General Thought/Question about Potions, No Spoilers

[kiricat2001]

No: HPFGUIDX 66894

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "jsmithqwert" 
<jsmithqwert at h...> wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "jsmithqwert" 
> <jsmithqwert at h...> wrote:
> > I was thinking about the whole "is Snape an effective teacher" 
> thing 
> > that has been battered around indirectly on a number of posts and 
> > suddenly came to the realization that it doesn't matter because 
> > potions, as a subject, is generally (not always but almost 
always) 
> > excessive.  With very few exceptions, the various potions that we 
> > have read about so far are complicated and unduly awkward 
> > replacements for a much simpler spell.  For example, isn't the 
> > complicated "Draught of Peace" that Snape has the students make 
is 
> > really an overwrought, time consuming, and resource intensive 
> > substitute for a cheering charm.  
> > 
> > Even in what common sense would tell us is a very difficult task 
is 
> > more simply performed through wandwork.  Imposter!Moody tells us 
> that 
> > using and Imperius curse to make someone answer questions is just 
> as 
> > effective as Veritaserum, and while the former is just a simple 
> wand 
> > movement and incantation, the latter requires a full moon cycle 
and 
> > (apparently) a potions master.  Same thing with polyjuice potion, 
> > which according to Hermeione is immensely complex: in GoF, she 
> tells 
> > us that you learn how to do human transfigurations at the NEWT 
> > level.  Surely if it is possible to transfigure yourself at all, 
it 
> > is possible to transfigure yourself to look like someone else.
> > 
> > Of course there are some things that seem to require potions.  
> > Healing seems to be very potion intensive (Skelegrow, Hermeione's 
> > many healing potions at the end of OoP, Blood Replenishing 
Draught, 
> > dreamless sleep potion, etc. . .).  But no one but healers seems 
to 
> > prepare the stuff and, therefore, I would think that potions 
would 
> be 
> > more appropriately taught at the vocational level post-Hogwarts.  
> > Obviously there are other potions (doxycide, magical mess 
remover, 
> > etc. . .), but they mostly seem to be products, and, as with 
> healers, 
> > a vocational level "potions research" program would seem to be a 
> more 
> > manageable method of instruction.  If there really is to much 
> > groundwork that has to be done for it to be post-Hogwarts, why 
not 
> > have potions be and elective course like divination or 
arithmancy, 
> > which seem to have as much practical use as potions does.
> > 
> > Many of the above points seen to apply to herbology as well.  I 
> don't 
> > think we have yet to see a non-superspecialized example of 
magical 
> > plant use.  Sure there was the mandrake restorative draught, but 
> > that's pretty speciallized isn't it (must be if they couldn't 
just 
> > send for some from St. Mungo's).  Gillyweed goes the same rout as 
> > Draught of Peace: a bubble-head charm is just as effective and 
> > doesn't necessitate procuring in advance a particularly rare 
plant.
> > 
> > In closing what I apologize for being a (very) long post, I will 
> ask 
> > a relatively simple question.  Why are potions and herbology 
> > considered "core" subjects that _every_ witch and wizzard needs 
to 
> > know pretty extensively?  What makes them worth pursuing to a 
great 
> > degree when there seem to be spells for almost all of their 
uses?  
> > I'm probably overlooking something and I'm quite sure that I 
don't 
> > understand the WW very well, but, what gives?  Any thoughts.
> > 
> > jsmithqwert
> 
> One more thought I wanted to add to this.
> 
> Isn't potions pretty straight-forward anyway.  Just look up what 
you 
> want to do and follow the instructions.  What is there to learn?  
> Sure its great to expose the students so they know what the stuff 
> looks like, but is that really an education, does it build skills 
or 
> demand analysis.  I don't think so.


I can't dismiss Potions quite that quickly.  I think the genius of a 
talented Potions maker would lie in taking his/her knowledge of 
ingredients and in figuring out how new combinations of items, and 
differences in the processes of how they're put together would result 
in different or new potions.  I keep making the analogy in my head of 
Potions Masters and Master Chefs.  Great cooking is not simply a 
matter of taking a bunch of food and seasonings, throwing it into a 
pot and then a fabulous dinner is created.  If it was that easy, we'd 
all be great chefs.  Some people have a better understanding of how 
certain things can meld together to create something marvelous.  
Other people simply scorch the pot.

Marianne