Babbling Curse

• Incantation: Unknown
• Pronunciation: Not applicable
• Wand Movement: Unknown
• Light: Unknown
• Effect: Causes the victim to speak incoherently and nonsensically, or “babble.”
• Type: Curse

The Babbling Curse is only mentioned once in the original series, during a confrontation in the Chamber of Secrets. In 1993, Professor Gilderoy Lockhart falsely claimed to have cured a witch who was suffering from a “nasty case of the Babbling Curse.” He alleged that this event occurred while he was dealing with the Bandon Banshee. The truth was revealed when Lockhart attempted to erase the memories of Harry Potter and Ron Weasley. He confessed that his famous accomplishments were lies; he would discover what some remarkable witch or wizard had done, and then use a `Memory Charm` on them to take the credit. The actual cure for the Babbling Curse was performed by the witch who dealt with the Bandon Banshee, whose identity Lockhart stole and subsequently erased from her memory. The curse itself is never seen being cast, nor are any of its victims directly witnessed. Its existence is known only through Lockhart's fraudulent account.

There is no information available regarding the difficulty of learning or casting the Babbling Curse. A cure for the curse is confirmed to exist, as Gilderoy Lockhart stole the credit for performing it. However, the specific counter-curse, potion, or method required for the cure remains unknown, as the memory of the witch who successfully performed it was erased.

The name of the curse is a straightforward description of its effect.

• The English verb “to babble,” from which “Babbling” is derived, means to talk rapidly and foolishly, or to make an incoherent sound.
• A “Curse” in the magical world is a type of Dark Magic intended to cause harm, suffering, or control over another being.

• The Babbling Curse is a usable spell in the video game adaptation of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. In the game, it can be learned and used in duels to temporarily confuse an opponent, causing them to speak gibberish and be unable to cast spells. (video game)