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{{Title|''{{PAGENAME}}''}}
 
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{{Pottermoreold}}
 
 
 
{{Spell infobox
 
{{Spell infobox
|name=Morsmordre
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|name=''Morsmordre''
|image=[[File:Dark_Mark_Half-Blood_Prince.jpg|250px]]
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|image=[[File:Screen_Shot_2013-09-30_at_8.00.40_PM.png|250px]]
|incantation=''Morsmordre'' (morz-MOR-druh)
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|incantation=''Morsmordre''<ref name="GF9">{{GOF}} - Chapter 9 (''The Dark Mark'')</ref><br/>(morz-MOR-druh)<ref name="GOFf"/>
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|type=
|light=Green
 
 
|hand=Point wand at sky<ref name="GOFf">''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)]]''</ref>
|type=[[Curse]]
 
 
|light=Green<ref name="GF9"/>
|hand=Point wand in the sky <ref>''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)]]''</ref>
 
|effect=Conjures the Dark Mark
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|effect=Conjures the [[Dark Mark]]<ref name="GF9"/>
 
}}
 
}}
{{dialogue a-b|Ronald Weasley|I don't get it, I mean... it's still only a shape in the sky...|Arthur Weasley|Ron, You-Know-Who and his followers sent the Dark Mark into the air whenever they killed. The terror it inspired... you have no idea, you're too young. Just picture coming home, and finding the Dark Mark hovering over your house, and knowing what you're about to find... Everyone's worst fear... the very worst...|[[Ronald Weasley|Ron]] and [[Arthur Weasley]] discussing the [[Dark Mark]].|Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire}}
 
   
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{{Quote|Then he realised it was a colossal skull, comprised of what looked like emerald stars, with a serpent protruding from its mouth like a tongue. As they watched, it rose higher and higher, blazing in a haze of greenish smoke, etched against the black sky like a new constellation.|The [[Dark Mark]]|Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire}}
'''Morsmordre''' is the incantation of the [[curse]] used to conjure the [[Dark Mark]], the skull-and-serpent sign used by [[Tom Riddle|Voldemort]] and his [[Death Eaters]]. It is very likely that Voldemort invented this piece of magic and taught it to his followers. Only [[Death Eaters]] and [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]] know the correct way to cast the spell, although [[Horace Slughorn]] is implied to know how to cast the spell as well<ref>''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince]]'' - Chapter 4 ([[Horace Slughorn]])</ref>. [[Death Eaters]] often cast it after committing a murder, placing the [[Dark Mark]] in the sky over the location of the victim's corpse. It is against the law to cast this spell, even though, beyond its symbolic impact, there's no indication the spell causes any physical damage.
 
   
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'''''Morsmordre'''''<ref name="GF9"/> was the [[incantation]] used to conjure the [[Dark Mark]], the skull-and-sepent sign used by [[Honourific|Lord]] [[Tom Riddle|Voldemort]] and his [[Death Eaters]]<ref name="GF9"/>. The Death Eaters cast their mark over the homes of anyone they [[Killing Curse|killed]]<ref name="GF9"/>.
==Known users==
 
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<!--DO NOT delete Severus Snape. The Behind The Scenes facts says that he and Bellatrix performed the hugest Dark Mark (Morsmordre) ever-->
 
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==History==
*[[Bartemius Crouch Jr.]]
 
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===First Wizarding War===
*[[Bellatrix Lestrange]]
 
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In the [[First Wizarding War]], ''Morsmordre'' became something of a [[Signature spell|signature move]] for the Death Eater organisation in general<ref name="GF9"/>. Upon committing murder, they would cast it over the locations of their crimes; this led to the [[Wizarding world|wizarding community]] fearing the Mark's appearance, as it would usually mean [[death]] would be found where it was present<ref name="GF9"/>.
*[[Gibbon]]
 
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*[[Lord Voldemort]]
 
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After Voldemort's [[Attack at Godric's Hollow (1981)|first defeat]], the Mark became absent; the method by which it was cast was known only by the innermost circle of Death Eaters, and as most of them were either being rounded up, killed or forced into hiding, nobody saw the sign for some time<ref name="GF9"/>.
   
