Lesson One

Along with broomsticks, floor powder, and portkeys, Apparition is a popular form of travel in the wizarding world. While it is a popular and the quickest way to travel, quite a few witches and wizards cannot be bothered with it either due to the sensation of it or the level of risk that comes along with it. According to Harry Potter Apparition feels like being "forced through a very tight rubber tube." Failed apparition can have some very serious consequences.

In order to travel using apparition, the wizard/witch focuses on a desired location in their mind. They will then disappear from their current location and reappear at the location they were thinking of. Their reappearance happens instantly as they disappear. Muggles would call apparition teleportation.

Apparition or Disapparition?

You have probably heard apparition referred to as both apparition and disapparition. There is a subtle difference between the two, but you will need to be able to identify it in order to pass your exam and earn your license. A good way to identify which is which is by remembering the words "disappear" and "appear." It is referred to as Disapparition when it is from the point of view of the original location, or the spot where the person is disappear from. It is simply called Apparition when the person appears in a new place.

Apparition as a Bystander

You will need see or hear a wizard using an incantation to apparate. While a wand is in fact needed to apparate, there is no incantation involved. Particularly powerful witches and wizards can apparate without a wand, such as Albus Dumbledore. You may, however, hear a noise whenever someone apparates in your presence. This noise can range from a quiet pop to a loud crack. Muggles who leave near wizards have reporting hearing the sound of a car backfiring quite often, but it is really the sound of apparition.

Range

There are certain limits placed on Apparition that you must be aware of before you start. Although an exact measurement is unknown, there is only a certain range from a location in which apparition can be used. It is very unlikely that someone new to apparition would be able to travel from New York to London. It is very unlikely that someone new to apparition would be able to apparate ten feet, but that's another lesson. As you would expect, the longer the distance you wish to travel via apparition, the more difficult it will be to accomplish. Only the most advanced witches and wizards should ever attempt inter-continental Apparition.

Limits on Apparition

There are a few ways that one can limit Apparition. The first way is the Anti-Disapparition Jinx. This is a rare jinx that you are not likely to find in many textbooks. The jinx prevents anyone from Disapparating from the jinxed area for a certain time. As we will discuss next lesson, this jinx does not work on certain creatures like house-elves because of the magic they are bound by. It is very likely that this type of magic only works on humans.

There are multiple instances in which this jinx was likely used. Albus Dumbledore used the jinx during the Battle of the Department of Mysteries. By casting the jinx, he was able to prevent Death Eaters from leaving the Ministry of Magic. When Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley arrived in Hogsmeade in 1998, they found themselves unable to disapparate so it is likely that the jinx was in place then as well. It is speculated that the jinx is also used by Gringotts. While their spokesgoblin has yet to return my many owls about the subject, I believe it is safe to assume that the jinx is in place. We know that Gringotts has security measures in place that will trap thieves in vaults. This would not work very well if the thief was then able to disapparate out of the vault.

Likely the oldest example of the jinx is Hogwarts Castle. As I'm sure all of you know, it is impossible to Apparate or Disapparate on the castle grounds. Only the headmaster is allowed to Disapparate from the castle. When the Death Eaters were able to gain access to Hogwarts, they had to get beyond the gates of the castle grounds in order to flee using Apparition.

Another presumed use was by Lord Voldemort on the crystal cave where he hid a horcrux. It was impossible to Apparate to the inside of the cave or Disapparate from within it.

Just as the Anti-Disapparition Jinx keeps people from Disapparating from a location, the Anti-Apparition Charm stops people from Apparating to certain areas. This charm was also placed on Hogwarts long ago. Before the adoption of the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy in 1692, student transportation to Hogwarts was unregulated. This led to students trying to Apparate to the school. However, with this charm in place even back then the results were often disastrous.

This charm was also likely placed on the crystal cave.

License to Apparate

Obviously you are aware that the Ministry of Magic requires all witches and wizards to have a license to Apparate or you wouldn't be taking this course! This is not to say that Apparition cannot be performed without a license. However, doing so is illegal and can result in fines. Fines are likely to be the least of your problems if you try to Apparate without the proper training, though, due to the likelihood that you will splinch yourself and need the Accidental Magic Reversal Squad to piece you back together.

The Department of Magical Transportation issues licenses to Apparate and are the ones who will fine you for doing so illegally. Lessons are available, for a price, to those who are or will be the legal age, 17, by the next testing date. You must be 17 to get your license. These lessons are offered at Hogwarts and are generally limited to sixth years. This class is a rare exception so those of you under that age should be grateful! During the lessons, the protections on Hogwarts are temporarily removed in the area in which students are practicing. Students who are 17 or above before the upcoming test date will be able to practice apparition in Hogsmeade before their examination.