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*[[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]] used it to sever the lace sleeves of his dress robes before the [[Yule Ball]].<ref name="GOF"/>
 
*[[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]] used it to sever the lace sleeves of his dress robes before the [[Yule Ball]].<ref name="GOF"/>
 
*[[Hermione Granger]] used this to remove the [[Incarcerous|bindings]] on [[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]] after a [[Luchino Caffe Duel|fight in a cafe]]; she trembled so much that she cut Ron with it. She used the spell again to remove [[Salazar Slytherin's Locket|a locket]] from [[Harry Potter]]'s chest shortly after they were [[Attack at Godric's Hollow (1997)|attacked by the dark lord]].
 
*[[Hermione Granger]] used this to remove the [[Incarcerous|bindings]] on [[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]] after a [[Luchino Caffe Duel|fight in a cafe]]; she trembled so much that she cut Ron with it. She used the spell again to remove [[Salazar Slytherin's Locket|a locket]] from [[Harry Potter]]'s chest shortly after they were [[Attack at Godric's Hollow (1997)|attacked by the dark lord]].
* Lord Voldemort (probably used this charm to kill Severus Snape.)
 
 
[[File:Harry_uses_Diffindo.png|thumb|215px|Harry's failed use on the locket.]]
 
[[File:Harry_uses_Diffindo.png|thumb|215px|Harry's failed use on the locket.]]
   

Revision as of 03:06, 14 November 2014

"With the Severing Charm, cutting or tearing objects is a simple matter of wand control. The spell can be quite precise in skilled hands, and the Severing Charm is widely used in a variety of wizarding trades. Useful as it is, this charm should be practiced with caution, as a careless swipe of the wand can cause injury."
Miranda Goshawk[src]

The Severing Charm (Diffindo) is a charm used to precisely and accurately cut something.[1] It is taught in second year charms classes,[2] and if used inappropriately can cause death or injury[1].

History

"The Severing Charm was created in the fifteenth century by wizarding seamstress Delfina Crimp who created it as an easy and convenient way of cutting cloth and thread."
Book of Spells

This spell was invented in the fifteenth century by wizarding seamstress Delfina Crimp. She made the spell because prior to her discovery, cutting spells were apt to burn or shred things. However, a fellow seamster nearly killed her after he raided her shop, having realised that she could do magic, and held her tied up. Nonetheless, upon being released to scratch a wart on her chin the wart brought her wand forth and she disapparated with a sack of gold.[1]

Uses

Diffindo

Harry using the Severing Charm to break a sheet of ice.

Harry uses Diffindo

Harry's failed use on the locket.

Etymology

The incantation is the Latin first person active indicative for "to split, cleave or open".

Behind the scenes

See also

Appearances

Notes and references

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)