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{{Pottermoreold}}
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{{Spoiler|WU|HM}}
{{Wonderbookold}}
 
 
{{Spell_infobox
 
{{Spell_infobox
 
|name=Severing Charm
 
|name=Severing Charm
 
|image=[[File:DiffindoCrop250.gif|250px]]
 
|image=[[File:DiffindoCrop250.gif|250px]]
 
|incantation=''Diffindo''<br/>(deef-IN-doe)
 
|incantation=''Diffindo''<br/>(deef-IN-doe)
|type=[[Charm]]
+
|type=[[Charm]]<ref name="WON"/>
 
|hand=[[File:Severing-charm.png]]
 
|hand=[[File:Severing-charm.png]]
|light=Light green,<ref>[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (PC, Mac)]],{{WBS}}</ref> or hot pink<ref>[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube)]]</ref>
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|light=Light green, pink<ref name="COSVG">{{COS|G}}</ref> or red<ref name="LEGOHP">{{LEGO|Y2}}</ref>
|effect=Cuts the target
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|effect=Cuts objects<ref name="WON"/>
 
|creator=[[Delfina Crimp]] ([[15th century|1400s]])
 
|creator=[[Delfina Crimp]] ([[15th century|1400s]])
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{Quote|With the Severing Charm, cutting or tearing objects is a simple matter of wand control. The spell can be quite precise in skilled hands, and the Severing Charm is widely used in a variety of wizarding trades. Useful as it is, this charm should be practised with caution, as a careless swipe of the wand can cause injury.|[[Miranda Goshawk]]|Wonderbook: Book of Spells}}
 
{{Quote|With the Severing Charm, cutting or tearing objects is a simple matter of wand control. The spell can be quite precise in skilled hands, and the Severing Charm is widely used in a variety of wizarding trades. Useful as it is, this charm should be practised with caution, as a careless swipe of the wand can cause injury.|[[Miranda Goshawk]]|Wonderbook: Book of Spells}}
The '''Severing Charm''' (''Diffindo'') is a [[charm]] used to precisely and accurately cut something.<ref name="WON">{{WBS}}</ref> It is taught in [[second year]] [[Charms (class)|charms classes]],<ref name="VG2">{{COS|G}}</ref> and if used inappropriately can cause [[death]] or injury.<ref name="WON"/>
+
The '''Severing Charm''' (''Diffindo'') is a [[charm]] used to precisely and accurately cut something.<ref name="WON">{{WBS}}</ref> It is taught in [[second year]] [[Charms (class)|charms classes]]<ref name="VG2">{{COS|G}}</ref> and [[Fourth year]] classes,<ref name="HM412">{{HM|4|12}}</ref> and if used inappropriately can cause [[death]] or injury.<ref name="WON"/>
  +
 
A [[Diffindo spellbook|spellbook]] for this [[charm]] can be found in one of the [[Hogwarts greenhouses|Herbology greenhouses]];<ref name="COSVG"/> this is also detailed in both ''[[Book of Spells]]''<ref name="WON"/> and ''[[The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1]]''.<ref name="PM">{{PM}}</ref>
   
