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Changes: False memory spell

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{{HogwartsMysterySpoiler}}
 
{{Conjecture}}
  
{{Conjecture}}
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{{Spell infobox
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{{Spell_infobox
  
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|name=False memory charm
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|name = False memory spell
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|image=
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|image =
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|incantation=
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|incantation =
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|type = [[Spell]]<ref name="HBP17"/><ref name="HBP20"/><ref name="DH6"/>
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|type=[[Charm]]
  
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|hand=
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|hand =
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|light=
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|light =
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|effect=Implants a false memory in the victim
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|effect = Implanted a false [[memory]] in the victim's mind<ref name="HBP17"/><ref name="HBP20"/><ref name="DH6"/>
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|creator = [[Mnemone Radford]] c. [[1900s]] (possibly)<ref name="creator">[http://web.archive.org/web/20100205155451/http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/wotm.cfm/ J. K. Rowling] - "Mnemone Radford 1562 - 1649. Developed Memory Modifying Charms. First Ministry of Magic Obliviator." this potentially means she invented this spell as well, because its plural.</ref>
 
}}
  
}}
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{{Quote|Then he returned to the [[Gaunt shack|Gaunt hovel]], performed the complex bit of [[magic]] that would implant a false memory in his [[Morfin Gaunt|uncle's]] mind, laid Morfin's wand beside its [[Stunning Spell|unconscious]] owner, pocketed the [[Marvolo Gaunt's ring|ancient ring]] he wore, and departed.|Albus Dumbledore theorizes, correctly, that Voldemort used this spell.|Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince}}
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{{Quote|Then he returned to the [[Gaunt Shack|Gaunt hovel]], performed the complex bit of [[magic]] that would implant a false memory in his [[Morfin Gaunt|uncle's]] mind, laid Morfin's wand beside its [[Stunning Spell|unconscious]] owner, pocketed the [[Marvolo Gaunt's ring|ancient ring]] he wore, and departed.|Theory that Voldemort used this spell|Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince}}
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The '''false memory charm''' is a [[spell]] which can be used by a [[Wizardkind|witch or wizard]] in order to add a [[memory]] to their victim's mind without the victim realising it wasn't originally theirs. It differs from the [[Memory Charm]] in that the latter erases memories whilst this one adds them<ref>[http://bloghogwarts.com/2007/07/30/chateando-con-jk-rowling/ 30 July 2007 WebChat with J.K. Rowling]</ref>.
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This was a '''[[spell]]''' {{Incantation unknown}}, which could be used by a [[Wizardkind|witch or wizard]] to implant a false [[memory]] into their victim's mind, without the victim realising it was not originally theirs. It differed from the [[Memory Charm]], in that the latter erased memories whilst this one added them, albeit wholly artificial ones.<ref name="type">[http://bloghogwarts.com/2007/07/30/chateando-con-jk-rowling/ 30 July 2007 WebChat with J.K. Rowling]</ref>
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==Known uses==
  
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==History==
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*[[Tom Riddle|Voldemort]] used this spell twice; firstly in [[1943]] upon his [[Gaunt family|uncle]] [[Morfin Gaunt]], then sometime later on the [[House-elf]] [[Hokey]]. Both instances were to hide his crimes and make the victims believe they were responsible.
  
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[[Tom Riddle]] cast this spell twice; firstly in [[1943]] upon his [[House of Gaunt|uncle]] [[Morfin Gaunt]],<ref name="HBP17">{{HBP|B|17}}</ref> then sometime later on the [[house-elf]] [[Hokey]].<ref name="HBP20">{{HBP|B|20}}</ref> Both instances were to hide his crimes and make the victims believe they were responsible. [[Albus Dumbledore]] was able to use his considerable [[Legilimency]] skills to bypass the false memories and obtain the truth that was hidden beneath. However, while he attempted to use the true memory to secure Morfin's release from [[Azkaban]] (and failed as Morfin died before he could be exonerated),<ref name="HBP17"/> Hokey's memory was insufficient to prove her innocence.<ref name="HBP20"/>
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*It is likely that [[Kingsley Shacklebolt]] used this [[spell]] on [[Marietta Edgecombe]] in [[1996]] in order to prevent her from revealing [[Dumbledore's Army]] to [[Cornelius Fudge]].
  
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*Later that [[1995-1996 school year|same year]], [[Tom Riddle|Voldemort]] used the spell to make [[Harry Potter|Harry]] believe his godfather [[Sirius Black]] was being [[Cruciatus Curse|tortured]] by [[Tom Riddle|Voldemort]] in the [[Department of Mysteries]].
 
