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"Swift use of this jinx can freeze an attacker for a few moments, or stop a magical beast in its tracks. The jinx is a vital part of any duellist’s arsenal."
Book of Spells by Miranda Goshawk[src]

The Impediment Jinx[5] (Impedimenta),[1] also known as the Impediment Hex,[4] was a jinx that hindered the movement of the target, slowing it down or stopping it in its tracks.[1] It was a common spell used in duelling.[5]

Effects[]

It was only temporary,[1] lasting on average for a few seconds.[6] Although it was capable of freezing a wasp in mid-air,[1] it was ineffective against lethifolds.[4] It was also ineffective against armoured opponents, such as Acromantulas and Blast-Ended Skrewts unless it happens to hit them on their underbellies, which have no protective armour.[1]

The jinx would usually simply immobilise a target,[1] it could also be used to push or throw a target backward,[3] or simply decrease the velocity of the victim's movement.[5]

History[]

During the 1988–1989 school year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Professor Patricia Rakepick taught fifth year students in Defence Against the Dark Arts how to perform this jinx.[7]

Known uses[]

"I like the look of this one, this Impediment Jinx. Should slow down anything that’s trying to attack you, Harry. We’ll start with that one."
— Hermione Granger helping Harry Potter learn the jinx[src]

Successful[]

Caster(s) Victim(s) Date Notes
James Potter Severus Snape June, 1976 Used it to bully him after an O.W.L. exam.[8]
Impedimenta

Harry Potter June, 1995 Harry learned this spell to use in the Third Task of the Triwizard Tournament.[1]
Blast-Ended Skrewt 24 June, 1995 Used it in the maze during the Third Task of Triwizard Tournament.[1]
Death Eater Used it while running to the Triwizard Cup in the Little Hangleton graveyard.[9]
Lucius Malfoy 18 June, 1996 Used it in the Death Chamber during the Battle of the Department of Mysteries.[10]
Inferi 30 June, 1997 Used it in the crystal cave during the skirmish.[11]
Amycus Carrow Used it while the latter was duelling Ginny Weasley during the Battle of the Astronomy Tower.[12]
Alecto Carrow or again Amycus Carrow Used it while still chasing Snape and others during the Battle of the Astronomy Tower.[12]
Death Eater 27 July, 1997 Used it after the sidecar he was riding in broke off the flying motorbike during the Battle of the Seven Potters.[13]
D.A. members 1995-1996 school year Harry taught the D.A. to use this jinx.[14]
Ron Weasley Wasp June, 1995 Used it on a flying wasp while helping Harry get ready for the third task of The Triwizard Tournament.[1]
Rolanda Hooch Harry Potter November, 1995 Used it to knock him away from Draco Malfoy as they were fighting after a Quidditch match.[3]
Neville Longbottom Inquisitorial Squad members 18 June, 1996 Used it on Inquisitorial Squad members to escape Dolores Umbridge's office.[15]
Antonin Dolohov Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Neville Longbottom Used it during the Battle of the Department of Mysteries.[10]
Jugson[10]

Unsuccessful[]

Caster(s) Victim(s) Date Notes
Harry Potter Acromantula 24 June, 1995 Used it in the maze during the Third Task of Triwizard Tournament, but unsuccessful.[1]
Severus Snape 30 June, 1997 Attempted to used it on, when the latter was trying to flee school grounds after killing Albus Dumbledore. Snape blocked it, citing Harry's inferior skills in Occlumency. All Harry had managed to get out was the first syllable of the incantation.[12]

Known practitioners[]

Etymology[]

The incantation "Impedimenta" is derived from the Latin word "impedimentum", meaning "a hindrance".

Behind the scenes[]

Appearances[]

Wiki
The Harry Potter Wiki has 5 images related to Impediment Jinx.