 
==History==
 
==History==
{{Quote|The Severing Charm was created in the fifteenth century by wizarding seamstress [[Delfina Crimp]] who created it as an easy and convenient way of cutting cloth and thread.|''[[Book of Spells]]''}}
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{{Quote|The Severing Charm was created in the fifteenth century by wizarding seamstress [[Delfina Crimp]] who created it as an easy and convenient way of cutting cloth and thread.|''[[Book of Spells]]''}} This [[spell]] was [[Spell creation|invented]] in the [[15th century|fifteenth century]] by seamstress and [[Wizardkind|witch]] [[Delfina Crimp]]. She made the spell because prior to her discovery, cutting spells were apt to burn or shred things. However, a fellow seamster [[Snickerton]], nearly killed her after he raided her shop, having realised that she could do [[magic]], and held her tied up. Nonetheless, upon being released to scratch a wart on her chin, the wart was revealed to be her hidden wand. She brought her wand forth and she [[Apparition|disapparated]] with a sack of [[Galleon|gold]].<ref name="WON"/>
This [[spell]] was [[Spell creation|invented]] in the [[15th century|fifteenth century]] by [[Wizarding world|wizarding]] seamstress [[Delfina Crimp]]. She made the spell because prior to her discovery, cutting spells were apt to burn or shred things. However, a fellow seamster nearly killed her after he raided her shop, having realised that she could do [[magic]], and held her tied up. Nonetheless, upon being released to scratch a wart on her chin the wart brought her wand forth and she [[Apparition|disapparated]] with a sack of [[Galleon|gold]].<ref name="WON"/>
 
   
 
==Known uses==
 
==Known uses==
  +
===Successful===
{| class="wikitable" border="1" 500px;"
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{| class="wikitable" border="1" 500px; "
 
|-
 
|-
 
! align="center" width="20%" |Caster(s)
 
! align="center" width="20%" |Caster(s)
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|The [[charm]] was invented in this time by [[Delfina Crimp]] and used by her to make and tailor clothing.<ref name="WON" />
 
|The [[charm]] was invented in this time by [[Delfina Crimp]] and used by her to make and tailor clothing.<ref name="WON" />
 
|-
 
|-
  +
|[[Filius Flitwick]] & [[Jacob's sibling]]
| colspan="1" rowspan="6"|[[Harry Potter]]
 
|[[November]] [[1994]]
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|[[1987–1988 school year]]
  +
|Professor Filius Flitwick taught this spell to his Fourth year charms students.<ref name="HM412" />
|He cut [[Cedric Diggory]]'s bookbag with this [[spell]] to delay him from [[Charms (class)|class]] so that he could warn Cedric privately about the [[Triwizard Tournament|First Task]].<ref name="GOF">{{GOF}}</ref>
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
| colspan="1" rowspan="3" |[[Harry Potter]]
|[[18 June]], 1996
 
  +
|[[23 November]], [[1994]]
|[[Harry Potter|Harry]] used this to attempt to defend Ron against some [[brain]]s that were attacking him.<ref name="OOTP">{{OOTP}}</ref>
 
 
|Used it to cut [[Cedric Diggory]]'s bookbag to delay him from [[Charms (class)|class]] so that he could warn Cedric privately about the First Task of [[Triwizard Tournament]].<ref name="GOF20">{{GOF|B|20}}</ref>
 
|-
 
|-
|[[1996]]
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|[[14 September]], [[1996]]
|Later that year, he used the [[charm]] to detach the front cover of his [[Flourish and Blotts|shop-bought]] [[Advanced Potion-Making|potions textbook]] to replace it with [[Severus Snape's copy of Advanced Potion-Making|a vandalised version]] using the [[Mending Charm|mending spell]].<ref name="HBP">{{HBP}}</ref>
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|Used it to detach the front cover of his [[Flourish and Blotts|shop-bought]] [[Advanced Potion-Making|potions textbook]] to replace it with [[Severus Snape's copy of Advanced Potion-Making|a vandalised version]] using the [[Mending Charm]].<ref name="HBP11">{{HBP|B|11}}</ref>
 
|-
 
|-
|[[2 September]], [[1997]]
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|[[28 December]], [[1997]]
|Harry tried to break [[Mary Cattermole]] free of a [[Accusation chair|chained chair]]; it failed.<ref name="DH">{{DH}}</ref>
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|Used it to break the ice from the frozen pool in the [[Forest of Dean]], where [[Severus Snape]] had hidden the [[Sword of Gryffindor]].<ref name="DH19">{{DH|B|19}}</ref>
|-
 
|3 September, 1997
 
|Harry also used this to attempt to destroy [[Salazar Slytherin's Locket|a locket]] in [[Forest of Dean|the woods]], but failed.<ref name="DHF">''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (film)]]''</ref>
 
