Reductor-Curse

The Reductor Curse (see this video for confirmation) (Reducto) was a curse that blasted solid objects to pieces. It was rather easy to reduce a target to a fine mist or a pile of ashes. Harry Potter taught this curse to Dumbledore's Army during the 1995–1996 school year.
==History==
It is unknown when and who invented this spell. It was also featured in the Book of Spells, and was commented on by Miranda Goshawk, the book's author.
During the 1988–1989 school year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the then Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor Patricia Rakepick taught this spell to her fifth-year D.A.D.A. students, in order to teach them something both highly practical and useful in their education.
This was one of the spells that Harry Potter taught Dumbledore's Army, having previously used the spell during the Triwizard Tournament. It was used heavily by members of the D.A. that participated in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries in June 1996.
==Known uses==
Caster(s) 	Date 	Notes
Severus Snape 	25 December, 1994	Snape used this on rosebushes at the Yule Ball after his talk with Karkaroff.
Harry Potter 	June 1995 	Harry learned this spell in 1995 in preparation for the third task of the Triwizard Tournament.
Harry Potter 	24 June, 1995 	He used it in the hedge maze to try and disperse the Limbo Mist that was placed there as an obstacle.
Harry Potter 	24 June, 1995 	He used it again when he need to blast away a bush to get through and save Cedric from Viktor, who was under the Imperius Curse.
Harry Potter 	3 September, 1997	He used it in an attempt to destroy Salazar Slytherin's locket, but was unsuccessful in doing so.
Harry Potter 	18 June, 1996 	This spell was later used during the Battle of the Department of Mysteries and resulted in the smashing of the shelves in the Hall of Prophecy.
Hermione Granger 	18 June, 1996 	This spell was later used during the Battle of the Department of Mysteries and resulted in the smashing of the shelves in the Hall of Prophecy.
Ginny Weasley 	18 June, 1996 	This spell was later used during the Battle of the Department of Mysteries and resulted in the smashing of the shelves in the Hall of Prophecy.
Ron Weasley 	18 June, 1996 	This spell was later used during the Battle of the Department of Mysteries and resulted in the smashing of the shelves in the Hall of Prophecy.
Neville Longbottom	18 June, 1996 	This spell was later used during the Battle of the Department of Mysteries and resulted in the smashing of the shelves in the Hall of Prophecy.
==Known practitioners==
OOTP promo front closeup Ginny Weasley.jpg|Ginny Weasley
OOTP promo front Harry cropped.jpg|Harry Potter
Hermione Granger OOTP profile.jpg|Hermione Granger
OOTP promo front Ron cropped.jpg|Ron Weasley
Neville HBP 1996.jpg|Neville Longbottom
Filius Flitwick profile.jpg|Filius Flitwick
Severus Snape.jpg|Severus Snape
==Etymology==
The incantation "reducto" is derived from Latin reduco, meaning "reduce" or "bring down".
==Behind the scenes==
*In of The Film Adaptation of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Only Ginny casts the Reductor Curse to smash the shelves in the Hall of Prophecy, instead of every D.A. member present.
*The Reductor Curse is the standard offensive spell that enemies, in particular Death Eaters, will cast at the player's character to attack them.
*In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, Hermione uses this curse to destroy a railing in order to clear her path so she could jump onto the Ukrainian Ironbelly, and again to force the dragon to take off from the top of Gringotts' spire when it stopped for a rest.
==Notes and references==
Category:Curses
Category:Regular Defence Against on-the Rare Dark Arts
Category:Spells With-An Light
Category:Spells With Incantations of Latin Known Origin