Freezing Charm

Freezing Charm
Incantation	Immobulus (ih-MOH-byoo-luhs)
Type	Charm
Hand movement
Light	Blue
Effect	Renders living targets immobile, and disables electronic devices.

" […] immobilising two pixies at once with a clever Freezing Charm and stuffing them back into their cage"

— Hermione Granger's use of the charm in her Defence Against the Dark Arts class

The Freezing Charm (Immobulus) is a spell which immobilises living targets. It can also, according to Horace Slughorn, be used to disable Muggle burglar alarms.

History

This spell is covered in The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 2 by Miranda Goshawk. It's also taught at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to second year students in Charms class.

Known uses

Caster(s)	Date	Notes
Hermione Granger	Fall 1992	Used this spell on a pair of pixies in her second year after her teacher tried and failed to subdue them using the incantation Peskipiksi Pesternomi.
Remus Lupin	June 6, 1994	Used it on the Whomping Willow.
Harry Potter	24 February, 1995	Used it to liberate himself from some attacking Grindylows.
Horace Slughorn	throughout 1996	Used this charm to freeze the burglar alarms of Muggle houses he stayed in while in hiding from the Death Eaters.
Kingsley Shacklebolt	2 May, 1998	This may be the spell he used non-verbally during the Battle of Hogwarts.

Etymology

The incantation is derived from Latin immobilis meaning "immobile, unmoving".

Behind the scenes

• In the second film, Hermione freezes all of the pixies at the same time instead of just two.
• Despite the books and video games giving no incantation, the word is shown to be Immobulus in the film.
• In Harry Potter for Kinect Harry and Voldemort can use this spell against each other during the final battle during Voldemort's Last Stand as they engage in a normal duel.
• In LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 (PC version), Immobulus is misspelled "Immobilus" when it is unlocked.

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (First appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (Possible appearance)
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 (Consoles and Windows versions only)
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7
• The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
• Harry Potter Trading Card Game
• Harry Potter for Kinect
• Pottermore

Notes and References

The Standard Book of Spells
Grade 1 · Grade 2 · Grade 3 · Grade 4 · Grade 5 · Grade 6 · Grade 7
Charms included in the series: Dancing Feet Spell (Tarantallegra) · Disarming Charm (Expelliarmus) · Engorgement Charm (Engorgio) · Fire-Making Spell (Incendio) · Freezing Charm (Immobulus) · General Counter-Spell (Finite Incantatem) · Levitation Charm (Wingardium Leviosa) · Locking Spell (Colloportus) · Memory Charm (Obliviate) · Mending Charm (Reparo) · Nonverbal spell · Severing Charm (Diffindo) · Skurge Charm (Skurge) · Softening Charm (Spongify) · Substantive Charm · Summoning Charm (Accio) · Tickling Charm (Rictusempra) · Unlocking Charm (Alohomora) · Wand-Lighting Charm (Lumos)