Harry Potter Spells and Charms Dictionary
Accio! (Goblet of Fire, page 68)
Latin Root: accedo (to approach, come near / (things) to be added)
The Summoning Charm (incantation: "Accio!") is used to bring an object to you, wherever it may be. Concentrating is essential to succeeding in the spell; the further away an object is and the larger it is, the harder it is to summon. The two most difficult Summoning Charms are in Goblet of Fire and Order of the Phoenix. In Goblet of Fire, Harry summons his Firebolt from inside the castle to the grounds to use it for the first task of the Triwizard Tournament. In Order of the Phoenix, the potency of the charm is demonstrated when Fred and George Weasley summon their brooms (which were chained to a wall) from another part of the castle.
Alohomora! (Sorcerer's Stone, page 160)
Latin Root: Unknown
The Alohomora Charm (incantation: "Alohomora!") is used to unlock doors or other objects that are locked. The charm also unlocks magically locked doors or objects (see "Colloportus!"). Though the charm comes in handy for Harry, Hermione, and Ron throughout the books, it is not powerful. As shown in Chapter 34, "The Department of Mysteries," in Order of the Phoenix, The Alohomora Charm does not unlock all magically locked doors or objects.
Aparecium! (Chamber of Secrets, page 233)
Latin Root: appareo (to become visible, appear, manifest)
"Aparecium!" is used only once by Hermione in an attempt to reveal the hidden contents of Tom Riddle's diary. Though the spell is unsuccessful, Hermione says that it is used to reveal invisible ink.
Avada Kedavra! (Goblet of Fire, page 215)
Aramaic Root: abracadabra (ancient spell means "let the thing be destroyed")
The Killing Curse (incantation: "Avada Kedavra!") is considered by most wizards the worst curse, as it kills whoever or whatever it is cast upon. The curse is one of three Unforgivable Curses - curses that are illegal and can land a wizard in Azkaban Prison for using them (see "Imperio!" and "Crucio!").
Avis! (Goblet of Fire, page 309)
Latin Root: avis (bird)
"Avis!" is used when examining a wand; it will cause small, twittering birds to fly out of the end of a wand in working condition.
Colloportus! (Order of the Phoenix, page 788)
Latin Root: colligo (to bind, tie, fasten together)
"Colloportus!" is used to lock doors or objects that can be locked. However, the spell is not of much use unless dealing with Muggles or a wandless wizard or witch, because the Alohomora Charm will unlock anything locked by "Colloportus!"
Crucio! (Goblet of Fire, page 214)
Latin Root: crucio (to torture, torment)
The Cruciatus Curse (incantation: "Crucio!") inflicts severe pain on whoever it is cast on. It is used mainly by Voldemort and his Death Eaters when torturing someone. Rowling describes the pain as this: "White-hot knives were piercing every inch of his skin, his head was surely going to burst with pain, he was screaming more loudly than he'd ever screamed in his life..." The length of time the curse is in effect is unknown, but it is presumed to stop after 15 seconds - 1 minute. Wizards and witches (i.e. Frank and Alice Longbottom) can be tortured to the point of insanity by the curse. This explains why the Cruciatus Curse is one of three Unforgivable Curses - curses that are illegal and can land a wizard in Azkaban Prison for using them (see "Avada Kedavra"! and "Imperio!").
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