The spells tag has no wiki summary.
8
votes
2answers
171 views
Can Expelliarmus Be Used For Weapons Other Than Wands?
Expelliarmus is typically used to disarm an opponent of his/her wand. Could it be used to disarm someone of another type of weapon, such as a Basilisk fang, a phial of a dangerous potion, a Venomous ...
8
votes
1answer
111 views
Can a Patronus take the form of any animal?
As far as I can recall, all of the Patronuses that are seen in the books (and movies) are small- to medium-sized mammals and a few are birds. I could've missed some, but I don't think there are any ...
10
votes
1answer
244 views
Why Did Harry's Wand Not Reveal Its Last Spells During Priori Incantatem?
As the title asks, why did Harry's wand not reveal its last spells during Priori Incantatem with Voldemort in Goblet of Fire? Voldemort's wand revealed Wormtail's severed hand, Cedric Diggory, Frank ...
6
votes
2answers
188 views
Can wizards create “anonymous” spells?
By an "anonymous" spell, I mean one that a wizard casts to do something, but is not really named or permanent in any way. All the spells we see in the books have an associated word that must be ...
4
votes
2answers
97 views
Do Disillusionment Charms Fail At Very Close Range?
I've been informed by those who know much more about Harry Potter than I that Hogwarts is protected with a Disillusionment Charm so all muggles will see is ruins with a "Danger: Keep out!" sign around ...
1
vote
3answers
102 views
Does human magic have the same affect when applied to non-humans?
If you cast Avada Kedavra on a giant, will it work? How does a Cheering Charm work on a house-elf? Can you Obliviate a centaur or mermaid? What about Legilimency and the like?
In short: Can you ...
8
votes
2answers
305 views
What makes those three curses unforgivable?
NOTICE: The author of this question does not deem the use of those curses to be forgiveable under any but the most extreme circumstances.
What made the Unforgivable curses such? Is it due to ...
7
votes
2answers
133 views
Does Priori Incantatem Produce Ghosts or Another Kind of Specter?
In the graveyard scene in Goblet of Fire, when Voldemort's and Harry's wands connect, Priori Incantatem occurs (i.e. Voldemort's wand spits out the last spells it has performed). First, Wormtail's ...
33
votes
2answers
678 views
What are Guinan's powers from Star Trek: TNG?
In Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Q Who," season 2, episode 16, Q seems disturbed by the presence of Guinan to the point of raising his hands as if to use his powers on her. Guinan responds ...
11
votes
2answers
336 views
The rules of Transfiguration: examples of making the inedible edible?
Information from the official website of J.K.Rowling is generally considered canon. I remember at least one case when she 'changed her mind' after a particular rule has been published on her website ...
9
votes
1answer
884 views
What happened to Alice at the end of the Magicians?
I stood confused through the end of the book "The Magicians", especially in trying to figure out what happened to Alice. What I understood that occurred is as follows:
The rest of the book, ...
25
votes
6answers
899 views
Can wizards create their own spells?
In the Harry Potter series, are wizards capable of creating their own spells, or are they limited to the spells that they're taught/learn? I seem to remember something about Snape creating Sectum ...
9
votes
2answers
349 views
How does spell blocking work in the Harry Potter universe?
Does one have to introduce a "speed of spell" to explain the spell blocking? IMHO one has to build up protection before the impact - so how can a wizard react to a spell that is in progress?
20
votes
2answers
733 views
Why does Hermione say she hadn't used a memory charm before?
After the wedding, Hermione has to use a memory charm on two death eaters, where she states that she's never done it before, but she knows the theory. However, she states that before she left on her ...
12
votes
3answers
924 views
Why were there so many spells cast in the movies without saying the words to the spell?
From my memory of the last Harry Potter movie I saw, I've seen many wizards cast spells without saying the spell at all. During the final battle in Hogwarts, many wizards just swung their wands and ...
13
votes
2answers
767 views
How could Dumbledore lose his wand in the astronomy tower?
In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Draco Malfoy casts Expelliarmus against Dumbledore, causing his wand (the Elder wand) to fly over the ramparts.
As it was the Elder wand, the wand should ...
19
votes
15answers
6k views
How was was a certain character killed without Avada Kedavra (spoilers)?
It seems that the only officially known way to instantly kill someone with a curse was "Avada Kedavra".
So, (spoilers):
20
votes
6answers
1k views
Why does Harry Potter wear glasses?
Is there some in-Universe (or somewhat canonical) explanation for why Harry wears glasses - either 100% of the time, or at least, when playing Quiddich?
Surely, given assorted spells, there should be ...
16
votes
11answers
985 views
Rich Wizards, Poor Muggles
Why, oh why, don't the Weasleys "conjure" up some diamonds/gold/etc, sell 'em to Muggles, and get rich? They could buy a mansion (like the Malfoys), and live there happily ever after.
I know there's ...
11
votes
2answers
530 views
In Harry Potter, What would the Muggle autopsy of a Killing Curse victim reveal?
What would the Muggle autopsy of a Killing Curse victim reveal?
Wouldn't it sound unusual to Muggles that a person died because of absolutely nothing?
21
votes
3answers
778 views
Spell casting in the Harry Potter series
In the Harry Potter universe, magically inclined children are sent to school where they start learning how to cast spells and other magic related activities. It's clearly shown that the children have ...
13
votes
3answers
981 views
What does it take to become a registered Animagus?
So, I've wondered for some time, if you need a permit to be an Animagus in the Harry Potter universe, how do you learn to do it beforehand? Is there some class, or something? And as there's only 7 ...
30
votes
6answers
2k views
Are there any spells that a wizard/witch can cast without a wand in the Harry Potter universe?
In the beginning of the series, it's mentioned that Muggle-born wizards/witches are identified due to inadvertent spell-casting. However, it seems like later in the book, disarmed wizards/witches are ...
49
votes
11answers
5k views
Why don't muggle-born wizards use Muggle technology to fight Death Eaters?
We know that wizards in Harry Potter universe are subject to regular physical harm (e.g. witness injuries from being hit by Bludgers or just colliding with things when playing Quidditch).
Therefore, ...
