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}}{{Quote|You wouldn't believe how many people, even people who work at the Ministry, can't do a decent Shield Charm ''[...]'' |[[George Weasley]]|Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince}}
  
}}{{Quote|You wouldn't believe how many people, even people who work at the Ministry, can't do a decent Shield Charm ''[...]'' |[[George Weasley]]|Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince}}
   
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The '''Shield Charm '''(''Protego'') as a term applied to several varieties of [[charms]] that create a magical barrier to deflect physical entities and spells. Conjurations may sometimes rebound directly off it back towards the caster, or, in other cases, may ricochet off in other directions or dissipate as soon as they hit the shield.
 +
The '''Shield Charm '''(''Protego'') as a term applied to several varieties of [[charms]], that create a magical barrier to deflect physical entities and spells, in order to protect a certain person or area.
   
  +
Conjurations may sometimes rebound directly off it back towards the caster, or, in other cases, may ricochet off in other directions or dissipate as soon as they hit the shield.
−
This was also the subject of a question of the [[Theory of Charms]] [[Ordinary Wizarding Level|O.W.L.]] in [[1996]].<ref>See [[:File:TheoryofCharmsExam.jpg|this image]]</ref>
  
  +
  +
== History ==
  +
It's unknown who the inventor of the spell was and when it was invented. Harry Potter learned this spell in his fourth year, in preparation for the third task of the [[Triwizard Tournament]]. Harry also taught this charm to Dumbledore's Army during the 1995-1996 school, so the members would be able to protect themselves when the time came. This was also the subject of a question of the [[Theory of Charms]] [[Ordinary Wizarding Level|O.W.L.]] in [[1996]].<ref>See [[:File:TheoryofCharmsExam.jpg|this image]]</ref>
  +
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This spell was used frequently during the Second Wizarding War, during many confrontation such as the: [[Battle of the Department of Mysteries]], [[Battle of the Astronomy Tower]], [[Skirmish at Malfoy Manor]], [[Battle of Hogwarts]], and many other times as well.
   
 
==Casting and effects==
  
==Casting and effects==
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The Shield Charm is a moderately difficult spell. [[Fred and George Weasley]] realised that most adult wizards, even those employed by the [[British Ministry of Magic|Ministry of Magic]], could not produce a functional Shield Charm (something that not only could [[Harry Potter]] accomplish at age fourteen but, also impart to members of the [[D.A.]]). They used this to their advantage when marketing their line of protective clothing ([[Shield Hat|hats]], [[Shield Cloak|cloaks]], etc.), upon which permanent Shield Charms were cast.
  
The Shield Charm is a moderately difficult spell. [[Fred and George Weasley]] realised that most adult wizards, even those employed by the [[British Ministry of Magic|Ministry of Magic]], could not produce a functional Shield Charm (something that not only could [[Harry Potter]] accomplish at age fourteen but, also impart to members of the [[D.A.]]). They used this to their advantage when marketing their line of protective clothing ([[Shield Hat|hats]], [[Shield Cloak|cloaks]], etc.), upon which permanent Shield Charms were cast.
   
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The incantation for the simplest Shield Charm spell is ''Protego''. Incantations for other varieties of the Shield Charm include ''[[Protego Duo]]'', ''[[Protego Horribilis]]'', ''[[Protego Totalum]]'' and ''[[Protego Maxima]]''.
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The incantation for the simplest Shield Charm spell is ''Protego''.
   
 
=== Known Variations ===
  
=== Known Variations ===
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other varieties of the Shield Charm include as followed:
⚫
* [[Protego Duo]]
  
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* [[Protego Horribilis]]
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* ''[[Protego Duo]]''
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* [[Protego Maxima]]
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* ''[[Protego Horribilis]]''
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* [[Protego Totalum]]
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* ''[[Protego Maxima]]''
  ⚫
* ''[[Protego Totalum]]''
   
 
==Known uses==
  
==Known uses==

Revision as of 22:34, 12 November 2014

"You wouldn't believe how many people, even people who work at the Ministry, can't do a decent Shield Charm [...] "
— George Weasley[src]

The Shield Charm (Protego) as a term applied to several varieties of charms, that create a magical barrier to deflect physical entities and spells, in order to protect a certain person or area.

Conjurations may sometimes rebound directly off it back towards the caster, or, in other cases, may ricochet off in other directions or dissipate as soon as they hit the shield.

History

It's unknown who the inventor of the spell was and when it was invented. Harry Potter learned this spell in his fourth year, in preparation for the third task of the Triwizard Tournament. Harry also taught this charm to Dumbledore's Army during the 1995-1996 school, so the members would be able to protect themselves when the time came. This was also the subject of a question of the Theory of Charms O.W.L. in 1996.[1]

This spell was used frequently during the Second Wizarding War, during many confrontation such as the: Battle of the Department of Mysteries, Battle of the Astronomy Tower, Skirmish at Malfoy Manor, Battle of Hogwarts, and many other times as well.

