An-The General Counter-Spell

> Terminates *all* spell effects
>
> Description of the General Counter-Spell, Pottermore

The **General Counter-Spell** (*Finite* or *Finite Incantatem*) was a counter-spell for general use. It might have been used in duels to counter or reverse minor damage, such as the effects of minor jinxes, hexes and curses. It could also be used on an entire home to (temporarily) stop the effects of protective enchantments, as a precaution before a ***Muggle*** answered the door.
Template:Real Magical Spell
The General Counter-Spell was taught at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in second-year and ***third-year*** Charms class. This spell was also covered in ***The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 2*** by ***Miranda Goshawk***.

## Nature

 File:FiniteIncantatem.png
The General Counter-Spell terminated all spell effects ranging from simple dark charms, although it would probably be ineffective against moderate to major dark charms; though it was effective when cast by multiple people at once, capable of ending the effects of the extremely destructive ***Protego Diabolica***.

For example, the ***Jelly-Legs Curse*** needed a specific ***counter-jinx*** to be performed to end its effects. It was unknown if there was a difference between *Finite* and *Finite Incantatem* in terms of power or usage. It was possible that *Finite* was simply a more straightforward way of casting the General Counter-Spell to terminate the effects of a single spell. Although, when Snape used *Finite Incantatem* in the Duelling Club, it terminated the effects of multiple spells, whereas when Harry used *Finite* in the Room of Requirement after Crabbe used *Descendo* on a fifty-foot mountain of old furniture, it only stopped that spell.

## History

In 1992, Hermione Jean Granger uses this spell to destroy the Rogue bludger that was attacking Harry during the Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Slytherin after it tries to assault him on the ground.

## Known uses

> He pointed his wand at the rampart, cried, "*Finite!*" and it steadied.
>
> Harry using this counter-spell during the skirmish at the Room of Requirement, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

## Known practitioners

Profile - Harry Potter-COS Promo.jpgHarry PotterProfile - Mister Charles Weasley.jpgCharles WeasleyProfile - Hermione Granger-COS Promo.jpgHermione GrangerProfile - Severus S Snape.jpgSeverus SnapeProfile - Filius F Flitwick.pngFilius Flitwick
## Etymology

From Latin *finire*, meaning "to end", and *incantationem*, meaning "enchantment". Finite means 'end' (imperative).

## Behind the scenes

 File:Spellpath finite 3 light.png
* This spell was included in the Template:HPS application for the iPhone as a counter-attack spell.
* In Template:HBP, ***Luna Lovegood*** uses "Finite" to unfreeze Harry and cause his Invisibility Cloak to fly off him, instead of when Nymphadora Tonks does so in the book.
* Hermione uses this spell in Template:COS to destroy the Rogue bludger that was attacking Harry during the Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Slytherin after it tries to assault him on the ground; however, this is is not shown in the book.

## Appearances

* Template:COS Template:1st
* Template:HBP
* Template:DH
* Template:DH Template:Mention
* Template:COG
* Template:COG
* Template:PM
* Template:WW
* Template:HPS
* Template:HM
* Template:WU
* Template:MA
* Template:HL

## Notes and references

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Template:Charms

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `PM`
2. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `OOTP36`
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `HBPF`
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `CS11`
5. ↑ Template:JKRS (W.O.M.B.A.T.)
6. ↑ As the spell was covered in ***The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 2***, it was in second-year Charms class.
7. ↑ Template:HM
8. ↑ Template:HM
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `HBP8`
10. ↑ Template:DH
11. ↑ Template:COG
12. ↑ Template:DH
13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Template:COS - Chapter 15 (*The Rogue Bludger*)