[[File:Dissend.jpg|230px|thumb|left]]
 
|-
 
|[[January]] [[1998]]
 
|Harry used this a fourth time to break the ice from the frozen pool where [[Godric Gryffindor's Sword|a sword]] was hidden.<ref name="DH" />
 
 
[[File:Diffindo.JPG|230px|thumb|left]]
 
[[File:Diffindo.JPG|230px|thumb|left]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]]
 
|[[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]]
 
|[[25 December]], 1994
 
|[[25 December]], 1994
|He used it to sever the lace sleeves of his dress robes before the [[Yule Ball]].<ref name="GOF" />
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|Used it to sever the lace sleeves of his dress robes before the [[Yule Ball]].<ref name="GOF23">{{GOF|B|23}}</ref>
 
|-
 
|-
 
| colspan="1" rowspan="2" |[[Hermione Granger]]
 
| colspan="1" rowspan="2" |[[Hermione Granger]]
 
|[[1 August]], 1997
 
|[[1 August]], 1997
|Hermione used this to remove the [[Incarcerous Spell|bindings]] on [[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]] after a [[Luchino Caffe Duel|fight in a cafe]]; she trembled so much that she cut Ron with it.
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|Used it to remove the [[Incarcerous Spell|bindings]] on [[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]] conjured by [[Antonin Dolohov]] after a [[Luchino Caffe Duel|fight in a cafe]]; she trembled so much that she cut Ron with it.<ref name="DH9">{{DH|B|9}}</ref>
 
|-
 
|-
|[[24 December]], 1997
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|[[25 December]], 1997
|She used the spell again to remove [[Salazar Slytherin's Locket|a locket]] from [[Harry Potter]]'s chest shortly after they were [[Attack at Godric's Hollow (1997)|attacked by the dark lord]].
+
|Used it to remove the [[Salazar Slytherin's Locket|Salazar Slytherin's locket]] from [[Harry Potter]]'s chest shortly after they were [[Attack at Godric's Hollow (1997)|attacked]] by [[Nagini]] in [[Bathilda Bagshot]]'s [[Bathilda Bagshot's home|home]] in [[Godric's Hollow]].<ref name="DH18">{{DH|B|18}}</ref>
 
|-
  +
|[[Peter Pettigrew]] {{Comment|possibly}}
  +
|[[24 June]], [[1995]]
  +
|Used it nonverbally to break [[Tom Riddle's Gravestone]].<ref name="DH24">{{DH|B|24}}</ref>
 
|-
  +
|[[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]] {{Comment|possibly}}
 
|[[March]], [[1998]]
  +
|Used it nonverbally to break [[White Tomb|Albus Dumbledore's tomb]].<ref name="DH24">{{DH|B|24}}</ref>
  +
|}
  +
  +
===Unsuccessful===
  +
{| class="wikitable" border="1" 500px; "
  +
|-
  +
! align="center" width="20%" |Caster(s)
  +
! align="center" width="20%" |Date
  +
! scope="col" |Notes
  +
|-
  +
| colspan="1" rowspan="3" |[[Harry Potter]]
 
|[[18 June]], [[1996]]
  +
|Used it to sever the tentacles of [[brain]], which attacked [[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]] after he [[Summoning Charm|summoned]] it in the [[Brain Room]] during the [[Battle of the Department of Mysteries|battle]] in [[Department of Mysteries]], but unsuccessful.<ref name="OOTP35">{{OOTP|B|35}}</ref>
  +
|-
  +
|[[2 September]], 1997
  +
|Used it to break [[Mary Cattermole]] free of a [[Accusation chair|chained chair]], but unsuccessful.<ref name="DH13">{{DH|B|13}}</ref>
  +
|-
 
|3 September, 1997
  +
|Used it to destroy the [[Salazar Slytherin's Locket|Salazar Slytherin's locket]] in [[Dartmoor]], but unsuccessful.<ref name="DHF1">{{DH|F1}}</ref>
 
