Porcupine to Pin Cushion

Porcupine to Pin Cushion
Incantation	Hystrifors (HISS-tree-fors)
Type	Transfiguration
Effect	Transforms a porcupine into a pincushion

"You must form a trusting relationship with your porcupine. It is easier to practise Transfiguration on a willing target."

— Professor McGonagall on the subject matter

Porcupine to Pin Cushion (Hystrifors) was a Transforming spell that transformed a porcupine into a pincushion.

History

During the 1985–1986 school year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Professor Minerva McGonagall taught the spell to second year students in her Transfiguration class.

Etymology

From Latin "hystrix", meaning "porcupine", with the -fors suffix attached.

Behind the scenes

• The incantation is a misnomer, as it is indicative of a porcupine, but the spell transforms things into pincushions, and not into porcupines. For example, Lapifors turns the target into a rabbit and Avifors the target into a bird. This might be a mistake from Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery developers, where the spell appears.
• This may be related to the Hedgehog to pincushion spell, especially given that it works on any mammal with spines.
  • Despite the Hedgehog to Pincushion spell being taught to fourth years in the 1994–1995 school year curriculum, the porcupine version is taught to second years in the 1985–1986 school year curriculum.
• In Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, while the lesson was listed as "Porcupine to Pin Cushion" ("Pin" and "Cushion" written separately) in the game's class directory and the header of the specific lesson; during the lesson itself, the descriptions about "pincushion" were all written as one word:
  • "Porcupine to Pincushion Demonstration"
  • "Memorise Pincushion Shape"
  • "Cast Porcupine to Pincushion"

Appearances

• Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery (First appearance)

See also

• Hedgehog to Pin Cushion