Snake-Vanishing Spell

Snake-Vanishing Spell
Incantation	Vipera Evanesca (vee-PARE-uh eh-vuh-NES-kuh)
Type	Vanishment
Hand movement	Wave wand
Light	Black smoke
Effect	Vanishes snakes

"Snape stepped forward, waved his wand, and the snake vanished in a small puff of black smoke."

— Description

The Snake-Vanishing Spell (Vipera Evanesca) is a transfiguration spell that vanishes snakes. As such, it can be used as a counter-spell for the Snake Summons Spell, the Fire to snake spell, or any other spell that produces snakes.

History of use

During the 1988–1989 school year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, this spell was taught to fifth year Defence Against the Dark Arts students by then then Professor Patricia Rakepick, in order to teach them something both valuable and useful, considering how little they had learnt in previous years.

Snape casting this spell

Severus Snape cast this spell in 1992 at the Duelling Club to dispose of a snake that Draco Malfoy had conjured while duelling Harry Potter.

Albus Dumbledore used this spell during the Duel in the Ministry Atrium with Tom Riddle, destroying the serpent that the Dark Wizard had transfigured from his Fire rope.

Harry Potter also used it while searching for horcruxes in 1997, vanishing a snake in his path.

During the Ousting of Severus Snape, Professor McGonagall used this spell nonverbally, vanishing the snake that Snape had transfigured from her fiery offensive spell.

Known practitioners

Albus Dumbledore

Harry Potter

Severus Snape

Minerva McGonagall

Patricia Rakepick

Jacob's sibling

Etymology

Vipera is a genus of venomous vipers, a type of snake. Evanesca likely shares its origin with Evanesco, which means "disappear" in Latin -- Evanesca would be the imperative form of the verb, making this incantation a command for the serpent to disappear, meaning "Viper, dissapear."

Behind the scenes

• This spell appears to be related to the Vanishing Spell, given the similar effects and etymology.
• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets the cobra burned away, leaving some ash, rather than disappearing in a cloud of black smoke, as it is portrayed in the novel.
• In the novel, Snape cast this spell non-verbally, while in the film adaption, he used the incantation aloud.
• It is unknown if used against Nagini, who was a Horcrux, she would vanish. However, given the near-indestructibility of Horcruxes, as well Nagini's proven resistance to Blasting Curses, the spell probably would have failed if used against her. It is also possible this spell only works on conjured snakes, as opposed to natural ones.

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (First appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film) (First identified as Snake-Vanishing Spell)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (video game)
• Harry Potter Trading Card Game
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
• Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery