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{{Spell infobox
 
{{Spell infobox
 
|name=Confundus Charm
 
|name=Confundus Charm
|image=[[File:Tumblr l81svp7nGj1qc5fnro1 500.jpg|250px]]
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|image=[[File:Tumblr m012sxcnm01rpm9hyo3 250.gif|250px]]
|incantation=''Confundo''<ref name="DH26">''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]'' - Chapter 26 (''Gringotts'')</ref><br/>con-FUN-doe
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|incantation=''Confundo''<ref name="DH26">''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]'' - Chapter 26 (''Gringotts'')</ref><br/>(con-FUN-doe)
 
|type=[[Charm]]
 
|type=[[Charm]]
 
|hand=[[File:ConfundusCharm.png|75px]]
 
|hand=[[File:ConfundusCharm.png|75px]]
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|effect=Produces confusion<ref name="DH26"/>
 
|effect=Produces confusion<ref name="DH26"/>
 
}}
 
}}
{{Quote| ''[...]'' each of the guards gave a little start as the spells hit them. The guard was confused. He stared down at the thin, golden [[Probity Probe|Probe]] and then at his companion, who said in a slightly dazed voice, 'Yeah, you've just checked them, [[Marius]].'|The [[Gringotts guard]]s, confunded by [[Harry Potter]]|Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows}}
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{{Quote| ''[...]'' each of the guards gave a little start as the spells hit them. The guard was confused. He stared down at the thin, golden [[Probity Probe|Probe]] and then at his companion, who said in a slightly dazed voice, 'Yeah, you've just checked them, [[Marius]].|The [[Gringotts guard]]s, confunded by [[Harry Potter]]|Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows}}
 
The '''Confundus Charm'''<ref name="GoF17">''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]'' - Chapter 17 (''The Four Champions'')</ref> (''Confundo''<ref name="DH26"/>) is a [[charm]] which causes confusion in a person<ref name="DH26"/> or [[Charm|bewitches]] an object.<ref name="GoF17"/> It appears that there are varying degrees of confusion caused by the [[spell]], from simply tricking a person or thing about a specific incident<ref name="HBP11">''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince]]'' - Chapter 11 (''Hermione's Helping Hand'')</ref> to confusing a person to the point at which they endanger themselves.<ref name="OOTP35">''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix]]'' - ''Chapter 35 (''Beyond the Veil'')</ref>
 
The '''Confundus Charm'''<ref name="GoF17">''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]'' - Chapter 17 (''The Four Champions'')</ref> (''Confundo''<ref name="DH26"/>) is a [[charm]] which causes confusion in a person<ref name="DH26"/> or [[Charm|bewitches]] an object.<ref name="GoF17"/> It appears that there are varying degrees of confusion caused by the [[spell]], from simply tricking a person or thing about a specific incident<ref name="HBP11">''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince]]'' - Chapter 11 (''Hermione's Helping Hand'')</ref> to confusing a person to the point at which they endanger themselves.<ref name="OOTP35">''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix]]'' - ''Chapter 35 (''Beyond the Veil'')</ref>
   
 
==Casting==
 
==Casting==
 
The spell seems to be rather difficult to cast, as [[Severus Snape]], a very powerful [[Wizardkind|wizard]] who could flawlessly perform [[Nonverbal spell]]casting and [[Wandless spell]]s, had such trouble with it that he had to "frown in concentration". To cast it, one must point their wand directly at the person or thing that must be confused and incant, "''Confundo''". If one is casting the [[charm]] on multiple targets, they must point their wand at each individual target in turn and incant once for every individual target.
 
The spell seems to be rather difficult to cast, as [[Severus Snape]], a very powerful [[Wizardkind|wizard]] who could flawlessly perform [[Nonverbal spell]]casting and [[Wandless spell]]s, had such trouble with it that he had to "frown in concentration". To cast it, one must point their wand directly at the person or thing that must be confused and incant, "''Confundo''". If one is casting the [[charm]] on multiple targets, they must point their wand at each individual target in turn and incant once for every individual target.
 
===Effects===
   
==Effects==
 
 
Although the spell carries no light or sound, one can detect if another person has been Confunded (someone who has had this spell cast on them has been "Confunded") only immediately after the spell has been cast; the person will shudder when the spell hits them. It will cause any of varying degrees of confusion, from a simple trick<ref name="HBP11"/> to making a person believe that they have come up with a complex plan when said plan was given to them by the caster.<ref name="DH33"/> It can also be used on inanimate objects that have a level of sentience, as Barty Crouch Jr. did with the [[Goblet of Fire]], though this was noted to be a difficult task, as the Goblet itself was a powerful magical artefact.<ref name="GoF17"/>
 
Although the spell carries no light or sound, one can detect if another person has been Confunded (someone who has had this spell cast on them has been "Confunded") only immediately after the spell has been cast; the person will shudder when the spell hits them. It will cause any of varying degrees of confusion, from a simple trick<ref name="HBP11"/> to making a person believe that they have come up with a complex plan when said plan was given to them by the caster.<ref name="DH33"/> It can also be used on inanimate objects that have a level of sentience, as Barty Crouch Jr. did with the [[Goblet of Fire]], though this was noted to be a difficult task, as the Goblet itself was a powerful magical artefact.<ref name="GoF17"/>
   
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==Known practitioners==
==Practitioners==
 
  +
[[File:Tumblr_m012sxcnm01rpm9hyo2_250.gif|frame|Hermione casting the Confundus Charm]]
 
