Charms

Charms Magic

Charms are a type of magic spell concerned with enchanting an object to behave in a way that isn't normal for that object. For example, the Summoning Charm brings an object to the caster. Charms is also something of a catch-all for spells that aren't Transfiguration (spells that change the inherent nature of an object). In some sense, if a spell isn't Transfiguration, it's probably a Charm.

A Charm might cause something to flash different colors. It might cause an object to levitate or even fly through the air. Charms can make a person laugh or dance or even create a bubble of breathable air around a person's head. In all of these cases, the object or the person doesn't really change, they just do something unexpected.

Some Charms can be extremely powerful. The Fidelius Charm, for example, can completely hide a person or a place in such a way that no one can find them unless they are given the location by a Secret Keeper. Memory Charms can be so strong that they completely remove a person's memory or even damage his or her mind permanently.

Charm spells are in some ways the opposite of Curses: many Charms seem to have an inherent positive tone (e.g. Tickling Charm) while Curses have an inherent negative one. This is not to say that Charms are weaker magic; a well-chosen Charm is a powerful magical tool against curses, jinxes, and hexes. Professor Flitwick, the Hogwarts Charms teacher, was rumored to have once been a duelling champion, after all (CS11).

Charms classes at Hogwarts

• First Year:
  Hallowe'en: started Wingardium Leviosa
  Exam: make a pineapple dance across the desk

• Second Year:
  not stated

• Third Year:
  Cheering Charms

• Fourth Year:
  Summoning Charm
  Banishing Charm

• Fifth Year
  Silencing Charms
  Create legs on teacups
  O.W.L.: Colour Change Charms, Summoning Charms

• Sixth Year
  Aguamenti

Charms Spells
for more information on individual charms, see the Encyclopedia of Spells

• Alohomora Charm
• Banishing Charm
• Braking Charm
• Bubble-Head Charm
• Charm To Cure Reluctant Reversers, A
• Cheering Charm
• Colour Change Charm
• Confundus Charm
• Drought Charm
• Engorgement Charm
• Fidelius Charm
• Flame-Freezing Charm
• Freezing Charm
• Growth Charm
• Homorphus Charm
• Hover Charm
• Imperturbable Charm
• Locomotion Charms
• Memory Charm
• Muggle-Repelling Charm
• Patronus Charm
• (Reducing Charm) assumed to be a Charm, since it's the opposite of the Engorgement Charm.
• Scouring Charm
• Severing Charm
• Shield Charm
• Silencing Charm
• Substantive Charm
• Summoning Charm
• Supersensory Charm
• Talon-Clipping Charms (dragon care)
• Tickling Charm
• Unbreakable Charm

books of charms

See Books by Topic.

And then there's always good old Aberforth Dumbledore, who was prosecuted for practicing "inappropriate charms" on a goat. I think that's all we need to know about that particular incident... (GF24)