Potions: That Subtle Science

[Blaise]

No: HPFGUIDX 28018

Answers to some of Amber's wonderful questions on Potions:

> 1) I've asked this before, but I thought I'd ask it again.
Besides 
the magical quality of the ingredients themselves, there doesn't
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?

I don't think a Muggle could make a potion correctly.  My evidence 
for this is Snape's speech at the first potions class: "As there
is 
little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this 
is magic."  Clearly, it is magic and not simply following a recipe to 
the letter.  And the definition of a Muggle is someone who can't do 
magic.  


> 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 was interested in the analysis of what the differences might by by 
some of the other respondents to this question.  However, I don't 
think that JKR has any particular distinctions between them in mind.  
(Incidentally, draft and draught are the variant spellings of the 
same word.)  The reason I think they are used with identical meanings 
is that JKR tends to choose alliterative names.  Confusing 
Concoction, for example, or Swelling Solution, or Deflating Draught.  
So I think she's chosen the names based on their sound rather than 
any specific technical meaning of any of the different words for a 
potion.  


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

Ooh, what a lovely question.  That sort of question could inspire a 
fanfic author to write an entire story about why Snape is good at 
Potions.  To answer it properly, one would first need to examine what 
kind of personality traits Potions might require:

- patience
- absolute precision
- discipline

Snape certainly has the discipline and drive for perfection that 
enable him to make any kind of potion.  His discipline manifests 
itself in the books, particularly P/SS, as an ability to maintain 
control of a class (contrast with Lockhart, Trelawney) and an ability 
to control himself - a quality I infer from his work as a spy; a spy 
cannot get by without a certain amount of self-control.  His 
perfectionism can be seen whenever anyone in his class makes a 
mistake; he cannot tolerate clumsiness, inattention or disorder.  Of 
course, this trait does not improve his teaching skills.  Which 
raises the question of how Dumbledore selects his teachers - does he 
choose witches and wizards who are at the top of their subject, or 
those whom he thinks will make good teachers?  What sort of training 
do wizard teachers receive?  

The other element that divides a person who's merely good at 
something from someone who's brilliant at it is the enjoyment of that 
subject.  Snape finds a powerful beauty in potions and their making:
  
"I don't 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 senses"  

His lyrical language expresses the excitement he finds in getting a 
potion exactly right.  And it is this above all that makes him so 
good at Potions.   


> 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?

I think that, given the recipe, Snape could make any potion.  For 
example, the Wolfsbane Potion is possibly one that overlaps 
with 'health', and he makes it.  I would have thought that Madam 
Pomfrey had rather poorer Potion-making skills than Snape.  Her 
expertise would be rather in knowing when to administer a particular 
potion, and how much of it, and suchlike things.


Thoughts from Blaise.