Sectumsempra
A harmful spell in Harry Potter that causes severe cuts to its target.
Context
Harry encounters the spell in the annotated copy of Advanced Potion-Making used in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Its dangerous effects are central to what he learns about the book’s notes.
The spell is associated with Severus Snape and illustrates how the story gives individual magic a history and a moral weight.
Examples
- A discussion of Sectumsempra can examine what happens when a character uses an unfamiliar spell without understanding its consequences.