Blackboard Writing Spell

Blackboard Writing Spell
Type	Charm
Hand movement	Point wand at target
Light	None
Effect	Writes on a blackboard

"Professor Umbridge opened her handbag, extracted her own wand, which was an unusually short one, and tapped the blackboard sharply with it; words appeared on the board at once."

— Description

The Blackboard Writing Spell (incantation unknown) was a charm used to cause words or pictures (but not music scores) to appear on a blackboard.

History

1970s-1980s

Murphy McNully was taught this spell by his mother when he was seven years old. During his time at Hogwarts, Murphy cast the spell to write instructions on how to perform the Thimblerig Shuffle.

1990s

The Blackboard Writing Spell was taught in sixth-year Charms classes in the 1989–1990 school year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

At the start of the 1995–1996 school year at Hogwarts, Severus Snape and Dolores Umbridge both used this charm in their first lessons with fifth-year students to write instructions on their blackboards.

Known practitioners

Murphy McNully

Filius Flitwick

Jacob's sibling

Severus Snape

Dolores Umbridge

• Murphy McNully's mother

Behind the scenes

• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Umbridge brandished her wand from across the room to cause chalk-like writing to appear on the board as if an invisible chalk was writing on it. The sound of chalk writing could even be heard while the words appeared.
• This spell seems to vary according to its caster's ability, as Severus Snape only needed a single flick of his wand while Dolores Umbridge tapped the blackboard sharply.

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (First appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)
• Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery (First identified as Blackboard Writing Spell)