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{{Wonderbook}}
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{{Wonderbookold}}
 
{{Pottermoreold}}
  
{{Pottermoreold}}
 
{{Spell infobox
  
{{Spell infobox
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|incantation=''Alohomora''<br/>(al-LOH-ha-MOR-ah)
  
|incantation=''Alohomora''<br/>(al-LOH-ha-MOR-ah)
 
|type=[[Charm]]
  
|type=[[Charm]]
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|hand=[[File:Unlocking-spell.png]]
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|hand=Point wand at lock
  
 
|light=Invisible, blue, or yellow
  
|light=Invisible, blue, or yellow
 
|effect=Unlocks doors, chests, etc.
  
|effect=Unlocks doors, chests, etc.
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{{Quote|There are many ways to pass through locked doors in the magical world (see the [[Fire-Making Spell]], [[Gouging Spell]], and the [[Reductor Curse]]) where you wish to enter or depart discreetly, however, the Unlocking Charm is your best friend.|The introduction to the entry on this spell in ''[[Book of Spells]]''.|Wonderbook: Book of Spells}}
  
{{Quote|There are many ways to pass through locked doors in the magical world (see the [[Fire-Making Spell]], [[Gouging Spell]], and the [[Reductor Curse]]) where you wish to enter or depart discreetly, however, the Unlocking Charm is your best friend.|The introduction to the entry on this spell in ''[[Book of Spells]]''.|Wonderbook: Book of Spells}}
   
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The '''Unlocking Charm''', also known as the '''Thief's Friend''' (''Alohomora'') is a [[charm]] that opens mechanical locks that are not protected by magic. It is also able to open doors locked by ''[[Colloportus]]''. There is a spell called the [[Anti-Alohomora Charm]] which is used to counteract this spell.
 +
The '''Unlocking Charm''', also known as the '''Thief's Friend''' (''Alohomora'') is a [[charm]] that opens mechanical locks that are not protected by magic. It is also able to open doors locked by ''[[Locking Spell|Colloportus]]''. There is a spell called the [[Anti-Alohomora Charm]] which is used to counteract this spell. [[Magical lock]]s also existed and were placed on several doors, but could be unlocked with this charm.
   
 
Descriptions of this spell are written in numerous books, including [[The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1|the first volume of the Standard Book of Spells series]], where it is described in chapter seven <ref>[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)]]</ref> and [[Alohomora spellbook|a spellbook]] that can be found in the [[Hogwarts Library]].<ref>[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game)]]</ref>
  
Descriptions of this spell are written in numerous books, including [[The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1|the first volume of the Standard Book of Spells series]], where it is described in chapter seven <ref>[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)]]</ref> and [[Alohomora spellbook|a spellbook]] that can be found in the [[Hogwarts Library]].<ref>[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game)]]</ref>
   
 
==History==
  
==History==
−
Although it is unknown who invented it (the spell was created in [[Africa]]) it was brought to [[Britain]] and hence to the world in the [[17th century]] by [[Eldon Elsrickle]]. He used it to terrorise [[London]], stealing from homes of [[Muggle]]s and [[Wizardkind|wizards]] alike, until [[Blagdon Blay]] invented an Anti-Alohomora Charm.
 +
Although it is unknown who invented it (the spell was created in [[Africa]]) it was brought to [[Britain]] and hence to the world in the [[17th century]] by [[Eldon Elsrickle]]. He used it to terrorise [[London]], stealing from homes of [[Muggle]]s and [[Wizardkind|wizards]] alike, until [[Blagdon Blay]] invented the [[Anti-Alohomora Charm]].
  +
  +
Prior to ''Alohomora'', the most popular unlocking spell was ''[[Portaberto]]'' (used to splinter a lock from a door; though known to occasionally leave a smoking hole where the key should have gone) and, before that, ''[[Open Sesame]]'' (which ripped doors from their hinges and tore them into firewood). All of these were more rudimentary and by far less subtle than ''Alohomora''.
   
