean Thomas]]
 
|Disembodied living hand
 
|Caught in a mousetrap
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Molly Weasley]]
 
|[[Molly Weasley]]
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|[[August]] 1995
|Dead family/friends
 
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|Molly tried and failed to use this [[spell]] against the boggart at number twelve, [[Grimmauld Place]].
|Unknown
 
|-
 
|[[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]]
 
|[[Acromantula|Giant spider]] (or any [[spider]] for that matter)
 
|No legs
 
|-
 
|[[Padma Patil]]
 
|A [[Snake|giant cobra]]
 
|A jack in a box
 
|-
 
|
 
*[[Minerva McGonagall]]
 
*[[Rubeus Hagrid]]
 
*[[Filius Flitwick]]
 
*[[Severus Snape]]
 
*[[Alastor Moody]]
 
*[[Rolanda Hooch]]
 
*[[Gilderoy Lockhart]]
 
*[[Poppy Pomfrey]]
 
*[[Irma Pince]]
 
*[[Pomona Sprout]]
 
*[[Sybill Trelawney]]
 
*[[Aurora Sinistra]]
 
*[[Septima Vector]]
 
*[[Katie Bell]]
 
*[[Seamus Finnigan]]
 
*[[Percy Weasley]]
 
*[[Fred Weasley]]
 
*[[George Weasley]]
 
*[[Oliver Wood]]
 
*[[Ginevra Weasley]]
 
*[[Colin Creevey]]
 
*[[Parvati Patil]]
 
*[[Angelina Johnson]]
 
*[[Lee Jordan]]
 
*[[Alicia Spinnet]]
 
*[[Draco Malfoy]]
 
*[[Vincent Crabbe]]
 
*[[Gregory Goyle]]
 
*[[Marcus Flint]]
 
*[[Millicent Bulstrode]]
 
*[[Padma Patil]]
 
*[[Cho Chang]]
 
*[[Penelope Clearwater]]
 
*[[Justin Finch-Fletchley]]
 
*[[Cedric Diggory]]
 
*[[Susan Bones]]
 
*[[Ernest Macmillan|Ernie Macmillan]]
 
*[[Hannah Abbott]]
 
*[[Arthur Weasley]]
 
*[[Unidentified registered Animagus]]
 
*[[Sirius Black]]
 
*[[Lucius Malfoy]]
 
*[[Tom Riddle]]
 
*[[Igor Karkaroff]]
 
*[[Dobby]]
 
*[[Amos Diggory]]
 
*[[Bartemius Crouch Sr.]]
 
*[[Doris Crockford]]
 
*[[Garrick Ollivander]]
 
*[[Tom]]
 
*[[Madam Malkin]]
 
*[[Madam Rosmerta]]
 
*[[Stan Shunpike]]
 
*[[Rita Skeeter]]
 
*[[Cornelius Fudge]]
 
*[[Ernie Prang]]
 
*[[Myron Wagtail]]
 
*[[Kirley Duke]]
 
*[[Donaghan Tremlett]]
 
*[[Orsino Thruston]]
 
*[[Shifty wizard]]
 
*[[Honeydukes Express lady]]
 
*[[Fleur Delacour]]
 
*[[Viktor Krum]]
 
*[[Gabrielle Delacour]]
 
|[[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]]
 
|Voldemort gets a dummy.<ref>''[[LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4]]''</ref>
 
 
|}
 
|}
  +
  +
==Etymology==
 
"Riddikulus" is an adaptation of "ridiculous" as well as of ''ridiculum'' (Latin, "joke") and ''ridere'' (Latin, "to laugh").
   
 
==Behind the scenes==
 
==Behind the scenes==
  +
*The effect of the Boggart-Banishing Spell varies throughout the series. In ''[[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban]]'', it has its stated effect of forcing a Boggart into an amusing form and otherwise does not harm it. In ''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]'', however, Harry uses the spell to make a Boggart-Dementor explode into a wisp of smoke. Various anecdotes on ''[[Pottermore]]'' describe ''Riddikulus'' transforming Boggarts in a variety of ways, not all of which being directly related to making the Boggart funny.
 
