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| + | {{HogwartsMysterySpoiler}} |
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| − | {{CrimesofGrindelwaldSpoiler}} |
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{{Spell_infobox |
{{Spell_infobox |
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|name=Unbreakable Vow |
|name=Unbreakable Vow |
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|image=[[File:Unbreakable Vow.jpg|250px]] |
|image=[[File:Unbreakable Vow.jpg|250px]] |
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|incantation= |
|incantation= |
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| − | |type=[[ |
+ | |type=[[Binding magical contract]] |
| − | |hand=Place wand between hands |
+ | |hand=Place wand between hands<ref name="HBP2">{{HBP|B|2}}</ref> |
| − | |light=Red |
+ | |light=Red<ref name="HBP2">{{HBP|B|2}}</ref> |
| − | |effect=[[Magic]]al vow that is<br/> [[Death|fatal]] if broken |
+ | |effect=[[Magic]]al vow that is<br/> [[Death|fatal]] if broken<ref name="HBP16">{{HBP|B|16}}</ref> |
}} |
}} |
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{{Quote|The Unbreakable Vow is a spell where a witch or wizard makes an oath to another. If the terms of the oath are broken, the person who breaks it will die.|Descripton|Pottermore}} |
{{Quote|The Unbreakable Vow is a spell where a witch or wizard makes an oath to another. If the terms of the oath are broken, the person who breaks it will die.|Descripton|Pottermore}} |
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| + | An '''Unbreakable Vow''' was a type of [[binding magical contract]] cast between two parties,<ref name="HBP2">{{HBP|B|2}}</ref> that if broken by either party, will result in the imminent [[death]] of whoever broke the contract.<ref name="HBP16">{{HBP|B|16}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | |||
| + | ==Casting== |
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| − | {{Quote|A thin tongue of brilliant flame issued from the wand and wound its way around their hands like a red-hot wire.|The light of the spell after the first clause|Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince}} |
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| ⚫ | {{Quote|A thin tongue of brilliant flame issued from the wand and wound its way around their hands like a red-hot wire.|The light of the spell after the first clause|Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince}}The two parties must be kneeling or standing opposite each other and clasping each others right hands. A third party must hold their [[wand]], standing quite close to the pair holding hands, and place the tip of their [[wand]] onto the linked hands, acting as the witness. Then, the first will ask a certain number of vows of the other, whereupon each time the second accepts a term, a thin stream of [[fire]] will be emitted from the witness's wand, weaving around the hands of the pair taking the vows. Upon the vow being completed, should the one who accepted the terms break any of them, they die.<ref name="HBP2">{{HBP|B|2}}</ref> |
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| − | The spell itself appears to be fairly advanced, as it appears that it is not very used often (and not just for obvious reasons) and only in strict matters of confidence. |
+ | The [[spell]] itself appears to be fairly advanced, as it appears that it is not very used often (and not just for obvious reasons) or lightly and only in strict matters of confidence, therefore should not be invoked between the underaged.<ref name="HBP2">{{HBP|B|2}}</ref><ref name="HBP15">{{HBP|B|15}}</ref> However, since Fred and George were noted to be capable of doing it with Ron at such young ages of about 7, 7, and 5, respectively, it can be argued that the spell isn’t that advanced. |
| − | {{-|left}} |
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==Known uses== |
==Known uses== |
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===Pre-1901=== |
===Pre-1901=== |
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| − | Sometime prior to [[1901]], [[Yusuf Kama]] made an Unbreakable Vow with his [[Mustafa Kama|father]] where he promised to track down and kill the [[Corvus Lestrange (V)|son]] of [[Corvus Lestrange (IV)|Corvus Lestrange]] in retaliation for taking [[Laurena Kama|Yusuf's mother]] away from them. This vow, however, turned out to be null and void, as the child he thought was his intended victim turned out to be someone else entirely, and the person whom he had sworn to kill was already long dead. |
