Harry Potter Glossary

Glossary

(Standard abbreviations are used.)

Accio : Spell, directed at an object, makes it fly towards the caster. With a named target ("Accio Dictionary!"), summons that object.

(intro: 4.GoF.6)

Aguamenti : Spell, conjures water (as a stream from the wand-tip, which can be used to fill e.g. a basin).

(intro: 6.HBP.26)

Alohomora : Spell, directed at a door or window, unlocks/opens it.

(intro: 1.PS.16)

Anapneo : Spell, directed at a person who is choking, clears the obstruction.

(intro: 6.HBP.7)

Aparecium : Spell, directed at a book, reveals hidden writing. (Attempted only once, unsuccessful)

(intro: 2.CoS.13)

Avada Kedavra : Spell, directed at a living thing, kills it without leaving physical evidence of the cause of death.

(intro: 4.GoF.14)

Avis : Spell, conjures one or more birds.

(intro: 4.GoF.18)

Cave Inimicum : Spell, directed in and around an area, places a protective charm that defends against enemies (perhaps by warning of their approach).

(intro: 7.DH.14)

Colloportus : Spell, directed at a door, seals it against opening.

(intro: 5.OotP.25)

Confringo : Spell, directed at an object, makes it explode forcibly.

(intro: 7.DH.4)

Crucio : Spell, directed at a person or animal, subjects them to extreme physical torture.

(intro: 4.GoF.14)

Defodio : Spell, directed at earth or stone, digs or gouges out space.

(intro: 7.DH.26)

Deletrius : Spell, cancels Prior Incantato.

(intro: 4.GoF.9)

Densaugeo : Spell, directed at a person, makes their upper front teeth grow to exceptional length.

(intro: 4.GoF.18)

Deprimo : Spell, directed at a structure, makes it collapse.

(intro: 7.DH.21)

Descendo : Spell, directed at an object, makes it move or fall down wards.

(intro: 7.DH.6)

Diffindo : Spell, directed at an object, cuts it.

(intro: 4.GoF.20)

Dissendium : Password, directed at One-Eyed Witch statue with wand, opens entrance to secret passage leading to Honeyduke's.

(intro: 3.PoA.10)

Duro : Spell, directed at an object, makes it rigid and/or immovable.

(intro: 7.DH.32)

Episkey : Spell, directed at a person, heals a small injury (e.g. broken nose, fat lip).

(intro: 6.HBP.8)

Erecto : Spell, directed at several objects, causes them to build themselves into a structure.

(intro: 7.DH.14)

Evanesco : Spell, directed at an object, makes it vanish (but not permanently: if desired the object(s) can be recalled later).

(intro: 5.OotP.5)

Expecto Patronum : Spell, creates a Patronus, which can be used as a defense against Dementors, a messenger, or for other purposes.

(intro: 3.PoA.12)

Expelliarmus : Spell, directed at a person, makes an object they are holding fly out of their hands.

(intro: 2.CoS.11)

Expellimellius : Mispronounced attempt at Expelliarmus, instead of disarming, made the target's sleeve catch fire.

(intro: 5.OotP.18)

Expulso : Spell, directed at an object, makes it explode forcibly.

(intro: 7.DH.9)

Fawkes : Phoenix, pet and assistant of Dumbledore.

(intro: 2.CoS.12; leaves: 6.HBP.29.)

Ferula : Spell, directed at a injured person's broken limb, bandages it.

(intro: 3.PoA.19)

Fidelius : Charm, performed on a person, entrusts them with a secret in such a way that no-one can find out the information except from that person.

(intro: 3.PoA.10)

Finite Incantatem : Spell, directed at an area, cancels the effects of curses placed on people. (Also, Finite 5.OttP.36 and 7.DH.31)

(intro: 2.CoS.11)

Flagrante : Spell, directed at an object, makes it unbearably hot to the touch.

(intro: 7.DH.26)

Flagrate : Spell, directed at a surface (e.g. a wall), with arbitrary movements as if handwriting, makes fiery marks on the surface.

(intro: 5.OotP.34)

Fluffy : Three-headed dog, pet of Hagrid.

(intro: 1.PS.9. Seen only in 1.PS, mentioned briefly in 2.CoS.)

Furnunculus : Spell, directed at a person, makes boils appear on their skin.

