Changes: General Counter-Spell

Revision as of 10:43, 24 September 2019

Warning!

At least some content in this article is derived from information featured in: Harry Potter: Wizards Unite & Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald & Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery.
As such, spoilers will be present within the article.

"Terminates all spell effects"

— Description^[src]

The General Counter-Spell^[4] (Finite^[2] or Finite Incantatem)^[1] was a counter-spell for general use.^[4] It might be 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.^[6] It was taught at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in second year Charms class.^[7]

It is currently unknown by who or when the counter-spell was invented. This spell is one of the seven covered in The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 2 by Miranda Goshawk.^[4]

Nature

The General Counter-Spell terminated all spell effects ranging from simple dark charms,^[8]^[9] although it would be probably ineffective against moderate to major dark charms although it was when cast by multiple people at once, capable of ending the effects of the extremely destructive Protego Diabolica.^[10] For example, the Jelly-Legs Curse needed a specific counter-curse to be performed to end its effects. It is unknown if there was a difference between Finite and Finite Incantatem in terms of power or usage. It's possible that Finite was simply a more straight forward way of casting the General Counter-Spell to terminate the effects of a single spell.

Known uses

"He pointed his wand at the rampart, cried, "Finite!" and it steadied."

— Harry using this counter-spell^[src]

Caster(s)	Date	Purpose
Newt Scamander, Theseus Scamander, Porpentina Goldstein, Yusuf Kama, Nicolas Flamel, various Aurors	September, 1927	To contain and extinguish the destructive black fire created by Gellert Grindelwald's Protego Diabolica inside the Lestrange Mausoleum, Paris.^[10]
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.^[1]
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.^[8]
Nymphadora Tonks	1 September, 1996	Used to free Harry Potter from the effects of the Full Body-Bind Curse.^[5]
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.^[11]

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.
Hermione suggested in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows that Ron should try using Finite Incantatem to stop the rain in Yaxley's office.^[9]
In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Nymphadora Tonks unfreezes Harry from the Full Body-Bind Curse with a flash of red light, which would be this spell. In the film adaptation, Luna Lovegood used "Finite" to unfreeze Harry and cause his Invisibility Cloak to fly off him.
In Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Jacob's sibling has to demonstrate Full Body-Bind Curse on Ben Copper in year 3, with Professor Flitwick promising to cast a counter curse to reverse the effect. However, the counter-curse was neither taught by him, nor by Professor Snape in subsequent Defence Against the Dark Arts lessons. A General Counter Spell was taught in the next lesson instead. Because the move can be used in general, it can be safely demonstrated to counter the moves of the Wand-Lighting Charm.
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;^[3] however, this is does not happen 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), Level: The Abandoned Substation
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald - The Original Screenplay
Harry Potter: Spells
Pottermore
Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
Harry Potter: Wizards Unite

Notes and references

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 ^1.4 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 11 (The Duelling Club)
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)
↑ ^4.0 ^4.1 ^4.2 ^4.3 Pottermore
↑ ^5.0 ^5.1 ^5.2 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 8 (Snape Victorious)
↑ J. K. Rowling's official site (W.O.M.B.A.T.)
↑ ^7.0 ^7.1 As the spell was covered in The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 2, it must be taught in second year Charms class. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Charms" defined multiple times with different content
↑ ^8.0 ^8.1 ^8.2 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 36 (The Only One He Ever Feared)
↑ ^9.0 ^9.1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 12 (Magic is Might)
↑ ^10.0 ^10.1 ^10.2 ^10.3 ^10.4 ^10.5 ^10.6 Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald - The Original Screenplay, Scene 115
↑ ^11.0 ^11.1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 31 (The Battle of Hogwarts)
↑ Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery

Charms (class)

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

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)

[CS11-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 ^1.4 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 11 (The Duelling Club)

[HBPF-2] 2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)

[CSF-3] 3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)

[PM-4] 4.0 ^4.1 ^4.2 ^4.3 Pottermore

[HP8-5] 5.0 ^5.1 ^5.2 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 8 (Snape Victorious)

[JKRS-6] J. K. Rowling's official site (W.O.M.B.A.T.)

