Charms (class)

Charms
Class information
Professor	Fortinbras (Hogwarts) Filius Flitwick (Hogwarts) Eulalie Hicks (Ilvermorny)
Classroom	Class 99 Classroom 2E
Required textbooks	The Standard Book of Spells by Miranda Goshawk (Hogwarts) Achievements in Charming (Hogwarts) Quintessence: A Quest (Hogwarts) Chadwick's Charms by Chadwick Boot (Ilvermorny)
Required equipment	Wand Books Parchment Quill

"I see Charms as a slightly lighter subject than Transfiguration which is very hard work. With Charms there would be a little more leeway for a little more personal creativity— "

— J. K. Rowling on the nature of charms work

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

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

Class information

"They then spent over an hour revising Summoning Charms, which according to Professor Flitwick were bound to come up in their OWL, and he rounded off the lesson by setting them their largest ever amount of Charms homework."

— A fifth year Charms lesson, O.W.L. revision

A first year Charms lesson on the Levitation Charm

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

Professor Flitwick the Charms Master

In a student's fifth year they took the Ordinary Wizarding Level examinations. This exam contained a written portion and a practical portion. The written portion was made up of questions concerning the theory of charms and the practical was where students were judged upon the charms they could perform. Their O.W.L. scores decided what courses they would be taking in their final years at Hogwarts. Only students who achieved a high O.W.L. score of either "Outstanding" or "Exceeds Expectations" might 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. 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.

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

Location and time

Classrooms

Charms classes were 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 had three rows of desks, all facing the teacher's table, behind which sat a large upholstered chair with a high back. Two blackboards flanked the teacher's table, and behind them was a small shelf with books and other objects, beneath a pair of windows.

Location times

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

Year	Day	Period
First	Tuesday	first
	Thursday
Second	Monday	unknown
	Thursday	second/third
	Friday	morning
Third		second
Fourth	Wednesday	morning
	Friday	third
Fifth	Thursday	second/third
Sixth	unknown	unknown
Seventh	Monday	morning

Curriculum

First year

"Now, don't forget that nice wrist movement we've been practising! Swish and flick, remember, swish and flick. And saying the magic words properly is very important, too - never forget Wizard Baruffio, who said 's' instead of 'f' and found himself on the floor with a buffalo on his chest."

— Professor Flitwick teaching the Levitation Charm to his first years in 1991

Levitation Charm Wand-Lighting Charm Wand-Extinguishing Charm Fire-Making Spell

Softening Charm Unlocking Charm Locking Spell Mending Charm

Severing Charm Make a pineapple dance across a desk Knockback Jinx Ice Jinx Box Blasting Charm

Second year

"Welcome to Charms class. Today we shall be learning the Skurge Charm."

— Professor Flitwick teaching second year Charms in 1992

Skurge Charm Dancing Feet Spell Disarming Charm Engorgement Charm

Freezing Charm Memory Charm (theory) Tickling Charm Fire-Making Spell (Revision)

Levitation Charm (Revision) General Counter-Spell Shrinking Charm Slowing Charm

Third year

"Professor Flitwick did indeed test them on Cheering Charms."

— Third year exam in 1994

Cheering Charm General Counter-Spell Seize and pull charm

Freezing Spell Lumos Maxima Levitation Charm (Revision)

Full Body-Bind Curse Banishing Charm

Fourth year

"They were supposed to be practising the opposite of the Summoning Charm today — the Banishing Charm."

— A fourth year Charms lesson on the Banishing Charm

Summoning Charm Banishing Charm Red Sparks

Exploding Charm Locking Spell Box Blasting Charm

Scouring Charm Severing Charm

Fifth year

"What you must remember, is that these examinations may influence your futures for many years to come! If you have not already given serious thought to your careers, now is the time to do so. And in the meantime, I’m afraid, we shall be working harder than ever to ensure that you all do yourselves justice!"

— Professor Flitwick on the importance of fifth year Charms

Banishing Charm (Revision) Fire-Making Spell (Revision) Levitation Charm (Revision) Mending Charm (Revision) Reductor Curse Colour Change Charm Severing Charm (Revision) Substantive Charm

Growth Charm Summoning Charm (Revision) Silencing Charm Creating legs on teacups Eradication Spell Pack Charm Slowing Charm Locomotion Charm

Cheering Charm (Revision) Leg-Locker Curse Disillusionment Charm Descendo Confundus Charm Lumos Maxima Entrancing Enchantments (not practically)

Sixth year

"Hermione was the only one who had managed to turn vinegar into wine; her glass flask was full of deep crimson liquid."

— A N.E.W.T.-level charms lesson

Nonverbal spells Water-Making Spell Vinegar to wine Drought Charm Knitting Charm Bubble-Head Charm

Gouging Spell Blackboard Writing Spell Cleaning Charm Blue sparks Extinguishing Spell Reductor Curse

Seventh year

Ascendio

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

Passing Grades Outstanding [O] Exceeds Expectations [E] Acceptable [A]

Fail Grades Poor [P] Dreadful [D] Troll [T]

O.W.L.

A Theory of Charms O.W.L. exam paper

The Charms O.W.L. contained both a written paper and practical examination where the students were assessed on the charms they could successfully perform.

Written

"a) Give the incantation and
b) describe the wand movement required to make objects fly."

— Question on the Charms O.W.L.

• Levitation Charm (Wingardium Leviosa)
• Summoning Charm (Accio)
• Cheering Charm
• Counter-charm for hiccoughs

Practical

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

Known O.W.L.s

Albus Dumbledore †

Alastor Moody †

Alicia Spinnet

Bill Weasley

Cedric Diggory †

Dean Thomas

Filius Flitwick

Fred Weasley I †

George Weasley

Harry Potter

Hermione Granger

Fay Dunbar

Kingsley Shacklebolt

Neville Longbottom

Lavender Brown †

Nymphadora Tonks †

John Dawlish

Rufus Scrimgeour †

Percy Weasley

Ron Weasley

Seamus Finnigan

Tom Riddle † (possibly)

Arthur Weasley (possibly)

Jacob's sibling

Ben Copper

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• Rowan Khanna

Media

Harry Potter Magic Spell - Wingardium Leviosa

Charms Class

Behind the scenes

• Charms is Warwick Davis's favourite subject.
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is the only book set predominantly at Hogwarts which does not explicitly state which spells are taught in the class during that year, despite the book depicting the lesson itself. The entire second year Charms curriculum is currently derived from the Chamber of Secrets video game adaptation, The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 2's contents from Pottermore, and Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery.
• In LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7, Draco Malfoy, Vincent Crabbe, and Gregory Goyle all appear to have passed their Charms O.W.L.s, despite the fact that they weren't mentioned to have done so in the books. Therefore, it is unknown if any of them actually passed their Charms O.W.L. in canon, and if they did, attended N.E.W.T. classes as a result.
• 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.
• 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)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (video game) (Mentioned only)
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7
• Harry Potter Trading Card Game
• Pottermore
• Wizarding World
• Harry Potter: The Character Vault (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter for Kinect
• Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
• Harry Potter: Wizards Unite (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells
• Harry Potter: Magic Awakened
• Harry Potter: The Wand Collection (Mentioned only)