Rarely Boggart-Banishing Spell

The Boggart-Banishing Spell (Riddikulus) was a charm that was used to defeat a Boggart. It caused the creature to assume a form that was humorous to the caster, along with a whip-crack noise, thereby taking away the Boggart's ability to terrorise.Boggarts were defeated by laughter, so forcing them to assume an amusing form was the first step to defeating them. However, because Boggarts were amortal, this spell does not truly destroy them, similar to the Patronus Charm, but merely "banish" them — meaning the defeated Boggart will vanish, and presumably re-materialise elsewhere.
==History==
In September 1993, Professor Remus Lupin taught this spell to his third year Defence Against the Dark Arts class in. Thanks to Lupin's teaching, Harry Potter was able to use this against a Boggart in the Triwizard Maze in 1995.This spell was apart of the practical examination of the Defence Against the Dark Arts O.W.L.
==Casting==
A simple charm that required the force of mind, to cast, the spell caster must first acknowledge what they fear the most (as it will most likely be what the Boggart will take the form of) and then visualise it into something amusing. 
The problem was because the Boggart would have assumed said form at the moment of direct encounter, the one attempting to use this charm would have lost concentration after seeing the Boggart manifest their worst fears, making this spell useless. As such, it was always advisable to first take one step at a time when practising this spell.
==See-In==
 - Chapter 11 (Boggart in the Wardrobe)
==Known uses==
Caster(s) 	Date 	Notes
Neville Longbottom	September 1993	Used it to defeat a Boggart in the form of Severus Snape, during a Defence Against the Dark Arts with Professor Remus Lupin.
Ronald Weasley 	September 1993	Used it to defeat a Boggart in the form of a giant spider, by removing its legs.
==Known practitioners==
Pomona Sprout with wand.jpg|Pomona Sprout
Remus_Lupin_Deathly_Hallows_promo_image.jpg|Remus Lupin
Neville HBP 1996.jpg|Neville Longbottom
Ron Weasley Half Blood Prince.jpg|Ronald Weasley
Seamus_Finnigan.jpg|Seamus Finnigan
HBP promo side Harry cropped.jpg|Harry Potter
Molly Weasley Half Blood Prince.jpg|Molly Weasley
==Etymology==
"Riddikulus" is an adaptation of the English adjective "ridiculous" as well as of the Latin noun ridiculum ("joke") and Latin verb ridere ("to laugh").
==Behind the scenes==
*The effect of the Boggart-Banishing Spell varies throughout the series. In , it has its stated effect of forcing a Boggart into an amusing form and otherwise does not harm it.
*The wand movement given for the Boggart-Banishing Spell resembles a large grin, likely on purpose.
*In , only Ron and Hermione learn this spell due to Harry being locked out of the class by Draco Malfoy while Lupin is teaching it to his class. Harry instead learns Expecto Patronum from Lupin to defeat his Dementor boggart, and in return Ron and Hermione do not learn Expecto Patronum.
==Appearances==
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Category:Charms
Category:Regular Defence Against on-the Rare Dark Arts
Category:Spells With Incantations of Latin Known Origin
Category:Triwizard T Tournament