Lesson One Homework

After finishing your homework, just post it here by replying to 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 for lesson two is the following: with the help of the chapter on the Wand Lighting Charm in the Standard Book of Spells (Grades 1 and 2), that you can find at the Library, write 4 inches of parchment about this spell, especially its use in defense against dark creatures, the different variations of this charm and their effects. You also have to practice the spell in order be able to perform it perfectly by lesson two.

Lesson Two will on July 12^th, so please do your homework as soon as you can.

Lumos is one of the simplest charms available to wizards and witches, and also one of the most useful. There are four versions of this spell: Lumos, Lumos Solem, Lumos Duo, and Lumos Maxima. The spell can be used to ward off weak spectral creatures, such as Gytrashes. Lumos Solem is very powerful and can be used to frighten Devil's Snare and other light-fearing plants and animals. Lumos Duo switches two lights, but its true purpose has never been discovered. Lumos Maxima is much more advanced than any of these, so is not practiced until second or third year. This version of the spell produces a very bright light and can be thrown off the wand to hang in the air in a place specified by the caster. It also will frighten more powerful dark creatures. This spell is more of a charm than a defense spell, but as shown above, can be used in such situations.

(Since this is typing, it will not be four inches long. I hope that's okay.)

James Riddle
Ravenclaw
First Year



The Lighting Spell is a basic charm in a wizard’s arsenal, which allows him to cast a bright light from his wand, using it as a lantern to illuminate dark areas. However, apart from its primary effect, this spell, performed by pronouncing the Latin incantation Lumos (LOO-mos) and pointing the wand at the area targeted, can also be very useful in Defence Against the Dark Arts.

The Wand Lighting Charm represents one of the only weapons effective against spectral foes, proving to be as powerful when it comes to malevolent spirits and ghosts as when dealing with spectral creatures, such as the Gytrash, a fast and dangerous ghost dog.

The powered up version of the Lighting Spell can also be quite practical in fighting against the Dark Arts. Performed with the incantation Lumos Maxima and an S-shaped wand movement, it has the same uses as its basic version, but presents an important advantage: it allows the wizard to ward off his foes from a safe distance, as it casts a light ball that can be thrown through the air.

The two variations on the Wand Lighting Charm can also be used to repel Dark Forces. The first, performed by pronouncing Lumos Solem, casts a narrow very bright beam of sunlight, that, when targeted precisely at some creatures or plants, can save one from them. For instance, the Devil’s Snare, a dangerous plant attempting to strangle anyone who would come to close to it, can be driven away by this spell. The second variation on Lumos is Lumos Duo, a charm creating a light connection between the caster’s wand and any object. However, this spell’s effects in Defence Against the Dark Arts remain relatively mysterious.

In conclusion, the Wand Lighting Spell, along with its powered up versions and its variations, remains mostly known and used for its primary effect, serving as a torchlight, but can prove to be very useful and effective when dealing with specific Dark Creatures.

The wand lighting spell, having the incantation as Lumos, is a charm that causes the tip of the owner's wand to form a light. The specified hand movement is in a shape of a crescent or sometimes, pointing it on the right direction. Nox is the counter-spell of the said charm.

As simple as it gets, the wand lighting spell is also for repelling some enemies e.g. Gytrash. Gytrash is a dog that comes out during the night, scared of the lightness that the day offers.

The spell has two kinds: Lumos Solem and Lumos Duo.

Compared to Lumos, Lumos Solem is definitely brighter and narrower having the word Solem meaning 'of the sun'. Unlike the Lumos, this particular spell has no incantation. Pointing the wand to the desired place is enough to cast the spell. Devil Snare is an excellent creature that the Lumos Solem can protect a wizard from. It is a kind of plant that can strangle almost everything near it but its great weakness is generally light.

Lumos Duo produces two lights at the same time, though researchers are still looking for a way to have this spell improved in its effects and is use in the Dark Forces.

The wand lighting spell, although simple, is a very effective form of defense against the dark arts.

The Wand Lighting Spell is a very simple, but very useful charm that causes light to appear from the tip of the wizard's/witch's wand. To successfully perform the spell, besides practice of course, it is necessary to use the incantation Lumos (LOO-mos) and to use the correct hand movement, that is to move the wand like a crescent or point it at a target. In order to turn off the light, simply use Nox, which is the counter-spell.
Its uses include illuminating dark areas almost like a lantern, and repelling spectral foes, such as a Gytrash and other Dark creatures.The Gytrash is a very fast and dangerous spectral dog with a long forked tail that only comes out at night. Because of its sensitivity to light, the Lumos spell is very useful when it comes to repelling a Gytrash.

There are two variations of this spell; Lumos Solem and Lumos Duo
1) Lumos Solem produces a light just like the original Lumos, however, the quality of the light is on the warmer solar end of the spectrum, meaning this charm produces sunlight. To perform this spell successfully, the incantation Lumos Solem should be used, however, there is no particular wand movement. Lumos Solem's most important use in Defense Against The Dark Arts is to repel Devil's Snare. The Devil's Snare is a plant with the ability to strangle anything in its environment, and due to its preference of a dark and damp environment, Lumos Solem is useful as said plant will stop moving at the sight of bright light.
2) Lumos Duo, despite not being very well known, creates a connection of light between the wand and another object. Example: it is sometimes used to charge crystal balls with light. To perform this spell successfully, the incantation Lumos Duo is to be used, however, there is no specific hand movement.

The more advanced version of Lumos is Lumos Maxima.
Lumos Maxima creates a great ball of light at the end of the wand which can be cast for several minutes. To successfully perform this spell, the incantation Lumos Maxima (LOO-mohs MAKS-ee-ma), and to perform an elongated S-shaped gesture with the wand. , If the wizard or witch wishes light to separate from his wand and travel through the air, a movement like a whip like action is required. Because it is much more powerful than the regular Lumos spell, it repels stronger spectral foes and even a larger group of them. By casting off the ball of light and to throwing it to the air, it is possible to light hard-to-reach places.


Sources: The Standard Book of Spells (Grades 1 & 2) by Miranda Goshawk