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"Terminates all spell effects"
— Description of the General Counter-Spell[src]

The General Counter-Spell[5] (Finite[1][2] or Finite Incantatem)[3] was a counter-spell for general use.[5] It might have been used in duels to counter or reverse minor damage, such as the effects of minor jinxes, hexes and curses. It could also be used on an entire home to (temporarily) stop the effects of protective enchantments, as a precaution before a Muggle answered the door.[8]

The General Counter-Spell was taught at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in second-year[9] and third-year[10][11] Charms class. This spell was also covered in The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 2 by Miranda Goshawk.[5]

Nature[]

FiniteIncantatem

This spell terminates the effects of other spells

The General Counter-Spell terminated all spell effects ranging from simple dark charms,[6][12] although it would probably be ineffective against moderate to major dark charms; though it was effective when cast by multiple people at once, capable of ending the effects of the extremely destructive Protego Diabolica.[7]

For example, the Jelly-Legs Curse needed a specific counter-jinx to be performed to end its effects. It was unknown if there was a difference between Finite and Finite Incantatem in terms of power or usage. It was possible that Finite was simply a more straightforward way of casting the General Counter-Spell to terminate the effects of a single spell. Although, when Snape used Finite Incantatem in the Duelling Club, it terminated the effects of multiple spells, whereas when Harry used Finite in the Room of Requirement after Crabbe used Descendo on a fifty-foot mountain of old furniture, it only stopped that spell.

Also, when cast by multiple wizards and witches alike at once, the spell could create a very powerful, "purifying" type of fire that was able to counteract and extinguish various powerful, rapid-spreading curses, including the cursed fire.

History[]

"Try Finite Incantatem, that should stop the rain if it's a hex or curse..."
— Hermione Granger suggesting ways that Ron could stop the rain in Yaxley's office[src]
Yusuf and Tina fighting with flames

Yusuf Kama and Tina Goldstein fighting flames with the General Counter-Spell

In 1927, a group casting by Nicolas Flamel, Newt Scamander, Theseus Scamander, Tina Goldstein, and Yusuf Kama countered Gellert Grindelwald's powerful Protego Diabolica that the Dark wizard used in an attempt to destroy Paris.

During the 1986–1987 school year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Professor Filius Flitwick taught his third-year students in Charms class how to cast this spell.[10][11] That same year, when Jacob's sibling consulted him about a cursed Bludger, Flitwick determined that the curse, though nasty, could be undone with the spell, which the student performed successfully.[13]

In 1997 during the trio's infiltration of the British Ministry of Magic, Hermione Granger suggested that Ron should try using Finite Incantatem to stop the rain in Corban Yaxley's office.[12]

Known uses[]

"He pointed his wand at the rampart, cried, "Finite!" and it steadied."
— Harry using this counter-spell during the skirmish at the Room of Requirement[src]
Caster(s) Date Purpose
Newt Scamander September 1927 To contain and extinguish the destructive black fire created by Gellert Grindelwald's Protego Diabolica inside the Lestrange Mausoleum, Paris.[7] The group casting was so powerful, it generated flames of immense size.
Finite
Theseus Scamander
Porpentina Goldstein
Yusuf Kama
Nicolas Flamel
Aurors
Jacob's sibling 1986–1987 school year Used it to reverse the effects of the Levitation Charm cast on Rita Skeeter during a Charms lesson.[11]
Used it to reverse a curse on a Bludger.[13]
Charles Weasley 1987–1988 school year To terminate the Levitation Charm that Jacob's sibling had used on themselves to lift themselves high into the air in the Forbidden Forest.[14]
Jacob's sibling Used it to remove the Disillusionment Charm that had been placed on Ben Copper's face, whilst he was disguised as one of R's messengers.[15]
Severus Snape 17 December 1992 To end the effects of various unfortunate spells that were affecting members of the Duelling Club when the whole club descended into utter chaos.[3]
Remus Lupin 18 June 1996 Used to free Neville Longbottom from the effects of the Dancing Feet Spell, during the Battle of the Department of Mysteries.[1]
Nymphadora Tonks 1 September 1996 Used to free Harry Potter from the effects of the Full Body-Bind Curse.[6]
Harry Potter 2 May 1998 To cancel the effects of Descendo (cast by Vincent Crabbe) on a large pile of falling objects during the Skirmish at the Room of Requirement during the Battle of Hogwarts, to escape Crabbe's Fiendfyre.[16]

Known practitioners[]

Etymology[]

From Latin finire, meaning "to end", and incantationem, meaning "enchantment". Finite means 'end' (imperative).