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During the [[1990–1991 school year]], [[Professor]] [[Olivia Green]] asked [[Jacob's sibling]] if they were aware of how false memories could be implanted in the mind, as she feared her own [[memory]] had been tampered with.<ref name="HM744">{{HM|7|44}}</ref>
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*It is possible that [[Professor]] [[Horace Slughorn]] used this in [[1996-1997 school year|the next school year]] to hide his memory of [[Tom Riddle|Voldemort]] asking him about [[Horcrux]]es, although as he retained awareness of the true memory his spell may be a different one.
 
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*[[Hermione Granger]] used this in [[1997]] to make [[Hermione Granger's parents|her parents]] believe they were named [[Wendell Wilkin|Wendell]] and [[Monica Wilkins]] respectively to make them move to [[Australia]] in order to protect them from [[Tom Riddle|Voldemort]] and his [[Death Eaters]].
  
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On [[18 June]] [[1996]], [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]] may have used the spell to make [[Harry Potter]] believe his godfather [[Sirius Black]] was being [[Cruciatus Curse|tortured]] by him in the [[Department of Mysteries]].<ref name="OOTP35">{{OOTP|B|35}}</ref> However, it was possible that Voldemort simply created an image in Harry's mind through his tight Legilimens/[[Horcrux]] connection with Harry so that he would see what Voldemort wanted him to see. It may have been up to Harry whether to believe it, since he was persuaded by Hermione to check to see whether Sirius was really in the Department of Mysteries and not in Grimmauld Place.<ref name="OOTP32">{{OOTP|B|32}}</ref> Voldemort was relying, therefore, on Harry's concern for Sirius's safety to get him to come, just as he was sure Harry would come to him in the [[Forbidden Forest]] during the break in the [[Battle of Hogwarts]].
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It is possible that [[Professor]] [[Horace Slughorn]] used this in [[1996-1997 school year|the next school year]] to hide his memory of Voldemort asking him about [[Horcrux]]es,<ref name="HBP23">{{HBP|B|23}}</ref> although as he retained awareness of the true memory his spell may be a different one. It is also possible that he simply repressed it to such a degree that it could not be extracted from him against his will, as the memory he gave Dumbledore simple went blank at the right times and was replaced by a disembodied shouting, rather than images; this was noted to be crudely done.<ref name="HBP17"/>
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[[Hermione Granger]] used this in [[1997]] to make [[Hermione Granger's parents|her parents]] believe they were named [[Hermione Granger's father|Wendell]] and [[Hermione Granger's mother|Monica Wilkins]] respectively, that they had no children, and to make them move to [[Australia]] in order to protect them from Voldemort and his [[Death Eaters]].<ref name="DH6">{{DH|B|6}}</ref>
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==Known practitioners==
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<gallery widths="125" orientation="portrait" spacing="large" position="left">
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Tom_Riddle_Half-Blood_Prince_Profile.jpg|[[Tom Riddle]]<ref name="HBP17"/><ref name="HBP20"/>
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Hermione Granger.jpg|[[Hermione Granger]]<ref name="DH6"/>
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</gallery>
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==Behind the scenes==
  
==Behind the scenes==
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*The actual name and [[incantation]] for this [[charm]] are unknown.
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*The actual name and [[incantation]] for this spell are unknown.
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*However, it appears to be reversible as [[Hermione Granger|Hermione]] stated that she would find her parents after the [[Second Wizarding War|war]] and lift it.
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*This spell is reversible, as [[Hermione Granger|Hermione]] found her parents after the war and lifted it.
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*[[Albus Dumbledore]] could reverse this spell, as he managed to uncover the true memories beneath this one (he admitted that it was rather difficult).
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**[[Albus Dumbledore]] could use Legilimency to extract the true version of the memories that Riddle falsified using the spell, although he admitted it was difficult and required a great deal of skill in the art.
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*In [[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1|the film]], [[Hermione Granger|Hermione]] uses ''[[Memory Charm|Obliviate]]'' instead of this spell.
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*In {{DH|F1}}, Hermione uses the [[Memory Charm]] instead of this spell to alter her parent's memories.
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**In {{HBP|FA}}, the effect of Slughorn's memory modification is different, appearing as a muffling of sound, followed by Slughorn ordering Riddle out personally.
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==Appearances==
  
==Appearances==
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*{{OOTP}} {{Possible}}
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*''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix]]''
  
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*{{OOTP|F}} {{Possible}}
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*''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)]]''
  
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*{{OOTP|G}} {{Possible}}
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*''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince]]''
  
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*{{HBP}} {{1st Mention}}
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*''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)]]''
  