[[File:Dissend.jpg|230px|thumb|left]]
 
|}
 
|}
   
 
==Known practitioners==
 
==Known practitioners==
  +
<gallery widths="105" orientation="portrait" spacing="small" position="center">
<gallery>
 
DelfinaCrimp.png|[[Delfina Crimp]]
+
Delfina Crimp.png|[[Delfina Crimp]]<ref name="WON" />
  +
Filius Flitwick profile.jpg|[[Filius Flitwick]]<ref name="HM412" /><ref name="LEGOHP">{{LEGO|Y2}}</ref>
PromoHP7 Harry Potter.jpg|[[Harry Potter]]
 
  +
Pomona Sprout with wand.jpg|[[Pomona Sprout]]<ref name="PSVG">{{PS|G}}</ref><ref name="COSVG">{{COS|G}}</ref>
Ron Weasley.jpg|[[Ron Weasley]]
 
  +
File:Jacob's sibling generic.png|[[Jacob's sibling]]<ref name="HM412" />
Hermionedhface.jpg|[[Hermione Granger]]
 
  +
Harry Potter.jpg|[[Harry Potter]]<ref name="GOF20">{{GOF|B|20}}</ref><ref name="OOTP35">{{OOTP|B|35}}</ref><ref name="HBP11">{{HBP|B|11}}</ref><ref name="DH19">{{DH|B|19}}</ref><ref name="DHF1">{{DH|F1}}</ref>
JacobSiblingGeneric.png|[[Jacob's sibling]]
 
  +
Hermione Granger.jpg|[[Hermione Granger]]<ref name="DH9">{{DH|B|9}}</ref><ref name="DH18">{{DH|B|18}}</ref>
  +
Ron Weasley.jpg|[[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]]<ref name="GOF23">{{GOF|B|23}}</ref>
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
   
 
==Etymology==
 
==Etymology==
 
The [[incantation]] is the [[Latin]] first person active indicative for "to split, cleave or open".
 
The [[incantation]] is the [[Latin]] first person active indicative for "to split, cleave or open".
  +
 
==See also==
 
*''[[Sectumsempra]]''
   
 
==Behind the scenes==
 
==Behind the scenes==
 
*In the {{TCG}}, ''Diffindo'' is incorrectly labelled as a [[Transfiguration]] spell.
 
*In the {{TCG}}, ''Diffindo'' is incorrectly labelled as a [[Transfiguration]] spell.
*In {{LEGO|Y2}} and {{LEGO|D}}, it allows the player to cut through red LEGO walls.
+
*In {{LEGO|Y2}} and {{LEGO|D}}, it allows the player to cut through red LEGO walls.
*A [[Diffindo spellbook|spellbook]] for this [[charm]] can be found in one of the [[Hogwarts greenhouses|Herbology greenhouses]]; this is also detailed in both ''[[Book of Spells]]'' and ''[[The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1]]''.
 
   
==See also==
 
''[[Sectumsempra]]''
 
   
 
==Appearances==
 
==Appearances==
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*{{WBS}}
 
*{{WBS}}
 
*{{HM}}
 
*{{HM}}
  +
*{{WU}}
   
 
==Notes and references==
 
==Notes and references==
 
{{Reflist}}
 
{{Reflist}}
 
 
{{The Standard Book of Spells}}
 
{{The Standard Book of Spells}}
  +
{{Charms}}
 
  +
[[de:Diffindo]]
 
[[es:Encantamiento seccionador]]
 
[[es:Encantamiento seccionador]]
 
[[fr:Sortilège de Découpe]]
 
[[fr:Sortilège de Découpe]]
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[[pl:Diffindo]]
 
[[pl:Diffindo]]
 
[[ru:Диффиндо]]
 
