Declino

Spell Name: Deflection Shield Charm

Incantation: Declino

Pronunciation: day-KLEE-noh

Spell Branch: Charms

Magical Discipline(s): Defensive

Appearance: Invisible, but accompanied with a slash of the wand in the direction the curse is to be deflected

Description: The base spell of the Declino charm family, one of the Seven Shield Spells of Pure Wand Magic.

Deflects most curses. Unlike the Shield Charm, it is strict deflection, rather than reflection. Instantaneous.

Regulations: Legal

Skill Level: Intermediate

Etymology: Latin “I deflect”

References:

• “Moody” tested his 4th year DADA class on Hex Deflection.

Notes: When Aegis-inspired shields proved unsuitable to repelling heavy magic, and the Obex family proved unable to repel magic at all, wizards developed the Deflecting Family of shield spells. All spells in this discipline directly engage and divert curses in order to protect the caster. Weaknesses of the Deflection Family against extremely powerful Dark Magic (such as the Unforgivable Curses), as well as the limited success of the Declino Protegus spell, led to the development of the Protego family.

Though weaker than its Protego cousin, Declino is still favored by many duelists because it is easier magic and easier to perform nonverbally.