Wand-Lighting Charm

"The Wand-Lighting Charm is simple, but requires concentration. Take care not to accidentally set your wand alight as damage of this kind can be permanent. If in any doubt about your abilities you would do better to buy yourself a magic lantern."

- Miranda Goshawk on this charm

The Wand-Lighting Charm (Lumos) is a charm, a light-creation spell, used to illuminate the tip of the caster's wand; this light is fairly warm. The counter-charm for the spell is The Wand-Extinguishing Charm, (Nox) which is used to extinguish the light from the casters wand.

History
Despite its apparent simplicity, the Wand-Lighting Charm was not invented until the 18th century. It was first used publicly by Levina Monkstanley, its inventor, in the Ministry of Magic in 1772 — to the astonishment of her colleagues — to help her look for a fallen quill on a dusty corner.

However, Garvin Lügner, a German wizard, claimed to have been the one who invented the spell, while he was developing his Instant Darkness Powder. It later transpired that Lügner had been lying about the invention of the charm, and that his Instant Darkness Powder did not do too much more than slightly dim the lights.

This spell is taught in first year defence classes and is detailed in The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection, another spellbook, and Book of Spells.

Effects
"To illuminate the end of a wand, the caster must call out the incantation "Lumos." If correctly incanted, the end of the wand will then illuminate and cast light in the immediate vicinity of the caster. It can also be used to illuminate unseen entrances."

- The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 2 One of the simplest and most useful spells, it not only illuminates the wand tip, but can repel spectral foes such as Gytrashes and malevolent spirits.

If one charges the spell properly, it will appear lemon-yellow; if one over-charges it, the charm will appear as a vibrant scarlet.

Etymology
The incantation Lumos is derived from the Latin lumen, meaning "light".

Behind the scenes

 * This is the only spell whose hand motion stays the same between and Wonderbook.
 * It is possible this charm is not affected by The Trace, perhaps because of its simplicity or because it resembles torch light so closely.
 * If one listens closely in the third and the sixth films, one can hear a very soft humming sound.
 * In the films and video games, there are three variations of this spell.

Appearances

 * PS G

Notes and references
Encantamiento para Encender Varitas Sortilège d'Allumage de baguette Valois Световые чары Lumos