Box Blasting Charm

Box Blasting Charm
Incantation	Cistem Aperio (SEES-tem a-PAIR-ee-oh)
Type	Charm
Hand movement
Light	White
Effect	Opens chests

"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

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

History

This spell being used to blast open a chest

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.

During the 1991–1992 school year, first-year Hogwarts students learnt this spell.

Known practitioners

Filius Flitwick

Jacob's sibling

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 blasting open a chest with this spell in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Tom Riddle: "Stand aside, Hagrid!"

Rubeus Hagrid: "No!"

Tom Riddle: "Cistem aperio!"

— Riddle's use of the spell in 1943

• 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. However, this contradicts the happenings in the novel, in which Riddle instead blasts open a door with a powerful spell to reveal Aragog.
• 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) (Non-canonical appearance)
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 (Non-canonical appearance)
• Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
• Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells (First identified as Box Blasting Charm)