[Charms-7] 7.0 ^7.1 As the spell was covered in The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 2, it must be taught in second year Charms class. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Charms" defined multiple times with different content

[OP36-8] 8.0 ^8.1 ^8.2 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 36 (The Only One He Ever Feared)

[DH12-9] 9.0 ^9.1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 12 (Magic is Might)

[COGS115-10] 10.0 ^10.1 ^10.2 ^10.3 ^10.4 ^10.5 ^10.6 Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald - The Original Screenplay, Scene 115

[DH31-11] 11.0 ^11.1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 31 (The Battle of Hogwarts)

[HM-12] Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery

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 {{Quote|Terminates ''all'' spell effects|Description|Pottermore}}
-The '''General Counter-Spell'''<ref name="PM" /> (''Finite''<ref name="HBPF" /> or ''Finite Incantatem'')<ref name="CS11" /> is a [[counter-spell]] for general use.<ref name="PM" /> It may be used in [[Duelling|duels]] to counter or reverse minor damage, such as the effects of minor [[jinx]]es, [[hex]]es and [[curse]]s. It can also be used on an entire home to (temporarily) stop the effects of protective enchantments, as a precaution before a [[Non-magic people|Muggle]] answers the door.<ref name="JKRS">{{JKRS}} ([[Wizards' Ordinary Magic and Basic Aptitude Test|W.O.M.B.A.T.]])</ref> It is taught at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]] in [[second year]] [[Charms (class)|Charms class]].<ref name="Charms">As the [[spell]] is covered in ''[[The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 2]]'', it must be taught in [[second year]] [[Charms (class)|Charms class]].</ref>
+The '''General Counter-Spell'''<ref name="PM" /> (''Finite''<ref name="HBPF" /> or ''Finite Incantatem'')<ref name="CS11" /> was a [[counter-spell]] for general use.<ref name="PM" /> It might be used in [[Duelling|duels]] to counter or reverse minor damage, such as the effects of minor [[jinx]]es, [[hex]]es and [[curse]]s. It could also be used on an entire home to (temporarily) stop the effects of protective enchantments, as a precaution before a [[Non-magic people|Muggle]] answered the door.<ref name="JKRS">{{JKRS}} ([[Wizards' Ordinary Magic and Basic Aptitude Test|W.O.M.B.A.T.]])</ref> It was taught at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]] in [[second year]] [[Charms (class)|Charms class]].<ref name="Charms">As the [[spell]] was covered in ''[[The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 2]]'', it must be taught in [[second year]] [[Charms (class)|Charms class]].</ref>
 It is currently unknown by who or when the counter-spell was invented. This spell is one of the seven covered in ''[[The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 2]]'' by [[Miranda Goshawk]].<ref name="PM" />
 ==Nature==
-The General Counter-Spell terminates all spell effects ranging from simple [[dark charm]]s,<ref name="OP36">{{OOTP|B|36}}</ref><ref name="DH12">{{DH|B|12}}</ref> although it would be probably ineffective against moderate to major dark charms although it is when cast by multiple people at once, capable of ending the effects of the extremely destructive ''[[Protego Diabolica]]''.<ref name="COGS115">{{COG|S|115}}</ref> For example, the [[Jelly-Legs Curse]] needs a specific counter-[[Counter-jinx for the Jelly-Legs Jinx|curse]] to be performed to end its effects. It is unknown if there is a difference between ''Finite'' and ''Finite Incantatem'' in terms of power or usage. It's possible that ''Finite'' is simply a more straight forward way of casting the General Counter-Spell to terminate the effects of a single spell.
+The General Counter-Spell terminated all spell effects ranging from simple [[dark charm]]s,<ref name="OP36">{{OOTP|B|36}}</ref><ref name="DH12">{{DH|B|12}}</ref> although it would be probably ineffective against moderate to major dark charms although it was when cast by multiple people at once, capable of ending the effects of the extremely destructive ''[[Protego Diabolica]]''.<ref name="COGS115">{{COG|S|115}}</ref> For example, the [[Jelly-Legs Curse]] needed a specific counter-[[Counter-jinx for the Jelly-Legs Jinx|curse]] to be performed to end its effects. It is unknown if there was a difference between ''Finite'' and ''Finite Incantatem'' in terms of power or usage. It's possible that ''Finite'' was simply a more straight forward way of casting the General Counter-Spell to terminate the effects of a single spell.
 ==Known uses==