Hogwarts School-Charms (Class)

> I see Charms as a slightly lighter subject than Transfiguration which is very hard work. With Charms there would be a little more leeway for a little more personal creativity—
>
> J. K. Rowling on the nature of this subject, Accio Quote!

**Charms** was a core class and subject taught at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and ***Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry***. Unsurprisingly, it specialised in the teaching of charms.
Template:Class
Even though mastering charm-work was clearly essential to performing the greater part of magic, charm-work was seen as a "softer option" by some. Augusta Longbottom who, incidentally, failed her Charms O.W.L. considered it such.
Professor Filius Flitwick taught Charms for many years. It was rumoured that his expertise with charm-work made him a duelling champion.

## Class information

> They then spent over an hour revising Summoning Charms, which according to Professor Flitwick were bound to come up in their OWL, and he rounded off the lesson by setting them their largest ever amount of Charms homework.
>
> A fifth year Charms lesson, O.W.L. revision, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

 File:Charms class in 1991.jpg
Charms was a required subject for all students in their first five years at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The spells learned in Charms class were taken from textbooks. Students were taught specific wand movements and proper pronunciation. Often students partnered up in class to experiment on one another. Charms was Hermione Granger's favourite subject, until she started Arithmancy as an elective in 1993.

 File:Filius Flitwick profile.jpg
In a student's fifth year they took the Ordinary Wizarding Level examinations. This exam contained a written portion and a practical portion. The written portion was made up of questions concerning the theory of charms and the practical was where students were judged upon the charms they could perform. Their O.W.L. scores decided what courses they would be taking in their final years at Hogwarts. Only students who achieved a high O.W.L. score of either "Outstanding" or "Exceeds Expectations" might advance to N.E.W.T.-level.
Professor Flitwick was one of the kinder teachers at Hogwarts. Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger often enjoyed a "*nice chat*" in this class. This was the class where they used the Muffliato Charm as well. Harry was on at least fairly good terms with Professor Flitwick, as the professor spoke with Harry about the "*perfect*" Summoning Charm he used in the Triwizard Tournament. Sometimes, Professor Flitwick, after trying and failing to get the class to concentrate, would allow the class to play games. One of these instances was just before the Yule Ball.
An O.W.L. and a N.E.W.T. in Charms were compulsory for both Auror and Healer training, at either an "Exceeds Expectations" or "Outstanding" level.

## Location and time

### Classrooms

Charms classes were held in Class 99 in the South Tower and Classroom 2E along the Charms corridor on the third floor, near the Third-floor corridor. Classroom 2E had three rows of desks, all facing the teacher's table, behind which sat a large upholstered chair with a high back. Two blackboards flanked the teacher's table, and behind them was a small shelf with books and other objects, beneath a pair of windows.

### Location times

Time table for Gryffindor students first enrolled in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry during the 1991–1992 school year.

 Second | Monday
 Thursday
 Friday

## Curriculum

### First year

> Now, don't forget that nice wrist movement we've been practising! Swish and flick, remember, swish and flick. And saying the magic words properly is very important, too - never forget Wizard Baruffio, who said 's' instead of 'f' and found himself on the floor with a buffalo on his chest.
>
> Professor Flitwick teaching the Levitation Charm to his first years in 1991, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

* Wand-Lighting Charm
* Wand-Extinguishing Charm
* Fire-Making Spell
* Unlocking Charm
* Locking Spell
* Mending Charm

### Second year

> Welcome to Charms class. Today we shall be learning the Skurge Charm.
>
> Professor Flitwick teaching second year Charms in 1992, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (PC, Mac)

* Disarming Charm
* Engorgement Charm
* Memory Charm
* Tickling Charm
* Fire-Making Spell Template:C
* General Counter-Spell
* ***Shrinking Charm***
* Slowing Charm

* Lumos Solem Spell

## Known professors

### Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Profile - Filius F Flitwick.pngFilius Flitwick (1970s-?)
## Grades

* Exceeds Expectations [E]
* Acceptable [A]
* Dreadful [D]
* Troll [T]

## O.W.L.

 File:OWL exam paper.png
The Charms O.W.L. contained both a written paper and practical examination where the students were assessed on the charms they could successfully perform.

