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"The Flagrante Curse causes objects to burn any person who touches them."
— Description[src]

The Flagrante Curse (Flagrante) was a curse that caused objects to emit searing heat when touched.[1][2]

Effects[]

"Ron hopped on the spot, part of his shoe burned away by contact with the hot metal."
— Effect of the Flagrante curse[src]

An object bewitched in this way would burn not only flesh, but material as well. Protecting against this curse was difficult, as there were no outward signs of its use, though the Impervius Charm offered some degree of shielding. This spell could be used to protect valuables, and as witnessed by Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger when they broke-into the Lestrange vault it could prove deadly when used with the Gemino Curse.[1]

History[]

"They have added Gemino and Flagrante curses! Everything you touch will burn and multiply, but the copies are worthless -- And if you continue to handle the treasure you will eventually be crushed to death by the weight of expanding gold!"
— Effects of the curse when used with the Gemino curse[src]
DH2 Harry Potter in Bellatrix Lestrange's vault

The valuables in the Lestrange Vault were protected with Flagrante curses

A major use of the Flagrante curse was its placement on the gold and treasure in the Lestrange Vault in Gringotts Bank in order to protect it from Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger's attempt to break in to steal Helga Hufflepuff's cup in the spring of 1998.[1]

The Flagrante Curse and Gemino curse were placed on the treasure inside so that everything touched would burn and then multiply until the would-be thief was crushed to death by the amount of expanding gold if he or she kept trying to touch objects. Harry found a loophole of this curse by using the Sword of Gryffindor to grab the cup, which did not cause it to multiply or burn Harry's skin or clothes.[1]

Known practitioners[]

Etymology[]

"Flagrante" is derived from the Latin word "flagro," meaning "I burn."

Behind the scenes[]

  • In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, this curse's placement on the gold in the Lestrange vault is omitted. Thus, when Harry, Ron, Hermione, or Griphook touched treasure, it would not burn but only multiply (the Gemino curse). However, in the video game adaption, it is used on the treasures as Hermione gets burned when she touches a goblet. In LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7, it burned and multiplied.
  • Flagrante is the ablative singular form of the present participle flagrans, meaning burning in Latin. Whereas the fire-making spell incendio means "by means of fire," this curse means "by means of [something that is] burning."
  • Flagrante is also Spanish, French and Italian for flagrant, which is of course derived from the same Latin word in a more metaphorical usage.

Appearances[]

Notes and references[]

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