The Standard Book of Spells, Grade One
Charms differ from Transfiguring Spells in the following manner: a charm adds certain properties to an object or creature, whereas a transfiguring spell will change it into something utterly different. The lesser charms are not very difficult to break and many of those that you learn as a young wizard will wear off in a matter of days or even hours. Dark charms are known as jinxes, hexes and curses. This book does not deal with such spells. Lapses in concentration while charming can result in painful side effects – remember Wizard Baruffio, who said ‘s’ instead of ‘f’ and found himself lying on the floor with a buffalo on his chest. Some charms will be ineffective on large creatures such as trolls, whose hides repel all but the more powerful spells.
Last Updated
10/02/24
Chapters
7
Reads
89
Foreword
Chapter 2
I was born into a poor family, the last of nine sisters. When I was a youngster, there was no basic spellbook to give a beginner witch like myself the clear and simple instructions that would have made magic a much less mysterious process. I struggled to understand the complicated instructions in the oldfashioned textbooks I was given at school.
Back at home, I was at the mercy of my older sisters’ mischievous attempts to give me the wrong incantation for every spell I attempted. Hand-me-down robes are merely embarrassing, hand-me-down spells can be dangerous.
When I grew up, I quickly realised that the help I had craved simply did not exist — and so I created the book you are holding now: the Book of Spells. I could not be prouder that this simple school textbook is now being used in schools for magic all over the world and has been translated into 72 languages including Gobbledygook and Mermish.
I also had a few special editions printed for my dear sisters, which unfortunately contained a few misprints that led to quite a few comical mishaps! But Romilda’s tail has vanished now and we're all friends again.
vi
The Book of Spells will enable you to perform a range of basic and not-so-basic spells that will enhance, protect and enliven your life.
At the end of each chapter, you will find a CONUNDRUM, a little poem with a hidden message concerning those characteristics and habits that make witches and wizards truly great. Each conundrum tells the story of a witch or wizard who did not possess the necessary traits, and paid the price... (names have been changed to protect the inadequate).
The solution to all the conundrums can be found when you have mastered every spell in this book (but by that time, you may not need the solution at all).
Good luck, stay safe and make good magic!
Miranda Goshawk
vii
