Freezing Spell

"A charm that conjures a blast of freezing cold air from the end of the wand."

- Description in The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 3

The Freezing Spell (Glacius) is a freezing charm that causes air in front of the tip of the wand, to reach cold temperatures in the extreme, which in turn can extinguish fires, create ice blocks from water, and cool off salamanders.

The spell is capable of freezing several inches of water solid within seconds, making it durable enough for a thirteen-year old to walk across without falling through or injuring themselves.

History
Professor Remus Lupin taught this spell to his third year class by hiding a spellbook somewhere behind a secret passageway in the classroom and having students find and read it. Later on that year, Professor Filius Flitwick included it in the third year exams for charms class.

Effect
This charm has the unfortunate side-effect of making the breath of anyone nearby turn into thick white mist due to the extreme frigidity caused by the spell's casting.

Known practitioners

 * Harry Potter
 * Hermione Granger
 * Aurora Sinistra
 * Septima Vector
 * Filius Flitwick
 * Minerva McGonagall
 * Severus Snape

Etymology
The incantation is Latin for "ice"

Behind the scenes

 * This charm can be bought at Wiseacre's Wizarding Equipment in Diagon Alley in LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4.
 * During the lessons in LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 if the player irritates the Professor he/she will cast Glacius at the player and put him/her into a block of ice.
 * In the console version, Glacius is an Hermione-exclusive spell, while in the PC version the spell is Harry-exclusive.

Appearances

 * Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game)
 * Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (video game)
 * Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (video game)
 * LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
 * LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7

Notes and references
Glacius