 
==Known practitioners==
  
==Known practitioners==
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==Known uses==
  
==Known uses==
 
===Successful===
  
===Successful===
−
*In the early [[1600s]], [[Eldon Elsrickle]] was the first wizard to use it in the western world. Elsrickle had learnt the spell from an [[Ancient African sorcerer]], and used it to ransack the houses of [[London]], [[Muggle]] and [[wizardkind|wizarding]] alike.
 +
* In the early [[1600s]], [[Eldon Elsrickle]] was the first wizard to use it in the western world. Elsrickle had learnt the spell from an [[Ancient African sorcerer]] and used it to ransack the houses of [[London]], [[Muggle]], and [[Wizardkind|wizarding]] alike.
−
*On 31 October 1981 [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]] used this spell to break into the Potters' house and murder [[James Potter I|James]] and [[Lily Evans|Lily Potter]].
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* On 31 October, 1981, [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]] used this spell to break into the Potters' house and murder [[James Potter I|James]] and [[Lily Evans|Lily Potter]].
−
*[[Hermione Granger]] used this spell on multiple occasions: she used it to open a forbidden entrance on the [[Third Floor Corridor]] of [[Hogwarts Castle]] in [[1991]], to open the window to Professor [[Filius Flitwick]]'s office to rescue [[Sirius Black]] in [[1994]], and to open [[Regulus Black]]'s bedroom in [[12 Grimmauld Place]] in [[1997]].
 +
* [[Hermione Granger]] used this spell on multiple occasions: She used it to open a forbidden entrance on the [[Third Floor Corridor]] of [[Hogwarts Castle]] in [[1991]], to open the window to Professor [[Filius Flitwick]]'s office to rescue [[Sirius Black]] in [[1994]], and to open [[Regulus Black]]'s bedroom in [[12 Grimmauld Place]] in [[1997]].
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*The [[Janus Thickey Ward]] at [[St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries]] can only be entered by using this spell. [[Healer]]s and visitors may enter, but patients are unable to get out.
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* The [[Janus Thickey Ward]] at [[St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries]] can only be entered by using this spell. [[Healer]]s and visitors may enter, but patients are unable to get out.
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*During the [[Battle of the Department of Mysteries]], one of the [[Death Eaters]] used this spell to open doors shut by the [[Dumbledore's Army|D.A.]].
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* During the [[Battle of the Department of Mysteries]], one of the [[Death Eaters]] used this spell to open doors shut by the [[Dumbledore's Army|D.A.]].
  +
   
 
===Unsuccessful===
  
===Unsuccessful===
  +
* In the [[1600]]s, after multiple robberies, Eldon Elsrickle eventually found that all wizarding households placed an [[Anti-Alohomora Charm]] on their doors and could no longer unlock their doors.
−
*The door guarding the [[Philosopher's Stone]] in [[1991]] was protected against Alohomora; a [[Winged Keys|winged key]] was necessary to open it. A single door in the [[Department of Mysteries]] was impervious to this spell as well. It is the door which presumably conceals the room where the [[British Ministry of Magic|Ministry of Magic]] studies the power of Love.
 +
* The door guarding the [[Philosopher's Stone]] in [[1991]] was protected against the Unlocking Charm; a [[Winged Keys|winged key]] was necessary to open it. A single door in the [[Department of Mysteries]] was impervious to this spell as well; it may be presumed that it opens in the room where the [[British Ministry of Magic|Ministry of Magic]] studies the power of love.
−
*In [[1996]], Harry assumed that [[Dolores Umbridge|Umbridge]]'s office door had been bewitched so that this spell wouldn't work.
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* In [[1996]], Harry assumed that [[Dolores Umbridge|Umbridge]]'s office door had been bewitched so that this spell wouldn't work.
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*In [[1996]], Harry Potter tried to use the spell on the Hogwarts gates with no effect, as [[Albus Dumbledore]] had bewitched the gates.
 +
* In [[1996]], Harry Potter tried to use the spell on the Hogwarts gates with no effect since [[Albus Dumbledore]] had bewitched them.
   
