Confundus Charm

Confundus Charm
Incantation	Confundo (Con-FUN-doh)
Type	Charm
Effect	Causes confusion

The Confundus Charm is a charm that causes a person or animated object to become highly confused. There appears to be varying degrees of inflicted confusion, ranging from tricking a person about a specific issue to making them lose all semblance of common sense, similar to the Imperius Curse, even to the point of endangering themselves. The incantation is "Confundo."

Known Uses

• During the Triwizard Tournament of 1994, Barty Crouch, Jr. (in the disguise of retired Auror and new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor Alastor Moody) used this charm to fool the Goblet of Fire into accepting Harry Potter under a non-existent fourth school.
• In 1996, Hermione Granger used this spell on Cormac McLaggen during the Gryffindor Quidditch team's Keeper tryouts to lessen his chances of passing after she overheard him insult Ron and Ginny Weasley.
• In 1997, under Dumbledore's portrait's instructions, Severus Snape used this charm on Mundungus Fletcher, so that the latter could suggest using seven identical Potters (by means of the Polyjuice Potion) to the other members of the Order of the Phoenix when they moved Harry from Privet Drive.
• In 1998, Harry used the Confundus Charm on several employees of Gringotts Wizarding Bank in order to facilitate a break-in.
• In 2017, Ron used this spell on a Muggle driving instructor to earn his driving-licence.
• An unidentified person, most likely a Death Eater, jinxed Ronald Weasley in the Ministry of Magic in his fifth year.

Possible Uses

• The Confundus Charm may be the spell that Ron Weasley was struck with by a Death Eater during the Battle of the Department of Mysteries. He was highly confused and inappropriately amused, even summoning brains to himself, which subsequently began to strangle him.
• In 1938, Albus Dumbledore may have used the Confundus Charm on Mrs. Cole; since the latter did not seem to facilitate Dumbledore's attempt to take Tom Marvolo Riddle to Hogwarts, and was said to be an "inconveniently sharp woman," Dumbledore waved his wand and showed her a blank piece of paper, and her eyes went briefly out of focus. She then let Dumbledore take Riddle without further questions, saying the blank paper was "perfectly in order."

Etymology

Confundus, as well as the incantation Confundo, are derived from the Latin verb confundo (confundo-confudi-confusum-confundere), "to confuse, to perplex." They could also be derived from the English word "confound". "Confundo" also means "I confuse" in Portuguese.

Behind the scenes

• In the video games and film, the incantation is Confundus.
• In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Severus Snape insisted that the reason that Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley stated that Sirius Black was innocent was because Black had used this Charm on them.

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (First mentioned)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (First appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film) (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (video game) (GBA and DS versions)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (video game)
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7
• Harry Potter: Spells
• Harry Potter Trading Card Game