Switching Spell

[cloud-strife]

I think in either the six or the seventh book that there will be something big that has to do with a switching spell. The books mention the spell quite a few times, but never tells you what it does, and Harry just happens to "forget" the definition of a switching spell on his charms O.W.L. Tell me what you think!

[Prof.Aze]

:welcome: to the boards cloud.

Talking about switching spells? Yeah i also think so. But i can't yet see what it is for becuase i still can't see what they will use it for. But i am pretty sure it will come out. They have to do a switching spell maybe in their NEWTS in book 7. :)

[Magi]

Judging by what Hermione said in Book 4, Switching Spells are probably for turning living things into something else.

"Well, there are Switching Spells... but what's the point of Switching it? Unless you swapped its fangs for wine gums or something....."

Later, in Book 5, it mentions things like Cross-Species Switches, where they turn guinea pigs into guinea fowls, etc.

That's my guess, anyway.

[Hermione]

Well, I guess it could be possible. I could see it comming up in book 7, book 6 seems a little early for it. I don't think that switching spells could work on people though, for all we know that could be illegal and only allowed on animals.

[Auror Williamson]

It seems to me that switching spells are more complex forms of transfiguration.

If you were to change a mouse into a toad, that would be transfiguration, and a switching spell can do that.

[HannahStarr]

I think Switching spells may come up in future books, but I'm hesitant as to what importance they'll have. As Auror Williamson said, they seem like a more advanced form of transfiguration, so I dunno about how important they'll be.

[Rien]

They were even mentioned in Book 1... Hermione says something about the duel being selfish because "you'll lose all the points I earned for knowing about Switching Spells" (not a direct quote). And once someone (Neville?) switched their ears onto a cactus, I think - don't even ask me to remember where I read that though. heh

Anyway, yeah I think they'll continue popping up in books 6 & 7. The class becomes more adept at them every year; it'll be interesting to see just HOW many things they can switch in how many ways by time it's all over.

[HannahStarr]

And once someone (Neville?) switched their ears onto a cactus, I think - don't even ask me to remember where I read that though. heh

Yep, that was Neville, in GoF. McGonagall yelled something at him about "not letting Durmstrang and Beuxbatons know that he couldn't perform a simple Switching Spell."

[hesdead-dealwithit]

And I think we saw an older student have a mishap with a raccoon and possibly a switching spell. Might have been in Book 1 or 2.

[Liselle]

yup thats alot of switching spells...although couldn't it be just continuity in the series as opposed to something (potentailly) big?

Liselle

[Hpmons]

My idea of A Switching Spell: A spell where two parts of an object are switched round together.
E.g. Switching your ears with two branches of a small tree. Therefore, the branches would be where your ears were, and your ears will be on the tree where the branches were.

This has little relavance, but I thought Id mention it:
In each book, a spell is learnt at the beginning, which has importance later in the book, or later in the series.
PS - "Wingardium Leviosa" (the troll)
CoS - "Expelliarmus" (proir incantatum)
PoA - About Animagi (Sirius, Rita Skeeter)
GoF - "Accio" (Dragon egg, Cup Portkey)
OotP - Occulemency (Ok, not really...But anyway) or the Vanishing Spell (relavance later on?)

So the frequent mention of the Switching spell could be useful in later books I suppose!

[SnowyOwl]

Switching spells might be important for disguise work in Auror training.

[FreyaCrescent]

I too thought that Switching Spells were simply a classification of Transfiguration. They seem to encompass a lot of the work in Hogwarts, and not just in one year. I see how they might be important later (maybe Harry Transfigure Nagini into a doorstop or something) but I don't know if they will be of as much vital importance as, for example, Animagi or "Expelliarmus" were. However, I can see how they could be good defensively, maybe Switching something that's in front of you into a shield or whatever.

[hesdead-dealwithit]

yup thats a lot of switching spells...although couldn't it be just continuity in the series as opposed to something (potentailly) big?

Liselle

I totally agree - I can't see them being very important at all.

[FawkesBox]

I just don't know about that. JKR has done this with too many other things for it not to be important. For an example of how important a switching spell could be go here...

http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=6349&highlight=fidelius+switching

[dorcasderr]

A switching spell, though simple, could be very important simply to hide something quickly in an emergency.

[harryfantotheend]

My idea of A Switching Spell: A spell where two parts of an object are switched round together.
E.g. Switching your ears with two branches of a small tree. Therefore, the branches would be where your ears were, and your ears will be on the tree where the branches were.

This has little relavance, but I thought Id mention it:
In each book, a spell is learnt at the beginning, which has importance later in the book, or later in the series.
PS - "Wingardium Leviosa" (the troll)
CoS - "Expelliarmus" (proir incantatum)
PoA - About Animagi (Sirius, Rita Skeeter)
GoF - "Accio" (Dragon egg, Cup Portkey)
OotP - Occulemency (Ok, not really...But anyway) or the Vanishing Spell (relavance later on?)

So the frequent mention of the Switching spell could be useful in later books I suppose!
To sort of add to this...we learned about the polyjuice potion in CoS and look how important it was in GoF!

[FawkesBox]

I agree, JKR simply does not repeat things like this without reason. There are a number of ways such a spell could be used. In disguise, as was mentioned... also, it could it be used to mess up someon's potion as they were brewing it? What if Harry switchedVoldemort's "bone of the father" with a little dirt... hmm...

[Zachary1993]

I hope that they do show what the switching spell is all about. I love reading about new spells and what they do. So far in each book they teach new spells and curses.

[ginnybatbogeysyou]

Well, I guess it could be possible. I could see it comming up in book 7, book 6 seems a little early for it. I don't think that switching spells could work on people though, for all we know that could be illegal and only allowed on animals.

They actually work on humans: in book 4, Neville transplants his ears on a cactus. I think this only can be done with a Switching Spell.

[Rien]

Another mention of this spell is when Hermione is helping Harry try to figure out how to get past the Horntail, she says a switching spell could work, but only if you wanted to "switch its fangs for wine gums." Hrm.

There may have been another instance when it's been used on people besides poor Neville's ears (hee), but I can't remember. Seems like there has been, though.

[berlitz]

i agree that JKR rarely mentions things just in passing. Lots of major plot issues and spells were hinted at or mentioned indirectly in previous books. i think there must be a place for a switching spell somewhere in the next books. weather or not the role will be big i can't decide.

It would be fun to have neville prooving that he CAN perform a simple switching spell.

[NcAnnie1881]

there is also a rumor about switching spells and how James and Lupin might have switched places before the attack

[FawkesBox]

there is also a rumor about switching spells and how James and Lupin might have switched places before the attack

that is a very cool theory. I first read it in the Ultimate Unofficial Guide to the Mysteries of Harry Potter by Galadriel Waters and Prof. Astre Mithrandie. It posits that the identities or minds or souls of James Potter and Remus Lupin were switched before the murders at Godric Hollow. This may or may not involve a fidelius charm. I really think that this combined with Lily's wand being good for charms is very interesting. :agree:

[Tirwen Lupin]

This has little relavance, but I thought Id mention it:
In each book, a spell is learnt at the beginning, which has importance later in the book, or later in the series.
PS - "Wingardium Leviosa" (the troll)
CoS - "Expelliarmus" (proir incantatum)
PoA - About Animagi (Sirius, Rita Skeeter)
GoF - "Accio" (Dragon egg, Cup Portkey)
OotP - Occulemency (Ok, not really...But anyway) or the Vanishing Spell (relavance later on?)

So the frequent mention of the Switching spell could be useful in later books I suppose!
That's very true, things that aften seem irrelevant (or at least not mindblowingly significant) beceom highly important later on.
Switching spells don't seem to be too hard (from what McGonagall told Neville, it seemed to be a rather simple aspect of transfiguration. I really don't but much faith into the theory of James and Lupin having switched bodies, but you never know...
It could be used to switch the weapon of an enemy for something else in the nick of time, like the suggestion of the Dragon's fangs and wine gums. Hmm, I really don't know...

[ginnythecat]

that is a very cool theory. I first read it in the Ultimate Unofficial Guide to the Mysteries of Harry Potter by Galadriel Waters and Prof. Astre Mithrandie. It posits that the identities or minds or souls of James Potter and Remus Lupin were switched before the murders at Godric Hollow. This may or may not involve a fidelius charm. I really think that this combined with Lily's wand being good for charms is very interesting. :agree:

I am so glad you brought this up...I am so excited for this to be true, I look at Lupin as James now, and its sad because if he is not, I am setting myself up for disappointment later. My theory is that JKR killed Sirius in order to allow Harry and Lupin to develop their relationship further, and that eventually, the big switch will be revealed. If you read the books carefully, Lupin definately acts more like a father trying to hide his feelings than an old friend of his father's or a teacher to harry. I HOPE this is true. I love this theory. :elaugh:

[whizbang121]

How about if it was James and Sirius that switched?

[Prof.Aze]

How about if it was James and Sirius that switched?

Is that allowed? :lol: That would be very interesting... :)

[whizbang121]

:lol:Well, none of this is allowed. I do like the Lupin idea. But the whole Sirius story, from killing the muggles and not succeeding in killing Pettigrew all the way to the discussion with Harry through the fireplace is seems more natural if Sirius is really James. But Molly's rant in Grimmauld place is a problem. hmmmm......
The directions on the back of the mirror are a problem, too. Maybe if Harry says James Potter to the mirror ... who will appear? Lupin? Regulus? Stubby Boardman?