[[ru:Диффиндо]]
  +
[[uk:Діффіндо]]
  +
[[de2:Abtrennzauber]]
 
[[Category:Amputations]]
 
[[Category:Amputations]]
 
[[Category:Charms]]
 
[[Category:Charms]]
[[Category:Spells of known incantation]]
+
[[Category:Spells with a light]]
 
[[Category:Spells with Incantations of Latin Origin]]
 
[[Category:Spells with Incantations of Latin Origin]]

Revision as of 05:15, 5 June 2020

"With the Severing Charm, cutting or tearing objects is a simple matter of wand control. The spell can be quite precise in skilled hands, and the Severing Charm is widely used in a variety of wizarding trades. Useful as it is, this charm should be practised with caution, as a careless swipe of the wand can cause injury."
Miranda Goshawk[src]

The Severing Charm (Diffindo) is a charm used to precisely and accurately cut something.[1] It is taught in second year charms classes[4] and Fourth year classes,[5] and if used inappropriately can cause death or injury.[1]

A spellbook for this charm can be found in one of the Herbology greenhouses;[2] this is also detailed in both Book of Spells[1] and The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1.[6]

History

"The Severing Charm was created in the fifteenth century by wizarding seamstress Delfina Crimp who created it as an easy and convenient way of cutting cloth and thread."
Book of Spells

This spell was invented in the fifteenth century by seamstress and witch Delfina Crimp. She made the spell because prior to her discovery, cutting spells were apt to burn or shred things. However, a fellow seamster Snickerton, nearly killed her after he raided her shop, having realised that she could do magic, and held her tied up. Nonetheless, upon being released to scratch a wart on her chin, the wart was revealed to be her hidden wand. She brought her wand forth and she disapparated with a sack of gold.[1]

Known uses

Successful

Caster(s) Date Notes
Delfina Crimp 1400s The charm was invented in this time by Delfina Crimp and used by her to make and tailor clothing.[1]
Filius Flitwick & Jacob's sibling 1987–1988 school year Professor Filius Flitwick taught this spell to his Fourth year charms students.[5]
Harry Potter 23 November, 1994 Used it to cut Cedric Diggory's bookbag to delay him from class so that he could warn Cedric privately about the First Task of Triwizard Tournament.[7]
14 September, 1996 Used it to detach the front cover of his shop-bought potions textbook to replace it with a vandalised version using the Mending Charm.[8]
28 December, 1997 Used it to break the ice from the frozen pool in the Forest of Dean, where Severus Snape had hidden the Sword of Gryffindor.[9]
Diffindo
Ron Weasley 25 December, 1994 Used it to sever the lace sleeves of his dress robes before the Yule Ball.[10]
Hermione Granger 1 August, 1997 Used it to remove the bindings on Ron Weasley conjured by Antonin Dolohov after a fight in a cafe; she trembled so much that she cut Ron with it.[11]
25 December, 1997 Used it to remove the Salazar Slytherin's locket from Harry Potter's chest shortly after they were attacked by Nagini in Bathilda Bagshot's home in Godric's Hollow.[12]
Peter Pettigrew (possibly) 24 June, 1995 Used it nonverbally to break Tom Riddle's Gravestone.[13]
Lord Voldemort (possibly) March, 1998 Used it nonverbally to break Albus Dumbledore's tomb.[13]

Unsuccessful

Caster(s) Date Notes
Harry Potter 18 June, 1996 Used it to sever the tentacles of brain, which attacked Ron Weasley after he summoned it in the Brain Room during the battle in Department of Mysteries, but unsuccessful.[14]
2 September, 1997 Used it to break Mary Cattermole free of a chained chair, but unsuccessful.[15]
3 September, 1997 Used it to destroy the Salazar Slytherin's locket in Dartmoor, but unsuccessful.[16]
Dissend

Known practitioners

Etymology

The incantation is the Latin first person active indicative for "to split, cleave or open".

