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Warning!
At least some content in this article is derived from information featured in Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells and Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery. |
- "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]
Contents
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 blasting open a chest with this spell

This spell as seen in Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells

This spell's movement as seen in Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
- Tom Riddle: "Stand aside, Hagrid!"
- Rubeus Hagrid: "No!"
- Tom Riddle: "Cistem aperio!"
- — Riddle's use of the spell in 1943[src]
- 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) (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)
Notes and references
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film) Chapter 23 - (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)