Muggles and potions

[Neotoma73 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 56204

In a message dated 4/25/2003 1:08:55 PM Eastern Standard Time, HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com writes:

> I have been wondering that a lot myself.  in PS/SS, Snape warns that some might not think it's magic because there is no "silly wand waving."  But magic indeed it is.  Perhaps you need magical ability to mix the ingredients without being injured, since some of the materials are caustic?   Or maybe some of your magic is infused in the potions without using a wand.  Or, perhaps there is some kind of incantation that gets recited over the cauldron, but we simply haven't been privvy to them?  (Least likely).  It's a very good question, and I 
> would like an answer too.

There's got to be some magic involved, probably to catalyze the transformation into a working potion. As an example, the asphodel and wormwood infusion Snape asks Harry about in the very first class would be a very toxic mess unless magic was involved to change it into something useful instead of posionous.

"Wand waving" might not be needed in potions-brewing, but some magical power -- just to make those ingridients drinkable, let alone effective -- would be necessary.  This possibly might be another reason Wolfsbane in hard to brew. Not only is it complex, but the raw power needed to make it effective instead of lethal (if it contains real wolfsbane, for one!) might be unusually high.

AnneL