Harry Potter Wiki
Don't have an account?
Register
Register
Harry Potter Wiki
Harry Potter Wiki
20,678
pages
in: Spells of unknown incantation, Spells with a light, Switching magic, Transforming spells
English

Changes: Switching Spell

Back to page
Sign in to edit
No edit summary
m (+de2)
 
(58 intermediate revisions by 24 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
  +
{{Spoiler|HM|PAS|MA}}
−
{{Pottermoreold}}
  
 
{{Spell infobox
  
{{Spell infobox
−
|name=Switching Spell
 +
|name = Switching Spell
−
|image=[[File:Switching Spell.JPG|250px]]
 +
|image = Switching Spell.JPG
−
|type=[[Transfiguration]]
 +
|type = [[Transfiguration]]<ref name="PS9"/>
  +
|incantation =
−
|hand=[[File:Switching-spells.png]]
  
−
|effect=[[Switching|Switches]] two targets simultaneously.
 +
|hand = [[File:Switching-spells.png]]
  +
|effect = [[Switching|Switches]] two objects<ref name="PS9"/>
−
|light=White
  
  +
|light = White<ref name="TCG">{{TCG}}</ref>
  +
|creator =
 
|}}
  
|}}
−
{{Quote|Well, there are Switching Spells... but what's the point of Switching it? Unless you swapped its fangs for [[wine-gum]]s or something that would make it less dangerous...|[[Hermione Granger|Hermione]] suggests using this spell to deal with the [[Hungarian Horntail|dragon]] of the [[First Task]] of the [[Triwizard Tournament]].|Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire}}
+
{{Quote|Well, there are Switching Spells... but what's the point of Switching it? Unless you swapped its fangs for [[wine-gum]]s or something that would make it less dangerous...|[[Hermione Granger]] considers using Switching Spells against a [[dragon]]|Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire}}
  +
The '''Switching Spell''' {{Incantation unknown}} was a [[transfiguration]] [[spell]]<ref name="PS9"/><ref name="GOF15">{{GOF|B|15}}</ref> used to [[Switching|switch]] the positions of two objects.<ref name="GOF20"/> By definition, it was a simultaneous transfiguration of two objects to make them look like each other.<ref name="HM511t"/><ref name="HM517t"/><ref name="HM520t"/><ref name="HM524t"/> The spell was studied in [[Transfiguration (class)|transfiguration class]] by [[fifth year|fifth-year]]s<ref name="HM511t"/><ref name="HM517t"/><ref name="HM520t"/><ref name="HM524t"/> and [[fourth year|fourth-year]]s<ref name="GOF15"/><ref name="PM">{{PM}} - [http://www.pottermore.com/en/book4/chapter15/moment1/switching-spells From the Story: Switching Spells]</ref> respectively during the [[1988–1989 school year|1988–1989]] and [[1994–1995 school year]]s. [[Hermione Granger]], however, gained points for knowing about Switching Spells in her first year.<ref name="PS9">{{PS|B|9}}</ref>
−
The '''Switching Spell''' (''incantation unknown'') is one of many [[transforming spells]] used to [[Switching|swap]] two different objects for one another. They are studied in the [[first year]] in [[Transfiguration (class)|transfiguration class]].
  
  +
−
==Practicioners==
  
  +
==History==
−
*[[Hermione Granger]]
 
  +
{{Quote|Longbottom, kindly do not reveal that you can’t even perform a simple Switching Spell in front of anyone from Durmstrang!|[[Minerva McGonagall]] to [[Neville Longbottom]]|Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire}}
⚫
*[[Neville Longbottom]] {{Comment|Failed; put ears onto cactus}}
  
