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At least some content in this article is derived from information featured in Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery. Spoilers will be present within the article. |
- "The raven continued to open and close its sharp beak, but no sound came out."
- — Description[src]
The Silencing Charm (Silencio) was a charm that rendered the victim temporarily mute.[1] Working on both beasts and beings, it was immensely difficult to perform, more so on ravens than frogs.[1] If performed incorrectly, the target would swell up to an immense size and begin making deafening sounds.[1]
History
The song of the Fwooper would drive the listener insane, so it must have been sold with a Silencing Charm placed on it. This charm must have been recast on the Fwooper every month by any wizard or witch who owned one of these birds.[3]
During the 1988–1989 school year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Professor Filius Flitwick taught his fifth-years how to cast this charm in Charms class, in preparation for their Ordinary Wizarding Levels that year.[4]
In October 1995, Professor Flitwick had his fifth year Charms students practise this charm, and assigned it as homework to those who could not perform it competently in class.[1]
Known uses
Successful
Caster(s) | Dates | Notes |
---|---|---|
Draco Malfoy | 31 October, 1981 (alternate timeline) | Used it on Delphini at St Jerome's Church in Godric's Hollow.[5] |
Minerva McGonagall | 18 December, 1992 | Used it to silence and control the commotion in the corridor when Justin Finch-Fletchley was found petrified.[6] |
Fifth years | 1995 | Fifth-years worked on this spell in Charms using bullfrogs and ravens.[1] |
Hermione Granger | 8 October, 1995 | Used it to on her toad in Charms class.[1] |
Used it to on Harry Potter's toad in, when he inflated toad like a balloon.[1] | ||
Used it to on Ron Weasley's raven in Charms class.[1] | ||
18 June, 1996 | Used it on Antonin Dolohov during the Battle of the Department of Mysteries.[7] | |
Tom Riddle | 2 May, 1998 | He used this spell to silence the defenders of Hogwarts during the final battle.[8] |
Lyall Lupin | Unknown | He used the spell to silence his Werewolf Son, Remus Lupin, during his monthly transformations in order to protect his son for any unwanted attentions from their neighbours or the ministry when Remus was a child.[9] |
Unsuccessful
Caster(s) | Dates | Notes |
---|---|---|
Harry Potter | 8 October, 1995 | Used it on his toad, but unsuccessful, because the toad swelled like a balloon and emitted a high-pitched whistle.[1] |
Ron Weasley | Used it on his raven, but unsuccessful, because the raven let out a derisive caw.[1] | |
Used it on Hermione Granger's toad, but unsuccessful, because he poked the toad in the eye with his wand.[1] |
Known practitioners
See also
Etymology
The incantation "silencio" is Latin and Spanish for "silence".[11]
Behind the scenes
- Although not identified, in July 1993, when Harry lost his temper with Marjorie Dursley he may have unintentionally cast a silencing charm both non-verbally and wandlessly, either or both of these factors caused the already difficult spell to fail, instead causing her to swell until she resembled a balloon and float to the ceiling.[12]
Appearances
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Possible appearance)
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (First appearance)
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game) (Mentioned only) (PSP version only)
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (video game) (Nintendo DS version only)
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
- Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
- Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (play)
- Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (Mentioned only)
- Pottermore (Mentioned only)
- Wizarding World (Mentioned only)
- Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
Notes and references
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 18 (Dumbledore's Army)
- ↑ The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
- ↑ Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 5, Chapter 6 (The Ghosts of Hogwarts) - Charms Lesson "Silencio"
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Act Four, Scene Eleven
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 11 (The Duelling Club)
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 35 (Beyond the Veil)
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 36 (The Flaw in the Plan)
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Writing by J. K. Rowling: "Remus Lupin" at Wizarding World
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 11 (The Duelling Club)
- ↑ See this translation
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 2 (Aunt Marge's Big Mistake)