Colloportus is the actual incantation of the “Locking Spell” used in the globally famed series of Harry Potter. This charm is used to lock or seal doors, closets, windows, etc. so that someone else could not open them physically or manually. The correct pronunciation of the charm is “Cull-low-pore-tus”.
The word ‘Colloportus’ is a combination of two words from the Greek and Latin languages. The prefix collo (Latin) is derived from the word colligo meaning ‘to bind’ and in Greek, it means ‘to glue or stick’. The word portus (Latin) literal meaning is the door. Does Colloportus only works on doors or not? The answer to this question can be found in the later sections of our blog contenterist.
What does Colloportus do?
- The spell shuts or seals a door as long as the spell is intact and not broken. It prevents manual entry and thus the door under spell can only be opened by its original key or by a counter-spell/unlocking spell.
- The charm is used to protect whatever is on the other side of the door or closet and for safety purposes. Colloportus was introduced in “The Standard Book of Spells” in Grade 1.
- It is used to stop people from entering or leaving a certain space without the permission of the spell caster.
- The charm can also be used in self-defense by locking oneself in a safe place where no one can enter and harm the wizard or the witch.
- The spell can be used on objects (doors, closets, windows) as well as on the human body.
History
The charm ‘Colloportus’ was first ever used in the late 1980s by Professor Filius Flitwick at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The spell was taught to the students of the fourth year in the Charms class.
Practitioners
The charm was used by Hermione Granger in “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”. Some other famous casters of this spell are:
- Albus Dumbledore
- Professor Lockhart
- Harry Potter
- Severus Snape
- Delphini
- Luna Lovegood
- Neville Longbottom
- Rufus Scrimgeour
- Filius Flitwick
Wand Movement
To perform the Colloportus charm, the wand should be held in an upward semicircle direction and swiftly moved from left to right, aiming towards the target.
Will Power
The willpower needed to perform this charm is moderate. However, an increase in the willpower of the spell caster will increase the force and duration of the charm.
Counter Charm
The counter charm to ‘Colloportus’ is ‘Alohomora’. The Unlocking Charm, also known as Alohomora is used to unlock doors and windows. It is a powerful spell famous as the ‘Thief’s Friend’.
Interesting Fact
One of the interesting facts about this spell is that one of the professors at Hogwarts School of Wizardry and Witchcraft used it on his own body. In some references, it is claimed that it was none other than Professor Albus Dumbledore who used the Colloportus charm on his eyes.
Does Colloportus Only Work on Doors?
One of the frequently asked questions by Harry Potter fans is does Colloportus only work on the door or not? Well, the answer to this question can be a bit tricky. First of all the name of the spell suggests that it can only be used for doors (portus meaning doors). However, both in the books as well as the movies, the spell can be seen used on doors and windows. In Pottermore, it is described that the spell can be used on windows and other objects. For example, it can be cast on a wizard’s trunk, closet, or any other object. Some fans believe that this incantation can be used on multiple objects while some believe that it can be only be used on doors.
This was the complete guide to one of the famous charms in the Harry Potter Universe – Colloportus!