Rarely Wand-Lighting Charm

> The Wand-Lighting Charm is simple, but requires concentration. Take care not to accidentally set your wand alight as damage of this kind can be permanent. If in any doubt about your abilities you would do better to buy yourself a magic lantern.
>
> Miranda Goshawk regarding this charm, Book of Spells

The **Wand-Lighting Charm** (*Lumos*) was a charm that illuminated the tip of the caster's wand, allowing the caster to see in the dark. The counter-charm for the spell was the Wand-Extinguishing Charm (*Nox*), which was used to extinguish the light from the caster's wand. The charm could be used to reveal magically hidden things.Template:Real Magical Spell

## History

> Today we will be learning a very important spell known as the Wand-Lighting Charm. This charm is useful in dark places, whether you are searching a shadowy room for hidden dangers... Or trying to find a scroll that rolled under the sofa. *Lumos*!
>
> Professor Flitwick teaching this charm to first-year Charms students, Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery

Despite its apparent simplicity, the Wand-Lighting Charm was not invented until the ***18th century***. It was first used publicly by its inventor, ***Levina Monkstanley*** in the ***Ministry of Magic*** in ***1772*** — to the astonishment of her colleagues — to help her look for a fallen ***quill*** in a dusty corner.

However, ***Garvin Lügner*** (a ***German*** wizard) claimed to have been the one who invented the spell, while he was developing his ***Instant Darkness Powder***. It later transpired that Lügner had been lying about the invention of the charm and that his Instant Darkness Powder did not do too much more than slightly dim the lights.

This spell was taught in first-year Defence Against the Dark Arts and Charms classes at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and was detailed in ***The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection***, ***another unidentified spellbook*** and the ***Book of Spells***. This spell was also used frequently as Hogwarts student skulk about the castle or the Forbidden Forest, often during the night-time or in dark places.

## Effects

> To illuminate the end of a wand, the caster must call out the incantation "Lumos." If correctly incanted, the end of the wand will then illuminate and cast light in the immediate vicinity of the caster. It can also be used to illuminate unseen entrances.
>
> Miranda Goshawk regarding the effects of this charm

One of the simplest yet most useful light-creation spells, the Wand-Lighting Charm's principal usage was to create a light at the tip of the wand in order to see in the dark. This light was fairly warm, and risked igniting flammable things, including the caster's wand if they were careless enough.

Wand light was also able to repel ghosts and other spectral foes such as ***Gytrashes***, from which they would flee. In addition, the Wand-Lighting Charm was able to illuminate and reveal magically hidden architecture such as doorways.

While the caster, by definition, had to own a wand in order to perform the charm, they did not actually have to be holding it in order to illuminate it. Indeed, if the caster performed the charm without holding their wand, their wand would light up even if it was some distance away.

When the charm was used in ***The Cave***, the illuminated area was less-than-expected, as the darkness within seemed to be denser than normal.

There were three known ***variations*** of this charm: *Lumos Solem*, ***Lumos Duo*** and ***Lumos Maxima***.

## Known practitioners

Albus DumbledoreProfile - Minerva M McGonagall.pngMinerva McGonagallProfile - Filius F Flitwick.pngFilius FlitwickSeverus SnapeProfile - Arthur Weasley-COS Promo.jpgArthur WeasleyProfile - Ginny Weasley-COS Promo.jpgGinevra WeasleyProfile - Harry Potter-COS Promo.jpgHarry PotterProfile - Ronald Billius Weasley.pngRonald WeasleyProfile - Hermione Granger-COS Promo.jpgHermione GrangerPeter PettigrewProfile - Mister Vincent Crabbe.jpgVincent CrabbeNeville Longbottom
* ***Levina Monkstanley***

## Etymology

The incantation *Lumos* is derived from the Latin word *lumen*, meaning "light".

## Behind the scenes

 File:LumosPAS.png
 File:LumosGesture.png
* This is the only spell whose hand motion stayed the same between Template:PM and Template:WBS. In Template:HM shows a different movement.
* It is possible this charm was not affected by ***The Trace***, perhaps because of its simplicity or because it resembled torch light so closely.
* In the first three ***video games***, the spell works by being cast on a special *Lumos* ***gargoyle***, which will enchant the statue and illuminate the wand, revealing concealed secrets and openings in the world, such as hidden doorways.
* If one listens closely in ***the third*** and ***the sixth films***, one can hear a very soft humming sound when the spell is cast.
* On any Android phone (on Lollipop or better), if a user types *Lumos* in the search bar on the Google app, the torch will turn on. Respectively, saying ***Nox*** turns it off. On Iphones, Siri can do the same.
* A charity founded by ***J. K. Rowling*** is named after this spell.

## Appearances

* Template:POA Template:1st
* Template:GOF
* Template:OOTP
* Template:HBP
* Template:DH
* Template:DH
* Template:DH
* Template:FB
* Template:COG
* Template:COG
* Template:TBB
* Template:LEGO
* Template:LEGO
* Template:LEGO
* Template:LEGO
* Template:LEGO
* Template:HPS
* Template:WBS
* Template:FBC
* Template:PM
* Template:WW
* Template:HPV
* Template:HM
* Template:PAS
* Template:WWHP
* Template:HL

## Notes and references

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Template:Regular Defence Against on-the Rare Dark Arts

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Template:PM - ***The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection***
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Template:WBS - see this video
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Template:PS
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Template:COS
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 Template:POA
6. ↑ Template:HL
7. ↑ Template:LEGO/HP
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Template:HM
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Template:HBP
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 Template:OOTP
11. ↑ Template:PS - Chapter 27 (*Through the Trapdoor*)
12. ↑ Template:HM
13. ↑ Template:POA - Chapter 1 (*Under Covers Prologue*)
14. ↑ Template:HM
15. ↑ Template:POA
16. ↑ Template:POA
17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 17.5 17.6 Template:GOF
18. ↑ 18.00 18.01 18.02 18.03 18.04 18.05 18.06 18.07 18.08 18.09 18.10 18.11 18.12 18.13 18.14 Template:DH
19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Template:POA - Chapter 17 (*Who's There?*)
20. ↑ Template:OOTP
21. ↑ Template:GOF
22. ↑ Template:GOF
23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Template:OOTP - Chapter 17 (*Occlumency*)
24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Template:DH
25. ↑ Template:GOF - Chapter 19 (*The Yule Ball*)