An Known-Petrification(-Harry Potter)

Petrification was a malign magical state in which a living creature was rendered immobile and unresponsive, as if they had been turned to stone. It was a phenomenon of the most advanced Dark Magic, affecting beasts, beings and even spirits such as ghosts. Petrification could be inflicted by the statue curse, along with the gazes of the Gorgon and the Basilisk. In the case of the Basilisk, its gaze ordinarily killed living creatures, but when seen indirectly, or by a ghost (who was already dead and couldn't die again), it caused Petrification instead.
==History==
During the history of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the Chamber of Secrets was opened twice, and in both cases the Serpent of Slytherin was released and attacked the Muggle-born student body. The first opening in 1943 resulted in the Petrification of three Muggle-born students, and the death of one, Myrtle Warren. The second opening in 1992 led to the Petrification of students Colin Creevey, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Hermione Granger, along with the cat Mrs Norris and the ghost Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington.
==Effects==
Victims of Petrification were completely paralysed and unresponsive. It may have taken careful examination to discern if a victim was Petrified. A Petrified ghost would turn a dark smoky grey and could only be moved using air currents. The antidote to Petrification was the Mandrake Restorative Draught, a highly potent healing potion made from Stewed Mandrakes.Petrification should not be confused with the Full Body-Bind Curse or the Hardening Charm. The Full Body-Bind Curse was only temporary and could be lifted easily, while the Hardening Charm turned an object to literal stone. Gilderoy Lockhart once confused the effects of Petrification with those of the Transmogrifian Torture; however, the truth of his claims were extremely dubious.
==Known victims==
===Basilisk attacks===
Victim 	Circumstances
Mrs Norris 	Saw the Basilisk's reflection in the water on the floor.
Colin Creevey 	Saw the Basilisk through his camera; the Basilisk's gaze also burned his camera's film to a crisp.
Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington 	Saw the Basilisk directly, but as a ghost he could not die again, so thus was only Petrified.
Justin Finch-Fletchley 	Saw the Basilisk through the ghost of Sir Nicholas, who was transparent, did not see the Basilisk directly.
Hermione Granger 	Saw the Basilisk in Penelope's mirror, while near the Hogwarts Library.
Muggle-born students of Hogwarts (1943)	During the incident of the first unleashing of the beast in 1943, three unnamed Muggle-born Hogwarts students were Petrified.
==Etymology==
The Latin verb petrificare means "to make into stone", from the Latin word for "rock", petra.
==Behind the scenes==
*It is unknown how Nearly Headless Nick was revived from being Petrified, because, as a ghost, he presumably would not have been able to consume the antidote. (However, as Petrified humans couldn't consume potions either, being unconscious, it is possible that the potion may have been administered in a form that could affect ghosts such as via a spray bottle.
*In mythology, petrification is associated with Medusa the Gorgon and the cockatrice as well as the basilisk. In Cornish folklore, petrification legends explain the origin of prehistoric megalithic monuments, such as the Merry Maidens stone circle.
==Appearances==
* 
* 
* 
*
*
* 
*
* 
*
*
*
==Notes and references==
Category:Articles Related-To Basilisks
Category:Rare Dark Arts
Category:Real Magical Powers
Category:The Entire Plot to Open at The Chamber-Of Secrets
Category:Transformations