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{{Conjecture}}
 
{{Conjecture}}
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{{Spell infobox
 
{{Spell infobox
 
|name=False memory charm
 
|name=False memory charm
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|hand=
 
|hand=
 
|light=
 
|light=
|effect=Implants a false memory in the victim
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|effect=Implants a false [[memory]] in the victim
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|creator = [[Mnemone Radford]] c. [[1900s]] (possibly)<ref>http://web.archive.org/web/20100205155451/http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/wotm.cfm "Mnemone Radford 1562 - 1649
|creator = Mnemone Radford (possilbly)}}
 
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Developed Memory Modifying Charms.
{{Quote|Then he returned to the [[Gaunt shack|Gaunt hovel]], performed the complex bit of [[magic]] that would implant a false memory in his [[Morfin Gaunt|uncle's]] mind, laid Morfin's wand beside its [[Stunning Spell|unconscious]] owner, pocketed the [[Marvolo Gaunt's ring|ancient ring]] he wore, and departed.|Albus Dumbledore theorises, correctly, that Voldemort used this spell.|Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince}}
 
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First Ministry of Magic Obliviator." this potentially means she made this charm, because its plural.</ref>}}
The '''false memory charm''' (''incantation unknown'') is a [[spell]] which can be used by a [[Wizardkind|witch or wizard]] in order to add a [[memory]] to their victim's mind without the victim realising it was not originally theirs. It differs from the [[Memory Charm]] in that the latter erases memories whilst this one adds them<ref>[http://bloghogwarts.com/2007/07/30/chateando-con-jk-rowling/ 30 July 2007 WebChat with J.K. Rowling]</ref>.
 
 
{{Quote|Then he returned to the [[Gaunt Shack|Gaunt hovel]], performed the complex bit of [[magic]] that would implant a false memory in his [[Morfin Gaunt|uncle's]] mind, laid Morfin's wand beside its [[Stunning Spell|unconscious]] owner, pocketed the [[Marvolo Gaunt's ring|ancient ring]] he wore, and departed.|Theory that Voldemort used this spell|Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince}}
 
The '''false memory charm''' (''incantation unknown''), also known as the '''Memory Modifying Charm'''{{Fact}} is a [[charm]] which can be used by a [[Wizardkind|witch or wizard]] in order to add a [[memory]] to their victim's mind without the victim realising it was not originally theirs. It differs from the [[Memory Charm]] in that the latter erases memories whilst this one adds them, albeit wholly artificial ones.<ref>[http://bloghogwarts.com/2007/07/30/chateando-con-jk-rowling/ 30 July 2007 WebChat with J.K. Rowling]</ref>
   
==Known uses==
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==History==
*[[Tom Riddle|Voldemort]] used this spell twice; firstly in [[1943]] upon his [[Gaunt family|uncle]] [[Morfin Gaunt]], then sometime later on the [[house-elf]] [[Hokey]]. Both instances were to hide his crimes and make the victims believe they were responsible.
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[[Tom Riddle]] cast this [[charm]] twice; firstly in [[1943]] upon his [[House of Gaunt|uncle]] [[Morfin Gaunt]],<ref name="HBP17">{{HBP|B|17}}</ref> then sometime later on the [[house-elf]] [[Hokey]].<ref name="HBP20">{{HBP|B|20}}</ref> Both instances were to hide his crimes and make the victims believe they were responsible.
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*It is likely that [[Kingsley Shacklebolt]] used this [[spell]] on [[Marietta Edgecombe]] in [[1996]] in order to prevent her from revealing [[Dumbledore's Army]] to [[Cornelius Fudge]]. This is reinforced by Dumbledore stating that Shacklebolt was "remarkably quick on the uptake" in modifying her memory.<ref>''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix]]''</ref>
 