 
==Etymology==
  
==Etymology==
−
J. K. Rowling stated that the word was from the West African Sidiki dialect used in geomancy and has the literal meaning "''Friendly to thieves''". <ref>Rowling, J. K. (2008-04-14). Statement of J.K. Rowling in testimony during the WB and JKR vs. RDR Books. Archived on 2008-04-16 from http://web.archive.org/web/20080423072217/www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/2008/4/15/first-day-of-jkr-wb-vs-rdr-books-trial</ref>
 +
[[J. K. Rowling]] stated that the word was from the West African Sidiki dialect used in geomancy and has the literal meaning "''Friendly to thieves''". <ref>Rowling, J. K. (2008-04-14). Statement of J.K. Rowling in testimony during the WB and JKR vs. RDR Books. Archived on 2008-04-16 from http://web.archive.org/web/20080423072217/www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/2008/4/15/first-day-of-jkr-wb-vs-rdr-books-trial</ref>
   
 
==Behind the scenes==
  
==Behind the scenes==
 
[[File:Alorromora.JPG|thumb|Harry opening Dolores Umbridge's Office with this spell]]
  
[[File:Alorromora.JPG|thumb|Harry opening Dolores Umbridge's Office with this spell]]
  +
*''[[Alohomora Duo]]'' is a stronger version of this spell.
 
*Although [[Dolores Umbridge]]'s office at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]] was (assumed) impervious to this spell in the novel, [[Harry Potter]] uses this [[spell]] to open it before attempting to use the [[Floo Network]] in the [[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)|film adaptation]] of ''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix]]''.
  
*Although [[Dolores Umbridge]]'s office at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]] was (assumed) impervious to this spell in the novel, [[Harry Potter]] uses this [[spell]] to open it before attempting to use the [[Floo Network]] in the [[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)|film adaptation]] of ''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix]]''.
 
*As it was described in a textbook, this may be learned in Hogwarts Charms classes in the first year.
  
*As it was described in a textbook, this may be learned in Hogwarts Charms classes in the first year.
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*This may be the spell that [[Remus Lupin]] used to open a wardrobe containing a [[Boggart]], and the spell that Harry Potter used wandlessly to open his cupboard to retrieve his school supplies.
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*This may be the spell that [[Remus Lupin]] used to open a wardrobe containing a [[Boggart]] and the spell that Harry Potter used wandlessly to open his cupboard to retrieve his school supplies.
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*In the [[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film)|film adaptation]] of ''[[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban]]'', instead of using Alohomora to help [[Sirius Black]] escape, Hermione used [[Bombarda]] to blast open his cell door.
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*In the [[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film)|film adaptation]] of ''[[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban]]'', instead of using the Unlocking Charm to help [[Sirius Black]] escape, Hermione used ''[[Bombarda]]'' to blast open his cell door.
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*In the [[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game)|''Chamber of Secrets'' video game]] for GameCube, Xbox and PS2 it's specified that ''Alohomora'' is for use on mechanical locks. In most other sources, it's used on magical locks and the spell ''[[colloportus]]'' as well.
 +
*In the [[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game)|''Chamber of Secrets'' video game]] for GameCube, Xbox, and PS2 it's specified that the Unlocking Charm is for use on mechanical locks. In most other sources, it's used on magical locks and the [[Locking Spell]] as well.
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*In ''[[LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4]]'' and ''[[LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7|Years 5-7]]'', ''[[Reducto]]'' is used to blast open most locks, instead of ''Alohomora''.
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*In ''[[LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4]]'' and ''[[LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7|Years 5-7]]'', the [[Reductor Curse]] is used to blast open most locks, instead of the Unlocking Charm.
 
*According to ''[[Book of Spells]]'', the spell ''[[Portaberto]]'' was the most popular unlocking spell before this, and prior to that ''[[Open Sesame]]'' was.
  
*According to ''[[Book of Spells]]'', the spell ''[[Portaberto]]'' was the most popular unlocking spell before this, and prior to that ''[[Open Sesame]]'' was.
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*''[[Pottermore]]'' states that the hand movement is thus:<br/>[[File:Unlocking-spell.png]]<br/>However, ''Wonderbook'' shows it as a 4.
  
