Charms Class – Year 7, Lesson 28: Levicorpus – The Body-Twirling Charm: How to Twirl Your Opponent in the Air

Professor Introduction

Good day, students! I am Professor Cedric Hallowbrook, and in today’s lesson, we are going to study a charming and yet somewhat mischievous spell: Levicorpus.

Levicorpus is a type of levitation spell with a twist — it magically binds the target’s body while simultaneously causing them to flip upside down, dangling by their feet. A rather embarrassing predicament, isn’t it? Yet, when used properly, it can be a valuable tool in both dueling and teaching restraint.

Charm Overview – What Is Levicorpus?

• Incantation: Levicorpus
• Pronunciation: LEH-vee-cor-pus
• Wand Movement: Quick flick, followed by a sharp upward motion
• Type: Body-levitation spell, with binding effects
• Difficulty Level: Intermediate

Levicorpus is unique in that it doesn’t just levitate the target, it binds them upside down by their ankle, making it a rather comical and humiliating spell. It can be used for disarming enemies, causing distraction, or simply dealing with an unruly student or magical creature (if necessary).

Historical Origins

The charm was first popularized by a renowned prankster wizard named Corey McDerrick, who used it to humiliate his fellow classmates at Durmstrang Institute. McDerrick is said to have been fascinated by the idea of levitating enemies into awkward, upside-down positions, and his flamboyant dueling style became legendary.

However, despite its comedic origins, Levicorpus found its way into Auror training, used effectively by law enforcement to subdue and immobilize suspects during apprehension.

When and Why to Use It

Levicorpus is used when you need to:

• Disorient and immobilize an opponent in combat (useful during duels or skirmishes)
• Restrain a magical creature temporarily, especially one that’s being stubborn or combative
• Create a distraction by disarming and immobilizing an attacker
• Show off your magical prowess (in less dangerous situations, of course)

Practical Example

A famous instance of Levicorpus occurred during the First Wizarding War when a skilled Auror, Kassius Hale, used the spell against a Dark Wizard, rendering him hanging upside down in the air long enough for his wand to fall from his grasp. The momentary confusion allowed Hale to capture him without a struggle.

Classroom Exercise

Students will practice casting Levicorpus on floating mannequins set to move around. You will need to focus on precise movement with your wand — too little force and the target might only stumble; too much force and you may spin them too quickly.

The goal is to levitate and bind the mannequin upside down by its ankle, causing it to dangle without any uncontrolled swinging. A clear but gentle flip is the key.

Advanced Application

Once you are comfortable with the basic Levicorpus, you can advance by:

• Combining Levicorpus with other spells to disarm or capture your opponent (like using Expelliarmus followed by Levicorpus).
• Creating more intricate maneuvers with your target — for example, using the levitation to throw an opponent into a specific area or obstacle.

Mini Quiz – Pick the Best Use for Levicorpus

Did You Know?

• Levicorpus has become a popular dueling move among pranksters at Hogwarts, especially during end-of-term celebrations.
• The famous wizard Fred Weasley once used Levicorpus to flip Percy Weasley upside down, much to Percy’s chagrin.
• If cast too strongly, Levicorpus can cause an involuntary spinning motion, leading to dizziness and confusion for the victim.

Conclusion

Levicorpus is an excellent spell for capturing an opponent or causing a moment of distraction. While it may have humorous origins, its practical use in dueling situations cannot be overlooked.