(intro: 4.GoF.18)

Geminio : Spell, directed at an object, makes a duplicate of it.

(intro: 7.DH.13)

Glisseo : Spell, directed at an object, makes it slippery.

(intro: 7.DH.32)

Homenum revelio : Spell, directed into a building, or room/rooms, reveals to the caster if any people are present.

(intro: 7.DH.9)

Homorphus : Spell, directed at a werewolf, renders them back into human form. (Never witnessed, claimed by Gilderoy Lockhart)

(intro: 2.CoS.10)

Impedimenta : Spell, directed at an approaching person or animal, slows or stops their approach.

(intro: 4.GoF.31)

Imperio : Spell, directed at a person or animal, makes them a "puppet" through mind control.

(intro: 4.GoF.14)

Impervius : Spell, directed at an object, protects it from 'atmospheric' effects, e.g. making eyeglasses repel water.

(intro: 3.PoA.9)

Incarcerous : Spell, directed at a person or animal, conjures ropes that instantly bind the person.

(intro: 5.OotP.33)

Incendio : Spell, directed at an object or place, sets the object on fire or creates flames in the place.

(intro: 4.GoF.4)

I solemnly swear that I am up to no good. : Password, used with wand to activate the Marauder's Map.

(intro: 3.PoA.10)

Langlock : Spell, directed at a person (or Peeves), makes their tongue stick to the roof of their mouth.

(intro: 6.HBP.19)

Legilimens : Spell, directed at a person, allows the caster to 'break into' the target's mind, sensing such things as emotion, whether they are telling the truth, thoughts, and/or senses.

(intro: 5.OotP.24)

Levicorpus : Spell, directed at a person, lifts them up in the air by an ankle.

(intro: 6.HBP.12)

Liberacorpus : Spell, directed at a person under Levicorpus, releases them.

(intro: 6.HBP.12)

Locomotor : Spell, directed at an object, makes it levitate/move (similarly to Mobiliarbus). The target must be named, e.g. "Locomotor Trunks!"

(intro: 5.OotP.3)

Locomotor Mortis : Spell, directed at a person, locks their legs together.

(intro: 1.PS.13)

Lumos : Spell, makes wand-tip glow.

(intro: 2.CoS.15)

Meteolojinx Recanto : Spell, directed into a room or area, cancels a previously-placed rain-making charm.

(intro: 7.DH.13)

Mobiliarbus : Spell, directed at an object, makes it move/walk (similarly to Locomotor).

(intro: 3.PoA.10)

Mobilicorpus : Spell, directed at an immobilised (or perhaps petrified, dead, etc.) person, makes them levitate.

(intro: 3.PoA.19)

Morsmordre : Spell, directed at the sky, creates the Dark Mark.

(intro: 4.GoF.9)

Muffliato : Spell, directed at a person, causes them to hear a buzzing sound, preventing them from hearing other sounds nearby.

(intro: 6.HBP.19)

Nox : Spell, extinguishes light produced by Lumos.

(intro: 3.PoA.17)

Obliviate : Spell, directed at a person, makes them forget who they are and everything that has happened.

(intro: 2.CoS.16)

Obscuro : Spell, directed at a person (or portrait), causes their vision to be blocked, as if blindfolded.

(intro: 7.DH.15)

Oppugno : Spell, directed at a person, causes a conjured object to attack them.

(intro: 6.HBP.14)

Orchideous : Spell, conjures a bouquet of flowers.

(intro: 4.GoF.18)

Pack : Spell, directed at scattered belongings, makes them fly into trunk.

(intro: 5.OotP.3)

Peskipiksi Pesternomi : Spell, directed at a Cornish pixie by Gilderoy Lockhart, had no effect.

(intro: 2.CoS.16)

Petrificus Totalus : Spell, directed at a person, petrifies and reorients their body/limbs to a straight standing/lying pose.

(intro: 1.PS.16)

Piertotum Locomotor : Spell, directed at a large group of inanimate objects, brings them to life to move as desired.

(intro: 7.DH.30)

Point Me : Charm, directed at wand, makes it point north.

(intro: 4.GoF.31)

Prior Incantato : Spell, directed at a wand, makes it repeat its previous spell (in a "shadow" form)

(intro: 4.GoF.9)

Protego : Spell, directed towards an attacker, blocks or deflects their attack.

