Changes: Spell

Revision as of 14:26, 5 September 2011

"The generic term for a piece of magic."

— J.K. Rowling on the definition of a spell^[1]

A spell is a magical action often accompanied by an incantation (usually - but not always - Latin based; for example, Obliviate or Point Me) that makes use of the magical force of the wizarding world in order to accomplish extraordinary feats ordinary people cannot perform; for example, levitating objects, conjuring fire, or stunning a person. Spells often have some kind of physical representation in the form of light, and as such can usually miss, be dodged, or blocked with an object (including another spell).

Severus Snape casting the Killing Curse on Albus Dumbledore — *Avada Kedavra*, a curse of the highest level.

Usage

"Now, don't forget that nice wrist movement we've been practicing! The swish and flick! And saying the magic words properly is very important, too - never forget Wizard Baruffio, who said 's' instead of 'f' and found himself on the floor with a buffalo on his chest."

— Professor Flitwick in Charms Class^[src]

Normally, spells require three main factors to be properly accounted for in order to succeed: wand movement, incantation and intent. If one does not move their wand in the correct way, does not speak the incantation properly and/or cannot retain their desired outcome in their imagination during casting then the spell will fail or backfire.

It should be noted that spells can be performed with or without speech and wands, though non-verbal and wandless spells are much more difficult and hence are usually not taught to practitioners until they reach a more advanced level, such as the sixth year of study at Hogwarts. Notable practitioners of non-verbal spells include Albus Dumbledore, Lord Voldemort, and Severus Snape, who have also been known to perform wandless spells.

Most incantations derive from the Latin language (such as Accio) but there are also some English incantations (such as Obliviate or Stupefy).

A simplified analogy for the differentiation between Transfiguration and Charms is the difference between form and function or matter and energy; one is concerned with what the object is (its form - Transfigurations) whilst the other is concerned with what the object is doing (its function - Charms).

Appearance

When performed, spells usually evoke light from the wand they are cast with, such as the tell-tale red of Stupefy or green of Avada Kedavra. However, some spells, such as Accio and Silencio, produce no visible intermediate effect. Some spells also make loud noises when cast, although Harry Potter noted that "bangs and smoke were more often the marks of ineptitude than experience."^[2]

Origin

New spells can be crafted by wizards and witches, though it is implied to be a difficult and dangerous practice, as exemplified by Luna Lovegood's mother, who was killed in a backfired attempt at spellcrafting. Severus Snape is often attributed with the creation of spells such as Levicorpus and Sectumsempra during his time as a student at Hogwarts, though whether he actually crafted them intentionally, discovered them by accident, or learned of them from an outside source is unclear.

Classification

Below is a list of all known categories that spells can be assigned to. It should be noted that the extent to which the following categories are mutually exclusive to each other is not known i.e. whilst a spell can't be both a charm and a transfiguration it isn't known if a jinx could also be classed as a charm. It also seems likely that certain spell types belong to separate classification schemes to others. For example: Petrification is dark magic of the most advanced kind but it is also Transfiguration, Melofors is both a Jinx and a Conjuration, Fiendfyre could be considered a Charm as well as a curse and many healing spells could also be considered either charms or transfigurations. Hence, it appears that charm vs. transfiguration is one method of classification and counter-spell vs. jinx/hex/curse vs. healing spell a different one.

Spell Type	Defining Feature	Notes	Example
Transfiguration	Alteration of the object's form or appearance	Spells of this group may be separated into true transfiguration spells (where an existing object is altered) and conjurations, where the desired object is seemingly transfigured out of thin air.	Fera Verto - a true transfiguration spell that changes animals into water goblets. Avis - a conjuration that produces a flock of birds
Charm	Alteration of the objects inherent qualities i.e. its behaviour & capabilities.	When cast by an experienced practitioner, charms appear to usually have fairly long-lasting effects.	Expelliarmus - a.k.a. the Disarming Charm, so-called because it changes its object's (the opponent's) quality from armed to disarmed by separating them from their wand.
Jinx	Minor dark magic; spells whose effects are irritating but amusing, almost playful and of minor inconvenience to the target.		Impedimenta - a.k.a. the Impediment Jinx, which (appropriately) impedes the forward motion of an object.
Hex	Consistently affects the object in a negative manner; has a connotation of dark magic, but more so than a jinx. Major inconvenience to the target.		Anteoculatia - a hex that causes antlers to sprout from the object's head.
Curse	the worst kind of dark magic, intended to affect the object in a strongly negative manner.		Avada Kedavra - a.k.a. the Killing Curse, which kills the victim.
Counter-spell	Inhibition of the effect of another spell.	Counter-spells are a mysterious spell type that is not elaborated on very much throughout the franchise. There are six known types: Counter-jinxes, counter-curses, counter-charms, untransfigurations, anti-jinxes and undifferentiated counter-spells (it is unknown whether or not counter-hexes exist, though they presumably do). Whilst nomenclature is complex they all share the common trait of inhibiting another spell.	Finite Incantatem - a widely-employed counter-spell that terminates spell effects in general.
Healing spell	Improves the condition of the living object.		Episkey - heals minor injuries

A simplified analogy for the differentiation between a transfiguration and a charm is the difference between form and function or matter and energy; one is concerned with what the object is (its form - transfigurations) whilst the other is concerned with what the object is doing (its function - charms).

Appearances

Notes and References

[1] J.K.Rowling Official Site - Extra Stuff

[2] Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, ch. 26

[1]

[2]

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-''[[Anteoculatia]]'' - a hex that causes horns to sprout from the object's head.
+''[[Anteoculatia]]'' - a hex that causes antlers to sprout from the object's head.
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