See also

Behind the scenes


Appearances

Notes and references

The Standard Book of Spells
Book of Spells 1
Grade 1 · Grade 2 · Grade 3 · Grade 4 · Grade 5 · Grade 6 · Grade 7
Charms included in the series: Dancing Feet Spell (Tarantallegra) · Disarming Charm (Expelliarmus) · Engorgement Charm (Engorgio) · Fire-Making Spell (Incendio) · Freezing Charm (Immobulus) · General Counter-Spell (Finite Incantatem) · Levitation Charm (Wingardium Leviosa) · Locking Spell (Colloportus) · Memory Charm (Obliviate) · Mending Charm (Reparo) · Nonverbal spell · Severing Charm (Diffindo) · Skurge Charm (Skurge) · Softening Charm (Spongify) · Substantive Charm · Summoning Charm (Accio) · Tickling Charm (Rictusempra) · Unlocking Charm (Alohomora) · Wand-Lighting Charm (Lumos)
Charms (class)
PS Wingardium Leviosa feather
Charm-book writers and developers
Blagdon Blay · Daisy Pennifold · Delfina Crimp · Miranda Goshawk · Jarleth Hobart · Basil Horton · Helixa Hyslop · Syna Hyslop · Randolph Keitch · Levina Monkstanley · Orabella Nuttley · Mnemone Radford · Scarpin · Elliot Smethwyck · Felix Summerbee · Violeta Stitch
Professors Fortinbras · Filius Flitwick · Abraham Ronen · Unidentified male professor · Unidentified medieval professor
Textbooks Achievements in Charming · Extreme Incantations · Quintessence: A Quest · The Standard Book of Spells
Charms studied at Hogwarts
Anti-Alohomora Charm · Ascension Charm (Ascendio) · Banishing Charm (Depulso) · Blackboard Writing Spell · Blue sparks · Bombardment Spell (Bombarda) · Box Blasting Charm (Cistem Aperio) · Bubble-Head Charm · Cheering Charm · Cleaning Charm · Colour Change Charm (Colovaria) · Confundus Charm (Confundo) · Counter-charm for hiccoughs · Dancing Feet Spell (Tarantallegra) · Descendo · Disarming Charm (Expelliarmus) · Disillusionment Charm · Drought Charm · Entrancing Enchantments (theoretically) · Eradication Spell (Deletrius) · Engorgement Charm (Engorgio) · Extinguishing Spell · Fire-Making Spell (Incendio) · Freezing Charm (Immobulus) · Freezing Spell (Glacius) · Full Body-Bind Curse (Petrificus Totalus) · General Counter-Spell (Finite Incantatem) · Gouging Spell (Defodio) · Growth Charm · Ice Jinx · Impervius Charm (Impervius) · Knitting Charm · Knockback Jinx (Flipendo) · Leg-Locker Curse (Locomotor Mortis) · Levitation Charm (Wingardium Leviosa) · Locking Spell (Colloportus) · Locomotion Charm (Locomotor) · Lumos Solem Spell (Lumos Solem) · Mending Charm (Reparo) · Memory Charm (Obliviate) · Muffliato Charm (Muffliato) · Nonverbal spells · Pack Charm (Pack) · Red Sparks (Vermillious) · Reductor Curse (Reducto) · Scouring Charm (Scourgify) · Seize and pull charm (Carpe Retractum) · Severing Charm (Diffindo) · Shrinking Charm (Reducio) · Silencing Charm (Silencio) · Slowing Charm (Arresto Momentum) · Skurge Charm (Skurge) · Softening Charm (Spongify) · Spell for growing legs · Substantive Charm · Summoning Charm (Accio) · Tickling Charm (Rictusempra) · Unlocking Charm (Alohomora) · Vinegar to wine spell · Wand-Extinguishing Charm (Nox) · Wand-Lighting Charm (Lumos) · Lumos Maxima · Water-Making Spell (Aguamenti)