Full Body-Bind Curse

"The "Body Freezing" spell proves quite popular among new students of magic and those given to frequent participation in Wizard duels."

- Description

The Full Body-Bind Curse, also known as the Body Freezing Spell, (Petrificus Totalus) is a spell that renders a victim completely immobile. This curse is chiefly used to control and limit another individual's power of bodily freedom, and is often employed in defensive combat. The victim's arms and legs snap together, and he or she will generally fall down from lack of balance. The curse does not, however, interfere with breathing or sight. Two known counter-curses include Finite or Finite Incantatem.

The Full Body-Bind Curse is fundamentally different from petrification, which is highly Dark magic and which cannot be reversed by a simple counter-curse, though the symptoms are superficially similar. A major difference is that under the Body-Bind Curse the victim remains conscious and aware of his/her surroundings, as opposed to petrification which appears to render the victim comatose.

Known practitioners

 * Albus Dumbledore
 * Colin Creevey
 * Draco Malfoy
 * Harry Potter
 * Hermione Granger
 * Lord Voldemort
 * Neville Longbottom
 * Parvati Patil
 * Sirius Black
 * Katie Bell

Etymology

 * The root of this curse's incantation seems to be the Latin words petra, "rock", and totus, "whole" or "entire".
 * Also, pertrificus seems to come from the word "petrify", meaning to turn into stone, or describes a manner in which someone takes on the characteristics of a stone. Totalus likely comes from "Total", meaning complete or wholey. Following this, the spell likely means, entirely petrify.

Appearances

 * Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
 * Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)
 * Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game)
 * Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
 * Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)
 * Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game)
 * Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
 * Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)
 * Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (video game)
 * Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
 * Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
 * Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (video game)
 * Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (video game)
 * LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
 * Harry Potter: Spells
 * Harry Potter Trading Card Game
 * Pottermore
 * Warner Bros. Harry Potter Official Site

Notes and references
Petrificus Totalus Kangistumis tyystilys Petrificus Totalus