Fields of Magic (was Re: Potions Master Question)

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 93975

Neri wrote: <snip>
> 3. Power. Fields that require the wizard to be more powerful are 
> likely to be more distinguished. It seems Potions and Herbology 
> require very little power (in fact, I can't see why a muggle or a 
> squib won't be able to brew many of these potions). OTOH 
> Transfiguration seems to require a lot of magical power.

Carol:
I agree to some extent about Herbology, which seems to bear a
relationship to Potions that resembles the relationship of Charms to
Transfiguration (closely related, partially overlapping fields, with
one being slightly more prestigious than the other). But I'm almost
certain that JKR said in an interview that no Muggle could brew a
Potion even if he or she could somehow acquire the ingredients. You
have to have magical ability to infuse the potion with magical powers.
And I'm guessing that the more powerful the wizard, the more potent
his potions--one more reason for Harry to follow directions and get
the potions right. His will be more potent than, say, Seamus's or
Colin Creevey's. And one more reason why DD would want Snape on his side!

Neri wrote:
<snip> Conjuring especially seems dead useful. I wonder what are its
limitations. For example, could you just conjure a cup of polyjuice
potion out of thin air instead of bothering to brew it? It hardly
seems fair.

Carol:
Clearly you *can't* conjure polyjuice potion or Veritaserum or
whatever out of thin air, or a skilled wizard like DD or Barty Jr.
would do so--and Snape would be out of a job because all his skills
would be useless. And you can't conjure food out of thin air, either,
or Sirius wouldn't have had to live on rats in GoF.

Granted, DD can conjure a comfortable chair out of thin air, but it
probably disappears when he's through with it, just as leprechaun gold
disappears after a few hours. JKR explains in another interview that
there are limitations to magic, and one of them is the sort of things
that can be conjured. (IMO, The Room of Requirement operates on the
same principle. Whatever you need is conjured out of thin air, but
disappears the moment you leave the room.) A potion, OTOH, will stay
on the shelf in its bottle until its needed.

Neri:
> <snip> I think the order of status (again, not the order of actual 
> importance, which is something else) is approximately:
> Transfiguration > DADA > Charms > Potions and Herbology > other 
> subjects.

Carol:
Whereas I would say Potions and Transfiguration, approximately equal)
> Charms and Herbology (approximately equal) > DADA > other subjects,
both for the order of importance (which is what I was arguing) and of
status (or DADA would be given to one of the Heads of Houses).

But you could be right that status and importance are two different
things, and if DADA really is the most prestigious position (despite
the less than impressive teachers it's been assigned to so far), then
I can see Snape really wanting the position and resenting anyone else
who held it, especially those who are clearly less qualified than he
is to teach it.
 
> Neri:
> Just an opinion (I thought shipping was the touchy subject:-)

Carol:
You forgot that Potions is associated with Snape, the ultimate touchy
subject! ;-)