Magic in Harry Potter: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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==Using magic==

Wizards must learn how to control their magic. In young and untrained children, magical effects will occur spontaneously during moments of strong emotion.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rowling |first=J. K. |title=Harry is a metamorphmagus |url=http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/rumours_view.cfm?id=41 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926035344/http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/rumours_view.cfm?id=41 |archive-date=26 September 2011 |access-date=27 February 2008 |website=J.K Rowling Official Site}}</ref> For example, [[Harry Potter (character)|Harry Potter]] liberatedliberates a boa constrictor at the London Zoo and inflatedinflates his [[Dursley family#Marge Dursley|Aunt Marge]] to an enormous size. Although young children usually cannot control their magic, the young [[Voldemort]] could intentionally cause magical things to happen.<ref>{{HPref|book=6|chapter=13}}</ref> In the novels, almost all intentional magic is performed with a [[Magical objects in Harry Potter#Wand|wand]].

[[Spell (paranormal)|Spells]] are the every-purpose tools of a wizard. They are generally short bursts of magic used to accomplish a specialised task, such as creating fire or unlocking a door. Casting a spell usually requires the movement of a wand and the uttering of an [[incantation]]. The language of the incantations in the ''Harry Potter'' novels has been described as [[Dog Latin|modified Latin]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Renfro |first=Kim |date=29 September 2020 |title=The real scientific meaning behind 13 'Harry Potter' spells |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/harry-potter-spells-latin-roots-meaning-2017-4 |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Romano |first=Andrea |date=2016-06-02 |title=The not-so-magical Latin origins of 'Harry Potter' spells |url=https://mashable.com/article/harry-potter-spells-latin |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=Mashable |language=en}}</ref> Although wizards in the novels almost always use a wand for casting spells, Rowling has used the [[Wizarding World Digital|''Wizarding World'']] website to describe certain wizarding cultures that practice magic without a wand.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rowling |first=J. K. |date=29 January 2016 |title=Uagadou |url=https://www.wizardingworld.com/writing-by-jk-rowling/uagadou |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=Wizarding World |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Rowling |first=J. K. |date=8 March 2016 |title=Fourteenth Century – Seventeenth Century |url=https://www.pottermore.com/collection-episodic/history-of-magic-in-north-america-en |access-date=28 August 2024 |website=Wizarding World}}</ref> While most spells depicted in the books require the caster to use their voice, some do not. For example, Albus Dumbledore has been known to do impressive feats of magic without speaking. In ''Order of the Phoenix'', Harry performs ''lumos'' to light his wand when he is not holding it.<ref name="HP5">{{HPref|book=5}}</ref>

== The limits of magic ==

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===Death===

In ''Goblet of Fire'', Albus Dumbledore tells Harry that magic cannot truly and permanently bring dead individuals back to life. Corpses can be transformed into obedient [[#Inferius|inferi]], but they have no soul or will of their own. However, there are methods of communicating with the dead in a limited way. For example, all Hogwarts headmasters appear in a magical portrait when they die, which allows future generations to consult with them. However, the portrait is a reflection of who the wizard was, and is not a link to their spirit. The [[Deathly Hallows (objects)#Resurrection Stone|Resurrection Stone]] allows the bearer to speak with the dead, but it cannot bring the dead back into the living world.

Likewise, it is not possible to make oneself immortal unless one uses an object of great power to sustain life, such as the [[Magical objects in Harry Potter#Philosopher's stone|Philosopher's Stone]] or a [[Horcrux]]. If one were to possess the three [[Deathly Hallows (objects)|Deathly Hallows]], it is fabled that they would possess the tools to become the "master of death". Other methods of extending life include drinking unicorn blood, which will keep a person alive even if death is imminent, but at the price of being cursed forever. Being magical can contribute to one's longevity, as there are several characters in the series who are unusually long-lived. It is revealed by [[Nearly Headless Nick]] in the fifth novel that all wizards have the choice of becoming [[Ghosts (Harry Potter)|ghosts]] upon dying; however, it is described as "a pale imitation of life". Rowling has stated that death is the most important theme in the novels.<ref>{{cite episode |title=Harry Potter and Me |series=BBC Christmas Specials |network=[[BBC]] |date=28 December 2001}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Anelli |first1=Melissa |title=More About that Veil |url=http://www.harryahistory.com/2008/09/more-about-that-veil.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120023032/http://www.harryahistory.com/2008/09/more-about-that-veil.html |archive-date=20 November 2008 |access-date=8 May 2017 |website=Harry, A History}}</ref>

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As explained earlier, young untrained wizards can trigger uncontrolled magic when they are in a state of intense emotion. But emotions also affect trained witches and wizards and their magical abilities. For instance, in ''Half-Blood Prince'', a heartbroken [[Nymphadora Tonks]] temporarily loses her power as a [[Metamorphmagus]] when [[Remus Lupin]] starts distancing himself from her; the form of her [[Patronus Charm|Patronus]] changes to reflect her depression. Another example is [[The House of Gaunt|Merope Gaunt]], who only demonstrated any magical ability when removed from her father's oppression, but then lost it again when her husband abandoned her.

