Potions: That Subtle Science

[Amber ?]

No: HPFGUIDX 27987


The following is the Potions class sketch scheduled for this week. Whenever 
possible, I made references to the books in the form of (Book PageNumber). 
All page numbers are from the First American Edition printing.

I must say I'm a tad sad that practically nobody has responded to my chapter 
summaries. I'm hoping that this sketch will provide more of a response or 
else I just spent 2-3 hours on it for nothing (although I did enjoy writing 
it). Heck, even if the response is just "What? You know nothing about 
Potions? Let me point out all the places where you are dead wrong!", I would 
be happy. I would know that someone read it!

Feel free to expand upon what I have developed or ask questions that you 
come up with.

-----------------------------

Potions: That Subtle Science

You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion-making, 
he began. He spoke in barely more than a whisper, but they caught every word 
 like Professor McGonagall, Snape had the gift of keeping a class silent 
without effort. As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you 
will hardly believe this is magic. I dont expect you will really understand 
the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the 
delicate power of liquids that creep through the human veins, bewitching the 
mind, ensnaring the sensesI can teach you to bottle fame, brew glory, even 
stopper death (PS/SS 136  137)

*pauses for the swooning of several Snapefans*

And with that auspicious first speech, we are introduced to the class of 
Potions. From the beginning, Professor Snape makes it clear that Potions is 
a class like no other. It is a magic that requires patience, diligence, 
time, and talent. It is not simply just flinging ingredients into a 
cauldron; one has to prepare the ingredients correctly, add them at the 
right time and way, stir correctly, and allow to simmer for the correct 
amount of time.

Potions class takes place in the Hogwarts dungeons. The room is set up with 
twenty cauldrons between wooden desks; students place their supplies on the 
desks (COS 186). Quite handily, there is a stone basin in corner with faucet 
as gargoyles mouth (POA 127) for students to use to clean themselves or 
their workstations up. There is also a blackboard in the classroom, as Snape 
writes ingredients for the current days potion upon it (GOF 511). It is 
described as being colder than the rest of the castle and Snape has 
decorated it with strange potions and animals floating in glass jars on 
the walls (SS 136). A Double Potions class lasts approximately an hour and a 
half (GOF 297).

Some examples of ingredients that are found in potions are dried nettles, 
snake fangs, daisy roots, rat spleens, and armadillo bile (Oh, ugh!). The 
students also learn a dizzying array of potions from Swelling Solutions to 
Wit Sharpening Potions (now thats a potion that I would like to have!). To 
find an extensive list of all potions and ingredients listed thus far in the 
books (even the preparation process for some), go to Steve Vander Arks 
Lexicon here:

http://www.i2k.com/~svderark/lexicon/potions.html

There also seems to be several classes of potions: regular potions, 
draughts, drafts, solutions, poisons, antidotes, and concoctions. While 
poisons and antidotes are rather obvious, the distinction between potions, 
drafts, draughts, solutions, and concoctions dont seem to be entirely 
clear. In fact, there may be no obvious distinction.

The following is a list of supplies used in and out of Potions class:

1) Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger (SS 66)
2) One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore - probably used 
more in Herbology but can have purpose in Potions (SS 66)
3) One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar) (SS 66)
4) One cauldron (pewter, standard size 2) - of which Neville seems to have 
an absolute gift for melting! (SS 66)
5) One set glass or crystal phials (SS 66)
6) One set brass scales (SS 66)
7) Moste Potente Potions by Unknown(COS 160)
8) Knife (POA 124)
9) Potion-making kit - undefined what this exactly is; could just be another 
name for all the phials, ingredients and scales together (GOF 155)
10) Mortar and Pestle (GOF 513)

>From what we have seen of Potions class, we have learned some important 
rules:

1) The order in which the ingredients are added to a potion is very 
important. The wrong order could destroy the potion, create a different 
potion, render the potion useless, or cause the potion to explode.
2) One must follow the potion-making instructions to the exact letter. Ex: 
Idiot boy! snarled Snape, clearing the spilled potion away with a wave of 
his wand. I suppose you added the porcupine quills before taking the 
cauldron off the fire? (SS 139)
3) Ingredients must be prepared carefully. Ex: Ron had spent the last 
quarter of an hour carefully shredding his own roots into exactly equal 
pieces. (POA 124)
4) Color and consistency of potion matters and must be watched. Ex: When 
Nevilles Shrinking Solution was supposed to be a bright, acid green when it 
had turned out orange (POA 125) Harrys potion needed to thicken (POA 318)
5) Some potions seem to need time to stew and simmer. Ex: You should have 
finished adding your ingredients by now; this potions needs to stew before 
it can be drunk (POA 127)

Potions class does have homework; however, I don't think we ever know the 
nature of it (please, someone correct me if I'm wrong). Possible homework 
ideas may be writing essays on the merits of a particular potion or possible 
applications of a potion.

While it may seem on the surface that potions arent used often in the 
wizarding world, this is untrue. There are many notable instances where 
potions come in handy. The most obvious are the ubiquitous Polyjuice potion 
which has shown its use time and time again, the potion used to cure the 
Petrified students, the Wolfsbane Potion that Lupin uses to become a tame 
wolf when he changes, the potion used to restore Voldemorts body, and 
Veritaserum. All have been influential in the various plots. While potions 
arent used as often as spells, they clearly have their place in the 
wizarding world.

I would not be surprised at all if potions play an important part in the 
following books. In fact, I would be disappointed if it didnt!

Questions:

1) Ive asked this before, but I thought Id ask it again. Besides the 
magical quality of the ingredients themselves, there doesnt seem to be any 
overt magic used in the making of a potion. Do you think that if a Muggle 
were to prepare a potion correctly, it would work? If not, why not?

2) What is the difference between a potion, draft, draught, solution, and 
concoction? Or is there no distinction and they are simply arbitrary names? 
(I wouldnt know, I struggled quite a bit in chemistry class in school!)

3) Why do you think Snape is so good at Potions? Does it fit his 
personality?

4) It should be noted the Madam Pomfrey uses Potions as well (Pepperup 
Potion); do you think these are drastically different from the kind that 
Snape prepares? Do you think Snape could prepare health potions or does it 
demand extra training? Is this a silly question?

5) Would you personally enjoy Potions class? Forget about controversial 
Snape for the moment, what about the actual class itself?

6)Fun Question: If you could make up a potion, what would be its name, what 
would it do, and what ingredients would go into it?

~Amber
(Please, please, please, please, please, someone respond!)

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