Summoning Charm

From UnknowableWiki

The Summoning Charm is a spell that allows a given object to fly in the direction of the caster. Its incantation (Accio) is usually, but not always, accompanied by the name of the object which the caster wishes to obtain, such as "Accio Firebolt" (GF20). Its counterspell is the Banishing Charm (GF26).

It has proven to be possible to magically protect an object against the use of a Summoning Charm, as exempliflied by Harry Potter's unsuccessful attempt to Summon the false Horcrux in the Cave. Since Voldemort had most likely used a counter-enchantment on the object, the only outcome is a manifestation of the Inferi dormant in the lake (HBP26). It is also noteworthy that the Summoning Charm does not work on Harry's Invisibility Cloak, due to the Cloak's magical properties (DH21, DH28).

This spell is studied by fourth-year students at Hogwarts in Charms. Harry has some difficulty with it at first (like Neville Longbottom). After receiving extra homework on the subject, however, (GF18), he eventually masters its usage while preparing for the first task of the Triwizard Tournament (GF20). He then uses it to summon his broomstick in order to defeat the Hungarian Horntail—the dragon guarded the Golden Egg Harry needs to retrieve.

Later that year, Harry uses the spell to summon the Triwizard Cup while fleeing the Little Hangleton graveyard, holding Cedric Diggory's body (GF34). Other mentions of the Summoning Charm in the series include:

• Molly Weasley Summons Ton-Tongue Toffees from Fred and George's pockets when the twins attempt to sneak them out of The Burrow to the Quidditch World Cup (GF6).
• Hermione Granger tries to learn the spell by herself with the help of The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 4 when she grows bored of talking about the Quidditch World Cup aboard the Hogwarts Express (GF11).
• Professor Flitwick asks his fourth-year students to read three books about Summoning Charms as preparation for the class (GF15).
• Harry spends half of a Divination class trying to attract small objects towards him under the table, succeeding only in making a fly zoom towards his hands (though he isn't sure that occurs due to the spell) (GF20).
• With Hermione's help, Harry manages to learn the spell in the last hour before the first task of the Triwizard Tournment, after practicing on several objects in the Gryffindor common room (GF20).
• Harry Summons his Firebolt during the first task of the Triwizard Tournment (GF20).
• Ron suggests that Harry use the spell in the second task of the Triwizard Tournment to Summon an aqualung from the nearest Muggle town (GF26).
• After being alerted by Harry, Professor Moody Summons the Marauder's Map off the floor in a dark Hogwarts corridor, thus preventing Severus Snape from grabbing it (GF25).
• Harry Summons the Triwizard Cup in order to escape the graveyard to which he and Cedric Diggory are transported after the third task of the Triwizard Tournament (GF34).
• Harry and his fifth-year classmates revise Summoning Charms in Professor Flitwick's class for over an hour due to the approaching OWLs (OP13).
• Harry uses Accio on the bullfrog he is supposed to Silence in Charms class (OP18).
• Harry, after successfully using the Disarming Charm on Neville's wand, Summons it from the top of a bookshelf (OP18).
• Flitwick Summons the Defence Against the Dark Arts OWLs after the Marauders' examination (OP28).
• Sirius uses the spell to Summon Butterbeer bottles for Fred, George, Ginny, Ron and Harry while they wait for news regarding Arthur in Grimmauld Place (OP22).
• The Weasley twins Summon their broomsticks from Dolores Umbridge's office before leaving Hogwarts (OP29).
• During the Battle of the Department of Mysteries (OP35):
  • Antonin Dolohov uses the spell to attract the prophecy from Harry's hands in the Death Room.
  • Hermione Summons Harry's wand off the floor near one of the exits of the Time Room.
  • Ron uses the Summoning Charm on one of the brains in the tank of the Brain Room.
  • Bellatrix Lestrange makes two unsuccessful attempts to Summon the prophecy. The first one, located in the Hall of Prophecy, is blocked by a Shield Charm. Later on, in the Atrium, she tries again, unaware that the prophecy has been already destroyed (OP36).
• Harry attempts in vain to use Accio non-verbally to attract his wand after being Petrified by Draco in the Hogwarts Express (HBP8).
• Snape non-verbally uses the Summoning Charm to collect his students' essays on Dementors (HBP21).
• Harry Summons Madam Rosmerta's broomsticks in order to fly, alongside Dumbledore, to the top of the Astronomy Tower (HBP27).
• Hermione uses Accio in order to obtain the copies of that books on Horcruxes Albus Dumbledore had taken from the library and put in his office (DH6).
• During the Battle of the Seven Potters, Harry unsuccessfully attempts to Summon Rubeus Hagrid, who had been falling towards the ground (DH4).
• Harry casts a Summoning Charm on his glasses on the morning of his seventeenth birthday as a way to celebrate the fact that he no longer had the Trace on him, and could now do magic outside Hogwarts (DH7).
• Fred uses the spell in order to steal hairs from a Muggle boy from Ottery St. Catchpole. The hairs would later be used on a dose of Polyjuice Potion Harry would drink to disguise himself during Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour's wedding (DH8).
• Hermione attempts to Summon Salazar Slytherin's locket while the Trio is looking for the Horcrux inside Regulus Black's room (DH10).
• Harry uses Accio while trying to find the locket inside Umbridge's office at the Ministry of Magic (DH13).
• Harry Summons a bottle containing Essence of Dittany from inside Hermione's magically extended beaded bag. A short while later, Harry also Summons their tent from inside the bag (DH14).
• Dirk Cresswell uses Accio in order to Summon a salmon from a river on which bank the Trio were camping for the night (DH15).
• A wandless Harry unsuccessfully attempts to Summon his own wand while Nagini coiled around him inside Bathilda Bagshot's room (DH17).
• Harry tries to use a Summoning Charm to get Godric Gryffindor's sword out of the depts of a frozen pool in the Forest of Dean. The spell has no effect whatsoever; the sword does not stir (DH19).
• Hermione unsuccessfully attempts to Summon Helga Hufflepuff's cup while inside Bellatrix Lestrange's vault in Gringotts (DH30).
• A Death Eater attempts to cast a Summoning Charm on Harry's Invisibility Cloak, to no effect (DH28).