Banishing Charm

Banishing Charm
Incantation	Depulso (de-PUHL-so)
Type	Charm
Hand movement
Light	White or red
Effect	Sends target away

"The Banishing Charm is the opposite of the Summoning Charm, and causes objects to fly away from the person casting the spell, towards a specific target."

—Description

The Banishing Charm (Depulso) was a charm that sends the target away from the caster. It could send a target towards a specific location and worked on both living and inanimate things. The Banishing Charm was opposite of the Summoning Charm. Unlike the Summoning Charm, which could summon specific objects from anywhere, the Banishing Charm only banished whatever the wand is aimed at. It also worked on living beings.

History

"They were supposed to be practising the opposite of the Summoning Charm today — the Banishing Charm. Owing to the potential for nasty accidents when objects kept flying across the room, Professor Flitwick had given each student a stack of cushions on which to practise, the theory being that these wouldn’t hurt anyone if they went off target. It was a good theory, but it wasn’t working very well. Neville’s aim was so poor that he kept accidentally sending much heavier things flying across the room — Professor Flitwick, for instance...he Banished a cushion with a sweep of his wand (it soared into the air and knocked Parvati’s hat off)."

—A lesson on the Banishing Charm

This charm's effects on a human target

Third year and Fourth year students in Charms class at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry learnt this spell. Harry Potter and his classmates practised this spell in their fourth year Charms class. Harry and Hermione Granger proved to be very good at this spell, with their cushions landing in the correct area. Flitwick found himself being Banished around the room by Neville Longbottom, whose aim was not very good.

Effects

The Banishing Charm was used to push targets, both living and inanimate towards a specific location. For this reason, it could be used in duelling, as shown by Severus Snape (in an alternate reality) when he banished Dolores Umbridge away from himself.

Known practitioners

Harry Potter

Ginevra Weasley

Ronald Weasley

Hermione Granger

Neville Longbottom

Filius Flitwick

Sirius Black

Severus Snape

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Etymology

From the Latin “depulsio”, meaning “driving/pushing away”. Also is similar to repulse meaning "drive/push away with force", although this is a precise antonym to attract, literally "pull towards". It could also be seen to be derived from the English word pulse (as in a pulse of energy) and the prefix "de" which would make it mean "a negative pulse of energy."

See also

• Knockback Jinx

Behind the scenes

• Although the incantation is not revealed in the books, it appears in the video game adaptation of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, and was later confirmed in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
• The Wizard in the The Wizard and the Hopping Pot may have used this spell to try to force the pot out of the house.
• Although this spell is learned by Hogwarts students in their fourth year, in the video game adaptation of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry, Ron, and Hermione, were able to use it. It is possible that they learned it before that, as Hermione asked them, if they remembered it. However, Hermione may have read beforehand and told Harry and Ron how to use it.
• It is possible that this spell was used during the Battle of Hogwarts when Harry Potter, in the movie, blasted away a Death Eater briefly after being shot at by him. This spell also could have been used by Kingsley Shacklebolt when he blasted a Death Eater out of a window after momentarily freezing him in midair alongside Remus Lupin.
• It is likely that Professor Trelawney must used this charm non-verbally in the Battle of Hogwarts to drop crystal balls on enemies' heads, successfully knocking out Fenrir Greyback after he attacked Lavender Brown.

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (First appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Possible appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
• Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Appears in alternate reality)
• Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (play) (Appears in alternate reality)
• Pottermore (Mentioned only)
• Wizarding World (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
• Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells