- "And all along the corridor the statues and suits of armour jumped down from their plinths, and from the echoing crashes from the floors above and below, Harry knew that their fellows throughout the castle had done the same... Cheering and yelling, the horde of moving statues stampeded past Harry; some of them smaller, others larger than life. There were animals too, and the clanking suits of armour brandished swords and spiked balls on chains."
- —Description[src]
Piertotum Locomotor is the incantation of a transfiguration charm used to bring artefacts to life.[1] The target's movements can be controlled by the caster of the spell.[3]
Practitioners
- "I've always wanted to use that spell."
- —Professor McGonagall[src]
- Albus Dumbledore[4]
- Filius Flitwick[1]
- Minerva McGonagall[3]
- Peter Pettigrew[5]
- Quirinus Quirrell[6]
- Dobby (possibly)[7]
Etymology
This incantation may derive from:
- Latin "pie", meaning "dutifully" or "affectionately"[8]
- Latin "totum", which means "everything", "the whole" or "they all"[9]
- Latin "loco", meaning "position" or "place"[10]
- Latin "moto", meaning "moves" or "moving"[11]
The whole incantation could, therefore, translate to "The whole position dutifully moves," or any other combination of the translations. A less rigid translation: 'I move thee forth, all dutiful [soldiers]'.
Behind the scenes
- In the eighth video game, when Professor McGonagall performs this spell and gives her orders, her voice makes an echo throughout the night, most likely for dramatic effect.[12]
- In LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7, Professor McGonagall does not bring the statues and suits of armour to life onscreen.[13]
- It is possible that the caster only have to hold the wand aloft when animating more than one at a time.
- In the eighth film, when Professor McGonagall casted this spell during the Battle of Hogwarts, she says eagerly to Molly Weasley that she has always wanted to use that spell.
Appearances
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game) (Possible appearance)
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game) (PS1 only) (Possible appearance)
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film) (Possible appearance)
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Possible appearance)
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (First identified as Piertotum Locomotor)
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (video game)
Notes and references
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Chapter 30 (The Sacking of Severus Snape)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Chapter 31 (The Battle of Hogwarts)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - Chapter 36 (The Only One He Ever Feared)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (video game)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game)
- ↑ See this
- ↑ See this
- ↑ See this
- ↑ See this
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (video game)
- ↑ LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7