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Changes: Prior Incantato

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(The Elder Wand ''could'' lose a duel; in fact that was the way it was passed on to the next person during the Middle Ages)
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{{Pottermore}}
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[[File:Priori_Incantatem.jpg|right|thumb|250px|''Priori Incantatem'' between [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]] and [[Harry Potter]] in [[1995]].]]
  
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{{Spell infobox
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{{Quote|A jet of green light issued from Voldemorts wand just as a jet of red light blasted from Harry's — they met in midair — and suddenly Harry's wand was vibrating as though an electric charge were surging through it; his hand seized up around it; he couldn't have released it if he'd wanted to — and a narrow beam of light connected the two wands, neither red nor green, but bright, deep gold. Harry, following the beam with his astonished gaze, saw that Voldemort's long white fingers too were gripping a wand that was shaking and vibrating.|Description|Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire}}
  
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|name=Priori Incantatem
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|image=[[File:Priori Incantatem Pottermore.png|250px]]
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|incantation=''Prior Incantato''<br>(PRI-or in-can-TAH-toh)
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|type=[[Charm]]
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|hand=Hold tip of wand to targeted wand
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|light=Gold
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|effect=Relives previous [[spell]]s
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|creator=
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}}
   
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{{Quote|A jet of green light issued from Voldemort's wand just as a jet of red light blasted from Harry's — they met in midair — and suddenly Harry's wand was vibrating as though an electric charge were surging through it; his hand seized up around it; he couldn't have released it if he'd wanted to — and a narrow beam of light connected the two wands, neither red nor green, but bright, deep gold. Harry, following the beam with his astonished gaze, saw that Voldemort's long white fingers too were gripping a wand that was shaking and vibrating.|Description|Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire}}
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'''Priori Incantatem''' is a magical phenomenon that can occur when two [[wand]]s which share the same source for their [[wand core|cores]] are forced to compete in combat. It is sometimes referred to as the "reverse-spell effect". It can also be induced by analytical spells, like an extension of the ''[[Prior Incantato]]'' spell.
  
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'''Priori Incantatem''', sometimes referred to as the '''reverse-spell effect''', was a magical phenomenon that occurred when two [[wand]]s sharing the same [[Wand core|cores]] were forced to compete in combat.
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The effect could be induced using the [[incantation]] '''''Prior Incantato'''''<ref name="PM">''[[Pottermore]]'' - [http://www.pottermore.com/en/book4/chapter36/moment1/priori-incantato From the Story: Priori Incantato (Book 4, Chapter 36)]</ref>. The echos caused by this spell, if conjured by incantation, may be destroyed by means of the [[Eradication Spell]].
   
 
==Effects==
  
==Effects==
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[[File:HP4GoF4433.jpg|thumb|left|240px|The echo of Cedric Diggory]]
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During a wand [[duel]], a simultaneous spellcasting by both parties with twin [[wand core]]s will trigger an effect whereby both wands are linked through separate threads of spell energy. The two wand holders then compete in a battle of wills, in which the loser's wand is forced to display in ghostly form the spells which had been cast by said wand, in order of most recent to least recent. If any of those spells are [[Killing Curse]]s, the victims will appear in ghost-like form, capable of holding a conversation with nearby living beings. When the spells come into contact they send out a seismic pulse which has enough force to knock onlookers from their feet. When the spells meet, they intertwine, making it difficult for either caster to break the connection. A spell-like residue falls from the core of the connection, possibly representing the wills of the casters and the energy of the incantations. A dome effect occurs during the connection, in order to keep any intruders from attacking either wizard or witch. The sound of the connection is similar to electrical arcs.
  
   
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Where a [[duel]] occurs between parties with [[wand core]]s from the same source, simultaneous spell-casting by both [[Wizardkind|witches or wizards]] will trigger an effect whereby both wands are linked through a single, golden thread of energy, off of which shoot hundreds of beams of golden light forming a cage around the casters.
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==Similarities==
  
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The effect is similar to the spell ''[[Prior Incantato]]'', (but this spell does not need a wand connection) which causes the targeted wand to recall its last spells.
  
   
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The two wand holders are forced to compete in a battle of wills in which the loser's wand is forced to regurgitate ghostly echoes of previous spells cast by said wand in reverse order of which they were cast. The victims of [[Killing Curse|murder]] are able to hold conversations with those around them, and are capable of remembering the events leading up to and even after their deaths.
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==Known instances==
  
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The only widely-known instance of Priori Incantatem came about in [[1995]], at the graveyard in [[Little Hangleton]], when [[Harry Potter]] first duelled with the resurrected [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]]. The two wands in question both had a phoenix feather at their core from [[Fawkes]], pet of [[Albus Dumbledore]].
  
