"I know a jinx when I see one, Hagrid, I've read all about them!"
-- Hermione trying to convince Hagrid that Snape had jinxed Harry's broom (PS11)
"I was just reading about Willy Widdershins's arrest when you arrived. You know Willy turned out to be behind those regurgitating toilets back in the summer? One of his jinxes backfired, the toilet exploded and they found him lying unconscious in the wreckage covered from head to foot in -"
-- Arthur Weasley (OP22)
A jinx is a spell cast to cause damage or other negative effect. A jinx is similar to a curse, but typically not as powerful or cast with such negative intention. Jinxes are part of defensive magic, although Umbridge tried to teach that spells should never be used in this way, even in self-defense or as part of a legitimate attack. She used the textbook Defensive Magical Theory by Slinkhard:
‘He says that counter-jinxes are improperly named,’ said Hermione promptly. ‘He says “counter-jinx” is just a name people give their jinxes when they want to make them sound more acceptable (OP15)’.
A jinx is removed or undone by a counter-jinx. Defenses against jinxes are called “anti-jinxes.” Some jinxes are also referred to as hexes.
Jinxes:
- Anti-Disapparation Jinx
- Backfiring Jinx
- finger-removing jinx
- Hair-thickening Charm
- Impediment Jinx
- Jelly-Brain Jinx
- Jelly-Legs Jinx
- Revulsion Jinx
- snitch jinx
- Stretching jinx
- Trip Jinx
References from the canon
- Warrington of Slytherin was hit with a jinx that made his skin look as though he were covered with corn flakes (OP30).
- Madam Pince has been known to place jinxes on library books to protect them from students who might doodle on them, tear out pages, or keep them checked out for too long (QA).
- To repair the exploding toilet caused by Willy Widdershins, Arthur told Harry he would use a 'simple enough' anti-jinx (OP9).
- The handle of Ron's new Cleansweep 11 had an anti-jinx varnish applied to it (OP9).
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Tags: defensive spell spell damage