Switching Spell

Switching Spell
Type	Transfiguration
Hand movement
Light	White
Effect	Switches two objects

"Well, there are Switching Spells... but what's the point of Switching it? Unless you swapped its fangs for wine-gums or something that would make it less dangerous..."

— Hermione Granger considers using Switching Spells against a dragon

The Switching Spell (incantation unknown) was a transfiguration spell used to switch the positions of two objects. By definition, it was a simultaneous transfiguration of two objects to make them look like each other. The spell was studied in transfiguration class by fifth-years and fourth-years respectively during the 1988–1989 and 1994–1995 school years. Hermione Granger, however, gained points for knowing about Switching Spells in her first year.

History

"Longbottom, kindly do not reveal that you can’t even perform a simple Switching Spell in front of anyone from Durmstrang!"

— Minerva McGonagall to Neville Longbottom

During the 1988–1989 school year, fifth-year students, including Jacob's sibling, were taught the Switching Spell in Transfiguration class, with individual lessons on piggy banks with guinea pigs, top hats with rabbits, pillows with armadillos and tortoises with hares.

Neville Longbottom proved unable to perform a Switching Spell by October 1994, a fact that was criticised by Minerva McGonagall, who called the spell "simple".

In preparation for the first task of the Triwizard Tournament, Hermione Granger idly suggested to Harry Potter that he might use this spell on a dragon to turn its fangs to wine-gums, but rejected the idea as impractical because as a rule it was nearly impossible to cast a spell through a dragon's hide.

In 1996, Harry Potter forgot the definition of a Switching Spell when doing his written Transfiguration Ordinary Wizarding Level exam.

Known practitioners

Jacob's sibling

Minerva McGonagall

Hermione Granger

Neville Longbottom (Failed; put ears onto cactus)

Known possible switches with this spell

Switching a piggy bank and a guinea pig

The wand movement for switching a piggy bank and guinea pig

Switching a top hat and rabbit

The wand movement for witching a top hat and rabbit

Switching a pillow and an armadillo

The wand movement for switching a pillow and armadillo

Switching a tortoise and a hare

The wand movement for switching a tortoise and hare

Behind the scenes

• There may be specific spells used for switching specific things.
• This might have been the spell Tina and Queenie Goldstein used to change their clothes before entering The Blind Pig to talk to Gnarlak, by switching their work clothes switch places with a pair of nicer attire that hung in the closet back in their apartment.
• If so, the Death Eaters would presumably also use the same spell to change into their black, hooded robes and masks on a short notice when summoned to their Master's side, as they arrived at the Graveyard almost instantly after they felt Voldemort calling them at his rebirth, and it is highly unlikely all of them stood next to their bedroom wardrobes when they felt the Dark Mark burn.

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (First mentioned)
• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game) (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (First appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Mentioned only)
• 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 (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
• Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells
• Harry Potter: Magic Awakened (Mentioned only)

Notes and references

[[de2:Tauschverwandlung[[