Harry Potter Wiki
Register
Harry Potter Wiki
(british spelling)
No edit summary
 
(51 intermediate revisions by 29 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
  +
{{HogwartsLegacySpoiler}}
 
{{Spell infobox
 
{{Spell infobox
|name=Thief's Downfall
+
|name = Thief's Downfall
  +
|image = ThiefsDownfall2.png
|image=[[File:Thief'sDownfall.jpg|250px]]
 
  +
|incantation =
|type=[[Charm]]
+
|type = [[Charm]]<ref name="DH26"/>
|hand=
+
|hand =
|effect=Lifts enchantments
 
  +
|light =
  +
|effect = Lifted [[Charm|enchantments]] and all forms of [[magic]]al concealment<ref name="DH26"/>
  +
|creator =
 
}}
 
}}
  +
{{Quote|The Thief’s Downfall! It washes away all enchantment, all magical concealment! They know there are impostors in Gringotts, they have set off defences against us!|[[Griphook]]|Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows}}
The '''Thief's Downfall''' is one of many defensive enchantments employed at [[Gringotts Wizarding Bank]].
+
The '''Thief's Downfall''' {{Incantation unknown}} was one of the many defensive [[Charm|enchantments]] employed at [[Gringotts Wizarding Bank]].<ref name="DH26"/>
   
 
==Description==
 
==Description==
  +
[[File:Thief'sDownfall.jpg|250px|thumb|right|The trio and Griphook going through the water]]
The Thief's Downfall has the appearance of a waterfall, which falls directly over the tracks used by the [[Mine Cart|mining carts]] of [[Gringotts Wizarding Bank|Gringotts]]. Its purpose is to wash away any concealment or enchantments that are being used by the occupants of any mining cart that runs through it, as well as causing the cart to derail and crash, preventing the thieves from progressing any further.
+
The Thief's Downfall had the appearance of a [[water]]fall, which fell directly over the tracks used by the [[Mine Cart|mining carts]] of [[Gringotts Wizarding Bank|Gringotts]]. Its purpose was to wash away any concealment or [[Charm|enchantments]] (including the [[Imperius Curse]]) that were being used by the occupants of any mining cart that ran through it, as well as causing the cart to derail and crash, preventing the thieves from progressing any further. However, it only seemed to affect [[magic]] that had been cast upon something else that the waters have run upon, since [[Hermione Granger]] was able to cast a [[Shield Charm]] directly at the waterfall, re-directing its running waters elsewhere.<ref name="DH26">{{DH|B|26}}</ref>
   
 
==Known uses==
 
==Known uses==
  +
On [[1 September]] [[1890s|1890]], [[Professor]] [[Eleazar Fig]] and the [[Unidentified 19th-century Hogwarts student|new fifth-year student]] managed to enter Gringotts via a series of [[ancient magic]] traces only the student could see, and were taken down to [[Vault 12]] by a [[goblin]] [[Goblin Banker|banker]]. During their cartride, they passed under the Thief's Downfall, where Fig explained its purpose to his student. When questioned if he'd experienced the waterfall before by the goblin, Fig claimed to have only heard of it.<ref name="HL PH">{{HL|The Path to Hogwarts}}</ref>
[[File:Thiefdownfall.jpg|thumb|The trio and Griphook, after going through the Thief's Downfall, realise that all their disguises have been washed away]]
 
During their [[1998]] [[Break-in of Gringotts Wizarding Bank (1998)|break-in]] at Gringotts when they attempt to access the [[Lestrange family|Lestrange]] vault, [[Harry Potter]], [[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]], [[Hermione Granger]], and [[Griphook]] the [[goblin]] encountered this spell. As observed, the waterfall removed all the effects of the [[Polyjuice Potion]] from Hermione, a number of [[transfiguration]] spells from Ron, and lifted the [[Imperius Curse]] Harry had placed on [[Bogrod]] the goblin. Furthermore the water knocked the cart off course and, were it not for a [[Cushioning Charm]] Hermione produced at the last second, all the occupants of the cart would have almost certainly been killed.
 