*[[Barty Crouch Jr.]]<ref name="GoF35">''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]'' - Chapter 35 (''Veritaserum'')</ref>
 
*[[Barty Crouch Jr.]]<ref name="GoF35">''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]'' - Chapter 35 (''Veritaserum'')</ref>
 
*[[Hermione Granger]]<ref name="HBP11"/>
 
*[[Hermione Granger]]<ref name="HBP11"/>
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*[[Severus Snape]]<ref name="DH33">''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]'' - Chapter 33 (''The Prince's Tale'')</ref>
 
*[[Severus Snape]]<ref name="DH33">''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]'' - Chapter 33 (''The Prince's Tale'')</ref>
 
*[[Harry Potter]]<ref name="DH26" />
 
*[[Harry Potter]]<ref name="DH26" />
  +
*Albus Dumbledore
   
 
==Etymology==
 
==Etymology==
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*In the [[Harry Potter (film series)|films]] and [[Harry Potter (video game series)|video games]], the [[incantation]] for this [[charm]] is ''Confundus'', and not ''Confundo'' as it should be.
 
*In the [[Harry Potter (film series)|films]] and [[Harry Potter (video game series)|video games]], the [[incantation]] for this [[charm]] is ''Confundus'', and not ''Confundo'' as it should be.
 
*[[Professor]] [[Severus Snape]] repeatedly insisted that [[Sirius Black]] had [[curse]]d [[Harry Potter]] and [[Hermione Granger]] with this [[spell]]; however, this was false, as Black was actually telling the truth. This, however, could merely have been a cover-up to attempt to protect Harry due to his lasting love for his mother, and the reason he did the same for Hermione and Ron may have been would seem odd if only Harry was supposedly confunded when all three of them attacked him.
 
*[[Professor]] [[Severus Snape]] repeatedly insisted that [[Sirius Black]] had [[curse]]d [[Harry Potter]] and [[Hermione Granger]] with this [[spell]]; however, this was false, as Black was actually telling the truth. This, however, could merely have been a cover-up to attempt to protect Harry due to his lasting love for his mother, and the reason he did the same for Hermione and Ron may have been would seem odd if only Harry was supposedly confunded when all three of them attacked him.
  +
* [[Ronald Weasley]] used this spell to trick his Driving Examiner into letting him pass his driving test. This clearly constitutes a breach of the [[International Statute of Secrecy]], but it is unknown if Ron faced any repercussions about it
   
 
==Appearances==
 
==Appearances==

Revision as of 11:01, 1 November 2014

" [...] each of the guards gave a little start as the spells hit them. The guard was confused. He stared down at the thin, golden Probe and then at his companion, who said in a slightly dazed voice, 'Yeah, you've just checked them, Marius."
— The Gringotts guards, confunded by Harry Potter[src]

The Confundus Charm[2] (Confundo[1]) is a charm which causes confusion in a person[1] or bewitches an object.[2] It appears that there are varying degrees of confusion caused by the spell, from simply tricking a person or thing about a specific incident[3] to confusing a person to the point at which they endanger themselves.[4]

Casting

The spell seems to be rather difficult to cast, as Severus Snape, a very powerful wizard who could flawlessly perform Nonverbal spellcasting and Wandless spells, had such trouble with it that he had to "frown in concentration". To cast it, one must point their wand directly at the person or thing that must be confused and incant, "Confundo". If one is casting the charm on multiple targets, they must point their wand at each individual target in turn and incant once for every individual target.

Effects

Although the spell carries no light or sound, one can detect if another person has been Confunded (someone who has had this spell cast on them has been "Confunded") only immediately after the spell has been cast; the person will shudder when the spell hits them. It will cause any of varying degrees of confusion, from a simple trick[3] to making a person believe that they have come up with a complex plan when said plan was given to them by the caster.[5] It can also be used on inanimate objects that have a level of sentience, as Barty Crouch Jr. did with the Goblet of Fire, though this was noted to be a difficult task, as the Goblet itself was a powerful magical artefact.[2]

Known practitioners

Tumblr m012sxcnm01rpm9hyo2 250

Hermione casting the Confundus Charm

Etymology

Confundus, as well as the incantation Confundo, are derived from the Latin verb confundo (confundo-confudi-confusum-confundere), meaning "to confuse, to perplex."

Behind the scenes

  • In the films and video games, the incantation for this charm is Confundus, and not Confundo as it should be.
  • Professor Severus Snape repeatedly insisted that Sirius Black had cursed Harry Potter and Hermione Granger with this spell; however, this was false, as Black was actually telling the truth. This, however, could merely have been a cover-up to attempt to protect Harry due to his lasting love for his mother, and the reason he did the same for Hermione and Ron may have been would seem odd if only Harry was supposedly confunded when all three of them attacked him.
  • Ronald Weasley used this spell to trick his Driving Examiner into letting him pass his driving test. This clearly constitutes a breach of the International Statute of Secrecy, but it is unknown if Ron faced any repercussions about it

Appearances

Notes and references

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Chapter 26 (Gringotts)
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - Chapter 17 (The Four Champions)
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - Chapter 11 (Hermione's Helping Hand)
  4. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - Chapter 35 (Beyond the Veil)
  5. 5.0 5.1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Chapter 33 (The Prince's Tale)
  6. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - Chapter 35 (Veritaserum)
  7. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Epilogue (Nineteen Years Later)