Several magical spells require the use of certain emotions when casting them. The Patronus charm, for example, requires the caster to concentrate on a happy memory. Another example is the [[#Unforgivable curses|Cruciatus Curse]], which causes immense pain; as Harry discovers during a duel with [[Bellatrix Lestrange]], effective use of this forbidden dark magic requires sadistic desires.<ref name="HP5"/>

Love is depicted as a particularly powerful form of magic.<ref name="HP5"/> Lily Potter's voluntary sacrifice on Harry's behalf grants him a magical protection that saves him from Voldemort as a baby, and Harry makes a similar sacrifice to save his friends at the end of ''Deathly Hallows''.<ref>{{HPref|book=7}}</ref> A certain key prophecy in the series describes Harry as having "power the Dark Lord knows not", referencing his capacity for love.<ref name="HP5"/>

True love is impossible to create magically; Amortentia, aalthough love potion,potions can only create a powerful sense ofintense infatuation and obsession.

==Magical abilities==

The following are magical abilities that a wizard in the ''Harry Potter'' universe may have.

=== Animagus ===

An animagus is a wizard who can turn into a particular animal at will. This ability is acquired by magical means. By law, all British animagi must register with the Ministry of Magic. During the course of the series, several unregistered animagi are depicted, including James Potter, [[Sirius Black]], [[Death Eater#Peter Pettigrew|Peter Pettigrew]], and [[Rita Skeeter]]. [[Minerva McGonagall]] is a registered animagus who takes the form of a domestic cat. A wizard's animagus form is determined by their personality.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Rowling |first1=J.K. |date=6 September 2016 |title=Short stories from Hogwarts of heroism, hardship, and dangerous hobbies |series=Pottermore Presents |publisher=Pottermore |isbn=978-1-78110-628-0}}</ref>

===Apparition===▼

Apparition is a magical form of [[teleportation]], by which a wizard can disappear ("Disapparate") from one location and reappear ("Apparate") in another. According to Harry, Apparition feels like being squeezed through a tight rubber tube.<ref>{{HPref|book=6|chapter=4}}</ref> A wizard must be at least 17 years old to Apparate, and students at Hogwarts may take Apparition lessons during their sixth year. Wizards without an Apparition license can use "side-along apparition" to travel with someone who does.▼

Learning to Apparate is difficult, and students run the risk of ''splinching''—being physically split between the origin and destination. Splinching is quite common during lessons, and can be uncomfortable or very painful, but is ultimately harmless if properly reversed. To remedy a splinch requires the assistance of the Ministry's [[Accidental Magic Reversal Squad]] or essence of [[origanum dictamnus|dittany]]. ▼

Apparition is considered unreliable over long distances, and even experienced practitioners sometimes prefer other means of transport. Rowling has stated that cross-continental Apparition "would almost certainly result in severe injury or death."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rowling |first1=J.K. |date=20 December 2016 |title=Welcome to my new website! |url=https://www.jkrowling.com/welcome-to-my-new-website/ |access-date=5 May 2017 |website=jkrowling.com}}</ref> For reasons of security, Hogwarts is protected by anti-Apparition spells, which prevent most humans from Apparating on the school grounds.▼

Magical devices such as the [[Magical objects in Harry Potter#Floo Powder|Floo Network]], [[Magical objects in Harry Potter#Portkeys|Portkeys]] and [[Magical objects in Harry Potter#Vanishing Cabinet|Vanishing Cabinets]] also provide forms of teleportation. Some magical creatures have their own forms of teleportation. House-elves are not affected by anti-Apparition enchantments, and can therefore Apparate on Hogwarts grounds. Phoenixes can disappear and reappear in a burst of flame.▼

=== Gubraithian fire ===

Gubraithian Fire is an everlasting magical fire that can only be created by extremely skilled wizards. Hagrid and [[Madame Maxime]] gave a bundle of Gubraithian fire, conjured by Dumbledore, to the leader of the [[Magical creatures (Harry Potter)#Giants|giants]]. The gift was part of an attempt to sway the giants to Dumbledore's side in the struggle against Voldemort.<ref name="HP53">{{HPref|book=5}}</ref>

===Legilimency and Occlumency<span class="anchor" id="Legilimency and occlumency"></span>===

