My Notes For All Core Subjects, Year One
written by Lindsay Clearwater
Updated version of the book "My Notes, From A Ravenclaw (Year 1)" by Anne Pickering. Here you can find my notes for all nine lessons from the seven main subjects; Astronomy, Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Herbology, History of Magic, Potions, and Transfiguration. Remember that although there are notes here, I might have missed something and it is still extremely important to pay attention and take notes in your lessons. This is just to help struggling first-year students who think they may have missed vital information in the lesson. I will try to update one chapter/lesson every day. Day started: July 11 2020
Last Updated
05/31/21
Chapters
13
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2,786
CHRM-101 Lesson Two: Spellcasting Basics
Chapter 10
THE SOURCE OF YOUR MAGIC:
- no one knows for sure where the magical ability comes from
- wizards typically pass it on to their children
--> exception: "Squib" --> someone born from a magical family with no magical ability
~> Squibs can still detect magical activity or use magical devices
- also possible that the children of Muggles several generations apart can have the magical ability: "Muggle-borns"
- blood status --> antiquated and somewhat prejudicial system, still referenced today
--> Pure-bloods: witches / wizards with no Muggles in their bloodline. Blood is purely magical.
--> Half-bloods: witches / wizards with one magical parent and one non-magical / Muggle-born parent
*No blood type is superior than the other!*
- magic happens the same way as breathing; we do it without thinking
- magical power --> in your veins, flowing through your body with your blood
SPELLCASTING COMPONENTS:
- spellcasting components: breakdown of what is needed to perform a spell
--> incantation and pronunciation, wand movement, willpower, concentration
- INCANTATION: "magic words". Must be spoken with proper pronunciation
--> worst: disaster could strike
--> Prof. Flitwick: "Never forget Wizard Baruffio, who said 's' instead of 'f' and found himself on the floor with a buffalo on his chest."
--> proper pronunciation -- essential for successful spellcasting
--> possible to cast a spell wordlessly -- non-verbal magic
- WAND MOVEMENT: shapes in the air that you make to help shape a spell
--> wand movement + incantation help gain the desired effect
--> possible to cast a spell wandlessly (ex. Albus Dumbledore)
- WILLPOWER: magical strength & focus needed to perform a spell
--> mental push that projects your magic and gives the spell the power it needs to work.
--> one of the most difficult components to master, strong willpower is the key to practicing advanced magic
- CONCENTRATION: centering your mind on your magic & desired effect in order to make a spell work
--> includes target of your magic, what you want your magic to do
- concentration + willpower are vital, they are not crucial
- physical strength does not always equal magical power
--> make sure you exercise your mind and your body
FLIGHT CHARMS:
Hover Charm - allows you to move object up and down by physically touching it in some way
Incantation: Levioso (lev-ee-O-so)
Wand Movement: Inward spiral then upward flick
Willpower: Moderate; depends on how heavy an object can be lifted
Concentration: None
Rocket Charm - allows you to propel and object straight up in the air and back down again without touching your target. The height is controllable depending on the effort you put and heavier objects will move less.
Incantation: Alarte Ascendare (A-lar-tay a-SEN-day-ray)
Wand Movement: Quick swish
Willpower: High; determines how high the object will ascend before falling
Concentration: None
Floating Charm - can target a distant object. Involves control vertical movement. Objects can only be levitated a handful of ft, and can only move up and down. Shopkeepers use it to do spring cleaning; levitating the object to clean the dust.
Incantation: Fluito (floo-EE-toe)
Wand Movement: Jab then upward flick
Willpower: High to very high depending on weight & distance of object
Concentration: Moderate; should be maintained on target object
Levitation Charm - (invented by Jarleth Hobart) charm is easy, allows the caster to control vertical movement, back and forth movement & side to side movement, allows you to lift objects you normally wouldn't be able to lift yourself, though it requires some effort.
Incantation: Wingardium Leviosa (win-GAR-dee-um levi-O-sa)
Wand Movement: Swish and flick
Willpower: Low, visualize your energy coming from your body and lifting the object
Concentration: Moderate; on the thing you want to levitate
- no one knows for sure where the magical ability comes from
- wizards typically pass it on to their children
--> exception: "Squib" --> someone born from a magical family with no magical ability
~> Squibs can still detect magical activity or use magical devices
- also possible that the children of Muggles several generations apart can have the magical ability: "Muggle-borns"
- blood status --> antiquated and somewhat prejudicial system, still referenced today
--> Pure-bloods: witches / wizards with no Muggles in their bloodline. Blood is purely magical.
--> Half-bloods: witches / wizards with one magical parent and one non-magical / Muggle-born parent
*No blood type is superior than the other!*
- magic happens the same way as breathing; we do it without thinking
- magical power --> in your veins, flowing through your body with your blood
SPELLCASTING COMPONENTS:
- spellcasting components: breakdown of what is needed to perform a spell
--> incantation and pronunciation, wand movement, willpower, concentration
- INCANTATION: "magic words". Must be spoken with proper pronunciation
--> worst: disaster could strike
--> Prof. Flitwick: "Never forget Wizard Baruffio, who said 's' instead of 'f' and found himself on the floor with a buffalo on his chest."
--> proper pronunciation -- essential for successful spellcasting
--> possible to cast a spell wordlessly -- non-verbal magic
- WAND MOVEMENT: shapes in the air that you make to help shape a spell
--> wand movement + incantation help gain the desired effect
--> possible to cast a spell wandlessly (ex. Albus Dumbledore)
- WILLPOWER: magical strength & focus needed to perform a spell
--> mental push that projects your magic and gives the spell the power it needs to work.
--> one of the most difficult components to master, strong willpower is the key to practicing advanced magic
- CONCENTRATION: centering your mind on your magic & desired effect in order to make a spell work
--> includes target of your magic, what you want your magic to do
- concentration + willpower are vital, they are not crucial
- physical strength does not always equal magical power
--> make sure you exercise your mind and your body
FLIGHT CHARMS:
Hover Charm - allows you to move object up and down by physically touching it in some way
Incantation: Levioso (lev-ee-O-so)
Wand Movement: Inward spiral then upward flick
Willpower: Moderate; depends on how heavy an object can be lifted
Concentration: None
Rocket Charm - allows you to propel and object straight up in the air and back down again without touching your target. The height is controllable depending on the effort you put and heavier objects will move less.
Incantation: Alarte Ascendare (A-lar-tay a-SEN-day-ray)
Wand Movement: Quick swish
Willpower: High; determines how high the object will ascend before falling
Concentration: None
Floating Charm - can target a distant object. Involves control vertical movement. Objects can only be levitated a handful of ft, and can only move up and down. Shopkeepers use it to do spring cleaning; levitating the object to clean the dust.
Incantation: Fluito (floo-EE-toe)
Wand Movement: Jab then upward flick
Willpower: High to very high depending on weight & distance of object
Concentration: Moderate; should be maintained on target object
Levitation Charm - (invented by Jarleth Hobart) charm is easy, allows the caster to control vertical movement, back and forth movement & side to side movement, allows you to lift objects you normally wouldn't be able to lift yourself, though it requires some effort.
Incantation: Wingardium Leviosa (win-GAR-dee-um levi-O-sa)
Wand Movement: Swish and flick
Willpower: Low, visualize your energy coming from your body and lifting the object
Concentration: Moderate; on the thing you want to levitate