+ | Sometime prior to [[1901]], [[Yusuf Kama]] made an Unbreakable Vow with his [[Mustafa Kama|father]] where he promised to track down and kill the [[Corvus Lestrange (V)|son]] of [[Corvus Lestrange (IV)|Corvus Lestrange]] in retaliation for taking [[Laurena Kama|Yusuf's mother]] away from them. This vow, however, turned out to be null and void, as the child he thought was his intended victim turned out to be someone else entirely, and the person whom he had sworn to kill was already long dead.<ref name="COGS">{{COG|S}}</ref> |
===1980s=== |
===1980s=== |
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| − | {{Quote|Fred and George tried to get me to make one when I was about five. I nearly did too, I was holding hands with Fred and everything when Dad found us.|Ron Weasley's brother's attempt to make a vow|Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince}} |
+ | {{Quote|Fred and George tried to get me to make one when I was about five. I nearly did too, I was holding hands with Fred and everything when Dad found us.|Ron Weasley's brother's attempt to make a vow|Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince}}In either [[1985]] or [[1986]], [[Fred and George Weasley]] attempted to convince their then five-year-old brother [[Ronald Weasley|Ron]] to make an Unbreakable Vow with them. They were in fact poised to do so, with their wands out, holding hands and ready to cast the spell when their [[Arthur Weasley|father]] discovered them. It was described as the only time he was as angry as [[Molly Weasley|his wife]], and it is said that he did something to Fred's left buttock leaving it never the same again; luckily however, their brother Ron was left unhurt, although he remembered the incident at least eleven years later.<ref name="HBP16">{{HBP|B|16}}</ref> |
| − | In either [[1985]] or [[1986]], [[Fred and George Weasley]] attempted to convince their then five-year-old brother [[Ronald Weasley|Ron]] to make an Unbreakable Vow with them. They were in fact poised to do so, with their wands out, holding hands and ready to cast the spell when their [[Arthur Weasley|father]] discovered them. It was described as the only time he was as angry as [[Molly Weasley|his wife]], and it is said that he did something which left Fred's left buttock never the same again; however, luckily their brother Ron was left unhurt, although he remembered the incident at least eleven years later. |
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===1996=== |
===1996=== |
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{{Dialogue a-b-a-b-a-b|Narcissa Malfoy|Will you, Severus, watch over my son, Draco, as he attempts to fulfil the Dark Lord's wishes?|Severus Snape|I will.|And will you, to the best of your ability, protect him from harm?|I will.|And should it prove necessary... if it seems Draco will fail... will you carry out the deed that the Dark Lord has ordered Draco to perform?|I will.|Severus and Narcissa's vow|Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince}}[[File:Unbreakable_vow.gif|frame|Bellatrix sealing the Unbreakable Vow between Narcissa and Snape]] |
{{Dialogue a-b-a-b-a-b|Narcissa Malfoy|Will you, Severus, watch over my son, Draco, as he attempts to fulfil the Dark Lord's wishes?|Severus Snape|I will.|And will you, to the best of your ability, protect him from harm?|I will.|And should it prove necessary... if it seems Draco will fail... will you carry out the deed that the Dark Lord has ordered Draco to perform?|I will.|Severus and Narcissa's vow|Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince}}[[File:Unbreakable_vow.gif|frame|Bellatrix sealing the Unbreakable Vow between Narcissa and Snape]] |
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| − | In the summer of [[1996]], [[Severus Snape]] made an Unbreakable Vow with [[Narcissa Malfoy]], the wife of [[Lucius Malfoy]]. Their |
+ | In the summer of [[1996]], [[Severus Snape]] made an Unbreakable Vow with [[Narcissa Malfoy]], the wife of [[Lucius Malfoy]]. Their bonding agent was [[Bellatrix Lestrange]], Narcissa's sister and a [[Death Eaters|Death Eater]]. He promised to protect [[Draco Malfoy]] from harm and guide him whilst he attempted to perform the task the [[Tom Riddle|Dark Lord]] had asked him to do: to [[Plot to assassinate Albus Dumbledore|kill]] [[Albus Dumbledore]].<ref name="HBP2">{{HBP|B|2}}</ref><ref name="HBP15">{{HBP|B|15}}</ref> |
| − | Snape was actually a |
+ | Snape was actually a double agent working for Dumbledore, who requested Snape to kill him anyway to spare him of a [[Curse on Marvolo Gaunt's ring|painful and humiliating]] [[death]]. When Draco could not bring it in his heart to kill Dumbledore despite having the opportunity with the latter cornered and wandless, Snape fulfilled the vow with Narcissa to kill Dumbledore himself, simultaneously fulfilling his promise to Dumbledore of a mercy kill, sparing Draco of having to do so under duress.<ref name="DH33">{{DH|B|33}}</ref> |
