Softening Charm

Softening Charm
Incantation	Spongify (SPUN-ji-fye)
Type	Charm
Hand movement
Light	Purple or Orange
Effect	Softens objects

"The Softening Charm — most useful for making things rubbery and bouncy, especially certain hard surfaces."

— Description

The Softening Charm (Spongify) was a charm that softened objects, making them rubbery and bouncy.

History

Hermione Granger pressing a book softened with this charm

The Softening Charm was part of the first-year Charms syllabus at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It was also taught in second-year Transfiguration, where it was described as making "any object squishy and springy" by Professor Minerva McGonagall. It was covered in The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1 by Miranda Goshawk, as well as having a specific spellbook for the charm. The charm could be used to enchant Spongify Carpets, which could then be used to propel an individual high into the air when jumped on.

In the 1980s, Jacob's sibling believed that the spell worked by partially transfiguring the target into a sponge, though they were unsure if they were properly comprehending the textbook.

Known practitioners

Harry Potter

Hermione Granger

Ron Weasley

Gilderoy Lockhart

Filius Flitwick

Minerva McGonagall

Jacob's sibling

Etymology

"Spongify" means to to "turn into a sponge", which makes sense, as objects affected by this spell become sponge-like in consistency.

Behind the scenes

• In the Harry Potter video games in which it features, to use this spell, a Spongify tile is needed, as seen on the right. Performing the spell on the mat will cause a purple mist to cover the mat, which, when jumped on, will bounce the player high into the air and onto higher ledges or other otherwise inaccessible areas. The effects of the spell would fade after a time -accompanied by the mist rotating and then disappearing- requiring the charm to be cast again if needed.
  • The direction of the jump was largely predetermined, sending the player on a fixed trajectory, with some room to move depending on player input (Chamber of Secrets PC version only).
• In Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Professor McGonagall describes students using this spell on "floor tiles" to "create makeshift trampolines." This is likely a reference to the spongify tiles in previous Harry Potter video games.
• This spell was possibly the spell used by Newton Scamander to turn a glass shop window into a sticky jelly.

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game) (First identified as Softening Charm) (Console versions)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game) (First appearance) (PC version)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game) (PC version)
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay (Possible appearance)
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (film) (Possible appearance)
• Harry Potter Trading Card Game
• Pottermore
• Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery

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)