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At least some content in this article is derived from information featured in: Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery & Harry Potter: Magic Awakened & Hogwarts Legacy. |
- "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[]
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]
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. |
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[]
- This spell was included in the Harry Potter: Spells application for the iPhone as a counter-attack spell.
- In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Luna Lovegood uses "Finite" to unfreeze Harry and cause his Invisibility Cloak to fly off him,[2] instead of when Nymphadora Tonks does so in the book.[6]
- Hermione uses this spell in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets to destroy the rogue Bludger that was attacking Harry during the Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Slytherin after it tries to assault him on the ground;[4] however, this is is not shown in the book.
Appearances[]
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (First appearance)
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game) (PSP version)
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (Mentioned only)
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (video game)
- Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
- Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald - The Original Screenplay
- Pottermore
- Harry Potter (website)
- Harry Potter: Spells
- LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
- Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
- Harry Potter: Wizards Unite
- Harry Potter: Magic Awakened
- Hogwarts Legacy
- Harry Potter: Magic Caster Wand
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 36 (The Only One He Ever Feared)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film) - Chapter 6 (That's For My Father)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 11 (The Duelling Club)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film) - Chapter 15 (The Rogue Bludger)
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Pottermore
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 8 (Snape Victorious)
- ↑ 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
- ↑ J. K. Rowling's official site (W.O.M.B.A.T.)
- ↑ As the spell was covered in The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 2, it was in second-year Charms class.
- ↑ 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"
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 3, Side Quest "Wizarding World Famous"
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 12 (Magic is Might)
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 3, "A DRAGON'S QUEST" Achievement
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 4, Chapter 13 (The Centaur's Arrow)
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 4, Chapter 15 (Dark Secrets)
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 31 (The Battle of Hogwarts)
- ↑ Harry Potter: Magic Awakened, Year 2
- ↑ Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 2, "Become an Honorary Rocker" Achievement
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) |