One of the simplest spells in the magical world, the Aguamenti spell produces potent water from the tip of the caster’s wand. This water is safe to drink and wizards have used it from producing drinkable water to even putting out fires.
Meaning of the Augamenti Spell
A charm, the water-making spell or Aguamenti is also a conjuration. It is an advanced form of transfiguration, as mentioned in the magical books. The origin of the word could be pseudo-Latin or pseudo-Spanish. “Aqua” is Latin for “water”, while the word “augmen” means “growth”. It is one of the most commonly used Harry Potter spells.
“The Water-Making Spell conjures clean, drinkable water from the end of the wand.“
—An excerpt from the Book of Spells
The Spanish and Portuguese word for water is “água”. The Latin word “mente” means ‘mind’. In its singular form, mente becomes ‘menti’. ‘Menti’ means “to the mind” or “for the mind”. From the looks of this neologism, it is evident that J.K. Rowling liked puns and twisting the meaning of words from various languages.
Background of Aguamenti
The spell’s history is unknown. There are no documented records regarding its invention. The conjuration of the spell Aguamenti came about as an opponent to the Fire-making Spell. Its sole purpose is to put out fires during an emergency or amidst small fire breakouts.
The Look of the Augamenti Spell
The Augamenti Spell cast comes out as a straight jet from the caster’s wand. The color of this jet is icy blue.
Aguamenti at Hogwarts
Hogwarts teaches the Aguamenti spell or Water-making Charm in the N.E.W.T. levels in the sixth and seventh year in the Charms classes. There might be a possibility that one can find this charm in the Standard Book of Spells series written by the great sorceress, Miranda Goshawk.
The Aguamenti Spell has also been mentioned in the books on Transfiguration, namely, Gamp’s Law of Elemental Transfiguration.
The Effects of Augamenti
The Augamenti spell can instantly produce water out of thin air.
The spell could effectively put out small fires and even refill jugs and bottles of water. However, the spell proves to be useless in front of Fiendfyre, a spell that produces cursed flames.
Water from the spell is not effective against Dark Magic. If it comes in contact with a fire produced by Dark Magic, the water will instantly evaporate.
Nature of the Aguamenti Spell
The force of the water jet can be anywhere from a small jet to a massive wave. The force solely depends on the concentration and the intentions of the one who casts the spell.
Known Practitioners of the Aguamenti Spell
Many wizards and witches used the Aguamenti spell for ages on various occasions. From Harry Potter to Hermione Granger to Fleur Delacour, many wizards and witches have used this spell.
Known History of Uses of Aguamenti
Fleur Delacour used the spell in the First Task of the Triwizard Tournament to extinguish the flames of the Common Welsh Green Dragon.
Marietta Edgecombe might have used the spell in 1995 non verbally during a D.A. meeting.
Seamus Finnigan, in the 1996-1997 school year, accidentally used the Augamenti spell to shoot Professor Flitwick away with a huge jet of water. He caused the accident while practicing charms in the class. Finnigan later served detention for such callous behavior. He had to write lines as a punishment.
Harry, himself, has used this spell on many occasions. On 30th June 1997, Harry used it to fill Albus Dumbledore’s crystal goblet in the Crystal Cave. Unfortunately, the Potion inside the goblet made the water dry up before Dumbledore could drink it.
The same day he used the spell again to put out the fire engulfing Hagrid’s hut.
At the Battle of Hogwarts on 2nd May 1998, Harry used the spell again to douse Vincent Crabbe’s Fiendfrye. The attempt proved futile as the water evaporated instantly.
Rubeus Hagrid, on 30th June 1997, used the Augamenti spell. Hagrid used it to put out a fire in his hut. He put out the fire due to the ongoing battle at the Tower of Astronomy.
Hermoine had used this charm as well. On 4th August of 1997, Harry questioned Mundungus Fletcher, a former member of the Order of the Phoenix who turned out to be a traitor later. Harry was questioning Mundungus Fletcher on the whereabouts of the locket of Salazar Slytherin. In an attempt to threaten him, Harry set his eyebrows on fire accidentally. Hermoine immediately put out the fire with the help of this charm. By extinguishing the fire with this Augamenti charm, she saved him and his eyebrows from a serious accident.
How is the Augamenti Charm Different from the Aqua Eructo Charm?
There is another version of the Aguamenti charm. One can use a different spell to produce water. The Aqua Erecto charm produces large and powerful jets of water when cast. The Aqua Erecto Charm puts out fires of dragons and other fiery beasts. But the results of the two are vastly different. The Aqua Erecto charm is a more powerful and effective version of the Aguamenti spell.
Disputes and Possible Explanation Regarding the Aguamenti Spell
There are some disputes and confusion regarding the Aguamenti Spell. Harry in the cave did not use the spell directly to get water in Dumbledore’s mouth. Rather, he collected water in a small goblet.
In some or most cases, one cannot directly pour the drinkable water that originates from the Aguamenti spell into the mouth of someone. They do have to pour the water in a container, a goblet or glass, or a pitcher, preferably. Only then, the thirst-stricken person can drink the water from the container.
Thus, Professor Dumbledore could only drink the water from the small goblet. Also, Harry did his level best to help him stay hydrated as the Fire Spell was wearing out a parched Albus Dumbledore. He kept on refilling the small goblet using the Aguamenti Spell, again and again. At one point, Harry even tried to raise the water level in the stream that lay in the middle of the cave.
