TNFG-501 Lessons

Now You See Me

Welcome
When the Fifth Years entered the Transfiguration classroom, they found it empty; not just of their professor, but of every piece of furniture it previously held. A couple of students double checked the door to make sure they didn’t miss another note, but there was nothing to be found.  A few others hesitantly ventured further into the room until a sharp yelp was heard as someone stubbed their toe on an invisible desk. At that point, Professor Mitchell appeared out of nowhere at the front of the room, wearing a rather apologetic but mischievous grin, and all of the desks and chairs popped back into view.

Introduction
Are you alright there, Mr. Chesterton? Apologies for the fright, but this is one of my favorite lessons of the year, and I just can’t help myself in the area of dramatics. Ironic that this should be my favorite lesson, however, as none of the new spells we will be discussing today are actually transfigurations! Regardless, we’ve got a lot to talk about in the ways of invisibility and disillusion, so let’s not delay!

Invisibility
Invisibility is a concept I’m sure all of you are at least somewhat familiar with at this point in your magical education. However, few of you probably know how it works or the particulars of how it differs from vanishment. At its most basic, something that is invisible cannot be seen but still exists. This seems pretty straight forward, but many forget that last little condition. This is what primarily differentiates invisibility and vanishment: the product of vanishment is considered to no longer exist. If you vanish an object, it can no longer be seen, yes, but it also makes no noise, cannot be felt, and is unable to influence its surroundings, as it no longer has a physical presence or even an essence. Conversely, something that is invisible still takes up space, can be felt and held, and has the ability to produce sound. 

As you can probably guess, the other big difference between invisibility and vanishment is how they work on a magical and molecular level. We will be discussing two different invisibility spells later in this lesson, neither of which are actually transfigurations. You see, while vanishing spells alter the target’s basic makeup by scattering its molecules, invisibility spells only work on or just above the surface of the target. This is done in one of two ways, which happen to correlate with each of our spells today. The first is by camouflage, similar to that which many animals employ, wherein the pigment within the object is moved around just enough to alter the color of the surface to match that of its surroundings. The other way an object can be made invisible is by creating a magical glamour around the target that actually affects a viewer of the object rather than the object itself. The magic plays with the viewer’s perception so that their mind just glances over the invisible object without seeing it, even if they’re looking straight at it. These two forms of invisibility are called direct invisibility, when the magic is actually a part of the invisible object, and indirect invisibility, when the magic merely surrounds the invisible object.

Invisibility Products
There are many items available in the wizarding world that utilize invisibility magic without the user actually having to cast an invisibility spell. Many of these objects are used by those in law enforcement or those wishing to protect themselves during dangerous times, as they are an excellent form of concealment and secrecy. In fact, there is a team within the Ministry of Magic purely dedicated to creating protective clothing, including various invisibility garments.

The first, and arguably most important, invisibility garment is the renowned invisibility cloak. These are made in one of two ways: by using Demiguise hair (which we will learn more about in a few weeks) or by enchanting a mundane cloak after it has been soaked in a special potion. Both of these methods have their pros and cons, of course. Demiguise invisibility cloaks are often more expensive but more effective. However, they will fade over time, becoming opaque and nonfunctional. On the other hand, the charms in enchanted invisibility cloaks can be broken, and their effectiveness is largely dependent upon the skill of the crafter. They are enchanted with both the Disillusionment Charm and the Bedazzling Hex to ensure the user the best possible cover. Another accessory that is presumed to be charmed in a similar fashion is the Headless Hat sold at Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes. These little prank items are rather clever indeed, as the enchantment affects the entirety of the wearer’s head, rather than just the part the hat covers.

Continuing in the field of secrecy, we have invisible ink. This has been used for centuries as a way of hiding and passing information, especially in times of turmoil. Because of this, there are many different varieties. You have your standard manufactured brands that you can pick up at Scrivenshaft’s Quill Shop in Hogsmeade or Scribbulus in Diagon Alley, you have your self-charmed versions, and there are even a multitude of mundane kinds that you can purchase or make with materials found around your home.  Many of these, aside from the mundane versions1, can be revealed with either the Revealing Spell, Aparecium, or a revealer (a handy magical device that looks much like a Muggle eraser). However, depending on the way the ink is made or enchanted, more complicated spells may be required. The way magical invisible inks work is that the pigment in the ink is muted and made translucent when it is charmed or enchanted. Then, when used, it soaks into the parchment as any normal ink does until the magic in whatever revealer you use either reverts the pigments to their original state or causes the molecules in the ink to glow, depending on the method of revealing. 

While not necessarily relevant to our studies today, I thought I’d give a little shout out to one of my personal favorite books: the Invisible Book of Invisibility. This curious volume was written by Fred Imperceptus, a charmer who dedicated his life to the study of all things invisible, and released in 1756. It outlines some of the most advanced theories of invisibility magic of the time, many of which came from Imperceptus himself based on his rather secretive research. The catch is that no one aside from Imperceptus has actually managed to read it. He enchanted the book with original spells and never released their counters, believing that only the truly talented should ever be able to read his work. It is believed that he did pass the information on how to reveal the book and its contents on to his son when on his deathbed, as the family continues to print copies to this day, but nothing has ever been announced to the public. I myself have a copy that I experiment with in my free time, but I’ve unfortunately managed no more than to momentarily reveal a vague outline of what appears to be a rather large tome. 