==See also== |
==See also== |
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| ⚫ | |||
*[[Binding magical contract]] |
*[[Binding magical contract]] |
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| ⚫ | |||
==Behind the scenes== |
==Behind the scenes== |
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| − | *It is unknown if this spell has an incantation; although the |
+ | *It is unknown if this spell has an incantation; although the bonding agent has to hold their wand to the participants' hands, it would seem at first as though the vows themselves may have been the incantation. However, it is also possible it was merely cast non-verbally. |
*In the [[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)|sixth film]], the three rings of fire appear all at once, rather than appearing individually whenever a term is accepted. Whether or not more rings would appear if there were more terms to the vow remains unknown. They also leave a mark on the skin once they disappear. |
*In the [[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)|sixth film]], the three rings of fire appear all at once, rather than appearing individually whenever a term is accepted. Whether or not more rings would appear if there were more terms to the vow remains unknown. They also leave a mark on the skin once they disappear. |
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*Several fans of the series have proposed to their significant others by cutting out pages of the book down to the chapter titled "The Unbreakable Vow", hiding an engagement ring inside the cutout, and giving it to them. |
*Several fans of the series have proposed to their significant others by cutting out pages of the book down to the chapter titled "The Unbreakable Vow", hiding an engagement ring inside the cutout, and giving it to them. |
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==Appearances== |
==Appearances== |
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| − | *{{HBP}} |
+ | *{{HBP}} {{1st}} |
*{{HBP|F}} |
*{{HBP|F}} |
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*{{HBP|G}} |
*{{HBP|G}} |
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| − | *{{ |
+ | *{{COG|S}} |
| ⚫ | |||
*{{COG}} |
*{{COG}} |
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| ⚫ | |||
| + | *{{LEGO|Y2}} |
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| + | *{{HM}} {{Mention}} |
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==Notes and references== |
==Notes and references== |
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| − | {{Reflist}} |
+ | {{Reflist}}[[de:Unbrechbarer Schwur]] |
| − | [[de:Unbrechbarer Schwur]] |
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[[fr:Serment Inviolable]] |
[[fr:Serment Inviolable]] |
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[[fi:Rikkumaton vala]] |
[[fi:Rikkumaton vala]] |
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Revision as of 08:28, 18 September 2020
|
Warning!
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 Unbreakable Vow is a spell where a witch or wizard makes an oath to another. If the terms of the oath are broken, the person who breaks it will die."
- — Descripton[src]
An Unbreakable Vow was a type of binding magical contract cast between two parties,[1] that if broken by either party, will result in the imminent death of whoever broke the contract.[2]
Casting
- "A thin tongue of brilliant flame issued from the wand and wound its way around their hands like a red-hot wire."
- — The light of the spell after the first clause[src]
The two parties must be kneeling or standing opposite each other and clasping each others right hands. A third party must hold their wand, standing quite close to the pair holding hands, and place the tip of their wand onto the linked hands, acting as the witness. Then, the first will ask a certain number of vows of the other, whereupon each time the second accepts a term, a thin stream of fire will be emitted from the witness's wand, weaving around the hands of the pair taking the vows. Upon the vow being completed, should the one who accepted the terms break any of them, they die.[1]
The spell itself appears to be fairly advanced, as it appears that it is not very used often (and not just for obvious reasons) or lightly and only in strict matters of confidence, therefore should not be invoked between the underaged.[1][3] However, since Fred and George were noted to be capable of doing it with Ron at such young ages of about 7, 7, and 5, respectively, it can be argued that the spell isn’t that advanced.
