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At least some content in this article is derived from information featured in Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery. Spoilers will be present within the article. |
- "Another few seconds and I'd have got you off that broom. I'd have managed it before then if Snape hadn't been muttering a counter-curse, trying to save you."
- — Quirinus Quirrell scorning Severus Snape's attempts to save Harry Potter's life[src]
A counter-curse[1] was a type of Counter-spell designed to remove the effects of a curse or other dark charm. Similar to casting dark charms, those who cast counter-curses must maintain eye contact with the target.[2]
History[]
During their time at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, James Potter cast the counter-curse for the Full Body-Bind Curse that Sirius Black had cast on Severus Snape after being let down from the jinx Levicorpus James had cast on him.[3]
On 31 July 1991, during his first trip to Diagon Alley, Harry Potter was interested in buying Curses and Counter-Curses.[4] This book, by Vindictus Viridian, covered several jinxes and curses, as well as their counter spells.[5]
In 1991, Professor Snape used a counter-curse to protect Harry Potter from a jinx put on his broom by Professor Quirrell, who was trying to knock him off.[6]
Also in 1991, Hermione Granger performed the counter-curse to the Leg-Locker Curse for Neville Longbottom after Draco Malfoy cast it on him.[1]
In the 1994–1995 school year, Bartemius Crouch Junior (in the guise of Alastor Moody) told his Fourth year Defence Against the Dark Arts students that according to the British Ministry of Magic, he was only supposed to teach them counter-curses and not show them illegal Dark curses. He clarified that there is no counter-curse against the Killing Curse.[7]
During Dumbledore's Army's meetings, Neville Longbottom worked relentlessly on learning every counter-curse that Harry taught them.[8]
In the 1995–1996 school year, Parvati Patil questioned Dolores Umbridge about needing to know how to perform counter-curses for the practical portion of their Ordinary Wizarding Level exams.[9]
In the 1996–1997 school year, the British Ministry for Magic helped protect Hogwarts with defensive spells and charms, including an array of counter-curses.[10]
Harry Potter used Liberacorpus, the counter-spell of Levicorpus (a spell he found in the Half-Blood Prince's book), on Ron Weasley, in the Gryffindor Boys' Dormitory.[11]
Snape cast the counter-curse for Sectumsempra (Vulnera Sanentur) three times to heal Draco Malfoy after his duel with Harry Potter.[12]
Debatable occasions[]
- In 1992, Gilderoy Lockhart claimed that he knew the counter-curse to prevent the Transmogrifian Torture.[13] Due to his dishonesty, it is debatable if such counter-curses existed to begin with.
See also[]
Behind the scenes[]
- Gilderoy Lockhart claimed that he knew the counter-curse to prevent the petrification (in the second film), as opposed to the Transmogrifian Torture (in the novel), although there is a great chance that he was simply trying to inflate his reputation, as he is known to possess a great ineptitude for magic and probably does not know the counter-curse if any such spell existed.
- In Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Jacob's sibling has to demonstrate the Full Body-Bind Curse on Ben Copper in the third year, with Professor Flitwick promising to cast a counter-curse to reverse the effect. However, the counter-curse is not taught by him. The General Counter-Spell is taught at the next lesson instead.
- In Harry Potter Trading Card Game, the Snake-Vanishing Spell is said to be a counter-curse, which is in fact incorrect as the spell is only the counter-spell to the Snake Summons Spell.
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)
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Mentioned only)
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film) (Mentioned only)
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Mentioned only)
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film) (Mentioned only)
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film) (Mentioned only)
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)
- Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald - The Original Screenplay (Appears in flashback(s))
- Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (Appears in flashback(s))
- Pottermore (Mentioned only)
- Wizarding World (Mentioned only)
- LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
- LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7
- Harry Potter Trading Card Game (Mentioned only)
- Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
- Harry Potter: Wizards Unite (Mentioned only)
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 13 (Nicolas Flamel)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 11 (Quidditch)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 28 (Snape's Worst Memory)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 5 (Diagon Alley)
- ↑ Pottermore
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 17 (The Man with Two Faces)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 14 (The Unforgivable Curses)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 25 (The Beetle at Bay)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 12 (Professor Umbridge)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 3 (Will and Won't)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 12 (Silver and Opals)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 24 (Sectumsempra)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 9 (The Writing on the Wall)