While reviewing spell candidates this month, there was only one spell that stood out among the rest and it was one of the few spells we've seen used on the Hogwarts Express. Draco Malfoy uses this spell on September 1, 1996 on an eavesdropping Harry Potter to immobilize him with the hope of sending Potter back to London.
If you have guessed that we will be discussing the Full Body-Bind Curse then you are correct! The Full Body-Bind Curse is a very useful spell in dueling, on your enemies when you need to escape, and on your friends when they attempt to stop you from breaking anymore school rules. The incantation for this spell is Petrificus Totalus, and it's pronounced "pe-TRI-fi-cus to-TAH-lus". When used on another person, their arms and legs snap together and they are no longer able to move anything but their eyes while under its effects.
It is a very handy spell for several reasons, and since it is our spell of the month let's review how it has been used in the Harry Potter series.
The first time we see this spell in action is in 1992, and it's used by Hermione Granger on Neville Longbottom. As the Golden Trio were attempting to sneak out at night to find the Philosopher's Stone and protect it from Professor Snape, whom they thought was trying to steal the stone, Neville stood between them and challenged them to a fight before he would let them pass. Hermione uses the spell, and the Trio steps over Neville's immobilized body.
This would not be the last time Neville is the victim of this spell. Indeed, during the Battle of Hogwarts we see Lord Voldemort himself use this spell on Neville while the Sorting Hat on Neville's head burned. But Neville isn't always the victim of a spell, we see him use this spell himself on a Death Eater in his fifth year during the Battle of the Department of Mysteries.
As stated before, Draco Malfoy was another user of this spell but he wasn't the only one to benefit from its use. Other users of the Full Body-Bind Curse were Harry Potter, Parvati Patil, Newt Scamander, Sirius Black and we even see the spell performed both on and by Jacob's sibling in the new mobile game Hogwarts Mystery.
Doesn't it sound exciting and useful? Imagine, if you could strengthen the effects of this spell. You could, theoretically, paralyze an entire squadron of Death Eaters at the same time. It would be worth looking into wouldn't you agree? As it stands now, this spell is done on a single victim and eventually wears off if there's no one around to do the counter-curse.
I chose this spell because of its many uses throughout the series, and for the simplicity of casting it. This spell is usually taught in third year Charms courses, but as we know Hermione Granger could perform this spell in her first year. So, we can hazard a guess that it's a decent spell for young duellers because there wouldn't be any lasting effects nor much damage to the opponent.
I hope you found this piece informative, and will give you a fresh look on the many uses of simple spells.
Nox,
Eimear