The Sticking Charm ^(u)
Incantation: Astrictus (‘a-strik-toose’)Wand Movement: The infinity symbol starting and ending in the center, encircling the two objects. (IE: ∞ )Focus: The two parts that should be stuck together.Willpower: High; determines how long the objects will remain stuck and how hard they are to separateConcentration: None

Not to be confused with the Permanent-Sticking Charm, this charm's effects are long-lasting but by no means permanent. Often taught to first-year students as an excercise in willpower, the Sticking Charm's strength and longevity depend upon the amount of will the caster puts into the spell.

The caster's wand should begin and end pointed toward the target. As the incantation is spoken, the wand is moved in a loop upward to the left, down and back to center, then upward to the right, down and back to the center. The caster must focus upon the two parts that they wish to stick together or the spell may fail. 

At its simplest, the Sticking Charm holds two objects, that are already touching when the spell is cast, together. It doesn't work on living animals, though you could certainly stick a flower to a book cover, for instance. The spell can also be used to hold two halves of a box together or a lock to the door it is attached to, though again the willpower employed by the caster determines how difficult this is to overcome.

Spell failure for the Sticking Charm may result in the two objects not sticking, the wrong objects sticking together, or a backfire which usually results in the caster being stuck to the floor (their shoes and the floor sticking together) or other odd instances (such as the caster's hair being stuck together). It's better to seek help from a skilled witch or wizard in these cases.

The first time the Sticking Charm was employed, according to historical record, it was used aboard roman battle vessels around approximately 100 B.C. Witches and wizards would use this spell to keep objects from falling off ships during storms and to help fasten loose doors closed. It was also used to stick fiery debris to enemy ships or prevent cannons from firing.

Of course the Sticking Charm eventually began losing popularity to more permanent solutions and spells, particularly after the Unlocking Charm proved an effective counterspell to the Sticking Charm. This is another reason why the Sticking Charm is good for first-year practice; not only is it a good practice of a witch or wizard's willpower, but it provides a means for practicing the Unlocking Charm on more than just physical locks.