Box Blasting Charm

Warning!

At least some content in this article is derived from information featured in Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells and Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery.
As such, spoilers will be present within the article.

"Have a seat, my fine young students! Today we will be discussing a controversial spell known as Cistem Aperio! It is used to blast open a trunk, chest or other container."

—Filius Flitwick introducing the spell to his students^[src]

The Box Blasting Charm^[3] (Cistem Aperio) was a charm that was used to blast open trunks, chests, boxes, or other containers.^[1]

History

During the 1991–1992 school year, Hogwarts students could learn this spell.^[3]

During the 1987–1988 school year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Professor Filius Flitwick taught his fourth years how to cast this particular charm in Charms class.^[2]

Known practitioners

Etymology

Aperio is Latin for open, uncover, lay bare, reveal, or make clear. Cistem is a corruption of cistam, a form of the Latin word for 'box' or 'basket'.

Behind the scenes

Tom Riddle: "Stand aside, Hagrid!"

Rubeus Hagrid: "No!"

Tom Riddle: "Cistem aperio!"

— Riddle's use of the spell in 1943^[src]

Severus spell — Severus Snape possibly casting the spell

In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Tom Riddle used this spell to open the chest in which Aragog, the pet Acromantula of Rubeus Hagrid, lived in during his time at Hogwarts Castle.^[1] However, this contradicts the happenings in the novel, in which Riddle instead blasts open a door with a powerful spell to reveal Aragog.^[4]
It may be related to the Unlocking Charm, Annihilare, Dunamis, Emancipare, Liberare, Open Sesame and Portaberto.
Severus Snape may have used this spell to open Alastor Moody's trunk in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

Appearances

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film) (First appearance) (Appears in flashback(s)) (Non-canonical appearance)
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film) (Possible appearance)
Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells (First identified as Box Blasting Charm)

Notes and references

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 ^1.4 ^1.5 ^1.6 ^1.7 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film) (Chapter Twenty-Three - Tom Riddle)
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 ^2.3 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 4, Chapter 7 (Beast, Beings, and Creatures) - Charms Lesson "Cistem Aperio"
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells (see this image)
↑ Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 13 (The Very Secret Diary)

Charms (class)

Charm-book writers and developers
Blagdon Blay · Daisy Pennifold · Delfina Crimp · Miranda Goshawk · Jarleth Hobart · Basil Horton · Helixa Hyslop · Syna Hyslop · Randolph Keitch · Levina Monkstanley · Orabella Nuttley · Mnemone Radford · Scarpin · Elliot Smethwyck · Felix Summerbee · Fred Weasley · George Weasley · Violeta Stitch
Professors	Fortinbras · Filius Flitwick · Unidentified male Charms Professor
Textbooks	Achievements in Charming · Extreme Incantations · Quintessence: A Quest · The Standard Book of Spells
Charms studied at Hogwarts
Banishing Charm (Depulso) · Blackboard Writing Spell · Blue sparks · Box Blasting Charm (Cistem Aperio) · Bubble-Head Charm · Cheering Charm · Cleaning Charm · Colour Change Charm (Colovaria) · Confundus Charm (Confundo) · Counter-charm for hiccoughs · Dancing Feet Spell (Tarantallegra) · Descendo · Disillusionment Charm · Drought Charm · Eradication Spell (Deletrius) · Engorgement Charm (Engorgio) · Exploding Charm (Bombarda) · Fire-Making Spell (Incendio) · Freezing Charm (Immobulus) · Freezing Spell (Glacius) · Full Body-Bind Curse (Petrificus Totalus) · General Counter-Spell (Finite Incantatem) · Gouging Spell (Defodio) · Growth Charm · Ice Jinx · Knitting Charm · Knockback Jinx (Flipendo) · Leg-Locker Curse (Locomotor Mortis) · Levitation Charm (Wingardium Leviosa) · Locking Spell (Colloportus) · Locomotion Charm (Locomotor) · Mending Charm (Reparo) · Memory Charm (Obliviate) · Muffliato Charm (Muffliato) · Nonverbal spells · Pack Charm (Pack) · Red Sparks (Vermillious) · Reductor Curse (Reducto) · Scouring Charm (Scourgify) · Seize and Pull Charm (Carpe Retractum) · Severing Charm (Diffindo) · Shrinking Charm (Reducio) · Silencing Charm (Silencio) · Slowing Charm (Arresto Momentum) · Skurge Scouring Charm (Skurge) · Softening Charm (Spongify) · Spell for growing legs · Substantive Charm · Summoning Charm (Accio) · Tickling Charm (Rictusempra) · Unlocking Charm (Alohomora) · Vinegar into Wine · Wand-Extinguishing Charm (Nox) · Wand-Lighting Charm (Lumos) · Lumos Maxima · Water-Making Spell (Aguamenti)

[F-0] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 ^1.4 ^1.5 ^1.6 ^1.7 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film) (Chapter Twenty-Three - Tom Riddle)

[HM47c-1] 2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 ^2.3 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 4, Chapter 7 (Beast, Beings, and Creatures) - Charms Lesson "Cistem Aperio"

[PAS-2] 3.0 ^3.1 Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells (see this image)

[COS13-3] Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 13 (The Very Secret Diary)

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

FANDOM