Behind the scenes[]

Spellpath finite 3 light

The General Counter-Spell wand movement as seen in Harry Potter: Wizards Unite

Appearances[]

Notes and references[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 36 (The Only One He Ever Feared)
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film) - Chapter 6 (That's For My Father)
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 11 (The Duelling Club)
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film) - Chapter 15 (The Rogue Bludger)
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Pottermore
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 8 (Snape Victorious)
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald - The Original Screenplay, Scene 115
  8. J. K. Rowling's official site (W.O.M.B.A.T.)
  9. As the spell was covered in The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 2, it was in second-year Charms class.
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 3, Chapter 6 (The Letter from No One) - Charms Lesson "Finite Incantatem"
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 3, Side Quest "Wizarding World Famous"
  12. 12.0 12.1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 12 (Magic is Might)
  13. 13.0 13.1 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 3, "A DRAGON'S QUEST" Achievement
  14. 14.0 14.1 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 4, Chapter 13 (The Centaur's Arrow)
  15. 15.0 15.1 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 4, Chapter 15 (Dark Secrets)
  16. 16.0 16.1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 31 (The Battle of Hogwarts)
  17. Harry Potter: Magic Awakened, Year 2
  18. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 2, "Become an Honorary Rocker" Achievement
Charms (class)
PS Wingardium Leviosa feather
Charm-book writers and developers
Blagdon Blay · Daisy Pennifold · Delfina Crimp · Miranda Goshawk · Jarleth Hobart · Basil Horton · Helixa Hyslop · Syna Hyslop · Randolph Keitch · Levina Monkstanley · Orabella Nuttley · Mnemone Radford · Scarpin · Elliot Smethwyck · Felix Summerbee · Violeta Stitch
Professors Fortinbras · Filius Flitwick · Abraham Ronen · Unidentified male professor · Unidentified medieval professor
Textbooks Achievements in Charming · Extreme Incantations · Quintessence: A Quest · The Standard Book of Spells
Charms studied at Hogwarts
Anti-Alohomora Charm · Ascension Charm (Ascendio) · Banishing Charm (Depulso) · Blackboard Writing Spell · Blue sparks · Bombardment Spell (Bombarda) · Box Blasting Charm (Cistem Aperio) · Bubble-Head Charm · Cheering Charm · Cleaning Charm · Colour Change Charm (Colovaria) · Confundus Charm (Confundo) · Counter-charm for hiccoughs · Dancing Feet Spell (Tarantallegra) · Descendo · Disarming Charm (Expelliarmus) · Disillusionment Charm · Drought Charm · Entrancing Enchantments (theoretically) · Eradication Spell (Deletrius) · Engorgement Charm (Engorgio) · Extinguishing Spell · Fire-Making Spell (Incendio) · Freezing Charm (Immobulus) · Freezing Spell (Glacius) · Full Body-Bind Curse (Petrificus Totalus) · General Counter-Spell (Finite Incantatem) · Gouging Spell (Defodio) · Growth Charm · Ice Jinx · Impervius Charm (Impervius) · Knitting Charm · Knockback Jinx (Flipendo) · Leg-Locker Curse (Locomotor Mortis) · Levitation Charm (Wingardium Leviosa) · Locking Spell (Colloportus) · Locomotion Charm (Locomotor) · Lumos Solem Spell (Lumos Solem) · Mending Charm (Reparo) · Memory Charm (Obliviate) · Muffliato Charm (Muffliato) · Nonverbal spells · Pack Charm (Pack) · Red Sparks (Vermillious) · Reductor Curse (Reducto) · Scouring Charm (Scourgify) · Seize and pull charm (Carpe Retractum) · Severing Charm (Diffindo) · Shrinking Charm (Reducio) · Silencing Charm (Silencio) · Slowing Charm (Arresto Momentum) · Skurge Charm (Skurge) · Softening Charm (Spongify) · Spell for growing legs · Substantive Charm · Summoning Charm (Accio) · Tickling Charm (Rictusempra) · Unlocking Charm (Alohomora) · Vinegar to wine spell · Wand-Extinguishing Charm (Nox) · Wand-Lighting Charm (Lumos) · Lumos Maxima · Water-Making Spell (Aguamenti)
The Standard Book of Spells
Book of Spells 1
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)
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