Skurge Charm

Skurge Charm
Incantation	Skurge
Type	Charm
Hand movement
Light	Green or blue
Effect	Cleaned ectoplasm Frightened ghosts and other spirits

"There is a way of cleaning away ectoplasm without resorting to a can of Mrs Skower's Magical Mess Remover, and this is with an effective scouring charm such as Skurge."

— Miranda Goshawk, The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 2, Chapter 6 ⁠(Cleanliness Equals Wizardliness)

The Skurge Charm (Skurge) was a charm that could be used to clean up the sticky green ectoplasm created by passing ghosts. It could also be used to frighten spirits, such as the aforementioned ghosts, as well as poltergeists. It was not be confused with the more versatile Scouring Charm.

History

The Skurge Charm was invented sometime after 1492. Before its invention, wizards and witches had to use shovels to get rid of ectoplasm.

"Welcome to Charms class. Today we shall be learning the Skurge Charm."

— Professor Flitwick teaching second-year Charms in 1992

This was a rather basic spell, as it was taught by Professor Filius Flitwick to second-year Charms students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It was also included in The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 2 by Miranda Goshawk, as well as another spellbook that could be found in the Hogwarts Library.

Practitioners

Filius Flitwick

Harry Potter

Behind the scenes

• This is the counter-charm to the cut Ecto Spell.
• Miranda Goshawk claims in The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 2 that this is one of many Scouring Charms, perhaps indicating that there are many, each with a different purpose.
• This spell is not shown in the edition of The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 2 given on Pottermore.
• As this was referred to as a Scouring Charm before it ever made an appearance in the books, this may simply be an early form of it, and is therefore distinctly different.

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game) (First appearance) (PC, GBC and console versions)

Notes and references

The Standard Book of Spells
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)