Wand-Extinguishing Charm

• Incantation: Nox
• Pronunciation: NOCKS
• Wand Movement: None known
• Light: None; this spell extinguishes light.
• Effect: Douses the light at the tip of the caster's wand, effectively acting as the counter-charm to the Wand-Lighting Charm.
• Type: Charm

The Wand-Extinguishing Charm is a simple but essential spell, used frequently throughout the series whenever a witch or wizard needs to cancel the effects of the Wand-Lighting Charm (Lumos). Its primary purpose is for concealment or simply to turn off an unnecessary light.

• In his third year, Harry Potter first used this spell non-verbally on the Hogwarts Express. After a Dementor entered their compartment, Harry had cast Lumos, and Remus Lupin later asked him to put the light out. Harry merely thought the incantation Nox and his wand went dark.
• Later that year, Harry and Hermione Granger used Nox to extinguish their wands while hiding from Severus Snape under the Invisibility Cloak in a secret passage leading to the Shrieking Shack.
• During the third task of the Triwizard Tournament, Harry cast Nox to hide in the maze within the Forbidden Forest when he encountered a Boggart that had taken the form of a Dementor.
• The charm was used extensively by Harry and members of Dumbledore's Army during the Battle of the Department of Mysteries. They repeatedly used Lumos to navigate the dark rooms and Nox to hide from the pursuing Death Eaters.
• Albus Dumbledore and Harry both used this spell during their search for Salazar Slytherin's Locket in the seaside cave. They would extinguish their wand-light to avoid attracting the Inferi or when performing other complex magic.

The Wand-Extinguishing Charm is the specific and direct counter-spell for the Wand-Lighting Charm. Given that Harry was able to cast it non-verbally with little effort in his third year, it is considered a fundamental and relatively simple piece of magic, likely taught alongside Lumos to young students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. There is no specific counter-spell for Nox, as its effect is instantaneous. To counteract its effect, a witch or wizard would simply need to recast the Wand-Lighting Charm.

The incantation, Nox, is the Latin word for “night.” This provides a direct and elegant contrast to its counterpart, Lumos, whose incantation is derived from the Latin word lumen, meaning “light.”

• In the film adaptations, the effect of Nox is visually represented as the light at the wand's tip being instantly snuffed out, consistent with the books' description. (film)
• The spell is a common utility feature in many Harry Potter video game adaptations, where the player can toggle their wand light on and off using Lumos and Nox. (video game)