==Uses==
 
[[File:Dark_Mark.JPG|thumb|right|Morsmordre over the Quidditich World Cup]]
 
 
===1994===
 
===1994===
 
[[File:Dark_Mark.JPG|thumb|left|200px|The Dark Mark over the Quidditich World Cup.]]
[[Bartemius Crouch Jr.|Barty Crouch Jr]] used this spell to set off the Dark Mark during the [[1994]] [[Quidditch World Cup]] using [[Harry Potter]]'s [[Harry Potter's wand|wand]], in order to scare the Death Eaters who were disloyal to Voldemort. At first, the [[house-elf]] [[Winky]] was blamed for the act until the truth was revealed by Crouch himself under the influence of [[Veritaserum]].
 
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[[Bartemius Crouch Jr.|Barty Crouch Junior]] witnessed Death Eaters torturing the [[Roberts family]] for entertainment, which awakened him from the [[Imperius Curse]] [[Bartemius Crouch Sr.|his father]] placed on him. He took [[Harry Potter]]'s [[Harry Potter's wand|wand]], which was sticking out of the boy's pocket in front of him, and cast the curse to set off the Dark Mark during the [[1994]] [[Quidditch World Cup]], in order to scare the Death Eaters there for being disloyal to Voldemort. This caused mass panic to both the audience and Death Eaters alike, causing the former to run around in hysteria and the latter to [[Apparition|Disapparate]] in fear of facing their master's wrath.
  +
  +
At first, the [[house-elf]] [[Winky]] was blamed for the act due to the culprit wand was found in her possession and the [[Prior Incantanto|record showed]] it had performed the curse. Much later, the truth was revealed by Crouch himself under the influence of [[Veritaserum]]. The Dark Mark's appearance over the campsite was a huge scandal amongst the British magical community, and many citizens filed various complaints to the Ministry.
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  +
Voldemort would later comment on [[Lucius Malfoy]] fleeing at the sight of the mark as a sign of disloyalty when Lucius was hastily making poor excuses.
   
 
===1996===
 
===1996===
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[[File:Dark_Mark_Over_London.JPG|thumb|215px|The Dark Mark over the [[Millenium Bridge]], following the [[Attack on London]].]]
 
[[Igor Karkaroff]] was killed in [[1996]] by Death Eaters for betraying Lord Voldemort, and the Dark Mark was cast over the shack in which his body was found.
 
[[Igor Karkaroff]] was killed in [[1996]] by Death Eaters for betraying Lord Voldemort, and the Dark Mark was cast over the shack in which his body was found.
 
After the [[Death Eater]] [[Attack on Diagon Alley|attack]] on [[Diagon Alley]] and the destruction of the [[Millennium Bridge]], the Dark Mark towered over [[London]].
 
   
 
===1997===
 
===1997===
 
It was cast over [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]]' [[Astronomy Tower]] by [[Gibbon]] when the Death Eaters [[Wikipedia:Invasion|invaded]] the castle in 1997, in order to lure [[Albus Dumbledore]] to the tower so that [[Draco Malfoy]] could kill him. However, it was [[Severus Snape]] who committed the murder, and Dumbledore's corpse was described to have fallen off the tower under the Mark's eerie green light like a great rag doll.
 
It was cast over [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]]' [[Astronomy Tower]] by [[Gibbon]] when the Death Eaters [[wikipedia:Invasion|invaded]] the castle in 1997, in order to lure [[Albus Dumbledore]] to the tower so that [[Draco Malfoy]] could kill him. However, it was [[Severus Snape]] who committed the murder, and Dumbledore's corpse was described to have fallen off the tower under the Mark's eerie green light like a great rag doll.
 
   
 
==Etymology==
 
==Etymology==
The incantation of this spell appears to be derived from the French ''mort'', "death", and ''m''[[File:The Dark Mark|thumb|right|300px|Barty Crouch Jnr casts Morsmordre]]''ordre'', "to bite". This alludes to the name of Voldemort's followers, the [[Death Eaters]]. The English word ''murder'' could also contribute. In Norwegian, Morsmordere directly translated means "mothers killers".
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The incantation of this spell appears to be derived from the French ''mort'', "death", and ''mordre'', "to bite". This alludes to the name of Voldemort's followers, the [[Death Eaters]]. The English word ''murder'' could also contribute. In Norwegian, Morsmordere directly translated means "mothers killers".
   
 
It may also be a reference to the word "mord", which means "murder" in Icelandic, German, Norwegian, Danish Polish and Swedish, since the spell is cast after someone has been murdered, and sounds like "mass murder".
 
