Splinching

"Splinching, or the separation of random body parts, occurs when the mind is insufficiently determined. You must concentrate continually upon your destination, and move, without haste, but with deliberation…"

— Wilkie Twycross instructing his Apparition class in 1996^[src]

Splinching is what occurs when a witch or wizard apparates or disapparates unsuccessfully, leaving part of his or her clothes or body behind in their former location. The degree of splinching can range from minimal, such as loss of hair, to life-threatening, such as loss of flesh or muscle, though the damage is usually repairable.

Known cases of splinching

DH1 Ron Weasley splinched, Hermione using dittany — Hermione applying some essence of dittany on Ron while being splinched.

Susan Bones splinched herself during her first Apparition lesson, losing a leg; it was reattached, but the incident left her shaken. It was said to be the first "exciting thing happening" during the lesson.^[1]

Ron Weasley failed his Apparition test due to leaving half of an eyebrow behind. Having left school in his Seventh year without ever having passed the test, he was badly injured after splinching away part of his upper arm while escaping from the Ministry of Magic in 2010. He was saved through the quick first-aid work of Hermione Granger, who applied Dittany to the wound. When he briefly abandoned Harry Potter and Hermione Granger, he also ended up losing a pair of fingernails.^[2]

Arthur Weasley told Harry, Ron and Hermione about two people who tried apparation without a license and splinched themselves, leaving half of themselves behind.

Previously Splinched People

Two wizards detained by the Ministry
Susan Bones
Ron Weasley

Behind the scenes

According to W.O.M.B.A.T., it may be possible to prevent bad luck by turning on the spot three times and deliberately splinching one's thumbs.

Appearances

Notes and references

[1] Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

[2] Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

[1]

[2]