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The Full Body-Bind Curse, or usually simply called "Full Body-Bind", is a spell that renders a victim completely immobile. This curse is chiefly used to control and limit another individual's power of bodily freedom, and is often employed in defensive combat. The victim's arms and legs snap together, and he or she will generally fall down from lack of balance. The curse does not, however, interfere with breathing or sight. Three known counter-curses include Rennervate, Finite or Finite Incantatem.

The Full Body-Bind Curse is fundamentally different from petrification, which is highly Dark magic and which cannot be reversed by a simple counter-curse, though the symptoms are superficially similar. A major difference is that under the Body-Bind Curse the victim remains conscious and aware of his/her surroundings, as opposed to petrification which appears to render the victim unconsciousness. Also, individuals who are petrified appear to be immune to injury as they've been turned to stone; it is possible to render an injury to someone who is under the body-bind (as Draco Malfoy did after he cursed Harry Potter on Hogwarts Express).

Known Uses

Caster Victims Notes
Hermione Granger Neville Longbottom When Neville tried to prevent Hermione, Harry Potter, and Ron Weasley from sneaking out of their dormitories in 1992, which they did in order to prevent the theft of the Philosopher's Stone.[1]
Harry Potter Jugson Battle of the Department of Mysteries

[2]

Harry Potter Antonin Dolohov Battle of the Department of Mysteries

[2]

Neville Longbottom Death Eater Battle of the Department of Mysteries

[2]

Draco Malfoy Harry Potter On the Hogwarts Express in 1996.[3]
Harry Potter Inferi While in the Horcrux cave with Albus Dumbledore in 1997[3].
Albus Dumbledore Harry Potter Used to prevent Harry from interfering with Dumbledore's death at Battle of the Astronomy Tower.[3]
Harry Potter Yaxley Used when escaping from the top of the Astronomy Tower during the Battle of the Astronomy Tower.[3]
Hermione Granger Antonin Dolohov During a skirmish at Tottenham Court Road in 1997.[4]
Lord Voldemort Neville Longbottom Placed in a Full Body-Bind, with the Sorting Hat put on his head and then lit on fire during the Battle of Hogwarts.[4]
Parvati Patil Antonin Dolohov Used by Parvati Patil to protect Dean Thomas.
Sirius Black Severus Snape Used by Sirius Black, in his childhood,while bullying Severus Snape.

Etymology

  • The root of this curse's incantation seems to be the Latin words petra, "rock", and totus, "whole" or "entire".
  • Also, pertrificus seems to come from the word "petrify", meaning to turn into stone, or describes a manner in which someone takes on the characteristics of a stone. Totalus likely comes from "Total", meaning complete or wholey. Following this, the spell likely means, petrify like an entire stone.

Known practitioners

Appearances

Notes and references

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