   
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==History==
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*Priori Incantatem rarely ever happens when two opponents forcibly use their wands in battle. The reason for the case of the [[1995]] duel between Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort are the shared wand cores; since the wands recognised each other as "brothers", they refused to destroy each other. When spurred on, however, the dominant (Harry's) forced the submissive to regurgitate its spells.
  
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===1994===
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In the woods at the [[1994 Quidditch World Cup]] in [[Dartmoor]], [[England]], this effect was invoked by [[Amos Diggory]] by incantation on [[Harry Potter's wand]], which had been wielded by [[Winky]] the [[house-elf]], in order to determine who had conjured the [[Dark Mark]] over the campsite.
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===1995===
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[[File:Duel_graveyard.gif|frame|Priori Incantem in the fourth film.]]
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In the [[Little Hangleton Graveyard]] on [[24 June]], [[1995]], the Dark Lord [[Tom Riddle|Voldemort]] was [[Return of Tom Riddle|resurrected]] from [[Death|the dead]] with the [[blood]] of [[Harry Potter]]. A duel ensued, in which the wands, both of which possessed [[phoenix]] feathers from [[Fawkes]], pet of [[Albus Dumbledore]], were locked together in golden light, and Voldemort's wand, submissive to Harry's, created shadows of [[Frank Bryce]], [[Bertha Jorkins]], [[Cedric Diggory]] and [[James Potter|James]] and [[Lily Evans|Lily Potter]].
   
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==Media==
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<gallery widths="300" position="center" spacing="small" captionalign="center" hideaddbutton="true">
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File:Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - Priori Incantatem|Priori Incantatem
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</gallery>{{VideoFooter}}
 
==Etymology==
  
==Etymology==
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A possible etymology for Priori Incantatem is ''prior incarnation'', refering to its effect of "regurgitating" previous spells. However, the Latin literally means "prior incantation" or "previous spell"; more literally, an incantation is a spell spoken aloud.
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A possible etymology for Priori Incantatem is ''prior incarnation'', referring to its effect of "regurgitating" previous spells. However, the Latin literally means "prior incantation" or "previous spell"; more literally, an incantation is a spell spoken aloud.
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==Etymology==
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Latin ''prior'', "previous", and ''incantare'', "to speak a spell" (past participle ''incantatum'').
   
 
==Behind the scenes.==
  
==Behind the scenes.==
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[[File:Arthur weasley duel.gif|thumb|315px|Arthur Weasley and an unidentified [[Death Eater]] duelling, producing an effect similar to Priori Incantatem.]]
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*During the duel, Voldemort's wand emitted "echoing screams of pain", which may refer to the [[Cruciatus Curse]] he used earlier on both Harry and [[Peter Pettigrew|Wormtail]] (when punishing the latter for letting [[Bartemius Crouch Sr.|Barty Crouch Sr.]] escape).
  
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*Throughout the [[Harry Potter films|film adaptations]] of the story, there are several instances of two wizards locking spells with one another, presumably for dramatic effect. Instances of this include [[Albus Dumbledore]] and [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]] during the [[Duel in the Ministry Atrium]] in ''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)|Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix]]''; a [[Death Eaters|Death Eater]] and [[Arthur Weasley]] in the [[Battle of Hogwarts]] in ''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2]]''; and [[Harry Potter]] (using [[Draco Malfoy's wand]]) and [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]] (using the [[Elder Wand]]) several times during [[Voldemort's Last Stand]], also in ''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2]]''.
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[[File:Arthur_weasley_duel.gif|thumb|315px|Arthur Weasley and an unidentified [[Death Eater]] duelling, producing an effect similar to Priori Incantatem.]]
  
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*[[Peter Pettigrew]] took [[Tom Riddle's wand|Voldemort's wand]] after the [[Attack at Godric's Hollow (1981)|attack on Godric's Hollow]] failed, due to fearing that the Ministry would use this spell to check the wand to discover Pettigrew's treason.<ref>[[Rumours!]] section of J.K. Rowling's Official site</ref> This suggests that the wand has record of Pettigrew's affiliation (such as branding the [[Dark Mark]] onto his arm.
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*Throughout the [[Harry Potter films|film adaptations]] there are several instances in which two wizards, while duelling, find themselves locking spells with their opponent, using Priori Incantatem. However, this may be disregarded, as all occurrences (save for the one in ''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)|Goblet of Fire]]'') lack key elements of Priori Incantatem, such as the "regurgitation" of spells performed by the wands, the "golden cage" around the casters, and twin wand cores. [[David Yates]] has admitted that he did want wands to connect in the movies for effect. Instances of this include: [[Albus Dumbledore]] and [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]] during the [[Duel in the Ministry Atrium]] in ''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)|Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix]]''; a [[Death Eaters|Death Eater]] and [[Arthur Weasley]] in the [[Battle of Hogwarts]] in ''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2]]''; and [[Harry Potter]] (using [[Draco Malfoy's wand]]) and [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]] (using the [[Elder Wand]]) several times during [[Voldemort's Last Stand]], also in ''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2]]''.
  