*In ''[[LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4]]'', only Ron and Hermione learn this spell due to Harry being locked out of the class while Lupin is teaching it to his class. Harry instead learns [[Expecto Patronum]] from Lupin to defeat his [[Dementor]] boggart, and in return Ron and Hermione do not learn Expecto Patronum.
 
*In ''[[LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4]]'', only Ron and Hermione learn this spell due to Harry being locked out of the class while Lupin is teaching it to his class. Harry instead learns [[Expecto Patronum]] from Lupin to defeat his [[Dementor]] boggart, and in return Ron and Hermione do not learn Expecto Patronum.
   
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*''[[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game)]]''
 
*''[[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game)]]''
 
*''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]''
 
*''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]''
*''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix]]'' {{1st ID}}
+
*''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix]]''
 
*''[[LEGO Harry Potter: Building the Magical World]]'' {{Mention}}
 
*''[[LEGO Harry Potter: Building the Magical World]]'' {{Mention}}
 
*''[[LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4]]''
 
*''[[LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4]]''
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[[fr:Riddikulus]]
 
[[fr:Riddikulus]]
 
[[fi:Naurretavus]]
 
[[fi:Naurretavus]]
  +
[[ru:Ридикулус]]
 
[[Category:Charms]]
 
[[Category:Charms]]
 
[[Category:Spells]]
 
[[Category:Spells]]
[[Category:Boggarts]]
 

Revision as of 03:10, 20 September 2015

"'R-r-riddikulus!' squeaked Neville. There was a noise like a whip-crack."
— Neville casts this spell.[src]

The Boggart-Banishing Spell[1] is a charm that is used in defence against a Boggart. It causes the creature to assume a form that is humourous to the caster, along with a whip-crack noise, thereby counteracting the Boggart's ability to terrorise.

Boggarts are defeated by laughter, so forcing them to assume an amusing form is the first step to defeating them. However, because Boggarts are amortal, this spell does not truly dispel them, similar to the Patronus Charm.

History

Professor Remus Lupin taught this to his third year Defence Against the Dark Arts class. Thanks to Lupin's teaching, Harry Potter was able to use this against a Boggart in the Triwizard Maze in 1995.

Casting

A simple charm that requires force of mind, to cast, the spell caster must first acknowledge what they fear the most (as it will most likely be what the Boggart will take the form of) and then visualize it into something amusing. The problem is, because the Boggart would have assumed said form at the moment of direct encounter, the one attempting to use this charm would have lost concentration after seeing the Boggart manifest their worst fears, making this spell useless. As such, it is always advisable to first take one step at a time when practising this enchantment.

Know uses

Caster(s) Date Notes
Third years June 1994 The third year Defence Against the Dark Arts exam was an obstacle course of dark creatures which included; climbing into an old trunk and battling a boggart.
Harry Potter 24 June, 1995 Harry used this against a boggart in the maze during the Triwizard Tournament.
June 1996 Harry did a perfect one during the practical part of his Defence Against the Dark Arts O.W.L.
Molly Weasley August 1995 Molly tried and failed to use this spell against the boggart at number twelve, Grimmauld Place.

Etymology

"Riddikulus" is an adaptation of "ridiculous" as well as of ridiculum (Latin, "joke") and ridere (Latin, "to laugh").

Behind the scenes

  • The effect of the Boggart-Banishing Spell varies throughout the series. In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, it has its stated effect of forcing a Boggart into an amusing form and otherwise does not harm it. In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, however, Harry uses the spell to make a Boggart-Dementor explode into a wisp of smoke. Various anecdotes on Pottermore describe Riddikulus transforming Boggarts in a variety of ways, not all of which being directly related to making the Boggart funny.
  • In LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4, only Ron and Hermione learn this spell due to Harry being locked out of the class while Lupin is teaching it to his class. Harry instead learns Expecto Patronum from Lupin to defeat his Dementor boggart, and in return Ron and Hermione do not learn Expecto Patronum.

Appearances

Notes and references