Switching Spell

various, depending on the Transfiguration intended

A category of Transfiguration spells that swap one thing for another.

References from the canon

• Hermione knew quite a bit about Switching Spells already in her first year, and gained some house points for it from McGonagall (PS9)
• Neville wasn't particularly adept at these, managing to switch his own ears onto a cactus during Transfiguration class (GF15).
• Hermione, discussing ways to combat dragons:

"Well, there are Switching Spells...but what's the point of Switching it? Unless you swapped its fangs for wine-gums or something that would make it less dangerous..." (GF20)

• The definition of Switching Spells was on the theory portion of the Transfiguration O.W.L. that Harry took in June 1996 (OP31)