Lumos Maxima

Lumos Maxima
Incantation	Lumos Maxima (LOO-mos MAX-i-muh)
Type	Charm
Hand movement	Flick wand Draw wand back Flick again
Light	White
Effect	Produced very bright light from wand tip

"Today we'll learn Lumos Maxima, a modified version of the Wand-Lighting Charm! You are a bright bunch of students and I have the utmost faith in you. Let's begin!"

— Professor Flitwick to fifth-year students in Charms class

Lumos Maxima was the incantation to a charm that could be used to produce a blinding flash of bright white light from the tip of the wand, a modified version of the Wand-Lighting Charm.

Casting

This charm creating a large burst of light from the wand tip

To cast this light-creation spell, one had to flick their wand, then draw it back and flick it a second time, after which it would light, as noted in chapter thirty-two of Extreme Incantations by Violeta Stitch. The spellbook also included a diagram depicting the proper casting of this spell.

History

During the 1988–1989 school year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Professor Filius Flitwick taught his fifth-year Charms students this charm in preparation for their upcoming Ordinary Wizarding Levels.

In the summer of 1993, Harry Potter practised this charm while reading the instructions from Extreme Incantations under his bed covers at 4 Privet Drive.

Known practitioners

Newton Scamander

Filius Flitwick

Harry Potter

Albus Dumbledore

Jacob's sibling

• Violeta Stitch

Etymology

The incantation is derived from the incantation for its predecessor, "Lumos", and the Latin word "maxima", which means "very great" or "greatest".

Behind the scenes

• Lumos Maxima was created for the third film and appears again in the sixth film, and does not make an appearance in any of the books.
  • In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, it was not explicitly explained why Harry could perform magic outside school terms and in a Muggle household, without reprimand from the British Ministry of Magic shown. It is possible it was allowed as homework.
  • In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the spell was produced in the dark Cave by Dumbledore nonverbally, and then by Harry verbally, identifying the spell. They produced the spell and then waved the lit wand and flung the light into the distance. The wand itself remained lit, but the orb flew away and settled by lighting the whole area to a far greater extent. The orb eventually fell from the air and extinguished on its own after a while.
  • Lumos Maxima was taught at Hogwarts to fifth years, but in the film adaptation, Harry was able to perform it during the summer before his third year.
• Lumos Maxima was used to introduce The Wizarding World of Harry Potter to fans by illuminating Hogwarts Castle.
• In Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Lumos Maxima has the same wand gesture as the Wand-Lighting Charm.

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film) (First appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (video game)
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (film)
• Harry Potter for Kinect
• The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
• Harry Potter: The Creature Vault
• Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
• Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells
• Harry Potter: Magic Caster Wand

See also

• Light-creation spells
• Wand-Lighting Charm
• Lumos Solem Spell
• Lumos Duo