Is a spell forever?

Question

Looking at the questions and answer to these two questions. Why is the Burrow so cramped on the inside? & Why are there "dilapidated" buildings in Harry Potter? and neither mentions the longevity of magic. I recall several instances of magic failing to last; the money that was spread at the big quidditch game and the broken Cabinet that Malfoy worked on. If I recall correctly when Voldemort died, the curses on several people were lifted. I don't recall if any other spells fell apart with his death.

Is there any canon evidence on the the length of time a spell will live?

Canon seems to demonstrate that it depends on the spell and the skill of the caster. — Kevin, Jan 31 '14 at 18:19
The answer to my question, Did the creators of the Marauder's Map rediscover lost magic?, seems to cover this — Izkata, Feb 01 '14 at 00:30
One example would be that other Invisibility cloaks slowly deteriorate while only Harry's is said to last without flaw... apart from Moody's eye, and Mrs Norris smell, etc. — Zikato, Jan 25 '16 at 09:57

Himarm · Accepted Answer · 2016-03-10T22:11:25.947

We know alot of spells have apparently infinite life time. Permanent sticking charms

“My dear old mum, yeah,” said Sirius. “We’ve been trying to get her down for a month but we think she put a Permanent Sticking Charm on the back of the canvas.

and the spells in Egypt that Bill works for Gringotts to break, which are most likely 3+ thousand years old, bordering on 5k years.

Bill, works as a curse breaker for Gringotts Wizarding Bank.’

Bill’s taken us round all the tombs and you wouldn’t believe the curses those old Egyptian wizards put on them. Mum wouldn’t let Ginny come in the last one. There were all these mutant skeletons in there, of Muggles who’d broken in and grown extra heads and stuff.

A good contrasting example is Lily's fish, Francis, given to Slughorn. It vanished when Lily died. — , Mar 10 '16 at 22:24

score 10 · Answer 2 · answered Jan 31 '14 at 18:33

10

There seems to be evidence of both outcomes. In HBP, Dumbledore's freezing charm on harry is broken when he dies whereas Mood's protective spells cast on Grimmauld place last after he dies. So I believe the answer depends on the spell.

answered Jan 31 '14 at 18:33

xXGrizZ

1,371
1
10
20

score 3 · Answer 3 · answered Jan 31 '14 at 23:09

3

If you consider potions to be spells, the answer would likely be "generally no"; I can't think of any potion used in the series that didn't have a definite (or at least fuzzy) time limit.

If you expand to other magical effects, "no" seems to be even more prevalent -- see gilliweed.

It's entirely likely that a skilled wizard (or a group of them) that devotes some time and effort to a spell could make it "permanent" (or nearly so). Surely the Floo Network requires more than just the Floo Powder, for example. Horcruxes and Lily's love protection spell are two other examples of (near-)permanence, and the magic used to animate paintings and photographs lasts for an exceedingly long time, as well.

It seems to me that the answer depends on the scope of what you consider "spells," and how long is long enough to be "permanent" or "forever."

answered Jan 31 '14 at 23:09

Brian S

2,223
18
19

1

"I can't think of any potion used in the series that didn't have a definite (or at least fuzzy) time limit." How about the potion that is used to animate photographs. – xXGrizZ Feb 01 '14 at 00:51
Also much of the magic in and around hogwarts castle seem to have been around since it was founded. – xXGrizZ Feb 01 '14 at 01:10
@xXGrizZ, Was that a potion? It's been some time since I read the novels. – Brian S Feb 01 '14 at 02:20
@brain S- Yeah its explained that the reason the photos can move is because they are developed in a magic potion (I believe Colon Creavy says this in CoS.) – xXGrizZ Feb 01 '14 at 04:18
@BrianS there are many examples on other answers here of spells and magical objects which may be permanent. "I can't think of any potion used in the series that didn't have a definite (or at least fuzzy) time limit" is not a proof that there none that exists. Maybe some exist and are not mentioned? BTW what about the philosopher stone? Not a potion but probably pertinent. You conclude that if you don't have evidence for something existing it does not exist. If we go by this assumption before we discovered the atom it did not exist? – havakok Oct 03 '20 at 14:33
@havakok "You conclude that if you don't have evidence for something existing it does not exist. If we go by this assumption before we discovered the atom it did not exist?"; if you do not have evidence for something existing then you absolutely are not justified in believing that it exists. – Brian S Nov 05 '20 at 08:50
@BrianS I am not having this offtopic conversation with you. In my opinion, you are more than wrong and you have earned my downvote. – havakok Nov 05 '20 at 16:10

Is a spell forever?

3 Answers3

Linked

Related