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{{Spoiler|HM|PAS|MA|HL}}
{{Wonderbookold}}
 
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{{Spell infobox
{{Pottermoreold}}
 
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|name = Levitation Charm
{{Youmay|the Levitation Charm|the [[Wizard rock]] [[List of wrock bands#Wingardium Leviosa|band]] named after its incantation}}
 
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|image = PS Wingardium Leviosa feather.gif
{{Spell_infobox
 
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|incantation = ''Wingardium Leviosa''<ref name="PS10">{{PS|B|10}}</ref><br/>(wing-GAR-dee-um leh-vee-OH-sa)<ref name="PS10"/>
|name=Levitation Charm
 
  +
|type = [[Charm]]<ref name="PS10"/>
|image=[[File:Wingardium leviosa.jpg|250px]]
 
|incantation=''Wingardium Leviosa''<ref name="PS10">''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone]]'' - Chapter 10 (''Hallowe'en'')</ref>
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|hand = [[File:Levitation-charm.png]]<ref name="PM">{{PM}}, ''[[The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1]]'' menu</ref>
|pronunciation=wing-GAR-dee-um levi-O-sa<ref name="PS10"/>
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|light = None<ref name="PS10"/>
|type=[[Charm]]<ref name="PS10"/>
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|effect = Made objects [[Levitation|levitate]]<ref name="PS10"/>
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|creator = [[Jarleth Hobart]] ([[1544]])<ref name="WBS">{{WBS}} {{See video|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n5prI9L6G8}}</ref>
|hand=Swish and flick<ref name="PS10"/>
 
|light=
 
|effect=Makes objects fly<ref name="PS10"/>
 
|creator=[[Jarleth Hobart]] ([[1540s|1544]])<ref name="WBoS">''[[Wonderbook: Book of Spells]]'' - see [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n5prI9L6G8 this video]</ref>
 
 
}}
 
}}
  +
{{Quote|The Levitation Charm is one of the first spells learnt by any young witch or wizard. With the charm a witch or wizard can make things fly with the flick of a wand. The charm is an excellent test of your magical skills, wand control and above all, patience.|An excerpt from ''[[Book of Spells]]''|Wonderbook: Book of Spells}}
  +
The '''Levitation Charm'''<ref name="POTTERMORE1">{{PM}} {{See image|File:StandardBookofSpells1Pottermore.jpg}}</ref> (''Wingardium Leviosa'')<ref name="PS10" /> was a [[charm]] used to make objects fly, or [[Levitation|levitate]].<ref name="PS10" /> It was taught to [[first year|first-year]]s at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]].<ref name="PS10" /><ref name="HM15c"/>
   
  +
There were a number of lesser variations of the Levitation Charm, such as the [[Levitation Spell]], the [[Hover Charm]], the [[Rocket Charm]], and the [[Floating Charm]], but the Levitation Charm remained the original and best.<ref name="WBS" />
{{Quote|The Levitation Charm is one of the first spells learnt by any young witch or wizard. With the charm a witch or wizard can make things fly with the flick of a wand. The charm is an excellent test of your magical skills, wand control and above all, patience.|An excerpt from the entry in ''[[Book of Spells]]'' on this charm.|Wonderbook: Book of Spells}}
 
 
The '''Levitation Charm'''<ref name="POTTERMORE1">See [[:File:StandardBookofSpells1Pottermore.jpg|this image]] from [[J. K. Rowling]]'s ''[[Pottermore]]''.</ref> (''Wingardium Leviosa''<ref name="PS10"/>) is a [[charm]] used to make objects fly,<ref name="PS10"/> taught to [[first year]]s at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]].<ref name="PS10"/>
 
 
There are a number of lesser variations of the Levitation Charm, such as the [[Hover Charm]], the [[Rocket Charm]]  and the [[Floating Charm]], just to name a few, but the Levitation Charm remains the original and best.<ref name="WBoS"/>
 
   
 
==History==
 
==History==
{{Quote|The Levitation Charm was invented in 1544 by warlock Jarleth Hobart who mistakenly believed that he had at last succeeded in doing what wizardkind had so far failed to do, and learnt to fly.|[[Miranda Goshawk]], ''[[Book of Spells]]''.|Wonderbook: Book of Spells}}
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{{Quote|The Levitation Charm was invented in 1544 by warlock Jarleth Hobart who mistakenly believed that he had at last succeeded in doing what wizardkind had so far failed to do, and learnt to fly.|[[Miranda Goshawk]], ''[[Book of Spells]]''|Wonderbook: Book of Spells}}[[File:HobartLevitating.jpg|250px|thumb|left|Hobart's first public use of the charm, on himself]]
  +
The Levitation Charm was first [[Spell creation|developed]] in the [[16th century|sixteenth century]], and [[warlock]] [[Jarleth Hobart]] is credited with its creation.<ref name="WBS"/>
[[File:HobartLevitating.jpg|left|thumb|350px|Hobart's first public use of the charm, on himself, in [[1540s|1544]].]]
 
The Levitation Charm was first developed in the [[16th century|sixteenth century]], and [[warlock]] [[Jarleth Hobart]] is credited with its creation.
 
   
On [[16 July]], [[1540s|1544]], Hobart invited a large crowd of wizards, among which was the [[Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot in 1544|Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot]], to witness his "maiden flight" — a public demonstration of his own revolutionary charm on himself. He climbed onto the roof of his local church and, after several speeches and a rousing performance of the [[National anthem of the United Kingdom|national anthem]] he leapt and, having cast the spell, was left hovering in mid-air. At first, he seemed to have succeeded but, after having spent nearly three minutes watching him hanging in mid-air, the crowd grew impatient to see him move somewhere, and booed him.
+
On [[16 July]], Hobart invited a large crowd of wizards, among which was the [[Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot in 1544|Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot]], to witness his "maiden flight" — a public demonstration of his own revolutionary charm on himself. He climbed onto the roof of his local church and, after several speeches and a rousing performance of the [[God Save the Queen|national anthem]] he leapt and, having cast the spell, was left hovering in mid-air. At first, he seemed to have succeeded but, after having spent nearly three minutes watching him hanging in mid-air, the crowd grew impatient to see him move somewhere, and booed him.<ref name="WBS"/>
   
In response to the catcalls, Hobart tried to move in midair, and started performing vigorous swimming movements, which produced no effect. Mistakingly believing that his clothes were making him heavier and impeding his movement, Hobart stripped thus making him fall ten feet onto the ground below, as it were the clothes that were holding him up in the air — ''they'' had been charmed by the Levitation Charm, not Hobart himself. He fell completely naked on the ground, breaking sixteen bones, and went on the receive a fine for "outrageous silliness" from the [[Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot in 1544|Chief Warlock]].
+
In response to the catcalls, Hobart tried to move in midair, and started performing vigorous swimming movements, which produced no effect. Mistakenly believing that his clothes were making him heavier and impeding his movement, Hobart stripped thus making him fall ten feet onto the ground below, as it were the clothes that were holding him up in the air — they had been charmed by the Levitation Charm, not Hobart himself. He fell completely naked on the ground, breaking sixteen bones, and received a fine for "''outrageous silliness''" from the Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot in 1544''.''<ref name="WBS"/>
   
