#charms101

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Charms101 Lesson 6 notes

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My Charms Midterms Essay (Option 1)

For my Midterm essay I have chosen option 1:

Over the course of the last 5 weeks we have looked at the various components and requirements for spell casting. We have gone over the theory required for spell casting as well looked into the history of magical history.

For my essay I have chosen the following 3 spells:

Lumos

Wingarduim Leviosa

Lumos Numerosa

 I have chosen to open with the wand lighting charm “Lumos”.

“Lumos could well come from the 19th-century Latin word 'lumen', which simply means 'light'. Adding the Latin suffix 'os' means to 'have something: to have light, in this instance”

Extract from “The etymology of Harry Potter spells, Wizarding World”:

(https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/the-etymology-of-harry-potter-spells#:~:text=Lumos%20could%20well%20come%20from%20the%2019th-century%20Latin%20word%20%E2%80%98lumen%E2%80%99%2C%20which%20simply%20means%20%E2%80%98light%E2%80%99.%20Adding%20the%20Latin%20suffix%20%E2%80%98os%E2%80%99%20means%20to%20%E2%80%98have%20something%E2%80%99%3A%20to%20have%20light%2C%20in%20this%20instance)

I have chosen to open with the wand-lighting charm as it is one of the most rudimentary spells in a witch or wizard’s spell book.  This spell was first discovered in the 18th century and has been accredited to Levina Monstanley used the spell to find it.  In present day this most basic of spells is used in the Ministry of Magic to cast votes. It might be the easiest spell in a witch / wizard’s arsenal but it can protect you too by repelling a Gytrash and other malevolent spirits.

Incantation: The incantation for this charm is Lumos (pronounced: Loo-mos)

Wand movement: A single counter clockwise loop

Willpower: Low

Concentration: Low

When the wand-lighting charm is used the tip of your wand will light up. You do not need to maintain concentration to keep the light there – it will stay lit until put out.  The amount of force focused on the spell depends on the strength of the light – flickering to a burning scarlet.  One should aim for a light-yellow glow.

 Next, I’d like to discuss the levitation, also referred to as flight, charm Wingardium Leviosa.

“Wingardium Leviosa is compounded of the English word 'wing', 'arduus' which means proudly elevated, and 'levo' - latin for rise up.”

Extract from “Grazia”:

https://graziadaily.co.uk/life/tv-and-film/heres-harry-potter-spells-actually-mean/#:~:text=Wingardium%20Leviosa%20is%20compounded%20of%20the%20English%20word%20%27wing%27%2C%20%27arduus%27%20which%20means%20proudly%20elevated%2C%20and%20%27levo%27%20-%20latin%20for%20rise%20up.

Although there have been many spells invented to attempt to make objects “fly”, Jarleth Hobart managed to create the one spell that allows for movement up, down, left, right, forwards and backwards.

Incantation: WIngardium Leviosa (pronounced win-GAR-dee-um levi-O-sa)

Wand movement: swish and flick

Willpower: low – try to visualise yourself using yourself lifting the object

Concentration: This is usually moderate, but it depends on the size and weight of the object you are trying to levitate.

When casting this spell, you begin the incantation with the swish motion and should begin your flick just after you begin to say leviosa.

The last spell I would like to discuss, although not straying far from the first spell, is one of my favourites.

Lumos Numerosa or The Dancing Lights Charm.

This spell is a little more advanced than your basic wand lighting charm in that it requires high levels of concentration. This charm is a modification of the original Lumos charm and  allows you to conjure several smaller floating orbs each supplying 1 candle worth of light.

What I like about this spell is that it requires you to concentrate on each orb of light to maintain them.  This is a good spell to practice your concentration skills as you need to stay focused and mentally direct the movement of the orbs and keep them lit.

Incantation: Lumos Numerosa (LOO-mos NOOM-air-O-sa)

Wand movement: A single counter clockwise loop and then several rapid counter clockwise loops

Willpower: None

Concentration: High as you need to stay focused to maintain the light, amount and movement of the orbs.

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Charms101 Lesson 5 journal entry

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Charms101 Lesson 4 journal notes

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Charms101 Lesson 3 Journal Entry

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Charms101

Journal entries Lesson 2

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The best day ever

Dear diary,

Today was the best day of my life. I’ve been waiting for it for so long; since receiving my Hogwarts letter and the visit from Hogwart’s Headmaster.  It was finally time to go and get my school supplies! Being from a muggle-born family this was a new experience for us all.  We were given a tea kettle that the headmaster called a “portkey”. It looked normal and completely mundane.  We were told that today at 12pm exactly the kettle would begin to glow and we should be ready to touch it. We were all packed and ready to go and when we touched that kettle it was the most awkward and horrid feeling.

When we spinning, being sucked into a void. I tried to scream but I could hardly breathe. I was so scared, diary, I thought we were going to die.  Then is was all over and we were lying in the middle of a quiet street.  I had no idea where we were.  A whispy old man trotted over “the portkey from South Africa?” he asked.  “Yes” wheezed my mom.  More people bustled over to help us up.  “You’ll be staying at the Leaky Cauldron.” An old, ragged man said. “My name is Tom and I am your Inn Keeper. Your goods will be taken to your room for you.  This is Quentus, he will be your guide through Diagon Alley and he will help you with your shopping.  Dinner will be ready when you return.”

Quentus took us through the Inn and out the back. We were in a tiny Courtyard. Quentus took out a stick and tapped a few bricks.  Diary the wall began to fold outwards and an entire hidden street opened up.

I could go on and on but I want to tell you about the best part - getting my wand. Yes, you read right - A WAND.  This is all so amazing.  The tiny shop was called “Ollicanders”. It was dark and dusty inside.  A young man approached and introduced himself as Geoffy Applebottom. He asked me a few questions about myself - Where am I from, what is my wand hand, my favourite colour and other silly questions”. He measured me in all sorts of places - my arms, my legs the space between my eyes and eventually he brought out a beautiful dark box. He opened it to reveal a wooden stick. He told me to pick it up and wave it. It did nothing.

Diary, I must have tried a dozen different wands before I found this one. The moment I touched it I felt a warm feeling moving up my arm. Golden sparks shot from the end of it. I felt it become a part of me. My parents were gobsmacked. It was the most beautiful feeling. Mr Applebottom explained the details of my wand and what it means - like the type of magic it would be more susceptible to and that I would have to train it.  He said that once my wand has been trained it will be loyal to me and won’t work as well for another witch or wizard.

I can’t wait to start practicing.  I can’t wait to go to Hogwarts.

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Wand Length: 10 3/4″ Wand Flexibility: Supple Wand Wood: Ebony Wand Core: Phoenix Feather