  +
During the [[1988–1989 school year]], [[fifth year|fifth-year]] students, including [[Jacob's sibling]], were taught the Switching Spell in [[Transfiguration (class)|Transfiguration class]], with individual lessons on piggy banks with guinea pigs,<ref name="HM511t">{{HM|5|11|t}}</ref> [[top hat]]s with [[rabbit]]s,<ref name="HM517t">{{HM|5|17|t}}</ref> pillows with [[armadillo]]s<ref name="HM520t">{{HM|5|20|t}}</ref> and [[tortoise]]s with [[hare]]s.<ref name="HM524t">{{HM|5|24|t}}</ref>
  +
  +
[[Neville Longbottom]] proved unable to perform a Switching Spell by [[October]] [[1994]], a fact that was criticised by [[Minerva McGonagall]], who called the spell "simple".<ref name="GOF15" />
  +
  +
In preparation for the first task of the [[Triwizard Tournament]], [[Hermione Granger]] idly suggested to [[Harry Potter]] that he might use this spell on a dragon to turn its fangs to [[wine-gum]]s, but rejected the idea as impractical because as a rule it was nearly impossible to cast a spell through a dragon's hide.<ref name="GOF20">{{GOF|B|20}}</ref>
  +
  +
In [[1996]], Harry Potter forgot the definition of a Switching Spell when doing his written Transfiguration [[Ordinary Wizarding Level]] exam.<ref name="OP31">{{OOTP|B|31}}</ref>
  +
  +
==Known practitioners==
  +
<gallery widths="105" orientation="portrait" spacing="small" position="center">
  +
Jacob's sibling generic.png|[[Jacob's sibling]]<ref name="HM511t"/><ref name="HM517t"/><ref name="HM520t"/><ref name="HM524t"/>
  +
Minerva McGonagall POAF promo.jpg|[[Minerva McGonagall]]<ref name="HM511t"/><ref name="HM517t"/><ref name="HM520t"/><ref name="HM524t"/>
  +
Hermione Granger HBP promo.jpg|[[Hermione Granger]]<ref name="TCG"/>
  ⚫
Neville Longbottom.jpg|[[Neville Longbottom]] {{C|Failed; put ears onto cactus}}<ref name="GOF15"/>
  +
</gallery>
  +
  +
==Known possible switches with this spell==
  +
<gallery>
  +
SwitchPiggyBank&GuineaPigHM.png|Switching a piggy bank and a [[guinea pig]]<ref name="HM511t"/>
  +
Piggy Bank to Guinea Pig wand movement HM.png|The wand movement for switching a piggy bank and guinea pig<ref name="HM511t"/>
  +
SwitchingTopHat&RabbitHM.png|Switching a [[top hat]] and [[rabbit]]<ref name="HM517t"/>
  +
Top Hat to Rabbit wand movement HM.png|The wand movement for witching a top hat and rabbit<ref name="HM517t"/>
  +
SwitchPillow&ArmadilloHM.png|Switching a pillow and an [[armadillo]]<ref name="HM520t"/>
  +
Pillow to Armadillo wand movement HM.png|The wand movement for switching a pillow and armadillo<ref name="HM520t"/>
  +
SwitchTortoise&HareHM.png|Switching a [[tortoise]] and a [[hare]]<ref name="HM524t"/>
  +
Tortoise to Hare wand movement HM.png|The wand movement for switching a tortoise and hare<ref name="HM524t"/>
  +
</gallery>
  +
 
==Behind the scenes==
  
==Behind the scenes==
  +
*There may be specific spells used for switching specific things.
−
*[[Hermione Granger]] recommended to [[Harry Potter]] that he use this spell on a dragon to turn its fangs to [[wine-gum]]s.
 
  +
*This might have been the spell [[Porpentina Goldstein|Tina]] and [[Queenie Goldstein]] used to change their clothes before entering [[The Blind Pig]] to talk to [[Gnarlak]], by [[switching]] their work clothes switch places with a pair of nicer attire that hung in the closet back in their apartment.
−
*Hermione also gains some house points for knowing about these spells before they studied them.
  