Hobart returned home, humiliated, where he realised that his spell could make objects levitate for varying lenghts of time, depending on the skill of the spellcaster and on the weight of the object. He also concluded that small animals or even children could be levitated, but that they had no control whatsoever of their movement once airbourne.
+
Hobart returned home, humiliated, where he realised that his spell could make objects levitate for varying lengths of time, depending on the skill of the spell-caster and on the weight of the object. He also concluded that small animals or even children could be levitated, but that they had no control whatsoever of their movement once airborne.<ref name="WBS"/>
   
He thus made a second announcement, and an even larger crowd gathered to see his second demonstration of the spell (hoping for another laugh at his expense). Hobart's demonstration was, at first, by far more successful than the first one: he showed the onlookers how he could easily levitate objects ranging from small rocks to fallen trees. Hobart decided that, for a finale, we would leviatate the [[Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot in 1544|Chief Warlock]]'s hat — what he managed to levitate, however, was the Chief's wig, exposing his bald head to the gathered crowd. The Chief was not amused, and was determined to [[duel]] Hobart, but the warlock Levitated the Chief's robes over his head, and ran for it.
+
He thus made a second announcement, and an even larger crowd gathered to see his second demonstration of the spell (hoping for another laugh at his expense). Hobart's demonstration was, at first, by far more successful than the first one: he showed the onlookers how he could easily levitate objects ranging from small rocks to fallen trees. Hobart decided that, for a finale, he would levitate the [[Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot in 1544|Chief Warlock]]'s hat — what he managed to levitate, however, was the Chief's wig, exposing his bald head to the gathered crowd. The Chief was not amused, and was determined to [[Duelling|duel]] Hobart, but the Warlock levitated the Chief's robes over his head, and ran for it.<ref name="WBS"/>
  +
  +
This was also the first spell students learnt to cast during their [[Charms (class)|Charms]] lessons in the [[first year]].<ref name="PS10">{{PS|B|10}}</ref><ref name="HM15c">{{HM|1|5|c}}</ref> They revised it in the [[Second year|second]]<ref name="COSG">{{COS|G}}</ref> and their [[third year]].<ref name="POAG">{{POA|G}}</ref> The theoretical Charms [[Ordinary Wizarding Level|O.W.L.]] exam included a question on the Levitation Charm.<ref name="OOTP31"/> [[Hermione Granger]] was the first student in her class to levitate a feather much to [[Ronald Weasley]]'s annoyance.<ref name="PS10"/>
   
 
==Effects==
 
==Effects==
{{Quote|He eventually realized that he had invented a spell that would lift objects into the air and could cause them to hover for varying lengths of time, depending on their weight, and the skill of the spellcaster.|An excerpt from the entry in ''[[Book of Spells]]''.|Wonderbook: Book of Spells}}
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{{Quote|He eventually realised that he had invented a spell that would lift objects into the air and could cause them to hover for varying lengths of time, depending on their weight, and the skill of the spellcaster.|An excerpt from the entry in ''[[Book of Spells]]''|Wonderbook: Book of Spells}}
  +
[[File:Wingardium Leviosa shown on blackboard.png|250px|thumb|right|The movement shown on a blackboard]]
The Levitation Charm appears to be an improvement on both the ''[[Levitation spell|Levioso]]'' and ''[[Locomotor]]'' spells and/or the [[Hover Charm]], being able to lift objects high in to the air but also allowing one to magically move them through it as well. It also conveniently defies gravity by lifting objects heavier than a normal person would otherwise be able to carry, as seen when Ron used this on a troll's club, something a first year Hogwarts student would otherwise never be able to do without magic.
 
  +
The Levitation Charm appeared to be an improvement on both the [[Levitation Spell]] and [[Locomotion Charm]] and/or the [[Hover Charm]], being able to lift objects high in to the air but also allowing one to magically move them through it as well. It also conveniently defied gravity by lifting objects heavier than a normal person, which would otherwise be able to carry, as seen when Ron used this on a troll's club, something a first-year Hogwarts student would otherwise never be able to do without magic.<ref name="PS10"/>
   
  +
{{Quote|This charm ought not to be seen as a joke spell. It can be most useful in duels and can lift physical obstacles and can even Levitate small creatures (though this is likely to confuse any poor animal and is certainly not to be encouraged).|An excerpt from ''[[Book of Spells]]''|Wonderbook: Book of Spells}}
Despite its strengths, however, the Levitation Charm has one fatal flaw: it does not work on [[Human|human beings]]. Though a human can be levitated using this charm, it is actually their clothing that is being affected. The charm is apparently not strong enough to allow a human to do anything more that float a few feet off the air using this method, and therefore does not allow the [[Unsupported flight|true flight]] afforded to most other objects.
 
  +
[[File:WingardiumLeviosaHM.png|180px|thumb|A feather enchanted with this charm|alt=|left]]
  +
Despite its strengths, however, the Levitation Charm had one fatal flaw: it did not work on [[human]] beings. Though a human could be levitated using this charm, it was actually their clothing that was being affected. The charm was apparently not strong enough to allow a human to do anything more that float a few feet off the air using this method, and therefore did not allow the [[Unsupported flight|true flight]] afforded to most other objects.<ref name="WBS"/>
   
Almost anything can be lifted with this spell, although the object levitated depends on the skill of the [[Wizardkind|caster]] and the weight of the object<ref name="WBoS"/>
+
Almost anything could be lifted with this spell, although the object levitated depended on the skill of the [[Wizardkind|caster]] and the weight of the object.<ref name="WBS"/>
   
  +
The effects of this charm could be reversed with the [[General Counter-Spell]].<ref name="HM3WWF"/>
== At Hogwarts ==
 
This is the first spell students learn to cast during their Charms lessons in the first year. They revise it in the second <ref>Chamber of Secrets video game</ref> and their third year<ref>Prisoner of Azkaban video game</ref>. The theoreical Charms OWL exam includes a question on the Levitation Charm.
 