(intro: 5.OotP.26)

Protego Horribilis : Spell, directed in and around an area, places a protective charm that defends against enemy attacks.

(intro: 7.DH.30)

Protego Totalum : Spell, directed in and around an area, places a shield (as Protego) around the entire area.

(intro: 7.DH.14)

Quietus : Spell, directed at one's own throat, cancels the effect of Sonorus.

(intro: 4.GoF.8)

Reducio : Spell, directed at an object, makes it smaller.

(intro: 4.GoF.14)

Reducto : Spell, directed at a solid object or barrier, demolishes it or creates a hole.

(intro: 4.GoF.31)

Relashio : Spell, directed at a person or object, causes it to release its hold on something.

(intro: 4.GoF.26)

Rennervate : Spell, directed at a stunned/unconscious person, revives them.

(intro: 4.GoF.9)

Reparo : Spell, directed at a broken object, repairs it.

(intro: 4.GoF.11)

Repello Muggletum : Spell, directed in and around an area, places a protective charm that keeps Muggles away.

(intro: 7.DH.14)

Rictusempra : Spell, directed at a person, makes them suffer intense tickling.

(intro: 2.CoS.11)

Riddikulus : Spell, directed at a boggart, turns its fearsome form into something related but amusing.

(intro: 3.PoA.7)

Salvio Hexia : Spell, directed in and around an area, places a protective charm that defends against harmful spells (jinx, hex, possibly curse).

(intro: 7.DH.14)

Scourgify : Spell, directed at a table, floor, etc., cleans it.

(intro: 5.OotP.3)

Sectumsempra : Spell, directed at a person, inflicts deep cuts.

(intro: 6.HBP.24)

Serpensortia : Spell, conjures a snake which emerges from the wand-tip.

(intro: 2.CoS.11)

Silencio : Spell, directed

(intro: 5.OotP.18)

Sonorus : Spell, directed at one's own throat, makes one's voice very loud, as if using a bullhorn.

(intro: 4.GoF.8)

Specialis Revelio : Spell, directed at an object, reveals enchantments or magical properties.

(intro: 6.HBP.9)

Stupefy : Spell, directed at a person or animal, physically stuns them and knocks them unconscious.

(intro: 4.GoF.9)

Tarantallegra : Spell, directed at a person, makes them dance frantically.

(intro: 2.CoS.11)

Tergeo : Spell, directed at a person or object, cleans it.

(intro: 6.HBP.8)

Waddiwasi : Spell, directed at Peeves, undoes his mischief and makes him fly away. (Only seen once)

(intro: 3.PoA.7)

Wingardium Leviosa : Spell, directed at an object, makes it levitate.

(intro: 1.PS.10)

Abbreviations

1.PS: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

2.CoS: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

3.PoA: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

4.GoF: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

5.OotP: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

6.HBP: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

7.DH: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

The Seven Guardians of The Philosopher's Stone

At the end of his first year at Hogwarts, Harry (with the aid of his friends Ron and Hermione) passed a series of seven obstacles in order to reach the final conflict with Voldemort that was the climax of the book and the start of the Dark Lord's return.

#	obstacle	set by	nature of challenge	overcome by
1	Fluffy	Hagrid	care of magical creatures	Hagrid
2	Devil's Snare	Prof. Sprout	herbology	Hermione
3	Enchanted Keys	Prof. Flitwick	flying/charms	Harry
4	Troll	Prof. Quirrell(?)	defense against dark arts (?)	Quirrell
5	Giant Chess Set	Prof. McGonagall	transfiguration(?), intellect/chess	Ron
6	Seven Potions	Prof. Snape	potions, intellect	Hermione
7	Mirror of Erised	Prof. Dumbledore	purity of heart	Harry

Things to note:

The number 7 is almost definitely intentional. (See also: the 7 books/years; the 7 Horcruxes)
Each challenge was set by a different teacher, roughly in order of the teachers' increasing skill and seniority (Hagrid became a teacher in Harry's 5^th year)
As with the Horcruxes, Harry needed the help of his friends to make it to all seven, plus the help of one instructor (Hagrid with Fluffy, Dumbledore with the Ring) and with a bit of luck one was overcome for him by an adversary (the troll by Quirrell/Voldemort, the Diadem by Crabbe)

The Seven Attacks of Voldemort Against Harry

Lord Voldemort attempted seven times to kill Harry Potter, failing each time.

