Wand-Lighting Charm

### **CLASSIFICATION:**

The following spell: **Wand-Lighting Charm** has been given the designation as a ***charm***. For more information, click on the link above.

## Wand-Lighting Charm

### Effects:

Illuminates the tip of the wand

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.

## History

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.

## Variations

* Lumos Maxima
* Lumos Solem

# Lumos Maxima

## Lumos Maxima

### Effects:

Produces a brighter version of the Lumos Charm

***Lumos Maxima*** was the incantation to a charm that could be used to produce a blinding flash of bright white light from the tip of the wand, a modified version of the Wand-Lighting Charm.

## Usage

To cast this light-creation spell, one had to flick their wand, then draw it back and flick it a second time, after which it will light, as noted in chapter thirty-two of *Extreme Incantations* by Violeta Stitch. The spellbook also included a diagram depicting the proper casting of this spell.

## History

During the 1988–1989 school year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Professor Filius Flitwick taught his fifth-year Charms students this charm in preparation for their upcoming Ordinary Wizarding Levels.

In the summer of 1993, Harry Potter practised this charm while reading the instructions from *Extreme Incantations* under his bed covers at 4 Privet Drive.

# Lumos Solem

## Lumos Solem

### Effects:

Produces a blinding flash of sunlight

The Lumos Solem Spell (Lumos Solem) was a charm used to produce a blinding flash of sunlight. As Devil's Snare hated sunlight and heat, this particular light-creation spell was very effective towards subduing it. Wearing sunglasses was advised when practising this spell to protect one's eyes from the blinding light of the spell.

## History

Lumos Solem Spell was created by Levina Monkstanley in 1772.
During the 1990–1991 school year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Professor Filius Flitwick taught his seventh-year students how to cast this charm in Charms class.

This charm was also covered in first-year Herbology classes at Hogwarts, in order to teach students how to basically defend themselves against the Devil's Snare.