Review Board

[phoebe_phoenix]

Here is a review board of all things we have discussed in our lessons.

Don't panic if you see unfamiliar stuff - it might have come up in one of the last terms!

Basically, it's just for you to have an overview, you needn't learn it by heart

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Inflamare


Inflamare is a weak Fire-Conjuring Charm. Its name already gives a hint of what it does: the English word 'flame' is hidden in it. Done properly, Inflamare produces a small bluish flame – that is why it is also known under the name of 'Bluebell-Flame-Charm'. In combination with another Latin word, for instance 'Pergamenta' (lat. parchment, paper), it will directly set the object (here the parchment) on fire.

The proper wand movement is supposed to trace a theta in the air. Theta, a letter of the Greek alphabet, stands for temperature changes, and is therefore fitting.



The pronunciation of the incantation is thus: Inflamare. Fire-Conjuring Charms have many purposes: lighting fire, you can defend yourself against dangerous plants, such as the Devil's Snare or Venomous Tentaculas; you can start fires for Potions work, against cold or for cooking

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Incendio


Incendio is a Flame- or Fire-Conjuring Spell, like Inflamare, but much more powerful. The wand movement is supposed to trace the outlines of a flame and the correct incantation is Incendio.



This spell, because of its power, is to be used carefully and with caution. Accidents issue easily when one is not watchful. The incantation indicates its strength, 'cendres' in French for instance, means ashes – this spell will basically burn anything.

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Lumos


Lumos is a weak Light-Conjuring Charm. In French, you have 'allumer' for switching a light on, or lighting a match. When cast correctly, Lumos produces a small light at the end of one's wand. The more powerful the witch or wizard, the more powerful the light – normally, with age, Lumos is a basic spell of wandless magic, meaning that you needn't even hold your wand when casting it. The wand movement for Lumos is tracing the outlines of a moon crescent in the air; the proper pronunciation is Lumos.



The countercharm for Lumos is Nox. This spell does not require any wand movement. Lumos is usually needed in dark, gloomy areas, to lighten your path and such. Also, against certain dangers, like the Devil's Snare who detests both light and warmth, it can help defend and escape.

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Lumos Solem


Lumos Solem is one of the brightest Light-Conjuring Charms. Basically, it is a stronger version of Lumos. The second part of the incantation, 'Solem', means sun – the light is as bright as sunlight. The wand movement resembles a sun also.



The proper incantation is Lumos Solem.

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Norandolas


Each develops differently (different size, leaves, flowers, stems, different everything, basically), depending on which person planted the seed. It is therefore necessary that the bean be touched by as little people as possible.

The bean must get a feel for the witch or wizard planting it. That is done by touching the Norandola bean with the wand shortly – it's not a spell. The Norandola plant reflects whoever touched it most, whoever was most in its company. And as the wand chooses the witch or wizard, the wand gives the bean a direct impression of the person handling it.

Norandolas change their appearance in the moonlight. All female Norandolas look the same at full moon and all male Norandolas look like each other as well. Their gender depends on the person who planted them. Both plants are very bushy. The female plant has little silver crescents on it; the male one has bubbles that are filled with minuscule stars.

The male stars are attracted by the crescents on the female plants; the bubbles will burst open and the stars will drift towards the female plant. As soon as enough stars are gathered around the crescents, a new Norandola bean will be produced from it.

When cutting back Norandola roots, one must never cut too much off as it would slow their development down; after all, they change their appearance (even if only in tiny amounts) every day, just as the person who planted them changes a little everyday.

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Fireseed Plants


Fireseed plants like the damp and dark, although they are constantly burning. They are often found in caves where little light penetrates. Fireseeds take an immensely long time to grow and can reach up to 250 years, although the Fireseeds sprout (under correct conditions, so warm soil and hot water, little light) only a few days after being planted.

