Red Sparks

Red Sparks
Incantation	Vermillious (vur-MILL-ee-us)
Type	Charm
Hand movement
Light	Red
Effect	Jet of red sparks

"Vermillious, otherwise known as Red Sparks, is an excellent spell for emergencies. If you're ever in danger, fire Red Sparks into the air to call for help."

— Filius Flitwick regarding this charm

Red Sparks (Vermillious) was a charm that precipitated a jet of red sparks from the tip of the wand, something that might be useful to signal an emergency and call for help. It could also be used offensively as a minor duelling spell, but it was not effective against armoured or metallic opponents. It was covered in the book The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble.

Vermillious Duo and Vermillious Tria were more powerful versions of Red Sparks.

History

"Get yer wands out an’ practice now — that’s it — an’ if anyone gets in trouble, send up red sparks, an’ we’ll all come an’ find yeh — so, be careful — let’s go."

— Hagrid instructing Harry, Hermione, Neville and Draco to use Red Sparks if needed in the Forbidden Forest

A wizard producing red sparks

During the 1987–1988 school year, Red Sparks was part of the fourth-year Charms curriculum at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

During the 1990–1991 school year, Jacob's sibling summoned their brother Jacob by the Great Lake with Corey Hayden with Red Sparks, to which he promptly Apparated onto the scene.

A Hogwarts student casting Red Sparks

In 1992, while searching for an injured unicorn, Rubeus Hagrid instructed Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Neville Longbottom, and Draco Malfoy to send red sparks in the air if they were trouble, and Neville Longbottom did use it later that night.

In 1995, champions who were lost in the Third Task Maze would send up red sparks, and when Viktor Krum got knocked out, Cedric Diggory used the Red Sparks to signal that he was down.

It is possible that the Order of the Phoenix might have used the spell in 1995, as the signal for the Advance Guard escorting Harry Potter to 12 Grimmauld Place.

Following the American National Quidditch team's win at the semi-finals of the 2014 Quidditch World Cup against Liechtenstein, red, white and blue sparks filled the air so thickly it was difficult to see or breathe.

Known practitioners

Filius Flitwick

Neville Longbottom

Cedric Diggory

Harry Potter

Jacob's sibling

Etymology

• Vermillious derives from the English word vermilion, a term for a shade of brilliant red. Interestingly, the incantation has two letter "L"s, but the proper spelling of vermilion has only one "L".

See also

• Periculum
• Green Sparks
• Verdimillious Charm
• Verdillious

Behind the scenes

• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry's usage of Red Sparks was replaced by using Periculum.

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (First appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game) (GBC version) (First appearance as Vermillious)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game) (GBC version)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film) (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Possible appearance)
• Pottermore (First identified as Red Sparks) (Spells/Duels)
• Harry Potter Trading Card Game (First identified as Vermillious)
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
• Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery (First identified as both Red Sparks and Vermillious)