   
 
==See also==
  
==See also==
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*''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)]]''
  
*''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)]]''
 
*''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game)]]''
  
*''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game)]]''
  +
*''[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets]]'' {{Mention}} <ref name="CS1">''[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets]]'', Chapter 1 - (''The Worst Birthday'') - Harry considers the possibility of unlocking [[Hedwig]]'s cage using magic.</ref>
 
*''[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)]]'' {{Possible}}
  
*''[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)]]'' {{Possible}}
 
*''[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game)]]''
  
*''[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game)]]''

Revision as of 15:01, 7 December 2013

"There are many ways to pass through locked doors in the magical world (see the Fire-Making Spell, Gouging Spell, and the Reductor Curse) where you wish to enter or depart discreetly, however, the Unlocking Charm is your best friend."
— The introduction to the entry on this spell in Book of Spells.[src]

The Unlocking Charm, also known as the Thief's Friend (Alohomora) is a charm that opens mechanical locks that are not protected by magic. It is also able to open doors locked by Colloportus. There is a spell called the Anti-Alohomora Charm which is used to counteract this spell. Magical locks also existed and were placed on several doors, but could be unlocked with this charm.

Descriptions of this spell are written in numerous books, including the first volume of the Standard Book of Spells series, where it is described in chapter seven [1] and a spellbook that can be found in the Hogwarts Library.[2]

History

Although it is unknown who invented it (the spell was created in Africa) it was brought to Britain and hence to the world in the 17th century by Eldon Elsrickle. He used it to terrorise London, stealing from homes of Muggles and wizards alike, until Blagdon Blay invented the Anti-Alohomora Charm.

Prior to Alohomora, the most popular unlocking spell was Portaberto (used to splinter a lock from a door; though known to occasionally leave a smoking hole where the key should have gone) and, before that, Open Sesame (which ripped doors from their hinges and tore them into firewood). All of these were more rudimentary and by far less subtle than Alohomora.

Known practitioners

Known uses

Successful


Unsuccessful

  • In the 1600s, after multiple robberies, Eldon Elsrickle eventually found that all wizarding households placed an Anti-Alohomora Charm on their doors and could no longer unlock their doors.
  • The door guarding the Philosopher's Stone in 1991 was protected against the Unlocking Charm; a winged key was necessary to open it. A single door in the Department of Mysteries was impervious to this spell as well; it may be presumed that it opens in the room where the Ministry of Magic studies the power of love.
  • In 1996, Harry assumed that Umbridge's office door had been bewitched so that this spell wouldn't work.
  • In 1996, Harry Potter tried to use the spell on the Hogwarts gates with no effect since Albus Dumbledore had bewitched them.

Etymology

J. K. Rowling stated that the word was from the West African Sidiki dialect used in geomancy and has the literal meaning "Friendly to thieves". [3]

Behind the scenes

Alorromora

Harry opening Dolores Umbridge's Office with this spell

See also

Appearances

Notes and references

  1. ↑ Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)
  2. ↑ Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game)
  3. ↑ Rowling, J. K. (2008-04-14). Statement of J.K. Rowling in testimony during the WB and JKR vs. RDR Books. Archived on 2008-04-16 from http://web.archive.org/web/20080423072217/www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/2008/4/15/first-day-of-jkr-wb-vs-rdr-books-trial
  4. ↑ Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 1 - (The Worst Birthday) - Harry considers the possibility of unlocking Hedwig's cage using magic.
The Standard Book of Spells
Book of Spells 1
Grade 1 · Grade 2 · Grade 3 · Grade 4 · Grade 5 · Grade 6 · Grade 7
Charms included in the series: Dancing Feet Spell (Tarantallegra) · Disarming Charm (Expelliarmus) · Engorgement Charm (Engorgio) · Fire-Making Spell (Incendio) · Freezing Charm (Immobulus) · General Counter-Spell (Finite Incantatem) · Levitation Charm (Wingardium Leviosa) · Locking Spell (Colloportus) · Memory Charm (Obliviate) · Mending Charm (Reparo) · Nonverbal spell · Severing Charm (Diffindo) · Skurge Charm (Skurge) · Softening Charm (Spongify) · Substantive Charm · Summoning Charm (Accio) · Tickling Charm (Rictusempra) · Unlocking Charm (Alohomora) · Wand-Lighting Charm (Lumos)
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