Periculum

Red Sparks (Periculum) was a charm that allowed the caster to send out red sparks from their wand. The sparks were firework-like in appearance, and had a vast range, shooting up to a great height, then hovering in the spot where the caster aimed. Much like a Muggle flare gun, the spell was used to signal that one was in danger, and thus in need of help. It is covered in the book The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection.

This spell may be related to Vermillious, a spell featured in the Trading Card Game which seems to also produce red sparks. Red Sparks may also be a variation of Green Sparks and Verdillious (another Trading Card Game spell that produces green sparks).

Known uses

 * In 1992, while searching for an injured unicorn Rubeus Hagrid instructed Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Neville Longbottom, and Draco Malfoy to send red sparks in the air if they were in trouble and green sparks if they found the wounded animal.
 * Minerva McGonagall instructed the four champions to send red sparks into the air if they needed to be rescued prior to the Third Task of the Triwizard Tournament in 1995. Harry used this spell when Fleur Delacour was being dragged into the maze. Later on, at the urging of Harry Potter, Cedric Diggory used this spell to send red sparks into the sky to call the Hogwarts professors to rescue Viktor Krum, who had been Stunned by Harry after he attacked Cedric whilst under the Imperius Curse set upon him by Barty Crouch Jr. (while impersonating Alastor Moody).
 * The Order of the Phoenix may have used this spell in 1995 as the signal for the Advance Guard escorting Harry to 12 Grimmauld Place.



Etymology

 * Periculum is Latin for "danger".

Appearances

 * Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
 * Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
 * Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)
 * Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
 * LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
 * Pottermore

Notes and references
Chispas Rojas Étincelles rouges