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Warning!
At least some content in this article is derived from information featured in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. As such, spoilers will be present within the article. |
Protego Diabolica is the incantation to an incredibly complex and powerful protective dark spell, a modified version of the Shield Charm. Protego Diabolica conjures a protective ring of blue fire around the caster.[1] In 1927, Gellert Grindelwald cast this spell in the Lestrange family Mausoleum.[2]
Casting and Effects
When cast, Protego Diabolica creates a ring of blue fire around the caster. in the screenplay of Crimes of Grindewald it is black fire.[2]
However, this spell seems to be more complex than a simple protective ring of blue fire. It is possible to walk through the flames and be unharmed, as demonstrated by Queenie Goldstein and Abernathy. However, one of Grindelwald's acolytes, who earlier expressed doubt about Grindelwald's goals, was burnt to ash within a few moments upon entering the fire. The spell appears to allow those that are loyal to the caster and mean him/her no harm to pass through, and burns those that are disloyal or mean to cause the caster harm.
Grindelwald was also seen controlling the spell as a weapon, by causing tendrils of blue fire to extend from the ring and burn his enemies. The ring is also been shown to kill wizards while in the middle of apparating. The tendrils can be deflected or blocked, albeit temporarily, with the Shield Charm.
When Grindelwald releases his restraint and utilizes the spell's full power, it has the power to wipe-out all of Paris. It conjures what appear to winged demons made of blue flames, that spread and burn everything in site. It was so powerful that it required the combined usage of Finite Incantatem from Newt and Theseus Scaramander, Tina Goldstein, Nicolas Flamel and several other's to contain it.
Known practitioners
Etymology
- The incantation comes from Latin "protego", "I protect", and "diabolica", a declension of "diabolicus", meaning "diabolic, relating to the Devil".
Behind the scenes
- In Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald - The Original Screenplay, the spell creates a "circle of black fire", whereas in the film the flames are bright blue.
Appearances
- Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
- Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald - The Original Screenplay
- Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts: A Spellbinding Guide to the Films (First appearance)