Homework One (Year I)

After finishing your homework, please send it to me by personal message before the indicated deadline. I will review and grade it, and I will then post what you wrote in this thread. At the beginning of our next lesson, we will correct what you had to do and I will award House Points depending on how seriously you have done your homework.

Your homework is the following: write two or more paragraphs about the Wand Lighting Charm's use in defense against dark creatures, the different variations of this spell and their effects.

You have until May 7^th to send your homework. Since I know that not all of you have time to do this due to other responsibilities, there will be no sanction for those who haven't done their homework.

Please note that students who haven't attended Lesson One because they registered late are also supposed to complete this assignment.

Morgana Gaunt
Slytherin
First Year


The Wand Lighting Charm is both a useful illuminating spell and a defensive one. The spell's effect is to light up the tip of your wand and emit a glow that, based on magic control, you can make as bright as the spell can get, or simply emit a soft dim glow. The spell's standard incantation is 'Lumos', but has other shapes which I shall come back to later. It is highly useful in many situations, like if you were to walk in a dark corridor or street, and you could barely see anything. 

But from simple occasions like dark places to dark creatures. Gytrash is the magical creature that is most renown to shy away from the light of the spell 'Lumos'. Gytrashes are spectral creatures that lives in dark places and can be found in the Forbidden Forest at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It comes out during the night, but by the simple means of 'Lumos' the spectral dog will vanish into darkness again. The spell also repels malevolent spirits.

The spell was first used in 1772 by Levina Monkstanley inside the Ministry of Magic on her search of a lost quill. It has later evolved to having more than just one version. There are four known versions, one being the standard 'Lumos'. While the three others are 'Lumos Maxima', 'Lumos Solem' and 'Lumos Duo Charm'. Lumos Maxima is a further development of Lumos, where the spell casts a great deal stronger light that can light up an entire room for several minutes. The Lumos Duo Charm is also a further development where the light that emits from the wand must have a target to work. And when it does, the light that emits will scare off, not only Gytrashes and spirits, but also Ghouls and it will also solidify Hinkypunks. It can also be used to charge and light up crystal balls. 

The spell that is the most different from the standard one, is Lumos Solem. The spells are related, but in another way and for another purpose. The spell emits a sharp light that runs through the room you're in, and it is speculated that the spell is on the warmer solar end of the spectrum. As the Latin words suggest, it is supposed to emit the light of the sun. It can be used on Devil's Snare as the plant hates sunlight and rots in it.

Lastly, madam Miranda Goshawk has said that "The Wand Lighting Charm is simple, but requires concentration. Take care not to accidentally set your wand alight as damage of this kind can be permanent. If in any doubt about your abilities you would do better to buy yourself a magic lantern" This says something about the fact that even though it is a simple spell, it can also cause a lot of damage and should not be used unwisely.