Spell (Harry Potter)

A spell was a controlled manifestation of magic that affected the world in a supernatural fashion, such as levitating objects, conjuring fire or water, or stunning an individual. Generally cast by a witch or a wizard, spells were often produced with an incantation, or for more experienced witches and wizards mentally, and could appear as jets of light. Because of this, spells could often miss, be dodged, or blocked, either with an object or another spell. The action of performing a spell is referred to as casting or spellwork.
==Usage==
Normally, spells required four main factors to be properly accounted for in order to succeed: wand movement, incantation, concentration and intention. Although casting some spells were a matter of caster's will, while for others, it was a question of intent, (Calamity Essentials - Rhyme and Reason) it was invariably the case that if one did not move their wand in the correct way, did not speak the incantation properly and/or could not retain their concentration and/or desired outcome in their imagination during casting, then the spell would fail or backfire. In addition, the quality and duration of spells depended entirely on the amount of spell energy they were capable of generating for it, as well as their level of success at transferring and distributing it, which could be improved with practice (SOS Task Force Training: When players obtains a new skill from the skill tree, the in-universe explanation given is that their spell-casting has improved on account of their improved ability to distribute spell energy.) or decline with neglect. It should also be noted that spells could be performed with or without speech and wands, though non-verbal and wandless spells were much more difficult and hence were usually not taught to practitioners until they reached a more advanced level, such as the sixth year of study at Hogwarts. Most incantations derived from the Latin language (such as Accio) but there were also some English incantations (such as Obliviate or Stupefy). It could be that, in other countries and wizarding territories, spells with an English incantation or another incantation other than Latin-based, could be used in other languages, as long as wizards used the same wand movement, concentration and intention.A simplified analogy for the differentiation between Transfiguration and Charms is the difference between form and function or matter and energy; one was concerned with what the object is (its form - Transfigurations) whilst the other was concerned with what the object is doing (its function - Charms).J.K.Rowling Official Site - Extra Stuff
==Appearance==
When performed, spells usually manifested as light, sparks, lightning, or fiery energy of various colours from the wand they were cast with, such as the tell-tale red of Stupefy or green of Avada Kedavra. However, some spells, such as Accio and Silencio, produced no visible intermediate effect. Some spells also made loud noises when cast, although Harry Potter noted that "bangs and smoke were more often the marks of ineptitude than experience."
==Durations==
Typically, spells brought about through magic had a certain time limit placed upon them. This means that effects and after-effects magically induced by them were not meant to last, since spells like Expelliarmus only operated briefly and swiftly, while spells like Stupefy and Petrificus Totalus would wear off eventually. Counter-curses could also end a designated spell's effect. Likewise, a spell whose effect had yet to diminish would disappear at the moment of the caster's death. However, it was mentioned that ancient Egyptian wizards could place curses on their tombs for anyone who might open them, and that these curses remained long after the casters were presumed dead. It could be that the Egyptian wizards used curses that could grow stronger over time or at least retain their power after the casters' deaths, as that was one known aspect of certain Dark magic. Memory Charms could be so strong that they could completely remove a person's memory or even damage his or her mind permanently. If the Imperius Curse was cast poorly on a victim, or if the Cruciatus Curse was used on a victim for a prolonged period of time, it could also damage the victim's mind permanently. The Killing Curse would instantly kill its victim, and that would be irreversible and permanent, unless one was protected by sacrificial protection or had a Horcrux the moment they were hit with the curse.
==Origin==
New spells could be crafted by wizards and witches, though Spell creation was a highly difficult and dangerous practice, as exemplified by Pandora Lovegood, who was killed in a backfired attempt at spell-crafting. Severus Snape was often attributed with the creation of spells such as Levicorpus and Sectumsempra during his time as a student at Hogwarts. - All about... Severus Snape
==Classification==
Below is a list of all known categories that spells could be assigned to. It should be noted that when it comes to the classification of spell types, "the boundaries are flexible," and as such, types of spells may overlap, or have non-indicative effects.J.K.Rowling Official Site It also seems likely that certain spell types belonged to separate classification schemes to others. For example: Petrification was dark magic of the most advanced kind, but it was also Transfiguration; Melofors was both a Jinx and a Conjuration, Fiendfyre could be considered as conjuration as well as a curse and many healing spells could also be considered either charms or counter-spells. Hence, it appears that charm vs transfiguration is one method of classification and differentiation, and that charm/counter-spell/healing spell vs jinx/hex/curse is a different one.
Spell Type 	
Defining Feature 	
Notes 	
Example
Transfiguration	
Alteration of the object's form or appearance. 	
Spells of this group may be separated into true transfiguration spells (where an existing object was altered) and conjurations, where the desired object was seemingly transfigured out of thin air. 	Vera Verto - a true transfiguration spell that would change animals into water goblets.
Charm 	Alteration of the objects inherent qualities i.e. its behaviour and capabilities. 	When cast by an experienced practitioner, charms appeared to usually have fairly long-lasting effects. 	Expelliarmus - the Disarming Charm, so-called because it would change its object's (the opponent's) quality from armed to disarmed by separating them from their wand.
Jinx 	Minor dark magic; spells whose effects were irritating but amusing, almost playful and of minor inconvenience to the target. 	
Jinxes could only be maintained as long as the caster kept eye contact. 	Impedimenta - the Impediment Jinx, which (appropriately) would impede the forward motion of an object.
Hex 	Consistently affected the object in a negative manner; had connotations of dark magic, but more so than a jinx. Major inconvenience to the target.	 	Densaugeo - a hex that would horribly enlarge the target's teeth.
Curse 	The worst kind of dark magic, intended to affect the target in a strongly negative manner. 	 	Avada Kedavra -Would instantly kill the target.
Counter-spell	Inhibition of the effect of another spell. 	Counter-spells were used to inhibit or counteract the effects of other spells. There were four known types: Counter-jinxes, counter-curses, counter-charms, untransfigurations and undifferentiated counter-spells (it is unknown whether or not counter-hexes exist). Whilst nomenclature is complex, they all shared the common trait of inhibiting another spell.	Finite Incantatem - a widely-employed counter-spell used to terminate spell effects in general.
Healing spell	
For improving the condition of a living, injured or ill target. 	 	
Episkey - used to heal minor injuries.
A simplified analogy for the differentiation between a transfiguration and a charm is the difference between form and function or matter and energy; one was concerned with what the object is (its form - transfigurations) whilst the other was concerned with what the object is doing (its function - charms).
==Behind the scenes==
*J. K. Rowling defined a spell as "The generic term for a piece of magic."J.K.Rowling Official Site - Extra Stuff (available via Web Archive)
*Many spells are portrayed as energy blasts, bolts or beams, sometimes in the shape of lightning, with various colours. Other times, spells can manifest as balls or bursts of sparks and fire of various colours, vibrational shockwaves, wave like wisps of smoke like energy, or flashes of light, but in many instances, these physical manifestations of spells can be used as projectiles.
*Commonly, a spell can also contain great concussive force or even intense heat, especially when they hit something that is not the target of the spell, with it being enough to damage objects or surfaces. Also, many offensive spells are able to knock down or send a person flying through the air.
==See also==
*List of spells
==Appearances==
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*Harry Potter Official Site
*Harry Potter: The Wand Collection 
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==Notes and references==
Spells