Year 1: Lesson 3 Homework

Guest

Name: Alyssa McLennen
House: Slytherin
Year: First

1. What is the spell's incantation (Incendio) etymology?

In Latin, the word for fire is "Incendium." "Incendio" is the singular form of "Incendium," and can be translated to "by fire" or "with fire" in the ablative sense; therefore, the charm "Incendio" quite literally means "to destroy with fire." This is also apparent in the Spanish etymology of the word. In Spanish, "Incendio" is not only the word for fire, but also the first person singular form of the verb "Incendiar," which means "to set fire to." Therefore, when using "Incendio," one is literally saying "I set fire to," because "Incendio" indicates first person.

2. Name other spells which have similar effects to the Fire-Making Spell.

The Bluebell Flames spell is likely the most similar to the Fire-Making spell, being that both spells conjure a flame at the caster's will; however, while the Fire-Making spell can't necessarily be controlled once it has been cast, and can inflict damage, the Bluebell Flames spell is much less destructive. Bluebell Flames is also known as the "Cold-Fire Spell," and it creates a unique blue flame that does not feed on it's surroundings. It can be carried around in a container, or even the caster's hand, and only distributes heat to a small area.

3. Name a few known practitioners of the spell.

In 1938, Albus Dumbledore likely used a non-verbal Fire-Making spell (and a flame-freezing charm) to convince Tom Riddle (later known as Lord Voldemort) to attend Hogwarts. Much later, in the year 1997, Thorfinn Rowle used "Incendio" to set fire to Rubeus Hagrid's cabin - this particular use resulted in a raging fire that demonstrates the potential power of the Fire-making spell. In 1998, both Hermione Granger and Harry Potter cast "Inendio," at the locket that Lord Voldemort had turned into a horcrux in hopes of destroying it, though both attempts were unsuccessful.

BONUS. In which situations can the spell come in handy?

The Fire-Making Spell is a simple spell that can be useful in many every-day situations. Witches adn Wizards often use "Incendio" to light their fireplaces, stove tops, and candles. The charm can also be used to incinerate documents, such as when Alastor Moody destroyed a piece of paper after using it to divulge the address of headquarters to Harry. Lastly, "Incendio" could be used as a form of self defense, or as an attack, though it is perhaps not the most efficient combative spell.

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