Disillusionment Charm
The Disillusionment Charm is probably the most widely used spell for making oneself invisible. While it is rather difficult to cast, it is remarkably effective, working by direct invisibility. This means your willpower will need to overcome that of your target’s in order to successfully cast the spell. When done well, the effects can last up to 12 hours, though I expect most of your first attempts to last anywhere from five to ten minutes. Those of you who have already been to Charms this week and have already practiced this spell some, I expect you to get closer to 15 or 20 minutes.

One really nice thing about the Disillusionment Charm is that because of the way it was originally designed, it is applied to both the target and their clothes with minimal extra concentration on the part of the caster. It even applies to objects they are holding (even if those objects are dropped post-cast). However one issue that may occur if not enough concentration is applied is that the person can occasionally be seen when they’re moving, as the magic must adapt to the changing background. If the spell is cast in a sloppy manner, there may be a slight delay in this adaption. Additionally, while it is next to impossible to permanently make someone invisible with this spell, if too much willpower is applied, the spell may last slightly longer than you intend, so do be careful there. 

Bedazzling Hex
The Bedazzling Hex is the slightly easier cousin of the Disillusionment Charm. It works by indirect invisibility, so there is no will to overcome, you only need to hit your target and you’re done. That said, the effects often last no more than three hours, making it less applicable for longer unseen ventures. It can also be relatively easily broken when compared to the Disillusionment Charm, as magic affecting the mind often is. If a viewer of the bedazzled target is well-practiced and knows what they are looking for, they are more likely to see through the spell.  Applying a little extra willpower goes a long way in strengthening the spell in this aspect, but cannot make it foolproof.

One of the more peculiar things about this spell is its designation as a hex. Making something invisible doesn’t seem to be all too malicious in and of itself, but there is another application that could do a fair bit of damage. If cast specifically at a target’s face, it is possible to use the Bedazzling Hex to temporarily blind someone. This is done by sort of reversing the magical glamour right in front of the target’s eyes so that they cannot see anything. As you can imagine, this could be rather helpful in a duelling or other defensive situation.

Historical Context
Today’s trip down history lane takes us to the birth of the invisibility cloak. It all started with a certain story many of you have probably heard of: the Tale of the Three Brothers. The first recorded Cloak of Invisibility was made by Death and gifted to Ignotus Peverell in the 13th century tale from Beedle the Bard. It wasn’t until a few hundred years later that wizard-kind began attempting to recreate the third of the fabled Deathly Hallows. Maximilian Berwyk was the man who kicked off the movement when he revealed his “Secrecy Shawl” at a fair in London. He promised the wearer perfect concealment for up to a year. Unfortunately, however, the reflection spell he used on the fabric failed to hold for longer than an hour of wear. 

It would be another two hundred years before anything near a perfect invisibility cloak was created, but in that time, the research and innovation of countless witches and wizards lead to a boom in the field of invisibility. This included the invention of numerous potions, spells, and enchantments, including both the Disillusionment Charm and the Bedazzling Hex. There were even a few accidental advancements in vanishment, such as the creation of Spot’s Stain-Eliminating Elixir, a handy little product we will be discussing next week! It wasn’t until 1623, however, that Bibenheimer’s Wizarding Wardrobe patented the recipe, so to speak, for the invisibility cloaks that are sold most often today. 

The first Demiguise cloak of invisibility was created a few years later in 1636 by a magizoologist by the name of Cuthbert Lysle. Cuthbert specialized in the study of the Demiguise and had even earned the trust of two who lived on his property. The idea to create a cloak from their hair - which they often shed in the springtime - came to him when one of his Demiguises hid a hairbrush under his coat. It was that small interaction that led him to discover that the Demiguise’s hair is what gives the creature its ability to disappear at will. A little experimentation in finding the right weave was all it took for Mr. Lysle to create a product that strongly rivaled the effectiveness of Bibenheimer’s already remarkably popular invisibility cloak.

Conclusion
And with that I am afraid we are out of time! I hope you all enjoyed today’s journey into the world of the unseen! Please try not to misplace any of your schoolwork while practicing your spells this week, as it will not be an adequate excuse for missing homework. If any one of your items do happen to disappear, a simple Summoning Charm should do the trick. Until next week!

¹ Mundane invisible inks can be revealed in a number of ways depending upon their composition. Some of the most common methods are via heat, blacklight, or application of an acidic liquid. The reason we are unable to reveal them via magical means is because of the way magical revealers work. They are specifically designed to latch onto the magic of the invisible ink upon which they are cast and to react with that magic. In contrast, Muggles’ invisible inks are merely naturally translucent substances that change color when a chemical or thermal reaction occurs. They contain nothing indicating to a spell that they are a secret to be revealed.

Invisibility image credit
Invisibility cloak image credit
Invisible ink image credit