Notes and references[]

  1. 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 31 (The Third Task)
  2. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 19 (The Lion and the Serpent)
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (companion book) - An A-Z of Fantastic Beasts (Lethifold)
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Wonderbook: Book of Spells
  6. Pottermore at PlayStation Home
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 5, Chapter 3 (Detention Before Extension) - Defence Against the Dark Arts Lesson "Impedimenta"
  8. 8.0 8.1 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 28 (Snape's Worst Memory)
  9. 9.0 9.1 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 34 (Priori Incantatem)
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 35 (Beyond the Veil)
  11. 11.0 11.1 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 26 (The Cave)
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 28 (Flight of the Prince)
  13. 13.0 13.1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 4 (The Seven Potters)
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 18 (Dumbledore's Army)
  15. 15.0 15.1 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 33 (Fight and Flight)
  16. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (video game)
Defence Against the Dark Arts (D.A.D.A.)
Subjectsdada
D.A.D.A. at Hogwarts
Classroom 3C · Classroom 3C backrooms · Temporary Classroom · Hogwarts Turris Magnus · Teacher's Office · Storeroom · Staircase · Storage room · Lesson Cup · Race Cup · Duelling Club · Dumbledore's Army
Professors
Isidora Morganach · Dinah Hecat · Arsenius Jigger · Albus Dumbledore · Galatea Merrythought · 1984–1985 professor · 1985–1986 professor · 1986–1987 professor · 1987–1988 professor · Patricia Rakepick · 1989–1990 professor · First 1990–1991 professor · Olivia Green · Quirinus Quirrell · Gilderoy Lockhart · Remus Lupin · Bartemius Crouch Junior (as Alastor Moody) · Dolores Umbridge · Severus Snape · Amycus Carrow (as Dark Arts teacher) · Unidentified professor · Brindlemore
Textbooks
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection · Advanced Defence Against the Dark Arts · Break with a Banshee · Gadding with Ghouls · Holidays with Hags · Travels with Trolls · Voyages with Vampires · Wanderings with Werewolves · Year with the Yeti · The Essential Defence Against the Dark Arts · Defensive Magical Theory · Dark Arts Defence – Basics for Beginners · Confronting the Faceless · Defence Against the Dark Arts
Spells studied at Hogwarts under D.A.D.A.
Aqua Eructo · Boggart-Banishing Spell (Riddikulus) · Bombarda Maxima · Cave inimicum · Concealment Charms · Counter-curses · Counter-jinxes · Cruciatus Curse (Crucio) · Curse of the Bogies (Mucus ad Nauseam) · Cursed barrier spell · Densaugeo · Deprimo Spell (Deprimo) · Disarming Charm (Expelliarmus) · Ear-Shrivelling Curse · Everte Statum · Freezing Spell (Glacius) · Full Body-Bind Curse (Petrificus Totalus) · Fumos Duo · Green Sparks · Hex-Breaker· Hex-deflection · Hex Zapper · Homorphus Charm · Human-presence-revealing Spell (Homenum Revelio) · Impediment Jinx (Impedimenta) · Imperius Curse (Imperio) · Imperturbable Charm · Killing Curse (Avada Kedavra) · Knockback Jinx (Flipendo) · Lacarnum Inflamari · Langlock · Levitation Spell (Levioso) · Limbo Mist anticharm · Nonverbal spells · Patronus Charm (Expecto Patronum) · Pimple Jinx (Furnunculus) · Protective enchantments · Red Sparks (Vermillious) · Reductor Curse (Reducto) · Salvio hexia · Sea Urchin Jinx · Seize and pull charm (Carpe Retractum) · Shield Charm (Protego) · Smokescreen Spell (Fumos) · Snake-Vanishing Spell (Vipera Evanesca) · Softening Charm (Spongify) · Stretching Jinx · Tickling Charm (Rictusempra) · Tongue-Tying Curse (Mimblewimble) · Trip Jinx · Twitchy-Ears Hex · Verdimillious Charm (Verdimillious) · Verdimillious Duo Spell (Verdimillious) · Verdimillious Tria · Vermillious Duo · Vermillious Tria · Wand-Lighting Charm (Lumos)
Creatures studied at Hogwarts under D.A.D.A.
Banshee · Boggart · Chameleon Ghoul · Charmed skeleton · Cornish Pixie · Dementor · Dugbog · Erkling · Flesh-Eating Slug · Ghost · Ghoul · Gnome · Grindylow · Gytrash · Hag · Hinkypunk · Iguana · Imp · Inferius · Kappa · Manticore · Nocturnal beasts · Nogtail · Poltergeist · Red Cap · Snake · Troll · Vampire · Vampire bat · Werewolf · Yeti · Zombie
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