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*{{HBP|F}} {{Mention}}
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*''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]''
 
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*{{HBP|G}} {{Possible}}
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*{{DH}} {{Mention}}
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*{{LEGO|Y2}} {{Possible}}
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*{{HM}} {{Mention}}
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==Notes and references==
  
==Notes and references==
 
{{Reflist}}
  
{{Reflist}}
 
[[fr:Sortilège de Faux souvenirs]]
  
[[fr:Sortilège de Faux souvenirs]]
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[[ru:Чары ложной памяти]]
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[[Category:Spells of unknown incantation]]
  
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[[Category:Mental spells]]
  
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[[Category:Charms]]
  
 
[[Category:Articles related to Horcruxes]]
  
[[Category:Articles related to Horcruxes]]
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[[Category:Concealment]]
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[[Category:Mental spells]]
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[[Category:Spells of unknown incantation]]
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[[Category:Unidentified spells]]

Latest revision as of 23:26, 28 March 2024

LogoHarryPotterHogwartsMystery Warning!

At least some content in this article is derived from information featured in Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery. Spoilers will be present within the article.

Hermione Granger (HBP promo) 5 "Are you a wizard, or what?"

The title of this article is conjectural. Although it is based on canonical information, the actual name is a conjecture and may be supplanted at any time by additional information released from canonical sources. If this occurs, please move this page to the appropriate title.

"Then he returned to the Gaunt hovel, performed the complex bit of magic that would implant a false memory in his uncle's mind, laid Morfin's wand beside its unconscious owner, pocketed the ancient ring he wore, and departed."
— Theory that Voldemort used this spell[src]

This was a spell (incantation unknown), which could be used by a witch or wizard to implant a false memory into their victim's mind, without the victim realising it was not originally theirs. It differed from the Memory Charm, in that the latter erased memories whilst this one added them, albeit wholly artificial ones.[5]

History

Tom Riddle cast this spell twice; firstly in 1943 upon his uncle Morfin Gaunt,[1] then sometime later on the house-elf Hokey.[2] Both instances were to hide his crimes and make the victims believe they were responsible. Albus Dumbledore was able to use his considerable Legilimency skills to bypass the false memories and obtain the truth that was hidden beneath. However, while he attempted to use the true memory to secure Morfin's release from Azkaban (and failed as Morfin died before he could be exonerated),[1] Hokey's memory was insufficient to prove her innocence.[2]

During the 1990–1991 school year, Professor Olivia Green asked Jacob's sibling if they were aware of how false memories could be implanted in the mind, as she feared her own memory had been tampered with.[6]

On 18 June 1996, Lord Voldemort may have used the spell to make Harry Potter believe his godfather Sirius Black was being tortured by him in the Department of Mysteries.[7] However, it was possible that Voldemort simply created an image in Harry's mind through his tight Legilimens/Horcrux connection with Harry so that he would see what Voldemort wanted him to see. It may have been up to Harry whether to believe it, since he was persuaded by Hermione to check to see whether Sirius was really in the Department of Mysteries and not in Grimmauld Place.[8] Voldemort was relying, therefore, on Harry's concern for Sirius's safety to get him to come, just as he was sure Harry would come to him in the Forbidden Forest during the break in the Battle of Hogwarts.

It is possible that Professor Horace Slughorn used this in the next school year to hide his memory of Voldemort asking him about Horcruxes,[9] although as he retained awareness of the true memory his spell may be a different one. It is also possible that he simply repressed it to such a degree that it could not be extracted from him against his will, as the memory he gave Dumbledore simple went blank at the right times and was replaced by a disembodied shouting, rather than images; this was noted to be crudely done.[1]

Hermione Granger used this in 1997 to make her parents believe they were named Wendell and Monica Wilkins respectively, that they had no children, and to make them move to Australia in order to protect them from Voldemort and his Death Eaters.[3]

Known practitioners

Behind the scenes

Appearances

Notes and references

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 17 (A Sluggish Memory)
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 20 (Lord Voldemort's Request)
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 6 (The Ghoul in Pyjamas)
  4. ↑ J. K. Rowling - "Mnemone Radford 1562 - 1649. Developed Memory Modifying Charms. First Ministry of Magic Obliviator." this potentially means she invented this spell as well, because its plural.
  5. ↑ 30 July 2007 WebChat with J.K. Rowling
  6. ↑ Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 7, Chapter 44 (The Memory Heist)
  7. ↑ Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 35 (Beyond the Veil)
  8. ↑ Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 32 (Out of the Fire)
  9. ↑ Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 23 (Horcruxes)
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