### Written

> a) Give the incantation and
> b) describe the wand movement required to make objects fly.
>
> Question on the Charms O.W.L., Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

* Levitation Charm *(Wingardium Leviosa)*
* Summoning Charm *(Accio)*
* Cheering Charm

### Practical

* Levitation Charm
* Colour Change Charm *(Colovaria)*
* Growth Charm
* Take an egg cup and make it do some cartwheels

## Known O.W.L.s

Albus Dumbledore †Profile - Filius F Flitwick.pngFilius FlitwickProfile - Fred Weasley 00I.pngFred Weasley I †Profile - Mister George Weasley.pngGeorge WeasleyProfile - Harry Potter-COS Promo.jpgHarry PotterProfile - Hermione Granger-COS Promo.jpgHermione GrangerNeville LongbottomProfile - Percy Ignatius Weasley.pngPercy WeasleyProfile - Ronald Billius Weasley.pngRon WeasleyTom Riddle † (possibly)Profile - Arthur Weasley-COS Promo.jpgArthur Weasley (possibly)
## Media

Harry Potter Magic Spell - Wingardium LeviosaCharms Class
## Behind the scenes

* Charms is ***Warwick Davis***'s favourite subject.
* In Template:LEGO, Draco Malfoy, Vincent Crabbe, and Gregory Goyle all appear to have passed their Charms O.W.L.s, despite the fact that they weren't mentioned to have done so in the books. Therefore, it is unknown if any of them actually passed their Charms O.W.L. in canon, and if they did, attended N.E.W.T. classes as a result.
* In the German translation, "charm" is translated as "*Zauber*". The plural form is also "*Zauber*". The subject, however, is always called "*Zauberkunst*", which literally means "charm-art".
* In Template:HM, the Knockback Jinx and the Full Body-Bind Curse are covered in Charms class. This seems unusual, as outside this game, defensive spells have not been shown as being part of the Charms curriculum, but Defence Against the Dark Arts instead. Though jinxes, hexes and curses can indeed be grouped together in a category called Dark charms.
	+ Given the fact that students have been complaining about the incompetence of the various DADA professors up till the ***1987–1988 school year***, it may be necessary for those defensive spells to be temporarily included in the Charms curriculum.
* As charms are sometimes referred to as a catch-all category for spells which are not Transfiguration spells, it could be that at least some basic healing spells (such as ***Reparifors***), anti-jinxes, protective enchantments and a diversity of counter-charms are also taught in Charms class.
* In Template:HM, the classroom is at ***East Towers***.
* If players take ***Jacob's sibling*** to the O.W.L. through an optional side quest, they will definitely gain at least an A, even if they answer every question and fail to execute every charm.

## Appearances

* Template:PS Template:1st
* Template:POA Template:C
* Template:HBP Template:Mention
* Template:FB Template:Mention
* Template:PM
* Template:WW
* *Harry Potter: The Wand Collection* Template:Mention
* Template:HPV Template:Mention
* Template:TCG
* Template:LEGO
* Template:HPK
* Template:FBC Template:Mention
* Template:HM
* Template:WU Template:Mention
* Template:PAS
* Template:MA
* Template:HL

## Notes and references

Template:Reflist

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Template:PS
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Template:HBP
3. ↑ Template:GOF
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 Template:OOTP
5. ↑ Template:PM
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 ***The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1***
7. ↑ Template:HBP
8. ↑ It is noted in Template:HBP that Riddle achieved high marks on every exam he took.
9. ↑ Template:PM***Pottermore*** - What are the Harry Potter cast members favourite Hogwarts classes?

Template:Charms
Template:Hogwarts Educational Subjects