Charms (class)

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.

Charms is a core class and subject taught at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Unsurprisingly, it specialises in the teaching of charms. Even though mastering the science of charm-work is clearly essential to performing the greater part of magic, charm-work is seen as a "softer option" by some such as Augusta Longbottom who, incidentally, failed her Charms O.W.L..^[1]

Professor Filius Flitwick taught Charms for many years. It was rumoured that his expertise with charm-work made him a duelling champion.

Class information

Charms is a required subject for all students in their first five years at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The spells learned in Charms class are taken from textbooks. Students are taught specific wand movements and proper pronunciation. Often students partner up in class to experiment on one another. Charms was Hermione Granger's favourite subject,^[2] until she started Arithmancy as an elective in 1993.

In a student's fifth year they take the Ordinary Wizarding Level examinations. This exam contains a written portion and a practical portion. The written portion is made up of questions concerning the theory of charms and the practical is where students are judged upon the charms they can perform. Their O.W.L. scores decide what courses they'll be taking in their final years at Hogwarts. Only students who achieve a high O.W.L. score of either 'Outstanding' or 'Exceeds Expectations' may advance to N.E.W.T.-level.

Professor Flitwick was one of the kinder teachers at Hogwarts. Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger often enjoyed a "nice chat" in this class. This was the class where they used the Muffliato Charm as well.^[3] Harry was on at least fairly good terms with Professor Flitwick, as the professor spoke with Harry about the "perfect" Summoning Charm he used in the Triwizard Tournament. Sometimes, Professor Flitwick, after trying and failing to get the class to concentrate, would allow the class to play games. One of these instances was just before the Yule Ball.^[4]

An O.W.L. and a N.E.W.T. in Charms is compulsory for both Auror and Healer training, at either an "Exceeds Expectations" or "Outstanding" level.^[5]

Location and time

Classrooms

Charms classes are held in Class 99 in the South Tower and Classroom 2E along the Charms Corridor on the third floor, near the Third-floor corridor. Classroom 2E has three rows of desks, all facing the teacher's table, behind which sits a large upholstered chair with a high back. Two blackboards flank the teacher's table, and behind them is a small shelf with books and other objects, beneath a pair of windows.^[6]

Location times

Time table for Gryffindor students first enrolled in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry during the 1991–1992 school year.

Curriculum

First year

Second year

Third year

Fourth year

Fifth year

Sixth and seventh year

Known professors

Eulalie Hicks (Ilvermorny, c. 1920s)

Filius Flitwick (1970s-?)

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• Fortinbras (?)

Required textbooks

The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1 by Miranda Goshawk

The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 2 by Miranda Goshawk

The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 3 by Miranda Goshawk

The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 4 by Miranda Goshawk

The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 5 by Miranda Goshawk

The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 6 by Miranda Goshawk

The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 7 by Miranda Goshawk

Quintessence: A Quest

Chadwick's Charms by Chadwick Boot (Ilvermorny)

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Grades

O.W.L.

The Charms O.W.L. contains both a written section and a practical where the students are judged on the charms they can perform.^[29]

Written

• Levitation Charm (Wingardium Leviosa)^[29]
• Summoning Charm (Accio)^[29]
• Cheering Charm^[29]
• Counter-charm for hiccups^[29]

Practical

• Levitation Charm^[29]
• Colour Change Charm (Colovaria)^[29]
• Growth Charm^[29]
• Take an egg cup and make it do some cartwheels^[29]

Known O.W.L.s

Alastor Moody †

Alicia Spinnet

Bill Weasley

Cedric Diggory †

Dean Thomas

Filius Flitwick

Fred Weasley I †

George Weasley

Harry Potter

Hermione Granger

Kingsley Shacklebolt

Neville Longbottom

Nymphadora Tonks †

John Dawlish

Rufus Scrimgeour

Percy Weasley

Ron Weasley

Seamus Finnigan

Tom Riddle^[40] † (possibly)

Arthur Weasley (possibly)

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Media

Harry Potter Magic Spell - Wingardium Leviosa

Charms Class

Behind the scenes

• Charms is Warwick Davis's favourite subject.^[41]
• In LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7, Lavender Brown, Draco Malfoy, Vincent Crabbe, and Gregory Goyle all appear to have passed their O.W.L.s, despite the fact that they weren't mentioned to have done so in the books.
• In the German translation, "charm" is translated as "Zauber". The plural form is also "Zauber". The subject, however, is always called "Zauberkunst", which literally means "charm-art".
• In Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, the Knockback Jinx and the Full Body-Bind Curse are covered in Charms class. This seems unusual, as outside this game, defensive spells have not been shown as being part of the Charms curriculum, but Defence Against the Dark Arts instead. Though jinxes, hexes and curses can indeed be grouped together in a category called Dark charms.
  • Given the fact that students have been complaining about the incompetence of the various DADA professors up till the 1987–1988 school year, it may be necessary for those defensive spells to be temporarily included in the Charms curriculum.
• As charms are sometimes referred to as a catch-all category for spells which are not Transfiguration spells, it could be that at least some basic healing spells (such as Reparifors), anti-jinxes, protective enchantments and a diversity of counter-charms are also taught in Charms class.
• Although not mentioned as being taught, it is very likely that several other charms, like the Flashing paint Charm, Feather-light Charm, Flying Charm, Bubble-Head Charm, Invisibility Spell, and the Invisibility Charm are also covered somewhere in the Charms curriculum.
• In Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, the classroom is at East Towers.
• If players take Jacob's sibling to the O.W.L. through an optional side quest, they will definitely gain at least an A, even if they answer every question and fail to execute every charm.

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (First appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)
• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game) (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film) (Mentioned on Marauder's Map)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film) (Mentioned only)
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7
• Harry Potter Trading Card Game (Mentioned only)
• Pottermore
• Harry Potter: The Character Vault (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
• Harry Potter: The Wand Collection (Mentioned only)

Notes and references

Charms (class)
Charmbook writers and developers
Blagdon Blay · Daisy Pennifold · 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 · Violeta Stitch
Professors	Fortinbras · Filius Flitwick
Textbooks	Achievements in Charming · Extreme Incantations · Quintessence: A Quest · The Standard Book of Spells
Charms studied at Hogwarts
Banishing Charm (Depulso) · Cheering Charm · Cistem Aperio · Colour Change Charm (Colovaria) · 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) · Growth Charm · 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 spell · 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)

Hogwarts Curriculum
Core classes	Astronomy · Charms · Defence Against the Dark Arts · Herbology · History of Magic · Potions · Transfiguration
Elective classes	Alchemy · Arithmancy · Care of Magical Creatures · Divination · Muggle Studies · Study of Ancient Runes
Extra-curricular classes	Apparition · Advanced Arithmancy Studies · Ancient Studies · Art · Flying · Ghoul Studies · Magical Theory · Muggle Art · Muggle Music · Music · Xylomancy
Examinations
First year exams · Second year exams · Third year exams · Fourth year exams · Ordinary Wizarding Level · Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Test

Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Ilvermorny Houses
Namesake Founders
Isolt Sayre · Webster Boot · Chadwick Boot · James Steward
Subjects offered
Arithmancy · Charms · Creature Care · Defence Against the Dark Arts · Potions · Study of Ancient Runes · Transfiguration · Xylomancy