Fireseed plants produce Fireseeds, from which they will grow. Fireseeds are very peculiar seeds, containing a lot of energy. The powder inside the shell of the seed for instance can intensify potions or fires, as well as certain charms, spells, hexes and jinxes if applied correctly to one's wand.

The Fireseeds grow on branches of Fireseed plants that look like old, spiky, little tree without leaves. The tree seems to glow from the inside; there where the stem issues from the earth, low flames indicate the burning. Fireseeds, since they are on the plant, are very hot, but shake off easily. When their colour has changed from red to dark brown, they are cool enough to pick up from the ground.


Planting Fireseeds

Storing Fireseeds, one must make sure they do not cool down too much. In this particularly sensitive stage of planting, Fireseeds need a lot of warmth; later on they will produce it themselves.

1. Charm pot to heat itself. Therefore trace a circle inside the pot with wand and use the incantation ‘Chaudensis’.
2. Fill half of pot up with soil and let it rest for several minutes to warm up.
3. Carefully (!!!) take a single Fireseed with dragon hide gloves and place on top of the earth.
4. Cover Fireseed with soil, so that pot is filled. Pat the soil down a little (not too much, don’t make it too dense).
5. Water Fireseed with boiling water, without drowning it.

To ensure darkness, a small piece of special dark cloth is placed over the soil for the first few days. When the plant starts to grow, its warmth and the hot water will dissolve the cloth.

After a few weeks, the Fireseed plants are big and robust enough to be planted into an appropriate cave or other. This is only to be entrusted to specialists, as the Fireseeds might issue fire and cause damage.

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Bubblesnap Plants


Bubblesnap plants look like little cactuses – they can very in shape, size and whole appearance greatly, depending on where they grow, what the climate is like and so on. The main difference, which makes them easy to distinguish from normal cactuses, is the fact that their spikes have different colours: pink, yellow, violet, green, mustard, blue, brown, black and so on. These spikes have to be picked off the plants every once in a while to ensure their growth.

The spikes contain a liquid, which is a component of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans (the exact recipe is kept secret). Therefore each liquid has its own peculiar taste, just like Bertie Bott's Beans. The spikes are not poisonous and, when picking them off, the liquid can be drunk from them.

The plucking is not difficult, but to ensure the plant's health, one must make sure that the spike is out completely and not just broken off. Thumb, index and middle finger grasp the spike at the bottom, where it issues from the plant and can pluck it off gently without much pressure.

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Mandrakes (Mandragora)


Mandrakes look like an ordinary plant if only regarding the leaves that sprout out of the earth. But most of the plant is hidden in the earth—surprising to all that are working with them for the first time, the roots resemble a small (if muddy and ugly) human being. When Mandrakes are pulled out of their shelter, they immediately start bawling at the top of their lungs. This cry is fatal to humans. Young Mandrakes will only knock a person out for several hours, but as they grow in age, the cries can kill. When Mandrakes start becoming secretive and try to move into the others' pots from their own free will, it indicates that they are quickly leaving childhood, which is usually sealed by raucous parties. After fitting socks and gloves on the Mandrakes at this age, they are soon ready to be used for Potions. Mandrakes are used in the Mandrake Restorative Draught, which will awake a petrified person or animal. To make sure Mandrakes grow quickly and healthily, normal watering and fertiliser—such as Mooncalf dung—help.

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Dremuni Plants


Dremuni Plants look like miniature white trees with apparently candy floss for leaves; they have webs like spider-webs wrapped around thin, silvery branches and emit an unnatural, creepy gleam. These webs contain a toxic powder that can penetrate skin easily and paralyse—even to death. The powder is used in Dark potions and rituals, but also in medical remedies, for instance sleeping potions and paralysing potions; it has medical uses.

There are several ways to collect the powder; the most effective though is to use a simple Summoning Charm Accio and direct the dust into small vials. Using the simple house-holding charm Scourgify after working with Dremuni Plants is of advantage to clear away any hidden poison that might still be clinging to clothes or hair.

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