Known uses
Pre-1901
Sometime prior to 1901, Yusuf Kama made an Unbreakable Vow with his father where he promised to track down and kill the son of Corvus Lestrange in retaliation for taking Yusuf's mother away from them. This vow, however, turned out to be null and void, as the child he thought was his intended victim turned out to be someone else entirely, and the person whom he had sworn to kill was already long dead.[4]
1980s
- "Fred and George tried to get me to make one when I was about five. I nearly did too, I was holding hands with Fred and everything when Dad found us."
- — Ron Weasley's brother's attempt to make a vow[src]
In either 1985 or 1986, Fred and George Weasley attempted to convince their then five-year-old brother Ron to make an Unbreakable Vow with them. They were in fact poised to do so, with their wands out, holding hands and ready to cast the spell when their father discovered them. It was described as the only time he was as angry as his wife, and it is said that he did something to Fred's left buttock leaving it never the same again; luckily however, their brother Ron was left unhurt, although he remembered the incident at least eleven years later.[2]
1996
- Narcissa Malfoy: "Will you, Severus, watch over my son, Draco, as he attempts to fulfil the Dark Lord's wishes?"
- Severus Snape: "I will."
- Narcissa Malfoy: "And will you, to the best of your ability, protect him from harm?"
- Severus Snape: "I will."
- Narcissa Malfoy: "And should it prove necessary... if it seems Draco will fail... will you carry out the deed that the Dark Lord has ordered Draco to perform?"
- Severus Snape: "I will."
- — Severus and Narcissa's vow[src]
Bellatrix sealing the Unbreakable Vow between Narcissa and Snape
In the summer of 1996, Severus Snape made an Unbreakable Vow with Narcissa Malfoy, the wife of Lucius Malfoy. Their bonding agent was Bellatrix Lestrange, Narcissa's sister and a Death Eater. He promised to protect Draco Malfoy from harm and guide him whilst he attempted to perform the task the Dark Lord had asked him to do: to kill Albus Dumbledore.[1][3]
Snape was actually a double agent working for Dumbledore, who requested Snape to kill him anyway to spare him of a painful and humiliating death. When Draco could not bring it in his heart to kill Dumbledore despite having the opportunity with the latter cornered and wandless, Snape fulfilled the vow with Narcissa to kill Dumbledore himself, simultaneously fulfilling his promise to Dumbledore of a mercy kill, sparing Draco of having to do so under duress.[5]
See also
Behind the scenes
- It is unknown if this spell has an incantation; although the bonding agent has to hold their wand to the participants' hands, it would seem at first as though the vows themselves may have been the incantation. However, it is also possible it was merely cast non-verbally.
- In the sixth film, the three rings of fire appear all at once, rather than appearing individually whenever a term is accepted. Whether or not more rings would appear if there were more terms to the vow remains unknown. They also leave a mark on the skin once they disappear.
- Several fans of the series have proposed to their significant others by cutting out pages of the book down to the chapter titled "The Unbreakable Vow", hiding an engagement ring inside the cutout, and giving it to them.
- J. K. Rowling jokingly made a "unbreakable vow" with Twitter user @maruaders that she would retweet one of his posts for her one thousandth tweet. She ended up upholding this vow.[6]
Appearances
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (First appearance)
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (video game)
- Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald - The Original Screenplay
- Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
- Pottermore
- LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7
- Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery (Mentioned only)
Notes and references
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 2 (Spinner's End)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 16 (A Very Frosty Christmas)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 15 (The Unbreakable Vow)
- ↑ Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald - The Original Screenplay
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 33 (The Prince's Tale)
- ↑ An unbreakable vow cannot be... well, the clue's in the name. My 1000th tweet must therefore go to @maruaders. by J.K. Rowling on Twitter