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 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..

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 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, until she started Arithmancy as an elective in 1993.

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Professor Flitwick the Charms Master

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. 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 is compulsory for both Auror and Healer training, at either an "Exceeds Expectations" or "Outstanding" level.

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.

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

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

Second year

Skurge Scouring Charm Dancing Feet Spell Engorgement Charm Freezing Charm

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

General Counter-Spell Shrinking 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."

— The Charms class on the Banishing Charm

Summoning Charm Banishing Charm

Red Sparks Exploding Charm

Cistem Aperio Scouring Charm

Fifth year

Banishing Charm (Revision) Fire-Making Spell (Revision) Levitation Charm (Revision) Mending Charm (Revision) Colour Change Charm

Severing Charm (Revision) Substantive Charm Growth Charm Locomotion Charm Cheering Charm (Revision)

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

Slowing Charm Leg-Locker Curse Disillusionment Charm Descendo

Sixth and seventh 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 Reductor Curse

Known professors

Eulalie Hicks (Ilvermorny, c. 1920s)

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Filius Flitwick (1970s-?)

• 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

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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)

Grades

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

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

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.

Written

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

"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 hiccups

Practical

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

Known O.W.L.s

Alastor Moody †

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Alicia Spinnet

Bill Weasley

Cedric Diggory †

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Dean Thomas

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Filius Flitwick

Fred Weasley I †

George Weasley

Harry Potter

Hermione Granger

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Kingsley Shacklebolt

Neville Longbottom

Nymphadora Tonks †

John Dawlish

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Rufus Scrimgeour

Percy Weasley

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Ron Weasley

Seamus Finnigan

Tom Riddle † (possibly)

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Arthur Weasley (possibly)

Media

Harry Potter Magic Spell - Wingardium Leviosa

Charms Class

Behind the scenes

• Charms is Warwick Davis's favourite subject.
• 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)