   
==Etymology==
+
==Known uses==
  +
{{Dialogue a-b-a|Ron Weasley|Wingardium Leviosa!|Hermione Granger|You're saying it wrong. It's Wing-gar-dium Levi-o-sa, make the 'gar' nice and long.|You do it, then, if you're so clever|Hermione being condescending toward Ron|Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone}}
''Wingardium'' is a composite word, based on: English ''to wing'' meaning "to fly" (e.g. the plane winged skywards<ref>[http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/wing Wing, definition of]</ref>); ''arduus'' (meaning "high, tall, lofty, steep, proudly elevated"<ref name="The Orb">http://www.the-orb.net/latwords.html Latin word list]</ref><ref>[http://www.online-dictionary.biz/latin/english/meaning/arduus Arduus, meaning of]</ref>) or ''arduum'' (meaning "steep place, the steep"<ref name="The Orb"/><ref>[http://www.online-dictionary.biz/latin/english/meaning/arduum Arduum, meaning of]</ref>); and the common Latin ending ''-ium''. ''Leviosa'' probably derives from Latin ''levo'', meaning to "raise, lift up", or ''levis'', meaning light (of weight)<ref name="The Orb"/><ref>[http://www.online-dictionary.biz/latin/english/meaning/levis Levis, meaning of</ref>. Altogether, therefore, the incantation could best be read as "lift up high".
 
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{| class="wikitable" border="1" 500px; "
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|-
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! width="20%" align="center" |Caster(s)
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! width="20%" align="center" |Date
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! scope="col" |Notes
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|-
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|[[Jarleth Hobart]]
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|[[1544]]
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|The first use of the spell was that of [[Jarleth Hobart|Hobart]] using it on himself as he leapt from the roof of a local church, remaining suspended in mid-air for a brief period of time before the crowd of wizards gathered to watch his new spell.<ref name="WBS"/>
  +
|-
  +
|[[Unidentified 19th-century Hogwarts student]]
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|[[1890–1891 school year]]
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|Taught this charm by [[Professor]] [[Mirabel Garlick]].<ref name="HL PGA1">{{HL|Professor Garlick's Assignment 1}}</ref>
  +
|-
  +
|[[Delphini]]
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|[[31 October]] [[1981]] {{C|alternate timeline}}
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|Delphini used this spell to attack Harry Potter with a church pew, but failed to do so as Harry rolled over to avoid being crushed under it.<ref name="cc">{{CC|B|4|11}}</ref>
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|-
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| rowspan="2" |[[Draco Malfoy]]
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|31 October 1981 {{C|alternate timeline}}
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| Draco used this spell to elevate Delphini in the air and out of sight.<ref name="cc" />
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|-
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|[[June]] [[1996]]
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|Used it during his [[Theory of Charms]] exam.<ref name="OOTP31" />
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|-
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|[[Filius Flitwick]]
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|[[1986–1987 school year]]
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|Used this spell to cause [[Rita Skeeter]] to levitate during a [[Charms (class)|Charms]] lesson, in order for [[Jacob's sibling]] to practically demonstrate the [[General Counter-Spell]].<ref name="HM3WWF">{{HM|3|Wizarding World Famous}}</ref>
  +
[[File:Rita Skeeter being levitated HM.png|200px|thumb|right]]
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|-
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| rowspan="2" |[[Jacob's sibling]]
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|[[1987–1988 school year]]
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|Used this spell to levitate themselves into the air in the [[Forbidden Forest]], in order to see the [[Forbidden Forest Centaur colony|Centaurs]] up high.<ref name="HM413">{{HM|4|13}}</ref>
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|-
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|[[1988–1989 school year]]
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|Used this spell to levitate the fairy cakes [[Jae Kim]] prepared for the [[Valentine's Day Ball]].<ref name="VDB">{{HM|5|VALENTINE'S DAY BALL}}</ref>
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|-
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|[[Wilfred Levi Kidd]]
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|[[1989–1990 school year]]
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|Used this spell to levitate a chest of treasure onto a cart. This was his first successful cast of this spell.<ref name="RCB">{{HM|6|THE RISE OF A CURSE-BREAKER}}</ref>
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|-
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|[[Hermione Granger]]
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|[[31 October]] [[1991]]
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|Hermione was the first student in her [[Charms (class)|charms class]] to master the spell in the first lesson; whilst doing so she attempted to teach Ron Weasley how to correctly cast the spell, much to his annoyance.<ref name="PS10">{{PS|B|10}}</ref>
  +
[[File:Levitation Charm PSF.gif|200px|thumb|right]]
  +
|-
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| rowspan="2" |[[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]]
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|31 October 1991
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|Ron used this spell to defeat a [[Quirinus Quirrell's first mountain troll|Mountain Troll]] which [[Quirinus Quirrell|Professor Quirrell]] had let into the school.<ref name="PS10" />
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|-
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|[[2 May]] [[1998]]
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|He also used the spell again [[1998|seven years later]] to levitate a twig in order to press the knot on the [[Hogwarts Whomping Willow|tree]] that was trying to beat him up which would freeze the aforementioned tree.<ref name="DH32">{{DH|B|32}}</ref>
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|-
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|[[William Weasley|Bill Weasley]]
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| rowspan="2" |[[August]] [[1994]]
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|Used this spell to levitate the table to fight a table levitated by his brother Charlie.<ref name="GOF5">{{GOF|B|5}}</ref>
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|-
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|[[Charles Weasley|Charlie Weasley]]
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|Used this spell to levitate the table to fight a table levitated by his brother Bill.<ref name="GOF5">{{GOF|B|5}}</ref>
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[[File:B4C5M1 playing in the garden at the Burrow.png|200px|thumb|right]]
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|-
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|[[Rita Skeeter]]
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|[[13 November]] 1994
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|Used it [[Nonverbal spell|non-verbally]] to levitate the candles in the [[Broom cupboard (Ground Floor)|Broom cupboard]].<ref name="GOF18">{{GOF|B|18}}</ref>
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|-
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|[[Lee Jordan]]
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|[[1996]]
  +
|Lee used this spell twice to levitate [[Niffler]]s into [[Dolores Umbridge]]'s [[Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher's office|office]] to annoy her; however, eventually another of his teachers, [[Rubeus Hagrid]] got blamed for it instead.<ref name="OOTP31">{{OOTP|B|31}}</ref>
  +
|-
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| rowspan="3" |[[Harry Potter]]
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|[[June]] 1996
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|Used it during his [[Theory of Charms]] exam.<ref name="OOTP31" />
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|-
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|[[18 June]] 1996
  +
|He later used it during the [[Battle of the Department of Mysteries]] in the [[Brain Room]] in an attempt to remove some brains from himself, which managed to attack him.<ref name="OOTP36">{{OOTP|B|36}}</ref>
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|-
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|[[27 July]] [[1997]]
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|Harry used the spell during the [[Battle of the Seven Potters]] to levitate the side-car he was sitting in after it was separated from the[[Sirius Black's motorcycle| motorbike]] it was connected too.<ref name="DH4">{{DH|B|4}}</ref>
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|-
  +
|[[Severus Snape]] (possibly)
  +
|[[October]] 1996
  +
|Snape may have used this spell so that he could examine a [[Opal Necklace|cursed necklace]] without touching it, though that might have been a [[Hover Charm]].<ref name="HBPF">{{HBP|F}}, Chapter 11 (''Cursed Necklace'')</ref>
  +
|-
  +
|[[Minerva McGonagall]]
  +
|[[1 May]] 1998
  +
|McGonagall used this spell during the [[Ousting of Severus Snape]], causing a torch to fly off of its bracket and spin around, creating a wild movement of flames similar to that of a lasso in an attempt to thwart the [[Death Eaters|Death Eater]].<ref name="DH30">{{DH|B|30}}</ref>
  +
|-
  +
|[[Unidentified Muggle-born Hogwarts student]]
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| rowspan="2" |[[2008–2009 school year]]
  +
|Used it in [[Charms (class)|Charms class]].<ref name="MA">{{MA}}</ref>
  +
|-
  +
|[[Ivy Warrington]]
  +
|Used it in her [[Hogwarts Houses|house]]'s [[common room]] to practise.<ref name="MA"/>
  +
|}
   