#	book/chapter	notes
1	1/The Boy Who Lived	Avada Kedavra, undefended. Curse rebounds off Harry because of Lily's sacrifice; Harry becomes a quasi-Horcrux
2	1/The Man With Two Faces	Voldemort occupies Quirrell's body, but does not possess him; he orders Quirrell to kill Harry but Quirrell does not utter any curse
3	4/Priori Incantatem	Avada Kedavra vs. Expelliarmus. The spells collided and neither took action because Harry's and Voldemort's wands had the same core (a feather from Dumbledore's phoenix)
4	5/The Only One He Ever Feared	Avada Kedavra, undefended. Dumbledore had enchanted the Ministry atrium statue, which deflected the curse
5	7/The Seven Potters	Avada Kedavra, undefended. Harry's wand, acting on its own, shattered the wand Voldemort was wielding
6	7/The Forest Again	Avada Kedavra, undefended. The spell destroyed the Horcrux aspect of Harry, but did not kill Harry outright for two reasons: Voldemort was wielding the Elder Wand whose true allegiance was to Harry; and Voldemort had used Harry's blood in his reanimation ritual. The Elder Wand's effect was to known Harry unconscious and give him a choice of whether or not to die. There was also a rebound effect that knocked Voldemort unconscious for a brief time while Harry made his choice.
7	7/The Flaw in the Plan	Avada Kedavra vs. Expelliarmus. The Elder Wand again failed to serve Voldemort by not killing Harry, instead choosing to be hit by Harry's spell so that the wand would fly to Harry.

The Seven Horcruxes

At the end of his seventh year at Hogwarts, Harry (with the aid of his friends Ron and Hermione) destroyed seven cursed objects in order to reach the final battle with Voldemort that was the climax of the series and the final conclusion of the Dark Lord's downfall.

#	item	who died	created	destroyed	original charm (if any) or function	curse (affecting whoever uses the horcrux in the normal way)	details of destruction
1	Diary	Myrtle	1943 June (or later)	1993 May 29 (2.CoS.17)	An aid to memory and personal growth; a place to record secrets	Reading/writing in the Diary causes one's life-energy to be gradually transferred into the spectral Tom Riddle, who also reveals the very dangerous secret of how to revive the basilisk	stabbed by a basilisk fang by Harry Potter in the Chamber of Secrets
2	Gaunt Ring	Tom Riddle Sr.	1943 summer (or later)	1996 July	Heirloom jewelry, and Resurrection Stone (one of the Deathly Hallows)	When worn, wearer is infected by a fatal flesh-eating rot (slowed only by the expertise of Dumbledore and Snape)	cleft by Sword of Gryffindor by Albus Dumbledore in his office
3	Slytherin Locket	A Muggle tramp	1946 - 1979	1997 Dec 28	unknown (perhaps enhanced wearer's cunning, resourcefulness, persuasiveness, etc.)	wearer became increasingly despondent and/or hostile; can only be opened by Parseltongue	cleft by Sword of Gryffindor by Ron Weasley in Forest of Dean
4	Hufflepuff Cup	Hepzibah Smith	1946 or later	1998 May 2	unknown (perhaps gave magical nourishment to drinker)	unknown (perhaps caused drinker to be poisoned)	stabbed by a basilisk fang by Hermione Granger in the Chamber of Secrets
5	Ravenclaw Diadem	An Albanian peasant	1946 or later	1998 May 2	enhanced the wearer's wisdom and/or intelligence	unknown (perhaps caused wearer to permanently lose wisdom)	burned by Fiendfyre by Vincent Crabbe in the Room of Requirement
6	Nagini	Bertha Jorkins	1994 summer	1998 May 2	a normal, albeit dangerous, poisonous constrictor snake	can transfigure; shares thoughts with her master; bites leave slow-healing wounds	beaheaded by Sword of Gryffindor by Neville Longbottom on the front steps of Hogwarts
7	Harry Potter	Lily Potter	1981 Oct 31	1998 May 2	wizard son of a mischief-loving father and kind, vivacious mother, both of them clever and talented	could not live a normal life until he defeated the most powerful dark wizard of all time	attacked with Killing Curse by Voldemort in the Forbidden Forest

This page was written in the "embarrassingly readable" markup language RHTF, and was last updated on 2016 Feb 09.

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