Leg-Locker Curse

Leg-Locker Curse
Incantation	Locomotor Mortis (LOH-koh-moh-tor MOR-tis)
Type	Curse
Hand movement
Light	Red or purple
Effect	Sticks legs together

"At that moment Neville toppled into the common room. How he had managed to climb through the portrait hole was anyone's guess, because his legs had been stuck together with what they recognised at once as the Leg-Locker Curse. He must have had to bunny hop all the way up to Gryffindor tower."

— Description of the curse

The Leg-Locker Curse (Locomotor Mortis), also known as the Leg Locking Spell was a curse that bound the legs of the victim together.

History

"Today we will learning Locomotor Mortis, also known as the Leg-Locker Curse. Failure to pay attention will leave you in a different sort of bind come exam time."

— Professor Flitwick to his fifth-years

It was most often used by experienced witches and wizards in duels, or in friendly wizard races. This curse was one of the dark charms found in the Dark Arts spellbook Curses and Counter-Curses by Vindictus Viridian. There existed a counter-curse of unknown incantation; Hermione Granger used it to reverse the usage of the curse Draco Malfoy used on Neville Longbottom.

During the 1988–1989 school year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, this spell was taught to fifth-year students in Charms class by Professor Filius Flitwick, in preparation for their upcoming Ordinary Wizarding Levels.

Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasley learned this spell in their first year, to use on Severus Snape if he tried to harm Harry Potter at an upcoming Quidditch match. They did not need to use it, however, as Professor Dumbledore was watching, they found it unlikely Snape would try to hurt Harry.

Known uses

Hermione Granger: "Now, don’t forget, it’s Locomotor Mortis."

Ron Weasley: "I know. Don't nag."

— Hermione and Ron preparing to use the spell on Severus Snape if needed

Successful

Caster(s)	Victim(s)	Date	Notes
Draco Malfoy	Neville Longbottom	Early 1992	Used it to bully him.

Unsuccessful

Caster(s)	Victim(s)	Date	Notes
Harry Potter	Draco Malfoy	Early May, 1997	Used it nonverbally, but unsuccessful, because he missed and the spell backfired of the wall behind Malfoy's ear and smashed the cistern, during their duel in the boys' bathroom.

Known practitioners

Jacob's sibling

Draco Malfoy

Harry Potter

Hermione Granger

Ronald Weasley

Percy Weasley

Filius Flitwick

Etymology

This spell's incantation is derived from the English word locomotor, meaning "of or relating to locomotion" and the Latin word mortis, meaning "death". Overall, the incantation roughly means "killing locomotion" or in other words, stopping someone from moving normally.

Behind the scenes

• According to Rubeus Hagrid, no first year should be able to cast a curse, suggesting it is difficult, and that Draco Malfoy being able to use it in his first year was considered impressive.
• In console versions of the Philosopher's Stone and Chamber of Secrets video games, Prefects will use this curse if they catch Harry out of the common room during curfew or night hours, taking away a number of points from Gryffindor House, if any exist. The Magical Menagerie salesman will also use this spell if Harry tries to break into the shop.
  • In the same game, the spell even resembles Bolas, a hunting weapon used to capture animals by throwing it at their legs. It makes sense, considering the nature of the spell.
• In the GBC video game adaptation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, this spell is used to immobilise the opponent until they are defeated.
• It can be bought at Wiseacre's Wizarding Equipment in Diagon Alley in LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4, and in Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes in LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 as a novelty spell. Although in both these games, this curse binds the victim's legs with physical ropes, much like the effects of the Incarcerous Spell.

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (First appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film) (Appears in deleted scene(s))
• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game) (Console versions only)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game) (Console versions only)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game) (Mentioned in reward from Room of Rewards)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)
• Harry Potter Official Site
• Pottermore
• Harry Potter (website)
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7
• Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery

See also

• Jelly-Legs Curse
• Stickfast Hex