   
 
[[File:Thiefdownfall.jpg|250px|thumb|left|Ron and Hermione after their disguises had been washed away]]
==Behind the scenes==
 
 
During their [[1998]] [[Break-in of Gringotts Wizarding Bank (1998)|break-in]] at Gringotts when they attempted to access the [[Lestrange family|Lestrange]] vault, [[Harry Potter]], [[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]], [[Hermione Granger]], and [[Griphook]] the goblin encountered this spell. As observed, the waterfall removed all the effects of the [[Polyjuice Potion]] from Hermione, a number of [[transfiguration]] spells from Ron and lifted the [[Imperius Curse]] Harry had placed on [[Bogrod]] the goblin. Furthermore, the water knocked the cart off course and, was it not for a [[Cushioning Charm]] Hermione produced at the last second, all the occupants of the cart would have almost certainly been killed.<ref name="DH26" />
  +
{{Clear}}
   
 
==Behind the scenes==
*The Thief's Downfall had no effect on the [[Cloak of Invisibility|Invisibility Cloak worn]] by Harry. This was probably something to do with it being the [[Cloak of Invisibility]] (a Deathly Hallow rather than an ordinary Invisibility Cloak).
+
*The Thief's Downfall had no effect on the [[Invisibility Cloak]] worn by Harry. This was probably something to do with it being the [[Cloak of Invisibility]], a [[Deathly Hallows|Deathly Hallow]] rather than an ordinary Invisibility Cloak.
*It also spared [[Hermione Granger's beaded handbag|Hermione's beaded handbag]], which would have probably burst should Hermione's [[Undetectable Extension Charm]] be lifted. This may have had something to do with the "Undetectable" part of the charm, which hides the charm itself. Therefore, it is only logical that if Thief's Downfall did not detect the charm it would not have lifted it.
+
* It also spared [[Hermione Granger's beaded handbag|Hermione's beaded handbag]], which would have probably burst should Hermione's [[Extension Charm|Undetectable Extension Charm]] be lifted. This may have had something to do with the "Undetectable" part of the charm, which hides the charm itself. Therefore, it is only logical that if Thief's Downfall did not detect the charm it would not have lifted it.
  +
[[File:ThiefsDownfall3.png|250px|thumb|In the film, after going through the ''Thief's Downfall'', the cart stops and activates an alarm]]
 
*In [[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows|the novel]], the cart derails after passing through the waterfall. In [[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2|the film]], the cart slows to a stop, an alarm is activated, and the cart's seats drop out from under the passengers.
 
*In [[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows|the novel]], the cart derails after passing through the waterfall. In [[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2|the film]], the cart slows to a stop, an alarm is activated, and the cart's seats drop out from under the passengers.
*Carts probably derail after running through Thief's Downfall because the carts themselves are probably charmed to both keep the cart running until it reaches its destination and keep the cart rooted to the rails and the occupants inside the cart despite the many high-speed twists (some of which invert the cart briefly) it runs through.
+
* Carts probably derail after running through Thief's Downfall because the carts themselves are probably charmed to both keep the cart running until it reaches its destination and keep the cart rooted to the rails and the occupants inside the cart despite the many high-speed twists (some of which invert the cart briefly) it runs through.<ref name="DHF2">{{DH|F2}}</ref>
  +
*[[Quirinus Quirrell]] may have been required to bypass this during his [[Break-in of Gringotts Wizarding Bank (1991)|break-in]] of the bank with [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]].
  +
*This spell may be related to the [[General Counter-Spell]] and/or the [[Revelio Charm]], given the similarity in its effects.
   