Legilimency is the practice of extracting feelings and memories from another person's mind – a form of magical [[telepathy]]. It also allows the practitioner to convey visions or memories to another person. A wizard possessing this skill is called a legilimensLegilimens, and can, for example, detect deceit in another person, witness their memories, or plant visions in their mind. The counter-skill to legilimencyLegilimency is occlumencyOcclumency, which is practised by an occlumensOcclumens. It can be used to prevent a legilimensLegilimens from discovering the practitioner's thoughts or memories. Voldemort, [[Severus Snape]], and Albus Dumbledore are all skilled in legilimencyLegilimency and occlumencyOcclumency.▼

===Metamorphmagus===

A metamorphmagus is a wizard who can change their appearance at will.<ref>{{cite news |title=Rumour section |url=http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/rumours_view.cfm?id=41 |url-status=dead <!-- presumed --> |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926035344/http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/rumours_view.cfm?id=41 |archive-date=2011-09-26 |website=J.K. Rowling's official site}}</ref> [[Nymphadora Tonks]] and her son, [[Teddy Lupin]], are the only living metamorphmagi mentioned in the novels. At various points, Tonks changes her hair colour and style according to her mood. She is a relatively young woman, but she occasionally chooses to appear elderly.

===Parselmouth<span class="anchor" id="Parseltongue"></span>===

Parseltongue is the language of snakes. Those who can speak parseltongue are called parselmouths. The ability is rare, and the only parselmouths mentioned in the novels are Harry, Voldemort, Salazar Slytherin and Slytherin's descendants. Rowling said she derived the term "parselmouth" from "an old word for someone who has a problem with the mouth, like a [[cleft lip and palate|hare lip]]".<ref>{{cite web |date=26 June 2003 |title=Harry Potter and the Magic of the Internet |url=http://www.msn.co.uk/liveevents/harrypotter/transcript/Default.asp?Ath=f |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061112072736/http://www.msn.co.uk/liveevents/harrypotter/transcript/Default.asp?Ath=f |archive-date=12 November 2006 |access-date=12 May 2022 |website=MSN}}</ref>

===Seer===

A seer is a wizard with the [[clairvoyant]] ability to foresee future events. The predictions given through this ability can sometimes be [[self-fulfilling prophecies]], and Dumbledore states in ''Order of the Phoenix'' that not all of them come true, depending on the choices made by those involved. According to Minerva McGonagall, true seers are extremely rare. [[Sybill Trelawney]] is the only seer portrayed in the novel. She has twice made true prophecies – both significant to Harry Potter – but had no recollection of either prediction afterward.

===Legilimency and occlumency===

▲Legilimency is the practice of extracting feelings and memories from another person's mind – a form of magical [[telepathy]]. It also allows the practitioner to convey visions or memories to another person. A wizard possessing this skill is called a legilimens, and can, for example, detect deceit in another person, witness their memories, or plant visions in their mind. The counter-skill to legilimency is occlumency, which is practised by an occlumens. It can be used to prevent a legilimens from discovering the practitioner's thoughts or memories. Voldemort, [[Severus Snape]], and Albus Dumbledore are all skilled in legilimency and occlumency.

▲===Apparition===

▲Apparition is a magical form of [[teleportation]], by which a wizard can disappear ("Disapparate") from one location and reappear ("Apparate") in another. According to Harry, Apparition feels like being squeezed through a tight rubber tube.<ref>{{HPref|book=6|chapter=4}}</ref> A wizard must be at least 17 years old to Apparate, and students at Hogwarts may take Apparition lessons during their sixth year. Wizards without an Apparition license can use "side-along apparition" to travel with someone who does.

▲Learning to Apparate is difficult, and students run the risk of ''splinching''—being physically split between the origin and destination. Splinching is quite common during lessons, and can be uncomfortable or very painful, but is ultimately harmless if properly reversed. To remedy a splinch requires the assistance of the Ministry's [[Accidental Magic Reversal Squad]] or essence of [[origanum dictamnus|dittany]].

▲Apparition is considered unreliable over long distances, and even experienced practitioners sometimes prefer other means of transport. Rowling has stated that cross-continental Apparition "would almost certainly result in severe injury or death."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rowling |first1=J.K. |date=20 December 2016 |title=Welcome to my new website! |url=https://www.jkrowling.com/welcome-to-my-new-website/ |access-date=5 May 2017 |website=jkrowling.com}}</ref> For reasons of security, Hogwarts is protected by anti-Apparition spells, which prevent most humans from Apparating on the school grounds.

===Other teleportation===

▲Magical devices such as the [[Magical objects in Harry Potter#Floo Powder|Floo Network]], [[Magical objects in Harry Potter#Portkeys|Portkeys]] and [[Magical objects in Harry Potter#Vanishing Cabinet|Vanishing Cabinets]] provide forms of teleportation. Some magical creatures have their own forms of teleportation. House-elves are not affected by anti-Apparition enchantments, and can therefore Apparate on Hogwarts grounds. Phoenixes can disappear and reappear in a burst of flame.

