Charms (class)

"Now, don't forget that nice wrist movement we've been practicing! The swish and flick! And saying the magic words properly is very important, too - never forget Wizard Baruffio, who said 's' instead of 'f' and found himself on the floor with a buffalo on his chest."

- Professor Flitwick in Charms Class

Charms is a subject taught at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It teaches general spells and wandwork, including such spells as Wingardium Leviosa, Accio and Aguamenti. Spells taught in this class are typically refered to as "charms," though this term can describe a myriad of spells.

Professor Filius Flitwick was head of Charms for many years. It was rumoured that his expertise with charmwork made him a duelling champion. Though mastering the science of charmwork is clearly essential to performing the greater part of magic, charmwork is seen as a "softer option" by some such as Augusta Longbottom who, incidentally, failed her Charms O.W.L..

Class Information
"They then spent over an hour revising Summoning Charms which according to Professor Flitwick were bound to come up in their OWL, and he rounded off the lesson by setting them their largest ever amount of Charms homework."

- Charms Class in 1995

Charms is a required subject for all students in their first five years at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The spells learned in Charms class are taken from textbooks. Students are taught specific wand movements and proper pronounciation. Often students partner up in class to experiment on one another. Charms was Hermione Granger's favourite subject until she started Arithmancy in 1993.

Professor Flitwick was one of the kinder teachers at Hogwarts. Harry, Ron, and Hermione often enjoyed a "nice chat" in this class. This was the class where they used the Muffliato charm as well. Harry was on at least fairly good terms with Professor Flitwick as he spoke with Harry Potter about his Accio charm he used in the Triwizard Tournament. Sometimes, Professor Flitwick, after trying and failing to get the class to concentrate, would allow the class to play games. One of these instances was just before the Yule Ball.

Spells taught
"Professor Flitwick called them one by one into his class to see if they could make a pineapple dance across the desk."

- The Charms exam

First Year

 * Wingardium Leviosa
 * Incendio (also covered in Herbology)
 * Spongify (also covered in Defence Against the Dark Arts)
 * Exam was to make a pineapple dance across the desk

Second Year

 * Skurge
 * Incendio revision
 * Hover Charm revision

Third Year

 * Cheering Charms
 * Carpe Retractum (also covered in Defence Against the Dark Arts)
 * Glacius
 * Hover Charm revision

Fourth Year

 * Accio
 * Depulso

Fifth Year

 * Silencio
 * Create legs on teacups

Sixth Year

 * Aguamenti

O.W.L.
"...a) Give the incantation and b) describe the wand movement required to make objects fly."

- Question on the Charms O.W.L.


 * Wingardium Leviosa
 * Colour Change Charms
 * Accio

Textbooks

 * The Standard Book of Spells (Grades 1-6, and presumably 7) by Miranda Goshawk
 * Quintessence: A Quest

Known Professors

 * Filius Flitwick

Known O.W.L.s

 * Hermione Granger
 * Neville Longbottom
 * Harry Potter
 * Dean Thomas
 * Ron Weasley
 * Bill Weasley
 * Percy Weasley
 * Barty Crouch Jr.
 * Seamus Finnigan
 * Fred Weasley
 * George Weasley
 * Lee Jordan
 * Alicia Spinnet
 * Filius Flitwick

Notes and references
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