  +
*If so, the Death Eaters would presumably also use the same spell to change into their black, hooded robes and masks on a short notice when summoned to their Master's side, as they arrived at the Graveyard almost instantly after they felt Voldemort calling them at his [[Return of Lord Voldemort|rebirth]], and it is highly unlikely all of them stood next to their bedroom wardrobes when they felt the Dark Mark burn.
  +
 
==Appearances==
  
==Appearances==
−
*''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone]]'' {{1st mention}}
 +
*{{PS}} {{1st mention}}
  +
*{{PS|G}} {{Mention}}
−
*''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game)]]'' {{Mention}}
  
  +
*{{GOF}} {{1st}}
−
*''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]'' {{1st}}
  
  +
*{{OOTP}} {{Mention}}
−
*''[[Harry Potter Trading Card Game]]''
  
  +
*{{FB|S}} {{Possible}}
−
*''[[Pottermore]]''
  
  +
*{{FB|F}} {{Possible}}
  +
*{{TCG}}
  +
*{{PM}} {{Mention}}
  +
*{{HM}}
  +
*{{PAS}}
  +
*{{MA}} {{Mention}}
  +
 
==Notes and references==
  
==Notes and references==
 
{{Reflist}}
  
{{Reflist}}
 
{{Transfiguration}}
  
{{Transfiguration}}
  +
  +
[[de:Verwandlungs-Zauber]]
  +
[[de2:Tauschverwandlung[[
 
[[es:Encantamiento permutador]]
  
[[es:Encantamiento permutador]]
 
[[fr:Sortilège de Transfert]]
  
[[fr:Sortilège de Transfert]]
  +
[[pl:Zaklęcie przemieniające]]
  +
[[ru:Заговор обмена]]
 
[[Category:Spells of unknown incantation]]
  
[[Category:Spells of unknown incantation]]
  +
[[Category:Spells with a light]]
 
[[Category:Switching magic]]
  
[[Category:Switching magic]]
−
[[Category:Transfiguration Spells]]
 +
[[Category:Transforming spells]]

Latest revision as of 20:30, 7 December 2023

Hand pointing right transparent Warning!

At least some content in this article is derived from information featured in: Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery & Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells & Harry Potter: Magic Awakened.
As such, spoilers will be present within the article.

"Well, there are Switching Spells... but what's the point of Switching it? Unless you swapped its fangs for wine-gums or something that would make it less dangerous..."
— Hermione Granger considers using Switching Spells against a dragon[src]

The Switching Spell (incantation unknown) was a transfiguration spell[1][3] used to switch the positions of two objects.[4] By definition, it was a simultaneous transfiguration of two objects to make them look like each other.[5][6][7][8] The spell was studied in transfiguration class by fifth-years[5][6][7][8] and fourth-years[3][9] respectively during the 1988–1989 and 1994–1995 school years. Hermione Granger, however, gained points for knowing about Switching Spells in her first year.[1]

History

"Longbottom, kindly do not reveal that you can’t even perform a simple Switching Spell in front of anyone from Durmstrang!"
— Minerva McGonagall to Neville Longbottom[src]

During the 1988–1989 school year, fifth-year students, including Jacob's sibling, were taught the Switching Spell in Transfiguration class, with individual lessons on piggy banks with guinea pigs,[5] top hats with rabbits,[6] pillows with armadillos[7] and tortoises with hares.[8]

Neville Longbottom proved unable to perform a Switching Spell by October 1994, a fact that was criticised by Minerva McGonagall, who called the spell "simple".[3]

In preparation for the first task of the Triwizard Tournament, Hermione Granger idly suggested to Harry Potter that he might use this spell on a dragon to turn its fangs to wine-gums, but rejected the idea as impractical because as a rule it was nearly impossible to cast a spell through a dragon's hide.[4]

In 1996, Harry Potter forgot the definition of a Switching Spell when doing his written Transfiguration Ordinary Wizarding Level exam.[10]