  +
*The fictional character [[Babbitty Rabbity]] may have used this spell to levitate a [[horse]], in the tale of ''[[Babbitty Rabbitty and her Cackling Stump]]'', found in {{TBB}}.<ref name="TBB">{{TBB|B}}</ref>
==Known uses and practitioners==
 
[[File:Wingardiumleviosa.jpg|thumb|left|[[Hermione Granger]] casting the charm in her first year]]
 
{{Dialogue a-b|Ron Weasley|Wingardium Leviosa!|Hermione|You're saying it wrong. It's Wing-gar-dium Levi-o-sa, make the 'gar' nice and long.|[[Hermione Granger]] condescending to [[Ronald Weasley]] regarding the proper way to say the incantation|Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone}}
 
*The first use of the spell was that of [[Jarleth Hobart|Hobart]] using it in [[1544]] on himself as he leapt from the roof of a local church, remaining suspended in mid-air for a brief period of time before the crowd of wizards gathered to watch his new spell.
 
*[[Harry Potter]] used this spell in [[1992]] to [[levitation|levitate]] two cakes containing a [[Sleeping Draught]].<ref name=CSf">''[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)]]''</ref> He later used it during the [[Battle of the Department of Mysteries]] to attempt to remove some brains from his friend [[Ronald Weasley|Ron]], who they had attacked. Harry used the spell a third time during the [[Battle of the Seven Potters]] to levitate the side-car he was sitting in after it was separated from [[Sirius Black's motorcycle|the motorbike it was connected to]].
 
[[Hermione Granger]] used it twice; first in [[1991]], she was the first student in her [[Charms (class)|charms class]] to master the spell in the first lesson; whilst doing so she attempted to teach [[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]] how to correctly cast the spell, much to his annoyance.<ref name="PS"/> Then she cast it again six years later to move [[Ronald Weasley|Ron]] from wreckage in [[Lovegood House|a house they were visiting]] after a [[Erumpent horn|dangerous artifact]] exploded. 
 
[[Lee Jordan]] used this spell twice in [[1996]] to levitate [[Niffler|nifflers]] into [[Dolores Umbridge|his professor's]] office to annoy her; however, eventually [[Rubeus Hagrid|another of his teachers]] got blamed for it.
 
[[Severus Snape]] may have used this spell in [[October]] [[1996]] so that he could examine a [[Opal necklace|cursed necklace]] without touching it, though that might have been a [[Hover Charm]]. [[Ronald Weasley]] used this spell twice; once in [[1991]] to defeat a [[Mountain Troll|troll]] which [[Quirinus Quirrell|Professor Quirrell]] had let into the school<ref name="PS"/> and again [[1998|seven years later]] to levitate a twig in order to press the knot on the [[Hogwarts Whomping Willow|tree that was trying to beat him up]] which would freeze the aforementioned tree. <ref>''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]''-Chapter 32 (''The Elder Wand'')</ref>. Lastly, [[Xenophilius Lovegood]] used this spell in [[1998]] to attempt to clear wreckage on his staircase in order to apprehend [[Harry Potter]] during the [[Ambush at the Lovegood House|confrontation at his house]].<ref name="DH">[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows</ref>
 
The [[fifth year]] [[Charms]] [[Ordinary Wizarding Level|O.W.L]], both written and practical, concerned this spell.
 
   
===Other practitioners===
+
==Known practitioners==
  +
<gallery orientation="portrait" position="center" spacing="small" widths="105">
*[[Orabella Nuttley]]
 
  +
JarlethHobart.png|[[Jarleth Hobart]]<ref name="WBS"/>
*[[Bellatrix Lestrange]] <ref>''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix]]''</ref>
 
*[[Colin Creevey]] <ref name="OOTPvg"/>
+
Mirabel Garlick.png|[[Mirabel Garlick]]<ref name="HL PGA1"/>
  +
Unidentified 19th-century Hogwarts student.jpeg|[[Unidentified 19th-century Hogwarts student]]<ref name="HL PGA1"/>
*[[Dean Thomas]] <ref name="OOTPvg"/>
 
  +
Filius Flitwick profile.jpg|[[Filius Flitwick]]<ref name="PS10"/><ref name="LEGOY1">{{LEGO|Y1}}</ref><ref name="HM15c"/><ref name="HM3WWF"/>
*[[Draco Malfoy]] <ref>''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix]]''</ref>
 
  +
Mcgonagall.jpg|[[Minerva McGonagall]]<ref name="DH30"/>
*[[Filius Flitwick]]
 
*[[Fred Weasley]] <ref name="OOTPvg"/>
+
Rita skeeter 1.png|[[Rita Skeeter]]<ref name="GOF18"/>
*[[George Weasley]] <ref name="OOTPvg"/>
+
Hermione Granger OOTP profile.jpg|[[Hermione Granger]]<ref name="PS10"/>
  +
OOTP promo front Ron cropped.jpg|[[Ronald Weasley]]<ref name="PS10"/><ref name="DH32"/>
*[[Katie Bell]] <ref>[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (video game)]]</ref>
 
  +
OOTP promo front Harry cropped.jpg|[[Harry Potter]]<ref name="COSF">{{COS|F}}, Chapter 20 (''Polyjuice Potion'')</ref><ref name="OOTP31"/><ref name="OOTP36"/><ref name="DH4"/>
*[[Luna Lovegood]] <ref name="OOTPvg"/>
 
  +
Colin Creevey OOTPG.jpg|[[Colin Creevey]]<ref name="OOTPvg" />
*[[Quirinus Quirrell]]<ref>Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game)</ref>
 
  +
OOTP promo Dean Thomas.png|[[Dean Thomas]]<ref name="OOTPvg" />
*[[Sirius Black]] <ref name="OOTPvg">''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game)]]''</ref>
 
