Snake Summons Spell

Snake Summons Spell
Incantation	Serpensortia (ser-pen-SOR-tee-uh)
Type	Transfiguration
Hand movement	Raise wand
Light	White
Effect	Conjures a snake

"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."

— Description

The Snake Summons Spell, also known as the Serpensortia Spell (Serpensortia) is a transfiguration spell that conjures a snake from the tip of the wand.

Creation

The Serpensortia Spell was first created, sometime prior to 1992, in India, and nowadays is used worldwide (although usually in its homeland) by wizards known to Muggles as "Snake Charmers".

History of Usage

This spell was utilized by Draco Malfoy during the first Duelling Club meeting in 1992 at the advice of Snape, summoning forth a black serpent in an attempt to attack Harry Potter. After a failed attempt by Gilderoy Lockhart to dispose of it, the snake was obliterated by Severus Snape, vanishing in a cloud of black smoke.

Practitioners

• Draco Malfoy
• Bellatrix Lestrange

Behind the scenes

• The Snake Summons Spell and Bird-Conjuring Charm are the easiest living creatures to conjure.. It is possible that this is due to the fact that the animals are not actually conjured, but summoned from another location (see below). This is presumably why Draco Malfoy, a Second year student, was able to successfully execute the spell, despite the fact that conjuration is not taught to students until their Sixth year.
• The counter-charm is Vipera Evanesca
• Although the book states that the snake is conjured (brought forth into existence from nothingness), the Harry Potter Official Website states, when a user attempts to cast the spell at the farthest edges of the room, that:
  "It appears the snake did not hear you. Try to cast your spell in the centre of the room", suggesting that the serpent is brought forth from somewhere else.

Etymology

Serpens is Latin for "serpent"; ortus is the past participle of the Latin verb oriri "to be created".

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (First appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 (DS version)
• Harry Potter: Spells
• Harry Potter Trading Card Game
• Wonderbook: Book of Spells (Indirectly mentioned only)