Freezing Charm

Freezing Charm
Incantation	Immobulus (ih-MOH-byoo-luhs)
Type	Charm
Hand movement
Light	Blue
Effect	Stopped movement and actions of the target

"...immobilising two pixies at once with a clever Freezing Charm and stuffing them back into their cage."

— Hermione Granger's use of the charm in a second-year Defence Against the Dark Arts class

The Freezing Charm (Immobulus) was a charm which immobilised and stopped the actions of the target. With the use of this charm, the movement of living or animated targets was stopped, and the functioning of objects such as Muggle burglar alarms was halted. It could also be used to render a Whomping Willow safely immobile.

History

This spell was covered in The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 2 by Miranda Goshawk, and was thus likely taught at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to second-year students in Charms class.

At the end of the 1986–1987 school year at Hogwarts, this spell was taught to Jacob's sibling by their House Prefect as a farewell gift.

Known uses

"It's quite easy once you know how, one simple Freezing Charm on these absurd burglar alarms..."

— Horace Slughorn telling Albus Dumbledore about his use of this charm

Caster(s)	Date	Notes
Hermione Granger	Fall 1992	Used this spell to successfully freeze a pair of pixies in her second year after her teacher tried and failed to subdue them using the nonsense incantation Peskipiksi Pesternomi.
Horace Slughorn	1996	Used this charm to freeze the burglar alarms of Muggle houses he stayed in while in hiding from the Death Eaters.

Known practitioners

Hermione Granger

Remus Lupin

Horace Slughorn

Felix Rosier

Chester Davies

Angelica Cole

Jane Court

Jacob's sibling

Merula Snyde

Wandkeeper

Etymology

The incantation is derived from Latin immobilis meaning "immobile, unmoving".

Behind the scenes

This spell as seen in Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells

• Despite the books and video games giving no incantation, the incantation for this charm is shown to be Immobulus in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. In the film, Hermione freezes all of the pixies at the same time instead of just two.
• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Lupin uses this charm to freeze the Whomping Willow instead of pressing a specific knot near its base.
• In Harry Potter for Kinect, it can be used as a duelling spell to immobilise the opponent temporarily.
• In the PC version of LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4, Immobulus is misspelled "Immobilus" when it is unlocked. In the game, the charm is taught in Gilderoy Lockhart's first Defence Against the Dark Arts class involving pixies. This lesson cannot be considered canon, however, as it contradicts the lesson's depiction in the book.
• Molly Weasley possibly used this charm in the Battle of Hogwarts to paralyse Bellatrix Lestrange in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.
  • This may be the spell Kingsley Shacklebolt used non-verbally during the Battle of Hogwarts in the same film.

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (First appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (Possible appearance)
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 (Consoles and Windows versions only)
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7
• The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
• Harry Potter Trading Card Game
• Harry Potter for Kinect
• Pottermore
• Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
• Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells
• Harry Potter: Magic Awakened
• Harry Potter: Magic Caster Wand

See also

• Full Body-Bind Curse
• Slowing Charm

The Standard Book of Spells
Grade 1 · Grade 2 · Grade 3 · Grade 4 · Grade 5 · Grade 6 · Grade 7
Charms included in the series: Dancing Feet Spell (Tarantallegra) · Disarming Charm (Expelliarmus) · Engorgement Charm (Engorgio) · Fire-Making Spell (Incendio) · Freezing Charm (Immobulus) · General Counter-Spell (Finite Incantatem) · Levitation Charm (Wingardium Leviosa) · Locking Spell (Colloportus) · Memory Charm (Obliviate) · Mending Charm (Reparo) · Nonverbal spell · Severing Charm (Diffindo) · Skurge Charm (Skurge) · Softening Charm (Spongify) · Substantive Charm · Summoning Charm (Accio) · Tickling Charm (Rictusempra) · Unlocking Charm (Alohomora) · Wand-Lighting Charm (Lumos)