Sectumsempra

Sectumsempra

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Sectumsempra
Incantation	Sectumsempra (sec-tum-SEMP-ra)
Type	Curse
Hand movement	Slash
Light	White
Effect	Cuts
Creator	Severus Snape (1977/1978)

"Blood spurted from Malfoy's face and chest as though he had been slashed with an invisible sword. He staggered backward and collapsed onto the waterlogged floor with a great splash, his wand falling from his limp right hand. Slipping and staggering, Harry got to his feet and plunged toward Malfoy, whose face was now shining scarlet, his white hands scrabbling at his blood-soaked chest."

— Description

Sectumsempra is a curse invented by Professor Severus Snape, during his childhood, when he was known as "The Half-Blood Prince". He created it with the intention of using it against his enemies, and it soon became one of his specialties.

Overview

A rather dangerous curse, when the incantation is uttered its effect is the equivalent of an invisible sword; it is used to slash the victim from a distance, causing rather deep wounds. The slash follows the user's wand movements.

Counter and Treatment

Wounds inflicted by this spell can be cured by the incantation Vulnera Sanentur; the first usage eases the blood flow, the second causes the wounds to knit and the third removes the worst effects of the curse. The victim would still require medical treatment, and if dittany is applied immediately, scarring can still be avoided.

Though the healing spell Vulnera Sanentur may heal the wounds and dittany may prevent scars, any body parts that have been severed by this curse cannot be grown back, as demonstrated by George Weasley when he lost his left ear to the spell.

Practitioners

"You dare use my own spells against me, Potter? It was I who invented them - I, the Half-Blood Prince! And you'd turn my inventions on me, like your filthy father, would you? I don't think so... no!"

— Professor Snape to Harry during the Battle of the Astronomy Tower

• Harry Potter
• Severus Snape

Etymology

Sectumsempra derives from the Latin sectum, "having been cut" (comparable to the English word "section" or "segmented"), and possibly semper, "always." It can be translated as "always cutting" or "sever forever", the latter being a pun on Snape's first name, Severus, as well as indicating that severed body parts cannot be regrown.

Behind the scenes

• Sectumsempra, like Levicorpus, most likely escaped Snape's secrecy as well, seeing how Remus Lupin recognises it during the Battle of the Seven Potters.
• In the films, Sectumsempra appears as a small flash of white light which causes a cut when it strikes the target.
• In LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7, Harry uses Sectumsempra on Malfoy only to find out the spell has, apparently, painlessly sliced him in half.
• This curse's effect is similar to the Severing Charm, except it is used for more malicious intent.

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (First appearance) (Appears in flashback(s))
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (First identified as Sectumsempra)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (Indirect mention) (Effect only)
• Harry Potter: Spells
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7