It may also be a reference to the word "mord", which means "murder" in Icelandic, German, Norwegian, Danish Polish and Swedish, since the spell is cast after someone has been murdered, and sounds like "mass murder".
  +
  +
==Practicioners==
 
* [[Bartemius Crouch Jr.]]<ref name="GOF"/>
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* [[Bellatrix Lestrange]]<ref name="HBPf">''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)]]''</ref>
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* [[Horace Slughorn]] (possibly)<ref name="HBF4">''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince]]'' - Chapter 4 ([[Horace Slughorn]]) - Dumbledore notes that the Dark Mark had not been cast when Slughorn faked his death and Slughorn stated that he knew he had forgotten something. This might suggest that he knew how to cast the spell.</ref>
  +
* [[Gibbon]]<ref name="HBP29">''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince]]'' - Chapter 29 (The [[Phoenix Lament]])</ref>
   
 
==Behind the scenes==
 
==Behind the scenes==
  +
[[File:Darkhand.png|thumb|The hand movement]]
*In the [[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)|film version]] of ''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]'', the Dark Mark only appears greenish when it was cast at the [[Quidditch World Cup]]. When cast later in the same film after [[Return of the Dark Lord|Voldemort's resurrection]], along with its appearances in the [[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)|film version]] of ''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince]]'', it appears to be formed out of dark grey clouds.
 
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* Despite the film adaptions showing that the caster simply has to point the wand upwards and speak the incantation to launch the mark, in ''[[Harry Potter: Spells]]'' shows the hand movement required.
*In the book version of ''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]'', the Dark Mark was cast over the Quidditch World Cup by [[Bartemius Crouch Jr.]] in order to strike fear at disloyal Death Eaters during their torturing of the [[Roberts family]]. However, in the [[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)|film version]], the Mark was cast after the Death Eaters destroyed the campsite, as a sign of the Death Eaters' works.[[File:Morsmordre_bellatrix.jpg|thumb|Bellatrix casts Morsmordre]]
 
*In the book version of ''Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince'', the Dark Mark was cast over the [[Astronomy Tower]] by [[Gibbon]] in order to lure Dumbledore there. However, in the [[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)|film version]], the Mark was [[Nonverbal spell|non-verbally]] cast by [[Bellatrix Lestrange]] in celebration after Dumbledore was killed. Furthermore, in the film the Mark was dispelled by the mourning residents of Hogwarts as a sign of respect for the late [[headmaster]].
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* In the [[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)|film version]] of ''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]'', the Dark Mark only appears greenish when it was cast at the [[Quidditch World Cup]]. When cast later in the same film after [[Return of the Dark Lord|Voldemort's resurrection]], along with its appearances in the [[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)|film version]] of ''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince]]'', it appears to be formed out of dark grey clouds.
 
* In the book version of ''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]'', the Dark Mark was cast over the Quidditch World Cup by Barty Crouch Jr. with Harry's wand in order to strike fear at disloyal Death Eaters during their torturing of the [[Roberts family]]. However, in the [[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)|film adaption]], the Mark was cast by his own wand after the Death Eaters destroyed the campsite, as a sign of the Death Eaters' works.
*The Dark Mark could also be similar to the Swastika, as the Death Eaters reasemble the Nazis in the fact that Death Eaters (Nazis) had a supreme hatred for Muggle Borns (Jews).
 
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* In the [[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)|film adaption]] of ''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince]]'', the Dark Mark was cast after the Death Eaters [[Attack on Diagon Alley|attacked]] [[Diagon Alley]] and destroyed the [[Millennium Bridge]], with it towering over [[London]].
*This is the only spell that [[Bartemius Crouch, Jr]] casts in his true form before becoming [[Alastor Moody]] by means of [[Polyjuice Potion]]
 
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[[File:Morsmordre_bellatrix.jpg|thumb|Bellatrix casts Morsmordre]]
*''[[Harry Potter: Spells]]'' shows the hand movement to be thus:<br />[[File:Darkhand.png]]
 
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* In the book version of ''Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince'', the Dark Mark was cast over the [[Astronomy Tower]] by [[Gibbon]] in order to lure Dumbledore there. However, in the [[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)|film adaption]], the Mark was [[Nonverbal spell|non-verbally]] cast by [[Bellatrix Lestrange]] in celebration after Dumbledore was killed. Furthermore, in the film the Mark was [[Anti Dark Mark spell|dispelled]] by the mourning residents of Hogwarts as a sign of respect for the late [[headmaster]].
 
* This is the only spell that Barty Crouch Jr. casts onscreen, in his true form, before becoming [[Alastor Moody]] by means of [[Polyjuice Potion]].
   
