Magic in Harry Potter
Magic was a supernatural force that could affect the natural laws of the world. Humans who inherited the ability to wield magic were called witches and wizards. However, still magic was bound to the laws of nature and there were even laws and nature of magic that magic was strictly bound to. Although magic was a supernatural force, it didn’t compare with a god-like or almighty figure.
Classification of Magic
Although magic wasn’t strictly classified, there were distinctive properties among magic. Some magic would change the properties or characteristics of the object that the magic was cast(transfiguration) while others would simply add another property(charm).
There were overlapping properties and there wasn’t a distinctive definition to tell magic apart but usually magic was classified into transfiguration, charms, jinxes, hexes, curses, and counter spells. This isn’t a definitive definition and magic spells could have overlapping properties.
Spell
Any type of magic that was controlled was called a spell. Witches and wizards would use a wand to control the spell and use a certain incantation to ‘cast’ a spell. A magic spell didn’t necessarily require a wand where in certain countries, it was normal to cast a spell without wands.
However, a wand definitely helped precisely control magic spells. Thus, skilled wizards and witches could cast spells without a wand.
| Magic Spell | Properties |
| Transfiguration | Transfiguration changes the property or characteristics of the object. This includes the form or appearance as well. For instance, changing a rat into a steel cup could simply be perceived as changing a form but this accompanies changing the biological properties of a living creature into a metal non-living object. |
| Charm | Also, called an enchantment, charms generally enhances the quality of one's characteristics or add another property to the object. For example, fixing glasses is a charm that doesn't change the properties as glasses but it changes the status to a fixed state. Floating a feather also doesn't necessarily change the characteristics of a feather but adds a floating property |
| Jinx | A jinx is a dark magic relatively short and cause some inconvenience to the object. This would need eye-contact to be persistent. |
| hex | A stronger dark magic than a jinx, it is more persistent and permanent than a jinx and causes a stronger effect than a jinx. |
| Curse | The strongest type of dark magic that causes damage to the victim in a more permanent manner. The three unforgivable curses are classified as curses. |
| Counter-spell | Counter spells are magic that would inhibit the properties of other magic spells. For transfiguration, it would inhibit the changing of properties while for charms, it could possibly lower the effect of the charm. Professor Snape had to perform a counter-jinx when Quirinius Quirrell jinxed the broom of Harry Potter during Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone episode. |
Magic could have overlapping properties for instance, giving pain to someone’s hand could be both a jinx and a charm at once. A Concealment revealing spell could be a counter-spell and a transfiguration spell at once. There isn’t a definitive definition or distinctive distinction between magic spells.
The Unforgivable Curses
The Unforgivable three curses were the most dreadful curses known among the wizardry world. Abuse of the Unforgivable Curses led to a direct sentence to Azkaban. The three Unforgivable Curses were the Imperius Curse (Imperio), Cruciatus Curse(Crucio), and the Killin Curse(Avada Kedavra).
The Unforgivable Curses were powerful but most of all, the caster of the Unforgivable Curses in common must had the sheer will and desire to cast the spell with an inhumane purpose for proper magic casting. Simply a wizard and witch cannot cast the Unforgivable curses with a lack of desire and intentions.
Imperius Curse – Mind control curse
The Imperius Curse casted by the incantation “Imperio” would control the target by the caster’s will. Thus, the Imperius curse was a mind control curse. Interestingly, the Imperius Curse could be resisted by the target’s will although such cases of people with strong-will were very rare.
The victim of the Imperius Curse, however, would actually feel a very positive feeling which gives the victim the will to voluntarily obey the caster. A victim under the Imperius curse would do any tasks by the caster without question.
The Imperius Curse could also temporarily increase the abilities of the victim to perform the command of the caster. Once the Imperius Curse was disabled, the victim would turn back normal on ordinary occasions.
However, for victims that were under the Imperius Curse by a strong wizard and witch or performing tasks that harmed them while they were cursed, the victims would suffer a great aftermath once the Imperius Curse was disabled.
The Imperius Curse could damage the mind and while the victim wouldn’t feel much physical damage while being cursed, the victims would completely take the aftermath and consequences once the Imperius Curse was disabled for any actions they’ve taken while they were cursed.
Cruciatus Curse – Torture curse
The Cruciatus Curse that was casted by the incantation “Crucio” would give pain to the victim and torture it. The victim under a Cruciatus curse would experience physical pain that was beyond human perception.
The pain caused by the Cruciatus curse left mental and physical aftermath thus, the end of a Cruciatus curse would only mean that there wouldn’t be more pain from the curse itself but the victim would have to suffer the scars, the mental pain and the physical pain by the Cruciatus curse.
As much as horrible the physical pain was, the Cruciatus Curse was especially capable of torturing the victim to an extent where the victim would become insane.
The Cruciatus Curse was able to damage the human mind to an extent that immense torture by the Cruciatus Curse could even break and disable memory charms that were cast onto one that could disable the effects of the enchanted memory charm.
Unlike the Imperius Curse, the victim of the Crucciatus Curse had to suffer and the curse could only be evaded by interception between the caster and the target such as hiding between an object or disabling the caster before the caster could chant the incantation “Crucio”.
The Killing Curse – Avada Kedavara – Instant Murder
The Killing Curse casted by the incantation “Avada Kedavra” would instantly kill the living creature that the curse encounters. The Killing Curse Avada Kedavra would show a blindingly bright green flash that will kill the victim without pain.
The exact mechanism of the Killing Curse is unknown, as the curse also infamously known as Avada Kedavra would kill the victim without pain and any wounds as well or any death symptoms such as heart attacks etc. Whoever was hit by the curse would face instant death.
The cause of death supposed by the Killing Curse Avada Kedavra is the soul being directly ripped off from the victim’s body.
The Killing Curse itself was the strongest curse among the three Unforgivable Curses and while the other curses also required the sheer intention and vicious mindset and foul will to cast the curse, the Killing Curse required immense magical power as well.
The Killing Curse also could only be blocked or dodged and there wasn’t any known methods that could counter the curse. However, Harry Potter himself was living evidence of the only method to survive the Killing Curse. An ancient magic that has existed for centuries but still not understood that was called ‘Love’.
Neville Longbottom and the Cruciatus Curse
Later on it is revealed but Neville Longbottom seems he couldn’t bare witness Alastor Moody’s demonstration of the Cruciatus Curse at class. Alastor Moody calls up Nevill Longbottom for a specific reason for the Cruciatus Curse.
