Banishing Charm

Warning!

At least some content in this article is derived from information featured in Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery. Spoilers will be present within the article.

"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^[src]

The Banishing Charm (Depulso) is a spell with the opposite effect of the Summoning Charm. As Accio summons objects to the caster, Depulso sends both objects and living things away from the caster.^[3] Unlike the Summoning Charm, which can summon specific objects from anywhere, the Banishing Charm banishes whatever the wand is aimed at.

History

Third Year^[4] and Fourth year students studying Charms at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry learn 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 wasn't very good.

Effects

Depulso can be used to shoot objects away from the caster, whether a living organism or an object. It can be used in duelling, as proved by Severus Snape (in alternate reality) when he blasted Dolores Umbridge away from himself.

Known practitioners

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.
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.

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."

Appearances

Notes and references

↑ Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game)
↑ Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game)
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (play)
↑ Hogwarts Mystery - year 3
↑ Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Act Three, Scene Nine

The Standard Book of Spells

Grade 1 · Grade 2 · Grade 3 · Grade 4 · Grade 5 · Grade 6 · Grade 7
Charms included in the series: Fire-Making Spell · Levitation Charm · Locking Spell · Mending Charm · Softening Charm · Severing Charm · Unlocking Charm · Dancing Feet Spell · Disarming Charm · Engorgement Charm · Freezing Charm · General Counter-Spell · Memory Charm · Tickling Charm · Summoning Charm · Banishing Charm · Substantive Charm

Charms (class)

Charmbook writers and developers
Delfina Crimp · Miranda Goshawk · Jarleth Hobart · Basil Horton · Randolph Keitch · Levina Monkstanley · Orabella Nuttley · Mnemone Radford · Scarpin · Elliot Smethwyck · Felix Summerbee · Fred Weasley · George Weasley
Professors	Fortinbras · Filius Flitwick
Textbooks	The Standard Book of Spells · Achievements in Charming · Quintessence: A Quest
Charms studied at Hogwarts
Arresto Momentum · Banishing Charm (Depulso) · Bird-Conjuring Charm (Avis) · Cheering Charm · Colour Change Charm (Colovaria) · Engorgement Charm (Engorgio) · Fire-Making Spell (Incendio) · Freezing Spell (Glacius) · Full Body-Bind Curse (Petrificus Totalus) · General Counter-Spell (Finite Incantatem) · Growth Charm · Knockback Jinx (Flipendo)· Levitation Charm (Wingardium Leviosa) · Locomotion Charm (Locomotor) · Mending Charm (Reparo) · Reductor Curse (Reducto) · Seize and Pull Charm (Carpe Retractum) · Shrinking Charm (Reducio) · Silencing Charm (Silencio) · Skurge Scouring Charm (Skurge) · Softening Charm (Spongify) · Summoning Charm (Accio) · Unlocking Charm (Alohomora) · Vinegar into Wine · Wand-Extinguishing Charm (Nox) · Wand-Lighting Charm (Lumos) · Water-Making Spell (Aguamenti)

[0] Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game)

[1] Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game)

[CCP-2] 3.0 ^3.1 Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (play)

[3] Hogwarts Mystery - year 3

[4] Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Act Three, Scene Nine

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

FANDOM