Banishing Charm

Banishing Charm
Incantation	Depulso (de-PUHL-so)
Type	Charm
Hand movement	Sweep of wand
Light	White
Effect	Sends an object away

"They were supposed to be practicing the opposite of the Summoning Charm today - the Banishing Charm. Owing to the potential for nasty accidents when objects kept flying across the room. Professor Flitwick had given each student a stack of cushions on which to practice, the theory being that these wouldn’t hurt anyone if they went off target. It was a good theory, but it wasn’t working very well. Neville’s aim was so poor that he kept accidentally sending much heavier things flying across the room - Professor Flitwick, for instance...he Banished a cushion with a sweep of his wand (it soared into the air and knocked Parvati’s hat off)."

—The Charms Class on the Banishing Charm.

The Banishing Charm (Depulso) is the countercharm to the Summoning Charm. As Accio summons objects to the caster, Depulso sends objects away.

Fourth year students studying Charms at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry learn this spell. Harry and his classmates practiced this spell in their fourth-year Charms class. Flitwick found himself being Banished around the room by Neville, whose aim wasn't very good.

Unlike the Summoning Charm, which can summon specific objects from anywhere (Accio candy), the Banishing Charm banishes whatever the wand is aimed at.

Known practitioners

• Ginny Weasley
• Harry Potter
• Hermione Granger
• Neville Longbottom
• Ron Weasley
• Sirius Black
• Filius Flitwick

Behind the scenes

• Although the incantation is not revealed in the books, it appears in the video game adaptation of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
• The Wizard in the The Wizard and the Hopping Pot may have used this spell to try to force the pot out of the house.
• Although this spell is learned by Hogwarts students in their fourth year, in the video game adaptation of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry, Ron, and Hermione, were able to use it. It is possible that they learned it before that, as Hermione asked them, if they remembered it. However Hermione may have read beforehand and told Harry and Ron how to use it.

Etymology

From the Latin “depulsio”, meaning “driving away”. Also is similar to repulse meaning "drive away with force". It could also be seen to be derived from the English word pulse (as in a pulse of energy.) and the prefix "de" which would make it mean "a negative pulse of energy."

See also

• Everte Statum
• Hurling Hex
• Knockback Jinx

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game) (First appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1