Lacarnum Inflamari

Lacarnum Inflamari
Incantation	Lacarnum Inflamari (la-KAR-num in-flah-MAR-ee)
Type	Charm
Hand movement
Light	Orange
Effect	Ignites items of clothing

"Today, we shall be learning the spell Lacarnum Inflamari. Because the spell releases dangerous fireballs, we shall be taking extra precautions in today's class."

— Patricia Rakepick introducing the spell to her fifth-year Defence Against the Dark Arts students

Lacarnum Inflamari was the incantation of a charm used to ignite cloaks or other items of clothing worn by individuals.

History

Snape's robes being set alight with this charm

During the 1988–1989 school year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the then Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor, Patricia Rakepick, used this spell on Professor Severus Snape to set his cloak on fire.

Later that year, Professor Rakepick taught her fifth-years how to use this spell in Defence Against the Dark Arts, as part of her curriculum focused on both theoretical and practical defensive magic.

Known practitioners

Patricia Rakepick

Jacob's sibling

Etymology

Lacarnum Inflamari appears to be derived from the Latin lacerna, a noun meaning "cloak", and inflammare, the Latin verb meaning "to ignite, inflame". Together, the incantation can mean "to set fire to a cloak".

Behind the scenes

Hermione lighting Snape's cloak with this charm in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, this spell replaced Bluebell Flames that was used in the book, and was used by Hermione Granger during the 1991 Gryffindor vs Slytherin Quidditch match on Professor Severus Snape, due to believing him to be jinxing her friend Harry Potter's Nimbus 2000.
• When referring to this spell, J. K. Rowling noted that the spell, if it existed in the canon universe, would be impractical due to the long incantation, especially when fighting off a Devil's Snare. It seems likely that this spell is best used for igniting small objects and materials, such as clothing fabrics, as opposed to large objects.
• In Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, the player has the choice to use this spell to ignite the clothing of either Snape or Argus Filch.
• Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells introduced the Ignition Spell with the incantation Inflamare, suggesting that the Lacarnum component of this spell may be a spell modifier, making them the same spell.

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film) (First appearance) (Non-canonical appearance)
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 (Non-canonical appearance)
• Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
• Hogwarts Legacy (mentioned only)

See also

• Fire-Making Spell
• Bluebell Flames
• Hand-held flames
• Ignition Spell