Known practitioners

Known possible switches with this spell

Behind the scenes

  • There may be specific spells used for switching specific things.
  • This might have been the spell Tina and Queenie Goldstein used to change their clothes before entering The Blind Pig to talk to Gnarlak, by switching their work clothes switch places with a pair of nicer attire that hung in the closet back in their apartment.
  • If so, the Death Eaters would presumably also use the same spell to change into their black, hooded robes and masks on a short notice when summoned to their Master's side, as they arrived at the Graveyard almost instantly after they felt Voldemort calling them at his rebirth, and it is highly unlikely all of them stood next to their bedroom wardrobes when they felt the Dark Mark burn.

Appearances

Notes and references

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 9 (The Midnight Duel)
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Harry Potter Trading Card Game
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 15 (Beauxbatons and Durmstrang)
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 20 (The First Task)
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 5, Chapter 11 (Mundungus Fletcher) - Transfiguration Lesson "Switch: Piggy Bank & Guinea Pig"
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 5, Chapter 17 (Broken Bonds) - Transfiguration Lesson "Switch: Top Hat & Rabbit"
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 5, Chapter 20 (Peter Pettigrew) - Transfiguration Lesson "Switch: Pillow & Armadillo"
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 5, Chapter 24 (Dark Pranks) - Transfiguration Lesson "Switch: Tortoise & Hare"
  9. ↑ Pottermore - From the Story: Switching Spells
  10. ↑ Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 31 (O.W.L.s)
Transfiguration (class)
COS Vera Verto demo
Branches of Transfiguration Transformation · Vanishment · Conjuration · Untransfiguration
Notable practitioners Circe · Emeric Switch · Falco Aesalon · Mirabella Plunkett · Thaddeus Thurkell
Professors Albus Dumbledore · Minerva McGonagall · Charles Rookwood · Matilda Weasley
Textbooks A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration · Intermediate Transfiguration · A Guide to Advanced Transfiguration
Transfiguration spells taught at Hogwarts
Colour Change Charm (Colovaria) · Change of hair colour and style (Crinus Muto) · Hardening Charm (Duro) · Mending Charm (Reparo) · Partial Vanishment · Reparifarge · Softening Charm (Spongify) · Switching Spell · Vanishing Spell (Evanesco)
Conjuring Spells Bird-Conjuring Charm (Avis) · Inanimatus Conjurus Spell · Bouquet Spell (Orchideous) · Snake Summons Spell (Serpensortia)
Transforming Spells Animal to water goblet (Vera Verto) · Armadillo to Pillow · Bowling Ball to Balloon · Beetle into Button · Cauldron to badger · Cat to cauldron (Felifors) · Cauldron Cakes to Cabbages · Chair to cat · Cross-Species Switches · Desk Into Pig · Fairy Cakes to Fairies · Feather Duster to Ferret · Ferret to Feather Duster · Gobstone to butterfly · Goldfinch to Golden Snitch · Flobberworm to Fritter · Gnomes to Lawn Gnomes · Guinea fowl to guinea pig · Gobstone to Skunk · Hedgehog to pincushion · King to Rook · Lovebird to Love Note · Match to needle · Meddling Man to Monkey · Mice to Snuffboxes · Owl to Opera Glasses (Strigiforma) · Pawn to Queen · Porcupine to Pin Cushion (Hystrifors) · Puffskein to Paperweight · Rubbish to Raccoon Dog · Small Child to Rat · Small object to dragon (Draconifors) · Snail to Teapot · Target to bird (Avifors) · Target to matchbox (Flintifors) · Target to rabbit (Lapifors) · Teacup into Gerbil · Teacup to Rat · Teapot to Tortoise · Thimble to Thestral · Toad to Toadstool · Tortoise to Trumpet · White rabbits to slippers

[[de2:Tauschverwandlung[[

Deutsch Español Français Polski Русский
*Disclosure: Some of the links above are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, Fandom will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.
More Fandoms