"....all have caused flurries of excitement, with crowd members scrambling for autographs and even casting Bridging Charms to reach the VIP boxes over the heads of the crowd."
-- Rita Skeeter, Daily Prophet (QWC)
Bridging Charms are used to create pathways – over rivers or people
References from the canon
In the Tale of the Three Brothers from the Beedle the Bard book, when the brothers need to cross a river:
"....they simply waved their wands and made a bridge appear across the treacherous water" (DH21).
A Bridging Charm was used to create a walkway over other spectators in order to reach celebrities in the VIP boxes by excited crowd members during some of the Quidditch World Cup matches in 2014. This was reported in an article by Rita Skeeter appearing in the Daily Prophet (QWC).
Commentary
Notes
When Harry Potter, Luna Lovegood and other members of Dumbledore's Army reunited at the Quidditch World Cup in July 2014, Skeeter wrote that the crowd stampeded and the crowd rushed to the area, but she didn't say whether Bridging Charms were actually used on that particular day. Perhaps they were thwarted by the Security Warlocks and the use of "heavy charms" to control the crowds (QWC).
From the Web
Writing by J K Rowling on WizardingWorld.com (Pottermore): The Daily Prophet
WizardingWorld.com (Pottermore) features:
- Everything you need to know about Beedle the Bard
- Early uses of magic in the Tales of Beedle the Bard
- How the Tale of the Three Brothers shapes the whole series
- Why every parent should read Beedle the Bard
Writing by J K Rowling on Imgur (Daily Prophet coverage of the 2014 Quidditch World Cup, originally from Pottermore):
- History of the Quidditch World Cup
- Quidditch World Cup 1990-2014
- Match reports and articles from the 2014 Quidditch World Cup
Harry Potter Wiki: Bridging Charm
Pensieve (Comments)
Tags: celebrity crowds excitement spectators