Charms Class

## Charms

"*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*"
— Libby talking with Maya

**Charms** was a core class and subject taught at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

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

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.

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 Classroom 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.

## 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

* Fire-Making Spell
* Ice Jinx
* Knockback Jinx
* Levitation Charm
* Make a pineapple dance across a desk
* Mending Charm
* Severing Charm
* Softening Charm
* Wand-Extinguishing Charm
* Wand-Lighting Charm

### Second Year

"*Welcome to Charms class. Today we shall be learning the Skurge Charm.*"
— Professor Flitwick teaching second year Charms in 1992

* Disarming Charm
* Engorgement Charm
* Fire-Making Spell (Revision)
* General Counter-Spell
* Levitation Charm (Revision)
* Memory Charm
* Skurge Charm
* Slowing Charm
* Tickling Charm

### Third Year

"*Professor Flitwick did indeed test them on Cheering Charms.*"
— Third year exams 1994

* Cheering Charm
* Freezing Spell
* General Counter-Spell
* Levitation Charm (Revision)
* Seize and pull charm

### Fourth Year

"*They were supposed to be practising the opposite of the Summoning Charm today — the Banishing Charm.*"
— A fourth year Charms lesson on the Banishing Charm

* Box Blashing Charm
* Entrancing Enchantments
* Locking Spell
* Red Sparks
* Severing Charm
* Summoning Charm

### Fifth Year

"*What you must remember, is that these examinations may influence your futures for many years to come! If you have not already given serious thought to your careers, now is the time to do so. And in the meantime, I’m afraid, we shall be working harder than ever to ensure that you all do yourselves justice!*"
— Professor Flitwick on the importance of fifth year Charms

* Cheering Charm (Revision)
* Colour Change Charm
* Confundus Charm
* Creating legs on teacups
* Descendo
* Disillusionment Charm
* Eradication Spell
* Growth Charm
* Leg-Locker Curse
* Levitation Charm (Revision)
* Locomotion Charm
* Lumos Maxima
* Mending Charm (Revision)
* Pack Charm
* Severing Charm (Revision)
* Silencing Charm
* Slowing Charm
* Substantive Charm
* Summoning Charm (Revision)

### Sixth Year

"*Hermione was the only one who had managed to turn vinegar into wine; her glass flask was full of deep crimson liquid.*"
— A N.E.W.T.-level charms lesson

* Blue Sparks
* Bubble-Head Charm
* Cleaning Charm
* Drought Charm
* Extinguishing Spell
* Knitting Charm
* Nonverbal Spells
* Reductor Curse
* Vinegar to wine
* Water-making Spell

### Seventh Year

* *Ascendio*
* Anti-Alohomora Charm
* Lumos Solem Spell
* Impervius Charm

## Known Professors

 Filius Flitwick
 Fortinbras

## Required Textbooks

 *Quintessence: A Quest* | Unknown

## Grades

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