Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Magic/Reducto

Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter - Magic
Reducto
Type	Spell (curse)
Features	Reduces objects to dust
First Appearance	Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Overview

Reducto, also known as the Reductor curse, is a destruction spell, used to reduce objects to dust.

Extended Description

While its main purpose is to reduce an object to dust, it can also cause that dust to spread violently, making a small explosion. More powerful spellcasters can, of course, cast this spell on larger objects, making larger explosions if they care to.

Analysis

We first see this spell when Harry is preparing for the Triwizard Tournament's third task. During the task, he tries (and fails) to use it to destroy a patch of magical golden mist, and later, successfully, to burn a hole through the hedges making up the maze.

We next see this spell when Harry is reflecting on the progress of his students in Dumbledore's Army. Harry recalls that Parvati Patil had performed this curse so well that she had reduced the entire table under the sneakoscopes to dust. Later, during the battle at the Ministry of Magic, Harry's companions use this spell to destroy the shelves in the Department of Mysteries, creating a diversion that allows them to escape the Death Eaters pursuing them.

We believe this spell may be similar in effect to the Deprimo spell.