- "Could I have your attention please? Right, now, today, we will be transforming animals into water goblets. Like so. One, two, three. Vera Verto."
- — Professor McGonagall to her second years[src]
Vera Verto[1] was the incantation of a spell used to transform an animal into a water goblet. Professor Minerva McGonagall taught this transformation to her second year students, in lesson seven, as noted on her blackboard.
Casting
This spell was moderately difficult to perform, and disastrous if done wrong.[2] Side effects included the goblet being furry or having a tail.[2] Wand movement and posture were both very important for this charm, as Professor McGonagall noted when teaching her class in September of 1992.[2]
To perform the spell, one must tap the targeted animal three times sharply with their wand, and then point their wand directly at the animal, incanting, "Vera Verto".[1][2]
Effects
Once performed, a jet of nearly indiscernible, crystal-clear mist, almost like a spray, would shoot from the caster's wand, engulfing the animal and quickly morph it into a goblet with a quiet whooshing noise.[2]
If performed incorrectly, a spasm of greenish light would shoot from the wand with a crackling, whining noise and the target will be transfigured improperly.[2] It may still be furry, or might possess a tail (or a combination of the two).[2]
Practitioners
- Minerva McGonagall
- Harry Potter
- Ronald Weasley (failed)
Etymology
"Vera Verto" is a Latin phrase meaning "truly exchange".[3] This fits rather well with its effects.
Behind the scenes
- Despite the subtitles saying that the incantation is "Vera Verto", there is a possibility that the subtitles are wrong and that the incantation is "Fera Verto". This makes particular sense when one considers "fera" means "wild" or "wild animal".[4]
- In the fifth game, during the O.W.L.s, one of the tests is to transform an animal into a water goblet; it is more than likely this was meant to be "Vera Verto".
- In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, the writing on Minerva McGonagall's blackboard was written backward.
- It is possible that this incantation is the general transfiguration spell, and its effect is largely dependent on the caster's intentions.
Appearances
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film) (First appearance)
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game)
- Harry Potter: The Creature Vault (mentioned only)
Notes and references
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 See this image
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film) (Chapter Fourteen - About the Chamber)
- ↑ Vera Verto on Google Translate
- ↑ Fera on Google Translate