Pimple Jinx

Pimple Jinx
Incantation	Furnunculus (fur-NUN-kyoo-lus)
Type	Jinx
Hand movement
Light	Gold
Effect	Causes pimples to erupt

"Goyle bellowed and put his hands to his nose, where great ugly boils were springing up..."

— Description

The Pimple Jinx (Furnunculus) is a jinx that causes a person to break out in boils when it comes in contact with their skin. The effects can be cleared by the Boil-Cure Potion.

It was for a time, a favourite of Harry Potter, who used it twice in his fourth year. It had unpleasant side-effects if it happened to strike a person in conjunction with the Jelly-Legs Curse, causing the victim to sprout small tentacles all over their face.

Known uses

Caster(s)	Date	Notes
Harry Potter	1994-1995 school year	Harry tried to use this spell on Draco Malfoy, but it was deflected and hit Gregory Goyle in the face.
		He later used it on Vincent Crabbe, which, when combined with George Weasley's Jelly-Legs Curse , caused Crabbe to sprout little tentacles on his face.
Fred and George Weasley	1992	They probably used this spell on themselves when they tried to cheer up Ginny Weasley by covering themselves in boils and jumping out at her.
Unknown	Unknown	An Obliviator named Arnold Peasegood was hit by this spell while attempting to break up a Goblin Riot in Chipping, Clodbury.

Known practitioners

• Harry Potter
• Fred and George Weasley

Etymology

Furuncle is another term for a boil, derived from the Latin word furunculus, which means "petty thief".

Behind the scenes

• Whilst the book states it produces boils, Pottermore says it makes pimples. It is currently unknown which is correct.
• This jinx may have inspired the jinx Hermione Granger placed on the parchment signed by members of Dumbledore's Army. It was designed so that if any member betrayed the group, boils spelling "SNEAK" would break out on the person's face, which is what happened to Marietta Edgecombe.

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
• Pottermore