 
==Appearances==
 
==Appearances==
  +
*{{DH}} {{1st}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]''
 
  +
*{{DH|F2}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2]]''
 
  +
*{{DH|G2}}
  +
*{{PM}} {{Mention}}
  +
*{{WW}} {{Mention}}
  +
*{{LEGO|Y2}}
  +
*{{WWHP}}
  +
*{{HL}}
   
  +
==Notes and references==
  +
{{Reflist}}
  +
[[de:Diebesfall]]
  +
[[es:Perdición del Ladrón]]
 
[[fr:Cascade des Voleurs]]
 
[[fr:Cascade des Voleurs]]
 
[[it:Cascata del Ladro]]
 
[[it:Cascata del Ladro]]
  +
[[pl:Wodospad Złodzieja]]
[[Category:Charms]]
 
  +
[[pt-br:Queda do Ladrão]]
[[Category:Protective Spells]]
 
  +
[[ru:Гибель_воров]]
  +
[[Category:Break-in of Gringotts Wizarding Bank (1998)]]
 
[[Category:Polyjuice Potion]]
 
[[Category:Protective spells]]
  +
[[Category:Spells of unknown incantation]]
  +
[[Category:Water-based magic]]

Latest revision as of 10:15, 18 June 2023

"The Thief’s Downfall! It washes away all enchantment, all magical concealment! They know there are impostors in Gringotts, they have set off defences against us!"
Griphook[src]

The Thief's Downfall (incantation unknown) was one of the many defensive enchantments employed at Gringotts Wizarding Bank.[1]

Description

Thief'sDownfall

The trio and Griphook going through the water

The Thief's Downfall had the appearance of a waterfall, which fell directly over the tracks used by the mining carts of Gringotts. Its purpose was to wash away any concealment or enchantments (including the Imperius Curse) that were being used by the occupants of any mining cart that ran through it, as well as causing the cart to derail and crash, preventing the thieves from progressing any further. However, it only seemed to affect magic that had been cast upon something else that the waters have run upon, since Hermione Granger was able to cast a Shield Charm directly at the waterfall, re-directing its running waters elsewhere.[1]

Known uses

On 1 September 1890, Professor Eleazar Fig and the new fifth-year student managed to enter Gringotts via a series of ancient magic traces only the student could see, and were taken down to Vault 12 by a goblin banker. During their cartride, they passed under the Thief's Downfall, where Fig explained its purpose to his student. When questioned if he'd experienced the waterfall before by the goblin, Fig claimed to have only heard of it.[2]

Thiefdownfall

Ron and Hermione after their disguises had been washed away

During their 1998 break-in at Gringotts when they attempted to access the Lestrange vault, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, and Griphook the goblin encountered this spell. As observed, the waterfall removed all the effects of the Polyjuice Potion from Hermione, a number of transfiguration spells from Ron and lifted the Imperius Curse Harry had placed on Bogrod the goblin. Furthermore, the water knocked the cart off course and, was it not for a Cushioning Charm Hermione produced at the last second, all the occupants of the cart would have almost certainly been killed.[1]

Behind the scenes

  • The Thief's Downfall had no effect on the Invisibility Cloak worn by Harry. This was probably something to do with it being the Cloak of Invisibility, a Deathly Hallow rather than an ordinary Invisibility Cloak.
  • It also spared Hermione's beaded handbag, which would have probably burst should Hermione's Undetectable Extension Charm be lifted. This may have had something to do with the "Undetectable" part of the charm, which hides the charm itself. Therefore, it is only logical that if Thief's Downfall did not detect the charm it would not have lifted it.
ThiefsDownfall3

In the film, after going through the Thief's Downfall, the cart stops and activates an alarm

  • In the novel, the cart derails after passing through the waterfall. In the film, the cart slows to a stop, an alarm is activated, and the cart's seats drop out from under the passengers.
  • Carts probably derail after running through Thief's Downfall because the carts themselves are probably charmed to both keep the cart running until it reaches its destination and keep the cart rooted to the rails and the occupants inside the cart despite the many high-speed twists (some of which invert the cart briefly) it runs through.[3]
  • Quirinus Quirrell may have been required to bypass this during his break-in of the bank with Lord Voldemort.
  • This spell may be related to the General Counter-Spell and/or the Revelio Charm, given the similarity in its effects.

Appearances

Notes and references