Mandrake Potion

[Elizabeth Dalton]

No: HPFGUIDX 32052

rachelrenee1 wrote:
> And on a total tangent, as I was reading Chamber of Secrets out loud
> (and thus making sure not to miss any words, etc.) I realized how
> barbaric it seemed to cut up and stew the Mandrakes into a potion.  I
> mean, it might have been an ugly, bawling baby, but so is my
> neighbor's kid ;).
> 

I found this somewhat discomfiting as well, but then, I'm a soft-hearted
vegetarian. I probably wouldn't do well in Potions in general. (I can just see
trying to explain to Snape, "But Professor, I can't make that potion. Use of
animal products conflicts with my ethical code." Yeah, right. ;)

Maybe the Mandrakes are clearly non-intelligent upon observation-- e.g. they
might throw wild parties, but might not actually be able to speak, solve
problems, fill in your favorite test of "intelligence" here.

I did laugh when Madame Pomfrey described the necessary level of maturity as
"when they try to move into each other's pots."

Elizabeth
(who belives she probably wouldn't stick to her principles if a potion could
save a loved one from being a statue or losing an arm, but thinks that's a
different order of consideration than what to have for dinner tonight. Speaking
of which....)