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*In [[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1|''Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1'']], during the [[Skirmish at Malfoy Manor]] in [[1998]] [[Bellatrix Lestrange]] used this spell on [[Hermione Granger]]'s [[Hermione Granger's wand|wand]] to learn if she used a [[Stinging Hex]] on [[Harry Potter]] to make him unrecognizable.
   
 
==Appearances==
  
==Appearances==
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*''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]'' {{1st}}
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*''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]] ''{{1st}}
 
*''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)]]''
  
*''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)]]''
 
*''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (video game)]]''
  
*''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (video game)]]''
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*''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1]] ''{{Comment|Indirect mention}}
 
*''[[Harry Potter: A Pop-Up Book]]'' {{Mention}}
  
*''[[Harry Potter: A Pop-Up Book]]'' {{Mention}}
 
*''[[LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4]]''
  
*''[[LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4]]''
   
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==References==
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{{Reflist}}
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[[fr:Prior Incanto]]
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[[fi:Varhenna loitsus]]
 
[[fr:Priori Incantatum]]
  
[[fr:Priori Incantatum]]
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[[ru:Приори Инкантатем]]
 
[[Category:Magic]]
  
[[Category:Magic]]
 
[[Category:Laws of Magic]]
  
[[Category:Laws of Magic]]

Revision as of 14:20, 28 August 2014

Pottermore2 Warning!

At least some content in this article is derived from information featured in the latest update of Pottermore. As such, spoilers will be present within the article. Please take care when reading this article if you have not yet been through the latest update.

"A jet of green light issued from Voldemort's wand just as a jet of red light blasted from Harry's — they met in midair — and suddenly Harry's wand was vibrating as though an electric charge were surging through it; his hand seized up around it; he couldn't have released it if he'd wanted to — and a narrow beam of light connected the two wands, neither red nor green, but bright, deep gold. Harry, following the beam with his astonished gaze, saw that Voldemort's long white fingers too were gripping a wand that was shaking and vibrating."
— Description[src]

Priori Incantatem, sometimes referred to as the reverse-spell effect, was a magical phenomenon that occurred when two wands sharing the same cores were forced to compete in combat.

The effect could be induced using the incantation Prior Incantato[1]. The echos caused by this spell, if conjured by incantation, may be destroyed by means of the Eradication Spell.

Effects

HP4GoF4433

The echo of Cedric Diggory

Where a duel occurs between parties with wand cores from the same source, simultaneous spell-casting by both witches or wizards will trigger an effect whereby both wands are linked through a single, golden thread of energy, off of which shoot hundreds of beams of golden light forming a cage around the casters.

The two wand holders are forced to compete in a battle of wills in which the loser's wand is forced to regurgitate ghostly echoes of previous spells cast by said wand in reverse order of which they were cast. The victims of murder are able to hold conversations with those around them, and are capable of remembering the events leading up to and even after their deaths.

History

1994

In the woods at the 1994 Quidditch World Cup in Dartmoor, England, this effect was invoked by Amos Diggory by incantation on Harry Potter's wand, which had been wielded by Winky the house-elf, in order to determine who had conjured the Dark Mark over the campsite.

1995

Duel graveyard

Priori Incantem in the fourth film.

In the Little Hangleton Graveyard on 24 June, 1995, the Dark Lord Voldemort was resurrected from the dead with the blood of Harry Potter. A duel ensued, in which the wands, both of which possessed phoenix feathers from Fawkes, pet of Albus Dumbledore, were locked together in golden light, and Voldemort's wand, submissive to Harry's, created shadows of Frank Bryce, Bertha Jorkins, Cedric Diggory and James and Lily Potter.

Media

Template:VideoFooter

Etymology

A possible etymology for Priori Incantatem is prior incarnation, referring to its effect of "regurgitating" previous spells. However, the Latin literally means "prior incantation" or "previous spell"; more literally, an incantation is a spell spoken aloud.

Etymology

Latin prior, "previous", and incantare, "to speak a spell" (past participle incantatum).

Behind the scenes.

Arthur weasley duel

Arthur Weasley and an unidentified Death Eater duelling, producing an effect similar to Priori Incantatem.

Appearances

References

  1. ↑ Pottermore - From the Story: Priori Incantato (Book 4, Chapter 36)
  2. ↑ Rumours! section of J.K. Rowling's Official site
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