  +
Arthur Weasley profile.jpg|[[Arthur Weasley]]<ref name="COSG"/><ref name="GOFG">{{GOF|G}}</ref>
  +
Bill Weasley 2.jpg|[[William Weasley]]<ref name="GOF5"/>
  +
Charlie PM.jpg|[[Charles Weasley|Charlie Weasley]]<ref name="GOF5"/>
  +
Fred HS TDH promo.jpg|[[Fred Weasley]]<ref name="OOTPvg" />
  +
DH promo front closeup George Weasley.jpg|[[George Weasley]]<ref name="OOTPvg" />
  +
Leejordan OoTP.PNG|[[Lee Jordan]]<ref name="OOTP31"/>
  +
Katie Bell infobox.jpg|[[Katie Bell]]<ref name="HBPG">{{HBP|G}}</ref>
  +
Luna Lovegood.jpg|[[Luna Lovegood]]<ref name="OOTPvg" />
  +
OOTP promo front closeup Sirius Black.jpg|[[Sirius Black]]<ref name="OOTPvg">{{OOTP|G}}</ref>
  +
Draco Malfoy hp6.jpg|[[Draco Malfoy]]<ref name="OOTP31"/><ref name="cc" />
  +
Delphini CC.jpg|[[Delphini]]<ref name="cc">{{CC|B|4|11}}</ref>
  +
Quirinus Quirrel.jpg|[[Quirinus Quirrell]]<ref name="PSG">{{PS|G}}</ref>
  +
Lord Voldemort Tom Marvolo Riddle Original Appearance.jpg|[[Tom Riddle]]<ref name="PSG"/>
  +
Wormtail DH1.jpg|[[Peter Pettigrew]]<ref name="GOFF">{{GOF|F}}, Chapter 27 (''Kill the Spare'')</ref>
  +
Jacob's sibling generic.png|[[Jacob's sibling]]<ref name="HM15c"/><ref name="HM413"/>
  +
Wilfred Levi Kidd.jpg|[[Wilfred Levi Kidd]]<ref name="RCB"/>
  +
Ivy Warrington from Harry Potter Magic Awakened.png|[[Ivy Warrington]]<ref name="MA"/>
  +
Wandkeeper WWHP.jpg|[[Wandkeeper]]<ref name="cody">[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vyeuak78RM&feature=related "Ollivanders Wand Shop June 2nd"] on [http://www.youtube.com/ YouTube]</ref>
  +
</gallery>
  +
*[[Rowan Khanna]]{{fact}}
  +
*[[Unidentified Muggle-born Hogwarts student]]<ref name="MA"/>
  +
  +
==Etymology==
  +
''Wingardium'' is a composite word, based on: English ''to wing'' meaning "to fly" (e.g. the plane winged skywards);<ref>[http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/wing Wing, definition of]</ref> ''arduus'' (meaning "high, tall, lofty, steep, proudly elevated")<ref name="The Orb">[http://www.the-orb.net/latwords.html Latin word list]</ref><ref>[http://www.online-dictionary.biz/latin/english/meaning/arduus Arduus, meaning of]</ref> or ''arduum'' (meaning "steep place, the steep");<ref name="The Orb" /><ref>[http://www.online-dictionary.biz/latin/english/meaning/arduum Arduum, meaning of]</ref> and the common Latin ending ''-ium''. ''Leviosa'' probably derives from Latin ''levo'', meaning to "raise, lift up", or ''levis'', meaning light (of weight).<ref name="The Orb" /><ref>[http://www.online-dictionary.biz/latin/english/meaning/levis Levis, meaning of]</ref> Altogether, therefore, the incantation could best be read as "lift up high".
   
 
==Behind the scenes==
 
==Behind the scenes==
  +
[[File:WingardiumLeviosaPAS.png|150px|thumb|This spell as seen in {{PAS}}]]
{{Quote|This charm ought not to be seen as a joke spell. It can be most useful in duels and can lift physical obstacles and can even Levitate small creatures (though this is likely to confuse any poor animal and is certainly not to be encouraged).|An excerpt from ''[[Book of Spells]]''.|Wonderbook: Book of Spells}}
 
 
*Whilst it was originally assumed that this spell and the [[Hover Charm]] were the same, they are not; the Hover Charm makes the target '''hover''', whereas this one is always described as making it '''fly'''.
 
*Whilst it was originally assumed that this spell and the [[Hover Charm]] were the same, they are not; the Hover Charm makes the target '''hover''', whereas this one is always described as making it '''fly'''.
  +
*In {{POA}}, the trio does not use this spell to stop the Whomping Willow from moving, although they do know it. It is only in {{DH}} that they use the spell to stop the tree. However, the [[Marauders]] also used the [[Animagus]] form of [[Peter Pettigrew]] to stop the tree rather than a spell.
*The fictional character [[Babbitty]] may have used this spell to levitate a horse.<ref>[[The Tales of Beedle the Bard]]</ref>
 
  +
[[File:Levitation Charm.gif|200px|thumb|Harry using this charm to levitate cupcakes in {{COS|FA}}]]
*In ''[[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban]]'', the trio does not use this spell to stop the Whomping Willow from moving, although they do know it. It is only in ''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]'' that they use the spell to stop the tree.
 
  +
*In {{COS|FA}}, [[Harry Potter]] uses this charm to levitate two cupcakes for [[Gregory Goyle]] and [[Vincent Crabbe]] to eat, containing [[Sleeping Draught]], where as in {{COS}}, they simply leave the cakes on the banisters of the [[Grand Staircase]].
*As a homage to the scene in the movie, the PC version of [[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game)]] had feathers flying out of the wand when the spell was used.
 
  +
[[File:WingardiumLeviosaGesturePAS.png|150px|thumb|The wand movement shown in {{PAS}}]]
*In the [[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game)|GBC video game adaptation]] of ''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone]]'', this spell is used to lift small enemies (havling no effect on large ones), and will deal damage depending on the target (e.g. if it is very light, flying, or, has a shell, it deals very little damage).
 
  +
*As a homage to the scene in the film, the [[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (PC, Mac)|PC version of the first video game]] had feathers flying out of the wand when the spell was used.
*A potential variation of this spell is [[Alarte Ascendare]], used by [[Gilderoy Lockhart]] to unintentionally send a [[snake]] flying into the air.
 
  +
[[File:Hermione_with_feather_pop_vinyl.jpg|150px|thumb|[[Hermione Granger]] levitating a [[feather]] with this charm as a [[POP! Vinyl]]]]
*This may have been the spell that [[William Weasley|Bill]] and [[Charles Weasley|Charlie Weasley]] used to levitate the tables and have a fight with them.
 
  +
*In the [[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (GBC)|GBC video game adaptation]] of {{PS}}, this spell is used to lift small enemies (havling no effect on large ones), and will deal damage depending on the target (e.g. if it is very light, flying, or, has a shell, it deals very little damage).
*The first question of the [[1995-1996 school year|1996]] Theory of Charms exam required students to give the incantation and wand movement for a Levitation Charm.
 
