======The Standard Book of Spells======
=====Object Information=====
  * **Type:** [[Textbook]], [[Educational Material]]
  * **Owners:** [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]], countless [[Witch|witches]] and [[Wizard|wizards]], including [[Harry Potter]], [[Ron Weasley]], and [[Hermione Granger]].
  * **Maker:** [[Miranda Goshawk]] (Author), [[Little Red Books]] (Publisher) (Pottermore).
=====Description and Appearance=====
  *The Standard Book of Spells* is a series of textbooks used for [[Charms]] instruction at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]]. The series consists of at least seven volumes, designated by "Grade" to correspond with a student's year of study (e.g., //The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1// for first-years).
While the novels do not provide a detailed physical description, the books are standard required course material purchased by students from [[Flourish and Blotts]] in [[Diagon Alley]]. Each volume contains detailed instructions on a variety of fundamental [[Charms]], covering the necessary [[wand]] movements, [[incantation|incantations]], and the resulting magical effects.
=====Magical Properties and Usage=====
As an educational text, the primary function of *The Standard Book of Spells* is to instruct young [[Witch|witches]] and [[Wizard|wizards]] in the art of [[Charms]]. It is the core curriculum for the [[Charms]] class taught by Professor [[Filius Flitwick]].
Each book is structured to build upon the knowledge of the previous year, introducing progressively more complex and powerful [[spells]]. The content serves as the basis for both theoretical study and practical spell-casting practice at [[Hogwarts]]. Students are expected to study these books to learn and master the spells required for their coursework and examinations, including the [[Ordinary Wizarding Level]] (O.W.L.) and [[Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Test]] (N.E.W.T.) exams.
=====History=====
  *The Standard Book of Spells* was authored by the celebrated [[Charms]] expert [[Miranda Goshawk]] (b. 1921). Goshawk was a notable spell-inventor and head of the [[Wizarding Examinations Authority|Wizengamot's Charm Advisory Panel]]. Her work became the definitive and long-standing textbook series for [[Charms]] education at [[Hogwarts]], having been in use for many decades by the time [[Harry Potter]] began his schooling.
=====Role in the Story=====
The books are a constant and fundamental part of the students' lives at [[Hogwarts]] and feature in several key moments throughout the series.
  * **//Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone//:** The Grade 1 volume is where [[Hermione Granger]] first demonstrates her knowledge by helping [[Ron Weasley]] with the [[Levitation Charm]], [[Wingardium Leviosa]]. She corrects his pronunciation and [[wand]] movement, and this knowledge later proves critical when she uses the [[spell]] to knock out a mountain [[Troll]] and save their lives.
  * **//Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban//:** The [[Summoning Charm]] (Accio), a fourth-year [[spell]], would have been featured in //The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 4//. [[Harry Potter]] dedicates himself to mastering this [[spell]] from his textbook in preparation for the first task of the [[Triwizard Tournament]], using it to summon his [[Firebolt]] and face the [[Hungarian Horntail]].
  * **//Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix//:** The Grade 5 volume becomes a point of contention. Under the oppressive regime of [[Dolores Umbridge]], students are forbidden from practicing the [[spells]] within their textbooks, as her curriculum demands a theory-only approach to [[Defence Against the Dark Arts]]. This suppression of practical magic, normally learned from books like this, directly leads to the formation of [[Dumbledore's Army]], where Harry teaches his classmates practical defensive [[spells]].
  * **//Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince//:** While much of Harry's focus is on the annotated [[Advanced Potion-Making]] textbook, he still uses [[spells]] that would be found in //The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 6//, such as [[Aguamenti]], the [[Water-Making Spell]].
=====Behind the Scenes=====
  * For the PlayStation 3 Wonderbook peripheral, a companion book titled //Book of Spells// was released. Authored by [[J.K. Rowling]], it expands on the world of //The Standard Book of Spells//, providing background on [[Miranda Goshawk]] and offering an interactive experience with the [[spells]] mentioned in her books. (video game)
  * The films created unique cover designs for the various grades of the textbook used as props. (film)