Potions - can Muggles make them?

[Brooks R]

No: HPFGUIDX 1657

--- In HPforGrownups at egroups.com, "Blaise " <blaise_writer at h...> 
wrote:
> I've been wondering about this vaguely for a while, and I would
like 
> to see what other people think about it.  
> 
> What exactly is magical about potions?  Obviously the ingredients 
are 
> not from normal Muggle plants and animals, but if a Muggle had all 
> the ingredients, could he make a potion?  Where does the magic come 
> into potions?  
> 
> I notice that Neville often gets his potions wrong, but this seems 
to 
> be from following the instructions wrongly rather than any innate 
> lack of magic.  I don't really understand how making a potion uses 
> magic.  Can anyone help me?
  

I've wondered about that too, and that is a good observation on 
Neville.  Snape clearly says in his class intro in Book I that wands 
are rarely needed.  

I have a theory that the inherent magic of wizards (as shown by kids 
who can do things even before they get their wands) causes changes in 
(most) potions during their processing & preparation, which MAKES
them 
magical, and functional.  

It is also clear that there are certain plants or animals with magic 
inherent in their being, which muggles do not perceive.  I think that 
MOST potions would not work if made by muggles, UNLESS they happened 
to get hold of some of the ingredient made from magical plants or 
parts of magical animals.  However, I think a couple of Snape's 
examples in Book I, will in fact work in the 'real world' even if not 
to the extent he implies.   I also think they are the "don't try this 
at home" variety!  I am NOT condoning trying to make a sleeping 
draught!  Bezoars are real and have indeed been reputed in folklore
to 
be a proof against poison; there might even be a basis for this, as
it 
is possible that some of the examples are highly absorbent, like 
activated charcoal (which is given as an countermeasure for some 
poisons in the real world). 

 Neville is not entirely a squib, despite what he says: even if his 
magic may work at self-protection and herb lore better than anything 
else.  Thus he may have enough of an 'inherent magic field' that 
potions he brews do still work, when he does it right.  

-Brooks