*In ''[[LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4]]'', ''[[Mending Charm|Reparo]]'' is not present, ''Wingardium Leviosa'' is used instead as repairing charm. It levitates broken [[LEGO Harry Potter|LEGO pieces]] to form a new or previous object.
+
*In {{LEGO|Y1}}, the [[Mending Charm]] is not present, ''Wingardium Leviosa'' is used instead as repairing charm. It levitates broken [[LEGO Harry Potter|LEGO pieces]] to form a new or previous object.
*Although this spell canonically produces no visible effects (apart from its actual spell effect of levitation) - a possible sign of its simplicity - it sometimes does in other HP media. For example, in [[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (video game)|Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]] the spell connects objects and wand via a yellow stream of light continually released from the wand tip whereas in [[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game)|Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets]] (GBA version) a blue orb of magical energy is shot at the target. In ''[[LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4]]'' a pink glow appears around the object and levitates it.
+
*Although this spell canonically produces no visible effects (apart from its actual spell effect of levitation) - a possible sign of its simplicity - it sometimes does in other HP media. For example, in [[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (video game)|Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]] the spell connects objects and wand via a yellow stream of light continually released from the wand tip whereas in [[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game)|Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets]] (GBA version) a blue orb of magical energy is shot at the target. In {{LEGO|Y1}} a pink glow appears around the object and levitates it.
*In ''[[LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4]]'' the Levitation Charm is also a double up of the [[Cruciatus Curse]] for [[Death Eaters]]. It works the same way as the Levitation Charm by lifting it's victim off the ground, but instead it causes them to writhe and scream.
+
*In {{LEGO|Y1}} the Levitation Charm is also a double up of the [[Cruciatus Curse]] for [[Death Eaters]]. It works the same way as the Levitation Charm by lifting it's victim off the ground, but instead it causes them to writhe and scream in pain, causing them damage.
  +
*This spell's incantation is Warwick Davis's favourite line,<ref name="Warwick">[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3FP-nmkFL0&feature=relmfu/ See this YouTube video]</ref> and his favourite spell in the series.<ref name="favourite">{{PM}}, [https://www.pottermore.com/news/what-are-the-harry-potter-cast-members-favourite-hogwarts-classes/ What are the Harry Potter cast members favourite Hogwarts classes?]</ref>
[[File:Levitation Wonderbook.jpg|thumb]]
 
  +
*In ''[[The LEGO Batman Movie]]'', [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]] uses the incantation of this spell for effects normally completely unrelated to it, emitting a green light similar to the [[Killing Curse]] and [[Human Transfiguration|transfiguring people into fish]].
*According to ''[[Pottermore]]'', the hand motion is thus:<br />[[File:Levitation-charm.png]]
 
*This spell is Warwick Davis's favourite line.<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3FP-nmkFL0&feature=relmfu</ref>
 
   
 
==Appearances==
 
==Appearances==
  +
{{Imagecat|Images of the Levitation Charm}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone]]'' {{1st}}
 
  +
*{{PS}} {{1st}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)]]''
 
  +
*{{PS|F}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game)]]''
 
  +
*{{PS|G}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets]]''
 
  +
*{{COS|F}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)]]''
 
  +
*{{COS|G}} {{C|GBA and PS1 versions only}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game)]] {{Comment|GBA version only}}''
 
  +
*{{POA|G}} {{C|GBA version only}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban]]''
 
  +
*{{GOF}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game)]]'' {{Comment|GBA version only}}
 
  +
*{{GOF|F}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (video game)]]''
 
  +
*{{GOF|G}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix]]''
 
  +
*{{OOTP}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)]]''
 
  +
*{{OOTP|F}} {{Possible}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game)]]''
 
  +
*{{OOTP|G}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)]]''
 
  +
*{{HBP|F}} {{Possible}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (video game)]]''
 
  +
*{{HBP|G}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]''
 
  +
*{{DH}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (video game)]]''
 
  +
*{{DH|G1}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2]]''
 
  +
*{{DH|F2}}
*''[[LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4]]''
 
  +
*{{DH|G2}} {{NDS only}}
*''[[LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7]]''
 
  +
*{{CC}}
*''[[Harry Potter: Spells]]''
 
  +
*{{CC|P}}
*''[[Harry Potter Trading Card Game]]''
 
  +
*{{TBB|R}} {{Possible}}
*''[[Wonderbook: Book of Spells]]''
 
  +
*{{PM}}
*''[[Pottermore]]''
 
  +
*{{WW}}
  +
*{{TCG}}
  +
*{{HPV|CR}} {{Mention}}
  +
*''[[Harry Potter: The Wand Collection]]'' {{Mention}}
  +
*{{WWHP}}
  +
*{{LEGO|Y1}}
  +
*{{LEGO|Y2}}
  +
*{{LEGO|D}}
  +
*{{HPS}}
  +
*{{HPK}}
  +
*{{WBS}}
  +
*{{HM}}
  +
*{{WU}}
  +
*{{PAS}}
  +
*{{MA}}
  +
*{{HL}}
  +
*{{HPMCW}}
  +
 
==Notes and references==
 
==Notes and references==
 
{{Reflist}}
 
{{Reflist}}
 
{{Charms}}
 
{{Charms}}
 
{{The Standard Book of Spells}}
 
{{The Standard Book of Spells}}
  +
[[ca:Wingardium Leviosa]]
[[de:Levitation]]<br />[[es:Encantamiento levitatorio]]<br />[[fr:Sortilège de Lévitation]]<br />[[fi:Siipiirdium lentiusa]]
 
  +
[[de:Schwebe-Zauber]]
  +
[[de2:Schwebezauber]]
  +
[[es:Encantamiento levitatorio]]
  +
[[fr:Sortilège de Lévitation]]
  +
[[fi:Siipiirdium lentiusa]]
  +
[[it:Incantesimo di Levitazione]]
  +
[[ja:ウィンガーディアム レヴィオーサ]]
  +
[[pl:Wingardium Leviosa]]
  +
[[pt-br:Feitiço de Levitação]]
  +
[[ru:Вингардиум Левиоса]]
 
[[Category:Charms]]
 
[[Category:Charms]]
  +
[[Category:Levitation]]
 
[[Category:Spells of known incantation]]
 
[[Category:Spells of known incantation]]

Latest revision as of 14:44, 1 February 2024

"The Levitation Charm is one of the first spells learnt by any young witch or wizard. With the charm a witch or wizard can make things fly with the flick of a wand. The charm is an excellent test of your magical skills, wand control and above all, patience."
— An excerpt from Book of Spells[src]

The Levitation Charm[4] (Wingardium Leviosa)[1] was a charm used to make objects fly, or levitate.[1] It was taught to first-years at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.[1][5]

There were a number of lesser variations of the Levitation Charm, such as the Levitation Spell, the Hover Charm, the Rocket Charm, and the Floating Charm, but the Levitation Charm remained the original and best.[3]

