Hover Charm

The Hover Charm is a charm used to make objects levitate. It is one of the earliest recorded spells of the wizarding world, with its origins in ancient England. It is a basic spell taught to first years at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The hand movement is very specific: a swish and flick. Its incantation is Wingardium Leviosa.

Known Uses

 * Hermione Granger was the first student in her Charms class to master this spell, and tried to instruct Ron Weasley on the correct pronunciation of the incantation, much to his annoyance.
 * Ron Weasley used this spell to defeat a troll which Professor Quirinus Quirrell released into the school on Halloween of 1991.
 * Dobby, the house-elf, used this spell to drop pudding on the Dursley kitchen floor in 1992.
 * Harry Potter used this charm to levitate two cakes containing Sleeping Draught in 1992.
 * Lee Jordan used this charm to levitate Nifflers into Dolores Umbridge's office to irritate her in 1996
 * Xenophilius Lovegood used this spell to attempt to clear the wreckage on his staircase to apprehend Harry Potter during his confrontation at his house in 1997.
 * In 1998, Ronald Weasley used this spell on a twig to move it into position to press the place at the roots of the Whomping Willow to make it hold still.

Known Practitioners

 * Harry Potter
 * Ron Weasley
 * Hermione Granger
 * Filius Flitwick
 * Bellatrix Lestrange
 * Lee Jordan
 * Xenophilius Lovegood
 * Sirius Black
 * Colin Creevey
 * Luna Lovegood
 * Dean Thomas
 * Fred Weasley
 * George Weasley

Etymology
Wingardium Leviosa is a combination of "wing" and "levitate."

Appearances

 * Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
 * Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)
 * Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game)
 * Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
 * Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)
 * Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game)
 * Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
 * Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game)
 * Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (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 (video game)
 * Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Notes and references
Levitation Wingardium Leviosa