Muffliato Charm

Muffliato Charm
Incantation	Muffliato (muff-LEE-ah-toe)
Type	Charm
Hand movement	Point wand at target
Light	None
Effect	Muffles sounds
Creator	Severus Snape

" [...] perhaps most useful of all, Muffliato, a spell that filled the ears of anyone nearby with an unidentifiable buzzing, so that lengthy conversations could be held in class without being overheard."

— Harry's use of the charm created by Severus Snape

The Muffliato Charm (Muffliato) is a charm used to fill the ears of any person in the vicinity of the caster with an unidentifiable buzzing sound so as to allow conversing without being overheard. The spell was invented by Severus Snape and recorded during his time as a student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

History

Harry Potter used this spell multiple times during the 1996-1997 school year after discovering the Half-Blood Prince's copy of Advanced Potion-Making.

Hermione Granger originally disapproved of using the spell, but came to use it herself when it was needed; for example, to protect the campsites she shared with Harry Potter and Ron Weasley when they hunted for Lord Voldemort's Horcruxes between 1997-1998.

Known practitioners

• Harry Potter
• Hermione Granger
• Severus Snape
• A Hogwarts Charms Professor

Etymology

• The English word muffle means "to make a sound less distinct by covering its source."

Behind the scenes

• It is unknown when Severus Snape invented this and many of his other spells as according to Sirius Black "he knew more curses when he arrived at school than half the kids in seventh year."
• A prop made for the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix has Muffliato being among the tested material. This cannot be considered canon, however, as neither Harry, Ron nor Hermione knew of the spell until Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
• This is the last named Defensive Charm cast by Hermione before she begins her nonverbal spellcasting.
• Given that ravens were startled into flight when Harry Potter was shouting at his friends in an area protected by this spell that the charm may only work on humans.

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film) (First mentioned) (Non-canonical appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (First appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
• Wonderbook: Book of Spells
• Pottermore