One-Eyed Witch Spell

Dissendium
Incantation	Dissendium(dis-EN-dee-um)
Type	Charm
Hand movement	Tap the one-eyed witch three times with your wand. Brandish the wand at the object whilst incanting.
Effect	Unclear; opens the secret passage way to Honeydukes behidn the one-eyed witch, cleaves things (possibly).

Dissendium (dis-EN-dee-um) is a charm that has been known to open the secret passageway behind the statue of the Humpbacked Witch in Hogwarts straight into the cellar of Honeydukes in Hogsmeade.Other than this use, it is unknown of its additional properties.

Known practitioners

• Fred Weasley
• George Weasley
• Harry Potter
• Hermione Granger

Etymology

Dissendium has a number of possible etymological roots. At first it seems to be a phonetic spelling of the English word "descend" with a common Latin noun ending attached (-ium), however, this is not consistent with its known spell effects.

The whole word could be derived from the English "Dissemble" or it could come from Latin in three parts: the first part, Dissocio (this means to part or to separate in its verb form); the second part, the word en (this can mean both here and look); the third part, Dium (this could refer to the sun and normally translates as day or, more appropriately, today but can also be used as the command now). Altogether, Dissendium could hence read roughly as "Dissemble/Separate here, now".

Behind the scenes

• Whilst this at first seems to be a simple magical password (like "Mimbulus Mimbletonia", once a password for the Fat Lady); and "Acid Pops", one of the passwords for Dumbledore's office gargoyle in 1996), it does appear to be an actual spell, given its representation throughout the franchise. For example, it is mentioned that Harry has to tap the statue of the crone with his wand while incanting in order for it to open up and the name of the spell is also similar to the way other spells are named. Finally, in the first part of the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Harry Potter casts the spell 'Dissendium' in a fit of frustration at Slytherin's locket. This would make sense, considering that if it does actually cleave things (as the name and usage suggest) then this could be considered a valid way to open or even destroying the Locket (which fits with its use in that scenes alongside spells like Reducto and Expulso).
• The name Dissendium is vaguely reminiscent of the word "dissident", meaning to be against the laws, a possible reference to its mischievous use when opening the sceret passage to Honeydukes.

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
• Lego Harry Potter: Years 1-4

Notes and references

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