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Levitation Charm

"You're saying it wrong ...It's Wing-gar-dium Levi-o-sa, make the 'gar' nice and long."
-- Hermione to Ron in Charms class (PS10)

Levitation Charm

The Levitation Charm is a basic charm that allows the target to float above the ground.

History and Notes

The Levitation Charm was accidentally invented in 1544 by Jarleth Hobart while attempting to create a flying spell (BoS).

References from the canon

  • The first actual spell taught in Charms class after two months of studying theory (PS10)
  • The mass able to be lifted and duration of the spell depend on the skill of the caster (BoS).
  • Variations include: Hover Charm, Rocket Charm, Floating Charm (BoS)
  • Lee Jordan levitated two Nifflers into Umbridge's office. She blamed Hagrid (OP31)
  • One side effect of a Billywig sting is levitation, since they fly like little helicopters (FB)
  • Harry performed the Levitation Charm as part of his practical Charms O.W.L. (OP31)
  • Not named, but this or something similar was used on Charity Burbage at Malfoy Manor (DH1) [although this may actually have been Levicorpus] as well as on the champagne bottles and lanterns at Bill Weasley's wedding to Fleur Delacour (DH8).
  • Again not named, a levitation spell was used by James and Sirius to lift a police car into the path of three onrushing Death Eaters on brooms (Pre).
  • In an excellent example of how intention affects magic, Ron used this spell to make a mountain troll's club levitate, then crash back onto its own head, even though the "wing" portion of the spell seems specific to feathers (PS10).
  • Harry cast this on the sidecar after it broke off from the flying motorbike (DH4).
  • Ron cast this on a twig to move it into position to press the place at the roots of the Whomping Willow to make it hold still, clearing the way to the tunnel leading to the Shrieking Shack (DH32).
  • Delphi uses this to pick up one of the pews in St Jerome's Church in order to smash it down on top of Harry Potter during their duel (CC4.11).

Commentary

Etymology

'wing' + 'arduus"= L. 'high, steep' + 'levo'=L. 'to raise up, levitate'

Pensieve (Comments)

Tags: flying upside-down

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