*Later that [[1995-1996 school year|same year]], [[Tom Riddle|Voldemort]] may have used the spell to make [[Harry Potter|Harry]] believe his godfather [[Sirius Black]] was being [[Cruciatus Curse|tortured]] by Voldemort in the [[Department of Mysteries]]. However, it is possible that Voldemort simply created an image in Harry's mind through his tight Occlumens connection with Harry (due to the Horcrux connection) so that Harry would see what Voldemort's imagination dreamt up. It may have been up to Harry whether or not to believe it since he is persuaded by Hermione to check to see whether Sirius is really in the Department of Mysteries (not in Grimmauld Place). Voldemort is relying, therefore, on Harry's concern for Sirius's safety to get him to come, just as he is sure Harry will come to him in the forest during the break in the [[Battle of Hogwarts]].
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Later that [[1995-1996 school year|same year]], [[Tom Riddle]] may have used the spell to make [[Harry Potter]] believe his godfather [[Sirius Black]] was being [[Cruciatus Curse|tortured]] by him in the [[Department of Mysteries]].<ref name="OOTP31">{{OOTP|B|31}}</ref> However, it is possible that Voldemort simply created an image in Harry's mind through his tight [[Occlumency|Occlumens]] connection with Harry (due to the [[Horcrux]] connection) so that Harry would see what Voldemort's imagination dreamt up. It may have been up to Harry whether or not to believe it since he is persuaded by Hermione to check to see whether Sirius is really in the Department of Mysteries (not in Grimmauld Place). Voldemort is relying, therefore, on Harry's concern for Sirius's safety to get him to come, just as he is sure Harry will come to him in the forest during the break in the [[Battle of Hogwarts]].
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*It is possible that [[Professor]] [[Horace Slughorn]] used this in [[1996-1997 school year|the next school year]] to hide his memory of [[Tom Riddle|Voldemort]] asking him about [[Horcrux]]es, although as he retained awareness of the true memory his spell may be a different one. It is also possible that he simply repressed it to such a degree that it could not be extracted from him against his will, as the memory he gave Dumbledore simple went blank at the right times and was replaced by a disembodied shouting, rather than images.
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It is possible that [[Professor]] [[Horace Slughorn]] used this in [[1996-1997 school year|the next school year]] to hide his memory of [[Tom Riddle|Voldemort]] asking him about [[Horcrux]]es,<ref name="HBP23">{{HBP|B|23}}</ref> although as he retained awareness of the true memory his spell may be a different one. It is also possible that he simply repressed it to such a degree that it could not be extracted from him against his will, as the memory he gave Dumbledore simple went blank at the right times and was replaced by a disembodied shouting, rather than images; this was noted to be crudely done.
**In the film Half-Blood Prince, this effect is not shown, instead appearing as a muffling of sound, followed by Slughorn ordering Riddle out personally.
 
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*[[Hermione Granger]] used this in [[1997]] to make [[Hermione Granger's parents|her parents]] believe they were named [[Wendell Wilkins|Wendell]] and [[Monica Wilkins]] respectively to make them move to [[Australia]] in order to protect them from [[Tom Riddle|Voldemort]] and his [[Death Eaters]].
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[[Hermione Granger]] used this in [[1997]] to make [[Hermione Granger's parents|her parents]] believe they were named [[Hermione Granger's father|Wendell]] and [[Hermione Granger's mother|Monica Wilkins]] respectively, that they had no children, and to make them move to [[Australia]] in order to protect them from [[Tom Riddle|Voldemort]] and his [[Death Eaters]].<ref name="DH6">{{DH|B|6}}</ref>
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==Known practitioners==
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<gallery widths="105" orientation="portrait" spacing="small" position="center">
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Tom_Riddle_Half-Blood_Prince_Profile-0.jpg|[[Tom Riddle]]<ref name="HBP17">{{HBP|B|17}}</ref><ref name="HBP20">{{HBP|B|20}}</ref>
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Hermione Granger.jpg|[[Hermione Granger]]<ref name="DH6">{{DH|B|6}}</ref>
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</gallery>
   
 
==Behind the scenes==
 
==Behind the scenes==
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*In ''[[Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (film)|Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them]]'', [[Newton Scamander|Newt Scamander]] may have cast this charm or the [[Confundus Charm]] on a muggle that witnessed his creatures being unleashed from [[Jacob Kowalski]]'s apartment. Visually, the spell resembled the mist-like appearance of the [[Imperius Curse]] as it appeared in {{DH|F2}}.
 
*The actual name and [[incantation]] for this [[charm]] are unknown.
 