I'm more than a little confuddled on the who's not themselves in the magaical world theories.
I'm aware of Lupin watching Sirius intently in OotP. And wasn't James's wand good for transfigurations? He could be someone or something different everyday if that was where his talent lie. And he had a wand.:rolleyes:

[wizbling]

Thats wuite interesting. I wonder if James would still be able to becomer a stag while in sirius's body??

[whizbang121]

hmmm... good question.
Well, Lupin does need to take a potion to avoid turning into a werewolf, a potion Snape makes for him.
Sudden thought: (I need a smilie with a lightbulb over its head) what if Snape makes that potion for Lupin because Lupin is James and he owes James a life debt? But he would do at Dumbledore's request, too, so........ Nevermind.
I don't know how it's decided what animal a wizard will turn into. If it is something to do with the body rather than the personality, maybe he would turn into the dog.
???????????
There isn't much to go on with this stuff. Or at least, I haven't found much, yet. There's enough material to make it interesting, but ............ ??????????

another thought:
In the original version of GoF James came out of Voldemort's wand before Lily ad said, "Your mother is coming." As this couldn't logically happen if the wand was producing the spells in reverse, it was changed to Lily appearing first. But JKR wrote it the other way, first.

[Siriusly_Addicted]

Question:

WHY would James switch himself with either Remus or Sirius? That means he knowingly left one of his friends to defend his wife and child from Voldemort and the Death Eaters, even if they thought it was a temporary switch. I have a hard time reconciling that idea to ANY known Marauder (legit Marauder - Wormtail doesn't count). James and Lily, at least, knew that Harry was LV's target and that it wouldn't help to give him another target elsewhere, so neither of them would have left to be a decoy to draw LV away from Goderick's Hollow because they knew it was futile.

I can't see any of them leaving a wife and child under those circumstances, even to trust them to the care of another Marauder. The Fidelius Charm was taking enough of a risk (as we all know now).

Mind you, if anyone has a plausible theory on the "why" part, I'm more than willing to listen.

[whizbang121]

THis is my problem with this idea. there's just enough material to make it titillating, but not enough to feel like there's any kind of proof.
What was going on that night of Oce 31, 1981? Sirius had dinner with Doris so there's his alibi. James and Lily were in hiding with Harry. Where was Lupin and why did the marauders suspect him? Why wouldn't the Potters make Dumbledore their secret keeper? Maybe I'll go to bed and read the end of PoA again.zzzzzzz
If I can stay awake that long.:)

[Hpmons]

Where was Lupin and why did the marauders suspect him?
They suspected him because they didnt suspect Sirius, and Peter was too small and insignifcant. They didnt exactly suspect him, just they were a bit cautious about him.
Why wouldn't the Potters make Dumbledore their secret keeper? Because then there would only be one book, about a happy Harry potter who grows up with his parents, and quickly defeats Voldemort.

I dont think switching bodies is the same as the Switching Spell. Switching bodies would be a VERY complicated spell, whilst Switching Spells are taught to 4th years. I dont believe in the body swapping thing at all. Too many flaws, and not enough proof.

[Morgan LeFay]

Question:

WHY would James switch himself with either Remus or Sirius?

Mind you, if anyone has a plausible theory on the "why" part, I'm more than willing to listen.

Well, I'm not very sure about this idea, I don't think they switched, but they could.
There was still the order, yes? We don't know when the prophecy was made, but I think it was before Harry was born, or just after that (I think before). Lily and James was killed a year and three months after that. Do you think somebody like James would be happy to stay so long inside his house, when the others were fighting and dying outside? He survived three times, so he was a very powerful and talented wizard. I think he could sometimes take a part in fight. But he couldn't let Harry and Lily alone. So maybe he asked one of his friends to look after them? We have to cross out the theory that S or L was there as themselves, cause in the graveyard, LV told Harry he was duelling James. But they could possibly switched.
I think it's possible, cause we saw how Sirius reacted, when he was closed inside GP12. I don't think James was all the time inside GH.

[whizbang121]

I dont think switching bodies is the same as the Switching Spell. Switching bodies would be a VERY complicated spell, whilst Switching Spells are taught to 4th years.
I think you're right about this.

[SeekerLynch]

Everybody. A Switcing spell isn't a complicated 'body-switching' spell!
"Well, there are Switching Spells . . . but what's the point of Switching it? Unless you swapped its fangs for wine-gums or something that made it less dangerous. . . ." [said Hemione.]
-GoF, American Hardcover, page 338
Also, once it mentioned Neville acidently using a Switching Spell to make his ears turn into cacti, or something. If Neville can do it, it can't be that complicated, can it?