 
==Appearances==
 
==Appearances==
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* ''[[Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey]]''
 
* ''[[Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey]]''
 
* ''[[Harry Potter: Spells]]''
 
* ''[[Harry Potter: Spells]]''
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*''[[Pottermore]]''
   
 
==References==
 
==References==
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[[fr:Morsmordre]]
 
[[fr:Morsmordre]]
 
[[it:Morsmordre]]
 
[[it:Morsmordre]]
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[[ru:Морсмордре]]
 
[[Category:Curses]]
 
[[Category:Curses]]
 
[[Category:Dark Magic]]
 
[[Category:Dark Magic]]
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[[Category:Death-related magic]]
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[[Category:Tom Riddle's creations]]
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[[Category:Tom Riddle's possessions]]
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[[Category:Spells invented by Tom Riddle]]

Revision as of 00:44, 13 September 2014

"Then he realised it was a colossal skull, comprised of what looked like emerald stars, with a serpent protruding from its mouth like a tongue. As they watched, it rose higher and higher, blazing in a haze of greenish smoke, etched against the black sky like a new constellation."
— The Dark Mark[src]

Morsmordre[1] was the incantation used to conjure the Dark Mark, the skull-and-sepent sign used by Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters[1]. The Death Eaters cast their mark over the homes of anyone they killed[1].

History

First Wizarding War

In the First Wizarding War, Morsmordre became something of a signature move for the Death Eater organisation in general[1]. Upon committing murder, they would cast it over the locations of their crimes; this led to the wizarding community fearing the Mark's appearance, as it would usually mean death would be found where it was present[1].

After Voldemort's first defeat, the Mark became absent; the method by which it was cast was known only by the innermost circle of Death Eaters, and as most of them were either being rounded up, killed or forced into hiding, nobody saw the sign for some time[1].

1994

Dark Mark

The Dark Mark over the Quidditich World Cup.

Barty Crouch Junior witnessed Death Eaters torturing the Roberts family for entertainment, which awakened him from the Imperius Curse his father placed on him. He took Harry Potter's wand, which was sticking out of the boy's pocket in front of him, and cast the curse to set off the Dark Mark during the 1994 Quidditch World Cup, in order to scare the Death Eaters there for being disloyal to Voldemort. This caused mass panic to both the audience and Death Eaters alike, causing the former to run around in hysteria and the latter to Disapparate in fear of facing their master's wrath.

At first, the house-elf Winky was blamed for the act due to the culprit wand was found in her possession and the record showed it had performed the curse. Much later, the truth was revealed by Crouch himself under the influence of Veritaserum. The Dark Mark's appearance over the campsite was a huge scandal amongst the British magical community, and many citizens filed various complaints to the Ministry.

Voldemort would later comment on Lucius Malfoy fleeing at the sight of the mark as a sign of disloyalty when Lucius was hastily making poor excuses.

1996

Dark Mark Over London

The Dark Mark over the Millenium Bridge, following the Attack on London.

Igor Karkaroff was killed in 1996 by Death Eaters for betraying Lord Voldemort, and the Dark Mark was cast over the shack in which his body was found.

1997

It was cast over Hogwarts' Astronomy Tower by Gibbon when the Death Eaters invaded the castle in 1997, in order to lure Albus Dumbledore to the tower so that Draco Malfoy could kill him. However, it was Severus Snape who committed the murder, and Dumbledore's corpse was described to have fallen off the tower under the Mark's eerie green light like a great rag doll.

Etymology

The incantation of this spell appears to be derived from the French mort, "death", and mordre, "to bite". This alludes to the name of Voldemort's followers, the Death Eaters. The English word murder could also contribute. In Norwegian, Morsmordere directly translated means "mothers killers".

It may also be a reference to the word "mord", which means "murder" in Icelandic, German, Norwegian, Danish Polish and Swedish, since the spell is cast after someone has been murdered, and sounds like "mass murder".

Practicioners

Behind the scenes

Darkhand

The hand movement

Morsmordre bellatrix

Bellatrix casts Morsmordre

Appearances

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - Chapter 9 (The Dark Mark)
  2. 2.0 2.1 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)
  3. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named GOF
  4. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)
  5. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - Chapter 4 (Horace Slughorn) - Dumbledore notes that the Dark Mark had not been cast when Slughorn faked his death and Slughorn stated that he knew he had forgotten something. This might suggest that he knew how to cast the spell.
  6. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - Chapter 29 (The Phoenix Lament)