Casting and effects

When cast, a bright blue transparent shield appears where the casters wand is pointed providing a protective barrier between themselves and their attacker. The only spell the Shield Charm can't defend against is the Killing Curse, since it's unblockable.[2]

The Shield Charm is a moderately difficult spell. Fred and George Weasley realised that most adult wizards, even those employed by the Ministry of Magic, could not produce a functional Shield Charm (something that not only could Harry Potter accomplish at age fourteen but, also impart to members of the D.A.). They used this to their advantage when marketing their line of protective clothing (hats, cloaks, etc.), upon which permanent Shield Charms were cast.

The incantation for the simplest Shield Charm spell is Protego.

Known Variations

other varieties of the Shield Charm include as followed:

Known uses

Harry Potter

"His Shield Charm was so strong Snape was knocked off-balance and hit a desk."
— Harry Potter's impressive mastery of the charm[src]
Stupefy block

Lucius Malfoy using the Shield Charm to deflect Harry's Stunning Spell.

Umbridge protego

Dolores Umbridge using Protego against the centaurs.

Sirius Protego

Sirius Black using a Shield Charm during the Battle of the Department of Mysteries.

Minerva-796x4481

Minerva McGonagall using a Shield Charm against a giant.

Harry casting the Shield Charm

Harry casting the Shield Charm during the Battle of Hogwarts

Death Eater casting a Shield Charm to Deflect stupefy

Unknown Death Eater casting the Shield Charm.

1995

Harry Potter first learned this spell in his preparations for the Third Task of the Triwizard Tournament, during which his friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger shot spells at him so that he could practice shielding himself.[3] Although he later demonstrated an impressive mastery of this technique surpassing that of many Ministry employees, Harry initially had difficulty casting this spell as "Hermione was able to shatter it with a well-placed Jelly-Legs jinx."[2]

1996
  • Harry once used the charm to defend himself against Professor Snape's Legilimency during Occlumency training, and found himself unexpectedly seeing some of Snape's memories. This was most likely the reason why Snape was using a Pensieve to store his memories, and thus to preserve his privacy. [2]
  • Harry used the spell multiple times during the Battle of the Department of Mysteries in order to protect himself and his fellow D.A. members from Death Eaters, and to prevent them from summoning the Prophecy from him that night.[2]
  • During his first sixth year Defence lesson, Harry and the other members of his class had to cast this spell non-verbally. When Snape tried to jinx him, Harry instinctively used a Shield Charm (verbally cast) that was powerful enough to throw Snape off his feet, against a table.[4]
1998
  • Harry cast this charm between Hermione and Ron after the latter returned, since Hermione was furious with Ron to the point of wanting to curse him.[5]
  • Harry used the charm multiple times during the Battle of Hogwarts to protect various fighters on his side, such as Molly Weasley after she killed Bellatrix Lestrange.[5] Harry's Shield Charms were so powerful they were able to block curses from Lord Voldemort himself.

Other

1489 Hannah Cockleford used the Shield Charm to protect a Muggle boy named Edmund Gaddlegate when he was forced to joust with the Earl of Paunchley.[6]
1992 Gilderoy Lockhart presumably attempted to demonstrate this charm, or something similar, to Harry during the first meeting of his duelling club, but all he truly wanted was to twirl his wand fancifully, which failed spectacularly, dropping his wand in the process.
1995 This charm was among those that Harry taught the members of Dumbledore's Army in his fifth year.[2]
1996
1997
1998
  • Severus later used a Shield Charm during his duel with Minerva McGonagall, knocking her off her feet.[5]
  • Voldemort also used many Shield Charms when duelling Harry Potter and many others during the Battle of Hogwarts.

Practitioners

Etymology

Latin protego, "I cover" or "I protect".

Behind the scenes

File:EPICNESS.gif

Severus Snape using the shield charm against Harry Potter.

  • In the films, Shield Charms are used in nearly every duel shown, almost always used non-verbally and usually accompanied by a parry-like wand movement.
  • Also in the films, Shield Charms are shown to be able to deflect material objects such as arrows which were shot using a bow. Also it has shown to be able to withstand dragon fire from a Hungarian Horntail as seen in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows:Part 1 The Video Game.
  • The book depicts the Shield Charm as only being capable of repelling "minor to moderate curses and hexes", although Harry Potter uses it to block the worst effects of Antonin Dolohov's curse in the Department  of Mysteries. However the film implies the Shield Charm to be significantly more powerful in that Harry is able to use it to completely deflect powerful curses cast by Voldemort himself.
  • In the early video games, Expelliarmus functions as a shield charm, due to a lack of enemies to Disarm. In these games, Protego is absent.
  • In the books Protego is also able to keep two quarreling wizards from going at each other when a shield is cast between them.
  • In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, Protego is shown several times to be able to block the Killing Curse. Harry blocks multiple Killing Curses from Voldemort during their final duel and Bellatrix Lestrange blocks four Killing Curses while duelling Molly Weasley. According to the books this is incorrect as the Killing Curse is "unblockable" which is the main reason for its particular infamy, but within the context of the films the fact is never mentioned. As the Killing Curse would instantly end any duel if it were unblockable, this might just be done for dramatic effect and for longer duels. 
  • In Harry Potter for Kinect Harry and Voldemort can use this spell against each other in the final battle during Voldemort's Last Stand as they engage in a normal duel.

Appearances

Notes and references

  1. ↑ See this image
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
  3. ↑ Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
  4. ↑ Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
  6. ↑ Wonderbook: Book of Spells
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