*The actual name and [[incantation]] for this [[charm]] are unknown.
*However, it appears to be reversible as [[Hermione Granger|Hermione]] stated that she would find her parents after the [[Second Wizarding War|war]] and lift it.
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*This spell is reversible, as [[Hermione Granger|Hermione]] found her parents after the war and lifted it.
*[[Albus Dumbledore]] could reverse this spell, as he managed to uncover the true memories beneath this one (he admitted that it was rather difficult).
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**[[Albus Dumbledore]] could use Legilimency to extract the true version of the memories that Riddle falsified using the spell, although he admitted it was difficult and required a great deal of skill in the art.
*In [[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1|the film]], Hermione uses ''[[Memory Charm|Obliviate]]'' instead of this spell. If indeed ''Obliviate'' is the intended spell in the book, there is a contradiction, as when performing it upon [[Antonin Dolohov]] and [[Thorfinn Rowle]], Hermione claims never to have used it before.
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*In [[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1|the film]], Hermione uses ''[[Memory Charm|Obliviate]]'' instead of this spell.
 
**In the film Half-Blood Prince, the effect of Slughorn's memory modification is different, appearing as a muffling of sound, followed by Slughorn ordering Riddle out personally.
   
 
==Appearances==
 
==Appearances==
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*{{OOTP}} {{1st}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix]]''
 
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*{{OOTP|F}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)]]''
 
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*{{HBP}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince]]''
 
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*{{HBP|F}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)]]''
 
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*{{DH}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]''
 
   
 
==Notes and references==
 
==Notes and references==
{{Reflist}}
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{{Reflist}}[[fr:Sortilège de Faux souvenirs]]
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[[ru:Чары ложной памяти]]
 
[[fr:Sortilège de Faux souvenirs]]
 
[[Category:Spells of unknown incantation]]
 
[[Category:Mental spells]]
 
[[Category:Charms]]
 
 
[[Category:Articles related to Horcruxes]]
 
[[Category:Articles related to Horcruxes]]
 
[[Category:Charms]]
 
[[Category:Concealment]]
 
[[Category:Concealment]]
 
[[Category:Mental spells]]
 
[[Category:Spells of unknown incantation]]

Revision as of 18:35, 26 May 2020

"Then he returned to the Gaunt hovel, performed the complex bit of magic that would implant a false memory in his uncle's mind, laid Morfin's wand beside its unconscious owner, pocketed the ancient ring he wore, and departed."
— Theory that Voldemort used this spell[src]

The false memory charm (incantation unknown), also known as the Memory Modifying Charm[citation needed] is a charm which can be used by a witch or wizard in order to add a memory to their victim's mind without the victim realising it was not originally theirs. It differs from the Memory Charm in that the latter erases memories whilst this one adds them, albeit wholly artificial ones.[2]

History

Tom Riddle cast this charm twice; firstly in 1943 upon his uncle Morfin Gaunt,[3] then sometime later on the house-elf Hokey.[4] Both instances were to hide his crimes and make the victims believe they were responsible.

Later that same year, Tom Riddle may have used the spell to make Harry Potter believe his godfather Sirius Black was being tortured by him in the Department of Mysteries.[5] However, it is possible that Voldemort simply created an image in Harry's mind through his tight Occlumens connection with Harry (due to the Horcrux connection) so that Harry would see what Voldemort's imagination dreamt up. It may have been up to Harry whether or not to believe it since he is persuaded by Hermione to check to see whether Sirius is really in the Department of Mysteries (not in Grimmauld Place). Voldemort is relying, therefore, on Harry's concern for Sirius's safety to get him to come, just as he is sure Harry will come to him in the forest during the break in the Battle of Hogwarts.

It is possible that Professor Horace Slughorn used this in the next school year to hide his memory of Voldemort asking him about Horcruxes,[6] although as he retained awareness of the true memory his spell may be a different one. It is also possible that he simply repressed it to such a degree that it could not be extracted from him against his will, as the memory he gave Dumbledore simple went blank at the right times and was replaced by a disembodied shouting, rather than images; this was noted to be crudely done.

Hermione Granger used this in 1997 to make her parents believe they were named Wendell and Monica Wilkins respectively, that they had no children, and to make them move to Australia in order to protect them from Voldemort and his Death Eaters.[7]

Known practitioners

Behind the scenes

Appearances

Notes and references

  1. http://web.archive.org/web/20100205155451/http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/wotm.cfm "Mnemone Radford 1562 - 1649 Developed Memory Modifying Charms. First Ministry of Magic Obliviator." this potentially means she made this charm, because its plural.
  2. 30 July 2007 WebChat with J.K. Rowling
  3. 3.0 3.1 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 17 (A Sluggish Memory)
  4. 4.0 4.1 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 20 (Lord Voldemort's Request)
  5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 31 (O.W.L.s)
  6. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 23 (Horcruxes)
  7. 7.0 7.1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 6 (The Ghoul in Pyjamas)