13 Responses for "In Harry Potter what is the difference between Charms and Spells?"

1. Shirley March 14th, 2010 at 10:56 am 1

   They both meant to bewitch anyone. Charm is some sort of incantation. It’s more like a positive enchantment. Whereas a spell can be a negative one. That’s why there’s a counterspell inorder defend oneself. I notice that in Harry Potter books, characters use charm generally for protection but spells are used mostly for combats.

2. Laa Laa:p March 14th, 2010 at 11:11 am 2

   spells are pretty much everything included; like jinxs, curses, transfiguration, etc. wheras charms only apply to spells applied on objects.

3. Griffondor Pheonix March 14th, 2010 at 11:51 am 3

   yes thats right charm are useally weaker then spells but their qirt similar charms act alone while spells dont.

4. Tiffany March 14th, 2010 at 12:46 pm 4

   I look at it as being similar to rectangles and quadrilaterals. All rectangles are quads but not all quads are rectangles = all charms are spells but not all spells are charms. I also think that charms are innocent/good things that wouldn’t need counter spells and would wear off eventually.

5. raina_vissora March 14th, 2010 at 1:38 pm 5

   A charm is type of enchantment that causes an object to behave in a way that is not otherwise normal for that object. For example, the hover charm, Windgardium Leviosa, makes an object hover when it normally wouldn’t.

   A spell really encompasses any type of magic, be it a hex, a jinx, a curse, a charm, or a transfiguration.

6. ~Alexandra Rose <3 March 14th, 2010 at 1:54 pm 6

   charms are like little enchantments to change something physically , where spells are something that doesnt change anything, really. it just does stuff to people.

7. sam March 14th, 2010 at 2:50 pm 7

   charms are a classification of a certain type of spell. spells cover all classes .

8. Goody March 14th, 2010 at 3:32 pm 8

   I would think charms was bewitching things…like papers to fly,.,,like as in charms class…spells is like defence charms -spells to make people forget things, feel pain,,,they are both protective and harmful
   good question!

9. Jenny G March 14th, 2010 at 4:18 pm 9

   well, charms is a particular branch of spells, which also cover transfiguration, jinxes and curses

10. Heather March 14th, 2010 at 4:37 pm 10

    A spell is generally something that envokes or changes something, attacks or kills something, makes something grow or shrink… Think of them as weaponry, quick fixes, and general helpers.

    A charm is generally something that enhances something, makes it better, faster, stronger, that sort of thing. Think of these as enhancing modifiers or things that make something better or more than what it already is, or even as armor or protection against spells, people and hexes.

    A hex (which I know you didn’t ask about but I feel better explaining these anyway) is another form of a curse or jinx (which are the same, believe it or not), whose soul purpose is to harm someone or make them less than what they are already. Think of these as modifiers of the negative persuasion.

    Actually, all three are technically spells- they’re just categorized within the spell books so that you know the nature of the spell you’re using. Charms do have counters, but they aren’t considered as such because usually you need a ‘bad’ spell to undo it. So yeah, they’re all spells, they’re just categorized into the nature of the spell you’re casting at the time.

11. Joel March 14th, 2010 at 5:37 pm 11

    This is a good question. First and foremost, a charm is in the broad category of a spell.

    Charms are spells that you place upon an object or occasionally a living thing. It will make the object, bigger, better, stronger, etc. For example, the Accio charm. You place the charm upon an object, and it will rise into the air, making it better for your personal uses and reasons. Another example is the bubble-head charm. You place the charm upon your head, and a bubble of air will appear around it, making yourself stronger than usual, seeing that you will then be able to breathe under water. Charms are positive things, and will not hurt the object or user. They are the opposite of a curse, who’s job is to hurt, harm, or weaken things. Charms are good, so they don’t need/have counter-spells.

    Spells, on the other hand are just a term for any piece of magic, whether an incantation or silent. Spells change things by use of magic. Some examples are: Confundo, Accio, Lumos, Episkey, Patronum, etc. Charms are just a type of spell, just like hexes, jinxes, etc.

    If you’re still having troubles with it, use those links ↴

12. Angela March 14th, 2010 at 6:10 pm 12

    I looked at http://www.scholastic.com/harrypotter/ and found this is what it had to say about charms and spells
    Charm: Spell that adds properties to an object or person.
    So I supose a spell is really any enchantment you do with your wand and charm is a certain kind of spell such as a hex or jinx

13. Gryffindor Girl March 14th, 2010 at 6:13 pm 13

    A charm is usually used for positive intentions, or it is helpful. A hex/ jinx/ curse is for negative intentions. A spell is either (or neither).