History

"The Levitation Charm was invented in 1544 by warlock Jarleth Hobart who mistakenly believed that he had at last succeeded in doing what wizardkind had so far failed to do, and learnt to fly."
Miranda Goshawk, Book of Spells[src]
HobartLevitating

Hobart's first public use of the charm, on himself

The Levitation Charm was first developed in the sixteenth century, and warlock Jarleth Hobart is credited with its creation.[3]

On 16 July, Hobart invited a large crowd of wizards, among which was the Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, to witness his "maiden flight" — a public demonstration of his own revolutionary charm on himself. He climbed onto the roof of his local church and, after several speeches and a rousing performance of the national anthem he leapt and, having cast the spell, was left hovering in mid-air. At first, he seemed to have succeeded but, after having spent nearly three minutes watching him hanging in mid-air, the crowd grew impatient to see him move somewhere, and booed him.[3]

In response to the catcalls, Hobart tried to move in midair, and started performing vigorous swimming movements, which produced no effect. Mistakenly believing that his clothes were making him heavier and impeding his movement, Hobart stripped thus making him fall ten feet onto the ground below, as it were the clothes that were holding him up in the air — they had been charmed by the Levitation Charm, not Hobart himself. He fell completely naked on the ground, breaking sixteen bones, and received a fine for "outrageous silliness" from the Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot in 1544.[3]

Hobart returned home, humiliated, where he realised that his spell could make objects levitate for varying lengths of time, depending on the skill of the spell-caster and on the weight of the object. He also concluded that small animals or even children could be levitated, but that they had no control whatsoever of their movement once airborne.[3]

He thus made a second announcement, and an even larger crowd gathered to see his second demonstration of the spell (hoping for another laugh at his expense). Hobart's demonstration was, at first, by far more successful than the first one: he showed the onlookers how he could easily levitate objects ranging from small rocks to fallen trees. Hobart decided that, for a finale, he would levitate the Chief Warlock's hat — what he managed to levitate, however, was the Chief's wig, exposing his bald head to the gathered crowd. The Chief was not amused, and was determined to duel Hobart, but the Warlock levitated the Chief's robes over his head, and ran for it.[3]

This was also the first spell students learnt to cast during their Charms lessons in the first year.[1][5] They revised it in the second[6] and their third year.[7] The theoretical Charms O.W.L. exam included a question on the Levitation Charm.[8] Hermione Granger was the first student in her class to levitate a feather much to Ronald Weasley's annoyance.[1]

Effects

"He eventually realised that he had invented a spell that would lift objects into the air and could cause them to hover for varying lengths of time, depending on their weight, and the skill of the spellcaster."
— An excerpt from the entry in Book of Spells[src]
Wingardium Leviosa shown on blackboard

The movement shown on a blackboard

The Levitation Charm appeared to be an improvement on both the Levitation Spell and Locomotion Charm and/or the Hover Charm, being able to lift objects high in to the air but also allowing one to magically move them through it as well. It also conveniently defied gravity by lifting objects heavier than a normal person, which would otherwise be able to carry, as seen when Ron used this on a troll's club, something a first-year Hogwarts student would otherwise never be able to do without magic.[1]

"This charm ought not to be seen as a joke spell. It can be most useful in duels and can lift physical obstacles and can even Levitate small creatures (though this is likely to confuse any poor animal and is certainly not to be encouraged)."
— An excerpt from Book of Spells[src]
WingardiumLeviosaHM

A feather enchanted with this charm

Despite its strengths, however, the Levitation Charm had one fatal flaw: it did not work on human beings. Though a human could be levitated using this charm, it was actually their clothing that was being affected. The charm was apparently not strong enough to allow a human to do anything more that float a few feet off the air using this method, and therefore did not allow the true flight afforded to most other objects.[3]

Almost anything could be lifted with this spell, although the object levitated depended on the skill of the caster and the weight of the object.[3]

The effects of this charm could be reversed with the General Counter-Spell.[9]

Known uses

Ron Weasley: "Wingardium Leviosa!"
Hermione Granger: "You're saying it wrong. It's Wing-gar-dium Levi-o-sa, make the 'gar' nice and long."
Ron Weasley: "You do it, then, if you're so clever"
— Hermione being condescending toward Ron[src]
Caster(s) Date Notes
Jarleth Hobart 1544 The first use of the spell was that of Hobart using it on himself as he leapt from the roof of a local church, remaining suspended in mid-air for a brief period of time before the crowd of wizards gathered to watch his new spell.[3]
Unidentified 19th-century Hogwarts student 1890–1891 school year Taught this charm by Professor Mirabel Garlick.[10]
Delphini 31 October 1981 (alternate timeline) Delphini used this spell to attack Harry Potter with a church pew, but failed to do so as Harry rolled over to avoid being crushed under it.[11]
Draco Malfoy 31 October 1981 (alternate timeline) Draco used this spell to elevate Delphini in the air and out of sight.[11]
June 1996 Used it during his Theory of Charms exam.[8]
Filius Flitwick 1986–1987 school year Used this spell to cause Rita Skeeter to levitate during a Charms lesson, in order for Jacob's sibling to practically demonstrate the General Counter-Spell.[9]
Rita Skeeter being levitated HM
Jacob's sibling 1987–1988 school year Used this spell to levitate themselves into the air in the Forbidden Forest, in order to see the Centaurs up high.[12]
1988–1989 school year Used this spell to levitate the fairy cakes Jae Kim prepared for the Valentine's Day Ball.[13]
Wilfred Levi Kidd 1989–1990 school year Used this spell to levitate a chest of treasure onto a cart. This was his first successful cast of this spell.[14]
Hermione Granger 31 October 1991 Hermione was the first student in her charms class to master the spell in the first lesson; whilst doing so she attempted to teach Ron Weasley how to correctly cast the spell, much to his annoyance.[1]
Levitation Charm PSF
Ron Weasley 31 October 1991 Ron used this spell to defeat a Mountain Troll which Professor Quirrell had let into the school.[1]
2 May 1998 He also used the spell again seven years later to levitate a twig in order to press the knot on the tree that was trying to beat him up which would freeze the aforementioned tree.[15]
Bill Weasley August 1994 Used this spell to levitate the table to fight a table levitated by his brother Charlie.[16]
Charlie Weasley Used this spell to levitate the table to fight a table levitated by his brother Bill.[16]
B4C5M1 playing in the garden at the Burrow
Rita Skeeter 13 November 1994 Used it non-verbally to levitate the candles in the Broom cupboard.[17]
Lee Jordan 1996 Lee used this spell twice to levitate Nifflers into Dolores Umbridge's office to annoy her; however, eventually another of his teachers, Rubeus Hagrid got blamed for it instead.[8]
Harry Potter June 1996 Used it during his Theory of Charms exam.[8]
18 June 1996 He later used it during the Battle of the Department of Mysteries in the Brain Room in an attempt to remove some brains from himself, which managed to attack him.[18]
27 July 1997 Harry used the spell during the Battle of the Seven Potters to levitate the side-car he was sitting in after it was separated from the motorbike it was connected too.[19]
Severus Snape (possibly) October 1996 Snape may have used this spell so that he could examine a cursed necklace without touching it, though that might have been a Hover Charm.[20]
Minerva McGonagall 1 May 1998 McGonagall used this spell during the Ousting of Severus Snape, causing a torch to fly off of its bracket and spin around, creating a wild movement of flames similar to that of a lasso in an attempt to thwart the Death Eater.[21]
Unidentified Muggle-born Hogwarts student 2008–2009 school year Used it in Charms class.[22]
Ivy Warrington Used it in her house's common room to practise.[22]