==Spell-like effects==

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==Dark Arts==

The Dark Arts are magical spells and practices that are usually used for malicious purposes. Practitioners of the Dark Arts are referred to as Dark wizards. The most prominent Dark wizard is Voldemort, who has followers called [[Death Eater]]s. The type of spells characteristic of Dark Arts are known as ''curses'', which usually cause harm to the target.<ref>{{cite web |last=Rowling |first=J. K. |title=Spell Definitions |url=http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/extrastuff_view.cfm?id=24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080124192524/http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/extrastuff_view.cfm?id=24 |archive-date=24 January 2008 |website=J.K. Rowling Official Site}}</ref> The motivation of the caster affects a curse's result. This is most clearly outlined for the ''Cruciatus'' curse: When cast by Harry, angered by the death of his godfather at Bellatrix's hands and desiring to punish her, it causes a short moment of pain. As Bellatrix herself comments, righteous anger does not allow the spell to work for long. When cast by figures such as Voldemort, who desire to inflict pain for its own sake, it causes intense agony that can last as long as the Dark witch or wizard persists.

Use of Dark Magic can corrupt the soul and body; Voldemort has used such magic in his quest to prolong his life and obtain great power. The Dark Arts also cause Voldemort to look deformed and inhuman, a side effect of splitting his soul into Horcruxes.

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The Unforgivable Curses are the three worst known spells of the Dark Arts. They are so-named because their use is legally forbidden and unpardonable in wizarding law, and is punishable by a life sentence in [[Azkaban]].

* The '''killingAvada curseKedavra''', (incantation:also ''avadaknown kedavra'')as "the killing curse" causes immediate death. It has no cure, and cannot be blocked by most magical means.{{efn|[[Harry Potter (character)|Harry Potter]] is the only person known to have survived (twice),this nullifiedcurse. (once),The andincantation deflectedfor (once)this thecurse killingis curse''avada kedavra.}}''

* The '''''cruciatus'' curse''' (incantation: ''crucio'', Latin for "I torture") causes the victim intense pain and is used for torture. The strength of the curse is determined by the person who cast it. It is used regularly by the Death Eaters. The curse can torture a person to the point of death, amnesia or insanity. Effective casting requires the caster to have sadistic desires.

* The '''''imperius'' curse''' (incantation: ''imperio'') is used for [[Brainwashing|mind control]] or [[hypnosis]], and can force the victim to do things they would normally be unwilling or unable to.▼

* The '''Cruciatus Curse''' causes the victim intense pain and is used for torture. The strength of the curse is determined by the motivations of the caster. For example, a sadistic desire to inflict pain will produce a more effective curse than righteous anger. The curse has been used to torture victims to the point of death or insanity. The incantation for the Cruciatus Curse is ''crucio'', which is Latin for "I torture".

In ''Deathly Hallows'', the unforgivable curses are used by protagonists, ranging from [[Professor McGonagall]] with the ''imperius'' curse, to Harry effectively using both the ''imperius'' and ''cruciatus'' curses. He uses the ''imperius'' curse on a goblin and a suspicious Death Eater during a disguised attack on Gringotts Bank, and Dolores Umbridge during an incursion into Ministry of Magic, while it was under control of the Death Eaters.

▲* The '''''imperius''Imperius curseCurse''' (incantation: ''imperio'') is used for [[Brainwashing|mind control]] or [[hypnosis]], and can force the victim to do things they would normally be unwilling or unable to. The incantation for the Imperius Curse is ''imperio''.

=== Dark Mark ===

The Dark Mark is the symbol of Voldemort and the [[Death Eater|Death Eaters]]. It appears as a skull with a snake for a tongue, and is cast into the sky whenever Death Eaters commit a murder. Every Death Eater has the Dark Mark branded on their forearm. This brand allows the Death Eaters and Voldemort to summon each other.

===Inferius===

{{Distinguish|Infernus (disambiguation){{!}}Infernus}}

An '''inferius''' (plural: '''inferi'''){{efn|

The Latin word ''inferus'' (plural: ''inferi'') means "those below", often referring in the plural to "the gods below" (see ''[[di inferi]])'' or the spirits of the dead (q.v. ''[[lemures]]'' and ''[[manes]]'').<ref name="lexicon">{{cite book |last1=Lewis |first1=Charlton T. |last2=Short |first2=Charles |title=A Latin Dictionary |publisher=Clarendon Press |year=1879 |place=Oxford, UK |chapter=q.v., ''inferus'', as positive noun I.{{sc|B}}, as comparative adjective II.{{sc|A}} |chapter-url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0059%3Aentry%3Dinferus }}</ref> ''Inferius'' is a neuter singular form of ''inferior'', a [[comparative adjective]] meaning "lower".<ref name="lexicon"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/morph?l=inferius&la=la |title=Morphology of ''inferius'' |website=The Perseus Project |publisher=[[Tufts University]]}}</ref>