Conjuration

"Quirrell snapped his fingers. Ropes sprang out of thin air and wrapped themselves tightly around Harry"

- Quirinus Quirrell conjures ropes

Conjuration is an advanced form and branch of Transfiguration, some of the most complex magic taught at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Conjurations are distinguished from the other branches of Transfiguration by their ability to transfigure the desired object from 'thin air'.

Conjuration is more than difficult than Transformation, Switching, and Vanishment. The only form of Transfiguration exceeds Conjuration in difficulty is Human Transfiguration.

Nature
"[...] these are easier than Conjuring Spells, which you would not usually attempt until N.E.W.T level"

- Professor McGonagall to her fifth year class

Since Conjuration is an advanced form of Transfiguration, most are N.E.W.T.-level, taught to sixth years and above at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, although some conjurations are simpler and are taught to younger students. Some conjurations taught are the Water-Making Spell (Aguamenti) and the Bird-Conjuring Charm (Avis). There are limits as to what can be conjured, however; according to Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration, food cannot be conjured. Food can be summoned and transfigured but, never conjured.

According to The Book of Spells by Miranda Goshawk, "for reasons that are still not fully understood ... two categories of creature are easier to conjure from nothing than any other: birds and snakes." The spell to conjure birds is called the Bird-Conjuring Charm, which suggests that Serpensortia might be called the Snake-Conjuring Charm.

Dangers
Many things can go wrong when attempting to conjure something from nothing, especially in the case of living creatures. If Conjuration is not performed exactly right or if the caster is simply messing around with Conjuring Spells, mistakes such as frog-rabbit hybrids can occur. The hybrids in question can be explainable by the magical law Principle of Artificianimate Quasi-Dominance. Things such as severed heads and indeterminate stumps can also occur, when the conjuration isn't exactly right, as well.

Miranda Goshawk, has written entries in the Standard Book of Spells series about the dangers of poor conjuration.

Known instances of Conjuration
"However, these brothers were learned in the magical arts, and so they simply waved their wands and made a bridge appear across the treacherous water."

- The Tales of Beedle the Bard

Known Conjuration spells

 * Arrow-shooting spell: Conjures and fires a group of arrows.
 * Aqua Eructo Charm (Aqua Eructo): Conjures a jet of clear water, similar to Aguamenti.
 * Bird-Conjuring Spell (Avis): Conjures a flock of birds.
 * Bluebell Flames: Conjures blue flames.
 * Bridge-Conjuring spell: Conjures a bridge
 * Butterfly-Conjuring spell: Conjures butterflies
 * Ecto Spell (Ectomatic): conjures ectoplasm
 * Ferula: Conjures a wooden rod and bandages.
 * Fiendfyre: Conjures cursed fire.
 * Fire-Making Spell (Incendio): Conjures a jet of flame
 * Flagrate: Conjures a fiery rope.
 * Fountain of Wine: Conjures wine.
 * Gemino Curse (Geminio): Conjures a duplicate of target object.
 * Inanimatus Conjurus Spell: Possibly conjures an object.
 * Incarcerous: Conjures ropes.
 * Leek Jinx: Conjures leeks from the victim's ears.
 * Orchideous: Conjures flowers.
 * Sardine Hex: Conjures sardines from the victim's nose.
 * Snake Summons Spell (Serpensortia): Conjures a snake.
 * Water-Making Spell (Aguamenti): Conjures a jet of clear water, similar to Aqua Eructo.

Known practitioners

 * Appleby Arrows supporters

Behind the scenes
J.K. Rowling has said that items conjured from thin air tend not to last long.

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 Goblet of Fire
 * 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
 * Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)
 * Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (video game)
 * Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
 * LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
 * LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7