{{quote|Malfoy raised his wand quickly and bellowed, 'Serpensortia!' The end of his wand exploded. Harry watched, aghast, as a long black snake shot out of it, fell heavily onto the floor between them and raised itself, ready to strike.|Malfoy uses the spell.|Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets}}
{{quote|Malfoy raised his wand quickly and bellowed, 'Serpensortia!' The end of his wand exploded. Harry watched, aghast, as a long black snake shot out of it, fell heavily onto the floor between them and raised itself, ready to strike.|Malfoy uses the spell.|Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets}}
The '''Snake Summons Spell'''<ref name="Cast-a-Spell">[http://harrypotter.warnerbros.com/hogwarts/library/castaspell.html ''Serpensortia'' entry on the Cast-a-Spell kit found in the Library section of the Harry Potter Official Site.]</ref> (''Serpensortia'') is a [[Transfiguration]] [[spell]] that can be used to [[Conjuration|conjure]] a [[snake]]. It is illegally used by [[India]]n [[Snake Charmer]]s. It is taught to 6th years at Hogwarts.
The '''Snake Summons Spell'''<ref name="Cast-a-Spell">[http://harrypotter.warnerbros.com/hogwarts/library/castaspell.html ''Serpensortia'' entry on the Cast-a-Spell kit found in the Library section of the Harry Potter Official Site.]</ref> (''Serpensortia'') is a [[Transfiguration]] [[spell]] that can be used to [[Conjuration|conjure]] a [[snake]]. It is illegally used by [[India]]n [[Snake Charmer]]s. It is taught to 6th years at Hogwarts.
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The Snake Summons Spell, along with the [[Bird-Conjuring Charm]], are substantially simpler to perform than most other forms of conjuration. The reasoning behind this is unknown, but is one of the many topics of research undertaken by the [[Department of Mysteries]].<ref>''[[Wonderbook: Book of Spells]]'' - Chapter 2, Part 1</ref>
==History==
==History==
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===1992===
===1992===
[[File:Cobra.png|thumb|The cobra used by Draco.]]
[[File:Cobra.png|thumb|The cobra used by Draco.]]
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It was used by [[Draco Malfoy]] while engaging in a practice [[duel]] against [[Harry Potter]] in [[1992]] in the [[Duelling Club]], after [[Severus Snape]] whispered the advice to Draco. This prompted Harry to speak to the snake, discovering for the first time that he was a [[Parseltongue|Parselmouth]] and causing some other students to suspect that he was the [[Tom Riddle|Heir of Slytherin]]. It is very strange that Malfoy is able to cast this spell in his second year as it summons a live creature, a very advanced form of magic not taught at Hogwarts until sixth year, however, this may have been because it seems to be a sort of curse.<ref>''[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets]]''</ref>
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It was used by [[Draco Malfoy]] while engaging in a practice [[duel]] against [[Harry Potter]] in [[1992]] in the [[Duelling Club]], after [[Severus Snape]] whispered the advice to Draco. This prompted Harry to speak to the snake, discovering for the first time that he was a [[Parseltongue|Parselmouth]] and causing some other students to suspect that he was the [[Tom Riddle|Heir of Slytherin]].<ref>''[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets]]''</ref>
==Etymology==
==Etymology==
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==Behind the scenes==
==Behind the scenes==
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*In the [[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)|film adaptation]] of ''[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets]]'', the counter-spell of ''Serpensortia'' is shown to be ''[[Vipera Evanesca]]''. [[Severus Snape|Professor Snape]] used it to vanish the snake Draco conjured. It should also be interesting to note that, while the book says the ''Serpensortia'' snake is long and black, the film version's is a [[Cobra|cobra]]. However, althrough it is not mentioned, it is possible that the book version also is a cobra as black coloured cobras also exist. It is also funny to note the counter-spells incantation is '''''Vipera''' Evanesca'' as the [[Latin]] name of the [[Common adder|common adder]] used in ''[[Harry Potter: Spells]]'' is '''''Vipera''' berus''.
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*In the [[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)|film adaptation]] of ''[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets]]'', the counter-spell of ''Serpensortia'' is shown to be ''[[Vipera Evanesca]]''. [[Severus Snape|Professor Snape]] used it to vanish the snake Draco conjured. It should also be interesting to note that, while the book says the ''Serpensortia'' snake is long and black, the film version's is a [[Cobra|cobra]]. However, although it is not mentioned, it is possible that the book version also is a cobra as black coloured cobras also exist. It is also funny to note the counter-spells incantation is '''''Vipera''' Evanesca'' as the [[Latin]] name of the [[Common adder|common adder]] used in ''[[Harry Potter: Spells]]'' is '''''Vipera''' berus''.
*In ''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1]]'', during the [[Skirmish at Malfoy Manor]] in [[1998]] [[Bellatrix Lestrange]] may have used this spell to choke [[Fenrir Greyback]].
*In ''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1]]'', during the [[Skirmish at Malfoy Manor]] in [[1998]] [[Bellatrix Lestrange]] may have used this spell to choke [[Fenrir Greyback]].
*It is possible that this spell or a variant of it can also be used to transform objects into snakes. [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]] transformed a fiery rope into a serpent in 1996, and [[Severus Snape]] did the same two years later. Both serpents were described as black, matching the Serpensortia snake´s colour.
*It is possible that this spell or a variant of it can also be used to transform objects into snakes. [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]] transformed a fiery rope into a serpent in 1996, and [[Severus Snape]] did the same two years later. Both serpents were described as black, matching the Serpensortia snake´s colour.
Bring hand into shoulder and throw quickly as is throwing a boomerang or a Frisbee
Effect
Conjures a snake
"Malfoy raised his wand quickly and bellowed, 'Serpensortia!' The end of his wand exploded. Harry watched, aghast, as a long black snake shot out of it, fell heavily onto the floor between them and raised itself, ready to strike."
The Snake Summons Spell, along with the Bird-Conjuring Charm, are substantially simpler to perform than most other forms of conjuration. The reasoning behind this is unknown, but is one of the many topics of research undertaken by the Department of Mysteries.[2]
In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, the counter-spell of Serpensortia is shown to be Vipera Evanesca. Professor Snape used it to vanish the snake Draco conjured. It should also be interesting to note that, while the book says the Serpensortia snake is long and black, the film version's is a cobra. However, although it is not mentioned, it is possible that the book version also is a cobra as black coloured cobras also exist. It is also funny to note the counter-spells incantation is Vipera Evanesca as the Latin name of the common adder used in Harry Potter: Spells is Vipera berus.
It is possible that this spell or a variant of it can also be used to transform objects into snakes. Lord Voldemort transformed a fiery rope into a serpent in 1996, and Severus Snape did the same two years later. Both serpents were described as black, matching the Serpensortia snake´s colour.