Bombardment Spell

Bombardment Spell
Incantation	Bombarda (bom-BAR-da)
Type	Charm
Hand movement
Light	None
Effect	Small explosion

Albus Potter: "Bombarda?"

Scorpius Malfoy: "And wake up everyone in Hogwarts?"

— A discussion over how to best destroy a Time-Turner

The Bombardment Spell, or the Exploding Charm (Bombarda), was a charm that detonated the target in a small explosion. One use for this explosion was to blast open sealed doors or to blow bars off of windows. The incantation Bombarda Maxima was the strongest variation of this spell.

History

"Today we will be learning the Exploding Charm [sic], Bombarda. It goes without saying, but please be mindful of your surroundings. And your fellow students. I have prepared a lecture on how to safely execute the Exploding Charm [sic]. Please listen."

— Professor Flitwick to his fourth-year students

During the 19th century, it was believed that scorch marks in the Bell Tower Entrance Hall that outlined a wizard's form was the first known instance of a successful casting of Bombarda, however the date of the spell, the person who cast it, and the person it was cast on were all unknown. During the 1987–1988 school year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, this spell was taught to fourth-years in Charms class by Professor Flitwick.

In the night of 1 May 1998, Amycus Carrow presumably used this spell non-verbally on the eagle door knocker of Ravenclaw Tower repeatedly, in a attempt to get through it to find out what happened to his sister Alecto. His spells were described as "a series of loud bangs, as though somebody was firing a gun into the door".

During the Calamity in the 2010s, volunteer wizards and witches of the Statute of Secrecy Task Force heavily used the Bombardment Spell in their mission to overpower Confoundables to free Foundables. For example, the charm was highly useful at exploding large spheres of water Confoundables which trapped British Ministry of Magic employee Foundables and for fending off large red serpent Confoundables which were guarding baby unicorn Foundables.

During the 2020–2021 school year, Scorpius Malfoy noted that the explosions produced by this charm were rather noisy, and thus inconvenient for when trying to destroy something stealthily, such as a Time-Turner.

Known uses

Caster(s)	Date	Notes
Sebastian Sallow	2 September 1890	Used it before Defence Against the Dark Arts class in a duel against Leander Prewett, and caused the head of the Hebridean Black skeleton in the classroom to fall off.
Ruth Singer		Used it to draw the attention of the first troll that attacked Hogsmeade.
Unidentified 19th-century Hogwarts student	1890–1891 school year	Learnt the spell from Professor Bai Howin.
Anne Sallow	1891	Used it to destroy Slytherin's Spellbook in Feldcroft Catacomb.
Jacob's sibling	1990	Used it to blast through rocks that were blocking the entrance to the Sunken Vault in the Great Lake.
Corey Hayden		Used this charm in the Hogwarts Library in front of Jacob's sibling, allowing them to get detention.

Known practitioners

Sebastian Sallow

Ruth Singer

Unidentified 19th-century Hogwarts student

Bai Howin

Anne Sallow

Filius Flitwick

Jacob's sibling

Charles Weasley

Diego Caplan

Merula Snyde

Ben Copper

Corey Hayden

Amycus Carrow (possibly)

• Jacob

Etymology

Based off of the English word "bombard", meaning: attack (a place or person) continuously with bombs, shells, or other missiles.

Behind the scenes

Hermione's non-canonical casting of this spell

• This spell is first seen in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, where it is used by Hermione Granger to blow up the door to the cell holding Sirius Black at Hogwarts Castle; in the book, however, Hermione uses a safer unlocking spell to rescue Sirius instead.

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film) (First appearance) (Non-canonical appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Possible appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (Possible appearance) (Appears in flashback(s))
• Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (play) (Mentioned only)
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 (Possible appearance)
• Harry Potter (website) (First identified as Bombardment Spell)
• Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery (First identified as Exploding Charm)
• Harry Potter: Wizards Unite
• Hogwarts Legacy
• Harry Potter: Magic Caster Wand

See also

• Blasting Curse
• Bombarda Maxima
• Expulso Curse