Potions: That Subtle Science

[Cindy C.]

No: HPFGUIDX 27998

Amber wrote:
> 
> 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). 

 
[*nasty pang of guilt, and a resolution to do better in the 
future*]   I feel your pain, Amber.  I would have responded to your 
excellent chapter summaries, but it is getting awfully hard to have 
anything valid to say that hasn't been said before.  I pledge to try 
harder, starting with your outstanding essay on Potions.

<snip background of Snape's classes>

> 
Amber wrote:
> 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 don't seem to be 
entirely 
> clear. In fact, there may be no obvious distinction.
> 

<snip>

> 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)


I wonder whether wands are useful or even permitted in the making of 
potions.  I don't recall an instance where a student uses a wand to 
assist in making a potion.  Could it be that wand magic is too 
imprecise for potions work?  Could it be that wand energy "fouls" a 
potion, the way cooking a tomato sauce in the wrong pan will cause it 
to taste funny?  Otherwise, I can't understand why Ron doesn't use a 
Severing Charm to cut his ginger roots in half the time.

Amber wrote:
> While it may seem on the surface that potions aren't 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 Voldemort's body, 
and 
> Veritaserum. All have been influential in the various plots. While 
potions 
> aren't used as often as spells, they clearly have their place in 
the 
> wizarding world.
> 

Also, most potions seem to be consumed orally, but a few are used by 
placing it on the person or object.  Snape tests Neville's Shrinking 
Solution on Trevor by pouring it down his throat, and he becomes a 
tadpole.  To restore Trevor, Snape puts a drop of something on the 
tadpole.  One can assume that the Mandrake Draught isn't consumed 
orally, as the recipients are Petrified.


Amber wrote:
> 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 wouldn't know, I struggled quite a bit in chemistry class in 
school!)
> 

Here's an attempt to make sense of these terms.  Where I have facts 
from canon, I'll note that.  Everything else is theory, conjecture 
and wild speculation:

Potions are temporary and generally require no antidote.  Examples 
are Polyjuice potion (wears off in an hour); Wolfsbane potion (must 
be taken at least monthly); Pepperup potion (presumably one doesn't 
stay pepped up indefinitely, and no antidote is given); Aging potion 
(Fred and George would have lost their beards in time, but going to 
Madam Pomfrey might shorten their wait); Sleekeasy Hair potion 
(Hermione has to use it daily); Skelegro potion (Harry's bones do 
stop growing without an antidote); Sleeping potion in GoF (Harry does 
wake up on his own); Veritaserum Truth Potion (presumably wears off, 
as Dumbledore never suggests giving Crouch Jr. an antidote).  We 
don't see some potions in action, but presumably potions like Memory 
Potion, Forgetfulness Potion, Hair Raising Potion, and Love Potion 
wear off.  

Draughts (also drafts) are potions that work without being ingested.  
That makes sense for Mandrake Restorative Draught (for petrified 
people); Deflating Draught (reverses Swelling Solution); Draught of 
the Living Dead (makes a really powerful sleeping potion, but I don't 
know if it must be ingested); Sleeping Draft (GoF dragons presumably 
won't hold still to drink a potion).  But then again, Hermione gives 
Crabb and Goyle a "simple" Sleeping Draught by putting it in a cake, 
which sounds like it has to be ingested.

Solutions require an antidote.  Examples are Swelling Solution 
(requires Deflating Draught); Shrinking Solution (Snape uses an 
antidote on Trevor).  There are others, but canon doesn't tell us 
their purpose (what is a Scintillating Solution?).

Concoction sounds like a potion that can be customized rather than 
following a rigid set of rules.  Perhaps a Confusing Concoction is 
a "free-style" potion that varies depending on what you'd like 
someone to be confused about.  Harry prepares this for his final 
exam, and a potion that requires some individual artistry might make 
a good exam.

OK,  L.O.O.N.s.  Fire away!

> 
Amber wrote:
> 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?

Weight loss potion, of course.  To be taken on the hour.  Consisting 
of at various times of chocolate, fried foods, pizza and ice cream.  
Exercise causes it to wear off. 

Cindy