Known practitioners

Etymology

Wingardium is a composite word, based on: English to wing meaning "to fly" (e.g. the plane winged skywards);[32] arduus (meaning "high, tall, lofty, steep, proudly elevated")[33][34] or arduum (meaning "steep place, the steep");[33][35] and the common Latin ending -ium. Leviosa probably derives from Latin levo, meaning to "raise, lift up", or levis, meaning light (of weight).[33][36] Altogether, therefore, the incantation could best be read as "lift up high".

Behind the scenes

WingardiumLeviosaPAS

This spell as seen in Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells

Levitation Charm

Harry using this charm to levitate cupcakes in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

WingardiumLeviosaGesturePAS

The wand movement shown in Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells

Hermione with feather pop vinyl

Hermione Granger levitating a feather with this charm as a POP! Vinyl

Appearances

Wiki
The Harry Potter Wiki has 33 images related to Levitation Charm.

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 Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 10 (Hallowe'en)
  2. Pottermore, The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1 menu
  3. 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 Wonderbook: Book of Spells (see this video)
  4. Pottermore (see this image)
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 1, Chapter 5 (The Duel) - Charms Lesson "Wingardium Leviosa"
  6. 6.0 6.1 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game)
  7. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game)
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 31 (O.W.L.s)
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 3, Side Quest "Wizarding World Famous"
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 Hogwarts Legacy, Assignment Quest "Professor Garlick's Assignment 1"
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Act Four, Scene Eleven
  12. 12.0 12.1 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 4, Chapter 13 (The Centaur's Arrow)
  13. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 5, "VALENTINE'S DAY BALL" Achievement
  14. 14.0 14.1 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 6, "THE RISE OF A CURSE-BREAKER" Achievement
  15. 15.0 15.1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 32 (The Elder Wand)
  16. 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 5 (Weasley's Wizard Wheezes)
  17. 17.0 17.1 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 18 (The Weighing of the Wands)
  18. 18.0 18.1 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 36 (The Only One He Ever Feared)
  19. 19.0 19.1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 4 (The Seven Potters)
  20. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film), Chapter 11 (Cursed Necklace)
  21. 21.0 21.1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 30 (The Sacking of Severus Snape)
  22. 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 Harry Potter: Magic Awakened
  23. The Tales of Beedle the Bard, "Babbitty Rabbitty and Her Cackling Stump"
  24. LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
  25. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film), Chapter 20 (Polyjuice Potion)
  26. 26.0 26.1 26.2 26.3 26.4 26.5 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game)
  27. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (video game)
  28. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (video game)
  29. 29.0 29.1 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game)
  30. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film), Chapter 27 (Kill the Spare)
  31. "Ollivanders Wand Shop June 2nd" on YouTube
  32. Wing, definition of
  33. 33.0 33.1 33.2 Latin word list
  34. Arduus, meaning of
  35. Arduum, meaning of
  36. Levis, meaning of
  37. See this YouTube video
  38. Pottermore, What are the Harry Potter cast members favourite Hogwarts classes?
Charms (class)
PS Wingardium Leviosa feather
Charm-book writers and developers
Blagdon Blay · Daisy Pennifold · Delfina Crimp · Miranda Goshawk · Jarleth Hobart · Basil Horton · Helixa Hyslop · Syna Hyslop · Randolph Keitch · Levina Monkstanley · Orabella Nuttley · Mnemone Radford · Scarpin · Elliot Smethwyck · Felix Summerbee · Violeta Stitch
Professors Fortinbras · Filius Flitwick · Abraham Ronen · Unidentified male professor · Unidentified medieval professor
Textbooks Achievements in Charming · Extreme Incantations · Quintessence: A Quest · The Standard Book of Spells
Charms studied at Hogwarts
Anti-Alohomora Charm · Ascension Charm (Ascendio) · Banishing Charm (Depulso) · Blackboard Writing Spell · Blue sparks · Bombardment Spell (Bombarda) · Box Blasting Charm (Cistem Aperio) · Bubble-Head Charm · Cheering Charm · Cleaning Charm · Colour Change Charm (Colovaria) · Confundus Charm (Confundo) · Counter-charm for hiccoughs · Dancing Feet Spell (Tarantallegra) · Descendo · Disarming Charm (Expelliarmus) · Disillusionment Charm · Drought Charm · Entrancing Enchantments (theoretically) · Eradication Spell (Deletrius) · Engorgement Charm (Engorgio) · Extinguishing Spell · Fire-Making Spell (Incendio) · Freezing Charm (Immobulus) · Freezing Spell (Glacius) · Full Body-Bind Curse (Petrificus Totalus) · General Counter-Spell (Finite Incantatem) · Gouging Spell (Defodio) · Growth Charm · Ice Jinx · Impervius Charm (Impervius) · Knitting Charm · Knockback Jinx (Flipendo) · Leg-Locker Curse (Locomotor Mortis) · Levitation Charm (Wingardium Leviosa) · Locking Spell (Colloportus) · Locomotion Charm (Locomotor) · Lumos Solem Spell (Lumos Solem) · Mending Charm (Reparo) · Memory Charm (Obliviate) · Muffliato Charm (Muffliato) · Nonverbal spells · Pack Charm (Pack) · Red Sparks (Vermillious) · Reductor Curse (Reducto) · Scouring Charm (Scourgify) · Seize and pull charm (Carpe Retractum) · Severing Charm (Diffindo) · Shrinking Charm (Reducio) · Silencing Charm (Silencio) · Slowing Charm (Arresto Momentum) · Skurge Charm (Skurge) · Softening Charm (Spongify) · Spell for growing legs · Substantive Charm · Summoning Charm (Accio) · Tickling Charm (Rictusempra) · Unlocking Charm (Alohomora) · Vinegar to wine spell · Wand-Extinguishing Charm (Nox) · Wand-Lighting Charm (Lumos) · Lumos Maxima · Water-Making Spell (Aguamenti)
The Standard Book of Spells
Book of Spells 1
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)